AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1958, 14 August 1869, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TASMANIA,

Mr Gould describes the gold-bearing f wraation in this district as likely to extend for many miles back from the coast. The indications of quartz reefs are numerous, but the country having been up to this t me almost entirely unexplored, it is probable that many more reefs remain to be discovered, Gold has been found in the Pioneer reef, and also in a see-md reef about half a mile southwest from it, and wo understand that alluvial gold in small quantities has also been found at a point abour three miles south-westerly from the prospect ts’ claim. .Respecting the country, Mr Gould speaks of it as generally open, timbered, and easy of ex-

ploration. It is, however very deceptive in appearance, and not such a country as would be likely at first sight to attract the merely practical owner. The old roeka have been completely covered up, in places for miles, by drifted or blown sand ; and in the low lying situations especially, tertiary deposits of sand and gave! extend back among the ranges for many miles from the coast, forming extensive plains and marshes, from which the clay-slates and sand-stones only emerge at intervals. Most of the sandy hammocks cropping out of these plains are borne up by quartz reefs, and Mr Gould is of opinion that many future discoveries wdl be made from little or no surface indications, but simply from the outline of the ground. Of that portion of the Pioneer reef already opened by the prospectors, Mr Gould speaks in the most favorable terms. We understand he made a careful examination of it, and that so far there is every probability that abundance of payable stone will be obtained. The gold still continues visib’e in the quartz at the deepest point to which the prospectors have gone. After c mpleting his inspection of the Waterhouse Gold-field, Mr Gould proceeded to Fingal, and carefully inspected the Tower Hill Quartz reef, now being workecj by Messrs Goodall and party. We understand that be describes this reef is of great exteut and, in jgo far as its character has yet been nscertaifitl, likely to afford remunerative crushing for years to come. This opinion is formed from an inspection of the reef generally, and the stone obtained from the cross-cuts, which everywhere carries showy gold, but Mr Gould says that much will depend upon the appearance of the reef in the trial shafts now being sunk by Mr Goodall. It will be soma weeks before these are down, but a number of men are employed, and the work is being proceeded with vigorously. Yesterday afternoon, at a little after four o’c'ock, Mr John Eddington breathed his la t, on the spot where he had lived so long, near the old vined cottage in Elizabeth street, one of the first buildings erected in the city, which he declared should never be pulled down while he lived. The deceased gentleman arrived in this Colony from Sydney in the year 1808—sixty-one years ago—or three years after the Colony was first founded. He has always led a peaceful, useful, and active life ; and throughout all the changes of an eventful experience, it can safely he said that he has enjoyed the good-will and high esteem of his fellowcolonists of every grade. The late Mr Edding- on was the first sportsman who settled in Tasmania, and in his time rode some of the fastest races which have been ridden in the colony. He was also the first Clerk of the Course in Hobart Town, and a patron of every kind of sport. Mr Eddington was a Freemason of the highest Order, indeed, the father of freemasonry in the col ny, and one whose absence from the position he held as an office-bearer, will be sadly and keenly felt by his brethren of the craft.