MINING ROMANCE NOW RECALLED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 5

MINING ROMANCE NOW RECALLED.

HAS LONG-LOST REEF BEEN DISCOVERED?

MELBOURNE, April 14. 1 o-day the little village of Warrandyte is stirred to its depths. A gold reef that was lost fifteen years ago has been rediscovered, it is claimed. On Tuesday night a car from Melbourne went to Warrandyte. Three men worked by tfie light of lanterns all night, and left before dawn yesterday*. Residents of Warrandyte were informed that the long lost reef had been rediscovered and pegged To-day every yard of the vicinity is being pegged out. Old miners are wandering in. pegging out claims. Even in the backyard of the police station is a mining claim. The story of the long-lost reef is a romance in itself. Fifteen years ago Edward Holloway came running to his cottage with a handful of quartz specimens. He had found a wonderjul new reef. lie would not say where, even to his family. A few hours after he had discovered it, the excitement took its toll. He burst a blood vessel, and died within a week. lie had never given away his secret.

Ilis two step-sons, who are still living in Warrandyte. searched for years and failed to locate the reef. Then, fifteen months ago. a man named Unthank saw a broken stone in which something gleamed. He knew nothing of mining and the gold had no meaning for him. There seemed so little in the stone that he was unconcerned. Sometimes he showed the specimen to his friends, but nothing was done. Many prospecting expeditions to the spot were planned, but none was carried out.

Then interest was kindled again a week ago. when rich alluvial was discovered on fiats by the village. MYSTERIOUS VISIT.

A man who knew Unthank mentioned the quartz specimen last week to his neighbour, J. Nancarrow, of Wales- Street, Footscrav. Nancarrow was an old miner. Last Sunday he went prospecting with his son and a partner named O’Halloran. They quietly pegged out a claim and returned to Melbourne.

Then the night before last a mysterious car came, and was seen on the hill above the town. Men were seen working all night. In the morning they had pegged out their claim and were gone. Nobody knows who they were, but they had lighted on the old mystery reef that had been lost for so long. Warrandyte has been a great goldfield in the past. About 79,0000 z of gold were taken from the Caledonia mine, and the new reef is believed to be a continuation of this one.