MINING ENTERPRISE AT THE ARROW.

Dunstan Times, Issue 712, 10 December 1875, Page 3

MINING ENTERPRISE AT THE ARROW.

That very bold enterprise by the “Sons ( of Fortune Gold Mining Company Limited, ” j the driving a tunnel tinder the falls of the ( the Arrow River wherewith to work the , upper part of the river bed, promises to be attended with the success it deserves. The following is the report of the Manager, Mr J. A. Miller To the Directors of the Sons of Fortune Gold Mining Company. Gentlemen — It is gratifying to have to report that gold has been struck in your mine The discovery was made on Tuesday last, and although no trials of any extent have been made. I have no hesitation to say that it is one of a permanent character. The gold occurs on a soft yellow slate bottom, and is found chiefly on and in the reef. The gravel lying immediately on the reef a l so carries coarse gold in fair quantities, and the wash generally is of a very promising nature. The gold submitted for your inspection was obtained on a small bench. The work at the, faro will now require to be suspended until the sluice boxes for washing the stuff as it is driven out can Re fixe 1. The character of the gold speaks for itself, and I only require to add that the parcel before you weighs Sclwts 15 grains, and that it, is of the same nature as that obtained above and below your claim. Although no teat, Ims been made on any extensive scale, I think I may safely state that the ground will pay the working cxnonses of the mine already fully manned and the necessary preparations arc completed. All the preliminary work required at present will be finished in two days from date. However, it must be taken into consideration that the ground is still very stony, which interferes very much with the prngiess of the tunnel, while the quantity of gold to be obtained will depend upon the headway made at the face. As long as the large stones continue, it is likely that the gold will ho found in patches other than a continuous lead. Although possible, it is scarcely probable that dividends will lie available as long as the main tunnel is being driven, and it is absolutely necessary that this main adit ire rushed ahead to a, distance of at least one hundred . feet before any ground can be b'oeko I out : with a Haul age and profit, I a’so avail myself of the present opportunity to point

out the desirability to mako the tunnel suitable for a horse to draw out the trucks, aud'toeffoototherimprovemontsin it, which, in the desire to push ahead, were put oil’ until some future time. Measures for ventilation will have to bo taken before the hot weather sots in, but as unusual facilities are offered by the situation of the tunnel, this will involve no heavy expense in either money or time. All the improvements required may bo effected in four or six weeks, adding three weeks to this to drive the tunnel the required one hundred feet further. The mine may safely ho pronounced to be in thorough working order within three weeks from date. The total length of the tunnel is now slightly over tour hundred feet. I am, &c., John A. Miller, Mining Manager. Arrow Falls, Nov. 20, 1575.