GOLD DISCOVERY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 142, 6 July 1888, Page 2

GOLD DISCOVERY.

* RICH REEF AT JACKSON'S HEAD. (Evening Post, July 5.) For many years past the existence of goldbearing reefs at Jackson's Head; Cook's Strait, has been recognised, aud a claim known as Turner's, or the RavenseliiT mine, was for a considerable period worked by a company. Gold was obtained but net m paying quantity, and the works were abandoned, chiefly owing to the difficulty m 'saving the gold. Ultimately about 30 acres of the^land immediately around the old "workings was included m the Endeavour Inlet Antimony Company's lease, and passed from them to the more recently formed New Zealand Antimony Company. Some six or seven months ago a small parcel of stone was sent Home, ans. the directors had it treated there. The result was a return at the rate of 4ozs to the ton, of free gold, and another ounce of chemical process. This was deemed so satisfactory that tho London directors at once sent out instructions to get a large parcel of stone out, and some iive or six tons were according procured and forwarded by the. Doric on her last trip. It should reach London to-day, The men employed m getting this stone were kept at work to procure anothor two tons from a lower level by sinking, and a few. days ago, while ho engaged under thc direction of Mr Wearne, the Antimony Company's manager, they struck a large mass of extraordinarily rich quartz. Mr Wearne forwarded by post to the business manager here, Mr N. Reid, a sampie of this stone. It is a-lump as large nearly as a man's fist, and it is literally studded with lumps bi: virgin gold. There aro veins of the solid i^ctal running through' it, afld the magnifying glass shows .the existence of fine gold throughout the stone. Mr Wearne wires that a large parcel of splendid specimens, as well as two tons ofthe general stone, for shipment to England are being forwarded by the s.s. Waverley, due here on Saturday. The discovery is a most important one, and of particular interest to Wellington, owing to the short distance of Jackson's Head from our port. There is also strong reason for believing that the auriferous belt extends across the strait, and that due search would." strike it m the neighbourhood of. Terawhiti. Further developements and information will be anxiously awaited. It is a fortunate circumstance that the find has been made on the pronely of a company j possessing auiplw lusaW' to fully te^t ito value, j