RICH FIND OF GOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

RICH FIND OF GOLD

THAMES MAN’S SUCCESS. WAIOTAHI AREA DISCOVERY. Thames, Feb. 11. The owners of the large ingot of gold which was lodged in the bank on Thursday have 1 given information regarding the locality in which they discovered the quartz. Their names are Messrs W. C. Sarich and Frank Cropp. Mr. Sarich is the son of a prospector who arrived at Thames in the early days of the field. Mr. Sarich states that he took ,up prospecting in the then abandoned Lucky Shot ground up to the Waiotahi creek some two years ago. The indications for a run of gold were similar to what Mr. Sarich’s father had pointed out to his son years before. Mr. Sarich and his companion worked hard, but for twelve months they were unsuccessful and used up all their reserve capital. They were almost without resources when the extension of the No. 5 scheme for the assistance of miners enabled them to continue.

The two young men pushed on and discovered a dropper off the Golden Age reef, one of the main ore bodies in the Waiotahi system. This was small at first, but widened out until it was seen that exceptional values were uncovered. The specimen stone weighed about 1121 b, and the general dirt surrounding it about two tons.

The ore was taken to the School of Mines and 161 oz 12dwts of bullion were extracted from it, this being the richest stone seen in Thames since the discovery of the Waiotahi patch in 1905. The men are working in virgin ground and are still in good country showing values. It is possible that the dropper will open up again. There is plenty of country to work upon. The gold was found on the hangingwall of the reef. There are still two tons of general dirt to be treated by the battery, and this is rich stone. The two men have been heartily congratulated upon their perseverance and energy, and no one grudges them their good fortune. z - - . . ,