MINING NEWS.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 260, 13 February 1886, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

(from our mining reporter.; MANUKA FLAT. Friday, February 12. This company's tunnel is now in 300 feet, the last 150 feet has been driven in the solid rock. The gravel is two feet above the roof of the tunnel, which is dipping gradually in towards the flat. From the present appearance of the country being gone through it would bad to the supposition that an old river-bed formation was being entered upon, and there can be treasonable doubt that in by gone ages the Buller river had its course somewhere in the vicinity of these workings. The manager, Mr Bray, has on many occasions recently washed prospects from the gravel, and in every instance has been enabled to get the color and sometimes more. Permeating through this gravel is a largo quantity of heavy black sand, and no doubt, from this deposit the gold comes, at anyrate it is a well-known fact to miners that black sand follows or is to be found in the vicinity of good alluvial ground. This undertaking is undoubtedly one deserving every encouragement and support, not alone from those in the district, but also from public bodies and the Government. In referring to this portion of the subject we are under the impression that at the initiation of the project the Buller County Council pledged themselves to contribute 5s for every £1 of capital raised up to £IOOO, but up to the present time that promise has not been redeemed, which causesg reat dissatisfaction amongst shareholders. This action on the part of the County Council also provides an excuse for the General Government witholding their promise of support, and it was mainly on the.se inducements held out in the beginning that the Company undertook the work. Owing to this action the company, which is manily formed by working men, are unable to prosecute the work in that vigorous manner which is alone essential to success; that is to say, instead of being in the position to employ six men, which number could work to advantage, they are compelled to do the best they can with two, and they experiene some difficulty at the end of each month to find sufficient to pay them, and meet other expenses in connection with a work of this kind.

THE OWEN REEF 3. [by our special correspondent.l This field is situated abaat 33 miles from Lyell, and embraces an auriferous belt of country about two in width and extends from Mount Owen to tbe junction of the Owen and Bailer rivers. This country was known to be gold* bearing for the last fifteen years, but as the line of reef was supposed to bj identical with the Wangapiki little notice was taken, aud a very s 11 ill amount of prospecting carried on u 1 til within the last twelve months. It will be remembered that the fiild turned out a miserable fail ire, an I as the Nelson people were the greatest suffjrers they naturally shook their heads when the Owen was spoken of. Happily this opinion is now completely changed. Some few years ago a considerable number of leases were taken up in all directions, regardless of bearings or position, and of course never worked, and consequently cancelled. The only claim that any attempt was rnide to develop was the Buhner Creek Quartz Mining Company, and this in a very mild form. Mr E. W. Butler, C.E., of Lyell, was at length communicated with by the prospectors of the (Jno claim, and at once proceeded to the ground and made an exhaustive survey and report on the nature of the country. This being considered satisfactory, some inducement was held out to shareholders to take notice of the field. Subsequently Mr M. Byrne got a commission to prospect the Uuo ground, and, with his usual energy, in a very short time succeeded in exposing the main reef for about 300 feet; having followed the line as laid off on the surface by Mr Butler. This find then led to other groun I in the vicinity to be taken up aud tried, the consequence being that one reef alone has been cut lor over sixty chains. The claims now at work are the Buhner Creek, which is situate at the foot of Mount Owen, and coutains several quartz veins, all more or less goldbearing. Next is the Uno claim. This lease is scattered all over the surface with huge blocks of quartz as though broken away from the cap of a large reef close by. The solid reef discovered is not nearly so large as any of these blocks, being only about 3ft. Gin. in width on the average. Next comes the Wakatu, at present being worked by Mr Byrue and party. This is a good property and deserves attention.

The Golden Fleece is south of the Wakatu and contains two gold-bearing lodes as yet untried. There are several other leases taken up on the line, such as the Golden Crown, Golden Point, &?., all now awaiting I survey.

In addition to the quartz reefs, this field is rich in minerals, amongst which is a lode of silver lead 12 feet thick, which has beeu proved to be highly payable. Some small parcels of quartz from the several claims mentioned, have been tested in a primitive manner and have yielded from 3 to 4 ounces of gold to the ton, This is a grand return, but I would advise speculators to look for about an ounce to the ton on the average, as I consider that to be the calibre of the stone.

The great drawback to this fie'd is the waut of a road suitable for the transport of machinery. The Government has granted the necessary money and is willing to hand it over to Inangahua County Council for the construction of the road. That august body, however, declines to have anything to do with the matter, so the whole field is at a standstill, aud the reason is that the Reefton people would like the money voted for this purpose to be spent about their own doors, fearing that the whole proceeds of the Owen Reefs would beuefit Nelson alone.