THE WAIRARAPA QUARTZ REEF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 275, 27 September 1879, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA QUARTZ REEF.

(From the New Zealander.) The news from the Wairarapa relative to the discovery of a payable quartz reef, though singularly enough it has caused no excitement in this city, is the most important that has reached here for some time past. Had a similar find taken place anywhere but in Wellington the spot would have been rushed within twentyfour hours of the trial crushing being known. This, strange apathy, it nmy be, is owing to the fact that so many false alarms as to the discovery of gold in the Provincial District have been raised that the people are incredulous as to the truth of the latest find. On 110 other ground can we account for the indifference with which this last report has been received, but as to its genuineness there does not seem to be the least doubt, and though the yield from the stone sent to the Thames for crushing was not startling, and the gold was not of the highest value still the result was sufficient to show that the lucky prospectors, if they have really struck a defined reef carrying a large body of stone, have a fortune before them. At the dunes in Victoria, where most perfect machiney is erected, stone containing from four to five dwts of gold pays handsomely, In the quartz at the Wairarapa 1 oz 3 dwts were got and the prospectors say it was not picked but taken as it came. Even allowing that the quality of the gold le inferior and that it is not worth more than from £2 16s to £3 an ounce, the yield is a highly payable one, and one that proves beyond all question the value of the discovery. It is not at all likely either that the reef which is now being worked is the only one in the district. Where there is one there are always many more, and should all the statements made 'in this subject prove strictly correct, we may yet have a second Thames district in the Wairarapa, The effect of such a goldfield being proved would l e magical in restoring the prosperity, not enly of Wellington, but of the whole provincial district, should it, as is most probable, if it exist at all, be of any great extent, 'Chat the prospectors have got payable gold there cannot he the slightest doubt. They have no possible motive for hatching a cock-and-bull story, and therefore, irrespective of their known good characters, their statement may bo taken as absolutely correct, Such being the case, the next question comes what should be done to set the matter definitely at rest, and ascertain beyond all question the value of the late discovery, A few weeks ag<, a prospector, Mr Moore, endeavored to get aid to prospect in a part of the district where he said he was confident of finding gold in payable quantities. The City Council promised to head a subscription list to fit him out with the sum of £25. but tho public would not assist, and Mr Moore left Wellington disheartened. In this case there is no prospecting to do, it is only necessary to determine the extent and worth <f what lias already been found. As is generally known, the Government is prepared to supplement pound for pound any money subscribed for prospecting or kindred purposes, We should therefore suggest that some one should take the matter up, that a public meeting be called, and a committee, to fully investigate the whole affair, be appointed. The City Council would, we suppose, as soon aid such an association as hand out £25 to Mi Moore, especially as the object sought is almost achieved, If there be a goldfield in the Wairarapa it would mean immediate revival to trade here, the influx of a large and industrious population, the absorption of the remaining surplus labor, and a general revival of prosperity throughout the whole Provincial district, Purely with such inducements as these, the people here should need no spurring to he energetic in aid of their own material interests. The Government, too, have a bounden duty to perform, viz., to send some practical and scientific man to make a minute examination of the place now being worked and of the adjacent country, and to report with all possible speed. If there is a gold-field there, the sooner it is generally known, the better; if it is a singular stray patch, it fhould be stated so at once. Let us hope that both the Government and the public will take the matter up at once. If a member of the House were t' l ascertain, by putting a question, what steps, if any, the Government have taken or inteiuUo take'in relation to the alleged discovery, he would draw public attention to it, and would, we have no doubt, elicit a satisfactory response to any queries he might propound.