THE NEW REEFS AT MACETOWN.

Evening Star, Issue 3780, 6 April 1875, Page 2

THE NEW REEFS AT MACETOWN.

{By our Arrow Correspondent.) Arrow, April 8. „ I have paid a visit to the scene of the quad!* discovery near Macetown, and although it involved considerable labor in reaching the spot, being on the Very top of one of tile highest mountains in our district, I was much gratified with what I saw, and especially with the grand and magnificent- view which burst upon mv sight on reaching the top of the range. JChe colossal proportions of Mount Cook, surrounded by dense clouds, like a volcano, and Hount Aspiring and the whole range of the Southern Alps can be clearly seen on the north-west-while on the east and south, Mount Ida and the Old Han range form the background of the picture. The prospectors have erected a tent under the shelter of a high ridge of rock*, as the force of the wind at this altitude is very s r ® at : I reckon the mountain at about one mile in height, the track up being about four miles m length, and very steep. The ridge has long been a celebrated one for quartz specimens, and the prospectors had not much trouble in turning all that they have yet discovered, which consists of two quartz leaders, about twelve or eighteen inches wide, running at an angle which will bring them to a junction in a short distance. The workings consist of two trenches about two or three feet deep, exposing the leaders and casing, on knocking up which myseu and about six other visitors could discern gold plainly with the naked eye in nearly every piece of stone. Some very good specimens had been already taken away by visitors. Great quantities of loose quartz strew the bill on each side. The leaders referred to are runmug east and west nearly, and the top of the rang* for miles presents the same incucationa of the existence of reefs and leaders as the one now prospected. I should imagine, and it was also the opinion of the number of experienced miners who were with me, that the quart? ought to run two or three ounces to file "°h. _ The greatest drawback to working a quartz claim at such a height is the distance from timber supply (seven miles), the head of the Matatapu being the nearest place, and the distance the quartz would have t'o be conveyed to the nearest practicable site for a crushing machine, which would be at the foot of the mountain on the Arrow River, where a waterwheel could bo erected. The packing the quartz down will cost loz per ton ; also fqr five months m the year snow would cover everything deeply. The prospectors are going to send down at once to Cromwell a trim crushing of two tons from these leaders, and do not expect to be able to do any more work this season. Next spring they propose to got up a machine as far as the Twelve-mile, where it wdl be erected. The capital, it is thought, will be readily obtained at Cromwell. Besides the party there will be many others attracted to this pursuit next season, and the Arrowtown Council are going to raise LSOO by subscription and ask the Government to subsidise it. If they succeed in raising the money one of the first places to be tried will be the Criterion reef, near the Arrow. This claim was notoriously mismanaged, as they had realtf good stone, some going as high as 6oz. to the ton, and the reef may be struck below where the first formation ran out. There are legions of known reefs well defined, and in soma of which a little gold has from time to time been seen, but which have never been prospected at all ; aud many of these will now oomm«.ud attention, from which I trust some good may result. lam the first newspaper reporter who has visited this, the latest discovery of importance, and I have been careful not to say' anytmng about it which the facts do not warrant* There are two good tracks between the Arrow and the Twelve-mile ; one via Arrow Valiev which is the best, but longer than the other! which is over the Big Hilt There is also a track from Macetown to the Shotover branches. which passes over the prospecting claim. The Government have been very liberal to this, district in the way of roads and tracks, and they have been well constructed and looked after m we have most indefatigable officers in Mr Tergus, the .road engineer, and his assistant, Mr W. Parcel. Any breakages in the roads and tracks through our mountains by ifloods, &b are promptly repaired, and accidiitts to men and horses from such causes are never heard bave every reason to be pleased with the efforts now made by the Government to do us justice in the apportionment of the revenue. The Twelve-milo consists of tufa good stores, an hotel (a dirty place), a schqolhous6,and a chapel, the latter seldom , used now The trout ova placed at Butel’s mill stream by our Mayor (Mr limes) Las turned out well The fish are numerous, and, being a foot in length, are-now being distributed through the district. The thanks of the district are due to "bo Messrs Butel and Jones, to whose care skill this successful result may be attributed • also to Mr H. J. Cope, who gave the instructions for rearing the fish. There is a report in town to-night that a good reef has been found on the Kawaraii. I hope it may prove true. The tributers of the Phosnrx claim, Skippers, made a start yesterday. Pre« uininary works will only occupy a few weeks. My advices state that they are sanguine of success, as all the levels are driven in, and they have nothing to do but to get out quart? at once.

The race meeting on the Shotover was a great success—no broken heads this time. The Nugget and donnish Beef Company’s wane have sold 1,500 shares in this district, the Dunedin people are shy, and no wonder.