HALF-OUNCE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 689, 18 June 1870, Page 3

HALF-OUNCE.

The lead in this creek, which first began to excite attention about eight months ago, is looking well at present. It is situated on a terrace between a fork of the second right-hand branch of Half rOnnce dreeW and the branch 5 "itself, and about 1 two miles from the junction^ of Half-Ounce «nd Duffer's. > This terrace was first noticed in consequence- of * patch of old, shallow, ground, lying at, the foot of it, having been taken up and tried by a few t bssickers. This p"sse of old ground was rushed, and worked years ago, <ahd^ as ■■ was also the case at Brandy Jack's, it was supposed to be worked out at the time of the first rush ; it has led to the discovery of the present lead. Terrace workings, such as we see there at the present time, were not thought of in those days, and if more attention* were paid now, by prospectors, to these isolated patches of old worked ground in the present creeks, many more of these terrace leads would be found. These pieces of old ground would appear to an experienced observer to be merely patches without beginning or end, but experience is beginning to show that such is not the case. They are almost invariably found, at the junction of two water-courses, and always "at places where the creek had widened out so as to leave what is technically called a "good-looking fiat" on either or both sides of it. The washdirfc and gold in these flats are generally — with scarcely an exception — found resting on a false bottom, and is the residue of the constant natural sluicing which has been going on. for ages. If these fiats, which have been proved to contain gold sufficient to pay the first workers of them, were more thoroughly prospected, particularly at the up-stream end of them, the gold would be found to lead into the terraces in a great many instances. It is not a theory of my own 1 am propounding, but it is the expressed opinion of old and experienced miners, that the terrace leads now being discovered, represent a former system of water-courses, and that these shallow patches found now and then in the present creeks, are deposits formed by the intersection of the old gutters by the water which runs on the surface, and which has gradually worn its way dbwn to its preseut level. The first claim from the old ground on this lead is heldby Archibald Ferris, Win. Cahill and party. They took possession of a tunnel which had been taken in 200 feet by Ask and party, and abandoned by them. Ferris.and party sunk a monkey shaft near the end of the tunnel and bottomed on payable washdirt at about 15 feet. The tunnel, being thus proved to be too shallow, became useless for the working of the! claim, and the company nave sunk a shaft from the surface. This has been bottomed at 60 feet ; there is six feet washdirt, with a prospect of half-an-ounce to the load. They are erecting a " double-breasted" paidock, and after the first washing the party intend erecting a whim.

The next party, Ask, Brandt and Co. (amalgamated),, are in 400 feet from the face, and they are about 100 feet from the gold. This party have had to go back 300 feet to find a level for their tailrace, and to get a tip for their mullock. They have laid a tramway all this distance down the creek, from the mouth of the tunnel, and they find they can dispose of the stuff they drive out of the tunnel quicker by this means than they could by any other. Rooney, Oosgrave and party are next. This party have bottomed a shaft at 50ft. They have sunk and opened out in the reef, and they reckon they are about 100 feet from the lead. n Gustensen and Co. and Harry SwansenandCo. (amalgamated) have the next tunnel. These parties joined for the purpose of taking in the tunnel. In Swansen's club the party drove over the; deep ground until they met the opposite or eastern reef from the face. This was struck on Friday last about midnight, and the wash, 38 inches thick, prospected 2dwt to..fi.ve ..diahes.of dirt. The other party, Gustensen and Co, are now sinking a blind shaft in the centre of the deep ground in their claim. This tunnel is 600 feet long, and the tail* race, which was' quite as difficult aqd expensive to construct, is 300 feet long.' "" • The next is also an amalgamated company, in possession of Lihdblumb and -Co and Carlsen and Co. This company's tun- ; nel and tramway is 1300 ft long. They are now laying a tramway and making a paddock. The washdirt.in Lindblumb's I claim is 2ft 6in in depth, with' a prospect of 4gr to the dish. Carlsen and Co. are assisting the other party to get their works, in order, they will then commence at the gutter in their own claim. The nexjb claim is owned by Nygren and Anderson, who have bottomed a shaft at 30 feet. They are too shallow by nearly 20 feet. They are sinking in the bottom with the intention of driving further westward for the lead. Wilson and party have the next claim. A prospect of halfpennyweight to the dish has been washed from an old tunnel 240 ft long in this claim. As the ground was dipping inwards nothing could be done with tho water, and that is probably the reason the former party left the tunnel. Wilson and Co. are taking in a fresh tunnel and tail-race at a lower level. There are three other parties getting gold higher up the creek, but nothing of any consequence has been found yet; - The branch .of the, creek along which this lead is running takes its rise within ' a "stones-t hrow of the source of Tojisy Creek, and both run from the range which feeds Sullivan's, J Rowdy, Forty-Ounce, and the right-hand branch of p.nffer's Creeks, and? on which the Gladstone^ Boland's,and H,ayes' Terraces, arp situated. That is a hint for intending pr.pspepiprs. ; ~Twp, claims, hare begn worked v put bi^w|lj!e^s^^4 party's claiinii The % ownefefhave Been -endeavoring to bottom" shafts, but the water is too much for

them with the appliances they have brought to btar on- it.. 1 would recommend the parties who have been "fiddling" about this ! wet and deep ground, with ten-gallon kegs, to take a look at the workings- at Clarke, Evans and Co. 'a, claim at Orwell Creek. They will there see the owners of that clivim trying to put in practice the only means by which such a large body pf water— existing iinder similar circiipisiances ,to those at Half-duttfie-^can 'reasonably ;be expected to be overcome.