PROSPECTS OF GOLD IN SOUTH ISLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19236, 25 November 1930, Page 8

PROSPECTS OF GOLD IN SOUTH ISLAND.

PROFESSOR URGES NEED FOR THOROUGH WORK That thorough prospecting was necessary if there was to be a revival of gold-mining in the South Island, was the opinion expressed by Professor R. Speight this morning, when the announcement of the Minister of Mines that there was a possibility of a boom starting in the south was referred to him. Professor Speight deprecated the idea of a boom, as a boom would have to burst. On the West Coast there were areas that might repay investigation, but the country was extremely difficult, and only experienced men could undertake prospecting there. In the granite country near Reefton there might be certain prospects of obtaining gold in payable quantities, and the_ old workings which were abandoned owing to the lack of suitable machinery could possibly be opened up and extensions made. In some parts of Otago, too, there was gold to be found, and with dredges more powerful than had been used in the past it could be got in certain rivers such as the Clutha, the Shotover and the Kawarau. Professor Speight could not say definitely whether or not there were any chances of a large output of gold being obtained in the souths but he stressed the importance of steady and scientific prospecting, Isolated boring was in most cases fallacious, for either gold was obtained from only one piece of ground which was not similar to the area surrounding it, or the area containing gold was not tapped.