GABRIELS QDAKrz PROSPECTING am past.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 18

GABRIELS QDAKrz PROSPECTING am past.

The Tuapeka Times gives Ihe followingaccount of the work being clone at this claim: — As far as the existing conditions permit one to judge, the preliminary work on which the men are engaged is proceeding satisfactorily, and there are not wanting some evidences of a reassuring nature as to the futiu-e possibilities of tue ground. The shaft is down some 80ft, and is timbered throughout, a proceeding rendered necessary by the j fai'okeu and generally unreliable Datauio of

the ground. After getting down to iLe daptli mentioned, a drive was put in, ru-.u.ing: proity well in a westerly direction. After going about 3ffc or 4 ft, the reef was struck. It was then decided to put a drive in, running north, which they did for about 35ft, running along the reef. They subsequently drove 14-ft or 15ft south from the crosscut, and went off the run of the reef. They then appear to have taken another crosscut, goiiTg pretty well north-west, and ofter procee'ling- about 12ft from the cut another lode. was struck. They drove on tins for about 30ft and found that it gradually "dropped off iv a 'southerly direction. Ab their object has. been to tap the old tunnel, which runs from the gully into the hill some 960 ft, for purposes of speedy and economical working, it will be apipareut that the ground chosen for the sinking of the shaft intended to supply air to the old tunnel did not quite favour tlie purpose in view as well as could be wished. Had they sunk on the saddle some short distance away, there is now reason to assume they would have been ranch nearer the shoot, and at the same time driving away from the water. However, these mistakes, under such circumstances, are inseparable from work of tins kind. The quartz that was broken in the old days appears to have run down into the bottom tunnel. The party have been sinking down for this, but up to the present have not been succesful in finding it. Some of the stone found shows gold freely — that in the reef running, north being plainly visible, as it also does, in the lode feu ad about 12ft from the east crosscut referred to, which was, lost after going about 30ft south. In fact, there appears to be no scarcity of stone — any quantity of it, as the saying- goes, — and prospects can be obtained from most of it by washing it in the dish. It is noticeable that the stone shows a ■very large percentage of iron, and absorbed by this or under- its surface gold always finds a lodgment. I should easily imagine that in the old days, 30 years ago or more, the treatment and separation of these two bodies must have been a serious, if not an insuperable, difficulty to those engaged in the working of the reef. But since then many things have happened, including a revolution in the treatment of ore, so what was then an impossible task is now perfectly easy of accomplishment. They are at present driving in the solid, and by breaking into the line of reef at intervals here and there are enabled to keep their bearings and understand where they are going. The men tell me they are now fairly on the track of the old shoot, and are confident of striking it within a very short time. On Monday night, they tell me, they cut the old workings. As regards the economy of labour, the difference between the present and that time is that when they get to the shoot they will be able to truck the mullock out from the lower tunnel, whereas now it has to come up through the shaft. This, it will be seen, is a matter of some consideration. '

Up to the present the work has absorbed something like £400. This may perhaps be regarded as a large amount, considering that it has been expended un work of a purely initial nature and, in a sense, unproductive. But this is not quite tbe case. Those familiar with such work will understand how very little, even under the most favourable conditions, such expenditure can do. and they will also know that though in the eyes of the shareholder it may not appear to bear visible fruit, yet iho work it may have done, is just as profitable as if it were actually dividend-bearing. I am of course presuming that all the other conditions are favourable, and in this instance all the appearances aeem to warrant

that presumption. The difficulty, I can easily conceive, is the sinews of* war Quartz has not the attractions in this district of other forms of mining, and in consequence there is

a desire to hedge off after a certain limit of

expenditure has been reached. I don't know whether in this instance that desire exists, but if it should it is a pity, and a fatal mistake will be made. After the shoot has been struck the work must proceed more rapidly, and, eoinoidontally, much more cheaply. This being so, in a little time a point will have heeu reached wlien expert opinion may be freely pronounced. At present, as I have intimated, the indications are in the highest degree reassuring. There is clearly an abundance of stone, though even as yet only a comparative estimate or idea can be formed of it. That

it is gold-bearing is also apparent, though to

v.'hat extent one can only speculate. But, as [ v/e know, the percentage of gold needed to- | day to make quartz mining payable is very , small indeed. And I venture to say in this > instance that, there is not the slightest doubt 1 whatever that under any circumstances the i reef is now certain of being worked for everyf thing it is worth. Should such a thing happen • as its abandonment by the present company, t it would most assuredly be taken \ip again — j taken up either by a syndicate or with the ; .ultimate intention of putting it into the hands I of a syndicate. It is therefore to be hoped that tl>e"present company will not be prevented either by the want of means or confidence from carrying on operations up to a further pomt — a point which' wifl allow of the

expression of a more decided opinion than is

now exactly possible."' "~ • '. If I am. correctly informed, 'prospecting • operations are at present directed by a few . shareholders. This method, one may remark, (is not a good one nor profitable. At the pre- | sent moment, much more than in the future, I everything depends on the presence of a

thoroughly practical and experienced man in

the position of manager. And under his sole direction the work should be carried on. I?or pecuniary reasons, perhaps this may not be, and, if so, one can only regret the circumstance.

Las been- declared in the Golden Treasure Dreag-. ing Company payable on Tuesday, 24th inst. Golden Treasure returns for tee last week : 7oz gold. The secretary of the Ode Dredging- Company (Limited) reports a }ieli <t Soz for last week. Itiver 4fc above normal raa^/i. The secretary of the l/i.-a Rock Dredging Company (Mr Neville Sievwr : ght.) reporfca the return of 7oz for 126 hours' dredgiog. The Dunedin Dredge return is 13|oz for the . week. The prospects are improving. The Molyneux Hydraulic Company's return last week was 13oz s<lsvt 18gr, value £5i 3s Id. The diedge was deLycd a good bit pw.iug to tiie of a wincir being broken. The new wheel arrived from Dunedia.and was fitted into its glace on Monday.— Dunirtan Times. 'The Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Company (Limited) obtained last week from No. 1 dredge lloz of gold for 124 hours' dredging. The Jutland Flat (W&ipori) Gold Mining Compaiiy (Limited) obtained last week 30oa 14dwt of gold for Hi hours' wages time— l 37 hours' actual dredgiug.