DUNSTAN QUARTZ REEFS.

Southland Times, Issue 1165, 15 November 1869, Page 3

DUNSTAN QUARTZ REEFS.

(From the Dunstan Times.) Some three or four years since, in the columns of this journal, we drew attention to the fact of the existence of Quartz Reefs in the locality of Bendigo Q-ully, and thoroughly ventilated the question, but to our chagrin little attention was paid to our notices ; we spoke not only from our own experience, but we were supported by the experience and knowledge of Mr Coates, at that time District Surveyor, who, in an elaborate report, entered at great length on the subject. On the faith of these representations, a company of Dunedin capitalists applied for a lease of sixteen and a half acres in the name of the Bendigo Quartz Mining Company ; a shaft was sunk on the reef, but, unfortunately for them, the gold was not struck, and consequently, after the expenditure of a large sum of money, they abandoned it. The reef was next taken up by Messrs.

Logan, Grarrett, and party (with whom is now associated Mr GK W. Goodger), who, with a perseverance and enterprise which reflects on them the highest credit, succeeded in not only proving the existence of a reef, but one of such quality as will put in the shade many of the vaunted claims in Victoria and at the Thames. Next in order on the list of pros pectors come Messrs. Barnes, Gerrard , and party, the owners of the Aurora Water Bace, who prospected fop and discovered a reef about a quarter of a j mile lower down the ridge, and running parallel with the first discovery. The success of G-arrett, Logan, and party, (the Cromwell Quartz-mining Company), and of Barnes and party, (the Aurora Company), having got abroad, a general rush has set in, resulting in claims being marked out for miles in length on each reef. To give an opinion as to the payable qualities of any of the claims, other than the prospectors, would be premature, as, of course, it will take time to develope them, and a large amount of capital will be wanted ; but should the present prospects continue, there is but little doubt aa to the major portion of them being worth the outlay to procure the necessary machinery. The next valuable discovery made was in the beginning of this week by Mr. Colclough, of the Cardrona, who has discovered a third distinct reef, and apparently running parallel with the others ; the stone from this reef, a sample of which we have seen, is remarkably rich. From the fact of but a few stones only j having been broken off the cap, it is impossible to estimate the value of this discovery, but practical reefers, amongst whom may be numbered the whole of the shareholders of the Cromwell Company, anticipate extraordinary results. That the present discoveries are all that will be made is not to be thought of. Others of equal importance are sure to follow, but it is to be hoped that people will not rush headlong into wild speculation, because one or two parties, after years of patient labor, have met with their just reward.