NEW GOLD FIND

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1921, Page 4

NEW GOLD FIND

ME SIDNEY FEY’S "VISIT

Mr Sidney Fry, the well-known Mining Engineer, who visited the new quartz'find at. Alexander River, was in Reefbon on Friday and gave a short acount of his visit to the field. He stated that he left Reefton on April 25th., and from Stevenson's Flat “he carried his “bluey” to the top of the spur divding the Marina Valey i’-om the Alexander Valley. Daring h's journey up the 'hill he examined 'he country very carefully. It is of a good slatey formation and likely looking ior the existence of quartz, being both solid and unbroken, and he thinks that any quartz got there will be most likely to continue." The tmsh was dense and heavy, and to a man carrying a swag was very awkward to traverse; to a hale hearty man it however offers no great difficulty. He considers that a road of an easy grade could be constructed. Mr Fry camped on top of the hill for the night and followed Absalom Creek down to the Alexander River next day. This creek has no falls of any consequence, none exceeding six feet, and a road of an extremely good grade could he easily constructed. He considers that the distance lias been overstated and that it will not exceed three miles from the top of the hill to Alexander River.

Mr Fry inspected the prospector’s reef, as well as the adjacent country, '['he quartz is good, clean and solid, and gold c an he seen everywhere in it. What pleased him most however, was the distribution of the precious metal righi through the solid quartz. It could be seen plainly in all parts, standing out like pin points. Mr Fry deprecated the statement that the quartz would go 100 ozs to the ton, hut stated positively time the average stone will give a return of over 2ozs. to the ton, and that excluding the very rich stone, of which there is a very large quantity. The reef he saw varied from. 2 feet to 6 feet lying very straight and solid, resembling a strong block '•! marble. He was much impressed w’ith it, and, considering the regular formation and general good appearance of the country, thought it would he an extraordinary thing if the stone did not continue to a good depth. Questioned as to the news that the reef had been traced a mile and a quarter from the top of the hill into the valley, Mr Fry said that it had not been done up to the time of his departure from the Alexander River, but on being assured that such is the ease, said he saw no verson why the stone should not continue to the Manila side of the spur. Mr Fry said his impressions of the Alexander River as a reefing country were distinctly favourable and he saw no reason why the line of reef that was worked on Kinvan’s Hill should not continue in an unbroken line into Alex ander River, and thus confirm the opinion laid down by Dr Henderson in bis Geological report of the Inangahua Goldfields.

EXAGGERATED REPORTS

WELLINGTON, May 9,

In a Press Association telegram sent from Keefton on the 22n<l of April, it was stated that Mr Downey the Inspector of Mines had confirmed the richness of the quart:; which has been discovered on the West Coast, samples brought to Reefton having assayed ever 100 oz. to the ton. That message also stated that Mr Downey considered the find to he the richest stone south of the Line.

The Minister of Mimes however, has since received a written report from the Inspector of Mines as to the new discovery, and also as to the Press Association message referred to. The report advises that the official mentioned gave no official communication to the Press, and that the extravagant statements attributed to him were not made by him.

The Inspector pi Alines’ report indicates that in one lode- gold shows freely in quartz within the limits to which the lode is exposed, and that as a surface prospect, tho find appears to he a. promising one, but before any opinion can be authoritatively expressed as to the permanency of the field, the quartz lodes will require to be developed, and the continuity of the lode system proved. PROSPECTING IN INANGAHUA. WELLINGTON, May 9. . With a view to ascertaining marc fully what the position is at Alexander River quartz field, the Minister of Mines has instructed the Director of Geological Survey (Mi - P. G. Morgan! to proceed to the locality to investigate the area where the discovery has been made This is a preliminary step to the reporting thereon to the Government. It may not be generally known that the Mines Department, since November, 1919, has been paying a subsidy under the regulations issued under the Mining Acts, to the Blackwater Miners’ Association, as a contribution towards the expense involved in employing prospectors to prospect the locality where the nlew find has been made. This discovery should undoubtedly have ’he effect of stimulating other prospectors to go out in the virgin regions to prospect for minerals.