OUR DEEP LEVELS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 69, 21 March 1894, Page 5

OUR DEEP LEVELS.

EXPERT MURRAY'S REPORT.]

THAMES AND COROMANDEL.

(BT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, this day. Mr Murray has forwarded to the Minister for Minea a voluminous report of for by pages foolscap. Speaking generally, he reports favourably on deep-sinking ab the Thames, Reefton and Otago. With respect to the Thames, he has no hesitation in expressing the opinion, based on personal observation and reliable information, bhab exhaustive tests by means of deep-sinking are mosb advisable, and thab expendibure on necessary pumping appliances would be fully warranted by general indications. As a precautionary measure, and in view of the great cost, of sinking a deep shaft and erecting necessary plants, he advises preliminary boring, nob by any meanß to prospecb for auriferous quartz, because no method is more unreliable with suc^i an object in view, bub bo ascertain whebher the sofb tufaceous rocks really do continue to any considerable depth below whab has beon reached in the deepest mine. If this is prOved to be the case, then deep sinking will be amply justified; bub if, on the other hand, hard breccias be shorbly meb with. The prospect of sinking will wear a promising aspect. As a locality for such boring he recommends the vicinity of the Queen of Beauty, shaft. From its position and size, ib seems the mosb suitable to select for deeper sinking, provided it be in the proper condition. He also recommends the continuance of the Moanabaiari tunnel,. as this will afford a highway to, and facilities, for prospecting a . large area of likely ground, the upper portions of which are very rich. He saya there is likely to be a diversity of local opinion as to the direction of the tunnel, bub, from whab he saw, he considers the direction should be deviated somewhat to the north-east, but local experience aud judgment should carry weight in such a matter. He also recommends prospecting bhe country between Karaka and Hape Creekso by sinking bhrough posb tertia deposits into, the tufaceous rocks, and then crossdriving in the latter. If a deep shaft be sunk near the Queen of Beauty, exploring drives should be extended southwards towards Hape Creek, and westward towards the Gulf, as it is quite possible auriferous rocks extend far under the sea, and recent accumulations in its bed, and may be worked ab such depths that no influx from water need be apprehended. He says very litble about Coromandel beyond tbab the two lodes known as Kapanga Beef and Scotty's Reef show no sign of their dying downwards, and their tracks are ' continuous longtitudinally aa followed. Very little exploration has been carried on in the way of driving along bhem in search of other blocks. He thinks absolute verification of bhe statement aboub gold being discovered in the winze, which was put down aba distance of 150 ft from the mouth of the low level tunnel of Tokabea would be most important and encouraging to further exploration.