C— 3c

3

Returns, &c., from Quartz-mines— continued.

Laeey's Ceeek. Bosebery. This is a special claim of 100 acres, and comprises ground formerly held in mining leases, known as Dreadnought, Invincible, Guiding Star, Tasmania, and Ormuz. There are two lines of reefs here carrying gold—namely, the Caledonian and the No. 2 South Larry's, and further to the west there is another leader carrying gold; but there has been very little work done in any portion of this ground. A shaft was sunk on the north side of Larry's Creek with the view of working the Caledonian and No. 2 South 'Larry's Eeefs, both of which was found on the south side of this creek, striking at a high angle northwards. This shaft was not sunk to any great depth, as water was met with; and, moreover, these reefs having an underlie to eastward of about 50°, the shaft was sunk too far to the westward to strike any of these lodes. An adit-level has been constructed in the face of the range, on the north side of the creek, in a northerly direction for about 250 ft.; but, as this adit is nearly following the course of the lodes, it would be only by mere chance that any lode would be cut. No cross-cutting has been done to try and cut the line of the lode. Besides, from what is known of the strike of the lodes, they are not likely to be found at the level of this adit. Before any prospecting work can be done in this ground at any great depth pumping machinery will have to be erected. There is an ample supply of water to be got as motive-power for all purposes. Caledonian. This is a special claim, comprising an area of 100 acres, and includes ground formerly held in mining leases known as Larry's Creek, Argyle, and No. 2 South Larry's. There are two lines of reefs running through the grounds in a northerly and southerly direction. These lines should junction on the north side of the river, as they diverge for each other going southward. The whole of the area comprised in this claim is on the south side of Larry's Creek. A shaft was sunk near the side of this creek and four levels opened out from the shaft, the deepest of which was 183 ft. The ground is partially stoped out between No. 1 and No. 3 level to the south of the shaft, and between No. 3 and No. 4to the north of the shaft. The lode was found to be striking at a high angle northwards. Very rich auriferous stone was found under the bed of the creek, but in trying to get out this stone they got too near the surface, allowing the water to get into the workings and swamped the mine, the pumping machinery being far too small to lift the water there was to contend with. Some of the stone found in this mine yielded as much as SJozs. gold per ton. The lode at the lowest level was, however, small, although the stone was good. There was a rich leader cutting across the lode near the shaft heavily charged with iron pyrites and galena. Assays from the pyrites showed that it contained 10oz. 6dwt. of gold per ton, and the galena contained 4oz. bullion, of which 2Joz. was gold. The whole of the stone in the lodes in this locality contains a large percentage of pyrites, which is rich in gold. An adit level was constructed into the face of the range at about 500 ft. southward from the shaft, and cut a different lode to that worked in the levels. About 300 tons of stone was stoped from this adit, which was found to be payable for working. Another adit-level was constructed about 560 ft. further to the southward, and at about 40ft. higher than the level previously referred to, from which 7,514 tons was taken out, yielding 4,1290z. gold, giving an average of about lldwt. of gold per ton. Winzes were sunk from these levels, but the quantity of water in the ground prevented working from being proceeded with, as the company had not sufficient capital to test the ground at deeper levels. Taking the whole of the quartz obtained from this ground—namely, 8,080 tons—the yield of gold was 6,20&§0z., representing a value of £22,065, out of which dividends were paid to the extent of £2,250. This shows the average value of the ore to be about £2 14s. 6d. per ton. Before any useful work can be done in this ground a large pumping plant and also winding machinery will have to be erected; but, taking the stone obtained from the Caledonian shaft, which was 566 tons, yielding 2,080J0z. gold, having a value of about £8,060, thus showing the average value of the stone to be £14 ss. per ton,

Company, &c. Quartz. Gold. Value. Dividends. Big Eiv: IE. 3ig Eiver ... jrolden Hill jord Edward National it. George ... [ '.'.'. Tons. 11,255 39 30 66 15 Oz. 17,150 9 33J 1 12 35 £ s. 68,599 7 36 7 133 12 46 13 140 14 d. 9 1 2 9 1 £ s. d. 35,400 0 0 Total ... 11,405 68,956 14 10 466,861 1,823,927 6 11 35,400 0 0 653,052 573,994 16 0