PROSPECTING ASSOCIATIONS

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 397, 7 November 1868, Page 7

PROSPECTING ASSOCIATIONS

Without doubt prospecting associations, since colonial mining history began, have been anything but successes. On the contrary, tliey have been, as a rule, simply gulfs into which ardent capitalists have cast their substauce, and though reports, statements, and suggestions have resulted, in profusion, seldom, indeed, has any other good accrued from the outlay. The Victorian list of prospecting expeditions has been nothing but a continuous catalogue of disappointment, and in other parts of this colony the same ill-fortune has waited on such enterprise. It seems to have been reserved to the West Coast of New Zealand to set an example of better fortune. As yet, it is true, prospecting has been generally cai'ried on by private enterprise, or rather by miners, and few public subscription lists have been opened for this end as far as the Coast is concerned. It is, however, so far encouraging to find that where such has been the case, where associations of the kind have been formed on the Coast, their efforts have, as a rule, met with success. The only exceptions were some on the Southern goldfields; but in these instances, even, the failure arose, not through the ascertained poverty of country, but through deficiency of funds to properly prospect the district. Some of the most difficult country, probably ever explored even by the hardy mining race,lies to the Southward, and still we feel assured that some of the finest goldfields in the colony will

yet be found almost within the shadow of Mount Cook. At present, however, those El Dorados aro undiscovered, and a generation may possibly pass away before their riches are laid bare. In the meantime we have a practicable country round us, we have ever recurring proofs of the probable value of terraces un touched by pick or shovol, and yet, up to the present time, we have beeu content with the good the gods have sent us, and have left mining industry to light its battle, uuaided and unassisted. At Brighton the inhabitants had bettor sense and more energy. Finding that times were growing, or had grown dull, and that trade had almost departed, they clubbed together and equipped a prospecting party, and within a few weeks of their doing so, gold was struck in the direction of Eazorback, and a tolerably large population attracted ia consequence. Though the results of this discovery have not been large, they have been sufficiently so to fix a number of people on the ground, amongst whom may be found a number of unpaid or volunteer prospectors. It is hardly likely that the labors of the latter willbe altogether unrewarded, and in fact, since the prospectors' discovery, various patches of auriferous and payable ground have already been found. • This was the first, and has beeu the most successful, investmentin the line to the Brightonians, and well they deserve ten times greater fortune. At Addison's Flat a Committee has been formed to prospect the back country, and already parties are out in consequence. There is little doubt that some splendid ranges lie behind Addison's, and there i 3 every chance that very shortly Hibernian, or Cambrian, Lead will soonbe as celebrated as the Caledonian. At Charleston the public have woke up to the fact that prospecting might prove of service, and though the movement has not by any means been taken up with the spasmodic activity that characterises our neighbors, still a good sum of money has been subscribed, and the blame, at least to those at a distance, of any halting in the matter, would seem to lie at the door of a somewhat inert committee, rather than at that of an indifferent public. But whilst other places are striving to develop their golden means, Westport has made no sign up to the present time, though thereis almost an unbounded amount of auriferous ground within a few miles, only waiting to be opened up. Wheu, before Caledonian Terrace was discovered, we ventured opinions to this efi'ect, founded, we eandidly acknowledge, on the opinion of Dr. Hector, some of our southern contemporaries were wont to make merry at our expense, and " wonder " when the undeveloped riches we referred to, would be brought to light. Time went on, and the " wonder " was realised, the Caledonian was discovered, and since then a long string of terraces have proved fortunes. To test ground of this description requires both skilled and abundant labour, and, owing to the great hazard and expense attached to such prospecting, fifty times the area now proved auriferous, stands neglected and untried. Without doubt a belt of auriferous country extends north and south, and if prospecting parties were equipped, and sent out to test some of the scores of likely looking terraces that can be found to the northward, good results would almost immediately follow. An expensive system of prospecting is not needed; all that is wanted is to furnish some three or four parties of experienced miners, with rations, tools, and necessaries for mining exploration,and, before a month has elapsed, terraces sufficiently numerous to use up all official and national titles will be opened up. Let Westport follow the example of other places, and as there is a certainly auriferous area to be tested, certainly prosperous consequences should follow prudent work. In the meantime, let us commend such prospecting to the notice of the public,

CHARLESTON MINING INTELLIGENCE. Halligan, Clarke and party, of the Eureka, Mount Pleasant, washed up a few days since with the handsome result of £2GO for twelve days' crushing. I may remark that this is the first washing since the erection of the new machine, and though the yield falls short of the estimated amount, it must be admitted, however, that it is a sum which few claims in Pakihi can produce. There are only three share holders. Steele and party, Back Lead, have been engaged for the last fortnight in repairing their dams, which broke away at the time of the late fresh. This task was completed on Saturday last. The result of last washing in this claim was 1100 ozs. of amalgam, or 280 ozs. gold.

The Nile Cement Company, Registered (Davis and party), have completed their alterations, and will commence crushing in a day or two. They have been engaged for some few weeks in taking down the old framework of the batteries, and replacing it by new and moi-e substantial material, and what with their tables being considerably extended, everything bids well for a fair future.

Phillips and party are erecting a water-wheel, which will be the largest in the district, It will have a diameter of 30 feet. The new battery which was ordered some time ago from Australia has arrived. It is thought that everything will be in working order in some eight or nine days hence. The battery ordered by Jenkins and party from Nelson, has arrived at Westport, and will reach its destination in a few days. The weight of each stamp is 2501b5. They expect to be able to crush in a week.

The result of last week's washing in the Enterprise claim was 380 ozs. amalgam.

Keenan and party expect a very handsome dividend from the next washing. The plates look very well indeed, and I believe will realize the sum anticipated, 800 ozs. amalgam. The new machine of Ward and party is completed and its proprietors intend to commence crushing early in this week. The wheel has a diameter of 25 feet. The Cosmopolitan water-race has been extended so as to supply the machine.

Evers and party have erected a small wheel, in the space between the Cosmopolitan and Dublin City claims, and commenced crushing a day or two since.

On the Sardine Terrace, Mac's engine still continues to give its proprietors every satisfaction. Though the primary expenses incurred by its introduction to the terrace were of considerable magnitude, the goldeu harvest now gathered in, sufficiently atones for the outlay and trouble. On the Town Lead, Barry and party Daly and party, and M'Kerron and party, are still doing fairly, £5 to £6 a week to each shareholder. On the Fenian Mat there are three waterwhcels idle, and the quarter indeed may be said to be deserted.