MINING MURCHISON GOLDFIELD, W. A.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 14

MINING MURCHISON GOLDFIELD, W. A.

Since writing j r ou last November from this place there have been a few discoveries made at "disfcmces'varying from 50 to 150 miles, none of thorn, however, have been "of an extensive 'nature. Mount Magnet, distant about 150 miles from here, caused a considerable rush, but proved very disappointing to all but a fortunate few who were amongst the first, A common remark amongst diggers here is that unless you are amongst the first half dozen at a new find you might as well stay away. Experience proves this to be very true, as the finds throughout Western Australia are so small and patchy that such a thing as -.an. extensive field of anything like a permanent nature seems to be out.of the question. The last rush was to a place called Coodingwarra, on Townsend's run, about 55 miles S.E. of here. In-a week's time this place was almost deserted. Everyone made for the new rush, but want of water proved a great drawback, none being procurable within 10 miles of the iield, and when carted over that distance was retailed at Is per gallon. Provisions were very scarce indeed, flour being sold at Is 4d per lb, Sugar Is 4d, milk 3s pur tin, meat 8d per lb ; and, according to the accounts of some of the men who returned here, others who remained on the field were actually starving. Most of the men who went from here got a little gold, but hardly sufficient to pay them for the privations they had to undergo. There were, by last accounts, 10 days ago, about 300 men 1 still on the ground, but the alluvial was pretty well played out. A few reefs have been found in the same locality, but I am not in possession of any reliable information regarding them, although I have seen some very rich stone from them. Of the reefs on this (the Nanuine) field, I cannot give much information till the stampers get to work, which will not be for some time, as none of the machinery is yet on the ground. .Ou the Nanniue Co.'s ground (Macpheirfon and Peterkin's old claim) a considerable amount of work has been done. The main shaft is now down 75ft. From the surface to 17ft good gold was seen, but from that to G4ft it did not show very plentiful to the eye, but was again struck at that depth very rich, and coutiuued good down to its present depth. Some very rich stone has also been taken from another shaft near the northern boundary. — On Hall's area to the north of the Nanniue Co.'s ground the reef has been cut, but as yet no gold has been seen in it, and further prospecting is being proceeded with. To the south of the Nannine Co.'s ground Robinson's Royalist claim has a shaft down about 35ft showing f^ir gold throughout the stone. The reef here, *-I may mention, is over 6ft wide, while in the Nannine Co.'s main shaft no hanging wall half been sighted on a width of over 7ft. To the south of Robinson's Royalist, the ConnoUy cjaitH. has several shafts down. In one of them water has been struck at a depth of 60ft, and driving is now being proceeded with, but so far as I can learn the stone does not appear^ to be of a very promising nature, although so.me rich patches were met with in sinking. On another line of reef about a mile and a-half;north-east of the Nanuine Co., the Queen of the Lake claim is turning out some very good stone, and will eventually, I think, prove one of the best claims on the field, the gold being '^freely distributed throughout the stone, and the reef lei tig over 4fb wide. Grant's claim, near the township, also shows very well, and will no doubt give a good account of itself when crushing starts.

I will endeavour to keep the Witness readers posted as fro affairs in this locality, but, as an old Otagonian, cannot advise any of them to steer in this direction. Iroabi.