THE INANGAHUA AND MURRAY CREEK QUARTZ REEFS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 868, 9 May 1871, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA AND MURRAY CREEK QUARTZ REEFS.

[prom our own- correspondent.] Hikmatua, May 9. The accounts from the mines over the Saddle continue to be satisfactory, but the great drawback appears to be a want of efficient crushing machinery. No new reefs have been opened, although there are rumors that several prospecting parties have found auriferous stone, but not sufficiently rich to be worth taking any trouble about under present circumstances. The operations during the next six months will set the question of the value of the Murray Creek [quartz reefs at rest, because within that time at least two powerful steam crushing machines, with full batteries of stampers, will be at work. The district cannot be expected to make much progress in the face of the present great scarcity of money, and in the absence of any available means of ex- ; tractiug the gold from the almost unlimited quantities of auriferous quartz already discovered. There is no knowing what maybe the result of the next twelve { months' work, because it is a geuerally held opinion that when money gets more plentiful several important discoveries, J which are now " kept dark," will be made known. This is feasible enough, too, because, as matters are now, none but shares in the very best situations can be sold ; there is no money to be laid in mere speculations ; tboso who " hold it" cannot be induced to invest except in almost absolute certainties. The following ,

are extracts from a letter from an esteemed correspondent at Murray Creek, and as the writer has been for years a resident in that district, and from his intimate knowledge of the place the information given may be relied upon as authentic: — "Yesterday I visited the different quartz claims in this locality, and, in the first place, I may as well tell you that a deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed at the apparent indifference with which the place is treated by the press of Greymouth, in comparison with that of Westport. T will, as the miners say, take the district 'in a face, 7 commencing at Reefton, or, as it was formerly called, Ross. This township has for the last few days presented a lively appearance, several shareholders having disposed of interests iv their claims at high prices, and, in some instances, a portion of the funds so procured have been devoted to a good spree for all hands ; in fact, the publicans and shanty-keepers are so elated with the roaring trade they have been doing for the past week or two that they are converting their canvas shanties into respectable weather-boarded public-houses. New buildings are likewise going up in all directions, and to secure a business site on the north side of the Inangahua, in an eligible situation, you will have to part with the needful to a considerable amount.

