The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1888. NAPIER COPPER MINES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1746, 21 January 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1888. NAPIER COPPER MINES.

Many a New Zealander must have experienced a feeling approaching to envy on reading ot the wonderful pood luck of New South Wales m " striking it rich " m the matter of silver—so rich that the revenue from Government royalty is expected this year to reach a million sterling — and have thought what a splendid thing it would be for this debt-laden land if only we could happen upon a similar slice of good fortune. And why not? There is silver at the Thames we know — perhaps a great deal more than we know of, and may-be our turn is not far off. Anyhow there are hopeful signs m more directions than one, and if we have'nt silver to boast of there is reason to believe that our oil-springs will yet turn out trumps, and that we have gold galore, not to say copper m abundance. There have, it seems, been important find* of the latter metal at Maharahara m the Hawkt's Bay provincial district, anent which a very interesting report is furnished to the Napier " JJaily Telegraph " by a " special," who has been despatched to the scene of the discovery. The reporter, who was accompanied by two of the prospectors, and another resident of the locality, says that they travelled about a couple of miles up a creek, the true capper etone being visible here and there, when another creek was struck and richer stone visible. Then climbing a spur of the Ruahena, at a height of about Bpo fcef, a band of iron stone interspersed with copper was found, over which was thecopper lode. Here the reef shows a width of i ift. About four chains from this spot are the main workings, where there is a well-defined reef ot 15ft from wall to wall. Of the promise afforded by this to the enterprise of the miner, the following interesting information is given :— " On the left aft of the face next the grey rock shpw* the copper, but it U poor io qmlity.j tbit ii t wbea

L compared with the other portions of' the reef, the stone being very broken, j which may be due to the solid rock not j having there being reached. Next is a 3ft vein of very rich ore, showing stone i with much verdigris and a deep blue j tint, which always indicates the presence of high-class stone. When the gold- ' miner hits a rich patch he terms it a ; "jeweller's shop," and this may be aptly described as the picture gallery, for ihe colors are very numerous. We have the peacock blue, a darker blue, two shades of red, plenty of green, and here and there a little of the lighter I colors, while there are raaoy shades varying almost from a deep purple to a light red. Then we have sft of rock m which the pick has yet to be driven. To break it here would mean that it would simply reach the creek below, while no good purpose could be served. This was the portion of the reef that was not exposed to view. Then we come to another vein equally as promts ing as the one on the other side of the unstripped portion, though not of the same width. This vein being only about 2ft 6in, while the remaining 3j£ft of the reef would probably go 5 to 10 per cent stone, so taking the whole face m view, we have only aft of indifferent stone, and that portion will improve as the solid is reached ; so that even here it is possible the atone would prove more than payable. . . . . Altogether six kinds of copper have been found up to date. There is very little native copper, and what has been got is of the nature of specks, just as you might find gold. This, the prospectors claim, is an advantage; for, as they say, and the experience of Nelson .supports their ▼iew, wherever native copper is got m quantities of from scwt to a ton there will be much barren stone. So far, at the Maharahara, barren stone has not been found m the reef, the poorest of the iron stone going at least 2 per cent of copper." Judging from the foregoing, there appears to us to be every indication of the existence of copper m large and payable quantities, and it is heartily to be hoped that such is the case, for there is nothing which would restore to New Zealand the prosperity which is so earnestly hoped for more surely and quickly than the opening up of new fields ot mineral wealth.