Quartz-Mining at the Thames.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 28, 25 May 1870, Page 3

Quartz-Mining at the Thames.

[The following remarks, reprinted from tho Graliainstown Evening titar; limy be of somo service to holders of shares in quartz-claims at Bondigo and other places iu this province :—] ' Despite tho many improvements which have been made in the machinery jn use on the Thames for aoparatiug gold from quartz, there are still constant complaints from a certain class of people that more gold is lost in the process than is saved. We need scarcely say that complaints of this nature emanate chiefly from shareholders in non-paying claims who have had their expectations raised to tlw highest pitch by a favorable trial crushing, and who have been miserably disappointed when they came to put through a quantity of stone which might be considered a fair trial of a reef. These complaints against the machinery employed we consider altogether unfair—not that we are prepared to say our crushing plants and appliances for gold-saving are all of the best description; but when a parcel of quartz is crushed at a battery which has given satisfaction to hundreds of claims before, and produces little or no good gold, it is but reasonable

to suppose the fault lies in the reef from whicb the parcel was taken rather than in the gold-saving power of the machinery. Again, many persons have been subjected to severe disappiontment through the fall-

ing-off in the yield of gold from reefs which have for months produced dividendpaying returns, when a little experience ought to have prepared them for such a result. Crude and ill-digested as the theory of quartz gold-mining is yet, the working of the largest and oldest reefing districts iu the world has proved that the reefs get poorer as they descend—that is, down to a certain depth. It is not supposed that a reef will become more ban-en if followed to an unlimited depth; indeed, the opposite is the case, as in Sandhurst recently reefs which yielded seven ounces from what may be termed surface workings, and then decreased until they gave scarcely as many pennyweights, bave again, at a depth of 500 ft, proved themselves as rich as they were on the surface. This should encourage thoso who possess mineo in New Zealand to try the reefs at a good depth. In many of our claims a depth has been reached at which a diminution in the yield of gold might be expected, and instead of a stoppage of the works—a course sometimes followed—the shareholders should go in for deep-sinking, and we have no doubt the result would be satisfactory. We are aWare that several of our principal mines are' being subjected to this test, and their discoveries are being looked forward to with sreafc interest. Should they be favorable, a new era will be inaugurated on the T&iinics, and the prospects of mining generulfT will bo immensely improved. Jei connection with gold-saving, there is one' point to which wo would direct the atti 'A tion of machine-owners and managers —tl '.a t is, whether some modification of the appl la nces for gold-saving is not rendered by the increasing depth from is taken. Can the machinery which is considered efficient in crushing surface' stone, be the best adapted for extractin l gold from a great depth ? From the following extract we would suppose such not to be the case. The extract is quoted, in a paper read by W. Wells, Esq., to the Nelson Association for the promotion of science and industry :—" With the increasing depth of the mines the quantity of free %old diminishes, and that of the pyritous gold augments; so that greater attention jnost be directed to this branch of metillii'Xfi&r.of gold, or many of our good mines will to be abandoned in consequence. In "Victoria, this subject has been under the serious consideration of the owners and managers of most of the crushing machines, aud general success seems to have been achieve i both in the saving and extraction of gold from the pyrites."

An exchange tells of a railroad conductor to whom a fine boy, the first, was born in his absence. Some of his wife's friends, of a waggish tnrn of mind, suggested that they borrow two other babies in the neighbourhood, and present the three youngsters to the happy father on his return. Upon the arrival of the train in the evening the young husband, who had heard that all was well, hurried home. After fondly kissing his wife he asked to see the little stranger. Imagine his surprise on beholding three babies when the coverlet was turned down. After gazing at them in profound astonishment for several minutes, he turned to his wife and gravely asked—" Did any get away 1" The people of Norway carry in their fishing boats, a water telescope, or tube, three or four feet in length. They immerse one end in the water, and then, looking intently through the glass, they are able to perceive objects ten or fifteen fathoms deep as distinctly as if they were within a few feet of the surface. So, when they discover plenty of fish they luuround j them with their large draught nete, and often catch them in hundreds at a haul. UYfern ,&.,.upt for these telescopes this would frequently prove n precarious and unprofitable fishing. This instrument is ! not only used by fishermen, but ib .1130 • found in th? iuvy and cossrilig veftrls.