QUARTZ MINING MEMORANDA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 198, 26 August 1873, Page 5

QUARTZ MINING MEMORANDA.

CARRICK RANGE. The weather Lately has heen very fine, and consequently several of the quartz mining companies have resumed operations on a more energetic scale than can be done during the seventy of the winter season. The John Bull company have 120 tons of stone at grass, and expect shortly to be in a position to begin crushing. Five men are at present employed ; one being engaged driving from the present tunnel to cut the reef in another place, while the others are busy getting stone from the present face. The machine near this company's claim (Mr T. Logun's) is at present shut up, but if the prospects of the John Bull continue as favourable as they have hitherto been, and arrangements can also be made with the Young Australian or other companies to supply a sufficient quantity of stone, crushing operations ■will again be commenced. The

1 Young Australian company have again started 'operations, and we are informed with fair prospects. The Star of the "East company are reported to have struck good gold in the shaft sunk from their present main level, at the depth of fifty feet, tn sinking this shaft last year, a clay slide was found to come across the reef and apparently cut everything off; but ! lately this slide was cut through, and the ! reef, with as good prospects as before, found. j The contract for driving the new lower level is still being pushed forward vigorously. The Heart of Oak company are busy pros- | pecting in one portion of their workings. They are also bringing out part of the old reef in the meantime, and will soon have a crushing. The Elizabeth company are still pushing forward their workings. They have also let a contract to open a second vein of quartz which has not yet been developed. Afr the meeting of this company held last week, it was stated that over £4OOO had been expended by the company during the year 1872, and that for the past five months in 1873 the amount expended had reached the I sum of £I9OO. This latter fact shows how much the district is dependent even upon one company. About fourteen men are at present in the employ of the company. Caledonian claim (Mr Stephenson's).—Wo are informed that Mr Stephenson has 200 tons ready for crushing, and the Royal Standard machine will commence upon this lot early next week. The shaft sunk from the present lower level in this claim upon the reef has struck water at the depth of 80 feet. The stone at that depth is described as being very similar to that got in the Cromwell Company's ground at Bendigo, and shows every indication of being the permanent formation. The shaft is sunk about 400 feet from the mouth of the tunnel. Mr Stephenson intends, however, we understand, to continue sinking another shaft, which is situate about 100 feet nearer to the entrance to the tunnel, and is at present down about 50 feet. This second shaft is also upon the reef, and if sunk to the depth of 150 feet from the present lower level cannot but be a convincing proof of the permanency of the claim. The Colleen Bawn has not yet recommenced operations. BENDIGO. The Aurora company are still working on the opposite side of the gully from the original workings ; and the reports concerning the prospects obtained are very encouraging The Lucknow company have driven their tunnel about 290 feet from the entrance. The rock continues of the same hard, unyielding nature as it has hitherto been, and the progress of the work is consequently slow. The working manager is of opinion that the reef must be met with within the next fifty feet. In consequence of the driving operations, the water in the original shaft and workings has sunk about sixteen feet. The mill is in excellent working order, and ready to start at a day's notice, when the company are fortunate enough to strike the reef. The Cromwell company had a cleaning-up yesterday from a crushing of about 100 tons. The result was expected to be pretty good, bnt it turned out even better than expected, being 000 ounces. This result gives a rough average of 0 ounces to the ton. The company have plenty of the same kind of stone to crush. The only drawback they have to suffer is the intermittent nature of the water supply. If, as was reported last week, it turns out to be correct that an extensive deposit of coal exists in the Lindis valley, this drawback will not long be endured." The company would be rewarded if they would assist in the development of the coal de- ; posit. [Arrangements have been made with the managers of the various quartz mining companies in the district, to obtain correct information as to the exact progress of the works in their claims, the returns of gold, &c. &c, from week to week. The information which will therefore appear in future under the heading of " Quartz Mining Memoranda" may be depended upon (no matter how brief) as being the best obtainable.]