Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1872.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 147, 3 September 1872, Page 4

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1872.

After one of the most severe winters e: perieuced since the discovery of the goli lields in Otago, the weather has brokei and spring Ims been ushered in with call ami genial weather, giving every promii of a season especially favourable to minis interests. It is a feature much to lie p gretted in connection with the Carriekre workings, that for full four months i every year, all active work on the lii«hi part of the range is stopped by the seven! of the weather. Owing to the high alt tude at which many of the reefs are sitj ated, during the greater part of the wind season the snow renders it impossible j carry on any description of work in theij the development of present workings, ai nil attempts at further prospecting, a alike impracticable. And the success! working of claims which are situated < the lower portions of the range is al greatly retarded during the same seasd in consequence of the heavy frosts wbn prevail : the water necessary in the proce of extracting the gold cannot be obtaine

being bound up in th • iron grip of Kij Frost ; and the supplies of fuel hulispfj sable to the working of the batteries J frequently—owing to the state of the ros —completely cut oil". Especially have tM drawbicks prevailed during the past wj tci*. .But there is over.' prospect, with tj advene of spring, of a vigorous and suceej fill prosecution of mining operations ovj every portion of the Cirrick Hang''. T| construction of th,; Cirrick water nee I been placed under the active snperhltl ilenee of a gentleman well qualified fori post, —indeed, it is a questionable wheti a belter could be found in the district. 1 is confidently expected that from six] eight sluice-heads of water will he mi available for use on the range during 1 coming summer. A powerful impetus 4 thus be given to the working of the re J

which has hitherto been carried on unJ the disadvantage of a scanty and uiicertl water supply. Kvery week, almost, I hear of some fresh discovery, either of tirely new lines of reef, or of new lead or thicker vein*! in claims already opei out. All goes to prove that, as Macvndrew -siid, "we have not ?< IbMs m this country, we have moiuiM of gold." We believe that during coming summer, discoveries more imj taut perhaps than any that have gone tore will be made on this range. -As SIIEKFUN pointed out, in the report « which he supplemented Mr FlaughW to the Colonial Government, at pres the reef workings are mostly conti to a single spur in the midst of a I range of hills of similar formation, 1 even that has never been thoroughly pi peeled. Tiiere is, therefore, every real for the belief that further back, in l| lities hardly yet penetrated, much 1 prospected, reefs exist of quite as {»)'« a nature as those already discovered. ■ the recent discovery made by Hall JI party gives ground for premising that* not. only in golden ore we are rich.■ this discovery, antimony, silver, and ■ are said to occur ; however, nothing tain is yet known regarding the vain the lode. We do not know whether indie itions of copper have been seel the Carriek direction ; but in the g> and terraces at the base of Mount that metal, and silver also, is freq" | met with by the gold miners; and d less, as mining becomes more advanfl I the district, attention will be twltf I wards prospecting in that direction. | this, of course, cannot, be accomplish* one season ; but, much, there is <' ve / [son to hope, will be effected even u j coming summer.

At; Bendigo, reefing matters look brighter t the prese it time than has been the ease jrthe last two years. There is a tenQC yr on the part of the miners there to ive some of the 'old claims another trial, iy means of the tribute system ; and this U (rurs well for the existence of a belief in heii' payableness. The recent discovery jn the Aurora claim of what is supposed Lbe the original reef will help to foster Ibis tendency, and possibly will aid i» Living it practical effect as regards other l\i claims. In the event of a successful issue following any of these projects to test abandoned workings at Bendigo, the whole 3 f the district will participate in the benefit. Too much was expected at the ime of the discovery of quartz-reefs there, md money was invested often upon the D ere exhibition of a good sample of stone.

Of course, when a speedy realisation of these expectations did not ensue, disappointment and loss supervened, causing a gtronff inclination, natural while foolish, on the part of investors in reefing claims to throw up their interests without anything in the way of sufficient trial having bean made. No greater impetus to quartz-reef-jn<» could be given than that afforded by the demonstration of the payable nature of these abandoned workings : perseverance would be encouraged, and by this example a forcible incentive to speculation in new reefs would be furnished. As regai'ds alluvial mining there has seldom been a more encouraging prospect of a successful season. From the spring of 1871 to that of 1872, this branch of mining has besn prosecuted under difficulties aud unfavourable influences of no ordinary extent. Throughout the whole of the dry season of the year, water was remarkably scarce, and much valuable time was lost to the miner in consequeuce; while throughout the winter, many causes have operated to his disadvantage, the chief of them being that for weeks together the water has been frozen up in the races. But there now appear to be good reasons for presuming that, so far at least as our iuraediate district is concerned, the miner will be able during the approachiug season to prosecute his labours under happier and healthier auspic?s. The high lauds are well coded with snow, and so it seems certain that water will be plentiful for a considerable time. And in the Bannockburn, —which in alluvial mining is the most important and the busiest division of the Kiwarau district, —the water available upon the lauding of the Cirrick race will assist in no slight degree in the extraction from the earth of the precious metal. Altogether, we think there appears every reason to belie v.) that the sunnier j of 1872 3 will he a flourishing season for the Cromwell district. Our alluvial diggings will be worked under a favourable j

condition of things us regards that branch of mining ; while quartz-tooting, it seems probible, will receive a vigorous and energetic development.