GABRIEL’S GULLY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1930, Page 3

GABRIEL’S GULLY

WORKING THE CONGLOMERATE. . DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. DUNEDIN, December 22. Gabriel’s Gully of late years has been the object of considerable speculation on the part of old and experienced miners as to the possibility of winning the gold which undoubtedly remains in the unworked cement at Blue Spur, and the tailings which fill the Gully from Blue Spur to the boundary of the borough of Lawrence. The nature of the bohl-bearing rock is such that, with the exception of tailings which alter years of weathering are slowly crumbling and becoming friable, great quantities of auriferous conglomerate are not workable by hydraulic processes, and for that reason Gabriel’s Gully Sluicing Company is seriously considering the introduction of a crushing plant in order that the conglomerate and tailings can be scientifically dealt with before being sent to the washing tables. As a preliminary measure, samples of the tailings from various parts of the Gully were sent to Dunedin for crushing, and, on being washed, returned a most satisfactory sample of gold. The company delegated Mr Hart, who has been associated with mining activities for many years, to prosecute inquiries into the best means of dealing with thousands of tons of conglomerate and tailings from which hydraulic power alone is unable to extract the gold. Should the venture prove as successful as is confidently expe: ted, it will result in a revival of the

industry which will be of immeasurable value, not only to Otago, but also to the country. Mr Hart states that, if ways and means of pulverising the ground with reasonable prospect of success were devised, lie was sure that at least £lO,000 would be speedily forthcoming to put into the project. . It might be stated that the first year’s working' at Gabriel’s Gully resulted in a return of £2,000,009 and up to date no less than £6,000,000 had been taken from this line of deposit. Mr Hart said he was confident that, with most up-to-date appliances for extracting gold, it would take many years to exhaust the field, and it was certain there were many millions waiting to be mined. While the co-opera-tion of the Government hud been sought, and willingly given, those associated with the venture were so confident of success that the Government would not be asked to contribute a penny piece by way of subsidy.