MACETOWN.

Lake County Press, Volume IV, Issue 207, 26 May 1875, Page 3

MACETOWN.

(from a Comapondmt.) Koaa gold tonmn as KACKTOWJf. Two more robberies of gr’i from taiiraees of alaiawi bare occurred here last week, both ori the same Wednesday last—and in each instance. ■ estimated, that gold to a consider* able amount has been stolen. ■ News reached the township on Xhafsday, that Messrs Beala Bros, and party’s claim had been risited Iba nifht before, and that the washdilirt from 14 or 1$ feet of their tail-race had boon removed. The only trace of the thieves, were the marks of a new soled pair of gum boots «■ A* Uulraoe. Messrs Beals and party

were ahout to wash up in a few days, and their loss though they canno: estimate it, must have been considerable." ’ ‘ '

In the other case Mr John Clayton at the Eightmile had also a visit, on the same night to his tailrace, and valuable wash dirt, which Mr Clayton estimates at £4O was abstracted. In neither case, so for as I have heard, is there any cine to enable the depredat one to be traced. Robberies of this nature have become so frequent of late both in this and other parts of the district, that it will almost be necessary for miners to keep a constant night-watch over the produce of •their hard labour. Great sympathy is Tele, in the community, for the sufferers by these losses. A meeting of the Progress Committee was recently held; at which resolutions were carried asking the Government to subsidise by a similar amount, any sum collected by the for prospecting for qnartz reefs in this locality. From a letter received from Mr Manders, it appears that he in conjunction with Mr* Hallenstein baa been successful in getting a fair sum put on th.e Estimates for the improvement of the tracks in this vicinity a sum of £550 in all, having been passed. Recently two specimens of antimony and copper ore from Hall and Resta Bros, reef were sent, by permission of the Government, to Dr Black for analysis—l subjoin the result;— No. 529 is a sample of sulphide of antimony or submite. It contains 34 per cent of antimony 13 per cent of sulphur and 63 per cent of earthy matter.

It is too poor an ore to be worked profitably at the Arrow. In the Melbourne market the mineral of the quality of ibis’Sample is not worth more than £7 to £9 per ton. No. 630 is coppbr pyrites ,or sulphide of copper and iron. It contains II per cent of copper, about 34 per cent of iron, and the remainder sulphur and earthy matter. This would be a good payable ore in Cornwall, bnt it ia too poor to be worked profitably here at presscut—James Q Black, Provincial Analyst.

Another correspondent writing says: —Messrs Beale and Co/s tail race was .robbed late on Wednesday night, or early on.Thursday morning. The first indications they bad of visitors having been there, was seeing footmarks about ■ the sides of the race, and some atones moved which bad been placed at one side of the race for building purposes. They cannot form any estimate of their loss, but think it something consider* able, as it was the upper part of the race which was cleaned op, where the heavy gold was sure to bo. They had not washed up for two months, and in two or three weeks they would have had their final washing up for the winter months. The same night, the sluice boxes of John Clayton, who is working. On the Eight-Mile Hill, were completely cleaned out. There was nine days’ wash in the boxes, and he had been on very good washdirt lately. It is the third time Mr Clayton has been rbbhed. The first time, he caught the fellow (a Chinaman) and gave him a sound thrashing. The second time was last Christmas; but, as in the present •instance, he had .not the good luck to ■catch the thief. The thieves are sup* posed to be Chinese.