Notwithstanding the change of names this is really the one line of reef as I traced the outcrop for miles through the Homeward Bound, Waterfall, &c., and have no hesitation in saying that it will turn out one of the best lines discovered on the field, the reef throughout being of fair thickness, the stone crushing well, and the gold of excellent quality.
I also visited the Ross Shire line on which several claims have been taken up, all showing good prospects, which will, in my opinion, turn out well as it becomes more developed, and I shall watch with interest the returns of the trial crushing from the P.C. now going through the mill.
Some little distance below the Ross Shire is the Upper Twelve-mile, around which many claims are at work, of which I heard very favorable accounts, but not having time to visit them cannot speak definitely as to their prospects, as I intend to confine my description to those claims which came under my own personal observation, and of which I can speak with some degree of confidence.
On Monday, accompanied by host M‘Cabe, I went out in a southeasterly direction, visiting the “Waratah,” which had been passed by for months as a “Buck Reef,” but in which the fortunate prospector is now obtaining good gold; then across to the Harp of Erin, a grand line, the trial crushing of 96 tons from the P.C. having realised 586ozs., on which many claims are being worked, shewing splendid prospects, and from there to the Baal Gammon, on Gorge Creek. This reef was found in most peculiar country on the banks of the above creek, in the midst of a bed of sand which covers the reef for a depth of about eight feet, and shewing on the surface very little indication of the treasure lying immediately below.
The reef itself lies nearly as flat as a table with scarcely any dip observable, and is worked on the paddocking system, the sand being first cleared away, then about two feet of mullocky stone forming the hanging wall, and the reef lies clear for working, the stone being taken out very easily; and a large body is now lying at grass awaiting its turn to go through the mill, which should pay a handsome dividend to the shareholders.
From thence we proceeded across to the celebrated Croydon King line and went down the prospecting claim to the bottom of the underlay, the claim being systematically worked under the supervision of a practical manager. The reef is large, well defined, and carries good stone, a large quantity being now ready for raising, showing gold freely, and crushings from this line have gone as high as 27ozs. to the ton.
Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 North have all opened out along the line of reef, a lot of work having been done and some grand heaps of stone stacked ready for the machine, whilst a lot of about 50 tons from No. 2, which went through at the time of my visit, realised 14½ozs. per ton, another 100 tons of equal quality being ready for the stampers. No. 1 also, has over 400 tons at grass, estimated to go fully 10ozs.
This line is also blocked off from end to end, one shaft being down about 70ft., and from all appearances will prove a very valuable property.
I also paid a visit to “The Richmond,” lying east of the “Croydon King,” and found it to be a grand reef about 2ft. in thickness, situate about one-third of the way up a large bluff range and dipping easterly into the hill, shewing splendid prospects along the face right through the P.C. and No. 1 North, some specimens that were shewn to me being fairly dazzling in their richness, and I should not be at all surprised to see this line turn out almost as well as anything on the field.
The “Mountain Maid” and “Babe” lines lying parallel to each other on the short-cut to Table-top were also visited, and although not crushing a very high average per ton still they have a wide reef, which renders it unnecessary to do any dead work in taking out the stone, so that they are fairly valuable properties, and will, no doubt, improve at a depth.