A TRIP TO THE WAIRARAPA REEF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 271, 23 September 1879, Page 2

A TRIP TO THE WAIRARAPA REEF.

9 (bt our special reporter.) A party of gentlemen, amongst whom were Mr M'Shane, manager of Bank N.Z., Messrs W. Toogood, W. Cundy, R. Riddick, and a few others, left Featherston on Thursday morning for the express purpose of inspecting the reef lately opened up on the western side of the Wairarapa Lake, and from which the trial crushing of fllcwt. of stone yielded loz. 3dwts. of gold; and also to satisfy themselves on the point that such a reef did exist. After a pleasant journey of a few hours.'we arrived at Mr A. Matthews' wool shed, about sixteen miles from Featherston, where we were informed by Mr George, one of the prospectors, it would be necessary to leave our horses and pro-

coed the rest of the journey on foot. Before doing so, however, we thought it best to satisfy the inner man in the shape of a lunch and a billy of tea, which was done full justice to. A little preliminary chaff took place as to whether it would not be advisable to mount the hill at the face, or go round the easier way by the gully. It was decided to take the latter but longer course, especially as we had several heavyweights n our party. So off we started. About naif a mile behind the wool shed we: came upon the gully leading to the reef. Here it became necessary to take Chinaman file for it, as the track was narrow. Mr George led the way, followed cloaelr-V the rest of the party—one withajy|over his shoulder in regular digger stylKS After about an hour's walking and several spells on the road for breath, we arrived at tho mouth of the tunnel where the present workings are being carried on. The place was opened some eight or ten years ago, when a trial sample of stone was sent to Melbourne. It appears,, hewever, it was so long on tho road before the prospectors got any reply, and the Thames rush breaking out about the same time, the place was abandoned, When the result, which became known soroo time afterwards, of lidwts. of gold and 2oz. of gold, it was taken no notice of and left untouched until the present prospectors, Messrs Brandon, George, and Williams, went into the old workings and cammenced afresh, with the result already known.

The present .workings consist of a tunnel about 60ft deep into the hill, nearly north and south, at the end of which, a shaft has been sunk, and a drive put in about 10ft to the westward, It is the spot where the trial stone came from. The quartz appears to be of a rubbly character, of a greyish white color, with ironstone veins running through the stone (a good indication of gold.) If the whole stone turns out anything like the trial crushing, I have no hesitation in declaring it a splendid find, as the whole hill appers to be one mass of quartz. In stating the difficulties the prospector had to encounter, the whole ton of stone was humped by them a distance of half-a-mile, before they could pack it on a horse . down to the level. They speak in the highest terms of Mr Alfred Matthews, who not only gave them every information and encouragement, but allowed them the use of a hut on the ground, for the last three months, free. The rosidents here naturally ask why Moore should be allowed £SO for supposing a gold-field to exist, when these men have actually demonstrated that payable gold doe 3 exist without any help, and they are the parties entitled to a reward, if any.

The workings having been examined; and rating about an hour on the spot, we started again for the huts, this time by way of climbing the mountain (for such it is,) and about the roughest bit of climbing some of us had ever done. We were well repaid, however, when we reached the top. The view was magnificent. The whole country for miles round, lay at our feet, as on a map. Palliser Bay on our right, and the Lake Ferry hotel and all the homesteads, in fact to Featherston, could be distinctly seen. Also the windings of the Ruamahunga river, to where it turns np again, and empties itself into the Upper Lake.cculd be seen. Again starting, we returned to tliir woolshed, sJme of the party returning featherston, the remainder having been kindly invited by Mr A. Matthews to spend the evening at his beautiful homestead ; returning to Featherston the next morning, after a most enjoyable trip.