THE MOKIHINUI REEFS.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1240, 2 March 1883, Page 2

THE MOKIHINUI REEFS.

Mr Home is bringing the value of the Mokihinui reefs prominently before the Wellington public. The Times of Thursday says : — From time to time of late reports have been current in

Wellington of the discovery of rich auriferous reefs at Mokihinui, in the Buller district, and among local speculators in mining scrip there has been some inquiry for shares in the numerous companies lately floated to work these reefs. Such demand is likely to now have a further impetus. We were yesterday shown by Mr Z. Home, 1 sharobroker, of Westport, who is at i present in Wellington, some specimens i of quarta from the Red Queen claim 1 which are litoraly studded with gold ; i not mere diminutive specks, but gold i in tangible and substantial quantity. 1 The main difficulty in developing the < Mokihinui reefs is the absence of tracks ] along which machinery can ba trans- ] ported. A promise was made last ] session that certain expenditure should r be made in such direction, and we i understand that speedy fulfilment of i such promise will bo urged upon iho 'j (Jovernment. ] The Nelson Colonist of Thursday B.iy? :— On Monday last v:a wore shown i

some beautiful specimens of gold bearing quartz taken from the reef running through the ground of the Red Queen Quartz Mining Co. at Mokihinui. This reef has now been traced for a considerable distance; and some thirteen leases along the line have been taken up. The Red Queen Company has already gone in sixty feet, and has some forty tonsof stone in the padclock, whilst througout the stone, we are informed, that gold is plainly visible.. The great need in this district is the construction of a road, six. miles of formation, being still necessary to give access to the reefs. At present it costs about £40 a ton to convey goods to the reefs, and until something is done, there is small chance of machinery being erected. Construction of the road, needed would not only be of incalculable advantage in the development of- this, field, but it would form a portion of the road to the Upper Lyell. With this communication, the road from Karamea to Mokihinui, and •the development of the excellent coal seams at the latter place, Mokihinui would soon take a prominent place amongst the bar harbors of the West Coast, as it is better sheltered than most, has a straight channel, and the depth of water on the bar ranges from lift, to 12ft, high water. Any of the Anchor .line steamers could easily trade to this poi*t, more easily in fact than to Greymouth or Hokitika, and the result would no doubt be highly beneficial to the trade of Nelson. We understand that the Gold Mining Companies at the Mokihinui have made an offer to the Government to find £1000, if the Government will supplement this by an equal amount, for the constuction of the required road ,it being considered that the whole distance could be completed for about £2000. The offrr is an evidence of the faith those who make it have in the resources of the locality and we heartily hope that the Government will see its way to at once testing the truth of the representations made and thereupon granting the required sum. By doing so we are convinced that the colony would be no loser and that considerable prosperity would result therefrom. The Nelson Mail of Tuesday says : — Some splendid specimens of auriferous quartz have been brought up from Westport by Mr Z. Home, the stone, which is thickly impregnated with gold -having been obtained from the Red Queen, Guiding Star, and .Golden ■^gprsayr'^ '■nipvs.i..i ,-ft 2V V".ST"* Crown Claims at the Mokihmui. The reef has been traced for a distance of 8000 yards, and there is every prospect of the country develping into an exceedingly rich mining district. The great want at present is a track for about six miles, and until this is made it will be impossible •to convey the necessary machinery -to the ground.