THE CULLIFORD REEF.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 111, 12 May 1870, Page 3

THE CULLIFORD REEF.

We are indebted to the Legal Manager of the Culliford Company for the following report, furnished to the Directors by Mr. Henry : — Nelson, 9th May, 1870. To the Directors of the Culliford GoldMining Compauy. Gentlemen — At your request I have visited the Company's property at Wangapeka, and now report as under : — The claim is situated on the side of a steep mountain, to the westward of Blue Creek, the whole of which is covered with dense bush, and the bed rock is exposed at comparatively few places. The reef crops out at a point some SOO feet above the level of Blue Creek, on the northern side of a small gully called Blind Creek, which flows from west to east, and intersects the reef at nearly right angles. The outcrop forms a knoll of considerable magnitude, and at first sight, owing to the loose broken and weather-worn appearance of the stones composing it, very much resembles a large slip from the upper part of the Blind Gully above referred to. After maturely deliberating on the best and cheapest method of exploring the reef, and getting a fair sample of stone from the same, I decided on the following mode of operations, which was fully appoved of by the original prospectors — Messrs. Culliford, Bailie, and Gill. Ist. To remove some of the large loose stones forming the outcrop, and see if they were connected, below and behind, with the solid rock. 2nd. To excavate an open cutting or trench southward, along the top of supposed reef, from the outcrop 'to the bottom of Blind Creek, a distance of 55 feet, as we considered that should the outcrop be only a slip, we should discover it more easily on the steep sides of the gully than at any other place. 3rd. To put in an open drive 24 feet to the northward of the outcrop to ascertain what dip, if any, the reef had in this direction, and 4th. To sink a shaft 65 feet to the northward of the outcrop, and nearly in the centre of the claim for the purpose of further testing the dip of the reef and procuring some stone from a low level. I accordingly engaged a number of workmen and, after ten days' labor on the works above enumerated, we found, That the large quartz- stones forming the outcrop were connected both below and behind with solid rock of the same description, and cased on both sides with a sort of blue sandy slate. Gold was plainly visible in many places on the western side of this part of the reef; good specimens were also taken from the centre, but I could see no gold on the eastern side. We also traced the reef from the outcrop to the bed of Blind Gully, this part is very well defined; it runs in a straight line, dips a little to the east, is about 2 feet 6 inches thick, and has no appearance of ever having been disturbed. Near the bed of the creek I procured a number of very fair specimens from the centre of the reef. I had also very good prospects washed from the casting. Iu the open drive to the north of the jGtitcrop we struck the reef about fiv.e feet from the surface, and from it we procured

good specimens. Here we found the reef about 2 feet thick and dipping to the north 15 inches in 3 feet, i We sunk the shaft through clay and , rotten slate to the depth of 30 feet, "but j ■ did not succeed in striking the reef. It must, therefore, dip to the northward very i rapidly, say at an angle of 45 degrees, or, ■ we may have sunk the shaft a few feet on . one side of it, which is very probable. ; However a few days will decide this i matter, as I left instructions with Mr. Bailie to make prospecting drives from the bottom of the shaft, and, if successsful, to report the same to the Directors immediately. The 1^ tons of quartz which is now being conveyed to town was taken from ; the reef at the following places, viz. : — 5 , cwt. from near the bed of Blind Creek ; 4 ! cwt. from the eastern side of the outcrop, were no specimens were procured ; 6 cwt. from the western side of the outcrop; where the major part of the good specimens were taken ; and 5 cwt. from the open cutting to the north of the outcrop, and every- , thing considered, I believe, the above, if crushed in one lot, will prove a fair average sample of the stone. The remaining half-ton of stone was ' taken from another reef in the Company's property. About 80 feet lower down the hill, this reef is much thicker than the one described, and the stone harder. Very good specimens have been taken from the heart of this reef, and I would not be surprised to find it turn out quite as valuable as the upper reef if thoroughly prospected. The bag of specimens delivered to you was picked out of the ton taken from the upper reef, and ou^ht to be crushed along with it, if it is desirable to know the exact yield of gold per ton of quartz. Of course it cannot be expected that I should give an opinion as to whether the claim, if worked, would prove to be remunerative, having had no experience in mining matters ; nevertheless, I would , beg to suggest (should the Directors consider the result of our investigations satisfactory) that Mr. Gill, one of the origiual prospectors, be appointed Workiug Manager, pro. tern., and that four or five workmen be employed in further exploring the claim, and clearing a track down the side of the mountain to Blue Creek, where the crushing batteries will have to be erected. I also believe that the Company (after testing the ground a little further in the neighborhood of the shaft) would be fully justified in commencing a tunnel at the lower or eastern boundary of the claim, and continuing it as far as the reef, a distance of some 188 feet. This would cut the reef at about 111 feet from the surface, , and in its course would intersect and test all the lower reefs and leaders in the claim. This work should be let by tender, and the contractors bound to complete it in a reasonable time, say eight or nine weeks. I don't think the Directors require to await the result of the crushing before commencing this drive or tunnel, because, even should the stone about to be crushed prove- comparatively barren, the Company cannot well abandon a claim out of which such a large quantity of good specimens have been taken. In conclusion I may state that I visited the prospectois' claim on the new reef, about | of a mile further up the hill than Culliford's. This reef, as far I caa see, is very well defiued, and I had no difficulty in procuring a good many fine specimens from it, some of which have been forwarded to the Company's office for your inspection. I am, gentlemen, Yours, &c, James Henry.