1877

I HAVE the honor to submit my report for the past year on the Tanlbaroora and Turon Mining District.

There is little to be said concerning Hawkins Hill, the most important part of my district, except what I have already stated in my last report.

The past twelve months has been occupied in most of the mines on Hawkins Hill, in taking out blocks of ground left behind by the companies as worthless, running stulls, &c., a kind of mining which can only be termed” fossicking.”

In some instances this work has paid the tributors well, in others barely expenses.

The upper levels are now nearly all removed, and nothing remains but deep sinking or cross-cutting to the west. The deepest mine on Hawkins Hill is that belonging to the Star of Peace company, which has reached a depth on the Star of Peace vein of 750 feet.

At this level, the reef is fully 8 inches wide, and occasionally shows gold but not in payable quantities. There is a probability, however, that payable stone will be struck before a much greater depth is attained.

This Company now occupy a large area on the Hawkins Hill-they hold the leasef known as the Guiding Star and Rose of England south of Rapps’, and also all the eastern country from Rapps’ on the south to the Star of Peace proper on the north.

There are on Hawkins Hill at the present time perhaps one or two of the early claims that would for a time pay a company of working miners; but in most cases where depth has been attained, and the surface stone removed, it would be useless to attempt to work these mines without powerful machinery and a large command of capital.

During the past year, in this division of· my district thirty-fix gold-mining leases have been applied for, of which many are cancelled leases, and of these many more would be re-occupied were it not for the difficulty (except perhaps for a surveyor) in identifying any particular lease.

Most of the land on the main line of- reef has been or is under lease, and in the majority of cases there are no boundary marks to be found, and this probably is one of the causes why so few complaints are lodged concerning the nonfulfilment of the labour conp.itions of gold-mining leases.

I do not see how this difficulty can be overcome, unles a re-survey is made, and with proper connections, which I am informed are wanting in most of the leases in this district.

I may mention that several cases have come under my notice where miners have gone to work on land that they believed to be open to occupation,. and which had been lying idle for years, discovered payable stone, and then the lessee, who had really abandoned the lease, has stepped in, and either driven the men out who had proved the value of his lease for him, or else they have had to submit to his terms.

I may mention that a common cause of complaint among the miners is, that they do not always reap the benefit where they have lodged complaints against lessees for the non-fulfilment of the labour conditions of their leases, because in most instances the lesEe2s are residents in Sydney, and have the earliest information when a lease is cancelled, and that this gives them an advantage over the working miner, whose time is almost entirely taken up by his occupation.

I believe many more of these complaints would be lodged if the complainantR having proved their case were allowed a prior right to the lease when it was cancelled. In the present state of things, it is impossible to give a decided opinion on mining in this district, but I have no doubt that if capital could be obtained there are numerous reefs that would pay handsomely if properly worked.

It seems, however, that the development of these reefs must depend on the energy and perseverance of the working miners themselves, and I do not think that these qualities are wanting in our mining population. At Hill End and Ironbarks I am able to state that there are a considerable number of mines, in most instances cancelled leases formerly the property of companies, where the present holders, working miners, are doing well, that is to say, they are raising payable stone and earning good wages, and in onf’

There is a remedy which would probably revive the mining industry in the Colony, but it is attended with danger and difficulty-danger, that the money advanced as capital would not be properly expended; and difficulty in obtaining proper men to carry out the project.

I am aware that prospecting parties in the sister Colony, Victoria, have not been successful, except perhaps in one or two instances, but there the prospectors were sent to find gold-fieldshere the gold-fields are already found.

In many parts of this district, and in other parts of the Colony, there are reefs known to contain gold, and from which payable crushings have been obtained, but as soon as wages were not to be made, the working miner was compelled to give his claim up and seek another surface-patch, although he was fully convinced that if he had capital to continue sinking and prospecting his reef woUld turn out a payable one.

If a sufficient sum of money could be supplied by the Government, to be used for the purpose of testing such reefs, and care taken that it was properly expended, I believe in a short time mining would become a recognized investment for capital.

The annexed schedule shows, as nearly as can be ascertained, the quantities of gold won in this district during the year 1877, from which it appears that in the Hill End Division there is an increase of 957 ozs. 4 dwts. 20 grs. over the returns for that division in 1876. In the Sofala Division there is a decrease of 1,726 ozs. 8 dwts. 21 grs., and at Ironbarks of 2,883 ozs. 14 dwts. 2 grs.; but in these two last-mentioned divisions it is very difficult, if not impossibl~ to get a correct estimate of the gold won during the year, as a great deal of it is sent to Sydney by o”bher ways than by escort.

RETURN showing the quantity of Gold won in the Tambaroora and Turon Mining District, during the year 1877.

2. In this report I do not think it necessary to describe fully each locality that has been the scene of mining operations in time past, inasmuch as these localities have already been fully described in my previous reports, and that now their number is considerably reduced in consequence of the depression in mining generally that has existed since the end of the year 1873.

