INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1855, 10 June 1887, Page 12

INTERCOLONIAL.

The Sydney Town and Country Journal gives the following particulars of the diamond mine at Inverell : — The Round Mount Diamond mine, at Cope's Creek, Inverell, is situated on the face of a hill which has been taken out to a depth of 16ft. The tunnel has been driven some 180 ft into the hill. On each side of this tunnel are cross drives from 50ft to 80ft. Throughout the ground opened up by tunnel and cross drives seams of wash averaging 3ft 6in wide have been cut. This wash yielded at the rate of 4 carats to the load, some patches being of extraordinary richness, and yielding as high as 48 carats to the load. The wash is still extending into the hill. During the past six months about 3000 carats of diamonds, valued at from 15s to 22s per carat, were taken out of the mine. At the present time a tunnel is being put in at the left hand side of the cutting. This is now in 90ft, and shows flome splendid Beams of wash. Two shafts have been put down on the opposite side of the hill and4fcof wash has been found, proving that the wash extends right through the hill. Several other mines of similar character exist in the district (notably the Koh-i-noor adjoining), indicating that there is a large quantity of diamondiferous land in district, which only requires capital to open up, when ih would supply employment for several thousands of workmen. The lead has been traced for 13 miles, and is more or less payable throughout. The washing plant is on Cope's creek, half a mile from the workings. The machinery is of a very primitive character, consisting of a puddling machine, a water wheel, and a jigger or Hunt't diamond saving machine. Only about 10 loads per day can be operated upon, but the prospectors hope that in a short time large and more complete machinery will be erected, when from 50 tv 100 loads a day will be treated. For the week .ending May 14, the Broken Hill Silver Mining Company secured 46,6720z silver from 920 tons of ore. The value of the yield was £11,269. Three weeks' washing up of the Great Eastern Quartz Mining Company, at Gympie, en. the 3rd May returned 13520z 9dwt 12gr from 360 tons of stone. This paid a dividend equal to £6600. The total amount of dividends now paid by this company during the short period which has elapsed since payable gold was struck is £64,800. Crushing is being continued with 10 head of stamps.

The No. 1 North Lady Mary Company at Croydou bids fair to rivel the Great Eastern in the richness of its yield, Two hundred and one tons of stone recently yielded 1180oz. A Perth (W.A.) telegram in the Sydney Mail states that the Government resident at VVyndham telegraphs to the effect that the complexion of affairs on the goldfields has altored considerably for the better.- Good patches of alluvial gold have been found in the Panton river. Diggers are arriving iv town with large parcels of gold averaging 50oz to 800oz. A good reef has also been discovered.

A 14os! nugget was found in Goslin's Gully, Teetulpa, on the] 4th May. Reefing prospects are very promising on this field.