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Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 352, 5 February 1903, Page 4

BANNOCKBURN.

(From our own Correspondent.) QUARTZ-MINING.

Quartz-mining on the Carrick, which in the early days was a healthy industry, but during the past few years has been allowed to languish, is likely to receive a fresh impetus shortly. Mr Donald Reid, jun., representing a Dunedin syndicate, was up here a week or two back, inspecting the old Caledonian Reef, with the object of ascertaining whether or not it is worth further development. This reef, years back, yielded very rich returns ; but, as it ran out, the then proprietors did not consider it profitable to work deeper into the hill, being of the opinion that the lode would not be struck deeper than they bad worked. However, that matter remains to be proved, and everyone hopes that the syndicate's efforts will be handsomely rewarded. Further up the hill, at the old "Star" reef, Mr Geo. Lawrence is working steadily, but I do not think that he has struck anything phenomenal in the quartz line so far. On the other side of the hill, nearly opposite the Star workings, Mr J. B. Holliday has been prospecting for a reef during the last six years, but although he has struck several small " leaders," he has not yet hit on the main lode, which yielded several " piles" in the palmy days of the Carrick. COAL-MINING. In spite of the general slackness of the coal trade, and the ability of the Colleries Company to supply the present demand, competitors are trying to come into existence. Messrs E. Jones and G. Geoffrey are sinking a shaft on to Ridland and Anderson's old seam, about a mile above the Excelsior mine in the Bannockburn Creek. Though the quality of the coal in this seam is of a very good quality, the cost of winning it will, I think, be too great to allow the party to have a chance of making any great difference in the eutgftt of the o©lfo*tes Oo&famy. j