TASMANIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 692, 25 June 1870, Page 1

TASMANIA.

[CORNWALL CHRONICLE JAN. I.] Since the arrival of the 48oz of gold from the Back Creek Company's works, Piper's River, the news from the gold fields has been rather barren to persons at a distance from the actual operations. We have, however, received vei/ satisfactory reports of progress : — WATERHOUSE. United Victorian and Tasinanian Company.—The prospects of the present week at the United Wictorian and Tasmanian Company's- claim are very encouraging, and the crushing is likely to be a good one. The managing Director has received a report, from which we take the following extracts:— "The mine generally this week promises well ; prospects from the hanging wall of the western side of the reef being particularly good. The shaft at its lower depth has to-day also turned out well-looking, so that, m Mr Boughtman's absence, I ordered all the best stuff to be sent to the battery. Mr Trevascus, the engineer, on examining the tables, reports very favourable, and thinks they will compare with previous crushings. The Alliance Company. — Fair progress is being made at the works of this company. Crushing will therefore commence on the date I previously stated, 16xh June. piper's river. Cornwall Company.— Owing to the difficulty of finding labor, prospecting operations m this Company's gronnd are stili delayed, but it is contemplated immediately to start boring operations. Mr W. R. Bell, writing to one of the directors, says:— «Aa I marked out the ground now held by you, I wish to offer my opinion respecting it. Gold can be obtained m the drift for a considerable distance up and down the Back Creek. This drift .rests upon compact basalt — that is to say, on the eastern and western sides of the creek— gold can be obtained m the drift ; therefore the probability is that a good payable lead exists m the deep ground adjacent to the creek. The probable depth of the ground, I think, would be 100 ft at least. The greater portion of the sinking would be through soft decomposed basalt, but there is a great likelihood of encountering a strata of solid rock before the bottom could be reached. I should recommend boring as the cheapest and most expeditious way of testingj the ground ; with proper tools I think 2s per foot would cover all expences. Yours veiy truly, W>R. Bell." FINGAL. M'Kenzie Freehold Gold Mining Estate.—A progress report has been received from Mr Surveyor Benson, upon the estate of Evercreech, which we have much pleasure m publishing. It is as follows : — - " McKenae's Estate, " Ev ei*reech, 28th May. "The estate embraces 4887 acres on the south and west banks of the River Esk, and about 288 acres on the northern margin of the same stream. "My impression is that the topography of the greater part of the estate— if it was not

entirely submerged at a very remote period — must at the present day conceal the channel of some ancient river, once po,s.se,Bsipg great hydraulic power. The surface indications m this respect 1 * take to be unthistakeable. " This preposses-' sion at once forced upon the necessity — by the most available means at . any command — oi determining the probable character of the deposits to be found m this ancient stream, and I have to acknowledge the assistance rendered m performing this most important duty by Mr M'Kenzie. By continued, and, I am happy to inform you, by successful search, the geological character of the country removes beyond doubt but that the nature of such deposits must be of a very auriferous kind, m discovering which you will find the uae of the ' boring rod ' a great assistant. " Three (3) quartz reefs intersect the * country' passing through the entire length of the estate, and inconsiderable will be the outlay m testing their auriferous character. " One principle feature I may now briefly glance at. In some of the minor tributaries descending from the higher grounds, where these vein stones ' crop out' for some distance, men may be profitably set to work ; and I have reason to believe that the result of their labor will yield gold sufficient, not only for proving the character of the quartz, but that it -will go far to cover the expense oi "boring m the deeper alluvial flats m certain advisable localities, which it will be my duty to indicate. "William Benson, " Geological and Mining Surveyor of Ballarat." "To David Ham Esq., Hobart Town." Tullochgorum Estate. — Satisfactory tidings has been received as to the progress of operations on the property of the Tullochgornm Mining Company. Another bore was put down to a depth of. 12ftbelow the last, when a splendid grey clay was struck at a depth of 20ft. The manager thinks he may be certain of having struck the deep ground, and says further, that Mr Butters, manager of the Mangana Company, has visited the property, and agrees with him m opinion.