WAIHI

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11251, 1 July 1922, Page 11

WAIHI

N aihi was once a name to conjure with. It may be so again. Who knows? When tne name represented a dusky, small tunnel, in which a fortunate prospector who had found the precious metal was putting up a successful bluff against some of the Maori people, who were asserting their righto in an unrighteous manner, no one expected to hear much more of Waihi, except in the obscurity of a Warden’s Court, with the chance of a minor field day in criminal proceedings. But in the midst of this half-careless atmosphere a mystic word sounded—“Cyanide!’’ And, lo! a scene more prodigious than anything in the “Ara. tian Nights”—and absolutely true. How prolonged it was; how many solid millions sterling came out of Waihi while it lasted; how strong, brilliant, far-seeing, enlightened, the management; how Waihi took station on the very topmost height of Eldorado as the richest mine ever beheld by mortal eyes, rivalling all the Golcondas, Potosis, Ophirs, Kimberleys, Mount Morgans of tne world—all this is written in the solid study of black and white of history. Presently the lights sank low in this prolonged transformation scene of reality, and as the limelight lost all its old brilliance men breathed of “petering out.” But the management went on delving and hoping. With courage worthy of its phenomenal prosperity, it handled great bodies of comparatively poor ore, with resolve intent on reaching possible further masses of wealth equal to tho yields that had surpassed fable and outdone avarice. It was a brave fight, of scientific, hopeful, careful, persevering work. It is still going on. The la3t report lights it up With a brief glare. In effect tho reading says: “We don’t think tho old wealth will be repeated, hut one never knows. So we stick it, and we have the means to

keep sticking for quite a time.” Never was a finer spirit of enterprise. Never was anything more worthy of-.the traditions 6ot up by tho making of this Dominion known as “God’s Own Country."’ M°ro power to their elbow; much thanks for their example in this day of slumping prices and sinking hearts. Should they succeed—Ha 1 Better wait and see.