THE REEFTON MINING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 31 May 1919, Page 8

THE REEFTON MINING INDUSTRY.

PROSPECTS REGARDED AS HIGHLY FAVOURABLE. (BYf R. WILSON.) The linking up of the West Coast of this island wxth the east, via the Otira tunnel, will give a big impetus to the development of a country which xs admittedly the land of to-morrow. In natural 1 resources it is a veritable Bonanza, comparatively untouched by the band of enterprise. Like all isolated things ,a good deal of mystery and prejudice is associated with it; yet this land of the setting sun, in the near future, is destined to bo dotted over with innumerable dairy farms, grazing concerns, and timber mills, whilst its millions of tons of highly bituminous coal and its millions of gold compassing the Paparoas and Reefton will attract to its borders a tremendous population. la gold alone the West Coast ' has produced something like 30 millions. This result was produced largely from the surface by the methods of alluvial, sluicing, dredging, and quartz mining. By the last-mentioned method over seven millions have been won from the little-known town and district of Reefton. Twenty years ago Reefton was practically as extinct its the moa. For 20 years prior to that ib.was the centre of a busy and bustling life. The secret of its attraction was found in its phenomenal quartz reefing system, which in places resembled a jeweller’s shop. Thriving companies paid out half-crown dividends foi'tnightly. The Welcome ‘ Company, on a called-up capital of £3OOO, gave to the fortunate shareholders the magnificent sum of £IOO,OOO. That record has been beaten by the Reefton New Rig River Company, which, on a called-up capital of £6O0 —or Gel per share'on 24,000 shares—has given to the shareholders since 190 S the sum of £IOO,BOO in dividends. At the time referred to, however, the whole mining enterprise of Reefton collapsed. Scarcely'any of the companies then operating the quartz bolt were working to a greater depth than 500 feet. Running all through the areas was a "fault” zone varying in depth according to the contour of the country. It produced a complete dislocation of the entire reefing .system. Expert mining opinion di<l not favour the view that the reefs would live below the depth mentioned. Efforts were made to overcome the difficulty by haphazard prospecting, but without success, and the field collapsed. Eventually overseas capital in the form of Consilidatod Goldfields (Ltd.) picked up three of the “werked-out” mines, and in. each case sank the shaft through tho “fault” zone and picked up the reefing system as strong and as rich as ever. Since that period a steady development in. quartz has taken place, producing some of the finest commercial enterprises the Doriiii’on hag known. Notwithstanding the paralysing effect the war has had on all mining concerns, Reefton has more than survived. A largo amount of New Zealand capital is now being diverted to tho field. The industry lias long since passed tho experimental stage. The town has tho honour of possessing deepest min© in New Zealand—the Energetic, which is part of the Wealth of Nations group. This mine, which has been a conspicuous success, lias reached u depth of 2000 ft., with over 20ft. in width of reef containing values of loz per ton. Practically all the mines (seven) are being worked- below a thousand feet and without a single failure. Unlike the North Island mines, there is no water to contend with. All the mines are dry, xvhilst Nature lias provided an abundance of equipment in timber, coal, and horse-power. The success of tho Blackwater mine, which was opened up 10 years ago, has directed considerable attention to the field on the part of capital. This company has paid back its working capital four times over. Its reefing system at a depth of 1200 ft. is producing excellent results. Unfortunately its nominal capital, is a quarter of a million, and is controlled from London. This also applies to two other mines controlled by overseas capital. The quartz bolt extends from Blackwater on the south to Boatmans, on the ncrlh, a distance of 25 miles. It is cuito within the bounds of reason that this bolt will carry one mine per mile. Certainly it is inconceivable that the reefs end with the imaginary bo cry line of the various areas held 1.,, tho different companies. With the assistance of a Government subsidy of £IO,OOO a New Zealand company ‘is developing tho rich lode system of Boatmans. Tho cormxany 3* s sunk a shaft a thousand fci 'J'-nnd has successfully opened up true reefing country at that depth. The Blackwater North Syndicate has opened up four gold-bearing reefs at a depth of 1360 ft.—a fact which demonstrates the success of Uic enterprise. Tho Reef • ton Gold Minos Company is about to open up at , MiHorten, Blackwater South, ami New' Discovery properties where reefs which arc regarded as highly have been worked to a depth ‘sufficient, it is believed, to ensure future success. On these properties something like £40,000 has already been expended. The Now Kecp-xt-Darlc Company is expending £IO,OOO in shaft sinking below 1450 ft. the present level). At that depth , the reef j, five feet wide, and its value reaches in the vicinity of loz per ten, whilst considerable improvements are being •made to tho adjoining property—the Wealth of Nations. Tho Kecp-it-Durk. on a called-up capital of £9OOO. paid to its shareholders in dividends the sum of £158,000, whilst through tho neglbct of the old company to stack its tailings tho sum of £IOO,OOO of recoverable gold swept its way into tho Inangahua River. Our modern methods of cynidation and concentration make such loss an impossibility. The auxiliary treatment to-day gives fully 30 per cent, of additional result, and enables even low-grade ore to be worked at a profit. In full focus of all the facts of this quartz centre, Mr. David Zinmn, who has furnished over £200.000 for this industry,, stated before the Industries Commission in March hist that in his opinion Reefton was the best mining field in tho world. Britain controls practically two-thirds of the world's output. This fact has been of tremendous value during tho past four years. It is really an Imperial necessity that our Empire shall continue this production ,and, if possible, increase it. Reefton furnishes a field of legitimate enterprise where tiiis can be accomplished without serious risks. Its gold-bearing ores are akin to those of Bendigo (Australia), California, South Africa, and Kolar (in India) where quartz mining is successfully carried out at twice the depth of any mine on the Reefton field. In view of this, let us, in tho interests of industrial progress and sound com-' ineroia! enterprise, stimulate this deand materially augment tlux

supply. Tills can be accomplished by the investment of New Zealand capital on the lines indicated. Past results, present circumstances, and future indications warrant the expectation that far more gold will be won from this country than that which we have already secured. Deep sinking on quartz will prove this contention, which is neither a geological nor a metallurgical improbability.