NEW NORTH DEVON.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3453, 19 January 1880, Page 2

NEW NORTH DEVON.

This claim, which has been attracting some attention during the past few days,, was pegged out some two or three years ago, the promoters hoping to get a continuance of the specimen patch in the Sons of Freedom reef, at that time bein^_ worked by the Alburnia. The gold rauj out, however, before t the boundary was reached. The shareholders, by no means discouraged, drove on the reef a considerable distance. It was a very promising body of stone and some gold was obtaiued, but not in sufficiently large quantities to be remunerative. Work was consequently stopped and for some time the mine was in a state of inanition. Some short time before Christmas >two - parties of tributers contmenced wording;; one block extending 150 feet on the?line of reef and to 70 feet below the Whau • level in depth, being held by Garvey and party, while the other section was tributed by Mcllhaney and party. About a month ago these latter surrendered their block although they had met with some very promising indications, while a trial crushing gave an average of about an ounce per ton. Garvey and mates have stuck to their block. They started sinking a winze 40 feet from the Alburnia boundary, and got payable gold when down 25 feet; the air being bad, they commenced driving east, in- a direction opposite to the Alburnia. A* v crushing some weeks ago gave anaverage of three or four ounces per ton. The drive has now advanced aboufc 40 feet, and the lode in the face is sis feet thick, and shows a well developed shot of gold, specimen stone being bagged frequently. They have about 12 tons of general stuff to grass, which is estimated to be worth at least sozs per ton, and this they intend crashing next week. They'have to labor under a'great disadvantage through want of ventilation, and the short space of time they have at their disposal will not per. Mit of thpm constructing works^ for improving the~ supply of air. It is stated that an arrangement is on the tapis whereby they will dispose of the remainder of their lease to the company, which will be able to work to much better advantage. The Alburnia 70 feefc^ level is within 50 feet of the boundary, and the lode has a promising appearance, and should the arrangement referred to be made, as soon as the boundary is reached the Qevon will be in a position to commence work on remunerative quartz at once. It may be mentioned that the claim has about 600 feet of the reef within its boundaries. The run of gold worked by the tributers has been proved for 40 feet, and it i 3 looking better now than ever it did; indeed, all the indications hold forth the promise that the richest of the stone is yet to be taken out. The run has very little dip, so it is not likely to affect the Alburnia except at the deep levels.