MINING ON THE HODGKINSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1346, 15 September 1877, Page 3

MINING ON THE HODGKINSON.

The total reduction of quartz to date since crushing operations opened \ on the field, eight months, are 10,930 tons, yielding 26,433 ozs. 18, dwts. assayed gold, of an average value of £3 6s. per ounce, making total realisation of £87,233 sterling. This high average, over 2£ ozs.~ to the ton, speaks for itself. The gold obtained has been taken from reefs fifty miles apart, and no other returns in Queensland or adjacent colonies approach this field.

Another rich reef has been discovered cropping on the surface, and situated about six miles down the river, north- west from Thornborough. The lode is fully two feet wide, and carries gold estimated to go 20 ozß. to the ton, which, if realised, means an eternal pile to the lucky owners. The claim has been laid off, and is called the "Queenatown." This discovery has given an impetus to further exploring and prospecting in the immediate neighbourhood of this grand find. The Great Britain mine owners have just cleared up and smelted a nice cake otgold weighing 726 oz3. 8 dwts. from 246 tons of stone. This is one of the local big quartz quarries, which is destined to give the Hodgkinson a supremacy over any other gold-producing district in Queensland.

Several mills are now hung up for want of water, and the prolonged dry season now existing almost precludes the hope of any rainfall before November or December next, when the usual and certain tropical rains will again fill the dams. Meantime, our gold production will receive a severe check, and reduce the circulating medium to the detriment of the business people on the field, and all those depending upon them. — Cor. Queenslander, August Ist.