THE BLUE SPUR TAILINGS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 348, 18 April 1874, Page 3

THE BLUE SPUR TAILINGS.

(To tlie Editor.)

Sir, — I am almost afraid, in again rushing into print, of being charged with resuscitating an old subject, which has already been fully discussed and thrown aside as impracticable, aud unworthy of further consideration on that account. The persons who are termed the public in this district may be fairly termed slow and sluggish, and exhibiting extreme want of enterprise or unanimity in promoting theadvancementof the district. This body seems extremely deficient in devising means to an end, or in discovering the utility ot a ready 'made means supplied byjiature, or sometimes refusing to receive proofs if which, examined byany oneelse. would be convincing. Tuapeka being a mining community, and containing plenty of the raw materials which make that industry profitable with capital and labor intelligently applied, might I not again suggest to our " almighty general public," the practicability of sluicing out Gabriels Gully. There are great complaints in Lawrence of dulness, chiefly attributed to the Public Works having drained this field of its surplus labor. Now, what has Waipori done? What is being done at Mt. Ida ? These places got pledges from candidates for political honors, no doubt, and we neglected this. But the people here have never asked for G-overnment assistance ; they have never troubled themselves to enable them to judge whether a channel from the Chine3o Camp to the Blue Spur was a practicable undertaking ; or, if practicable, whether the tailings could be swept down a channel if it were constructed. It is generally believed that a large quantity of gold is buried up in Gabriels Chilly ; but nothing has been done to practically prove this fact. Certainly, the G-overnmcat were asked to make surveys, and they sent a surveyor here promptly ; but when here, the " general public," with their characteristic apathy, permitted the engineer to stroll about unaided and uninformed 5 in fact, the elections were over, and our patriots who had been strained to oppose or promote the return of either Mr. Smallraan or Mr. Dullman had relapsed into a state of lethargic inaction. This gold still remains buried up in the tailings, and will remain there until some spasmodic effort is made to create an interest in the matter ; yet the fact remains. There is the gold, and there are the plans Bhowing a possible tailrace from the head of Gabriels to Lawrence, with a fall of 67 # 4 feet to the mile, or roughly taken, nearly 2 inches to the 12 feet box. Wo know that a head of water such as is in use in one of the claims on the Blue Spur can wash away large quantities of debris with a fall of 6in. to 12ft. We also know that any increase in the water has the effect of accelerating the speed of the flow and of removing the same quantity with less fall. Or, if these facts are not easily understood, let any one go and examine the unconfincd flow of Gabriels G-ully, and see that, notwithstanding the zig-zag course of the 'creek, there are less tailings staying in Gabriels Gully now than there were ten years ago, and at the same time there are thousands of yards of tailings flowing down from the Blue Spur every year.

Now, it will be necessary to indicate what I consider necessary to be done. A channel must be cut through the point opposite Lawrence, and in a straight course to the Blue Spur, thus shortening the distance and accelerating the run of water, and increasing the discharge of tailings. To undertake this work a sum probably approaching £10,000 would be wanted. This sum, estimated roughly, would be sufficient to excavate in nearly a straight course a channel, build and \ pitch a race 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep, the entire length of the race, say, 2\ miles. The question of a public work of this magnitude paying is the next question. In the first place we have tho deposit under tbe tailings, and that is variously estimated ; but, judging it at its lowest, there must be some thousands of ounces of gold. There is the gold lost by the miners of tho Blue Spur, which may be estimated at from 10 to 15 per cent, of tho entire yield. . Estimating the annual production at? 6,000oi!8. for 7 years (a low estimate), and taking the loss at 10 per cent., this would give 4,2000z5., or £16,000 worth of gold.- There i* then the lower strata of the Blue Spur, where there is a very large i amount of gold, probably, at a reasonably low estimate, say, 50,0000z5., representing £190,000. In thus urging my opinions for j public acceptance, I hope to enlist the sympathies and the investigation of the people who have a stake in the district and who may yet be able to bring this matter so forcibly before the Government as to obtain the necessary funds to carry it out. And with a view to avert a recurrence of the pugnacious exhibitions which have gained for the miners of the Blue Spur an undesirable notoriety, I have directed them to a subject where well directed talent and energetic action may be well rewarded. — I am, &c, W. D. Morrison.

A Queensland correspondent r.f a contemporary says :— The term " rush "is quite inadequate to express tbe exodus to the Palmer, which has become a perfect stampede. Vessels of all kinds, from the largest steaniei to the smallest coasting schooner, are laid on to the Endeavor, and go away, one after another, as full rb they will hold of passengers and cargo. The Marine Board nnd their officers are exer'ci6ing a strict supervision to prevent overloading, and hate their work cut out for them to prevent the greed of owners endangering the lives of the passengers.