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MINERALS IN THE MACDONNELL
. RANGES.
10 THB EDITOBa
Sir—Having lately. visited the MacDonuell
Rangegold field, and not having seen in print
anything but the barest reports of the same, I
think perhaps some little, information respect
ing them may be of interest to your readers,
This gold-bearing country is in close proximity
to where the garnets or rubies have been lately
worked; and though only recently ha3 any
quantity of reef stone been tested it has been
known to be gold-bearing country for some time,
and nice little parcels of alluvial gold have been
taken from the creek beds where sufficient water
offered facilities of forking. From Adelaide
to Alice Springs the road is so well known as
to need no description. A mail-coach runs
monthly from the head of the railway to Alice
Springs, the centre of the reefing district
being distant from there about SO miles east
ward. Arrangements can be made to get on
the field from Alice Springs, horses, rations,
&c., being obtainable there at moderate prices.
The first reefs carrying payable gold were dis
covered near a well-known rock water called
. " Paddy's Hole." The aBsayBfrom these reefs
having proved very satisfactory further prospect
ing was carried on to the north and north-east
withehcouragingresults.bringingtolightseveral
rich reefs snowing gold plainly, and large
bodies of stone waiting to be worked, Perhaps
a few of the names of some of these reefs
may be known to your readers, but I may
mention the Matrix, Wheal Fortnne, Perse
verance, Wheal Munday, and Sundown, with
their extensions, as being distinct defined
reefB running nearly north and south. Other
properties which I did not see have proved to
carry good gold.: The largest quantity of stone
" that I know of having been teBted in Port
Adelaide came from the Wheal Fortune
claims, and gave a return of 2J oz, to
the ton, a satisfactory result when one
considers the rough handling the stone
went through before arrival in Adelaide. The
gold being very free, a considerable quantity
was visible on the tarpaulin after the breaking
and bagging of the atone. Having myself
seen the stone dispatched from the reef, I ara
in a position to state that it was fairly taken
just as it came and not picked in any way.
There ate other properties probably quite as
valuable as this, but stone in so large quanti
ties has not been tested; small quantities have
given high assays, There is another parcel of
stone (upwards of one ton) to arrive in Ade
laide shortly, the assays of which will pro
bably be made known. The present season
has been very dry, and has increased the
difficulties of working or proving the claims
to any great extent, and the tools, &o.,
necessary for deeper sinking had not ar
rived on the ground, The water supply can
be doubtless made good by well sinking on
the reef, and within a short distance large
tanks can be excavated capable of conserving
the heavy tropical rains that may be expected.
The olimate of the MaoDonnell Ranges is
exceptionally healthy, and I speak on an
experience of 14 years residence, It is hoped
the Government will see their way to assist in
the development of these fields by every means
in their power. In these days of railway
extension into our interior a payable reefing or
alluvial goldfield situated in bo vast a territory
is a matter worthy of every consideration,
-I
am, &c„ ^ PARSE,
York Hotel, October 4,1888.
The drama of " Mr. Barnes of New York"
was again presented at the Theatre Koyal on
Thursday, and will be performed for the last
time this evening. On Saturday "The Mystery
of a Hansom Cab," which is now playing so
successfully in London, will be presented for
the first time in Adelaide.
On Thursday evening while a dog-cart, whioh
contained three women and a man, beBideB the
driver, James Edwards, was proceeding down
Hindley-Btreet on its return from'the butohers'
picnio, the horse suddenly swerved round and
tried to lead into Peel-street, causing the con
veyance to come in contaot with a kerbstone
and overturn.- "The occupants fortunately
escaped injufy except a severe.'shaking, but
jhe caxt was completely wrecked.
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