GOLD PROSFECTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18761, 27 December 1930, Page 20

GOLD PROSFECTS

GABRIEL’S GULLY RESERVE. DUNEDIN, December 22. Gabriel's Gully has of late years been the subject of considerable speculation on the part of old and experienced miners as to the possibility of winning the gold which remains in the unworked cement at Blue Spur and the tailings which fill Gabriel’s Gully from Blue Spur to the boundary of the Borough of Lawrence. The nature of the gold-bearing rock is such that with the exception of the tailings, which after years of weathering are slowly crumbling and becoming friable, great quantities of auriferous conglomerate are not workable by hydraulic processes, and for that reason the Gabriel’s Gully sluicing company is seriously considering the introduction of a crushing plant so that the conglomerate and tailings can be scientifically dealt with. Samples of the tailings from various parts of the gully were sent to Dunedin for crushing, and on being washed they returned a most satisfactory sample of gold. The company delegated Mr H. Hart, who has been associated with miningactivities for many years, tc inquire into the best means of dealing with the conglomerate and tailings. The first year’s working at Gabriel’s Gully resulted in a return of £2,000.000, | and up to date £6.000.000 had been i taken from this line of deposit. . Mr Hart is confident that with the ! most up-to-date appliances for extract j ing the gold it will take many years | to exhaust the field, and he says there | are many millions waiting to be 1 mined. While the co-operation of the Gov- j ernment had been sought and willing- i ly giver, he said, those associated with . the venture were so confident of suc- , jess thr.t the Government would not be asked to pay any subsidy.