MURRAY CREEK.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2053, 8 March 1875, Page 2

MURRAY CREEK.

Energetic. — Daring the month of February, there were 693£ tons of stone, mostly from the lower workings, taken out of the mine and sent to the mill, the amount of gold obtained from this stone was 722£0z lOywt ; the result exceeds expectations, and is, therefore, eminently satisfactory. j ■: Golden Ledge. — There are 400 tons of quartz now stacked outside of the mine and ready to be sent to the mill. : Hercules. — The reef in the upper tunnel, where all hands are employed, is two feet thick. The tunnel is in the north end of the claim, and is being driven south. t [ Crushing Company. — The promoters of this company may feel exceedingly flattered at the success which, has crowned their efforts to establish a powerful crushing plant in the interest of the public good, as they are entitled not only to the gratitude of those in whose more immediate interest the company was formed, but of every resident in the district, and finally of the whole country. The flumimg of the water-wheel is of large squared black birch logs, securely braced and bolted together, and renting on solid rock formation. The diameter of the wheel is 35ft; breadth, 12ft; depth of shrouding, llin; distance of buckets apart on periphery, 16in ; length of start (radial) 6in; the timber used in its construction is entirely of red pine. The water is delivered on the. wheel at 26ft 6in, and is termed three-quarter breast. The shaft is a splendid piece of hammered iron, 16ft long, Bin in diameter, and weighs 26cwt ; there are 36 arms, 6in x Bin, and are braced with iron screwshackles. The spur-wheel is 33ft in diameter, bolted on to wood segments, and weighs a little over four tons; the estimated weight of the wheel is 16 tons, and is constructed to drive 40 head of 7001 b stampers. The battery is 20 head of 7cwt stampers, with front and back discharge, in four boxes of five stampers each. The battery is self-feeding, and the paddocks are so conetructed that four different lots of stone can be crushed at one and the same time. There are 49 yards of tables (not yet finished) which will require 300 ft of copper plate. The batteries and iron work for wheel were turned out at Langland's Foundry. Company, and weigh 35 tons. Altogether the plant' is the largest, and probably superior to any other ia the district, and will be ready to .commence crushing in fourteen days. ( ' Wealth of Nations. --Last , Saturdky, being the end of the month, the, usual clearing up did not take place, though" 2580z of gold were sent down to the Bank; the gold was the result of two weeks' crushing as represented by r the plates, [the boxes not having been oleaned. h^ix \ Phoenix.— lt is intended to clear out the paddock and send the atone to the

Westland where all will be crushed by the end of next week. When this is done the paddocks will be refilled with stone from the east reef and lower workings, and crushed separate from the surface stone. The stone iv these parts of the mine is known to very much richer than that -hitherto crushed, and it is on that account that the have decided to have a separate crushing. The stone is very rich, and, as it will be remembered: was stated some time ago, will yield more than an ounce to the ton. Ajax.— A general and final clearing up of the Fleece crushing will take place to-morrow. All hands have been cleared out of the mine* and are now getting timber to be used in fitting up the new machinery. The machinery is now": on the way from Black's Point and is being brought up by the company, Mr Black having declined to take up the contract.