Tararu District.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5152, 22 July 1885, Page 2

Tararu District.

Several claims have been pegged out recently, mainly with the idea that valu* able minerals other than gold exist therein in payable quantities. The scene is the Sunbeam Creek, the claims being on the Grahamstown, or south side, whilst on the Tararu, or north side, the Sunbeam claim, owned by Messrs Brown, Campi bell, and Co., and managed by Mr J. B. Steadruan, extends a considerable way op the creek. The first is the Silver King, consisting of 40 men's ground ; the next being the reigning lion of the creek, the Silver Crown, also 40 men's ground. Further up is the Silver Cioud, a claim of 30 men's ground. The lode at present attracting attention is said to run down the spur, through each of these claims. No work is going on in'any of tliese projected mines, so their value is purely prospective. But what renders them of speculative interest is the fact that the lode just alluded to was known by a few persons acquainted with it in the veryearly days to contain silver. One person at least—report says several—was looking for the old workings for some weeks, but could not find them. However, Mr Kowley Campian Long, having been connected with the Silver Crown in days long gone, mustered up his memories of the past, and was able to locate the spot without difficulty. Anyone glancing at the tip cannot fail to notice a vast quantity of dirk mineral, differing from, yet not unlike, antimony, in the quartz. This is the ore of the future—so it is said. Those who profess to know, Btate this embodies gold, silver, lead, and zinc, if not several other minerals. A trial test from this place was published some time ago, but to refresh the memories of our readers we re-publish it as follows:— " Bank of New Zealand, Thames, 6th July, 1885.—Ore received from Mr W. S. Greenville, containing besides galena, zinc blend, iron and copper pyrites, gold, 2ozs 12dwts 6grs, at 84s per ounce, £11 8s; silver, 16ozs 6dwts 16j»rs, at 4s per ounce. £3 53 3d; lead, 13 per cent, at 30s per cwt, £4 14.3; total value of the ore per ton, as per assay, £19 3s 3d." Mr R. C. Long—to say that this gentleman is well known would be "as superfluous as to inform our readers that they live in the Thames district—informs us that the lode was driven on about 25ft, I and a wioza was sunk 28ft. He thicks it was from 18 inches to 2|ft wide. He also recollects that a crushing from the Sunbeam lede was proceeding, and shaping for 15dwts to tbe ton—-probably in those days, rather than load. A few trucks of the black reef—the present lion—were then put through, when lo! the plates were left as bare as after a cleaning up. The black reef had scoured them, carried away the amalgam, and left scarcely a trace behind. A little specimen leader is said to be near this lode ; in fact, Mr Long saw the specimens. There are several tips up the creek, and general evidence of a con« siderable amount of work having been done. Much of the quartz observable is kindly, and contains favorable mineral for gold, and it is surprising that more of it did not prove payable. Other claims are said to have been pegged out, but of these we have no definite information.