SEARCH FOR GOLD

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8497, 3 August 1933, Page 2

SEARCH FOR GOLD

ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH ISLAND WAIHI VISITOR’S TOUR AVEST COAST FAVOURED That much gold remains to be won in Central Otago and on the West Coast of the South Island is the considered opinion of Mr J. H. G. Banks, battery superinrendent, who has returned afier spending seven weeks on the southern iields conducting investigations on behalf of the Waihi Gold Mining Company. At the same time he thought it wise to endorse the warning issued by the committee of the Dunedin Stock Exchange to investors in mining ventures to examine closely the position and prospects of propositions being placed on the market before subscribing, as while there were some that would yield a return for the money invested there were others which were, to say the least, doubtful. AN EARLY DAY FIELD Mr Banks went on to say that as a result of his tour, involving about 3700 miles of tranvelling by rail, motor car and on horseback, he had come back with an immense amount of data and useful information. After spending several days at Dunedin, where he made his headquarters, and acquired local knowledge, he proceeded to Alexander, a township of about 600 residents at the junction of the Molyneaux and Manuherikia Rivers, and in the early days famous for its dredging. To-day, however, mining was confined to a few gold fossickers, the chief industry of the district being sheep farming. Incidentally, Central Otago was the birthplace of gold dredging and evidence of the colossal amount of work done in past years could be seen by the huge tailing deposits on the river banks, extending at intervals from Miller’s Flat right up to the junction of the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers. FOSSICKERS AT WORK

On the Molyneaux River, between Coal Creek and Alexander, many gold fossickers were to be seen at work, mainly unemployed men who were receiving small subsidies from the Government, which they Avere trying to augment by washing gold-bearing-sand. One of their difficulties was the shortage of water for Avashing operations. Altogether, these men seemed to be a very contented lot and shoAved an optimism and enthusiasm so essential to a prospector for the precious metal. They were mostly living in caves which had been weathered out of the schist rock. Formerly these caves Avere the homes of hundreds of Chinese who Avashcd along the banks of the river for many miles. The amount of gold being Avon by the -present-day prospectors varied considerably. One party oi five for some little time past had averaged about a pennyweight a day per man. This, Avith the Government assistance, Avould pan out at about £2 5s per Aveek per man. These men, notwithstanding the combing operations of the early-day Chinese. Avtih their “grub” bill at about 10s a Aveek, Avere, for these times, making a fair living. THE CROMWELL FLAT From Alexander, passing through Clyde, another decadent gold dredging toAvn, he came to CroniAvell, situated at the junction of the KaAvarau and Clutha Rivers. In the course of his stay he met Mr L. Jolly, formerly on the staff of the Victoria mill a{ Waikino. The Crormvell Flat then had his attention and calling at the Bell-Hooper claim he reneAved his acquaintance Avith Mr L. Autridge the manager of the property and an old Thames School of Mines student. Mr Banks inspected the Avorkings and gold-saving plant and noted much activity on the flat, including tAvo prospecting shafts in the neighbourhood, put doAvn in the hope of striking leads. Leaving the CromAvell Flat the Clutha River Avas reached, and its banks traversed for some miles, and then the Bendigo Fiats or. the opposite side of the river, Avhere boring oyerations Avere being carried out and the huge alluvial flats hau been pegged out for miles. On returning to Alexander inspection l ; Avere made of the river lOAver doAvn.

A MODERN PLANT

The investigation of this area completed, Mr Banks returned to Dunedin, from whence lie proceeded to the south-east coast of Otago, and then to Lumsdcn, via Gore. From the latter place he visited the Nokomai Gold Mining Company's plant, where the drag-line excavator is in commission, a new device so far as gold mining operations in New Zealand are concerned. The whole plant, including gold saving devices, proved very interesting. Leaving Central Otago, the visitor proceeded to the West Coast, where he inspected the Rimu Gold Dredging Company's large dredge and plant, operating a short distance out from the town of Hokitika. By the courtesy of the manager, Mr Radford, he was given every facility for .studying the operations of the dredge, which is of modern type and of large capacity, working in difficult ground and at a depth averaging 4G feet, the material consisting of huge water-worn boulders. The capacity of the dredge is approximately 2,700,000 cubic yards per annum. i A PROMISING FIELD From Hokitika Mr Banks proceeded to Okarito, a distance of about DO miles, passing en route the Ross township. Okarito, situated on the West Coast, was once the scene of much mining activity. Riding down the coast, he inspected the Okarito dredge, Mr Mitchell, the dredgemaster, giving him every facility for seeing the plant working. It is a small type of dredge, but apparently quite suitable for the work it has to do. 'Phe material being dredged was practically all beach sand. At one time the beach had a population of 3000 and 30 hotels and in the early days miners were allotted an area of 24 square yards, which they worked by hand nietliQds, the gold being readily saved owing to its heavy nature. The West Coast areas appeared to present great possibilities for the winning of gold in the future. PASTORAL PROGRESS Touching on the general position Mr Banks said he was much impressed with the extent of the back conn-

try in the Canterbury and Otago districts, where the pastoral industry is mainly grain growing and sheep raising. It was surprising, he said, how sheep thrived in Central Otago, where for miles and miles the country seemed to be nothing more than schist rock with very scanty growth; yet the animals looked particularly fit.

The country abounded with rabbits; some of the smaller places practically existing on the proceeds from'the sal 5 of the skins, which, fortunately fpr those engaged, were now bringing a

good price. In the journey to the West Coast from Christchurch via the Otira tunnel the visitor was particularly struck with the sharp change in the scenery. Traversing the Canterbury Plains in a westerly direction towards the Alps, he passed through flat sheep country, with snow-clad

mountains in view all the way. After passing through the Otira tunnel the scene changed and a replica of North Island bush was to bo seen, duo to the heavy rainfall on the western side. The drive from Hokitika to Okarito was the most picturesque in the whole of his southern journoyings, with the snow-clad mount a'u tops as a background, including Mt. Cook.

Mr Banks paid a high tribute to

the accommodation afforded taavellers in the smaller places and particularly to the hospitality extended to visitors, while the travelling facilities were, on the whole, excellent.