THE WAIRARAPA REEF.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5768, 24 September 1879, Page 3

THE WAIRARAPA REEF.

The special reporter ef the Wairarapa Daily writes as follows concerning the reef lately discovered in the vicinity of the Wairarapa Lake : —“ A party of gentlemen, amongst whom were Mr. McShane, manager of Bank N.Z., Messrs. W. Toogood, W. Cundy, B. Riddick, and a few others, left Featherston on Thursday morning for the express purpose of inspecting the reef lately opeued up on the western side of the Wairarapa Lake, and from which the trial crushing of 21ciyt. of stone yielded loz. 3dwts. of gold ; and also to satisfy themselves on the point that such a reef did exist. After a pleasant journey of a few hours we arrived at Hr. A. Matthews’ wool shed, about sixteen miles from Featherston, where we were informed by Mr. George, one of the prospectors, it would be necessary to leave our horses, and proceed the rest of the journey on foot. About half a mile behind the wool shed we came upon the gully leading to the reef. After about an hour’s walking, and several spells on the road for breath, we arrived at the mouth of the tunnel, where the present workings are being carried on. The place was opened soma eight or ten years ago, when a trial sample of stone was sent to Melbourne. It appears, however, it was so long on the road before the prospectors got any reply, and the Thames rush breaking out about the same time, the place was abandoned. When tbs result, which became known some time afterwards, of 14dwts, of gold and 2ozs. of gold, it was taken no notice of, and left untouched until the present prospectors,

Messrs. Brandon, George, and Williams, went into the -.M workb l ',?. and commenced afresh, v. ilii ::i r ■ already known. The present v.riling. e-.n-i-!. of a tunnel about Li Oft. deep into the hill, nearly north and south, at the end of which a shaft has been sunk, and a drive p it in about 10ft. to the westward. It i« the n whore the trial -tone came from. The quartz appears to be of a rubbly character, of a greyish-white color, with ironstone veins running through the stone (a good indication of gold). If the whole stone turns out anything like the trial crus'.big, I have no hesitation in declaring it a splendid find, as the whole hill appears to be one mass of quartz. In stating the difficulties the prospectors had to encounter, the whole ton of stone was bumped by them a distance of half a mile before they could pack it on a horse down to the level. They speak in the highest terms of Mr. Alfred Matthews, who not only gave them every information and encouragement, but allowed them the use of a hut on the ground for the last three months, free.

“ The residents here naturally ask why Moore should be allowed £SO for supposing a gold-field to exist, when these men have actually demonstrated that payable gold does exist without any help, aud they are the parties entitled to a reward, if any.”