ALEXANDER REEPS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1924, Page 4

ALEXANDER REEPS.

A PROMISING OPTI.OOK. The ” Inangahtia Times” in the course of a recent vixil made to the Alexander River (midfield states The pany went *ver the battery site and then on to the new reel' which is in close proximity to the " Hull " reef, hut the stone appears lo lie of a different character. The outcrop is about * feet wide, and is solid and beautifully clean milling stoic*, showing gold I'feoly eivrywhere. In fact every piece picked up out of the paddock showed gold li-dhle to the naked eye. A winze has I ecu put down on the "■ide of this reel lo a considerable depth

and show- the slum* is maintaining its width and values, the reef being Ihe full width «f the winze all the way. and its solidity is the he t evidence of iis continuing to depth. The reef outcrops in live or six places and all these were inspected, the length ol country over which the outcrops extend being oven' half a mile. A lisit was then made to the “Roll" reef, which is on a spur almost direelly opposite to the first mill top. This reel, which can be worked from the same lend, has already been proved to (villain many thousands of tons of quartz. l'’rom ibis splendid specimen stole* could ei cry whore he obtained. It is estimated that already over Iwo years' stone for the battery has been developed, and the Work now proceeding should lonsiderahly increase Ihe amount already exposed. ' The miners engaged on the field maintain that the Alexander reel discovery is il*i* biggest mining find ever found in the Dominion, and point out that in no other elaims in the short iin-,;, that the Alexander has been in operation have such large bodies ol ore been disclosed.

The greatest difiiciilty l ln* promoters are fared with with is tlie lack of tracks. So far they have had to construct all the tracks, am! this mean, taking their men from the mine. In the rutting of these tracks they are receiving L* tor L I ruin the (•overniiienl.

Eurtlier inspection showed that the enlist met ion ol the water race had been completed, and ihe framework of the water wheel was well under way, and with bed plates, etc. was in course of erection. The electrical equipment (which was supplied by Messrs 'lurubull and .limes), has already been delivered on tile ground together with the transmission wires ol about 11,I 1 , mile iu length, and awaits erection by the linn's engineers. This plant, in addition to supplying motive power lor the battery will also provide lighting for the works and miners’ cottages. Practically all the battery equipment is on the ground, and most of the timber for the building and the fitting up of the battery (which had to be pitsawn). has been supplied.