WILBERFORCE GOLDFIELD.

Kumara Times, Issue 2375, 8 April 1884, Page 3

WILBERFORCE GOLDFIELD.

We have before ns the copy of a report furnished by tho Geological Department upon U,e quartz reefs wenoialiy in the Wilborforto district, which contains a statement of the results of the analysis of the specimens obtained from the Mom Creek Gold Mining Company’s reef, which were forwarded by the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Ohnstchu'ch to the Mines Department Wellington. Those auriferous roofs are situated an tlm sources of T ■ Will (»■ inlet me.noh < . doit v .. ; in iM : do-, m: . u ■'i :: ;r of Coiimrl airy. (■Juan! sample-; taken at random from a parcel worn tire iUoa Creek Company’s reel yin 'ltd on an analysis by Dr. 3Looter, at the rate of lOozs. kiwis, per Ci;:.. During i»ho winter, it is said, the loca ity of the ieef i will probably bo inaccessible for mouths. Mr H. j-j ■; ,1!-. ~. , | *' ~ j • - -- -i t-.; tm; Go.-eiimicat fiat 'he prospectors’ t-aum is easily accessible by a wide flat of uhisglo, and that, except for cros.d.m; tim rivers, a currkge con Id he driven

the whole way. It is considered that the inaccessibility and ruggedness of the country to be passed through has been greatly exaggerated. The camp is at 2000 feet above the sea level, on Unknown Creek, an eastern tributary of the Stewart branch of the Wilberforce. The reefs crop out at 1400 feet higher, or 5000 feet above the sea, on a saddle between Unknown Greek and Moa Creek, and not on Maia Range, but in a lateral range flanking the great snowy peaks of Maia Range. The ascent to the reef is very steep and rough. In one place a rope has to be used, but the ascent by this route is better than by going up Moa Creek. Four reefs run parallel to each other at about one chain apart, and vary in thickness from two feet to four feet. They strike about N.N.E. and S.S.W. with an angle of 45 degrees, which is also the prevailing strike and dip of sandstones and slates. The reefs look well defined, and one has been traced on the surface about 600 ft., and has been sunk upon for about ten feet. The hanging or western wall of the reef in this instance is of slate, and foot-wall of sandstone reefs under similar conditions, also access at Browning Pass which is at the source of northern branch of Wilberforce, and range between the Otira Gorge and Taipo River. The casing of one of the reefs is very soft and flakey, and from what Mr Travers saw, a very fair prospect can be obtained by pan washing. A sample of this casing stuff, which he brought back yielded in the laboratary gold at the rate of 2ozs. Sdwts. per ton. The quartz, judging from specimens received, is sub-crystal-line flakey, containing small masses of iron pyrites and laminae of rock matrix. In one specimen two small specks of gold were visible on the surface, and the average yield of specimens brought by Mr Travers and analysed in the laboratory is at 7dwts. 7grs. per ton. A specimen of quartz obtained at the reef at Browning Pass had similar physical characters to that at Moa Creek, and yielded at the rate of loz. 2dwts. 4grs. per ton. Mr Travers is of opinion that the reefs could be profitably worked if the quartz is found to average lOdwts. to the ton, taking into consideration the ease with which machinery could be got on to the ground, and the abundance of waterpower, The weather was very unfavorable during Mr Travers’ visit, and he learned that only a very small proportion of working days had been experienced during the past summer and already the first snows had begun to fall.

The Christchurch Press states that the prospects continue to improve. On the 29th ult., the Moa Creek Mining Manager brought in several handsome specimens, and a quantity of apparently fine sand, in which there was a rich intermixture of gold. The lease No. 1, held by the Moa Creek Prospecting Company, is to be sold to a company to be formed of 32,000 shares of £1 each, 8400 shares fully paid-up to be taken by the present proprietors for their interest in the lease.