Quartz Reefing.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 227, 17 March 1874, Page 7

Quartz Reefing.

The “ Loafer pi the Street” writes to the Canterbury Press: —There is probably no, iqore exciting amusement than quartz mining. A bosom friend comes to you some morning ; lie tells you that ho has invested in the Humbling Ruby Quartz Mining Company (Limited), to the extent of fifty shares. He persuades you to go and do likewise. You make inquiries, and find that the Humbling Ruby is on the lino of tho Nuggety Nobbier, crushing about eight ounces to tho ton. The tunnel in the R. R. is in 150 feet, and the reef is expected any minute. It is also more than possible that six other peefs maybe discovered in tho R. R., because tho prospectors have traced at least that number bearing right down into the centre of the claim. It looks a good thing, and your friend Boggins is in it, and so is your deadly foe Sploggins. You invest in the R. R., and a new phase of existence at once opens up for you. You pay calls for some months with undeviating regularity, and you hear at intervals that the drive is in 150, 200, 300 feet. You hear the indications are getting no end promising, possibly you may hear of a gold-bearing leader being struck, and finally you may get a golden reef, and make a rise or you may not. The odds are about 100 to eight against you, but it’s an enjoyable speculation. Even if you drop £l5O over the R. R., there is an indescribable gratification in being able to allude to your goldmining speculations, and telling your friends how narrowly you escaped making a fortune. Quartz mining is one of the best things out when you get into a good thing, and take it through and through, it is like racing, “ the most honestest thing as is” perhaps, but I hear it’s generally best to sell out when you are told you have got a certain fortune, and I come very near believing it.