QUEENSLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 710, 6 August 1870, Page 1 (Supplement)

QUEENSLAND.

[gympie t.imes, july 6.] GYMPIE. We were shown a bar of white looking metal composed of an alloy of gold and silver. It was obtained by the prospectors of the Mariner's Reef, Black Snake, and was the result of a crushing by the Hope Machine. Mr Joseph had assayed it and reported its worth for the gold only, LI 13s 7d per ounce. It contains '44 per cent of gold, and '56 per cent of other metals, chiefly silver. The prospectors of the reef state that the gold, as seen in the ore, is the usual golden color. The indications appear good for a silver lode, and we think the owners should look about them for an ore of that metal.

The prospectors of the Warren Hastings reef struck a magnificent body of stone in a drive at an 80 feet level. A boxful of specimens was shown us ; two large blocks which we handled were liberally studded with the precious metal, and each of them was estimated to contain 100 ounces. Altogether we should say the specimens would crush for at least 300 ounces. Gold can be seen on the face of the reef, which is milk-white quartz, and from nine inches to a foot thick. The holders of No. 1 north, California, were equally fortunate ; they struck a patch in a drive 50 feet long, at a 63 feet level. A dishful of specimens was got out on that day, containing, it is said, about lOOoz; and on Thursday another dishful. Last night a third heavy instalment was taken to the Joint Stock Bank. Altogether, about 3500z of gold have been taken out. The specimens are gold in calc-spar mixed with quartz ; the reef being from 8 inches to 1 foot in thickness, j As the gold appears to be running in the j stone at the bottom of the drive it is difficult to say how far this splendid patch . may extend. The prospectors of the Caledonian Reef struck a patch soon after Mr Kift's share changed hands — an example of the adage, " It's better to be born lucky than rich." There is a boxful of specimens at the bank, " better than ever," say persons who have seen them. The Imbil escort arrived on Sunday, with nearly 90oz of gold. The holders of No. 6 North, Louisa, who have been getting fair returns lately, obtained a patch of about three bucketsful of specimens. We had an opportunity of inspecting, at the A. J. S. Bank, another lot of truly splendid specimens and lumps of gold from the claim No. 1 North, California Reef. There were three bags containing blocks of calc-spar, with soams and pieces of the metal richly distributed through the stone, and weighing very heavily ; these are, in fact, similar to the lot the findiug of which we had the pleasure of noticing in a former issue. Another bag, howevei', contained 740z of what appeared to be virgin gold, which had been melted and thrown upon the earth. A great deal of the gold seemed to require only washing, and we should say that there must have been 50oz of metal in the bagful of stuff. Some of the purest and largest pieces were weighed ; one went 9£oz, another 3oz 12dwt, a third 2oz ; and there were many pieces of about an ounce, besides a lot of finer gold. This patch was got in a Bort of pocket or gutter, formed by the decay of the reef. Altogether it is estimated that the whole of the specimens brought in contain 200 ounces of the precious metal. We have been informed that the prospectors of the Warren Hastings have been bringing in additional lots of rich specimens, reported equal to the first parcel. The lucky owners of this claim will certainly have a splendid crushing. Mr H. Barr, one of the shareholders of No 1 South, Perseverance Reef, brought to this office, for our inspection, a nugget, which weighed 630z, and which was estimated to contain over 20oz of gold. This nugget and Boz of gold were the proceeds of one machineful of stuff. From the appearance of the nugget, we should imagine that the fortunate finders cannot be far from the reef. Bristol, Prospectors. — The holders (Govier and party) have, since their last crushing, commenced sinking on the reef in the two shafts, out of which they got their heavy gold. In the northern shaft, which is about 24 feet deep, the reef is two feet thick, being a little pinched, but it appears to be widening out as they get down. The southern shaft is 30 feet deep, and the reef is three feet wide. The holders are raising stone, in which they can sometimes see a little gold. They state that they can keep the water down easily, and that the sinking, hitherto hard, is now beginning to get softer. The claim is. being worked full-handed, and the red flag is kept flying. — No. 1 south ia registered. > -

