THE LURE OF GOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1929, Page 11

THE LURE OF GOLD

IN THE BULLER RIVER.

A DIVERSION SCHEME.

Although the earthquake on June 17 created incalculable damage in the northwestern portion of the South Island, some interesting observations have been made as to its effect upon mining operations there. Generally speaking, the damage done to actualy mining operations has been negligible. Certainly the means of access and of transportation to and from mining properties have been considerably affected, but, with these excepted, the damage in the mining areas is slight indeed. In the coal mines the amount of coal shaken down and of timber displaced caused but a small delay in the resumption of operations and re-establishment of the normal output, says the Christchurch Times. In the reefing and alluvial districts where huge displacements of the earth’s surface have taken place, fascinating conjectures are being made as to the possibilities of new reefs and auriferous gravels being revealed as the result of extensive exposures of rock surfaces. Prospectors are already out in some districts searching for the “Mother lode,” the El Dorado of the old diggers drcams. I Soon after - the earthquake an old miner, who had not been on the Coast I since the ’seventies, was encountered in the Greymouth express heading for the Leyell, where he knew of a rich reef which ho was sure would be workable through the displacements that had taken place. His only regret was that he could not get through to Lyell that night. • His is not an isolated case. Many of the old prospectors have again been smitten with the gold fever, but, of .course, it is yet too soon to say whether they have been correct in their prognostications. In the Lyell and Murchison districts, where rich reefs and alluvials were worked in the early days, and where

the recent upheavals were greatest, the opinion is held by many of these old miners that valuable prospecting work has been done by the seismological agency, which, aided by the recent rains, should stimulate the formation of prospecting parties to investigate thoroughly the hills and earth slips in the vicinity. BOLD PROPOSITION. However, the operations of the Buller Diversion Company aro not conjecture, but fact. The company is carrying out a unique proposition between Murchison and Lyell, Their scheme, briefly, is to tjinnel from one bend of the Buller River to another at a point where the river almost loops back on itself, divert the river through the driven tunnel, and then expose about a mile and a half of the bed for sluicing operations. The geological fault along which the great force of the earthquake travelled crosses the Buller River in the immediate vicinity of the tunnel at a place called White Creek, and recrosscs at a point close to the proposed intake of the river into the tunnel. The astonishing feature is that, while the whole length of the tunnel has been left intact, the bed of the river at White’s Creek has

been thrust up about fifteen feet, and at the intake about eight feet. This means that an extra fifteen feet in height will bo given the tail race, thus allowing sluicing by the ordinary gravitation method instead of the “blow up” method. Many are the experiences told of men caught by the earthquake, but perhaps tho most extraordinary is related by the men engaged on the Buller Diversion Company’s tunnell, where the “drying up of the Red Sea” was re-enacted. As soon as the shake came they rushed to the mouth of the tunnel, only to be blocked by the river. It would have been impossible to swim the river at that place, and while they were excitedly discussing the best way to get clear, huge slips came down all round them. The violent shaking eased, and to their astonishment, the river gradually dried up, and they crossed to the other side practically dry-footed, A huge slip had eomo down, completely blocking the river, which was dry for several hours before the water again broke through. Prospecting work was started early in the Lyell district, but about a fortnight after the big disturbance more severe shocks were experienced in the hills, bringing down more big slips, and this drove tho prospectors out. However, work has again been resumed, and the Coast is watching with interest developments in this respect. That the gold is there is an acknowledged fact, but what tiie recent upheaval has unearthed remains to be seen. Already small finds have been made by the shrewd old prospector who keeps his good fortune to himself, but who knows when another big strike will bo located? Then once mor© the Golden Coast will be the Mecca of wealth and the home of mushroom towns. It is not only possible, but highly probable.