This depression I do not attribute to the failure in :finding gold, but on the contrary the failure in prosecuting the search has been the cause of the non-discovery of gold; that is to say, if prospectors had continued steadfast in their pursuit, and capital had been forthcoming as it was needed, instead of this gold-field being in the depressed state it is I believe it would now have counted many payable mines.

In proof of this, the almost simultaneous closing of the majority of the mines may be mentioned as showing that the work ceased from the want of funds, and not from the want of successful results. Undoubtedly money was expended in many places where there was no chance of a return, but it is equally certain that a very great number of mines held forth, and still hold forth, most reasonable prospects of payable returns.

I could mention many instances in this district where large sums of money were expended, and the work stopped at a point utterly useless as a test of the intrinsic value of the mine, and where slightly extended operations would have probably decided the question as to its value or worthlessness.

Shafts and tunnels can be seen-or rather the ruins of them-in this district in many places, which never even reached the vein they were started to prospect, and in very few instances was anything more done than the mere piercing of the vein by the shaft or tunnel driving and sinking on the reef, the true test of its value, has been in most instances altogether neglected.

3. I shall now proceed to describe the mines at work in this district. In the Hill End division of it the number is about fifty.

At Chambers Creek, where so many companies were floated, and such sanguine anticipations indulged in, there are now but one or two claims at work; one of these I am informed is on payable stone. From Chambers Creek to the Lower Turon, an area that includes many large and gold-bearing reefs, the whole line is idle except one lease of 2 acres, the property of Messrs. Brlins, Stultz, and party, who are working a vein supposed to be a continuation of Marshall’s Line, or Marshall’s Rich Vein. This lease was formerly known as the Thistle, and that company drove a tunnel along the vein some 80 feet, and then, I am informed, abandoned the mine.

It was then taken up by the present party, who have sunk a shaft in the tunnel 50 feet, from which a crushing of a few tons was lately taken which paid expenses. Messrs. Stultz and party expect that the next crushing will be better, and appear to be satisfied with the prospects of their mine. Coming north, and crossing the Turon River, we reach the South Star Line of Reef, on which four mines are at work -Jeffrey and party, Goddard and party, the South Star Company, and Hall and party. The first on the line coming north is a small lease worked by Jeffrey and party-tributors. A shaft has been sunk about 120 feet, and stone taken from it which yield,ed 3t ounces to the ton. The tributors are working in the shaft at the 80-foot level, driving to cut the shoot of gold Goddard and party in the adjoining mine are working on.

-The South Star Line of Reef is, I believe, the only one of the western veins that has proved payable. The next claim is Goddard and party-five men’s ground. This party have sunk two shafts on the vein-one 110 feet, the other about 100 feet. They have had two crushings from the reef-one of 5 tons, which gave 5 ounces to ‘the ton; and one of 11 tons, which gave 3t ounces per ton. The work at present engaged in is raising stone for another crushing, which is ex;pected to yield 3 ounces per ton. The next mine is a 7 -acre lease called the South Star, the property of Mr. Alfred Fairfax, but at the present time let on tribute. The tributors are working at two different leyels-60 and 90 feet. The stone carries gold, but not in payable quantities. Next north, and about 300 yards from the northern boundary of the South Star, is a block claim belonging to Messrs. Hall and party, who have not been long at work, but I believe have obtained good specimens from the vein, which encourages them to continue sinking.

The South Star Line has been opened up about i of a mile; many shafts have been sunk on it, the deepest of which is 270 feet. The vein is from 3 to 6 inches wide, and has yielded as much as 7 ounces to the ton. Crossing Oakey Creek, and on Hawkins Hill proper, are four claims at work, on Eisenstadter’s Line of Reef. The first is known as the Lord and Lady Belmore, but I am unable to give any information about the mine, and the proprietors have only just started to work. Next, the New Lady Belmore, a 3-acre lease, and worked by a party of eight.

This mine has been at work for more than twelve months. Before the present company took the mine in hand it was worked by a public company, who sunk a shaft 180 feet on the vein. In sinking this shaft, at a depth of 70 feet, they took crushings which yielded as much as 7 ounces to the ton. They then drove a tunnel in on the vein at the south end of the lease, and expended a considerable amount of money. Having expended their capital the lease was abandoned, and after the expiry of two years was taken up by the present company, who at once took out a small crushing of 22 tons, which yielded a little over 3 ounces to the ton. They then sank a new shaft, 100 feet south of the old company’s shaft, and got payable stone at a depth of 30 feet, and from that depth to the present-75 feet-rich specimens have been obtained.

A crushing of 19 tons from this mine, treated last week, gave the proprietors the handsome return of 207 ounces 3 dwts. I may mention that a portion of this parcel of stone, estimated to contain over 26 ounces of gold, was kept back, and the specimens forwarded to Sydney-if thesc specimens had been crushed-the average yield would have been much larger. The vein in the New Lady Belmore lease averages 5 inches in width, and the ground is not difficult to work. Next the New Lady Belmore is the lease known as the Royal Standard.

