GABRIELS REEF.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 209, 1 February 1872, Page 5

GABRIELS REEF.

The prospectors have again struck the reef in their claim. Not finding it, as they expected, at a depth of 30 feet, a drive was put in, and after carrying it for about 3 feet, they came upon- the reef. "Where they found it one of the leaders, they got in the shaft joined on to it, and it showed every indication of being exceedingly thick. The dip has considerably increased, the reef going down almost perpendicularly. The stone is of the same character as at the higher levels — the body hard, compact, and of a bluish colour, and the rubble brown. A number of specimens in which gold can be seen have been taken out, and by roughly .pounding the stone, and washing it in a tin dish, prospects equal to those previously obtained have been got. The casing also yields good prospects. At the time of our reporter's visit, the prospectors had only got two feet into the reef, and were preparing to puc in a blast, as the stone was too hard to be broken out with picks. In Clayton's claim, which is situated on Clark's agricultural lease, an open cut has been made, and six feet down from the surface the cap of the reef was laid bare. It was about two feet six inches thick, and its appearance was very promising. In the stone, gold was visible to the naked eye. Messrs. Clayton and Co. have called for tenders for sinking a shaft 50 feet in depth.

About half a mile from the prospectors' claim, and across Caledonian Gully, Messrs. Kitto and Co. have been for a • few days prospecting for the reef. They found a leader, eight inches in width, and are very sanguine of striking the main reef in a day or two.