THE GOLD FIND AT WAITOA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2305, 19 April 1887, Page 2

THE GOLD FIND AT WAITOA.

Mil J. B. Smith is very sanguine about the success of the gold find on his estate at Waitoa. He has now four or five shafts sunk and the quality of the stuff found in all appears to be about the same. At a depth of some 14 feet -a. stratum of peat is entered upon, which in the opinion of Mr Gordon, the Government Inspecting Engineer of Mines, shows that at some distant period the sand deposit was ejected, just as was the case in the neighbourhood of Tarawera. Mr J. B. Smith goes South in a few days, and when at Wellington he will arrange to have the deposit tested by the Government. It is also his intention to send a pretty large parcel to Europe to be treated there. The following correspondence bearing on the discovery has been kindly handed us by Mr J. B. Smith for publication :—

[Copy.] January, 22nd, ISB7Messrs Fraseii Bros., Auckland. Gentlemen, -I duly received from you on the 10th inst. a sainule of powdered ore or sand for assay. Herewith I forward the result:— Assay. ozs. dwt. grs. Bullion 22 7 12 per ton Containing gold ... 17 19 8 per ton „ silver ... 4 8 4 per ton I need hardly add that in the event of there being any large extent of this material it will prove a very valuable find the value of the sample according to the above assay being £7115s Gd per ton estimating the gold at £4, and the silver at 4s per oz. The gold is in fine water-worn grains, intermingled with magnetic and titanic iron throughout the quartz and pumiceous drift. Care will be required in saving the gold, owing to the fine particles in which some of it is divided.—l have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant, J. A. Pom Colonial Analyst. [Copy.] . J. B. Smith, Esq., Wailwu. Mr Adams lias got a return from No. 1. sample worth £18 Is !)d per ton, and from No. 2 worth £(! 13s fid. I have been sick, or T would have been over to see it again. No. 3, £113s, from bags. Geo. Wilson. lGtli March, 1887. ICopy.] Phoenix Foundry. Stanley-street, Auckland, March 18, 1887. J. B. Smith, Esq. — Ore test from Waihou :—Assay: Bullion, lOoz 4dwt 4grs == gold, lOdwt ; silver, floz 14dwt 4grs ; at 7s 8d per oz, £2 2s, £1 lGs 4d —value per ton. £3 18 4d. Treatment direct pan amalgamation : —' 8401bs ore treated gave loz 10dwt=4oz bullion per ton; gold = - 09S—7dwt 20.1G ; other metals, silver, '902; at 8s 3'9d=£l 14s per ton. Silver is not free to amalgamate in pan ; would require a ehlorodising roasting to save same. This ore naturally carries copper of ready amalgamation ; "other metals," as mentioned in connection with gold standard (of bullion), is principally copper. Return in gold—Bl% of fire essay. George Eraser and Sons. [Copy.] Waiorongomai, 23rd March, 1887. J. B. Smith, Esq., Waitoa. Dear Sir,-—I made your assay last night and the return is as follows :—Gold 2oz. Bdvvfs Ogrs ; Silver Ooz. Gdwts Ogrs. Total Bullion,' 2oz. 14dwt. Ogrs ; value per ton, £9 13.—Yours, H. H. Adams.