GOLD IN THE RIVER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4484, 27 October 1922, Page 2

GOLD IN THE RIVER.

MATTER REVIEWED BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A VALUABLE REPORT

At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday last Mr S'. A. Shaw wrote bringing under the notice of the chamber the valuable deposit of old tailings containing considerable quantities of gold and silver in the Ohinemuri River between Paeroa and Karangahake township, particularly the large deposit at Mackaytown. After taking careful tests’ witn the assistance of Mr R, E. Jamieson, mining engineer, assayer, apd directr or of the School of Mines at Karangahake, he 'had come to the conclusion, that the Government and. people of New Zealand should be made aware of this, so that some action could be taken to recover the gold and silver, find employment for a large number of men, and add to the wealth of the Dominion.

The following report of Mr R. E. Jamieson, mining engineer, and until recently director, pf the School of Mines at Karangahake, was read: “Acting under instructions from Mr S. Shaw, I beg to state that I have made a careful examination of the alluvial debris of the channel and banks of the Ohinemuri River extending from immediately opposite the School of Mines, Karangahake, to the bend at the rear of the abattoirs’, probably a stretch 'of about two miles. “Almost anywhere I am able to obtain dish prospects of free gold, and this I will demonstrate to you at any time. On the concentration by panning off a product of excellent value in many places, is obtainable, and this concentrate when treated wita nitric acid yields gold associated witn a high, percentage of ironsand. By amalgamation with mercury, I was able to very easily’ separate the gold, while I also made a cyanide test of some, with’ satisfactory results. Again, I made a small sluice box, and in this primitive fashion recovered free gold; a sample of which I have handed to Mr Shaw.

“However, as the methods most suitable for the treatment pf the deposits. and the machinery necessary, will form the subject of a more extensive report, I will limit pay remarks, except to state that there is a large deposit in the stretch of the river under review .which, in my opinion, will more than pay for treatment in gold and silver values. ■ “I took quite a number pf samples for assay, fifteen of which are hereunder given:

No. 1 Sample.—B4lb, concentrated. Portion which passed 36 meslr, value £1 9s lid; swing bridge, Karangahake.

No. 2 Sample,—Brown sands, Mackayt'oii. Passed 60 mes,h, from bank midstream, value 16s lid per ton. No. 3 Sample.-—Same as, No. 2. Passed 30 mesh, value 15s 7d per ton. No. 3 Sample.—Tailings from bank near No, 2, sample, value 15s 3d per ton.

No. 4 Sample.—Mackaytown, midstream, recent deposits gravel. Passed 30 mesh, value £1 9s 3d per ton. No. 5 Sample.—Mackaytown. Material .which passed 30 mesh, value £1 14 s 2d per town., No. 6 Sample.—Mackaytown, £1 14s 6d per ton. No. 7 Sample.— Mackaytown. Natural concentration passing 60 mesh, value £3 7s 8d per ton.

No. 8 Sample—Pig-sty bend. Tailings, value 16s 11 per ton. No. 10 Sample.—Mackaytown. Passed 30 mesh, value £1 5s 6d per ton. No. 12 Sample.—Much same as No. 10.

No. 14 Sample—Concentration from Nos. 11 and 12, value £25 7s 8d per, ton.

No. 15 Sample.—Concentrated from riverbank, value £8 0s lid per ton. No. 17 Sample.—Tailings at abattoirs bend, value £1 17s 6d. No. 18 Sample—Concentrated from a number of pannings, sample No. 17, value £33 5s 6d. DISCUSSION. The president ■said (that it was a well-known fact that the Waihi-Pae-roa Extraction Company otbained its richest oft 1 above the Ohinemun bridge, and particularly at the baci< of the late Mr Coote’s residence. Mr Leach said that it was considered that had the Extraction Company started higher up it would still have been in operation.

Mr Marshall asked what could the Chamber do in the matter.

In replying to this a member stated that a few nicetings ago the question of what could be done to improve the town, and district had been informally discussed.

Mr W. H, Taylor said that he had •something to do with this matter coming before the Chamber, and it whs the outcome of a conversation with Mr Shaw. If steps could be taken to get a company working it would be of immense importance to the town and district. He was satisfied that tiie gold was there, but the great question was', “What could be done ?”

After a good deal of informal discussion it was resolved to hand the correspondence on to the press, so that the public might have the benefit Qf the information contained therein.