The Mining Development

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 13

The Mining Development

that my visit was designed. It has always been an open secret that gold was found on Saddle Hill even from the earliest digging period, when the gully runnirg parallel with the main road was profitably wrought for a considerable time. The quartz reefs, too, came early into notice, and several attempts have been made (p

work them, unfortunately ending very disastrously to the shareholders. -Hope, however, springs exulting that better things are in store for the district, and I honestly confess that if the prospects submitted for inspection were fair specimens, and I have no reason to imagine they were not, then a grand future is opening up. Caution must be exercised and the work must be carried on by practical miners without the interference of theorists, and, with the new appliances available, success is certain. In several of the specimens the specks of gold were plainly visible to the naked eye ;.in some of the others the microscope revealed sparkling treasure in large quantity, but much diffused. Nor is the precious metal confined to one position or place on the hill ; it has been picked up at wide intervals from Mr Finuie's creek to the Chain Hills, and it will not be overstepping the bounds of fair speculation to say that within a very short period 1 hope to see Pikawarra as celebrated for its gold products as it now is and has been for its coal measures. The men now engaged in working the reef are practical miners, and are resolved on giving it a fair and exhaustive trial, and my best wishes are for their success up to their heartb' content, a3 what benefita. them will benefit. the whole body politic. A very interesting portion of the afternoon was spent in the society of some of tho old settlers recalling scenes and incidents in the far past, some of which may find a place in these columns.

I. M. I.