QUARTZ-BEEFING IN OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3247, 3 July 1872, Page 5

QUARTZ-BEEFING IN OTAGO.

THE HHAd VATuhKY HEKFS. A coiTespoTident furnishes us with the

following :—

No doubt many of your readers are, as I was till lately., in a stale of comparative ignorance eh to the progress made at tho quarts: reefs lately discovered so near Dunedin, I mean those at Shag Valley, concerning which so much curiosity and speculation have been evinced, that I have ventured to afford what information I can.

It will be remembered that, some time ago, some of the citizens of Dunedin were driven by J. 0. Duncan on to the very scene of the proceedings, despite bad roads and every other difficulty. They were accompanied by a band of musicians, who created quite nn excitement on the way. Among the passengers waa that " canny cbiel," Duncan, the miller, and a friend of mine (to whom I am indebted for the following details), observing thin, determined, an he thought that gentleman would not be incurring expense for nothing, to obtain a scat in the coach and see the prospects. The works were reached after a few stoppage's, while the coach was passing some of the sidings, which might have been safe enough for goats ana donkeys, but were hardly suited to either horses or men. This is a matter which tho Government Hhould see to. For although the working of the reefs in, in a certain sense, a private undertaking, still surely it is the duty of the Government to assist in roadmaking. It would cost but little, and the benefit accruing to the revenue would amply repay the labour and expense. Numerous tents were scattered over the gullies, and two liouhcb had been erected for the crushing machinery, about half a mile distant from each other. The Perseverance Company's building is situate at the head of the valley, where tho workings are, and upon the line of reef known as the Ninety-acre or Disputed Claim Keef. Tim company had already made considerable progress, and my friend determined, it ho could find a good Samaritan who would give him lodging in his tent, to remain a few days on the ground, and see how things would turn out. He was successful in obtaining what he desired, through the kindness of Messrs Sutherland and Peterson, the prospec ors ; but, unfortunately, during tho night snow fell to the depth of six inches, rendering it impossible to move about with any degree of comfort. In the morning, all the men obtainable were employed in cutting a road to bring up an engine. My friend lent a helping hand ; and, in one day, a road was formed and the engine brought up to a building on the reef known as the Granite Hill Iteef. This building is much in advance of the others, and the machinery is by this time in working order. Within one week, despite tho snow, roads over a mile long, and several culverts, were made ; swamps were also partially drained ; and before my friend left, on the 29th ult, nearly three miles of road and ten culverts had been constructed ; tt*n chains of swamp had been pitched and gravelled ; a tunnel of 40ffc. had been cut through solid rock ; and many shafts, from sft. to 50ft. deep, had been sunk in seeking tho reef—the sinkings being attended with various results. Besides the different companies, a good many stray miners have marked off claims, and only await the result of the batteries before commencing to work. At present there are three principal reefs, on which claims are taken up. The Ninety Acres claim, taken tip by Ball and party, runs nearly east and west, sloping towards the north. All the other reefs slope in the name direction. It has all the appearance of being a good claim. Adjoining this is tho disputed claim. Some parts of it appear to be rich, but in others the quartz is only from 0 inches to 2 feet thick. At a short distance is the Perseverance Company's claim. It rmiß westerly, and looks well, the quart', being from 2 to 4 feet thick. Several other claims are marked off alongside the Perseveranco, but the reefs arc not yet struck. The Granite Hill reef is situated about half a mile south of the Perseverance, and claims have been taken up fur miles round it. It runs from 3 to 5, feet in. thickness, but the quality is not yet ascertained. About half a mile distant in the Duke of Sutherland reef, and adjoining it also several claims are taken up.

Over £100 have been already paid by the Perseverance and Granite Hill Companies for miners' rights, on account of themselves and their men ; and this sum is likely to bo increased very considerably. They have also about forty-six men employed in making roads and dams, and fitting up machinery. Nine teams of bullocks are also at work, besides several teams of horses, carting coal and other material to the grounds of these two companies. The work done in so short a time is really marvellous. Messrs G. and J. Duncan, in company with two men from Cherry Farm, were the first to fix their tont upon the ground, about.the 20th of May last, and on the 27th of the same month, a good number of men were sent from Duncdin. On the 31st Mr G. Duncan again visited the ground, and the same day his machinery (for the Granite Hill Reef) from Wilson's Foundry arrived. A few days later that of the Perseverance Company was taken up from Messrs Kincaid and M'Queen's foundry. In leas than four weeks Mr Duncan's machinery was at work, and in the first i twelve hours five tons of stone were I crushed by five head of stampers, the machinery working beautifully, without a hitch. The Perseverance Company commenced crushing operations on the Ist inst, the machinery being in full working order. Besides the reef already mentioned, there are several of hers in the district which have not yet been prospected, and the Government ought to be very careful in selling land between the Dunback district and the Pleasant and Waikouaiti Rivers before the country thereabouts is thoroughly prospected. Some of the best and richest reefs in these districts are on private property, .and are not being worked; whereas, bad the land been in the hands of the Government, claims would have "been immediately taken up, and a considerable sum thereby added to the revenue of the Province.

These are a few of the particulars gleaned from my friend when lie went t6 £pc what the prospects were. They seem to

be highly encouraging, and hence the reason for my troubling: you with them.

THK 2IONBZB BEEF AT WAIPORI. Another correspondent writes to us as follows :—

The Pioneer Quartz R«ef at Waipori furnishes a striking instance of how our mineral wealth may be extracted if miners are only assisted by capitalists. Borne years ago this mine, although, successfully work«d for & length of time by the miners themselves* had to be given up, as their engine proved not powerful enough: and not finding the expected support at the Bank, the company was wound tip, and the claim and plant sold by public auction, the Buccessf ul purchaser being Mr James Manning, of Walker street, Duncdin. Powerful machinery was thon erected, ract*s cut, and all other necessary work done, and a manager from Victoria procured. The works, however, were afterwards placed under the management of Mr Kichard Wubb, a local miner, by whom they are still conducted, and under whose supervision they are quietly and satisfactorily progressing. A broad face of stone in being steadily worked by a ntimber of miners, who thus find remunerative employment, while the reef returns fortnightly to its fortunate owner, a cake of gold weighing from 75 to 80 ozs.

Capitalists in Dunedin and elsewhere in many instances seem to labour under the mistaken idea that quartz reefing in Obigo doea not pay, but this particular claim is only one out of many, where a timely assistance with capital proves not only satisfactory to all parties directly concerned, but is also calculated to further the progress of our Province generally.