DEPOSITS IN OTAGO MAY PROVE VALUABLE

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 146, 22 June 1931, Page 8

DEPOSITS IN OTAGO MAY PROVE VALUABLE

(Special to the “Star.”) DUNEDIN, June 22. The Gabriel’s Gully Investigation Committee, set up six months ago to investigate methods of treating low value cement or conglomerate deposits, in the Weatherstone district particularly, is pursuing its inquiries in every quarter of the globe for suitable plant. The High Commissioner is inquiring through various channels, and the Hon A. J. Murdoch, Mr A. 11. Kimball, Under-Secretary of Mines, and Mr Crawford, of the Thames School of Mines, are all giving their assistance. If the enormous deposits could be profitably worked, work would be found for thousands of men and the wealth of the Dominion, as a whole, would be materially increased. A trial crushing of material from Weatherstone was made in Wellington recently by the Mines Department and the results indicate that a successful method of treatment is emerging from the possible to the probable stage. It is calculated that, at the moderate figure of, say, 2s 6d a ton, gold value, the Lawrence deposit alone represents £50,000,000, especially on the Weatherstone side. There is direct evidence of leads of very rich gold, similar *to the rich patch which made Blue Spur famous.