This mine was formerly worked by a company, who sunk a shaft 120 feet on the vein and took out several crushings, not payable. They then, their operations being hindered by too much water, drove a tunnel in from the gully below, and by this means effectually drained the mine.

Further work was done, and stone raised, which did not yield payable returns, and the mine was let -on tribute. The tributors have been at work for a period of eighteen months, and have got out various crushings, which, in the aggregate, have proved payable. The last crushing, lately treated, gave 3 ounces to the ton. Next adjoining on the north is the Golconda, a 2-acre lease originally in the hands of a company, who drove a tunnel in from Oakey Creek a long distance to cut the vein, -and after sinking some 10 feet on it and driving 15 or 20 feet discontinued work.

The present holders, Messrs. Collings and party, have risen from the tunnel 70 feet and sunk 60 feet without finding payable stone. Gold was found along the bottom of the old company’s drive, which it has now been decided to follow, that being probably the same shoot of gold as is being worked in the Royal Standard and New Lady Belmore mines. Going further north, and on the main line of the Hawkins Hill reefs, is the lease known as Tallentire and Beard’s, which is let to a tribute party, who have been working on the Rose of England vein at a depth of about 150 feet. These tributors are at the present time engaged on King’s vein, ond are raising stone supposed to be payable. Next is the lease known as Gellard and Jeffrey’s, also let on tribute. The tributors have until lately been working on the Rose of England vein, at a depth of 140 feet, from which they took a crushing of 16 tons, yielding the handsome return of 7 ounces to the ton. This stone, however, was only a block left in the old workings. This party are now engaged in prospecting what are known as the Patchy Veins. The leases between Gellard and Jeffrey’s and Rapp’s, viz., the Rose of England, Johnson’s, the Guiding Star, the Bang Bang, and the Great Western Undaunted, have been recently amalgamated as the Victoria Gold Mining Company, and preparations, I am informed, are now being made to start work.

In Rapp’s lease, which has been worked on tribute for the last twelve months by Messrs. Anderson and Hammond, the search for the expected continuation of Krohmann’s and Oarroll and Beard’s gold has been unsuccessful. Only one vein in this mine has as yet been found to carry payable gold, and that was in the flat ground, was worked by the Messieurs Rapp, and is possibly the missing link. Carroll and Beard’s and Krohmalm’s leases come next. I speak of these conjointly, inasmuch as they have been united to carryon prospecting operations.

The workings in the upper part of the mine have been simply raking out the remains of the old veins and cleaning up the old stulls, and as such have no great public interest. The operations in the bottom of the mine are of great interest, although as yet unsuccessful.

The holders have reached a depth of 730 feet on the main belt of veins, which brings them nearly to their eastern boundary, and are now driving a cross-cut west at the bottom of their perpendicular shaft, at the 500-feet level, but so far without discovering a payable vein. This work, together with that in the Star of Peace mine, may be considered the most important in the district, as being the only operations now going on to develope at a depth the Hawkins Hill mines, and is being watched with great interest by all interested in the future of the hill.

In Beyers and Holtermann’s, the next mine on the north, besides some unimportant work, a prospecting cross-cut is being put in to the west, but as yet without satisfactory results. Next is the Monte Christo Company’s ground, which company has completed its gleaning operations, and has now decided on continuing the westerly cross-cut at the 260 feet level, to reach Brown’s New Vein, as it was called when first discovered some years ago in Brown’s claim. This vein has been but little prospected, although of a very promising character both as to the quartz itself and the enclosing slate.

Rawsthorne’s lease and Brown’s are let on tribute, but the operations in these mines are of no importance to the general public, as no prospecting is being carried on. Next is Cock, Attwood, and Dwyer’s lease. This company are working a vein in the footwall of the westerly workings, which may be called a new vein, as it has not as yet been worked anywhere, except in the adjoining claim, Brown’s. In Hickson, Creighton, and Beard’s I am informed that the crushing now being treated is probably the last that can be obtained from the mine. The Rampant Lion has been idle for some time past, and is worked out. Next is Paxton’s lease. A fresh run of gold has been discovered in this mine on the vein known as Paxton’s, and the prospects are payable as far as is known. The present depth on these veins is 320 feet, at which depth a level has been driven joining the north and south shafts, and underhand stoping from the south shaft northwards is being carried on.

The manager is sinking on the vein known as Stephen’s, flastward of the main run of the Hawkins Hill veins. The stone looks promising, but the depth attained is not sufficient to catch the shoot of gold known to run in from the Star of Peace. Next is the Star of Peace mine. This company now holds all the ground east of the rich claims, as far south as the Great Western Undaunted, embracing an area of 10 or 11 acres. The work of this mine during the past twelve months has been mainly confined to the Star of Peace vein, the main shaft on this having been sunk to a depth of 760 feet. The sinking has shown a constant variety of changes, in the form of new veins, blows, &c.-veins appearing and disappearing, veins breaking up into leaders, and on several occasions gold has been struck which was thought to be payable, but on trial the results have been so far unsatisfactory. The water is heavy in the mine at the bottom of the deep shaft.