Leaving Reef ton I pro ceeded up the river to the foot of Murray Creek, or rather to the extreme south cud of Anderson's line of reef. Here there is quite a novel kind of bridge for crossing the river. It is composed of strong planks, attached to wooden bearers, or "horses," as they are technically called, placed in the stream. These planks are fastened to each other, and likewise to trees, by a strong rope. They are not connected in the centre, so when a flood comes on the bridge opens into two parts, and horses and all float to either bank of the river, where they are secured until the water subsides, when they are returned to their original positions, an operation which can be performed by two men in about half-an-liour. This ingenious contrivance was first erected by Mr C. Norman, who has, f understand, protection for a bridge or erry at this crossing- The first claim I visited was No. 7 south on Anderson's reef. This party have good payable stone in a shaft in their upper tunnel ; they are now taking in a drive to cnt the reef at a very low level. They expect to go 300 ft before striking it. I next visited Nos. 5 and 6 amalgamed ; this party are in about 200 ft with their tunnel. They have a leader with gold in it, but no reef yet. Going further up the range I came to Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 amalgamed. This party have taken in a tunnel 300 f t; and have crossed the supposed line of direction of the reef, as it bears in the prospectors claim. The tunnel is 300ffc below the prospectors' shaft, which is higher up the range. There was no sign of the reef where the tunnel crossed the supposed line of it, and the party have commenced a. cross drive in the original tunnel, starting about 150 ft from the outer face and on the probable course of the reef. They will have to drive 700 ft before they come to their northern boundary line, but the reef will have to dip very considerably if they do not meet it before they get there, the boundary being only 90ft from Anderson's shaft. My next halt was the prospecting claim, or, as it is now called the Anderson's Creek Gold Mining Co.'s claim ; Nos 1 and 2 North being amalgamated with them, the whole of the shares in the ground have been thrown into a Joint Stock Company. There is a shaft sunk in this claim to a depth of sixty-two feet, with very good gold all the way down. The widest part of the reef is three feet six inches, and the narrowest eighteen inches. It is getting wider gradually as they sink. I am informed on good authority that the company have made arrangements with Mr Binney to erect machinery on advantageous terms. So much for Anderson's 1 ne, on which there are fifty-two ordinary single claims taken up, viz., the Anderson's Creek Gold Mining Company, 18 men ; Watson, Braithwaite and party, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 south, 12 men ; Jas. Hunter and party, Nos. 5 and 6 south, 37 men; and No. 7 south, Black and part}', whose claim extends to the banks of the Inaugahua, 6 men. Leaving Anderson's hut, I proceeded eastward along the range till I arrived at Shiel's reef. The first, claim I visited was Nos. 1 and 2 south, amalgamated. This party are expecting to strike the reef in their tunnel every day, but they have already met with good stone on the surface. This is the last claim at work on the southern end, but I hear that the adjoining ground to the south has been applied for on lease. The next to this claim on the north is Shiel's and party — the prospecting claim. This, in my opinion, is the best defined reef in the district, it is fully five feet wide, with gold visible all through the stone, and proved for a depth of 180 feet. This party have concluded an arrangement with the Brothers Mace, of Hokitika, about procuring machinery. The track along which the boiler, &c, will be brought to the claim is nearly finished, and great credit is due to the shareholders, Messrs J. G. Walsh and Co., for the energetic manner in which they are pushing the work forward. The crushing machine, I underatand, is to be erected on the claim in working order within three months. The party, No. 1 north, have got the reef equally as good as the prospectors. They|are sinking on Nos 2 and 3 north, the shaft is now down 40 feet. I next visited Kelly's reef, which is further still to the east. I made my first stay at Kelly and Cooney's claim. This party, as far as regards getting into working order, are in about the same position they were nine months ago. I have heard the party have had an offer of machinery, but the terms did not suit them. It is a pity to see a valuable property like this lying in its present unproductive condition, and there would seem to be gross mismanagement somewhere or machinery could have been procured long ago. The claim next to Kelly's, on the north, is held by Rody Ryan and party, who are getting very good stone. The prospectors, Westfield and party, whose claim is next on the south to Kelly's, have not yet struck the reef. In No. 1 south they are sinking a shaft, which is now down about 50ft. They are. likewise sinking in the next claim, and nre down about 40ft ; they intend to drive from this shaft in a few days. In No. 3 south, Newton and party are busy fixing a tramway and shoots, to bring their stone to the Murray Creek Gold Mining Company's machine. A lot of about 30 tons of stone was recently crushed from this claim, and it jyielded

considerably over one ounce to the ton. There are 2|f t of stone, and the party have made an arrangement with the Murray Creek Company to have their stone crushed for twelve months at a reasonable rate. No. 4 south is in possession of a Greymouth Company, and an application has been made for a gold mining lease. The M. C. G. M. Co.'s cement claim is at a standstill ; the hands are busy putting up dams at every available place, so that they will be fully prepared for the next long drought, which they expect to be able to set at defiance. This morning I paid a visit to 'our mutual friend,' at his leasehold. It is situated at the back of the M. C.| G.M. Co.'s lease, and I found that for the short time the party have been working, they have made a great show. There are only four men at work, and besides cutting a water race Ik miles long, they have built a wooden crushing machine, with machine-house, a water-wheel and smithy. They are now ready to start crushing, and all this work has been done in the short space of four months. The machine, a battery of three stampers, wa3 built by Messrs Thos. Watson and John Scott, members of the I party ; it is entirely of wood with the exception of the stamper heads, and should the claim prove payable, other three stampers will be added. I was I shown over the claim by Mr Guillane, and as far as I can judge the Company have a good claim. Gold can be seen in any part of the face and considering that there are six feet of cement, with a little gold all through it, which can be easily taken out and crushed, everything is in favor of their getting well paid ; but they won't be long in suspense, for they will begin crushing in about a week. This company set an example which might be followed with advantage by other parties in this locality. There are parties of men here holding admittedly good claims for the last ten months, who have been unable to induce capitalists to make terms with them for the erection of machinery, and during all that time they have made little or no progress in the development of their claims. There was nothing to prevent these men from erecting a small machine like the one I have been describing, and by so doing they could have tested the value of their quartz, and probably would have been enabled to procure proper machinery from the proceeds of their labor without parting with any interest in their claims. For the last few weeks we have been visited by capitalists and speculators chiefly from Hokitika and Westport. Several shares have changed hands at apparently good prices, but as you will have heard all this before, it will not be news to you."