MINING NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

The find of alluvial gold at the foot of Conroy's Cully, referred to a week or so since, is situate on the point of a rocky spur, and m t likely to prove of any extent, the whole i f the spur point which rises abruptly to the b -iaht of about 25ft from the present bet of the creek, being tak u up by two claims held by Mr Rennets and Mr Fox well, though, if the assumption is correct. that the ceek originally run over the pint of the spur, there is no reason why, at the same elevation along the course of the creek hiyh r up, similar finds should not be made. Indeed, it is highly probable, such dep tsitsdo ext-t, therefore the ground is worth prospering- It is very hatd to say what amount of gold ei'her party is getting, but there is no doubt both parties are being well paid for their labour. On acc unt of the river maintaining a very high level, no work can he done hy either of the dredges at work between Clyde and Alexandra This is to be more than regretted, as before the river rose both were on excellent gold, and there is no telling whether, when the river again recedes, the ■. Un of gold can be got at. again. However, there is plenty of gold in the river, and th »y will he able to get on to another run if unable to touch Ihe one th y were last on. Campbell, Austin, and party are still hard at work at Half Mile Gully below Alexandra, getting through it into their claim. For such untiring energy as they have displayed during the last twenty months, they riculy de-erve a substantial reward in re alisation of their hopes. Their prospect is unexceptionallv good. There are still the same number of parties working on the banks of the Molyneux between Clyde a id the Twelve Mile beach, hut I do not hear that they are doing other than making wages. The banks of the river to my mind, from one end to th“ other, that is to say if water could be brought on them, is a field onj vhieh fair ordinary wages could be made, and it only surprises me that more people are not engaged on them. In this district especially where the ground merely wants ticking to produce any amount of fruit and vegetable, the lot of the miner a mold really be a happy one. Between Clyde and Cromwell there are several parties lately settled, andhvith the numerous creeks of water running to waste, there is room for p'enty more. The latest sensation, the reefs on the Ohe'isk Range, are quietly hut surely forcing their way into the public estimation. White’s Reef Company’s prospects are daily improving, they have driven through the broken ground in their tunnel, and are now into the solid hard blue laminated schist country. They have only todiive a further 40ft. to reach the reef. The more that Wnokey and Gavan’s claim is opened, the better and more defined the ree’ looks, though it keeps very soft and friable, its course is a point or two to the south of east, and the same surface indications are to be traced right through the Advance lease to the sooth east and into the Welcome Lease to the north west. The Advance have at last got a fair start. They have their smithy erected, a lot of timber on the ground, and a shaft down some 20 feet. They are sinking for the reef that is in Wonkey and Gavan’s adjoining them to the north-west, and expect to strike it at a depth o about 80ft. Grey and Lythgoe are still sluicing away the surface of the reef running through their claim. They have already laid it hare for about 60ft. to a depth of six to sixteen feet, an I so far they have obtained a really wonderful lot of loose gold. Mr Kemp, also Steele and Quayle. are bringing on to the range side water races from Coal and Gorge Creeks. When this is d'ns a great deal more prospecting will be dono. Now, regardii g the Waikaia Bush read. The precious report of M r Gordon’s create ) on the reefs no end of fun and disgust, if such wore possible, men made their sides fairly sore with ■ laughing over the ridioulosity of tbn report, whilst thrir language soared high over it as a monstrosity. Mr Macgeorge, the County Engineer, is to, I dare say will have, made a 1 visit of inspection of the route by the time this is in print, so the time for speculating as to the worth of the Village Blacksmith's report is now short lived.