Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 657, 26 September 1884, Page 19

Amongst the petitions presented to the House of Representatives during the last few days was one from William Fox, the prospector, a man who in his time has played no insignificant part in developing the mineral resources of the colony. He it was who first discovered gold in the Arrow River, near Lake Wakatipu, on the 4th of October, 1862, and made his report to the Warden at the Dunstan on the 17th of the following

month. Two years afterwards we find (Fox on the Totara River on the West Coast of the Middle Island, where he -discovered rich deposits in a creek, which ■was in consequence named after him. In 18G5 this indefatigable prospector, having ■wended his way northwards along the coast, opened a goldfield at Fox s, near Charleston. In May, 1866, he made further extensive and highly valuable discoveries near Brighton. At a later period Fox was selected by the Provincial Council of Westland to prospect for gold and other minerals in the Southern part of that province. He found gold, silver, and copper ore, and coal; aud though, owing to the enormous difficulties to _ be surmounted in getting provisions and tools on to the ground in the absence .of roads or even tracks, these later discoveries have not yet been turned to account, there is good reason to believe that as the country is gradually opened up a large mining population will be settled in the localities indicated by Fox. His report to the Provincial Council gave assurance of the existence of large areas of auriferous ground, which with proper appliances and better means of communication would yield the miner an average rate of wages of £2 to £3 a week. William Fox’s petition sets out a considerable portion of tlio facts we have briefly touched on, and. his object in approaching the House is no doubt to obtain if possible a moderate grant of money in recognition of his services. We suppose the petition will in due course be laid before the Goldfields Committee with a view to inquiry. Whatever their recommendation may be, no one acquainted with the history of the Middle Island goldfields will be prepared to question the fact that William Fox has rendered most remarkable aid in developing the mineral resources of the colony. TTih self-imposed labours have been the means of attracting thousands of miners to localities which might otherwise have remained for ages unpeopled and unproductive. The lonely and wandering life of a prospector seems to have had special charms for this man, whom no amount of hardship and labour could ever discourage. When he had made a great discovery he rarely settled down on the spot for any length of time, but having sent in his report and seen the ground fully occupied, he again commenced his explorations. With some interruptions he appears to have continued them through a long series of years, and until failing health warned him to desist. Others have grown rich through his discoveries, whilst he has remained poor. The case is altogether an exceptional one, and we should be glad to learn that the petition had met with a favourable reception.