154 
General. 
Mariner's Reef .—Sinking the main shaft and driving north and south 
lo test the big reef at a lower level would be a good policy, as the stone 
promises well and might improve as the main dyke is approached, and to 
the north a new make in the Little reef channel might occur, as only a 
short distance has been prospected under the Little reef since it pinched 
and made spurs below. 
If the shaft were sunk ioo feet, the north drive would have to extend 
400 feet north to intersect the main line of shoot. If sunk 200 feet, the 
north drive would have to extend 500 feet to intersect the main line 
cf shoot. 
Other Reefs .—An eastern cross-cut from the 523 ft. level would 
intersect the Gympie, Soldier’s Hill, and Cole’s reefs at sbout the level 
of the flat dyke, which also crosses those lines, as is evidenced by the 
occurrence of felspar in the quartz sours along those reef formations. 
All these reefs dip west towards Mariner’s shaft, so the distance to 
cross-cut would not be as far as to the surface working on those lines. 
None of these lines have been worked below water level except in one 
case. 
A few yields are as follow :— 
Gympie, small 6-in. reef on big reef, J oz. up to 1 oz. to ton. 
Cole’s Reef, large reef, 996 tons yielded 1,115 oz. 15 dwt. 
Soldier’s Hill, big formation, 1,684 tons yielded 880 oz. 17 dwt. 
At the present bottom level there is a possibility that the big reef in 
the south drive might improve if driven on further to the south. 
Since Mariner’s reef was last worked, the cost of mining has dimin¬ 
ished and improvements have been made in the treatment of ores, so now 
by the aid of cyaniding and the sale of auriferous concentrates low- 
grade quartz which would barely pay then, might be profitably mined. 
In recent years the old Mariner’s tailings have been profitably cyanided ; 
and records show that the old pyrites concentrates were worth 3 oz. to 4 oz. 
per ton of concentrates. 
So, with the present-day improvements in mining and ore treatment, 
and considering the promising large low-grade quartz bodies exposed in 
the bottom level and along other adjacent reef lines, it may be said that 
Mariner’s reef is well worthy of further development at the present bottom 
level and at deeper levels; and that the other adjacent lines are well worth 
prospecting at a depth by an eastern cross-cut from one of the levels. 
It was for this purpose the present company was formed, the winding 
plant erected, and the main shaft cleaned out and repaired to 632 feet. 
In the last half-yearly report (1883) the manager of the Bendigo com¬ 
pany stated that is. in calls had been made in two years, and that he was 
still of the opinion that the mine was valuable, and would pay if further 
prospected. • 
The dykes and their relation to the reefs were previously unnoticed, 
and are specially valuable as indicating that the reef formations will con¬ 
tinue downward, besides having an apparent effect on the auriferous con¬ 
tents of the reefs. 
I have to thank Mr. Williams, the present manager, and Mr. Ellery, 
who worked with the last company, for much valuable information and 
assistance. 
\Report sent in 27.1j.07.'] 