Of late, I may here mention that dynamite has been used almost entirely in the shaft and stopes with great economy, giving general satisfaction. Some few months back a shoot of gold was struck in sinking t,he shaft, and great expectations were entertained that this was a discovery of great value; but a few feet sinking showed that the gold did not extend to any depth. At the 630 feet level a drive is being put in towards the north in the hope of picking up a new shoot of gold from Fischer and Beard’s blow.

Operations have also been resumed in the backs, on the western vein, the only representative of the very rich veins in Krohmann’s, Beyers and Holterman’s, and other claims further south.

At the 240-feet level, I am glad to be able to report that payable stone has been struck, and the manager expects to get enough money from this vein to carryon the deep workings without drawing on the capital of the company. Preparations are being made to test the foot-wall of Paxton’s veins, as also Holman’s in the shallow ground from the old south shaft.

This company is working the lease known as the Crown Prince, on tribute, which is separated from the Star of Peace lease only by Fischer and Beard’s and Hermann’s. The operations in the Crown Prince are confined to working on two blows; one in the northern part of the lease, known as Mathewson’s blow-up against which, and for a short distance south, the vein (the Star of Peace) shows very good gold. The other blow, on the south boundary, known as Hermann’s, or Fischer and Beard’s, has just run into the Crown Prince lease from Hermann’s. Where it crossed the boundary the stone appeared very good j but nothing has been seen in it since, although it has been sunk upon for some distance. The present Crown Prince United comprises the leases formerly known as Matthewson’s, Oxon’s, the Crown Prince, the Speculation, and the Morning Star.

Next is Fischer and Beard’s. This company’s operations have been for the last twelve months mainly confined to the Star of Peace vein, and that known as the Western vein, which have supplied a series of remarkably good crushings, but are now worked up to the eastern boundary, where they enter Hermann’s mine. Work has also been done on Paxton’s veins, whence I am informed payable stone has been obtained. This company’s prospecting consists in driving a crosscut to the west-which work has however been stopped as nothing payable was found-and in driving on the Star of Peace vein, north of the blow, in the hope of finding payable stone in that direction, but the gold does not appear to extend north of the blow in payable quantities. West, and adjoining Fischer and Beard’s, is Hermann’s lease, which is let on tribute. The tributors have sunk a shaft 360 feet against time, to reach a shoot of gold on the Star of Peace vein traced up to the boundary; and great praise is due for the courage displayed in attempting so costly a work, as the failure to complete it within the stipulated time would have been followed by the forfeiture of the tribute and loss ot all the outlay. The tributors were rewarded by several remarkably good crushings, but now have passed through the shoot and can find nothing payable.

This valuable deposit, just mentioned, existed in connection with ·the large blow on the Star of Peace vein, known as Fischer and Beard’s blow, and is identical with that now being worked on the south boundary of the Crown Prince. The lease formerly known as the Monitor, eastward of Hermann’s and Meyer’s, and now called the Anticipated Eye-opener, has been at work continuously for a considerable period, and a shaft has been sllnk to a depth of 145 feet, with 60 feet of driving on the vein, known as Rowley’s Rich Vein. The proprietors are of opinion that they will cut the two :first foot-wall veins in a few more feet, when, if the same rule holds good which prevails in the line of veins immediately below, they have every reason to believe that they will be well rewarded for their trouble and expense.

This completes the leases at work on Hawkins Hill proper, with a welldefined cross-course separating it from Prince Alfred Hill. It is impossible to say what effect this cross-course has on the veins to the north, whether it has heaved them out of their position or not. South of it the veins have a bearing east of north, north of it they all run west of north. The gold, so far as the work hitherto done has shown, is found in a vein supposed to be the Frenchman’s vein, but asserted by many to be the Star of Peace vein, although these veins are 250 feet apart on Hawkins Hill.

I now come to the Patriarch lease, which joins the Crown Prince. In the Patriarch a straight shaft has been sunk 380 feet, and cross-cuts driven east and west, of which the latter showed a number of promising veins, but none of them payable. In the former, the Frenchman’s vein, lately cut at a depth of 360 feet, shows payable stone. This company have driven up to their north boundary, and are driving to the south preparatory to back-stoping on the Frenchman’s vein. The Cornish is the next lease at work, of which the proprietors are a party of working miners, who are driving and stoping southwards, their shaft having attained a depth of 320 feet -this may be considered a payable mine. Next is the lease known as the Frenchman’s, and let on tribute. The only vein worked here is that from which the lease takes its name, and which has hitherto paid good wages, that is to say for the last twelve months.

