LACHLAN DIGGINGS.
FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
No. 6.
-- The escort to-day takes 1325 ounces. I forwarded you a telegram on Saturday, stating that
the prospects of this place had improved considerably during the lsst week.
The shaft No. 58, on the southern end, that struck gold, has given a great impetus to the
miners here for it tends to prove that a very considerable extent of ground will now tie
opened successfully. The depth of the wash is considerable-three feet on the bottom of
the shaft-increasing with the dip of the rock. Off the bottom, twelve (12) ounces of gold
was obtained. At present it is finer than the generality of gold got here; but of the same
cla6s. The rush to this end is great, the ground being marked out fully a mile and a-half
already crossing the Lachlan, on the other side of which a prospecting shaft is now
commenced.
About 400 yards to the westward of this shaft, and running parallel with the gold struck, a
company of miners, under the name of the Britannia Quartz Reef Company, have been
granted a prospecting claim. They arc at present about sixteen feet down; the loose
8_tface quartz is impregnated with gold, similar to that found in the alluvial, deposits.
They are now following a solid quartz leader dipping to the west; it is about eight inches
in width, increasing as it goes down -- the whole of the quartz in this leader is, without
doubt, payable. It is variously estimated to turn out from one and a half to four ounces of
gold to the ton. At present there is no machinery here for testing it, but last week a small
quantity of the quartz was forwarded to Sydney for that purpose, the result of which I
hope to be enabled to forward you. There is no casing found with the leader, but the hard
clay that is found in its place contains gold; and a party now working it -- experienced
quartz miners-feel quite certain that this, at a little further depth, will turn into the casing
so generally found with main reefs.
At the north end they have not succeeded in extending the run of gold. Jamison and
party-the last claim which may be considered payable on this end have struck gold at a
depth of ninety-five feet; this is the shallowest ground at present in which gold has been
found. During the last week this party have found two nuggets about six ounces each,
impregnated with a considerable amount of quartz; very little fine gold at all. They are of
opinion that this is not far from the source of the gold, and that if it continues it will be
found in the shallow ground, either very narrow or much scattered, from the fact of one
shaft to the west of them, at a depth of 110 feet, and another to the east, about fifty feet,
not striking gold.
The returns from some of the first claims opened will vie with anything ever found in the
palmiest days of gold-digging, not excepting Ballaarat. The following quantities have
been washed out in dishes the wash-dirt being stacked -- during the past week: one claim,
317 ounces; another, 125 ounces; others 111, 98, and 72 ounces respectively. The results
of ten loads washed out of another was 131 ounces. The sale of small parcels of gold here
is the exception. Since the escort closed, upwards of 1200 ounces of gold was bought on
Saturday.
The doubt and gloom that only a few days since were apparent here in everyone's
countenance, since the striking of the gold at the southern end is completely dispelled;
there is a better feeling, I may say a feeling that this field is beyond all doubt now
thoroughly established, with the extraordinary finds that ore made, the extent of ground
now proved to be auriferous, and the population we have assembled here, a great number
of whom are some of the most practical and best miners from Victoria, and who have
now great faith in the place. You will be prepared to hear that buildings are again hurried
on, and that sites that only a few days since were unsaleable are now at a considerable
premium.
-- As an instance of what practical miners can do in the sinking on this field, I
may mention that the party (eight) who struck the gold at the southern end have worked ~
day and night shifts -- and in less than five weeks sunk five shafts, the fifth being the
lucky number, and supposed jeweller's shop. My next communication will most probably
be from Lambing Flat.