NEW METHOD OF GOLD WASHINGS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 249, 1 February 1867, Page 3

NEW METHOD OF GOLD WASHINGS.

(Fromthe "Talbot Leader")

Mr J J. Phelps, of Talbot, has hit upon a method of extracting gold from soil, which must be accounted the most sue! eessful and economical yet devised. By a peculiarly constructed series of works of anything but a costly character, he is able to make dirt, which will yield six grains ■>f gold to the load pay handsomely. Nothing like this has ever been achieved by the most elabox-ate contrivances so far invented, and yet Mr Phelps has accomplished his task at an outlay of something under £SO. His works may be seen by the creek side on the road to Commercial street, and wo can assure our readers that they will repay a visit, A small dam is constructed about seventy feet outside tie creek, which husbands the water conveyed into it by means of a race cut from a point >f the creek about four hundred yards above the works. From this dam a moderate y sized stream flows along a shoot fifty feet long on to a wheel seven feet in diameter, which this wa er drives, and so supplies motive power to the wheels of the machinery. Connected with this wheel is ■i smaller one, three feet six inches in dilineter, round which revolves an endless band connected with a horizontal revolving rake, which works in a semi-circular puddling machine six feet in length. It is here the stuff is thrown in, and after being well puddled by the revolving rake it passes out at one end into a shoot through which the water conveys the stuff to a cradle of what may be justly termed gisrantic dimensions. This cradle is worked by means of a crank fastened to the opposite end of the puddling rake, so that the motive power applied by the water wheel sets the whole of the machinery, the puddling machine, and the cradle in motion, thus avoiding any outlay here for labor. The cradle is twelve feet long by five feet three inches broad, and contains seven distinct bottoms or slides> each one from the bottom upwards being a trifle shorter than its neighbors. 'J he ends being fixed immediately beneath the hopper of the cradle, allow the dirt to distribute itself proportionally over all, and so the theory of a division of labor is practically secured. No quicksilver is used in the cradle, but in its place the bottom of the slides iscovered with green baize, which catches every particle of gold the stuff contains. We do not know whether our readers can understand the nature of the machinery from the description, but it is as accurate as can be produced upon paper. The practical advantages of this machine overall other contrivances yet applied to the extraction of gold may be gathered from the fact that Mr Phelps can make stuff washed twice over in quicksilver cradles—hitherto supposed to bo the most successful method of saving gold—yield far more goM than is needed to make' the works pay well. All the labor employed consists of a horse, cart, ind driver," to bring the dirt from Scandinavian Lead, and a boy to feed the machine, which washes forty loads every twenty four hours. Of the profits of the invention we are prohibited from giving particulars, but this much may be stated that there are very few persons in business in this dis trict who would not gladly exchange their weekly profits for the return which is secured in the same time by Mr Phelps from his veiy ingeniously constructed and economical gold washing machine.

A Remarkable Member.—The Wexford election has curler! as follows :—Mr Kavanagh, 2641; Mr Pope Hennessy, 1881; majority for Mr Kavanagh, 760. Both candidates were conservatives. It appears that Mr Pope Hennessy had the assistance of an autograph letter from Cardinal Antonelli, whilst his successful Protestant rival, Mr Kavanagh, a large and popu'ar landowner in that county, was supported by Cardinal Cullen. The new member is thus described by the correspondent of the ' Star' :—"The honourable gentleman claims descent from the great Mac Murroughs, who, in the person of Eva Mac Murrough, the wife of Strungbow, first coalesced with the " proud invader ". The father of the recently elected member in order to intermarry with the Ormonde family, became a, Protestant, he being the first of that religion in the Mac Mur-r.wgh-KaVariaga dan, and to tliis fact may assign the circumstances which entitle the lion, gentleman to assume the distinction of being the "most extraordinary" member that ever sat within the walls of the House ot Commons as a member of that highly illustrious body. Thus far ancestral quarterings. Mr Kavanagh h.ia neither legs nor arms! He whs born in this unfinished fashion ; and in place of

legs he has but about oil inches ,cf mflscu. ' lay thigh stumps, ohfe being about an inch shorten than its follow : while his arms are dwarfed to, perhapß, four inches of the upper portion 6f these members, and these are unfurnished with any terminations approaching, in the remotest manner, to hands. Yet you will probably be surprised to hear that he is a beautiful caligraphist, a dashing huntsman, aa artistic draughtsman, an unerring shot, ana 1 the most expert of yachters! a combination of accomplishments, under the circumstances of his corporeal imperfections, astonishing, in face and bust, Mr Kavanagh is of a manly, handsome motdd. Fine, well marked features, and eyes beaming with intelligence,'leave no doubt 'hat though the body has been unfortunately shorn o P its fair proportions, the mind itftßl, capacious, and well developed. . fif is now about 40 years of age, and a largo family of as handsome children as could be found in f his teeming and Prolific country has blessed his union with a lady as remarkable for her beauty as she is beloved for her amiability and consideration. Mr Kavanagh published a short time since the " Cruise of the Eva" illustrated from sketches made by himself during his cruisr. He holds the pen or pencil in his mouth and •glides its omrse by the arm-stumps, whieb are sufficiently long to meet across rhe chest. When hunting he aits in a kind of saddle basket, and his reigns are managed with an expertness and an ease surprising; but perhaps the greatest of his nohievements is driving a "four in hand." This he does to perfection, and as his team scampers away at a dashing pace, the sharp crack of hid whip may be heard far off.

The Fen'ars having been fo Encoessful in their alliance with the radicals, aud having been mainly instrumental in carry, ing the recent elections, they are extending their alliance*, and hare "shaken hands with Santa Anna. This veteran Mexican, with ut money or credit, und FCareelj a friend but the ' New York Herald', is endeavoring to organise in New York a force to drive Maximilian from Mexico. The F nians now talk ofj ining his exredition, and h3, attending 'Fenian "pic-nies," lectins on the woes of Ireland. It is a strange association, but in one tMng, an immense amount of prating about what, they intend to do, Santa Anna and the Feninns were well mated. The Fenian delegation that, was sent to Washington to ascertain the President's views with regard to their movements wait d upon him a few days ago, bu% although courteously treated, they cou'd gft from him no definite statement of h ; s intentions, and departed greatly dissatisfied, and firmly convinced that he intendid to persist in the enforcement of the ueutraliiy-laws.—' Time?-' On the'question rf Jefferson Davit,' probable trial, it is stated thai Chi'tf Justice Cli-se is now taking the opinions °' uis colleagues*bh the Bench of the "Supreme Court, and that Hip majoritv wH decide whether a Circuit Court shall be reld at Richmond 'in November foi ilr Davis' trial. —' Times. 1