The Cornelian is next, which is also let on tribute, and the tributorsare working the Frenchman’s vein. A great deal of work has been done in this mine, but hitherto without payable results; the vein is large but not payable. The next lease at work is called the Sons of Freedom. This party are engaged on a small vein considerably eastward of the Frenchman’s, and supposed to be Rowley’s vein-it is not payable. Next is the Royal Saxon. The upper portion of a shoot has been worked in this lease with good results; but the vein has been lost, and preparations are now being made to try and pick it up again by sinking a new shaft The Lombard Street mine is next. This company deserves great credit for the energy, perseverance, and patience they have displayed in working their mine. I am informed that they have been engaged in prospecting the Excelsior vein but without success, and are now sinking between the walls of a vein that has run out, in the hope that it will make again. Their present depth is 270 feet. Next is the Excelsior. The proprietors of this mine, having followed the Excelsior vein as far as possible, have left those workings and sunk two shafts on a vein eastward of that known as the Excelsior.

I am sorry to say that a crushing from the new vein, just finished, is not payable. The next lease at work is that called the Prince of Wales, and is let on tribute. A vein showing very nice gold was found in this ground and is now being worked with payable results. The success of this mine has set several claiins on the same line in search of the same vein. The Dragon Company’s lease is next, let on tribute. The tributors are back-stoping on the Dragon vein with payable results; the same may be said of the Dragon No.2, who are working a vein 12 feet to the west of the Prince of Wales vein. Next is the Venus, which company have been prospecting several veins, finding patches of gold in most of them, but not sufficient to meet the expenditure. A party of tributors, Messrs. Dieckman & Company, are working a vein on the northern boundary of the Venull, known to be good, but I have been unable t{) get particulars of the actual yield from it. .’ Some distance north of Dieckman’s party is a lease called the Perseverance, the property of Messrs, Teteher and party. In this lease there are two veins that have been worked to a considerable depth.

One called Tetcher’s vein has been prospected for a distance in length of 200 feet, and shafts have been sunk on it from 140 feet to 160 feet in depth. This vein is only about 2! inches in width, but has yielded an average of about 3! ounces to the ton, giving the owners from £3 lOs to £4 per week per man. The other vein I have mentioned is east of Tetcher’s vein, averages 5 inches in width, and has yielded an average of not less than 2 ounces to the ton. The Perseverance was formerly the property of a company, and bore the name of the United Re3fers. This company sank a shaft 235 feet deep, and drove a cross-cut in 190 feet, cutting both the veins I have mentioned as being worked ‘by the Perseverance company. The work done by the United Reefers Gold Mining Company must have cost at least £2,000. Messrs. Tetcher and party have been continuously working their mine for the last three years. I now come to what may be called the Tambaroora ree£’3. Of these I am sorry to have to report that there are but few at work. The first I shall describe is that known as the Magnet.

This line of reef has been prospected for a distance of about a i of a mile, and shafts have been sunk on it to the depth of 110 and 120 feet. The reef varies in thickness from 2 to 4 feet; but of this body of stone only from 9 inches to a foot has been proved payable. The only mine at work on this line is the Magnet, which is an extended claim of three men’s ground, the property of Messrs. Wade and party, who have been at work for the last two years, and during that period have taken out and crushed from their mine 960 tons of stone, yielding an average of! an ounce to the ton, which gives them rather over £2 lOs per week per man.

The sinking on this line of reef is not expensive, no powder being required. Strange to say little or no work has been done on this line, except in tIle claim I have just mentioned. A few holes have been sunk, but that is all. About 150 yards east of the Magnet is another line of reef, called the Canton, which has been worked by various parties for some years past. The reef has been prospected for about one quarter of a mile, and nine or ten shafts sunk on it varying in depth from 120 to 130 feet. In several of these payable stone was obtained; but the water was found to be too strong for manual labour. The Canton reef, or vein, varies in thickness from 3 inches to a foot; and from it a large quantity of quartz has been raised and crushed by various parties, with payable results. The ground is· easily worked, and a yield of 15 pennyweights per ton would give the ordinary rate of wages.

The highest yield obtained from the Canton reef was, I am informed, 3 ounces to the ton. At the present time Messrs. Marshall Brothers are the only party at work on this line, and their last crushing, from a depth of 70 feet, of 50 tons, gave current wages. I now come to the Red Hill, Tambaroora.

I have not been able to ascertain how many veins, from which payable stone has been obtained, have been discovered and worked at various times on this hill; but they cannot be less than twelve in number. I know of no locality in this district where more promising prospects of success are held out to gold miners than the Red Hill at Tambaroora; and it is much to be regretted that these reefs are allowed to lie idle. The only mines at present at work are as follows :-Messrs. Pyemont and party, tributors, working a vein called the Old Red Hill vein, which averages in width about 6 inches, has been prospected for a distance of about 150 yards, and has yielded as high as 5 ounces to the ton. Messrs. Pyemont and party are at present engaged in prospecting at the 70 feet level, and consider their prospEcts good, although not at present on payable stone.

