BRIGHTON.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 515, 6 May 1869, Page 3

BRIGHTON.

(Correspondent of Charleston Herald.) Mining affairs still progress smoothly, everyone being well supplied with water. Matters are very quiet at the White Horse ; the prospectors, however, are very sanguine as to the stability qf the lead they have struck. It seems a little strange that up to this time no one in this locality has sunk for the true bottom, which in all probability underlies deposits far richer than those which are found overlying the newer formations, which in many cases shew unmistakeable evidence of having been subjected to a vast disturbing influence, and the leads are consequently broken and scattered in many places, so much so that they apparently cease. It is a well-known geological truth that these influences did not extend to the older deposits, and it is only reasonable to believe that they are consequently of a richer and more definite character than the broken and patchy leads at present worked. In support of this hypothesis, the deep lead at Ballarat may be accepted as evidence of this view ; as in those cases the leads have been struck at depths varying from 160 feet to 450 feet, the sinking passing through various geologic periods — the newer ones bearing signs of having been greatly disturbed, and consequently holding" but few continuous leads ; three distinct formations of rock, varying from3oftto 120 ft in thickness, havingtobe sunk through beforethe primary formation

was reached, when, if the shaft did not bottom on washdirt, or, in other words, the extinct course of an ancient river with its alluvial deposits, the experienced miner ascertained the direction of the dip and the angle of inclination, and with, this as a guide, sank lm shaft sufficiently, deep in the primary rock to allow a drive cutting the centre of the gutter, and thus draining the lead. As the characteristics of gold bearing stratas are nearly identical wherever gold has been discovered, there is, then, no opposing reason why deep ground should not exist in this district as j well as in so many other places where the newer and shallower formations have been first worked and then the deep ground 2->rospected for and discovered. There can be no lasting prosperity on these gold fields until this prospecting is done and those deep leads discovered and a permanent employment offered to our miners. I heard something of a prize essay being required by the Government on the subject of keeping our miners and our capital in the country ; let them try the effect of offering a substantial reward to the minors who shall first discover a deep lead of gold, which will soon induce our capitalists to invest their capital when they see they are doing so on a work of stability, and not in an acre or two of shallow ground that is patchy, deceiving, and which offers no inducement for the erection of good machinery, or the employment of a large staff of miners. The agent of the Bank of New Zealand made his usual fortnightly visit last Monday. The quantity of gold was, I believe, about 300 ounces. Of course this must not be put down as the yield for the fortnight, aa many parties take their gold to Charleston to be sold — Rochford's party alone sending 200 ounces during the past fortnight.