hopeful
terms of the whole appearance of the ground. " It was exactly," he
said, " the same kind of ground as that which in Colorado is considered
the most likely to contain gold in a workable condition. Indeed, it
will be necessary here to examine all the soil and rock; for not only is the quartz auriferous, but everything contiguous to it carries gold, even the clay and the gravel. A hard close-grained rock showed, on assay, as much as two oz., three dwts. to the ton, and greenstone situated under the
reef thirteen dwts." But not here alone is work now proceeding; for
since I left the district, tunnels have been commenced upon two other
likely spots, concerning which more will doubtless be heard before long.
Let me endeavour to give some idea of the nature and position of the various mining works on this part of the estate.
Commencing
at the top of the hill above the bungalow, several open shafts have
been made, but without practical result so far. A tunnel has also been
commenced behind the miners' bungalow, which has been driven fifty-four
feet, but has not yet reached the reef. A little lower down the hill,
we come to the road from the store to the reduction works; opening upon
which is a level hitherto known as No. 4, but now named the " Road
Tunnel." This has reached a distance of seventy-six feet, and will bend
off towards the east, to cut the reef upon
