Mining News.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 19, 23 March 1870, Page 7

Mining News.

VICTORIA. i Nuggets continue to turn up at BerlinOn the 16th February (reports the Advertiser), a lino piece of gold, weighing 760z., was sold to the Bank of New South Wales by a party of three Chinamen. A tin lode has been discovered half a mile, from Beechworth, being the first discovery of this mineral in the colony. The tin is distinctly visible in the stone, but the ground has not been sufficiently tested yet. It is, however, likely to pay. Some excitement was caused on the 11th February, at the Bank of Australasia, Smythosdale, where was exhibited a nugget found at the Perseverance claim, Pitheld Plains. The nugget weighs in the gross 116oz 17dwt 12gr, and there is only about 40 7. of stone in it. 1 TASMANIA. Tasmania evidently doesn’t despair of having a gold-field yet. “ A man named Thomas Adams,”-says the Cornwall Chronicle, “ arrived in town on Saturday, bringing news of the discovery of rich alluvial diggings by a man named Alexander Jeffries, and another at Back Creek, Piper’s Iliver, about thirty-seven miles from Launceston. The discoverers have registered their claims. There has been a general rush, and claims are being pegged out rapidly. A shaft about twenty feet deep has been sunk, and gold in payable quantities has been found, yielding half an ounce to the load. Some of the gold may be seen at Mr Gunn’s office. Several gentlemen started on Saturday for the scene of operations, and there is every prospect that a payable alluvial diggings has been discovered. Mr Seymour Spiller arrived in town from Piper’s iliver last evening, and reports that quite a rush has taken place to that locality, twenty-five men being now upon the ground. He informs us that the prospectors’ claim, the Nil Desperandum, was discovered about three weeks ago by Messrs Berry and Jeffries, and that from the appearance of the prospectors’ claim there is every probability that a deep and rich lead has been discovered. He showed us a sample of rough rich-coloured gold-dust which was washed out in his presence from five spadesful of stuff. It is bright-coloured gold, worth about £3 18s per ounce, and the estimated yield is one ounce to the load. The spot is described by Mr Spiller as four miles north-west from Jones’s farm at Piper’s River. There is plenty of excellent water about one mile from the diggings at the Back Creek, and there is also plenty of excellent camping ground. The gold brought down by Mr Spiller was washed out by Mr Hardiman at the urgent request of several visitors. Mr Spiller and a few others have succeeded in securing a claim on the field, but the ground is being marked out very fast, and the place is being regularly rushed. '■< A telegram has been received at Hobart Town by the Colonial Treasurer from Mr Ritchie, of the firm of Ritchie and Parker, of Launceston, in which he confirms the news of the Bank Creek alluvial gold fields, Piper’s River. Ho says that experienced miners pronounce it payable, and the best yet seen in Tasmania, The washing stuff is on the surface down to a depth of several feet. WEST COAST. For some time past there have been several miners prospecting the country up Fox’s River, and from rumours lately received in Brighton, it would appear that they have not been working there for nought. One party lately came to that town and disposed of their gold, stating that about St. Patrick’s Day there might be an application made which would cause sleepy Brighton to wake up again. Little has yet been ascertained as to the exact locality whence the rumour emanated, but it is known to be beyond Daylesford Terrace. We ( Westport Times) alluded in Saturday’s issue to a report that gold had been struck in payable quantities on the south side of the Duller river, and in continuation of the northern terraces. During the past few days a considerable number of miners left town, and yesterday the reports were confirmed that the prospects were deemed payable. It appears that the prospectors applied at the Warden’s office last week for a prospecting claim, but the ground having been prospected before—some two years ago—the application was refused. The application for an extended claim was, however, granted. Report further says that there is a large area of ground uuprospected, and it is extremely probable that the population in that direction will increase when the whereabouts of the prospectors is fully made known. NATAL (SOUTH AFRICA). 1 We have news from Natal, vid Mauritius to the 23rd December. In the Transvm< ■ Argus of the 30th November it is statcc • that diggers, with rough machinery of theii s own construction, crushed a quantity 0 - quartz and obtained gold. It was als< 5 stated that Dr Coverlay’s party were satis 3 fied. Andrew Sykes, an old Australiai 1 miner, had got good quartz, and was con 3 tented. Brown and party had struck 1 i reef, and were getting good quartz. I 3 small quantity of gold found at Uipziuto wa sold by a pet km for £3 IZa fid pec ounce.