44 
Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
until the leases are issued. Another reason is, durinf^ the first 
six months of the year tliere was only one crushing plant on the 
field, yiz. : — the Eose of Denmark, the property of the Ironclad 
Company, who were nearly all the time crushing from their own 
ground, "and when they did crush for the public they charged 
such a high rate that it cost 25s. per ton, yiz., for carting and 
crushing, at which rate no poor reef would pay. There is now, 
however, another plant on the field, tlmt of AYickins & Co., 
which was completed five months ago, but during three months 
of that they were unable to Avork from want^ of water ; there is, 
however, a considerable quantity of quartz lying at several of the 
leaseholds, whicli will keep them constantly employed for a 
length of time. As soon as the leases are issued there is no 
doubt there will be ample cmplcyraent for two more plants on 
the field. 
The vein in the Ironclad Company’s leasehold runs nearly 
N-N-E. and S.S.AY. ; it has been Avorked to a depth of 178 feet, 
and 200 feet along the line of the vein ; it is nearly perpen- 
dicular ; whatever dip it has is to the Avestward, it is in many 
places 12 feet wide, but will average G feet. There has been 
employed on tliis property during the past year from thirty-five 
to forty-five men ; they have an excellent whim on the ground ; 
the crushing plant has fifteen stamps, with a 25 horse poAver 
engine ; there is a huddle attached Avhich effectually separates the 
p^-rites, of AA'hich they liave a very great quantity ; they have 
sent some of these to England to be treated ; but are uoav about 
to erect a furnace and Avill treat them on the ground. The company 
Avill not, however, give the slightest cine as to Avhat gold, copper, 
or silver they get ; tliey have expressed themselA^es Avell satisfied, 
and everything about the property indicates that it is paying 
very well. They have raised and crushed during the year about 
4,000 tons, and it is the general opinion that it has averaged an 
ounce to the ton. 
The following is the result of the different cruahings from this 
propci'ty previous to its purchase by the present company, viz. ; — 
. oz. dwt. 
1st crushing yielded ... ... ... 5 10 per ton. 
2nd ,, ... ... ... 5 15 
3rd „ 6 12 
4th ,, (being 2 tons at 
the Mint)... ... ... ... 13 0 
About 30 tons were sent to England, and yielded 16 ozs. gold, 
9 ozs. silver, and 35 per cent, of copper ; there was also a large 
quantity of second class stone crushed, which yielded about 
1 oz. 5 dwts. per ton. 
