THE WAIRARAPA QUARTZ REEF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 276, 29 September 1879, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA QUARTZ REEF.

■«- (From the New Zealander.) We are glad to say that public attention 13 now being attracted to the goldfield that almost to a certainty exists in the Wairarapa district, and we have every hope that before many weeks elapse the incalculable value of the late discoveries will be proved beyond all question. We were able to interview Mr Brandon, one of the three prospectors, yesterday, and glean from him the following particulars in connection with the party, that will no doubt.be.ojl interest to our readers. Mr Brandon, we may say, has not long arrived.' in New Zealand from Victoria, and is thoroughly experienced in all mining matters, 0 It seems that, as has already been stated, the country where the present reefs are found was very partially prospected some ' twelve or fourteen years ago, and a small [ company, called the Pioneer Quartz ' Mining Company, was formed. This enterprise seems to have been a thorough failure; whether through theinexperience • of those at its head; through want oft funds, or what causes we are not aware. It went so far ?i'to obtain from the then Provincial Government the withdrawal from sale of some six hundred acres where the operations were to be carried ; on, but this seems to have been all that was done, and the venture quietly died out. By some means or other the present prospectors heard of this and determined to go and look for the reputed goldfield. They asked no aid or help of any kind, excepting their own pluck and strong arms, and on the 16th of June last, the day following the last great fire, set out on their expedition. The locality has al» ready been described, and it is not necessary to say more, that their enterprise was ' rewarded in a week or two by the discovery of most likely-looking reefs, which they traced as far as Palliser Bay, and, as we understood our informant, running right througli the lower level of the Rimntaka range. They set in, and in a short time managed to get at some most likely-looking stone, in some of which fine gold was plainly visible. As has already been described, they, with infinite industry, humped a ton over a most awkward country, and sent the trial crushing to the Thames, a loz. 3dwts, being the yeild. Apropos of the value ef the gold, about which opinions differ, MiBrandon says its quality the average of the Thames goldjf tbugh not nearly equal to that of VictofnaiUld from alluvial workings. As yet thSgias been no opportunity of for it has only been melted jj§njJßJM sayed. .Abut the 15th ofgnfOSP Brandon came down to town aWhad an interview with the Secretary of Mines, and gave information of the success tof., their exploration, and lodged an tion that the lands in the locality, which : were then open for sale, should be with- ■ drawn, as being auriferous. He saw the Chairman of the Waste Lands Board, Mr Holdsworth, and that gentleman at once saw the necessity there was for compliance with the request, and between 20,000 and 30,000 acres in the district were withdrawn, as asked. Mr Brandon then applied, for himself and party, for a lease of the ground where he had got the stone, and has been promised one of 100 acres, should all his 'representations prove correct, and we are glad to say that the Government are taking such steps to investigate the matter, as will, in a week or two, set the matter entirely attest, and

we are much raistakon'if in that timo we shall not have the pleasure of chronicling tho opening of a gold-field that will support hundreds, perhaps thousands, of men. All that Mr Brandon and his men are waiting for; to make known fully all they have found, is to bo put in posses- ' sionof their well-earned lease. 'As soon as that is dfino, they will make public all particulars/and things that they do not now care to tell. The reefs run for many miles, are well defined with immense masses of stone in them, though it is not likely that it is.all as good as that already Sin the prospectors' claim alcne, mant states that there is enough keep eighty stampers going for hould this bo so, and the avorago only half an ounce, instead of mnce, as in the trial sample, an 3 fortune is in store for the lucky In their claim there are three eefs, trim and well defined, and -e roughly tested the quartz in rection, and it has turned out ry. He also says there are most king alluvial flats, from which he ino good gold will yet be got. All iff needed is for the Government wrapt as possible in taking acthat when they have got inforf a scientific man, fo publish it il information. The part where ectors are working is exceedingly , as it'is said that a buggy may to within a mile and a quarter aim, and even the intervening .* uot specially difficult. There is plenty of ground in tho immediate- neighbourhood, an abundance of excellent timber, and several creeks from which water power might without difficulty beobtained, We ought to add that tho names of the original prospectors are G. C. Brandon, Williams, and William George.