The Mercury 21 September 1880.
A VISIT TO NINE-MILE SPRINGS.
[From our Special Correspondent.]
Last week the opportunity presented itself of paying a visit to one of the great Northern gold-fields, which "Your Own" was not slow to take advantage of. A friend kindly arranged all the preliminaries, and 3 p.m. last Thursday found me mounted on a good-looking steed, ready for the ride to Nine-Mile Springs.
My first adventure was not very encouraging, for no sooner was I fairly in the saddle than my fiery steed took it in his head to go, and go he did, full gallop down Brisbane-street, with your humble servant hanging on like "grim death" to the iron mouth of the beast. After reaching nearly the bottom of Brisbane-street, and narrowly escaping collision with two or three cabs on the way– his wayward career was, by dint of main strength, checked, and turning him again, he pranced gaily back, where I joined my companions, who could not forbear having a little joke at my expense, saying, "We thought you were off to Beaconsfield, and didn't expect to see you again for a week or two." We now got on the George Town road, and my horse soon settled down to his work. Mr. White, the manager of the New Chum, one of the lucky discoverers of the mine, was the leader of the party, and being a man of pluck and well mounted kept us moving. The afternoon was beautifully fine, and the road to Mount Direction was in capital order, so that the ride along the banks of the Tamar and through the avenue of wattles, which made the air fragrant with the scent from their bloom, was quite exhilarating. The country one passed through does not appear fit for agricultural purposes, and in many places is very heavily timbered.
When about eight miles from town we alighted, and partook of light refreshment at the public house, and were then treated to an exhibition of coal discoveries, which the Hibernian spouse had been trying to develop on his own land. One of tho party–fond of a joke –suggested that I was one of the Melbourne Com- missioners who was interested in developing the mineral resources of the colony, upon which the worthy dame immediately despatched a messenger in quest of "the old man," who was away in in the bush, to give me all information; but seeing that my ignorance on the clay-like substance which represented coal, would be betrayed on the arrival of "mine host," I suggested that we had but short time to reach our destination by dusk, and must hurry our departure, which was hastened accordingly. It is to be hoped that my old friend's rest was not disturbed that night by the thought that his prospects in life were much blighted through missing the visit of that "confounded commissioner." Another eight miles through undulating country brought us to the Mount Direction "Sentiment House," so called by me from only dispensing teetotal drinks. The edifice is not very imposing, and it is a wonder to me, that, considering it is made a place of stoppage by teams as half-way house, some attempt is not made to improve it. The good road ends here; that is, for vehicles ; as the bridle track is good all through, at least, as far as I could judge ; although some of tho new roads are fearfully boggy and rotten, and will take some time to Settle properly. Tho country for the next six or seven miles, in fact to the "Ram's horns," the mark for turning off to tho Springs, looks like a big marsh, and anything but inviting. It seem a riddle to many why the new medico, Dr. Aspinall, has built such a fine structure, apparently in the middle of the swamp; but it is presumed he intends to drain it, and try to utilise the land. I wish him luck. A further
ride of about six miles brought us to the Springs. Half-a-mile from the present diggings are situated the old Springs workings, which were to have enriched many, who returned sadder and wiser men. It was nearly 7 o'clock when we reached the top of the hill overlooking the new settlement, and in the moonlight the effect was very pretty.
The Springs are situated eleven miles north-east of George Town, and appear like an immense basin, with very thickly timbered country at the buck. In the distance to the east, about five miles, one, can see the Bluff which overlooks Bass' Strait, The population of the place is variously estimated at from six to seven hundred souls–of which a fourth are children–a fact which furnishes good evidence of the prolific nature of the country which is said to be very healthy ; and to judge from the ruddy appearance of the children is entitled to be so considered. There is a school, presided over by Mr. Miles, whose rolls show nearly one hundred children as attendants, and this speaks volumes for the success of the teaching powers of the worthy preceptor who is very popular amongst the people. The same gentleman has charge of the tele- graph office, and himself and wife have their time well occupied in attending to the calls of speculators. The post office is separated from the telegraph office, and occupies a somewhat insignificant position in a butcher s shop–a blunder which it is to be hoped the Government will soon correct, and place all the Government offices under one roof. The buildings, of course, are all of wood, two or three of the fortunate miners having built very pretty cottages. There are two hotels, pre- sided over by Messrs. Cook and Ward respectively. At the former I took up my quarters, and have every reason to be well pleased with the kindness and attcntion of the worthy host and hostess, There is good accommodation in both places ; but the growing demands will soon require additional buildings, There are billiard rooms, skittle alleys, and other objects of amusement for the resident». The schoolhouse acts also as theatre and church,
There arc several stores, the principal ones being kept by Messrs, Taylor and McCarron, Fletcher, Davis, etc., and two good butchering establish- ments, the first being carried on by Mr. Cowan. Most of tho married men have cottages, while board- ing-houses accommodate the single men, who, of course, predominate. Only about twenty Chinaman are found here, and these can boast of a "Joss House." Their energy is displayed in two nicely kept vegetable gardens. The place presents a busy appearance. Knots of two or three persons are to be seen about tho place, talking over their prospects and, presumably, advising one another, but as I was not made a confidant I can't speak from experience. ' Standing on the top of the hill, to the right one sees the memorable City of Launceston works in which over £5,000 were sunk. All that represents that amount now is a formidable heap of rubbish. Below this is the claim of tho ill-named Hit-or-miss Co, which is not being worked now. Away to the left are the silent works of the Golden Point Co., and others who tried to fall in with that famous reef which gave 10oz. to the ton. This reef, I hear, was just formed like a wine-glass, and pinched right out at the bottom. At tho foot of the hill are the fine works of the New Native Youth Co,, with a splendid dam of water. The battery, which was at work crushing for the New Chum, is in first-elan order, and the manager deserves great credit for the excellent way in which he has kept the plant. Close to tho battery is the claim of the company, which is being worked at a groat depth, and along-
side this is tho City of Launceston Co., now worked on tribute by the Native Youth Co. On the oppo- site side of the dam a death-like silence prevails, and the immense mounds of earth and stone tell of the failure of the Old Excelsior works and the Morning Star line of reef.
