PROFESSOR ULRICH'S VISIT TO THE LONGWOOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 12

PROFESSOR ULRICH'S VISIT TO THE LONGWOOD.

We take the following from the Western Star's report : — When Professor Ulrich previously reported on the Longwood, the discoveries were not sufficiently opened out to provide data for a reliable report ; that objection being now removed, the time was deemed opportune for a second in* opeotion, and hence his visit on Friday. Whether his previous views will be confirmed, or that the later and more exhaustive inspection will result in a modification or contradiction of same, remains to be proved. He was afforded ample information as to the nature of the country in the 'particular part of the Longwood that he visited yesterday, and as he took copious notes of all that was to be seen, his official report will be looked forward to with interest, and may be accepted as final. The first ground that he visited was a drive known as Douglas' on the rising ground about a, mile on the west side of the Pourakiuo, which bad been put in a distance of 300 feet. A quantity of the stone from tbe reef in this drive was sent to Ballarat to be tested, and it gave a return equal to 17dwtto tbe ton. This, like a greab many more prospects in the Longwood, has beeu abandoned forthewantof capital,andit may be added, enterprise to develop same. The next claim visited was the Arethusa, better known as Ports'. Here a shaft has been sunk to a depth of over 100 feet, and a drive put in at about a 50ft level Unfortunately the axle of the wheel broke a week or two ago, which stopped pumping operations, and the shaft was in consequence pretty well full of water. An adit, however, was open for inspection, and the professor expressed himself satisfied, from what he saw there, that he was able to form a correct idea of the character of the reef and the surrounding strata. The company have a fine prospect. Gold is visible in most of the stone, and fine specimens of quartz, thickly studded with gold, have befin found. The reef runs nearly due east and west, dips to the eastward, and has an underlay to the south. A large amount of work has been done in this claim, and the surroundings bespeak permanent . occupation. There are comfortable huts for the men, and, what appears like an oasis in the desert, a wellstocked'kitchen garden, with vegetables of all kinds growing luxuriantly. The manager was absent on a visit to Dunedin, and the men had nob resumed work after the holidays, and at the time of the professor's visit there was no one on the ground. A short distance from this claim, and it is supposed on the same line of reef, Taylor and party have sunk a shaft to a depth of somesoft, at which depth they struck an alluvial drift, and water making freely has* retarded ' operations, The professor thinks that such , a drift may prove payably auriferous, and he j is of opinion that the flat country should \ be tested with that object. Rilstone's claim, about half-a-mile to the north-west, was next visited. Here a drive has been put in a dis- . tance of 265 ft. The reef, which is almost verti- ( cal, runs N. 25 E. by S. 25 W., has been followed ' the whole extent of the drive, and averages about Ift in thickness right through. The reef ' is making in tbe direction of what is known as ', the big reefi, which is expected to be struck about i 250 ft further on; several small leaders, it is i anticipated, will be previously intersected. About ' a chain distant there is an abandoned tunnel < which was driven 600 ft, and out of a small leader gqld to the value of £100 was obtained. Professor Uhrieb JooViwl fcjtan this reef as ihe most

permanent looking that he had ~ iiietfwßbTin the' .Longwood. An inspjectibn of the' big reef .and, several other workings completed tbe tour/ which combined affords sufficient data for a trustworthy report, the publication bf which will be awaited with interest. Professor Ulrioh will aho report on the Merrivale field. . '