THE WAIMANGAROA QUARTZ REEFS.

Westport Times, Volume 2, Issue 150, 23 January 1868, Page 2

THE WAIMANGAROA QUARTZ REEFS.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sin, —Having had occasion to visit the "Waimangaroa quartz reef, some account of the work done by Messrs. Martin and party and by the "Westport Quartz Co., may not prove uninteresting to some of your readers. I will premise by stating that the reef is situated on the south bank of the river, about four miles from its mouth, the road, or rather the creek itself being passable for horses and nags about two and a-half miles, the rest of the distance being through a rough bush and boulderj track, quite impassable for horses and nearly so for any one with a swag, yet Messrs. Martin and party, by the most indomitable pluck and perseverance have succeeded in putting the whole of their extensive

-quartz crushing machinery on the ground, partly by hand carriage and partly by a boat, which was literally dragged up the river bv the men over boulders, falls, and all the varying dangers of a mountain torrent, until the plateau formed for the erection of this machinery was reached. The reef runs through the mountain perpendicularly, and is clearly defined through the whole of its height through above the river, v'z., 87 feet, and in the three places prospected, viz., at its base, middle, and crown, was found gold bearing. The whole casing on the western side has been driven through for about 70 feet, and the quartz exposed all ready for being knocked out (the width of the reef at this distance in the mountain is 2 feet 10 inches). From the mouth of the tunnel a tramway 400 feet long takes the quartz to the feed boxes, immediately adjoining which the stampers, eight in number, are fixed. The power used will be .°n overshot wheel, 27 feet in diameter, of about 25-horse power, which is turned by water brought in a flume about half a mile long; from a creek on the seaward side of the reef. The timber in which the wheel and othermachinery is fixed is of the most solid description, and was all cut on and around the elaim, and the tail race, to take off the water to the river after it has passed the wheel, is 150 feet long and 18 feet deep, the whole being blasted through the solid rock. The whole machinery will doubtless be ready in a fortnight or three weeks, and then the anxiously expected question of its yield per ton will be ascertained ; and judging from the specimens knocked out of the reef, and from the prospects obtained in a dish of coarsely broken quartz, it will be. very handsome. Adjoining Martin's claim the "Westport Quartz-Reef Co.have their ground, (viz., 270 feet on the line of reef, which can be traced by surface indications all through their claim). They have tunnelled 210 feet through the solid rock to cut of the reef, and the tunnel cutting through five leaders, all gold bearing, is a marvel of finished workmanship, and is now some feet beyond the surveyor's line. It unfortunately is at a standstill for want of funds. Should Martin's crushing be satisfactory, doubtless the scrip which tlie Company are about to issue will commaud a ready sale, and this work of such vast importance, both to the shareholders and to the general public, will be proceeded with. Yours truly, Qtjabtz.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus.) Sir, —I have listened to the political statements of the various aspirants for the honor of representing our suffrages in the Provincial Council with the greatest attention and patience, but must confess that neither of them comes in any way near the mark of my modest expectations. I have not heard that amount of good sense expressed yet which would give me confidence enough to hope that the interests of the district would be attended to as they should. Our candidates are most liberal in promises, and no doubt mean to fulfil their promises. If it would be in their power to give us wharves, tramway?, railways, tracks, mining boards, education, &c, &e., or free us from the social evil, &c, no doubt they •would do so. The principal part of their mission, however, they overlook entirely, although it lies in a nutshell. The member elected, whoever it may be, must have mental power or influence enough to represent to the Government and the Council our true position, and impress them with one leading idea. The idea is the following:—This district is in its infancy. Our gold, and the revenue arising therefrom, is the milk Mother Nature has given it as nourishment. Our gold is the element which must make us grow into manhood. To attempt to withdraw part of our revenue for the use of the province would be tantamount to placing a grown-up man to the breast of a mother and rob baby of its milk. If the truth of this idea, and true it is, can be impressed upon the Government and the Council we shall be left in possession of our revenue, and this will enable tis to make such improvements as reasonably can be expected. Although in infancy our mother-milk is strong and nourishing enough to let us gain strength soon, and if we are strong enough first we do not mind giving our Nelson brothers a lift. To deprive us at present of our revenue, even of the smallest part thereof, would be taking the milk out of baby's mouth. I am, &c, Voter. Westport, 22nd Jan., 1365.