The next claim at work on the Red Hill belongs to a party of Chinese, who have raised a considerable quantity of stone which they consider payable. Further north are Messrs. Kissell and party. In this claim it is almost impossible to describe the veins, which are very numerous and close together. As soon as one payable patch is worked out, another is sought for and obtained. Messrs. Kissell and party have been at work in their claim continuously for the last two years, and their last crushing of 80 tons gave them the current rate of wages, viz., £2 10s. per week per man. Next to Messrs. Kissell and party’s claim is that known as the Perseverance, the property of Messrs. Demos and party, who are not at present, I am informed, on payable stone. Still further north a party of.miners are working in a claim formerly known as the Gigantic Struggle. The principal vein in this mine is from 6 inches to a foot wide, and has been worked to a depth of 190 feet, yielding very good stone-some of it giving 5 ounces per ton, and some as high as 10 ounces.

A.t 140 feet the water-level was reached, and at 190 feet it became too strong for manual labonr. When this occurred the stone appeared payable; and the proprietors tried to raise capital, by forming a company, to work the mine, but failed. At the present time the l)roprietors are engaged on a vein which they consider payable, but they have not as yet had a trial crushing. Beyond the Red Hill there is another party at work on the Valentine line of reef- 1’lessrs. Fishel’ and party. This reef has been prospected for a considerable distance, and the quartz in some places has been very rich, yielding as much as 33 ounces to the ton. The deepest shaft on the line is not more than 120 feet. A small crushing of 8 tons was lately taken from this reef hy Messrs. Fisher and party, and yielded 14 ozs. 12 clwts. 13 gl’s. The vein iH about 6 inches ~ide, in soft rock. I have now given such information as I have been able to obtain about all the mines at work in the neighhourhood of Hill End and Tambaroora. The alluvial digging in and about Tambal’oora and Hill End has been long since exhausted; but there are still a few fossickers whl:! make a precarious living by working in the cl’eeks and gullies ground that has been turned over perhaps a dozen times. At the Pyramnl, except a little alluvial, there is no mining being carried on. I may here mention to show how carelessly mining was carried on when the diggings first broke out, that about the end of May last a miner named Foster found about a foot beneath the sUlface, at a place called Oroke’s Gully, close to the Pyramul township, a nugget weighing 26 ozs. 7 dwts.

This gully has been worked over and over again, a~d yet this large nugget escaped notice. At the Crudine, on what is called Johnson’s Reef, one party are at work, who, I an;. informed, have just taken a crushing from the shaft sunk by the prospector, which yielded something like 4 ozs. to the ton. This line of reef seems not to have had a fair trial. At Pulley’s Hill or Ulmarrah, one of a series of basalt hills extending for many miles down the Macquarie on both sides of the river, I regret to have to report that mining operg,tions have ceased. The two private companies who leased this hill, or most of it, after going to great expense in making roads to transport machinery, and after erecting such machinery at Pulley’s Hill, have not been able to make the cement and drift pay. It is generally thought by miners of experience that the quantity of gold in these cement hills will not pay, where crushing batteries are used to extract the gold, which is not equally distributed through the w(lsh; it occurs in patches, and only actual trial will tell how far a patch extends. At the Horse Bald Hill, which is a few miles down the river from Pulley’s, there are about a dozen miners working in four different parties.

Here the wash-dirt varies in thickness, from 12 inches to 6 feet, and the average yield per ton·is 3 dwts. At Finch’s Bald Hill, which is situated about 3 miles up the river from the hill last mentioned, there are about six miners at work (Italians). The yield of gold here has been a little better than on the others. Besides the basalt hills I have mentioned, there are others lower down the Macquarie on which small parties of miners are working, who are making wages at the rate of about £2 per week per man. On all these cement hills the want of water keeps the miner from permanent work. From about April to the latter end of September is the only time of the year, save in wet seasons, that permanent water is to be obtained.

The only kind of appliance at present used by the miners for ~aving the gold is the ordinary sluice supplied by storm water. If an: hydraulic sluice could be got to bear on these cement hills, as they are called, no doubt the returns would be enormous. The next mining locality I shall mention is the Box Ridge. Here the principal lines of reefs are the Britannia,the Shakespeare, the Homeward Bound, Hans’, and the Nobby. On the Britannia, about seven years ago, a very rich surface-patch was found, which yielded upwards of .£40,000 worth of gold. Some eight or nine shafts, varying in depth from 25 to 75 feet, were ~mnk, but nothing payable was got. This reef runs in the side of the hill quite flat for about 20 yards, and then dips about 1 in 2. It varies in width from 1 foot to 5 feet. The Shakespeare line has had more work done on it than any of the others. The reef is vertical, and varies in width from about 1 foot to 4, with occasional large blows. It has heen traced for nearly 400 yards, but the whole of this distance has not been prospected. About half-a-dozen shafts have been sunk to depths varying from 40 to 100 feet.

