QUEST FOR FORTUNES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 15

QUEST FOR FORTUNES

AUSTRALIA'S GOLDEN MILE SEEKING AN EXTENSION PORTIONS OF TOWNS PEGGED [from ouk own correspondent] SYDNEY. July 14 A prominent geologist recently expressed the opinion that there was more gold still in Australia than had been taken out of it. When one realises tho vast wealth that has won from Australian gold mines tho significance of that statement must become apparent, especially at a time when added wealth is so badly needed. In recent years there has been a distinct revival of goldmining in the Commonwealth, and if the results of further prospecting have not been sensational, they have at least been encouraging. The gold output has been considerably higher, and no one would suggest that the prico of tho metal is not high enough to warrant further developments.

Gold is still a great source of wealth to Western Australia, and the fame of Kalgoorlio and Boulder is worldwide. It is now suggested that both these famous towns liavo been<> built over rich gold-bearing land, which may necessitate revolutionary changes along the Golden Milo in the next few years. Already a largo number of applications have been made to tho Mines Department for leases on large patches of town sites. One was for six leases totalling 141 acres, and taking in tho electric tramcar barn, two hotels, portions of tho reserves, and a number of private houses. Golf links have beon pegged out by prospectors, as well as a number of recreation and sports reserves at Kalgoorlio.

It is possible that some of the applicants for leases will not go any further, but there is authoritative opinion for tho possibility that Kalgoorlie was built on an extension of the Golden Mile. An extension of the famous Mile would mean an assured future for tho fields for many years to come, but both Kalgoorlie and Boulder have been built on solid lines, and any developments that would interfere with these towns would be viewed with mixed feelings. If there is anything in the possibilities envisaged by some experts, the goldminers proposo to mako a tei'rible mess of Kalgoorlie.

An inspection of tho backyards of the town shows that the chance of finding gold within the town area has not been overlooked in the past. In tho yard of the School of Mines there is a deep shaft, and it is now used as a rubbish dump. There are deep shafts in many other places. In the centre of the town sonic time ago a householder was startled one morning to see that a garden shrub 6ft. high had apparently shrunk to a little more than a foot overnight, lie found that it had been planted on the top of a covered shaft, which had caved in after rain.