MINING NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 95, 5 September 1871, Page 5

MINING NOTES.

—o— A large number of minora' rights were issued by lhe Gold Receiver at Cromwell yesterday,—chiefly to old Bendigo reefers Who intend taking up quartz claims on the Carrick Rang?.. The higher parts of the range are still enveloped in a mantle of snow, and but little will be done towards developing the reefs until milder weather sets in.

Howjohn and party's sluicing claim, on the west bauk of the Molyneux, about three miles below Cromwell, is said to be yielding very good returns. They have now a copious supply of water, and are making good use of it. Not a single vestige of a hut, house, or tent, is to be seen in the neighbourhood of this claim : the men, with their families, have their habitations under huge rocks at the base of the overhanging precipice, and very comfortable abodes they seem to be. The former holder of the claim referred to recently left for Victoria in ill-health, —having, it is said, made a considerable "rise," and then sold out for £l5O to the present occupiers of the ground. For some considerable time past the miners engaged in ground-sluicing on the river banks and terraces in the vicinity of Alexandra have, with only a few exceptions, been getting very small returns, —barely sufficient, indeed, to pay for necessary supplies. As a natural consecpience, money is scarce, and the business people of the town have felt severely the stagnation of trade. The Manuhorikia Ground-Sluicing Company, however, have recently opened out some very promising ground at Mutton Town, and as they have an abundant supply of water, there is every likelihood of their being speedily compensated for the long run of ill luck they have had to encounter. This company have a largo number of men employed, and if only a moderate share of good fortune attend their operations, the whole population will be benefited.

We are glad to be able to report thai quartz-mining at Conroy's Gully is being prosecuted with very encouraging prospects. The shareholders in Iversen's Reef, (nearly all of whom are residents at Alexandra,) have lately had a live-stamper battery erected on their prospeeting-elaim, and crashing operations were commenced early last week. About 100 tons of quartz and mullock were taken out of the shaft soni'j time ago, and a drive was afterwards put in so as to facilitate the con-

I veyance of the stone to the paddock along- | side the machine. Sixteen tons of stuff, of J which about nine tons were mullock, wcro j put through the battery, and the result of I the cloaning-up was a cake of retorted gold | weighing 45 ounces. A notable circumstance I in connection with this trial crashing is the ! fact that a two-ounce nugget was found in the j stamper-boxes. The result of the crushing i was made known at Alexandra on Saturday I night, when the gold obtained was lodged in | the Bank of New Zealand. Some slight alj terations in the machinery are now being I made by the contractors (Messrs Kincaid, | M'Queen, and Co.), and when these are comipieten. trie reinaimloi ~l HIZ hundred tons 1 already grassed will be operated upon. | The success met with by Iverson's Company i has inspired the new Butcher's Gully Reeling Company with fresh hope. The whole of the shares have been taken up, and protection for the dam was applied for in Court yesterday. Preparations are being made for re- ! commencing work at an early date, and with I that view a powerful force-pump is to be or- | dered from Dunedin, —a constant aocumula- ; tion of water in the shafts being the most sei t ° ; rious obstacle to be contended with in workI ing this reef. Abundance of stone exists in : the claim, and with improved appliances for | keeping the water under, it is confidently anj ticipated that the Butcher's Gully reef will I soon recoup the heavy outlay incurred in ; opening the ground.