CARRICK RANGE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 202, 23 September 1873, Page 5

CARRICK RANGE.

Mr Colclough, manager of the Elizabeth Company, reports as follows :—“This company has been compelled to stop crushing operations, as the frightful state of the roads from Quartzville to Carrickton, and from the works to the machine, has at last deterred the carters from continuing work. A washing up from ten days running of the mill resulted in a cake of 51ozs Bdwt 16gr, which is

an improvement upon late yields. While on this matter, it may bo interesting to those who make calculations as to the yield per ton to be told that nothing can be more deceptive than the ordinary method of computation, as so much depends upon the fact of whether the cake has been carefully retorted or no. In some cases that have come within my knowledge, the loss from the apparent weight of a cake to the true weight after properly cleaning is startling. I heard of a late instance in which some 23 per cent, was deducted from the weight for improper manipulation. The Elizabeth cakes will compare favourably in this respect with many others ; and instead of a loss the company have had very handsome returns on the Bank advance,” The Star company will probably continue crushing for another fortnight yet. It will bo remembered that nearly a week was lost, in consequence of an accident to the heater lately added to the machine. It now works well. The tunnel on the low level is now in about 200 feet, and the men employed expect to cut some leaders very shortly. They Were very nearly brought to a standstill for want of rails to lay in the tunnel, it being almost impossible to get a supply, in consequence of the terrible condition of the road up the hill. The Oak company will be ready to start crushing immediately the Star crushing is finished. The Oak will put through about 200 tons. The Colleen Bawn has again resumed work. Two men are engaged driving across the claim, to pick up, if possible, the lost reef. The John Bull and Young Australian will have a meeting on Thursday first, to make arrangements about crushing either with Logan’s machine, or the Royal Standard company. Both companies are in a position to supply a good quantity of stone. The John Bull company have not yet struck the reef in their new drive. The Royal Standard machine is busy crushing for Mr Stephenson, of the Caledonian, There is nothing new to report from the Try Again Co., or from the All Nations.— The Marquis of Lorn claim is going to have another trial this season. Garrick Water Comp any. —Messrs Taylor and Marshall went up the Range yesterday, with the view of seeing whether the weather would permit of active operations being again commenced for the season on the race. We are informed that the result was satisfactory, and that they intend setting men on to work within the next ten days. Great hopes are entertained that a few heads of water, obtained from several of the side streams between the Saddle and Coal Creek, will be brought in before Christmas. Application has already been made to the company, at any rate, in anticipation of such being the case, to rent or purchase a portion of the supply. The directors have determined to close the share list of the company about the end of November ; at least on the terms that it stands at present. If it is reopened after that date, it will only be at an advance upon the price of the original shares.

We have much pleasure in recording the successful issue of an experiment tried by Mr James Stuart, at Bannockburn Ferry coalpit, to secure proper ventilation. As a good many of our readers are aware, Mr Stuart was driving in the direction of the old workings used some time ago by Nicholas and Co. When the tunnel had been driven about 200 feet, the workmen employed suddenly broke in upon the old workings, but were at once compelled to stop on account of the prevalence of foul air, which had accumulated in consequence of the entrances being broken clown in several places. Mr Stuart then tried to re-open the old workings in order to establish a current of air between the new workings and the old ; but he found that it was going to prove so tedious and costly an operation, that he thought of trying another method, in some degree similar to that published in our columns a few mouths ago. He placed two kerosene lamps as near the place where the foul air had lodged as it was safe to go, and left them burning from Saturday night till Monday morning, only removing the lamps for a little time on Sunday for the purpose of refilling them with kerosene, and pushing them a little further into the drive. On Monday morning, Mr Stuart discovered that the experiment had answered splendidly, the old drives and workings being as fresh and pure as possible. The workmen will consequently be able to get inside the old ground, and at very little expense establish proper and regular means of ventilation. Of course, the application of tire, —in this case a lighted lamp,—is nothing new in the way of ventilating a mine, that method being adopted in most of the large mines at Home. But drives in this country are not yet on a sufficiently large scale to justify or require such a large expense; and as the foul air is in most cases only a temporary impediment, it is desirable that sucli a cheap and easy way of overcoming it should he known as widely as possible. While the subject of Mr Stuart’s experiment (above-mentioned) in the matter of ventilation was being discussed in a certain public place, one well-known and experienced miner remarked that “he had often wondered why quartz-mining companies had not long ago combined for the purpose Of procuring boring-rods, instead of going to all the expense of sinking shafts for the purpose of supplying air, and which would be used for nothing else.” He said the hole made by the boring-rods would in nearly every case be sufficient for the purposes of ventilation. The suggestion may be worthy of the notice Of quartz-miners.