1880
Breaking news! There’s life in the NSW goldfields yet.
Come the new decade and a surge of new goldfields appeared to breathe fresh energy into an industry struggling to regain the economic ground lost through the early 1870s speculative boom.
Foremost on the list of new developments were the breakthrough discoveries at Temora and Barmedman. Additional fields were also opening up way out west at Tibooburra [Mount Browne] and on the east of the Great Divide at Copeland north of Newcastle and on the south coast around Moruya.
Also heralding a bright future for mining in the state was the long awaited publishing of the geological map of NSW. Finally some strategic government investment in mining resources was beginning to bear fruit.
Left: Mines Department Annual Report 1880. Below: Geological Sketch Map of NSW. Images and content presented here from this report reproduced courtesy of NSW Trade & Resources, Minerals & Energy
1880 SUMMARY OF GOLD MINING
“The new gold finds will doubtless give employment to a large number of operative miners, and if capitalists could be induced to undertake the systematic working of the deposits on the older gold-fields, which present ample scope for the profitable employment of capital under skilful and economic management, the gold-fields of this Colony would probably take a position second to none in the world.”
1880 SUMMARY OF GOLD MINING
Scarcity of water has been experienced in the Bathurst, Tambaroora and Turon, Lachlan, Mudgee, Southern, and Peel and Uralla Districts. From most of the older gold-fields a large proportion of the miners were drawn away by the discovery of gold at Temora and at Montreal, and the same thing is now happening with regard to the recent discovery of gold at Mount Browne, in the extreme north-west corner of this Colony.
These discoveries are doubtless beneficial to the Colony in the long run, but the immediate effect is frequently a reduction in the output of gold.
This has been in a marked degree the effect of the rush to the Temora Gold-field, because many miners abandoned claims that were yielding a moderate return, on some of the older goldfields; and owing to the scarcity of water at Temora, even those whose claims contain payable deposits have not been able to reap the reward of their enterprise and industry.
Fortunately the coarse character of the gold has enabled some of the claim-holders to extract a comparatively large quantity of gold without washing; but had a plentiful supply of water been available, there can be no doubt, not only that Temora would by this time have proved a rich and extensive gold-field, but the quantity of gold realized from the earth raised during the year would have more than compensated for the reduced yield consequent upon the abandonment of claims on the older fields.
The quantity of washdirt stacked ready for washing as soon as water is obtained is estimated by the Warden at 65,000 loads. The Mining Registrar estimates the quantity of wash-dirt stacked awaiting water at 50,113 loads, estimated to contain 30,010 ounces of gold.
The Warden says there are ninety-seven payable claims on the field, and the quartz reefs which have not yet been much worked show some very rich stone-one line is 2 feet wide, and one is as much as 4 feet, but there is no machinery on the ground. As regards the discovery of gold at Montreal, close to the sea-coast, and on the south-east side of the Dromedary Mountain, Mr. Warden Keightley says-” The field contains rich deposits of free gold which has been subject to the action of the sea, reducing it to a water-worn condition, but evidently washed back by the sea and ranged in two terraces about high-water level * * *
Experience has shown that ground considered valueless during the rush is now being proved highly auriferous, and the run has been traced to the west through terraces, and is now being found under Lake Wallaga.” The Warden has not yet succeeded in tracing any connection between this deposit and that at the Gulf Gold-field, or that on Mount Dromedary.
He says there are now over thirty claims on payable gold, some half-dozen exceedingly rich, producing from several d wts. to over 3lbs. weight of clean gold to the dish. The Warden had eight ordinary buckets of wash tested, taken off the bed rock, and it gave the handsome yield of 7 lbs. 7 oz. of gold.
At Corunna, 14 miles north of Montreal, similar deposits of black sand containing gold have been found, and also at Wagonga, while to the south of Montreal, at a place called Nelson, gold is being found in payable quantities, but of a coarser description. A shaft has been sunk by means of water-tight boxes in Wallaga Lake, about 150 feet from the margin.
The shaft was bottomed at about 28 feet on payable gold. At the Wantio] rush, near J unee, some 600 miners are on the ground, but no rich finds have yet been reported. The rush to ~lount -Werong did not produce very satisfactory results, but this was due to want of a more extensive search, especially under the basalt. In the Oarcoar District some very promising reefs have during the year been discovered and worked at Milburn Creek; the reefs so far as opened up are said to show rich stone throughout.
On Crudine Oreek, in the Tambaroora and Turon District, some sluicing ground has been opened and a large extent is likely to prove payable. At Upper Bingera, in the Peel and U ralla District, some rich ground has been opened on the wet lead. One party is said to have realized £20 per man per week for several weeks.
On the older gold-fields very satisfactory progress has been made during the year, allowance being made for the effects of the drought and the}’ushes to new fields. The vVarden at Carcoar reports that the Brown’s Oreek Company, one of the most im· portant in the Colony, treated 20,531 tons for an average of 3 dwts. 11 grains per ton, being a higher average than was obtained in 1878 or 1879. He also reports that a Company was formed to work a large reef on the Belubula River by water power-l,294 tons yielded 3 dwts. per ton-and states that there are several localities on the banks of the river where large but comparatively poor reefs could be advantageously worked by water power.