London, Prospector — Swanston and party have lately gone into an old shaft 40 feet deep, about 60 feet to the south of the shaft out of which the stone last crushed by them was got. They had, however, first to widen out and slab up the shaft they are now working, before proceeding with sinking it deeper. They expect to strike the reef soon, and are working ' the claim day and night, by two shifts of two men each. — Seiffarth and party, holders of No. 1 and 2 Bouth (amalgamated), are working in two shafts, and driving easterly to get the reef. They are driving at the 15 feet level in their new or easterly shaft, and at the 30 feet level in their westerly shaft. — No. 1 north is registered. — No. 2 north, Anderson and party commenced last week to sink a new shaft, now about 12 feet deep, to the west of the old shafts. As soon as they get into the black slate, which they expect to do at a depth of about 66 feet, driving for the reef will be commenced. Sadowa, Prospectors. — Gronin and

party sunk a shaft 50 feet deep to the west of the old workings, but not succeeding in getting the reef, they have commenced driving easterly at a 45 feet level and are in hopes of striking it this week. No. 1 south : the holders state that they have not been doing much lately. • Homeward Bound. — Jackson and party, holders of the prospect claim, are getting a little gold out of a leader 3 or 4in thick and on which they are driving .from a shaft 15ft deep. In No. 1 north, Clelaud and party are sinking a shaft to strike a leader which they had in a shaft to the south and which caved in on them. Armstrong and party, holders of No. 5 south, the only claim working south of the prospectors, are proceeding with the sinking of a new shaft to the west of the shaft out of which they procured the stuff lately crushed. ONE -MILE GULLY, KILKIVAN. A new rush has lately taken place near Kilkivan. Our latest reports are as follows : — In reference to the reported rush at the One-mile Gully, near Kilkivan, we are enabled to state that in the locality referred to, a little gold was obtained at the time the Kilkivan rush first broke out, but not in sufficiently payable quantities, although numerous shaft were sunk. It appears that a German named Endreck came into the Commissioner's office about ten days ago, and produced about. 6dwt of gold, which he stated he had got out of the gully, but at a place about half a mile from the old workings. July 2. We have obtained some further particulars relative to the new rush to Sheepstation Creek, or One-mile Gully, Kilkivan. Our informant, who arrived yesterday, states that the locality is situated about two miles and a half from the old township, and nearer the Kilkivan station. There are about one hundred men at work, all apparently satisfied. The sinking is from 12 to 20ft in depth, and the washdirt from three to five feet thick. Some of the men have been getting up to three pennyweights of coarse, but not much water-worn gold, to the trough of eight buckets. The yield is being got in the creek itself, but parties are now sinking on the adjacent flat; if success attends their labors it will probably be the means of opening up an extensive gold field, especially as, in the opinion of many of the diggers, the place is a betterlooking country for gold than the old Kilkivan diggings. The inhabitants of the Black Snake are " clearing out" for this rush, and no doubt they will be joined by many others ; at present, however, there are too many on the road from Gympie. Our informant says that the place ia worth a trial to men who are not doing well at other localities, but not otherwise. STANTON HARCOURT RUSH. Rumors have been rife in town during the last few days that a nugget of monster dimensions and enormous value has been found at these diggings. We have done our best to trace the rumors of that source, and we believe we are correct in saying that they have originated in a report contained i>i a private letter, to the effect that Messrs Byrnes, Day aud party had found a nugget, the weight of ' which was not stated ; but as we have no doubt but that the nugget is the one referred to in our correspondent's letter, given below, the weight is there given. The news contained in the letter is hopeful, but nothing- to cause a rush, and this is borne out by statements we have received from persons since returned. t The new gully or creek is proving, they say, payable— that is, as they explain, that the miners are making moderate wages. In the course of the week some fifty more men have gone on the ground, and they will be able to prove if the gully continues to be payable further down ; if not, they will have to prospect new ground. The assay of two samples of the gold proves it to contain a good deal of alloy — we understand silver ; one returned L 3 4s 6d, and the other L 3 5s per ource as it value.* Our correspondent says: — "E. Byrne and party took out to-day a nugget weighing loz sdwt JL2gr; also 3dwt by dish washing. Twenty-one men are getting rations ; they will not say they j are doing more. The general opinion is that a good extensive gold field is hare, but hands are wanted to open the ground. We have no cash, and there is no one here to purchase the gold, or some L2OO or L3OO worth could be readily bought. On June 22, a correspondent of the the same journal wrote. — A man known as " Jemmy " brought in a nugget yesterday, weighing three quarters of an ounce, found by him in Royston's Gully, where he is getting payable gold. Mr Murray and party have bottomed in the same gully, and out of the bottom got 2dwt3 from three dishes, with a foot and a- half |of washdirt. We are wanting people to I try the ground, and 1 am satisfied it will pay them. - We had five new arrivals the other day ; they never put a pick in the ground, but left in two days. IMBIL RUSH. June 24. In consequence of the late rains many parties have had to knock off sinking, and see to securing their shafts, many of which had begun to cave in ; meu are in the scrub in all directions splitting slabs. The Upper Town, as we used to call it, presents a rather delapidated spectacle ; one or two stores, two or three bakeries, butcher, and shoemakers, are all that is there now. On the other hand, the township between Boyd's and Brown's now extends from one gully to the other, aud is becoming every day more compact. Many of the store-keepers are re-building, we have a dancing saloon ; and the lovers of billiards can noir be accomodated. Messre Freeaton mid Kidgell ar& about opening a branch establishment. Stores are plentiful, and prices are ranging a trifle higher than Gympie rates. Bread is Is for what is called a large loaf.

