The Dunstan Times FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 512, 9 February 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

•Ueneathths flulcof Man Rxniinr.T just the pus is siau riErt than the sword

Tus existence of deep lewis of gold on the Duns tan Fiat has long boon a

hiattnvfnguging the attention of experienced miners. At the first it was of course mere conjecture, but ns time wore on, circumstances occurred which placed the matter almost beyond the possibility of doubt. Tho workings 0:1 the river Holyneux undoubtedly show that.a rich lead of gold follows pretty nearly the course of that river; sometimes wo find it running through a terrace, then along tho beaches, afterwards losing itself in the depths of the river itself, and alternately crossing and rccrossing the stream from beach to terrace as far down its course as tho Teviot, and doubtless from I hero the lead of gold will be traced downwards to tho sea coast. So far as has been practicable—with the aid of dredging machines, the riches of the Molyneux have been pretty well explored, and tho experience of all the persons who have been engaged in this novel system of mining go to prove that where tho run of gold is not found in the river, it has secreted itself in tho flat, This appears to be the case in the immediate vicinity of Clyde. From the old Pioneer Company’s claim, three miles above the town, the lead appears to have left the terraces, and run along the beach almost as far as the end of land-street. From this it is evi. dently lost, re-appearing again in the bed of the Molyneux a little below the Hospital. .Now the question is, is there a break, or has the lead taken to the terrace and kept inland for this distance 1 such is, evidently the case, 'I he lead is evidently continuous, and that it runs under tho town for a considerable distance there is every evi deuce. The tunnels driven into the terrace from tho river banks com meheing from Mr. Warden Pyke’s residence go to prove that heavy gold is to be found in the Dunstan-flat. Tho Victoria Company penetrated inwards some four hundred feet, when tho bed rock dipped so much they could go no further. In making this drive several ounces of very nuggetty gold, some few pieces weighing a quarter of an ounce, were obtained, all being found in little runs or patches, evidently off shoots from a defined lead. Shafts wex-e sunk in three places on the Dunstan-flat, but without any result, the large quantity of water encountered, together with the loose nature of tho ground in all instances caused the works to bo abandoned, although those interested were confident of the result could they hut have reached tho bottom. With improved appliances and more experienced miners there should be no difficulty in sinking a shaft at the present time, or driving in a tunnel from the rivov bank, and putting down a monkey shaft from that until the lowest level of the flat is reached, when the finding of a deep lead would be a certainty. To subsidise a party of miners would not be a very expensive affair for the townspeople, no money could be better laid out, and should success attend the undertaking it would return itself a hundredfold. Besides the lead from the Molyneux, the gold that has escaped from the Dunstau ranges must be all secreted somewhere in the flat, and when wo take into consideration that the whole of tho drainage as far as the Leaning Pock could only have found an outlctin this direction, there is every reason to believe that we possess a Ballarat at our doors, and which only requires a little energy, coupled with good management to develop and turn to profitable account.