This reef has yielded as much as 3 ozs. to the ton, but the general run of stone has not given more than half-an-ounce. A tunnel was driven :.bout 150 feet on to this reef, and at this level the 3-oz. stone I have mentioned was obtained. No work has been done on this line for the last six months. Curry’s is a flat reef, varying from 18 inches to 2 feet in width, and has been prospected for about 100 yat·ds. Four shafts have been sunk on it, the deepest of which is not more than 70 feet. The yield has been from 4 dwts. to 3 ozs. to the ton. Between 300 and 400 tons of quartz have been crushed from this reef. The Homeward Bound line of reef has been prospected for about 150 yards. The reef is a vertical one, and varies in thickness from 6 inches to 18 in width. Seven shafts have been sunk on the line, the deepest of which is 90 feet. The great drawback to the working of this reef is the water which is struck at a depth of 40 feet, and cannot be overcome without the aid of machinery.

The same may be said of the Shakespeare line of reef before mentioned, but there the water is not troublesome till a deIl1. of about 100 feet is reached. The Homeward Bound Reef has yielded from 11 dwts. to 31 ozs. to the ton. I am informed that about 1,000 tons of stone nave been raised and crushed from this reef. Hans’ line of reef is a recent discovery, and at the present time is the only one at work on the Box Ridge. The prospector’s shaft, Mes.srs. Gaffney and party, is down about 70 feet on the reef, which varies in width from 3 to 12 inches. A trial crushing of 18 tons gave rather more than 3 ozs. to the ton. Two leases of 5 acres each have been taken up on this line, and one block claim-the prospector’s-four men’s ground. Hans’ Reef is rubbly but well defined; the hanging-wall L’l sandstone, the foot-wall soft slate. Messrs. Gaffney and party found gold beside the sandstone wall, and followed it down to a depth of 40 feet, when the vein commenced to make.

A peculiar feature in this reef is the abundance of mica which is mixed in the veinstone where the vein is rubbly. The mica occurs in veins, sometimes running alongside the quartz, and sometimes in lumps which being broken up contain free gold. If there is no mica there appears to be no gold, at any rate in payable quantities. The mica is pale yellow and brown in colour, and when rubbed between the hands goes to powder like the ordinary mica, but unlike the ordinary mica this is greasy and coats the hands like paint.

The N obby Reef is a vertical one, with a very slight underlay, and varies in width from 6 inches to 2 or 3 feet. Two shafts have been sunk on it to a depth of about 50 feet; the reef has been traced on the surface for about half a mile, but has been prospected only for about 100 yards; the yield per ton has been from half an ounce to 1 oz. per ton; the vein is well defined, and the country easy to work. It is generally supposed that this reef has not received the attention it deserves. One line of reef at the Box Ridge I have omitted to mention, called Monk’s. This has been traced for about 50 yards, is 10 or 12 inches wide, and has an underlay of about 1 in 3; three shafts have been sunk on it, the deepest of which is 70 feet; the yield has been from 7 dms. to 11 oz. No work has been done on this line for the last two years. The Box Ridge Reefs have been traced for a distance of about 11 mile in length, and their bearing is nearly north and south. The known lines run parallel to one another within a belt composed of sandstone and slate of about 100 yards in width. Between these lines of known veins or reefs there are numerous other veins cropping ont on the surface, but which have not been prospected.

The country is known to miners as fair working country, and the expense of sinking does not I am informed exceed 258. per foot. The great drawback in working the Box Ridge Reef is the water, which requires machinery to overcome it. In the Homeward Bound line of reef, the water is reached at a depth of 40 feet; in another, the Shakespeare, at 70 feet. From what I can learn, in every instance where shafts have been sunk on these reefs below the water-level, the gold still continues in the reef, and the deepest shaft is not more than 100 feet. The few miners still left at this place (there are, all told, not more than fourteen, alluvial and quartz) are all poor, and the want of. capital prevents the reefs from being prospected. In conclusion, I may state that there is a good crushing mill with ten head of stampers erected close to the reefs.

At the Quartz Ridge mining matters show signs of improvement; and it is to be hoped, if the prospects of success at present held out continue, the place will regain its former prestige. At the Quartz Ridge there is one main line of reef that has been worked. This is well defined as far as is known-that is to a depth of about 120 feet. The reef is wide, averaging fully 2 feet; in places it is 6 feet in width. This line has been traced upwards of 3 miles, and in some places proved rich, but patchy; this fault would probably be amended if greater depth ‘was attained. During the mining mania of 1872, the whole line of reef from the Quartz Ridge to Deepdale, a distance of over 4 miles, was leased, and on some of these leases a considerable amount of work was done; shafts were sunk and tunnels driven, but, either from want of funds or patience, the mines were abandoned; and I believe I am correct in stating that most of these leases are now cancelled. At present the only mine at work at the Quartz Ridge is that known by the name of the Just in Time-of which the proprietors are Messrs. Hall and party, who are working a vein, east of the main line, 18 inches wide, with an easterly underlay well defined, easy to work, and up to the present time has yielded 92 ounces for 92 tons.

