WEST COAST RESOURCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15063, 9 February 1911, Page 2

WEST COAST RESOURCES

A LOST OPPORTUNITY.

(From Oua Own Correspondent.)

GREYMOUTH, February 7.

Some few months ago a number of Ross and Hokitika residents formulated a scheme to bring in the Mokinui water race to Ross, The idea was to work a large tract of auriferous country south of the Mount D'Or claim, extending to the Mokinui. The Ross Borough Council, recognising the importance of the proposal, gave the right to the syndicate on favourable terms to the whole of the partly-con-structed works and • water Tights which have been held by the Borough Council for Mime years past. As a result of negotiations the most influential and strongest firms in mining finance in America were induced to take the matter up. They immediately sent Mr F. L. Morris, one of their most trusted engineers, and his assistant, from San Francisco to look into the whole proposition, 'and to spend a large sum in prospecting the country, at the same timo intimating that they would find the whole of the money for the s-cheme—some £150,000. For the last 6ix weeks Mr Morris carried on extensive prospecting operations, employing some 10 or 12 Ross local miners. Owing to the nature of the country, it was; however, necessary to do some boring. In view of the machine which had been ordered by the Government being lost on the wrecked 6teamr Parisiana, Mr T. W. Bruce, the Mayor of Ross, promptly wired to the Government intimating that Mr Morris (the engineer in charge of the operations) could land an up-to-date Keystone borer from America in about a month's time, and asked if the Government would .be willing to take it over at cost.price after it,had been used by the visitors, less a. reasonable charge for its use and (depreciation in. value. The usual stereotyped reply was received, stating that the matter was being considered. -In view of the urgency of the matter, Mr Morris then wired to the Hon. B. M'Kcnzie (Minister of Mines) on the matter, but received no reply. On Friday Mr Morris recived a cable instructing him", to cease operations and return to America. All the employees were immediately discharged, and Mr Morris and his assistants left the district by Saturday night's train. Realising' the seriousness of the position, Mr M. L. Michel, Mayor of Hokitika, on Saturday telegraphed to Mr Morris, who was then in Greymouth, ofiering to arrange to guarantee the cost of the boTer, provided ho would return to Ross and resume operations. The following Teply was received : —" I am very much pleased to have received your willing and liberal offer on behalf of the Westland people to furnish a guarantee for the Keystone drill. I regret, however, that it will be impossible for me to return and accept your offer in view of the instructions that I have received on this date. Sorry I was unable to see you again before leaving Hokitika.— (Signed) F. L. Morris." The American people had already v 6pent oveT £1000 ster. ling in prospecting, etc., and the methods adopted by the Mines Department in fostering the mining industry, which they claim to do, were evidently too much for the Americans. To think that such an .opportunity of introducing outside capital •has been irretrievably lost will be a matter of genuine regret. Such chances to develop the resources of the district if subjected to the same indifference and appai'ent neglect by those in authority, will mean that if any of our promising propositions are dependent upon the Govern, ment for even trifling assistance, themin.-

ing industry in Westland will remain in its present state of stagnation,