The Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, SEPT. 10. 1885. THE POHANGINA REEFS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1451, 10 September 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, SEPT. 10. 1885. THE POHANGINA REEFS.

Wk do not think there is a shadow of doubt as to the reef lately discovered by Mr Andkuson, ;lt I'ohangina, being auriferous. Attempts have been made m Marton and other places to disparage the probabilities of such being the case. Some of the stone has been submitted to several entirely disinterested and competent persons, all of whom without exception have pronounced m favour of its quality. We lay a good deal of stress upon the report lately published by us, and extracted from the YVanganui Chronicle^ supplied to that journal by Mr Alb but IJkaud, who is a competent and most reliable authority on such matters. When m Wanganui we had a conversation with Mr Bkard, who assured us of his entire confidence m the future prospects of the locality. He was not content with a cursory examination, but stayed there several days, and throughly examined the indications, which, m h s opinion, are most encouraging. We have further the opinion of at least two jewellers m Wanganui, one of whom has pronounced the absolute certainty of gold being visible to the naked j eye m the stone submitted, and the other who, hav'.ng made an assay, states as the result of that process, that gold, silver, and copper all exist m the stone received by him. No person interested could have any object to serve by oven m the slightest degree misrepresentin<r matters. Of course, it must be re- ' inembered that only the surface of the reef has yet been dealt with, but the indications are sufficient to encourage the prosecution of further operations. We hope to have additional data to hand before lons* to submit to the public, as from the information that has reached us, the inquiries we have instituted, and the result of our own observations, we are satisfied that a gold-bearing reef has been struck. Of course, it remains to be proved whether or not the stone will pay to work. The opinion of those versed m such matters is m the affirmative, and we sincerely trust such may prove to be the case. We are sorry to learn that matters have been misrepresented m Feilding, to some extent, as that place would benefit almost to an equal extent with Palmerston were payable reefs found to exist, which there is now every reason to believe there are. The stone now m Palmerston is to be sent to Melbourne to be crushed, as it is believed a more reliable analysis will be received from there than from Auckland, from which latter place, we learn, that trial stone is now also frequently sent to Melbourne to be tested. We may state that we have every confidence m the existence of gold-bearing reefs m the locality indicated. Should such prove to be the case, a new era will be opened up for all this district, and Palmerston should benefit to an extent that few can at present realise. As things are now, something is urgently required to set things moving, as greater stagnation m all branches of trade has probably never before been experienced m the history of the place than now exists. Ir is to be hoped, therefore, ; that the Pohangina Reefs will "turnup trumps," 111 as many confidently assert that they will.