THE CANADA. REEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 12

THE CANADA. REEF.

Within easy distance of the neat little town of Milton is what promises in the future to be an important mining centre. A district road crosses the railway line, and leaving the plain rises by a series of bends up to the Canada district, which lies north of Milton and between that place and Waitahuua After following this road for about 10 miles the auriferous country is entered upon, or at any rate the reefing portion of it, for alluvial gold has been obtained in many of the gullies in the neighbourhood of the reefs. It is long since the existence of two distinct lines of gold-bearing reefs was known in the Canada district. One of these was worked some years ago, and a large quantity of gold extracted ; but somehow the venture resulted in loss to tho company, or rather succession of companies concerned in the reef. At that time the reef was tapped by means of a hbaft 100 ft deep, which added to the ordinary expenses of mining, thoso of raising the stone to the surface and pumping. When the miue had failed to pay under different management the last company went into liquidation, and for a number of years the reef was left alone, but not forgotten, for Mr Murphy, one of the present owners, always had his eye on it. When all previous rights had been definitely abandoned it was Mr Murphy's intention to make the attempt to work the reef again, with the full conviction that it was really a good payable concern if properly managed. Consequently, less than a year ago Messrs Murphy and Gillan secured the rights to 1000 ft of ground along the line of reef, and set to work to develop the mine. The water rights had been bought by the Norwegian party at Waitahuna Gully, but a lease on suitable terms was arranged. Messrs Murphy and Gillan are both practical miners with a varied experience, and are both hard-working and thoroughly competent men. Having bought what of the old machinery was available, they set to work and erected a battery shed on the northern slope of the ridge at an elevation sufficient to give 100 ft of fall for their water. Mr Murphy is both carpenter and engineer, and has fitted up all the machinery in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. The motive power is derived from a turbine wheel, but as the turbine is one designed for a much greater fall of water it is not suited to the requirements of this mine, so that the proprietors intend replacing it soon with a wheel specially adapted to their circumstances. The battery is one of 10 head of stampers, but the turbiue is only fit to drive five — not enough now that the mine is fully opened out, but quite sufficient for the preliminary prospecting period. The working of this mine appears to ha«vo been carried on previously in a most desultory fashion, with no attempt to economise labour. Instead of the unnecessary shaft, a drive has been put in from the battery shed along the same 1« vhJ, so that drainage is secured and haulage, easy to the 100 ft level. Mauy serious obstacles have been encountered and successfully overcome. Where a block of solid stone was supposed to exist in many cases the old workings were broken into, thus upsetting the calculations of the miners. And yet these little troubles could not be avoided, for there was no plan of tho oKI mine obtainable. These breaks necessitated close timbering, and presented both difficulty and danger. But wish characteristic pluck every obstacle has been overcome and the mine is now in good working order. The main drive is in over 300 ft, aud shows a solid, well defined reef averaging 6ft in width, which has widened out to 10ft towards the end of the drive. The s*one is Rold-bearing throughout, and easily worked. The proprietors bavejubt commenced j. prospecting shaft to a lower level, when an adit will be put iv to work

the 200 ft level of the mine. In the meantime there is every indication of the reef being solid down to the lower level. As the mine has paid working expenses in the past in the face of great disadvantage's the owners have no fear for the future. When they are able to run the full battery night and day, as they mean to do, the Canada reef will undoubtedly be a good paying concern. I saw a nice cake of retorted gold, the result of three weeks' crushing with five head of stampers, and weighing something near 340z. This is a very good result when it is taken into account that the work is mainly prospecting ; now, however, the position of the mine is well known, -and all is plain sailing ahead. The proprietors are cautious working men, and intend to feel the ground securely under their feet as they proceed, but it i 3 their expressed opinion that iv good time their reef will extend and become a much bigger affair than at present, and be throughout a good paying one.

This reef is not the only one in the district known to be i gold-bearing, nor are Messrs Murphy and Gillan likely to be the only party at work for long. Mr M'Kegg, of Henley, in company with others, is putting in a drive to tap the same line of reef further westward, while another party start at once to open out another line of reef near the North Branch (Tokomeiriro river) j and a Dunedin party are trying to strike the second line of reef in another place. It is probable, therefore, that the Canada district will ere long be quite a busy mining centre. There is one difficulty ia the way, however, and that is the want of water. Messrs Murphy and Gillan have secured the only water easily available, but should payable stone be struck, water will be brought in. It is a good thing to see this district re-entering upon a mining career, after beiog practically abandoned for so long, and from its contiguity to Milton the latter place will benefit should all the miniug ventures at present in hand succeed.