The Hape Creek District.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5107, 30 May 1885, Page 2

The Hape Creek District.

("By a Eamblek.)

Prospecting operations are still being vigorously carried on by the various parties in this district, several of whom are now on quartz which should prove remunerative. The County Council have a number of men employed metalling the worst portions of the road, which is now in a passable condition. The following is a brief resume of the works being carried on in the various mines:—

Summer Hill.—Mr Fogarty, proprietor of this claim, has now a parcel of quartz going through the battery, from which he anticipates a remunerative return.

Little Bella.—This piece of ground was formerly known as the Little Maggie claim, and was recently forfeited for nonworking. It consists of four men's gromnd, and is owned by Messrs S. MoCormick and Gillan. They have just commenced operations, aud are working on the

surface on a nice-looking reef some 3f* wide, in which a few colors of gold have been seen, while good dish prospects are obtained. There are also some 2ft of stringers running alongside the main reef, and in breaking some of them good colors of gold were scon at the time of my visit. The reef which, is running almost due east and west, should junction with a large buck reef some distance ahead, and with this intention the proprietors are about to commence driving westward on it.

Inteblocutob. —This claim is owned by Messrs Bayner and Long, and fidjoins the last-named on the eastern side. They have commenced operations on the same reef that McCormick and party are working, and are stripping the surface portion of it, from which they have obtained 3 or 4 pounds of picked stone during the week. It is nofc improbab'e that a low level will shortly be put in to cut the reef at •a greater depth. There are about 2 loads of quartz on hand, which should prove payable.

Just-ik-Time.—Wallace nnd party, who were formerly working in a tunnel in this ground, yesterday commenced operations on the boundary of the last-named claim, and are putting in a surface drive to cut the same reef as that being worked in the Interlocutor and Little Bella claims, which should be to hand in a day or two.

Aebow.—McOormick and party have put in a tunnel a distance of 165 ft, and have cut a flinty, supposed to correspond with that running alongside Danlop's reef, which is expected to hand at any time. Little Daniel —Dunlop and party have risen about 20ft from the low level, arid in another 6 or 7t't communication will be effected with the winze, when a good supply of crushing dirt should be available.

Tbue Bhiton.—-Greenville and party ara still driving both ways on the reef, which shows colors of gold occasionally. The south-east drive is in a distance of 60ft, in good sandstone, and is still a distance of 50ft from the boundary. It is the intention of the proprietors to clean out an old tunnel put in by Capt. Thomas some years ago at a lower level, and which is believed to be in a distance of 400 ft. The reef was cut in this tunnel, but very little work has been done on it, and as it will give 70 or 80ft of backs, the proprietors are sanguine that they will open up a payable block. A half share in this claim was recently purchased by Mr Thomas for £30.

There are a number of other parties prospecting in this district, but there is no charge worthy of note in their claims since my last visit.