IRON MINES IN TASMANIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1317, 18 October 1872, Page 2

IRON MINES IN TASMANIA.

Tasmania has not of late been without its excitements. It has been stirred by rumors, and in some cases, something more than rumors, of reviving industry. Our gold prospects (say* the Hobarfc Town correspondent of the Argus),, very much dimmed, some two years, ago, by the mania in mining manufacture, are becoming brighter. The diggings on the Hollyer River in tha north, long looked upon as poor though extensive, have lately sent in some good returns, ; and in other localities, industrious, if not large, mining populations are said to be doing well. But so far as we can yet judge, it is in gold that Tasmania's mineral) wealth principally consists. The presence of iron has been long known, but it is only quite recently that the actual development of this source of wealth' has been entered on. At Ilfracom.be aud Yorktown, on the banks of the Tamar ; at the Leven and other places, but all in the north, ground is being taken up, : and companies formed, in some cases, we fear, with too great pretensions to extensive undertakings. The presence of iron is known in various other quarters throughout the colony. In the neighborhood of Hobart Town it exists in various directions ; but, with the usual apathy, no advantage is being taken of the knowledge. Some inclined to invest fail to see a profitable market, or how in the circumstances of this and the other colonies our iron can be turned to proper account. At any rate, there is the usual waiting on till the result of the movement in the north is ascertained. Should the expectations of those who see future untold wealth in working our iron deposits be realised, a great" impetus would be given to the development of our coal mines. Irrespective, however, of the future of our ironj it is not creditable to Tasinanian enterprise that there should be coal known to exist, and in large quantities in so many parts of the colony, and so little raised, the Seymour coal mines being the only ones worked to any extent, though there is little doubt a good export trade might be established. The mines at Port Arthur and some at Ntw town, in the immediate vicinity of Hobart Town, also supply local demands, but the quality of both precludes their ; coming into ' extensive use. Very eucoU'

raging accounts of coal on the Mersey and Deloraine Tramway Company's ground have been received ; but inaccessibility prevents its being worked. The Main Line Railway will work wonders in this respect, not only there, but elsewhere, coal being very generally diffused over the colony. •; -.—.--. -: 4 ':^r^*T: