GOLD DISCOVERY

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1932, Page 2

GOLD DISCOVERY

REEFS AT TE AROHA. STRONG BODIES OF ORE. An important discovery of gold-bear-ing reefs which have given very favourable assays is reported from Te Arolia Mountain, where a syndicate headed by Mr. W. J. Gibbs, late borough engineer at Te Arolia, has pegged out claims covering an area of over 300 acres of the reef system. The claims are on the Karangahake side of the mountain, and the reefs were located in virgin ground. Eventually eight reefs were found, and these, it is stated, have all been traced certain distances'. Samples of stone were taken to the Waihi School of Mines for assay. Mr. J. W. Smith, supervisor of the prospecting schemes at Thames, at the request of Mr. R. Scelly, and Mr. Harnel,' who are associated with Mr. Gibbs, visited the properties early in February and reported that the reef then being operated on was a strong body of ore averaging 3ft. Gin. wide. In the top level the reef had been explored about 30ft. below the surface and along the reef for 70ft. The whole of the ore at this level was oxidised and showed considerable leaching, and from any part of the. reef dish prospects of gold could be obtained; At about 100 ft. below the top level a crosscut had been put into the hill 200 ft. It intersected the reef, showing it to be the same width as the top level. The drive 'had been extended along the course of the reef 70ft. At this level a decided, change had taken place in the natunj of the ore. There was less leaching of the quartz and the bulk of the ore was sulphides. In Mr. Smith’s opinion, further development on the reef at this level would expose very rich shutes of ore. The country was a good gold-bearing class of andesite similar to that of the Karangahake, about five miles to the north, and from which the Talisman Company’s mine produced just on £3,000,000 worth of bullion, mostly from sulphide ore. No pumping or winding was. necessary, and transport would be by aerial tram to a treatment plant in the foothills, where electric power was available. It is the intention of the parties interested in the field to go direct to London for capital for development on a. large scale, and it is not intended to float a company in New Zealand.