QUARTZ REEF AT CANADA.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 84, 9 November 1865, Page 4

QUARTZ REEF AT CANADA.

fFrom our 1 bpecial Reporter.)

About three years a^o, there was some little excitement caused in this- neighborhood uy the reported existence of a quartz feel somewhere in the vicinity of the Canada Bush. Numerous detached parties of miners were then, and ! have been ever since, working in the gullies between that, YVaitahuna, Wooished, and Tokoinairiro, and everywhere gold has. been found in large or small quantities. In fact, the color is obtainable everywhere, and there appeared strong grounds tor the belief that a veritable reef did exist in the locality. The exact position, however, was a matter ot doubt; j and, as no reliable information on this point, could be obtained, the fact of the discovery was discredited, and although- m:my people ir.ed very hard, and spent considerable labor in searching for the reefj no result followed. A few we< ks ago the rumor was revived, and it was soon ascertained that a mining lease of ten acres had been applied lor and taken up by a Waitahuna company,. Since that time, two other adjoining blocks, of five anil ten acres r.spectively, have b.en applied for and taken up. The original discoverer really ibund the reef s.nne throe years and a half ago, but not being then- in a position to profit by his discovery, lie said ve:y little about it, although, of course, something did leak ouU Since that time he has been working at up-country dig jjin^s; but, returning a lew weeks ago to YVaitahuna, he made known his discovery to five otbiiis,, and, in conjunction with them, took up the ten- acre lease. On Monday last, I visited tbe place. Starting from Tokomairiro by the Canada Bush road, an easy ride of about 7 miles and a* half brought me to the place. Turning Irom the roau into -a gully on the ltfc hand, 1 found a neat little iron ami { mud house just erected by the original proprietor, who, by-the-bye, is a Dane, and who has just brought his wife and family to- the place. G.oiug down, 1 and my companions were most courteously received by the members of the company who were present, amongst whom were Messrs Costicx and Hamii ton of Waitaii'una As" soon as infoimed oi the object of my visit, they led tbe way over the spur into a blind gully overlooking the north, branch of the Tokomairiio.' A *mall excavation showed the reel plainly. The cap, composed ot bastard stone, and about four fVet through, is about three feet below the surface. Tiit-n the true reef commences, runriiutf E. by N. W. by & it- in three feet four inches thick, and is- embedded in blue slatt rock, which dips towards i*. The stone is true quartz, and bears a close resemblance to that of the Ciunes reef in Victoria. The prospectors have sunk some, eighteen feet alongside tfce retf, and it appears to run straight down. A drive through it below showed tlu same thickness as above. Gold is plainly distinguishable with the nuked eye in almost every piece of stone broken from the reef. In the samples taken from below, it is apparently more plentiful thaii in that irom tfte top. The gold is very tine, and it is estimated that the stone will yield from 7 to 12 dwts.. per ton; A shoot- «>i a. few hundred yards will canvey t'le.stoiie from the tunnel which it is intended to drive along the reel; to the river, below where there is plenty of wood for burning, anil where there is also ample water power to-work the crushing machinery. I believe that kjs probable that tbe parties who have taken up claims on the reef will amalgamate, and form a joint-stoct company. Steps have already been taken toward* obtaining the requisite machinery to work the reef lu the opinion of experienced men,' the Canada reef is likely to ptove the richest yet discoyered.in this province ; and 1 am. sure that all ".nv readers will cordially join with me iu wishing that iE may prove so, and amply reward the industiy and perseverance of the discoverers.