GOLD-FINDING EXTRAORDINARY NEAR BEECHWORTH.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 658, 14 May 1870, Page 3

GOLD-FINDING EXTRAORDINARY NEAR BEECHWORTH.

(From the Ovens Spcetator.) At the latter part of last week a miner .brought into Beeehworth a quantity of the richest auriferous quartz that has been found in the Ovens district. Tbe gold and quartz are in equal proportions—the latter being completely encrusted in the precious metal. These specimens, which, we understand, are a fair sample of the -stone generally which has been just discovered, are now in the possession of the manager of the Oriental Bank in Beeehworth, Mr Hickling, by whom they were shewn to "us! Though the reef is only a foot wide at the top, it is likely to prove a fortune to the discoverers. Some years ago,

a good deal of " chaff " was, indulged in among the Mining-brokers of Melbourne at the expense of Mr John Everard (one of their fraternity) ] on account of his reported glowing description of a pet reef as being a " solid wall of gold." This however, we are credibly informed, is really the appearance ' of the reef just discovered The yield of such quartz to the ton was accurately calculated, and it would not be less than 11,946 ozs! The quartz which forms the matrix is almost white. At present the holder of the claim wishes its precise locality kept a secret, but has no objection to state that it is within six miles of the township of Beech worth. We are informed, however, from another source, that it is situated in the ranges at the back of Hurdle Flat,' and that the discoverer was a French miner, who, after taking about half a dozen ounces from the surface, thought that the reef had run out, and consequently abandoned it; and that it was afterwards taken up by Mr Michael Scanlon (the well-known reefer, and discoverer of the celebrated Kerry Eagle Beef), who is at present the fortunate holder. Such a find as this proves beyond doubt that the gold in the Ovens district is not worked out. Our own expressed opinion has long been that plenty of reefs are to be found in the ranges near Hurdle Flat, Eocky Point, Vackandandah, Wooragee, and elsewhere, which would yield at least one, two, or three ounces to the ton.