GABRIEL'S GULLY IN 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1363, 11 December 1872, Page 4

GABRIEL'S GULLY IN 1872.

In describing the machinery aud workings connected with the Gabriel's Gully quartz reef, the Tuapeka Times says : — The machine is erected close to a historical spot. But a fow hundred yards from it is ihe place where Gabriel Bead's tin dish exposed to his view those glittering grains which gave to that then unknown and unnamed gully a world-wide fame, which magnet-like attracted to it population from all quarters of the globe, and which was the centre from which, radiated the hardy band of prospectors, who found other rich gold fields in (he interior of the Province. Gabriel's Gully has fallen from its high estate. Id the "old times" the teeming multitudes of adventurers which thronged it, att intent on robbing nature of her hidden treasures could scarce find room to breathe. Now all in changed. The famous. Gabriel's Gully, to which Otago owes so much, is now— tell it with bated: breath— but a monster tail-race. like savago nations overwhelmed by the- advanoing tide of civilisation, the. primitive style of gold-mining has given place to the resistless sluicing hose, and in the case of Gabriels it has not only shouldered away the mode of operations, but obliterated the very scenes of the operations themselves. The monster sluicing on the Blue Spar has hidden from view the old bed of Gabriels with tailings. Where the workings were is now covered with enormous quantities of gravel and sand. Sons* places are raised 100 ft above the origiaaE bed, and it is nothing but one immense shingle bed. The hills which fornx the Bides of the gully are now the sceae- of another advance in gold-mining. The rock itself, under the persuasive influence of the stampers, will now bo> fonced to give np its treasures. ■