An Important Discovery.

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1893, Page 4

An Important Discovery.

GOLD AND SILVER FOUND AT PARIHAKI. Two or three -weeks ag-o we mentioned that some stone from Parihnki assayed by Mr George Clark-Walker had yielded 59 oxs. of silver. Considerable doubt was expressed at the time as to the genuineness of the matter, but since then independent samples were sent to Mr Rhodes, of the Bank of N.Z., Paeroa, and to the School of Mines, Thames, Avith the result that both samples had yielded not only silver, but over an ouuee of gold to the ton. These samples were sent away respectively by Mr Neil McLean and Mr W. A. Carruth. For one sample, MiRhodes gives over £6 value per ton, and that that -wont to the Thames School of Mines, over £5 value per ton is returned. In both cases, the stuff is said to contain over one ounce of gold to the ton. The stuff sent away was taken from tlio properties of Messrs Rej r burn Bros. and. Mr D. Horn's. The "cement" containing the metal has none of the usual appearances of metalliferous ore. It looks more like cement than anything else, and few miners would think of looking at it for precious metals. In fact, wo believe Mr Rhodes, who has a wide acquaintance with all sorts of ores, was nearly rejecting the stuff without a trial, and was so surprised with the result that lie specially asked Mr Carruth to go himself and select some more of the stuff with a view of making a confirmatory test. However, that is not now necessary •as the stuff sent independently to the School of Mines, confirms the bona fide value of the stuff. The Parahaki hill is only separated from the township of Whangarei by the river. It is a kaolin formation, easily and cheaply worked, and if the stuff occurs in quantity it will prove a veritable gold mine indeed to the fortunate owners. It is all private property. The ore does not appear to occur as a lode or vein, but in an immense face. The occurrence in fact answers more nearly to the Waihi gold-bearing* formation than to anything else we know of. The ore -will require the Cassell process for treatment most likely.