If this yield continues, and I believe that there is every prospect that it will;the proprietors will clear £3 per week per man, exclusive of expenses. Doubtless, if this mine continues to pay, other parties will give the Quartz Ridge a trial, and I have little doubt but that they will be satisfied with the results. I may add that in the immediate vicinity of the reefs there is a crushing machine sufficiently powerful to supply the wants of a considerable mining population.

In the Sofala Division of this district mining is at a very low ebb. The quartz reefs are almost all abandoned, there being at the present time nQt more than half a dozen claims and leases at work. The manager of Moyle’s Surface Hill Gold Mining Company, at Wattle Flat, reports :-” That work has been steadily carried on during the past year; the tunnel driven to the north has been extended to a distance of 416 feet, and the vein in the face of it has a promising appearance. On Brady’s vein, a considerable amount of ground has been stoped and worked to a depth of about 60 feet. 65 tons of quartz raised yielded 99 ozs. 4 dwts. 17 grs. ; but owing to the hardness of the rock and small size of the vein, it has not been deemed advisable to work deeper at present. Small crushings have been taken from other veins in the lease, which showed good gold in patches; but, owing to the narrowness, they would not pay under the present system of working. As regards this mine, practical miners agree in the opinion that, if the hard rock found in sinking could be got through, a complete change in the character of the veins would take place, and in all probability magnificent returns obtained.”

At Whalan’s Hill, near Sofala, I am informed that some payable stone was obtained during the past year by the proprietors of the only mine at work there, Messrs. Vial and party, but that the mine is not now payable, and that it is intended to make fresh arrangements forworking it. I have not been able to obtain any information concerning the” Circus Point Hydraulic .

Sluicing Company,” but presume the dry weather we have had during the past year has been a bar to their progress. I am informed th~t it is intended to start the reef at Spring Creek, near Sofala, to work with as little delay as possible. The necessary machinery has been purchased, and as these reefs bear a very high character, the p~’obabilities are that the proprietors will not have cause to complain of their investmeJ;lt.

At Ironbarks, Stoney Creek, and Muckerawa, which embrace a large area, there are 26 quartz reefs known. All of these have been worked at various times, but not to any depth. I am informed that no shaft has been sunk oJ;). any of them much deeper than 100 feet, and that in most cases the quartz has not been found payable over 60 feet. At that depth, with one or two exceptions, barren stone is met with, which has never been sunk through.

The surface quartz, to the depth above mentioned, has been in many instances rich. During the mining mania, a grel).t deal of capital was recklessly expended in the Ironbarks District, but only in useless work and on the surface. The reefs now appear to be gradually attracting attention, and it is to be hoped that they will now receive a fair trial. One reef at Ironbarks called Trickett’s, I may mention, which is yielding at bhe present time very handsome returns. It was discovered in May last by a miner named Numa Chaddeyson, is 3 feet wide, and from a considerable quantity of stone has yielded an average of 2 ozs. 15 dwts. to the ton.

On this reef there are at the present time working two leases and two claims. The depth attained is but 40 feet, and it has been prospected for a distance of 100 yards. There are two crushing-machines at Ironbarks, one at Muckerawa, and one at Stoney Oreek. Alluvial mining in th:s division is at present in a languishing condition; but there are numerous gullies and flats about the Macquarie and other localities near Ironbarks, Stoney Creek, and the Muckerawa, where wash-dirt is to be found of from 2 to 30 feet deep that would pay handsomely if water could be brought to bear on it. There is no mining being carried on in the Tambaroora and Turon Mining District for minerals other than gold, except at a place called Razorback on the Upper Turon, where, as I have stated in my Report for last year, a reef containillg antimony has been di~covered, and is now being worked by Messrs. Julius Wannick and party, who have sunk a shaft on it 80 feet. The antimony was struck at about 10 feetfrom the surface, and worked from that depth to 30 feet. 20 tons of the ore obtained was sent to Sydney, but did not pay expense~.

From 70 feet to the present level the vein is much better defined, and is from 14 to 1G inches wide; it is also of good quality, yielding about 1 in 4 of antimony. This reef contains gold in small quantities, but this the proprietors have not been able to save. 10 tons of antimony lately sent to Sydney by Messrs. ,Vannick and party, from their mine, has yielded a satisfactory return. The alluvial workings in the Tambaroora ‘and Turon mining district, as in all the older gold-fields, are almost exhausted, although there are still scattered along the Turon and Macquarie Rivers and their various tributaries, parties of Chinese, who obtain considerable quantities of gold by re-working old ground, and Europeans who, by keeping cattle-farming at one season of the year, and mining at another, when water is plentiful enough to allow of puddling ancl sluicing, manage to make a comfortable livelihood.