From the New Native Youth battery a tramway nearly a mile in length baa been put down to the New Chum Co., and on one of these I startod to look over the famous Chum reef. It was very for- tunate that I had no false teeth, otherwise l'a afraid that they would have been shaken out on the journey. Arrived at the Chum Co's. works we were accompanied by Mr. Petrie, the oldest resident in the district, and, I'm happy to say, one of the lucky finders of this great reef, and with him we went below in tho cage. The shaft is 120ft. deep, and comparatively very dry. Here we found our companion of the previous day, Mr. White, who was most courteous and obliging, and showed us all through the mine, which seems to be excellently managed. Your readers have from time to time had such glowing reports of the working of this mine, that any remarks now would be super- fluous. I can only state that the worthy manager, who is himself the largest shareholder, seems most assiduous in his attentions to the mine, and that his thorough knowledge enables him to use all the but means to carry out his work ; and as money is no object – of course everything that is required is obtained. The machinery is in first-class order, and the arrangements for raising the stone and running the waggons along an elevated platform are very good, and very considerably expedite the loading of the trucks from a shoot. The crushing is now going on, and from the weekly returns of amalgam something very handsome may be expected. I should state that the mine was very cool below, and the air sur- prisingly pure. I saw all tho big faces of quartz, and got a little initiated into some of the mysterious vagaries of quartz reefs. On arriving on terra firma, we partook of the hospitality of the manager, and having wished him success pro- ceeded on our tour. Close to Mr. Whites new cottage Mr. Petrie, one of the original finders, showed us in the creek where they got the first indication of the reef. How many people had often walked over this mine of wealth, it would be difficult to calculate ; but I'm sure no one will grudge tho well-merited reward Messrs. White, Tregurtha, Petrie, and others have reaped from their indomitable perseverance. The good their energy and good fortune has done to the colony will be, invalualable, as by these means, so much will have been done to develop our mineral resource. I owoea debt of thanks to Mr. Petrie for his kindness in showing me all about the mine, and from his hands I have also a nice specimen of the Chum roof as a memento of my visit there. The shares in this company are now worth £9 to £10.
