THE BENDIGO REEFS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 20, 30 March 1870, Page 5

THE BENDIGO REEFS.

TUB ITEW ttERF. The new reef recently discovered looks better as it is opened out There are four men eugagnd prospecting, the reef, prior to application being made to the Warden for a prospecting claim. A share has been sold in it for the sum of j£7o. The adjoining claim on the west has also struck the reef, with good prospects, payable gold being risible in the stone. The shareholders aro satisfied as to tho genuine nature of the reef. BEKDIQO RBKP. Logan and Company's battery had to Btop crushing for several days last week, in consequence of the water being too muddy. The manager (Mr Thomas Logan) got an injunction placed on the principal sluicing claim causing the damage. Should the claim be obliged to suspend operations it would throw a great many out of employment, and do great harm to the township. The company hare started driving through at tho western end of their lease, where excellent atone is being raised—the reef looking splendid. No. I' west. fha two men who recently agreed-to sink the present shaft (now down 60 feet) an additional 50 feet, have abandoned the task, the price of £1 per foot then agreed upon being too low. The company have entered into a fresh contract at 35s per foot. . Since then the shaft has been nude secure,, and sinking i 3 again in progress. In No. 2 west the work of prospecting is being carried on with great spirit by Hugh Henry and John Wilson, who have, with exemplary patience, kept on sinking since last September. Their present shaft is now down to a depth of 80 feet. They expect, from pressnt indications, to strike the main body very soon. Their prospects are very cheering. The Golden Crown claim, on this line, has grassed a large body of excellent stone, and work is carried oa with psrseverauee and vigor. TIIE AURORA REEF. The Aurora Company having, by sluicing at the head, stopped the principal leakage in their water race, have at present more than sufficient water to drive the battery of five heads, which have been crushing during'the last week. The additional five, to be used for crushing for the public, are all but ready, and as soon as there is any rain, the whole ten will be set in motion. The work of prospecting is being carried Oi with perseverance in claims No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 west on this line of reef. David M'LoUghlan and Co. (No. 1 west) have grassed a large quantity of excellent stone, and are now opening up the reef, which is cropping out on the surface. Wo have visited the reef, and observed gold in the stone right from the surface, so that the prospects of this compmy are very satisfactory. THE ALTO RSP.r. The shareholders in Williams' claim are constructing a new road, to facilitate the erection of machinery, which is to be placed on the ground as soon as possible. There are about 250 tons of stone grassed at this claim at present, waiting to be crushed. colclouqh's reef. Colelough's company are opening up their prospecting claim with great energy. They have already grassed over 150 tons of stone. They have commenced a tunnel, and struck the reef at a depth of about 200 feet. ■ Tunnelling, where the state of the ground is favorable, is considered to be far the cheapest and best test in pros pecting the reefs. In No. 1 east, the reef not having been struck, the bickers have stopped payment, and no work has been done there for some time past. The claim has, however, been taken up again, and a new company started, and a tunnel is being commenced from a low levol to strike the reef. B«:are, Wilson, and party (No. 2 ease) aro going ahead with their-tunnel with great perseverance. The io f crops out on the surface on the crown of the terric >, and when the tunnel is sufficiently forward they expect to strike it at a depth of about 150 feet, and intend fetching out the stone by tramway instead of raising it through the shaft, which is considered to be far more expensive.

ELIZABETH REEF (CaRKICK RANOa). From the Elizibeth reef, head of Smith's Gully, Oarrick Range, we received information 1 ist week that a leader eight inches wide had been struek. This is in a drive which has recently been put in by the company at the foot of their 40ft. shaft. After going through the leader, soft mullock, about eighteen inches wide, was crossed, when another leader, inclining to the one previously found, was struck. The mullock yielded a prospect of ldwt. to tho dish, and in the second leader that was struck gold' is visible in the s'on*. The company intend to sink their shaft a further depth of 50ft., and tenders are now; boiug called for the work. The shaft will then be down to a depth of 90ft.. when another drive will be put in, and in this drive the company expect to strike tho reef at a distance of about, fifteen feat.