Original Correspondence.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 795, 22 November 1865, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

o OTAGO QUARTZ REEFS. ,(5b the Editor qf the Evening Star.) Sir —The Bruce Herald, speaking of a quartz reef recently brought to light near Waitahuna says :—“ The original discoverer really found the reef three years and a half ago, but not being in a position to profit by his discovery he said very little about it. ” During my tour through the province as Secretary to the Otago Committee, to obtain exhibits from the various districts, I met with more than one instance of miners knowing the existence of reefs “ but not being in a position 7 ’ to work them, naturally declined talking about them, and giving the benefit of their discoveries to others. On this fact the idea suggested itself to me that -if -a small quartzcrushing machine for testing purposes were at work during the Exhibiton, it would be the means of enabling discoverers to have their reef tested. At a meeting of the Otago Committee the subject was brought forward, and that body favorably entertaining it, but not being in sufficient funds to carry out the scheme, invited the Commissioners so to do. Those gentlemen declining, the Government was next appliedto, asking them either to exhibit a small testing machine, or to place the committee in sufficient funds to enable it to do so. The subjoined memorandum was laid before them by the deputation. The necessary amount was placed upon the estimates, .brought before the Council and lost by, I believe, "one vote. It should be here observed that the then Treasurer, who although present when the deputation for the committee waited upon the Government, in bringing the vote before the Council seemed as conversant with the subject “ as the man in the moon. ” Members who voted against the grant have since said that had they been made acquainted with the purport for which they were asked to vote the money, the result would have been otherwise. Had an experimental battery been at work during last summer, who can say how many reefs would how be in active operation, and how many West Coast diggers would still be amongst us ? Is it now too late for th© Government to take up the matter ? I am, Sir, yours obediently, H. Wavmouth. Dunedin, Nov. 22nd, 1865.

MEMO. RESPECTING CRUSHING MACHINE FOR NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION. Ist. Many reefs known to be auriferous cannot, under present circumstances, be tested as to their yield of gold per ton of stuff, there being no means in the Province for efficiently making a trial crushing-. 2nd. The Royal Commissioners having undertaken to provide steam power and water for machinery in general, the working expenses would be comparatively small. 3rd. Were the experiments conducted under the supervision of a body o'f competent -and trustworthy persons, such experiments would, afford most reliable information as to the richness of the reefs so tested, and would thereby secure the confidence of capitalists to invest the funds necessary for their development, 4th. Should the present favorable opportunity of thus prospecting the the numerous gold-bear-ing reefs of this Province be allowed to pass by unavailed, they may be for years to come, or for ever, dormant; whilst on the other hand, if opened out they will become the source of wealth not only to their proprietors but to the Province generally. sth. From the abundant supply of water in this Province, quartz-crushing machinery could be worked by that power instead of by the expensive one of steam; and consequently, reefs too poor to be profitably worked where steam power is required, would pay handsomely here. 6th. A battery of five heads would cost, say three hundred pounds. Under the most unfavorable circumstances, it would -sell for, say one hundred and fifty pounds. The working expenses for three months—the Commissioners supplying steam and water, according to their planted decisions—would be, say forty pounds. Therefore, at the cost of about two hundred pounds, the Province, as to its gold-bearing reefs, could be thoroughly tested, and the question as to their value for ever set at rest. P.S.—Were it to become known that a testing machine would be in operation during the Exhibition—say the first three months of the ensuing year,—it would stimulate many to undertake prospecting this summer. The probable results of their researches would be further discoveries of payable reefs.