MURRAY CREEK REEFS.

West Coast Times, Issue 2107, 2 July 1872, Page 2

MURRAY CREEK REEFS.

Rumors of a rush to Adam's Smith's line of reef were current on Thursday last, and many parties went out to see if claims could be taken up. The following are tho particulars as to the supposed reef and adjacent ground. Johnson and party have been prospecting to the eastward of Adam Smith's line, about hnlf-a-mile away, in some gullies which take their rise from the range between the Wealth of Nations machine site a;id Lankey's Gully. While travelling up one of these gulliea a quartz boulder was discovered with very fair specimens of gold in it; this induced them to trench the creek right up, the course being nearly east and west. After twenty feet being operated upon another boulder was seen with gold in it, immediately under which the reef ov leader showed itself. At present it is utterly impossible to tell what the quartz is likely to lead to, so small a portion of it beiDg exposed, and further work will have to be done before any opinion can be formed. A small portion of gold is discernible in some of the pieces broken off by the pick, and it may ultimately turn out to be the reef. No ground is available for taking up, the prospectors' pegs bdng close on to the Golden Lodge Company's lease to the north, while on the south side only one claim can be occupied before the swamp is reached, thus stopping any pegging out in that direction. The prospectors" are a party of twelve men, mostly Scandinavian * ; they intend putting in a tunnel from the side of the range, about forty feet lower than where the quartz is exposed in the gully, and the}'- expect to cut the reef wUhiu fifry feet. The Golden Lodge Company (Meffen's lease) adjoining' the above prospectors, found the reef in a gully to the westward of where the prospectors discovered their reef; this induced them to enter a tunnel into the hill to cut the quartz at a low level ; s >rue thirty feet have already been driven, but it will take some tiifae yet Iwibre anything can be proven. Invincible Company (No. 2 South Anderson's) struck the reef some time back on the surface. A tunnel was then driven at a low level for a distance of sixty feet, wiien the fame reef disclosed itself, bearing north and south as near as possible. The company have driven along- this for a distance of 100 feet to the east, and a good paddock of quartz is stacked, gold being plainly visible in the stone. This drive wM be continued for some distance further, bo as to enable a large body of reef to be operated upon in blocking out upwards. The means of crushing are not yet determined upon. The reef is dipping at an angle of forty -five degrees to the westward with about fourfeef of'atMekness."Twelvemen are in the claim, six working three months alternately. The Golden Bell (Frank M'Lean and party) have applied for protection for a montb to enable them to form a company. Wealth of Nations (Adam Smith's) have got most ,of the heavy timber erected ready for tbe wheel ; the tunnel' and paddock j tramway are zilso very nearly com-" pleted, auother couple of weeks seeing them well through with that portion of the works. The Energetic are still driving ahead. A small leader, gold bearing, was crossed this week, which led to a report that the reef was struck. This, according to all calculations, will not be reached before another forty-one ftet is cut out. The driving continues much the same as usual.