TASMANIA.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 686, 10 January 1865, Page 4

TASMANIA.

SEARCHING FOB, GOLD. f :

The Tasmanians cannot divest themselves ;"-, of the belief that their island is rich in auriferous deposits, and they have employed Mr. Hargreavcs, who was so successful in Australia, to reveal to them the treasures which no one else has been able to discover. The JOaunceston JExaminer gives the following *" account of Mr. Hargreavcs' proceedings:— ' During the past month Mr. Hargreaves ■ has been engaged at Mangana, testing the - auriferous reefs, and we believe he is satisfied - with the result. For several years we have been persuaded that quartz crushing, if carried on witb proper care and machinery, would prove highly remunerative. Tasmania \ may have no rich alluvial diggings, or her nuggets may lie at a greater depth from the ; surface; but there are mountains and whole districts of quartz, much of which is known to contain gold. Quartz crushing requires capital and fixed labour, and is therefore far better calculated to promote the permanent . well-being of the colony than the discovery of rick surface diggings, which would soon be exhausted, and probably leave a restless* population and a gambling spirit behind. With the imperfect machinery and appliances of the at M_y_gana, Mr. Hargreaves obtained from two tons of ordinary quartz 25dwt. of golu, or 12_dwtto the ton. From four and a-half tons of refuse taken from the machine, but whicb had been, crushed lo#g before> -ioz.. 3dwk

of gold were washed. Other samples of quartz have been tested, but we have not heard the result. Mr. Hargreaves states that all the auriferous land at Mangana has been sold, and he speaks in terms of disgust at the apathy and want of spirit displayed by the diggers in not having endeavoured to persuadethe Government to withdraw the hmd from sale. Mr. W. Morrison, of the lounceston hotel, who returned from Fingal a few days ago, brought ia with him some gioz. of gold —part of it being that obtained as above, and the -remainder being a splendid specimen of fine gold got from a quantity of axoakam found on the spot —the result of previous operations. Mr. Morrison states gat Mr. Hargreaves, who is still engaged crashing, speaks very highly of the reef, and faas no doubt as to its being a paying one. Mr. Hargreaves and his party intend to -intthe Black Boy in the course of a few days, and to test the reefs there with the Launceston Company's machinery. The Salmox _~d Trout. —The young salmon at the breeding establishment on the Plenty have now found their way into the large pond prepared for their reception below hatching boxes, and are progressing in a highly satisfactory manner. For the trout, a serpentine pond seventy yards long, varying from ten to twelve feet in width, and leading into the round clearing pond, hag been constructed. Many of them are from two to three inches in length. As they have ample room, they will be kept where they are till they become spawning fish, which will probably be in the autunm of 1866. At a recent meeting of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, Dr. Officer, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tasmania, was present, and gave an interesting account of the flourishing condition of the salmon and trout in Tasmania. He mentioned that the Ta_ina_ian Legislature had voted £800 for additional salmon ova, and complimented the Victorian Society upon having appropriated £400 more to the same purpose. He expressed his assurance that whether the Victorian Society wished the greater part of the fresh ova which Mr. Toolwas about to sent from England to be kept in their own colony, or sent to Tasmania, either course would be equally pleasing to the Tasmanians. He concluded by stating his firm belief that this time next year salmon would be caught on their return ; trip from the a<xaai.—Launceston Examiner, Bee. 22.