REEFTON GOLD DISCOVERY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 8

REEFTON GOLD DISCOVERY.

GEOLOGIST'S REPORT.

DETAILED TESTS NECESSARY.

(By Telegraph.-.Parliamentary Eeporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

A few months ago the newspapers contained sensational accounts of a new gold discovery at Alexander River, beI tween Stevenson's flat on the Inangahua River and the Big Grey River. The annual report of the Geological Depart,ment contains detailed but cautious re-ferences to the discovery as the result of inspection by ■Mγ. P. G. M-organ, Government geologist, who states that until m<ucfo more 'trentfhling and come driving has been done on the lodes it is not possible to state what the prospects of the Alexander River field really are.No mine o r mining district can be safely judged by surface prospects alone, much lese by reports of ibiassed or nontechnical oteervers. The Bull lode itself, the ma/in feature of the field, in spite of all that has been said, remains a mere prospect, though one that deserves a thorough test. It offers a possibility to the speculator, but nothing that 'would, tempt the cautious investor. Members of the pulblic should not allow, their judgment to be influenced iby the fact that a small amount, of tolerably rich auriferous quartz has been obtained, and beffore thinking seriously of investing in the supposed iBl Dorado shojuld await the results that can "be obtained by a moderate expenditure on trenching and driving.

Dealing in detail with the Bull reef the report states that the samples averaged £3 13/7 per ton in gold, and the geologist considers the outcropping quartz not payable at present. He makes a suggestion for testing the - possibilities of the reef, adding: "The difference between the reports publisihed in various newspapers and the reality is so great that one finds it hard to form a dispassionate opinion concerning the occurrence. Disregarding- all statements I liave heard or read and relying on what I have seen, I would say that the Bull reef fa well worth prospecting. So far as exposed it is of workable width; it contains some payable ore, and may pofsibly yield an appreciable amount of hiigh-grade ore. For the present, however, it would Ibe best to take little account <*f the latter possibility. The lode, though at present difficult of access, is otherwise favourably situated fox economical working; mining timber is abundant, and ample water power for a battery, etc., can be obtained from Alexander River and other streams."