THE MINER.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 299, 4 August 1875, Page 6

THE MINER.

OARRIOIC RANGE. Star op the East,— The half-yearly meeting of this Company was held on Tuesday week. The working manager reported that he was still sinking a winze from the tunnel, which was down a depth of 110 feet. For 80 feet he had carried down a good reef. A hard bar then came in and pinched the reef up, but at date of report he had got through it and into soft ground and the reef seemed making again. The mill is standing at present and will do for a month until the frosty weather is past. Young Australian —There is not much doing with the claims at the top of the range, but Messrs Williams and Edwards of the Young Australian have put on some men this week for the purpose of getting stone, so as to be in readiness to take advantage of the water as soon as it is possible to get it along the race, to commence crushing. This company was exceedingly unfortunate last year, for just as they had completed their machine ready to start crushing, the water supply fell off, and they were obliged to discharge their men, as nothing could be done until the Spring ; but they have taken advantage of their enforced idleness to thoroughly prospect their lease by sinking shafts farther on the line, which has proved eminently satisfactory, as they have traced the reef a considerable distance, and if they are fortunate enough to get a good supply of water during the coming summer this claim will add considerably to the quantity of gold from the Garrick Range. Try Again. —This company had a crushing last week of about 120 tons of stone, which produced between 70 and 80 ozs of gold. The blanketings are held in reserve, and are expected to considerably increase the return. The crushing was effected at the old Standard mill, which has recently passed into the hands of the Try Again proprietors, Messrs M'Korsie, Crabb, and Co. Crown and Cross. —This party are busily proceeding with formation of the road from their tunnel to the' battery, which is now near completion. -A third share in this very promising claim changed hands last week, the purchasers being Messrs M'Kersie, Crabb, and Co. The price has not transpired. The proprietors have neaidy 200 tons of stone in the paddock ready for crushing, and the indications pi'omise a rich return when milling is which will be very shortly. SONS OF FORTUNE COMPANY, ARROW RIVER. (from our own correspondent.) The Mining Manager’s report up to 31st ultimo, is as follows ; In my last report, dated June 10th, I referred to indications of the proximity of thei bottom reef, and it is with much satisfaction! that 1 am now able to report having struck the bed rock at the water level of the tunnel. This fact is of the greatest importance, for it not only sets at rest all doubts as to the level of the tunnel being correct, but proves that no obstacle exists in the shape of running drift to interfere with the work. The claim may now be pronounced to be bottomed and effectually drained, and prospecting for payable gold will be the only aim of operations henceforth in the mine. Owing to the absence of reliable surface indications, and the fact of having struck the bed rock only a few days ago, branch prospecting drives cannot be put in at once—at any rate it would be preferable to continue the main drive following the deepest ground and get ahead about 50 or GO feet before opening any prospecting drives. The reef, as far as I have seen, is very smooth and waterworn, and, as is generally the case in the deepest part of river channels, there are few or no catches for gold. I have, however, in several instances obtained en-l couraging prospects from the bottom. The quality of the gold is also ranch superior to that previously obtained in the gravel; it is of a shotty and waterworn character resembling that which is obtained above and below the company’s claim. The total length of the tunnel is 263 feet. The greatest difficulty I have experienced in connection with the tunnel has been to discover the channel of the river. Contrary to expectations it was found on the opnosite side of the river, and not under the slip where the tunnel enters. The delay caused by the hard reef encountered has been beyond all anticipations. If the progress made since the discovery of the channel, which occurred on May 14, is compared with that made prior to that date, it will be found that the average from date of starting (Nov. 2, 1874) to May 14 has been at the rate of 6 feet per week ; while since May 14 upwards of 12 feet per week have been driven. This increase of speed is in some measure due to the use of lithofracteur, which, besides being more efficient, saves 30 per cent in the labor of making charges. A further saving would result by using an electric battery for firing the charges instead of the fuse and cap, besides being much safer to those employed, as there would be uo danger of a misfire. I have now traced the channel of the river for 128 feet through gravel and large boulders. This part of the tunnel, although "wet in some places, requires very little timber to secure it permanently. About 15 feet back from the face 1 found the bed rock about one foot below the water level ; it is now rising gradually as the work proceeds. A eeording to the prospectus, it was not expected that the slip would have been pierced in less than 500 feet, yet in half that distance good looking wash showing fair indications of the close proximity of payable gold has been proved, and the bottom rock struck at the point indicated at the time of starting, at a cost of little more than boring machinery, or the amount paid as commission for alone floating some mining companies. ° J. A. Miller, Mining Manager.