THE GOLDFIELDS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2139, 15 March 1870, Page 2

THE GOLDFIELDS.

Cromwell, March 9. The Cromwell Company are crushing stone this week, and may expect a tolerable cake of gold in the course of a fortnight. Tluy are at present in difficulties about tbe water supply, the sluicers in Bendigo Gully rendering it, by their operations latterly, so thick that it is beyond a joke. Gold is being lost in consequence, and I behove the Warden will be called upon to decide how far such injuries may be inflicted with impunity. The Aurora Company washed up last week, and retorted about two hundred ounces from one hundred tons of stone. The decrease is accounted for by the fact that the quantity was known to be poor, but, lying at grass, it was necessary to get it out of the way. This company are determined to keep the stampers employed, and, let the re d be poor or rich, the quantity put through must eventually tell a tale. A mill is shortly to be erected at William’s famous claim. Previous to such addition, however ton tons of stone will be carted to the Aurora battery and crushed. This will give the shareholders some data to go upon, and is, I consider, notwithstanding the expense of such an experiment, a very judicious step. During the past few days the claim has changed owners, the original proprietors having disposed of all their interest therein. The purchase) s are mostly moneyed men, and I look upon the importation of capital into our undertak ngs as a guarantee of success. Such men can afford to mature a scheme. An investment in quartz-mining means an investment for months perhaps for years, before dividends can be declared, and any who enter upon such a speculation hastily arc as certain of disappointment as those are of success who persevere in their faith in those resources here which the past limited experience of Bendigo Gully so fully warrant. M'Loughlin and party are sinking a shaft on the west end of their lease, adjoining that of the Aurora Company. Tluy have a strong reef showing, with the precious metal well distributed throughout. 1 c msidcr that the prospects of the company are A 1. All other parties are working with a certain amount of vigor, but the approach of winter seems to cramp operations slightly, Queenstown, March 7.

The reefs in this district—thit is those which have been discovered in the neighborhood of the Shotover—promise soon to be resuscitated from their position of quiet and neglect. The now company formed to work the Nugget Reef, on the Upper Shotover have had their first crushing, and thirty tons of stone has resulted in a cake of seventy-two ounces. The gold was brought down on Friday last by Mr Eoskruge, the Company’s manager, and deposited with Mr Malligan, ane of the principal shareholders, It is said that they have thousands of tons of stone exposed that will go from half an ounce to an ounce to the ton, and also a goodly quantity that will yield from two to four ounces. Skipper’s Reef is showing in.

creased signs of life. The Phoenix Company are driving hard to cut the new reef discovered some few weeks since, and it is said the Otago Company is likely to go a-head again. In all directions attention is being drawn towards quartz-reefing, and a considerable development of this important branch of mining is certain.