THE GOLDFIELDS IN TASMANIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 4 September 1869, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS IN TASMANIA.

(From the "Cornwall Chronicle," July 28.)

Mr Grould, geologist, has returned from his visit to the Waterhouse goldfields andtransmitted v his report to the Grovermnent. He left Launceston on Monday to proceed to Fingal goldfields,and to report upon them in connection with the Waterhouse gold reefs as the opinion now generally expressed by all the experienced men who have visited Fingal and Waterhouse, is, that a chain of auriferous reefs, and in their vicinity alluvial diggings extends the entire way, from Waterhouse to Fingal This opinion has not been arrived at hastily, but the conviction that such is the cose is forced upon all who have visited both goldfields, and who have scientific or practical knowledge to form atindependent opinion for themselves. We are not aware whether the G-overnment will publish Mr G-ould's report on the waterhouse gold reefs, or wait for his report on the Fingal reefs and publish both reports together. The reports furnished by Mr Grould when he was government geologist, were never of a sanguine character upon either our goldfields or our coal measures ; the only mineral deposit he ever spoke enthusiastically of was respecting the richness of our iron ores. In framing his reports Mr Gould always remembers that his professional character is at stake as to results ; there is consequently a scientific coldness in the tone of his reports the reverse of all that is exigeant. But a reference to his geological charts will show that he has long since anticipated recent discoveries of alluvial deposits, by marking the localities as auriferous. Should the results of present investigations show that there is a' continuous line of auriferous reefs and alluvial deposits between Fingal and Waterhouse, science could hardly boast of a higher achievement than to show that all this had been traced out in the geological chart of the colony five or six years ago. GOLD MUSTERS' EIGHTS A.ND B.EGULATIONS. The existing regulations are working very unsatisfactorily at Waterhouse, and require immediate amendment. For instance, a miner obtains the right to work on twenty square yards of reef , and upon that space he may find wealth or nothing to pay him for working ; but close to his boundary may run a rich lode of goldbearing quartz, which .he cannot touch, or obtain a right to interfere with, although he made the discovery. This regulation is subversive of all progress in the works, and for this reason very little work on a systematic and large scale is being done. The men are " waiting for better regulations to turn up." It is requisite that authority should be given for six or seven persons — diggers or not diggers — to join together for so many claims, and let them place such number of men on to work it as may suit their own views. We know many persons in business here who are desirous of helping forward the development of the goldfield in this way by forming a sort of joint-stock company and employing men to test the claims allotted to them ; but they are not prepared to incur the expense of em- ! ploying men on each claim of twenty square yards, as required by the existing regulations. Persons speculating I in this modern way would also be willing to pay £1 rental for each claim to make their right to them more secure I in their own absence from the goldfield, and this would bring in a handsome revenue to the Government. There are other defects in the regulations requiring remedy, but the great bar to progress is the want of a jetty or safe landing-place for machinery and stores on the east coast, within a short distance of the goldfield. The satisfactory result of the crushing of quartz from Waterhouse at Prahran, has attracted the attention of a large body of miners in Victoria, with capital and machinery at their disposal ; and bo satisfied are they that the Waterhouse goldfield is richer than, the Thames goldfield in New Zealand, that one j party has been negotiating with the Gipps Land Steam Navigation Com- ; pany, for the use of one of their steam- j ers to convey machinery across the Straits and deliver it on the coast at or near Bridport. The only difficulty that stands in their way is the want of a safe landing-place for machinery, and without a safe port on the North East Coast no insurance company will issue policies at reasonable rates on steamers or other vessels trading from Melbourne with machinery to be landed for the Waterhouse goldfield. MISCELLANEOUS AUEIFEEOUS FACTS. Two gentlemen of a practical turn of mind having on' hand a few small specimens of quartz from reefs at Fingal and Waterhouse, finding by their density that the pieces probably contained some gold, smashed a few pieces up in a very unscientific manner and washed the crushed material in a common milk dish. There was no outward and visible sign of gold in the specimens, yet they yielded a very handsome per eentage, and the gentlemen now have samples of Tasmanian gold of their own crushing. In the residuum was some black sand — or disintegrated magnetic iron ore which was retained, as it contains gold visible to the naked eye, but a strong magnet is requisite to separate the black sand from the gold. It would be well if some simple experiments of this sort were made by those who have leisure, ;

Samples of Kngal quartz are plentiful enough and the Waterhouse quartz will soon be more plentiful. The difference in color between the Eingal and Waterhouse gold is remarkable. The Fingal gold is bright and rich, being very pure— lß carat fine, while the "Waterhouse gold is only 15 carat, and of a dull silver or leaden hue. This is caused by the mixture of silver with the gold ; and although this decreases its market value, the presence of silver is indicative of the goldfield being very extensive and the deposits very heavy. In this case especially, quantity would soon make up for any deficiency in quality, and dull as the Waterhouse gold is in appearance, it will be very welcome, and a very merchantable commodity at about three guineas per ounce, or 15 per cent, under the value of Eingal gold.