LONGWQOD NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1476, 28 February 1880, Page 22

LONGWQOD NOTES.

(FKOM ODB OWN COBBESPONDENT. ) Kiveuton, February 19 th. A party consisting of Messrs Bain and Hirst, M.H.E.'s ; Mitchell, chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board ; Nugent Wood, KM. ; and Oaborne, visited Prinlz's claim, Longwood, on Thursday. The result of a conversation with these gentlemen, moct of whom have no interest in the mineß, convinces ma that a most valuable discovery has been made, the full extent of which can only be as yet guessed at. Some remirkably rich quartz has been taken out, and I have Been specimens of some of the crushed stone, and also of the stone as taken out. This stone would undoubtedly go hundreds of ounces to the ton. A. greit many pieces of the gold are larger than a j.in'n head. There ia a good deal of ironsand mixed up with the gold. A sample of quartz ha* been taken out and sealed up, and ia to be crushed and carefully weighed off !>y two of the local bankers, and the result will be telegraphed to you in a few days. As tho machinery will be erected within three months, and the question of tho quantity of good Btono available will Boon be teßted,there is nothing to justify a premature opinion. All I can say is that if the lode turns out a-j many competent man ■who have setn it expects, one <4 the lLOst wonderful quartz mines in New Zealand will . Boon be developed. The mine is now in 50,000 Bhar>"B, of the nominal valu9 of LI ; 12* paid np, leaving 8j to call up. Of thes« shares Print z, who is n rum of large independent meaDS, hold* 33,000. The quoted price is 13a. Several adjoining claims will bo in the market with scrip ; but except the Goelong, which has Bunk a shaft on to the reef, none of them have proved their claims at all . Dnnedin capitalists should set their faces against tho wild speculation which will probably follow on Printz's first crushing. {Western Star, February I'st). A very lar^e number of Invercargill residents have visited Print z's claim this week, all of whom were admitted into the claim, and each party allowed to wash a prospect;, which in every caae was very rich. On Thursday, Mr Warden Wood, Measrs Henry Hirst and Jas. W. Bain, M lI.IL's ; MiSßra J, W. Mitchrll and H. B. Ooborne, viaited tb« claim in company with Mr Printz After inspecting the mine a small prospect was washed, the gold obtained from winch Wftß submitted for eale by auction amonpwt those presflnt by Mr OsWue, Mr Will becoming the purchaser at £2 2s. It ia estimated that there w»3 at least one cunce of gold in the dish. Mr Oaborne was allovred to take a few pounds weight cf stone, with a view to eiushing and te«Ung it in. InvaroargiU. A email parcel of Etone was oho taken from a leader tiear the mouth of the tunnel, with a view to beiDg tested to the ton. The work of erecting the bvttery is being pfyM pn, Although unexpected da

lays aometimeti occur from tho ab3":tce of nweosßuy- mato'.iftl. It vi abated that no more shares will ba sold in this company until after A crashing has beea obtained from the mill.

Some excitement was caused in the e%ily part of the week by a rumour tbat a gentleman representing some Dunedin speculators had purchased Mr E. R. Ford's claim for £4000. Tha ground ia situated eas b of and adjoining I'rintz's claim, between the Duffer and Dauiela' No. 3 loaaeu, and is at preatni held under minera' rights Ifc was formerly held by the old Wallace Company, who after expending a considerable sum in patting in a drive of some length, abandoned it. Messrs Ford and party ailerwards took it up, and obtained very encouraging prospects. The rumour of tho purchaoe at the sum natael wa« generally regarded as a canard, but on makit'g inquiries we believe ifc is substantially correct. Mr Anderaon (the gentleman who has bought the ground) visited the Lwgwood last week with a view to speculating, if after inspection he felt warranted in doing so. After inspecting the drive in Ford's claim, he was so favourably impressed with, the prospects thereof that a few day 3 afterwards he concluded its purchase on the basis of the sum named. Messrs Ford and party still retain an interest in the mine, and it ia tae intention of tao new proprietary to apply for a leased x and thereafter throw it into a company. The ground in the neighbourhood of bpoclmen Gully is attracting fresh attention, and several parties have started during the week to proappc!; there. From the large quantity of roef gold obtained from time to time in tbe gullies in that neighbourhood, it is beyond doubt but that, practically directed and sustained, prospecting will ultimately dissover payable reefs there. Advices reaoh us of several parties working in the Longwood Range, near Merrivale and Ofcau'iKU, who are known to be on gold. The exact locality is nob known, and the men decline to divulge tbe locale of their workings. One of the parties applied some six or eight months ago to the County Council to cut; a traok into the bush <o facilitate prospecting. Wild cattle and sheep abound in tha locality, and as a consoquence tho miners' butcher's bills ara very small. The shareholders in tho Longwood Company held a meeting at Clapp's Hotel on Friday evening last, to p*ss the deed of »83ociation. and elect directors and other officers. Mr W. H. Pearson presided. Mr P. T. Finn, oolioitor to the Company, was present, and submitted the deed of association, which with certain Hlight alterations waa packed. Messrs Printz, Ellis, M'N&ughton, Hirst, Darbridge, M'Cullouga, and Pearson were elected a Board of Direotorß, Mr Pearßon to be chairman. Mr P- Grant was appointed legal manager, and Mr M'Naughton mmiag manager. Meßsra Diokenßon and Fraser were elected auditors. A meeting of the shareholders in the Duffer Company was held on Tuesday. They decided to throw the claim into a company, the capital to be £40,000, in 40 000 Bhares of £1 each, 53 paid up. Five thousand shares are reserved for prospecting the claim.

The owners of the All Nations claim are taking preliminary steps necessary to put the property into a company. This claim is steadily advancing in public estimation, and although a pick has not yet. been put in the ground, several interests have been disposed of at comparatively high prices. Mr Macarthur ia engaged surveying the Welcome and other leases recently applied for.