Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1885. Gold Prospecting.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1777, 30 December 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1885. Gold Prospecting.

Occasionally letters have appeared in this journal pointing out the necessity of prospecting the Western ranges owing to the fact of gold bearing stone having been found in different parts of the Wairarapa. Hitherto there has been no response on the part of the public, and beyond the efforts of a few sanguine and spirited individuals nothing has been done. We are not at liberty to say what steps have been taken by them, as the matter so far has been kept quiet, but we think it is time that the various townships acted in Concert and sent out one or two practical men —men who are well known to the mining fraternity as thoroughly good prospectors. Stone has been found and Dr Hector has reported favorably upon it us to the percentage of gold it contained, 'and it now rests with the public to show some spirit and have the ranges prospected. We shall never , know what mineral wealth we possess if we do not try to find it, and if wo want to see the Wairarapa raised above its present low state and the community instilled with new life, no time should be lost in commencing the search. It is the knowledge that gold exists that should be an incentive to send out prospectors. There is no doubt that the lectures given by Professor Black at the Thames will give a stimulus to prospecting throughout that country, He has been warmly received by the miners and the greatest enthusiasm has been evinced in hia lectures. The heartiness with which he was welcomed to ithe Thames, falls into insignificance, we are told, when compared with the way in which the inhabitants of' the up country fields Hocked to hear him. “ His first lecture was attended by 150 men, and all who could find room at the testing tables wore engaged in studying, and studying intelligently, the various methods of a sen tabling tho'vnlue of ore. On Wednesday, the improvised laboratory was opened at seven o’clock in the morning, and work was con tinned throughout the .day, the attendancevarying from 50 to 00, with no interruption, except for me-Ms ; while in the evening, when the lecture was gi.en, “’ot only was all the floor suace occupied, but the eager 'audience swarmed like bees on the rafters overhead, so great was their thirst tor knowledge—l9o persons being present. Miners came from all the sunounuing district—from Waihi, Owhavoa, Waitekauri, and To Aroha, and displayed the most intense interest in the proceedings. So great was the enthusiasm that Professor Black considered it a conclusive proof of the necessity for establishing a School of Mines in that district. We are glad to hear that the King country is about to be prospected. Mr G. F, Wilkipeop, the Government agent at Alexandra, telegraphed recently to the effect that bo and Mr John Comsby had arranged to get natives and half castes to accompany European prospectors. It was proposed to send, out, if possible, fivo parties ; each to consist of not more than one or two Europeans and when practicable only one. One party was to take Waipa and the"eastern side, and work in towards Raugitoto, another was to start from Taurnaurunj (native place) upper Whanganui and north into Tubun ; and the third party was to work on the other side of the Pukearuhe Bangs, and prospect the upper Mokau country. A fourth

party was to take tire Hautira Range and district on the west side of the Waipa river, and tlie fifth party (if decided upon) would take V/lmrepupa and in towards Taupo. By this action the whole country will be fairly tested. Coming neat home we have prospecting going on at Pohangioa. As yet it is uncertain as to how the reefs will turn out, but there are some good practical men on this spot, and they are backed up by men of energy and determination in the nearest towns, and it is to be hoped that their efforts will be crowned with success. Terawhiti has had its ups and downs and a large sum of money has been spent in several claims. That gold exists in that neighborhood there is no doubt, but it yet remains to be proved whether it will pay to get. The Golden Crown Company have had of late some encouraging prospects, and it has given fresh heart to the shareholders. There are many persona who have no faith in Terawhiti, and reasonably so, perhaps, for they have been disappointed in past expectations and results. Still it is good to find that others have hope and energy enough to continue the work of getting out the stone, and let us hope they may obtain an abundant reward. When the road is finished from Makara to Terawhiti it will be a great convenience and a saving of much money, for in the past the difficulties in landing machinery, &e., from the steamers in the Straits have been almost insurmountable. We have called attention to this matter that our readers may perceive that there is a spirit of enterprise abroad. Often we find it so in times of severe depression. Old residents will remember that when the Otago, the West Coast and the Auckland gold fields broke out, times were very bad throughout the colony. They are bad enough now, and we should like to hear of a rich alluvial gold field being discovered, for there is little doubt that it would be the means of relieving to a great extent the present depression, and sending the colony ahead on the path of prosperity. At present the North Island is practically in the hands of the Natives, and they as a rule ere averse to prospecting being carried on, for they think in the end their lands will pass from them. A Wellington contemporary suggested-some time ago that the Government should offer a large reward to the Natives themselves for the discovery of a payable gold field. We should like to see this done, and in the event of gold being discovered in the interior it would effectually open up settlement. We commend the question of gold prospecting to our readers throughout the Valley, and seeing what is being done elsewhere we trust something will shortly be done amongst ourselves to bring to light our mineral wealth.