DEFIANCE.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 32, 22 June 1877, Page 2

DEFIANCE.

Wednesday, June 20. The past week has been one of rather more than usual activity in the vicinity of Murray Creek* and the most noticeable item in connection with mining affairs that may be recorded is, that after a long and tedious coarse of work the reef has at length been intersected in the low tunnel of this Company's mine. The intelligence that the lode had been struck become circulated throughout the district during the latter pnrt of last week, but the various statements as to the actual value of the discovery were so conflicting, and considering also the great loss and disappointment J that was experienced by vague rumors at the early development of this field, that I deemed it advisable to visit the mine and personally inspect the lode before furnishing any information respecting its character. Accordingly, I proceeded to the claim this morning, and was permitted to enter the tunnel, which is 860 feet in length from the mouth to the turn-table. There is then a cross drive 150 feet in length, at which point (he lode has been met with. The face at the present time shows about two feet of a reef, and the appearance of the quartz is of a highly gold bearing character, being precisely the same class of btone as the Golden Fleece. I broke several pieces from the floor of the drive, also from the roof and face, and in every piece gold is shown in snob % quantity that it may at the lowest estimate be set down as ounce and a-half stono. From the locality of the mine and position of the workings/ it must ce*tainly be admitted that the striking of this reef on this particular level is indeed a most important find, and this assertion may be bo/ne out by the following particulars of the workings. Tuere are three tunnels, on different, levels in the mine. In the middle tunnel three feekof stone isex« posed, and having prospected the same, it may be stated fully equal in quality to the lode just intersected. In a lower tunnel, 150 feet below the middle level, the lode is again intersected, showing ex cellent gold, and at a point forty feet to the south of the perpendicular line of the shaft above. On the opposite side of the range, and on the north boundary, the Golden Fleece Company is rising stone nearly five hundred feet from the surface yielding upon an average of nearly two ounces to the ton. From the above it will be seen that the striking of the reef in this Company's tunnel proves the existence of payable stone on the south side of the range and the continuation of the «Golden Fleece line of reef in this .direction, and also shows a well defined lode living down 150 feot lower than was pre* previously shown in this company's ground, which certainly warrants the assertion that the development of the resources of this field are but in their infancy, ftnee the reef has been crossed, nothing further inside the mine has been done. Preparations are now being made for opening a chamber, and the first work will be to drive along the course of the reef to connect the shaft with this tunnel, and which is already sunk to a depth of 90 feet, thus requiring 60 feet to rise to open communication. On the completion of this work the present level will command 150 feet of backs, and if the reef maintains its present character, with 400 feet of untried ground to the boundary of the Golden Fleece, it will indeed be a property of no mean value.