ARROWTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 701, 24 September 1875, Page 3

ARROWTOWN.

(from our correspondent.) A very great deal of attention is now being directed towards tbe development of our quartz reefs, and almost every week some new discovery or another is made, which, if it does not show much gold, proves this much that there are a large number of quartz reefs in the district, auriferous to a greater or less extent, and that they only want properly prospecting to ascertain their value. So far as the appearance of the stone would indicate, as well as the result ■of small quantities crushed in a mortar, several of these reefs should contain sufficient gold to pay, and a trial upon a larger scale is now the only test left. The Cornish Company on the Crown Terrace intend in a tew days making a crushing of four tons, at Skippers, which will prove something. With machinery upon the ground this reef should prove payable; there are plenty worse than it in Victoria paying good dividends. The once famous Criterion, beyond being re-marked out, is in precisely the same state ns it was six years ago, and it is time the present proprietors made a beginning. The fact is that in this district people are allowed to hold ground containing quartz reefs too long without making a beginning to work them. In the first opening of a reef, beyond a pick and shovel, an 1 windlass and bucket, and a hammer and a few gads, no other implements ara’requirod; they arc very inexpensive and can always be procured in a few days, and operations could at least be commenced—say within one month from the marking out of the ground. If not proceeded with within that space of time, any reasonably accessible qnartz lode must be held for speculative purposes and not legitimately testing what it is worth. As a rule, when miners find a reef they have any opinion about, they are only too anxious to commence work at once. Our Amateur Dramatic Club are up and doing, and they come out with tbe “ Ootaroon” on the 6th prox., for the benefit of the Library, and I have no doubt but that it will prove a thorough success. The laughable farce of “ Box and Con” will conclude the entertainment. I see by the Dunstan Times that the Cromwell Club are very boastful about what they are going to do, and I wish them success. Still, I should imagine that it will take them a long lime to get up such an organisation ns exists here. A club like that at the Arrow cannot be got together in a day, its existence is tbe result of the work of time. A poor fellow named Hancocks lost his life on Friday last from a fall of earth in a tunnelling claim at Arthur’s Point. The accident happened about 11 a.m., and the body was not recovered until 2 p.m. on the following afternoon. Many of the readers of the Dunstan Times will regret to hear of the death of Mrs Welsh, wife of Mr William Welsh, of the Eoyal Oak Hotel, and late of the New Orleans. She expired at her residence on Monday evening last. The deceased lady was almost one of the oldest residents on the Arrow, and deservedly beloved by all who know her. In the estimation in which she was held by the people of the Arrow I have only to say that her name was as that of “ a household word,” and certainly no news of a death ever called forth such genuine feelings of heartfelt sorrow.