DEEP LEADS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2547, 17 April 1871, Page 2

DEEP LEADS.

The Kuecfrs which has attended the operations <f the Ida Valley Company, induces tho I) nstan T m s to call attention to the existence of leads in that district, and to the necessity for steps being taken to prove their extent and quality. Guy. contemporary points out the great fiat between Clyde and Alexandra as most deserving of attention. That a rich lead of gold exists here is beyond the possibility of a doubt. Somewhere near the township of Clyde is the ancient river bed, and its course from thence under the “terraces” to the Manuherikia junction, a little time and patience would soon discover. Tho tunnels driven in from the edge of the river between this and the Hospital showed that the ground dipped heavily in the direction indicated, while small runs of coarse gold, evidently all havim; one defined course, presented still stronger indications of tho existence of a deep lead. In the early days of the Punstan the most praiseworthy exertions were made to solve this nroblem. No less than three shafts were sunk and gold obtained in all, but they did not reach the bed ’ock. Tho tunnels' however accomplished something while they obtained sufficient gold to defray a portion {of their working expenses. The Victoria Company penetrated the flat hack to a distance of five hundred feet from the river, and knocked off because they could not bottom a great dip at the very extremity of their wor ings. In this case there was heavy gold on the bed rock, yet the enterprise'was abandoned. By means of a tunnel the mystery could readily be solved, and the whereabouts of the deep lead soon made known. Timber is considerably cheaper now, and could be landed on the ground at less than one half its former cost-; labour is also cheaper, and what is more, experienced in tunnelling work can he obtained in any number. Gold appears to be found in Otago ia all variety ol circumstances.

The quartz reefs were only proved P a y a *’ e after repeated trials and failures, and e same will bo the case with deep leads, Sanguine as we may appcv, we liave always adhered to the belief tint tho district is to become the bad.irat of Zealand.