THE LONDONDERY REEF, COOLGARDIE.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LONDONDERY REEF, COOLGARDIE.

♦ (Special correspondent Perth Daily News, July 3rd.) And now let me say a word as to the mine itself, after having visited the claim. It is sitnated about 11 miles south-west of Coolgardie, and is really a great blow, projecting from three to four feet from the surface. The lucky holders are — Messrs. Carter, Dawson, Mills, Gardener, of New South Wales, and Messrs. Elliot and Huxley, of Victoria — all 'tother-siders, enterprising, energetic, laborious. They first formed into a party at Coolgardie in February of this year, and notwithstanding the almost hopeless outlook from the water aspect, resolved; with that indomitable pluck that has charactered the prospecting operations of the Easterners — to make for the interior. Lake Lefroy was selected as the most likely spot to make new discoveries. But they were unfortunate — as co many have been unfortunate in pioneering. They decided to return, and disheartened, disspiiited, and poorer in pocket, they pitched their camp on the Bth May last about 1 2 miles from Coolgardie, in a south-westerly direction. The country was highly auriferous, and as was the custom with prospectors, after camp had been pitched they went out to test the the country. They tell me it was Mills that made the discovery with which almost the whole civilised world is now ringing. He was about a mile or a mile and a half from camp, when he came across one of the many large blows, which are so characteristic of the country. He was astonished, on rubbing his hand across a protruding piece of stone, to see the gold standing out prominently. Quicker than it takes to write it, he had knocked a large piece off the boulder, an I at his feet lay a magnificent specimen, literally studded with coarse gold, while before him, dazzling his eyes wjth its brightness and richness, was a magnificent reef of almost pure gold — a fortune ! Thus it is that all our richest gold discoveries are made — unexpectedly, suddenly. Mills lost no time in takii«g several pieces from the reef. These he placed in bis bosom, and carefully covering the reef with earth, he found his mates, and communicated to them the startling intelligence. The camp was next reached, hastily struck, and removed to the locality of the discovery. Next morning a lease of 25 acres was pegged off, and iLe adjoining blocks at each end were also taken up during the wt ek. In the moantime, they set to work to further examine the reef, and stored the precious metal in their tent. They also commenced to systematically develop the property. One of the partners went into the town and bought a dolly — the largest one he could procure. Then it was that the richness of the mine was made apparent. In one da}', working on some marvellously-rich stone, they dollied 1000 ounces, and in a short time they had between four and five thousand ounces in the tent. On June 23rd, the partners decided to place this large quantity of gold in safer quarters. They describe how they packed it up into several swags, and in a cart, in charge of two of the party, safely landed the treasure at the Union Bank. The manager weighed the stone in the presence of the lucky holders, aud it turned the scales at 4,280 ounces. It was a few days after this that the discovery became known to the public. On Friday, a number of gentlemen interested in mining here, including Mr. Begelhole, Mr. Scantlebury, Mr. Bobertson and several others, visited the locality. They were at first refused permission to see the mine, but the partners, after consultation, eventually decided to lay bare their treasure. It was a wonderful sight ! Even to Mr. Begelhole, who more than any man in Coolgardie must have had a surfeit of " specimens," the exhibition was marvellous, and the opinion was expressed — by men, too, whose opinion is weighty and reliable — that we were standing face to face with the richest mine yet found in Australia ! To use Mr. Begelhole's words — " If she goes down, there's millions in her." Mr. Scantlebury offered the proprietors £25,000 cash for halfshare of the concern. But it was refused, and it was evident that no offers of purchase would be entertained. The owners evidently intend to keep the good things in the Londonderry for themselves ! The reef is described as of ironstone formation and of glassy nature. The gold runs through the stone in coarse lumps, and those who have minutely inspected the specimens express the opinion that about onefourth of the ore is solid gold. The reef is about 3 feet 6 inches wide, and the stone comes away in large pieces. There is a history attached to the biggest of these specimens, and which is known as " Big Ben." It was amongst the first pieces that came away from the reef, and is remarkable for the fact that it contains more gold than ore. It weighs about 240 lbs. Elliott, who has had consiberable mining experience in Victoria and New South Wales, decided to possess this specimen, and it wae agreed that he should have it on payment of £2000 to his mates. It is, roughly speaking, worth £3,500. . I may mention that Dawson and Carter are practically out of the mine, they having sold their interests for £3000 each. Huxley and Mills have secured Dawson's, and Carter's has been bought by Elliott, who now holds a third of the mine, and " Big Ben." It is estimated that there is in sight gold to the value of £25,000.