LURE OF GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1929, Page 3

LURE OF GOLD

OPERATIONS ON THE BULLER. WESTPORT, August 26. , i Although the earthquake on June I/ 1 created incalculable damage in tlje north-western portion of the South Island, some interesting observations hate been made as to its effect upon mining operations there. ' Generalov speaking, the damage done to ac'ua : mining operations has been negligible. Certainly the means of access and of transportation to and from mining properties have been considerably affected, but, with these excepted, the damage in the mining areas is slight indeed. In the coal mines the amouif of coal shaken down and of timber displaced caused but a small del”/ in the resumption of operations and the re-establishment of the normal outpu t.

PROSPECTORS BUSY. In the reefing and alluvial districts where huge displacements of the earth’s surface have taken place, fascinating conjectures are being made as to the possibilities of new reefs and auriferous gravels being revealed as the result of extensive exposures of rock surfaces. Prospectors are already out in some districts searching for the “Mother lode,” the El Dorado of the' old diggers’ dreams. Soon after the earthquake an old miner,:who had not been cm the Coast since the ’seventies, was encountere?' in the Greymouth express heading for the Lvell. where he knew of a rich reef which he was sure would bo workable through the displacements that had taken place. His only regret was that lie could not get through to Lyell that night. His is not an isolated case. Many of the old prospectors have again been smitten with the gold fever, but, of course, it is yet too soon to say whether they have been correct in their prognostications. In the Lyell and Murchison districts, where rich reefs and alluvials wore worked in the early days, and where the recent upheavals were greatest, the opinion is held by many of those old miners that valuable prospecting work lias been done by the seismological agency, which, aided by the recent rains, should stimulate the formation of prospecting parties to investigate thoroughly the hills a.nd earth si ins in the vicinity. A BOLD PROPOSITION.

However, the operations of the Buller Diversion Company are not conjecture, hut fact. The company is carrying out a unique proposition between Murchison and Lyell.

Their scheme, briefly, is to tunnel from one bend in the Buller River to another at a point where the river almost loops hack on itself, divert the river through the., driven tunnel and then expose about a mile and a half of the hod for sluicing operations.

The geological fault along which the great force of the earthquake travelled crosses the Buller River in the immediate vicinity of the tunnel at a place called White's Creek, and re-crosses at a point quite glose to the proposed intake of the river into the tunnel. The astonishing feature is that, while the whole length of the tunnel has /been left intact, the bed of the river at White’s Creek has been thrust :up about fifteen feet, and at the intake about eight feet. This means that an extra fifteen feet in height will he given the tail race, thus allowing sluicing by the ordinary gravitation method instead of by the “blow up” method.

“THEY WALKED THE RIVER,”

Many are the experiences told of men caught by the earthquake, ' but perhaps the most extraordinary is related by the men engaged on the ,Boiler Diversion Company’s tunnel, where the “drying up of the Red Sea” was re-enacted. As soon as the shako came they rushed to the mouth of the tunnel, only to be blocked by the fiver. It v would have been impossible to swim the river at that place, and while they were excitedly discussing the best way to get clear, huge slips came down all round them. The violent shaking eased, and. to their astonishment, the river gradually dried up, and they crossed to the other bank practically dryfooted. A huge slip had come down, completely blocking the river, which was dry fo,r several hours before the water again broke through.

Prospecting work was started early in the Lyell district, but about a fortnight after the big disturbance more severe shocks were experienced in the hills, bringing down more big slips, and this drove the prospectors n.lt.. However, work has again been resumled, and the Coast is watching with interest developments in this respect. '

That the gold is there is an acknowledged fact, but what the recent upheaval has unearthed remains to be seen. Already small finds have been made by the shrewd old prosnector who keeps his good fortune to himself, but who knows when another big strike will be located? Then once more the Golden Coast will 1)° the Mecca of wealth and the home of mushroom towns. It is not only possible, but highly probable.