QUARTZ MINING MEMORANDA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 212, 2 December 1873, Page 5

QUARTZ MINING MEMORANDA.

B E N D I G 0. The Cromwell Company are busily engaged crushing. They will probably clean up about the end of the week. Thfcre is nothing particular to report from the claim. The Reliance Company are still busily engaged sinking. They are constructing a ladder in the shaft to allow the men to go up and down the shaft without having recourse to the windlass. Mr Colclough, for the manager of the Lucknow Company's claim, reports that the late warm weather has had a very unfavourable effect upon the air in the tunnel ; so much so that the company has been obliged to order about 325 feet of piping for ventilating purposes. There are only two hands at work, and the company are advertising for four others.

C AURIC Iv RANGE. The manager of the Heart of Oak has now driven within nine feet of the perpendicular of the reef when it was lost at the upper level. There is no indications as yet of the reef, but this week will pretty well prove it. A small crushing of about forty tons is being put through, which will be finished on Tuesday or Wednesday, when the young Australian will commence crushing a parcel of about a hundred and fifty tons at the Star and Oak Co.'s machine. The manager of the Elizabeth Company reports that the company washed-up on Saturday, and the result was an improvement upon previous efforts, being 94 ozs. 12 dwts. 4 sirs, for the month. The new make referred to recently has been further developed, and promises to ultimately place the company among the dividend-paying list. The manager of the Star reports that a crushing of about 300 tons was finished last week, with the result of 126 ounces. The tunnel in the low level is being vigorously carried on, but the rock is now very hard. Within the last week or two, the contractors have not been able to drive more than seven or eight inches per day. The water which supplies the Star-and-Oak mill is getting very scanty, and the mill manager will probably be reduced to the necessity in a short time of pumping back from the settling dam. There is nothing to report from the John Bull thi3 week, except that they intend to clean up within the next few days. The result is expected to average between eighteen and twenty dwts. to the ton. The Royal Standard Co.'s machine is still standing, but will commence soon on a small trial crushing from the Try Again Company's

claim of some forty or fifty tons. After that lis finished, the Caledonian will probably be able to keep it going for a few weeks. Carriok Water Race Company.— The working manager reports that for the last week or two some difficult country lias been gone through, entailing a good deal of blasting Work, which has made the progress slower. Eight men are employed in taking out the rock from the portion before cut. The two or three small streams crossed are now turned in, and will assist greatly in settling the race, and discovering any small leaks. Fifteen men have been employed cutting a head, and are making fair progress. (The portion that the water has been turned into seems to stand well, but there is not sufficient water to try it properly until the first big creek (Long gully) is reached, which we expect to do before Christmas.