cania diggings. • [chronicle's correspondent.] I visited these diggings again after an absence of three weeks. The first point I made for was Moonlight Gully. When 1 waj last there this gully was occupied by diggers in full work, from its head to where it joined the main or Three Moons Creek, and was then supposed to be the richest portion of the diggings. On my arrival this time I found this gully nearly deserted, and it appeared to me to have been so for some time. On making enquiries of the few men who were still at work there, aa to what had become of the others, they told me there had been a rush to the Eight-mile, which is about one mile nearer to Kroombit, or Dawes Range. They also told me that in consequence of having had so much rain they could not work in the Moonlight, as the water came

in on them too fast. I then started to the so-called Eight-mile. On arrival I found that the population had increased to a great extent in that quarter, bnt a great many were lying about in the most idle state ; and on my asking them how. that part was turning out, the invariable answer I received was, that there was two or three good claims there, but the remainder were no good. I was surprised to see so many men hanging about doing nothing, but 1- found out afterwards that they were expecting to hear news of a' new rush that they heard had been made on Spring Creek (another part of Cania run). Now, I know a little of the Cania run, and have been over this Spring Creek ; and my opinion ia that if gold was found there it would be found anywhere. No one seemed to know for certain that a rush had taken place. The only answer I could get was that it was so reported to them. Now I was staying at Cania head station the night before, and, to my knowledge, parties had been out from the station on this creek that day, but I did not hear anyone say anything about diggers being there, so I imagine it is merely an idle report. At present I consider these far ff om being a poor man's diggings. Many to my knowledge have not made a Ll note out of them ; others in the same time have scarcely made tucker. My opinion is that about one-fourth are making good wages, but not more than one-tenth exceeding the latter. It does not look well when at the report of fresh grounds being found, men will throw up what had been consideredggood claims to try their luck at the new rush. This has taken place different times here. Although the population has slightly increased, there are still a good many leaving ; and the owners • of stations adjoining complain greatly of the tax laid on them in having to feed many hard-up diggers passing through their stations. I heard one say, a few days ago, that it was costing him fully thirty shillings a week to find men in rations who were passing through without the means to purchase food. There appears to be plenty of supplies on the diggings, and 1 hear of a lot on the road from Port Curtis. And now in conclusion I would advise ,no man to come here who has not at least L 5 or LiO in his pocket ; and even then my opinion is that he would soon find hia pockets empty. There are no reefs as yet. The' gold is patchy, and my belief is that in a few months these diggings will be represented by a few straggu'ng digger?.