LAKE COUNTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 969, 12 November 1880, Page 2

LAKE COUNTY.

(from ovr own correspondent ) The chief topic here is of course the Reefs, and I must say that the Wales, ip goldlield holds out very considerable promise of becoming a very valuable and important tiehi for the operations of t( * quartz mines. Of bourse we ail know from experience that a quartz mine takes a loco while to develop, audit usually experiences many “ Ups and Downs’ 1 as Captain Hairy would put it, before a stage of anythin.' like perfection or rather • profitable working order is arrived at. It seems as if the reefs in this district had now passed through their various initiatory stages aiid have made peimenent start. At Maixtown things look very promising, although there have not been any gbod cakes as yen this season. It is not that the “plums’* hj tve become scarce and the flour and water plentiful, hut the real reason is that a very large amount of work has been necessary in the various mines to open out ground and put things in order so that a supply of “cakes” will be avoidable without any interruptions, fu a very short time the fan. ous Tipperary and Gladstone mines will U Sending down the results of their crushing* which will set things all alive again, and a*, tlie same time gladden the hearts of the Dunedin • shareholders. They have been very patient and lougsutTering which virtues though highly admirable in a mural ami religious point of view, prove sore trials of fortitude when brought in actual practice in a monetary sense ; however the iriillcninin of the sweet “ bye and bye " is fast approaching and there will he plenty of rich ‘ cake for the patient watchers on the bcautilul shore."

Ihe Mmn.'ward Hound started crushing on Monday week last. 1 have not heerd that any of the shareholders in this mine have realised their fond anticipations of jjoinK home as yet, fur, to tell the truth, the fates have beep against them. Hmvever, things look more promising than they have done for some time past, and gomie thing like ounce to the ton stuff promises to he the order of the day for some time to come The company have everything in very good working order, after a long season of preparing work and repairs to old wot kings. A number of other mines are engaged in the slow weary work of opening out and prospecting, and things look very promising, but with the exception of tho three mines I have mentioned, there is not much prospect of any other crushing this season.

Tho reefs at Skippers have much improved. The old Nugget and Cornish, now the Mount Annum, is shaping very well, a ! So the old Otago and Phoenix—tha Denny and Roberts grinder and amalgamator promises excellent results—it cannot of course put gold into tbc stone, but it will take it very nearly all out, and which :s a great deal to say when the large amount of gold lost by present appliances is taken into account. Mr Tom Hall, at the Gallant Tioperaiy, is making a great stir, and his mine presents excel ent prospects. The Gallant Tipperary will ht at the fore before very long, I can assure von. No rebellions or broken heads and any quantity of shillaleighs in this cas-, hut plenty of haul work and plenty of goM as a reward for the trouble and ' labour, this fine old Irish gentleman has been put to in getting it. Tom Hall has been a most indefatigable prospector, and deserves a good claim for bis untiling energy and perseverdice in pros peeling for quartz reefs in this district especially. For, whatever illnatured people may say to the contrary, Tom Hall must be considered as the father of the Macetown mines.

The reef at the head of Lake 'Wakatlp looks exceedingly well, and there is a very large body of quartz to operate upon. I learn that a trial crushing will very soon he made, and if satisfactory, machinery will be erected .it once. Tnoe is ample water power to band, and timber easily available for many purposes.