Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1885. THE POHANGINA REEFS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5745, 15 October 1885, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. ( PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1885. THE POHANGINA REEFS.

The discovery of auriferous amd argentiferous quartz reefs in the country east of Eeilding, bids fair to open up a new field to the mining population of the colony. The stone, so far as we can judge from the specimens lately brought in from the locality, bears every outward indication of containing both gold and silver in payable quantities. Those who have taken up, or rather made application for mining leases there, seem inclined to deprecate any sanguine expectations being formed until a sufficiency of the stone has been tested, and actual results are known. This in itself is a good sign, as it shews that the discoverers of the field are in no wise anxious to get up what is known as " a storekeeper's rush," and are desirous of waiting until the eight hundred weight of stone sent to Victoria is tested and proved before committing themselves to any definite statement as to the value and extent of their discovery. Their modesty • and caption is to be commended, but we think sufficient has been shewn to warrant a careful and systematic prospecting of the country about Pohangina, as it is highly probable the beat ston e has not yet been laid bare, and tlw*t there are other reefs in the neighbourhood quite as likely to prove payable as the one from which the stone sent to Victoria was procured. From what we can learn the olc^er rocks are met with there, and evejry indication of the existence of both gold and silver, particularly the ( laUer metal. Silver is, of course, not so valuable as gold, but where it occurs in large quantities, as at Silverton, in Australia, and in the celebrated Comstock lode in California, it makes up in quantity for the lack of value as against gold so far as weight is concerned. Silver is now only worth about 4s an ounce, or say a twentieth part of what gold is worth' An ounce of gold to the ton of quartz is always looked upon as being very profitable to work j therefore twenty ounces of silver ito the ton is as good, and those who liave seen the Pohangiua stone inclivie to the beliof that it will run fuily iorty to the ton,

with two per cent of gold added. This, if correct, would pay well, and a large amount of capital and labour might soon be profitably employed in opening up and working the newly-found reefe. If the Melbourne test should prove favorable, there will soon be a stir in the district, as there are both money and men ready to be employed in winning the precious metals from the reefs in that locality, if they are there in payable quantities. The country is very broken around Pohangina, we believe, and no one who cannot afford to go on the ground well equipped and sup plied with stores should be led away to attempt prospecting there on their own account, as they would most likely suffer great hardships, and fail to do any good if they went there unsupported. Once it is proved that the reefs there can be worked to advantage, there vc 111 be less difficulty in getting on the ground, as the Government will, no doubt, make a good pack-horse track at least to the locality, and storekeepers will not be long in opening up a trade there. We sincerely trust the reefs may turn out payable to work, as such a result would be highly beneficial to the whole coast just now, owing to the stagnation which seems slow to move off, and the number of men walking about looking for work, owing to the check given to the public works of the colony by the carrying of Captain Russell's ill-advised motion. Should a large field for mining enterprise and labor be opened up through this Pohangina discovery, the prospects of everyone hereabouts should brighten, and values rise for all kinds of property and produce. Under these circumstances we are justified in entertaining the brightest hopes for the success of the. efforts now being made to open up a new and profitable outlet for both capital and labor, and we shall hail with pleasure the first tidings of successful results having been achieved by those who have so pluckily gone into the work of developing the mineral resources of that locality. Whether they succeed or not, they are worthy of every encouragement and assistance as their object is a good one, and must commend itself to every person who has the future welfare of this part of the colony at heart. We shall await with much interest and hope the further development of this discovery, which we trust will turn out equal to the most sanguine expectations of those who are now engaged in the good work of trying to add to our sources of wealth yet another industry.