Canada Quartz Reef.

Cromwell Argus, Volume II, Issue 103, 31 October 1871, Page 2

Canada Quartz Reef.

—o— Standard', 21at October,} The very satisfactory yield of gold from the late crushing of quartz from the Ocean View claim, after a comparative short time of working it, caused an .unusual amount of excitement in Tokomairiro in the early part of the week. On Monday morning the Eeefs were visited by numbers of parties, who were anxious to secure as early as possible a chance in the golden lottery which it is presumed has been opened on Table Bill. One party, believing that those now working the Alexandra claim had marked off a larger number of feet than they were entitled by the regulations, "jumped" 500 feet of it, leaving them only GOO feet, asserted to be all they had a right to hold. A protest was lodged with Warden Simpson against the act, and in reply, he intimated that he would be on the ground on Wednesday morning to investigate the matter. When this became known to those at all interested in the dispute, or the working of the reefs, a very general desire was excited to visit the ground, and on that day there was a stampede of many of the principal citizens to the Table Hill reefs, where it is supposed—on the slender fact of one good yield of gold—that fortunes will be readily acquired by the fortunate holders of claims. We have ascertained the following facts in regard to the claims at work and marked out:—The Ocean View claim is 1100 feet, and was first worked by three of the tributors of the Table Hill Co. 's claim, and with whom are now associated other persons owning shares. The Alexandra is 600 feet, independent of the 500 now in dispute. Wise, Higgins, and Co. hold 400 feet; Streeting and party, 400 feet; Watson and party, 400 feet ; Ferguson, 600 feet ; and Russell, 600 feet. It is rumoured that from information having leaked out during the crushing of the stone from the Ocean View, the Alexandra claim was extended by 500 feet. Warden Simpson having heard the statements of the claimants to this portion of the claim, resolved to hold a Court on Friday at Waitahuna, to determine the dispute. As an indication of the value set upon the Ocean View claim, we learn that £250 has been offered for a share, and refused. Three weeks ago, there were only about twelve men at work on the reefs and in the neighbouring gullies, while there are now upwards of sixty. The working of so many claims will give ample employment to the stampers owned by the Table Hill Co., and the rate of pay the company receives will probably make the stampers as profitable as any of the claims. On Wednesday there were only five head of stampers at work for the Alexandra claim ; but the other five were to be set in motion on the following day for the Ocean View. If many of the claims are worked, additional stampers will have to be got, and we believe this can be easily affected, while there is little difficulty in increasing the supply of water for the wheel. The Ocean View claim is part of a reef discovered by a boy belonging to Mr Bennetto—a miner who has displayed a faith in the auriferous nature of the reefs in the district, proof against trials of no ordinary kind. There are only about 400 yards now to take up between Mr I). Carson's property and the South branch of the Tokomairiro river.

Yesterday morning another "jumping" case took place, when Messrs Dyer and Crossan pegged off a part of the Ocean View claim; \inder the impression that the claim has not been marked off in accordance with the regulations. Of course this will form another case to exercise the judicial wisdom of the Warden, and its solution is anxiously waited for by the parties interested.