GOLDEN MILE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22326, 28 July 1934, Page 14

GOLDEN MILE

SEEKING AN EXTENSION TOWNS ARE PEGGED (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 14. A prominent geologist, not so ve y long ago, expressed the opinion that there was more gold still in Australia than had been taken out of it. When one realises the vast wealth that has been won from Australian gold mines the 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 gold mining 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 price of the metal is not high enough to warrant further developments. Gold is still a great source of wealth, to Western Australia and the fame of Kalgoorlie and Boulder is world wide. It is now suggested that both these famous towns have been built over rich gold-bearing land, which may necessitate revolutionary changes along the Golden Mile in the next few years. Already a large number of applications have been made to the Mines Department for leases on large patches of town sites. One was for six leases totalling 144 acres and taking in the electric tramcar barn, two hotels, portions of the reserves and a number of private uouses. Golf links have been pegged out by prospectors as well as a number of recreation and sports reserves at Kalgoorlie. It is possible that some of the applicants for leases will not go any further, but there is authoritative opinion for the possibility that Kalgoorlie was built on an extension of the Golden Mile. An extension of the famous Mile would mean an assured future for the 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, then the gold miners are going to make a terrible mess of Kalgoorlie.

An inspection of the back yards of the town shows that the chance of finding gold within the town area has not been overlooked in the past. In the 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 some time ago a householder was startled one morning to see that a garden shrub six feet high had apparently shrunk to a little more than a foot high overnight. He found that it had been planted cu the top of a covered shaft, which had caved in after rain.