Criterion Reef Discovery.

Lake County Press, Issue 2348, 27 October 1910, Page 4

Criterion Reef Discovery.

TO THE EDITOR. g lK) —in the latter part of December 1664, the late Mr Wm, McWhirter and his mate, D. Stewart, were working soma shallow ground on the west bank of the Arrow River—three and four feet deep. They struck a patch of quartz rubble, which some miners call the blow of the reef. They took a dish of it to the river side and panned it off. Fine gold and specimens were shining in it. was lost in fixing the cradle. A Wbw full of rubble was put through and 11 ounces of fine gold obtained. A number of specimens were also obtained, which was afterwards crushed by a handsome stamper. Several ounces of onld was the result of the crushing. Fifty ounces of loose gold were ?got [in a short time by tin dish and cradle. The quartz rubble was only some 8 and 10 feet, cropping out on the surface. The hand stamper was soon erected but in a more primitive style, compared with those erected on Bendigo, Victoria, 1852 and 1853. These would only crush one ton a week if kept going all day ion''. After the surface quartz had been treated at the Criterion a start was made to sink a proper shaft. After working a few weeks the gold became less and it only paid ill a day each with the hand stamper Hard quartz was also mot with as they went down. They knew the stone would go two ounces to the ton with a battery. A party of men made an offer of J6300 cash for the claim, which was accepted, but afterwards very much regretted. They made a mistake

in not putting men on and erecting a five head battery. They would have got the gold the Company afterwards obtained. One block of stone was discovered over 10 feet wide. This went three ounces to the ton. Most of the gold in the Criterion mine was taken from this block. It will be seen by this that the Criterion reef is one of that class of reefs known as “ block reefs.” Where will you find another block of stone like that P The only answer I can give is to say, make a real good search for it on the line of reef in the locality. It would require a good capital. I met a man a short time ago, who held extreme views bn goldmining. Amongst other things he stated that only a few ounces of gold were taken from the Criterion mine, and that generally speaking all the taken out of the district, and thawkhere were {no places to try. I tried to him, but it was no use. I pointed otc that there were still a number of places to try. It is a good thing that there are few men in this district, who hold such extreme views. I had known the late W. McWhirter and Steward from the time they came to Fox’s rush, and believe their statement to be correct—that the first barrowful of rubble taken from the surface at the Criterion turned out 11 ounces of loose gold. The main shaft in the Criterion mine is 90 feet deep carrying gold all the way down, but tho reef a is small. The widest block of stone in the mine is (1 foot and over in the south end with payable gold. There is not much stone on the surface now, but the line [of reef could be soon found by anyone interested. It is not necessary to give more details than that the working of the mine was very expensive in those days. Miners’ wages were £o a week. No dynamite was to be had. They used powder and had to go to tho trouble to make cartridges. Fuse, candles, mining tools, drills, hammers, etc., were all at fabulous prices. After the best of the stone had been taken ont shares changed hands, an expensive dam got washed away by a flood, and Company ceased operations and closed down the mine. Capt. Jackson Barry, of historic fame, bought the battery and had it carted to the Garrick range, once famous for rich lodes. Mr J. Butler also had a claim there that went as high as 15 to 20 ounces to the ton, the reef being 4 to 6 inches wide. That was his reason for wanting the Company to keep going at the Enterprise mine. They only spent a small sum on it. Although it has bean stated that the Enterprise is on the same line of reef as the Criterion, I never attempted to prove it. Some younger men can do so. The late Mr Munday and his mates tried the tailings from the Criterion battery after it had been removed and got a lot of gold by fishing it out of the river with long handled 1 shovels. They intended to buy a spoon dredge, but, while in deep meditation, something took place concerning some beverage, and their capital became exhausted. The spoon dredge never went on. A quantity of gold was lost from the tables of the battery and went into the river.—l am, etc., S. Cooper.