After completing our tour of inspection of the New Chum, we crossed tho creek to the West Chum, where at the first level such splendid stone was got out. Here we found a large number of men at work erecting the new battery for the com- pany. All the machinery had been delivered, and expedition will be used in putting up the plant. Very promising stone was being got out, and Mr. Kitto was expecting to cut the reel in a few days. The local people have very great faith in this mine, and there can be very little doubt that the reef will be got at the lower level, more espec-
ially as the next company beyond this – the West
Extended – have the continuation of the Chum reef
running through their property. There has been a bit of a panic over the West Chum shares. A couple of weeks ago they were sold at £8 ?6s. to £8 7s. 6d.; and then, fawMif UM mt WM Mt ft» «
uñonas expeotod, somo holdeia olearod out at ños. They are now worth £2 Bs" and gradually rising ogam, and in tho courso of ten days I expect to see them up beyond the old figiue. There is some very good ninuLiiiery nu this elnim, and oveiythitig seems lo lie cal ned on in a liiisinms-lilto minnel. Thetiru.it objtclfun tho shareholders havo is tho huge and pieinaturo expenso inclined in tho pin- chan) and erection of a Guialung plant ; but no doubt oxpciiçni'o «ill evontiully allow that such expenditure «as necessary, besides being :u,cful (o tim adjoining ol.um-holdois who Mill tiko advantage of linn plant to crush their stone, instead of inetirring.tho extra expense of carting to the Now Native Youth battery. A prospecting shaft ia put dowton tho,tiext claim, the West Chum Extended, . tilth1 capita! prospects, ami though the mine has yet
to lie developed, lhere should not ho much doubt of its being a'good pnyable claim. The shares in this company aro uorth about 12s. Od., and are in good "demand. Be\ mid this several new claims havo been
taken up; and; iii fact, tho ground all about has been prgged off, so that in tho course of a few months a vciy busy scene will bo presoutod to the eye, as eich new section begins to bo opened out. I may Hay that the West Chum lias a vei y fino dam for their battery, so that there should bo no scarcity of
water, J
Our next visit, retracing our steps, was over the East Chum property, which is next to the Chum. This is the most economically worked mino in the district, and a great amount of work has hoon done, and machinery erected, at a small cost, Tho prospects of this mine are extremely good, and few new ventures are more in favour. The manager is J
a \cry caieful man, and I found him moBt obliging and courteous. This remark, I may here stato, witt apply to nil the manngeiH I carno in contact uitlr, for they wore very ready to ^ivo information con- cerning their works. I should also mention that the claims on the Chum line of reef aro all cloao together, and that tho shafts of the four mines are almost in a straight line, a little over a hundred yal (Is dividing the four. The East Chum shares ure moving steadily upwards, being variously quoted »t from 17s. Od. to20s.,theoloHoproMinity to the New Chum giving them prominence The shaft is down about 120ft , and sinking is rather slow, but in the course of a week or two the manager will commence to drive for tho reef. After dinner we ueiit to inspect the newly-opened claim of tho Princo of Wales Company, and certainly the pro- spect seems very good ; but as I noticed an account of this and several other mines in The Mercury and Tasmanian Mail from "your own" correspondent, I need not stay to dilato upon them. I wish, how- ever, to state that the shares in the Prince of Wales Company havo been in good request, and havo been ' sold from 10s. to. lös., with nu upward tendency.
The good prospects in this mino have led to somo ' speculation in the adjoining claim-the Duke of
Argyle, which has only just been opened np. On the hill beyond these claims is tho Queen's Birthday Company, which is now having a trial crushing at the Native Youth's battery. There is a large amount of speculation amongst the local people, and this has resulted in a brokor's ollie« being ? opened, which is now in full swing, and I shou'd
think will well repay Mr. Hacket, tho proprietor, for , his venture. Ono thing I must not overlook, as I
had great reason to remember it. My quiet slumbers were much disturbed at night by fearful grunting and looting, which, upon enquiry, I found emanated from the pigs of the settlement, which roam at largo'all over the place, and Iii o on the fat of thediggingB. I believe they belong to everybody, . mid those in want of a porker "catch and kill;"
hut as the fond is not very choice, I should not care to pal take of the savoury joint.
Having had a general look round, I had to pre- pare for the return journey to Launceston, and in a - gentle rain, at 3 p.m. made a homeward start
alone. The rain had made the ground rather slippery, so that my progress was not so quiok as I had intended ; but I made good headway. Aftir passing Dr. Aspinall's I camoacrossoucof Gamble's waggons, bogged right up to the axles ; eight horses . could make no impression on it. I left tho driver
cutting down trees to try and make a fulcrum to lift the, waggon, hut if ho did not unload, I should t»ko " small odds" that ho is in statu ijuo. Soon aftor leaving this friend in distress, I made up my mind to walk up one of the ascents, about three miles from Mount Direction hostelry, and I had no sooner alighted than my beautiful steed took it into his head to try a scramble through tho bush, and I had a nice treat as I went in hot pursuit. No sooner did I get within " eoo-e-e" of him, than he, in most determined manner, throw up his extremities and away .hei-went., This game continued till within a half milo of the Mount, when tho nag turned dowu a hy-ruiul, und, unfortunately for me, took to the hush, I had dreams of being frozen in the bush, or starved and lo3t, so I decided to let him go, and carne on to the house, thinking, perchance, the run- away might have passed ; but I was glad to find he hadn't, so I arranged with a young fellow on horsol back to try and capture the miscreant. At 5 p.m. he started, and after au hour's absence returned '" with tlie horse. I certainly thought he looked
haudsomer then thau when prancing about with his head aud flag erect, and I admiring him, oh, so much, 50 or 100 yards nil. However, I had to make up foi lost time, and, leaving a littlo after G, was in my hotel at Launceston at 7 30 p.m., very sore, but thoroughly pleased with my trip to the Springs, where I got a large amount oí information as to tho general wotking of mines. j . -I must not close, however, without statiug that
living at the mines is actually cheaper in some respects than at Hobart. Meat is 5(1. mid Gd. a lb,, and bread, 3Jjd. Drapery is slightly dearer, but other things vory reasonable. There is a bi-weekly mail, which is badlv arranged, and a convoyanco goes to and from Launceston once or twice a week. ;,, . J < < r ' ' -