The Mining Registrar reports the finding of rich quartz at Oaloola. The vVarden at Oopeland calls attention to the large reefs at Oobark, which he says average! oz. per ton, are easily worked, and the stone could, by mean of an adit, be inexpensively conveyed to a battery, and he adds that a battery of 30 heads could be worked by water power.
In his opinion (and his experience is very extensive) this locality and the Kerriput present excellent openings for the investment of capital under good management. He reports that many of the mines at Copeland are idle-this is probably due to the rush to newer fields, as there can be no doubt that the reefs in this locality would pay well if properly worked, and it is scarcely likely that they will be allowed to remain long unworked.
The return furnished by the Mining Registrar at Copeland shows that the stone raised during 1880, so far as the results can be obtained, averaged 2 ozs. 1 dwt. per ton. The Mining Registrar points out that the yield of gold for 1880 is less by 1,642 ozs. than 1879, but the decrease in the number of miners is so much greater that the average yield per miner is greater in 1880 than in 1879.
He states that at one claim there were 400 tons of quartz at grass at the end of the year which could not be crushed for want of water. He states that the machinery on the field has increased and improved, though there are localities entirely without machinery which cannot be developed for want of it.
The vVarden also reports that the reefs at I~ittle River, Dungog, have given good returns. The ‘Varden at Braidwood J’eports that the attempt to extract the gold from the pyritons veins at Major’s Creek has resulted in failure, notwithstanding the large outlay of capital.
This if; deeply to he regretted, as these veins have becn proved to contain a large quantity of gold, and the energy and enterprise of the proprietors certainly deserved success. So far the only process by which the gold can be extracted from these veins is a chlorine process in use in Victoria, but the cost of carriage of the material to the works is so great that the margin left barely covers the cost of raising the stone.
It is to be hoped that some process suitable to the treatment of this peculiar stone will be made available for the working of these veins, as thereby a profitable field for enterprise will be opened up. From the Warden’s report there appears to be a prospect of the quartz reefs at Little River, in the Braidwood District, being efficiently worked. The Mining Registrar at Orange reports that the pyritous recfs at Lucknow, near Orange, are proving richer, wider, and more permanent at 385 ft. than near the surface, but the material cannot be treated in the Oolony, and has to be sent to England for treatment.
Pyrites sent by the Reform Oompany to England for sale during the last nine months of the year realised £4,149. The Mining Registrar at Araluen says the reefs there have been proved to contain gold in payable quantities, but owing to a mixture of base metals it cannot be extracted by any process known in the district.
At Yalwal, in the Shoalhaven District, the Warden states that, though the quartz reefs cover a wide extent of country, prospecting is confined to a very small area. The reefs at work appear to give good returns.
The quartz at the Eclipse Mine is said to yield from It to 4t ozs. per ton; at the Pinnacle mine the average is 1 t oz. per ton; at the Pioneer, with a reef averaging 6 feet wide, the average yield per ton is 19 dms. 18 grs.; at the Homeward Bound the average is 1 oz. per ton.
The extensive works in course of construction for the purpose of bringing water to work, by hydraulic mining, the numerous dykes of granite containing payable gold at Poverty Point, in the Clarence District, are not yet completed, but the Warden says that when complete a large Yield of gold may be anticipated, as the water will have a pressure of 50 feet-quite sufficient to break down and reduce the soft granite, an almost unlimited extent of which is known to be auriferous.
If this undertaking prove successful, there is a probability that the similar deposit at Wilson’s Downfall, referred to by Mr. Geological Surveyor Pittman, will also be worked. In the Oobar District reefs have been opened up at Tindayrie and at Honeybogle, which promise to prove payable, but work has been suspended at the latter place in consequence of a dispute as to the ownership of the land. Prospecting is said to be carried on with prospects of success at Rock Holes in the same district. Mr. Warden Browne, who has so long and ably discharged the duties of Warden of the Mudgee Mining District, and who has recently been removed to Dubbo, in submitting his last report points out that nearly a score of tons of gold have been won with rude appliances, chiefly from alluvial deposits, within the comparatively small area worked, and that it is scarcely likely that the whole district, comprising several hlmdred square miles, has been completely denuded of the precious metal.
From his report it appears that prospecting has been retarded by the drought, but some deep claims at Home Rule, which are paying well, have established the existence of a defined lead trending in the direction of the Britannia Lead, and thence probably making for the main channel or gutter formed by the junction of the Star and Black Leads. Mr. Warden Browne also reports that fair progress has been made by the prospectors on the Black Lead, and he expresses an opinion that much payable ground might be opened at the Oanadian if powerful steam machinery were employed to drain the lower levels; he also reports the erection of machinery to work on a large scale the extensive deposits of cement at Tallawang.
He further reports the discovery of payable gold on the private property of the Honorable G. H. Oox, on the south bank of the Oudgegong and at Bara Oreek, and says there are indications of payable gold being found in an extensive fiat within the Havilah estate. The Mining Registrar at “Vindeyer reports the finding of nuggets varying from 5 to 11 ounces on the Upper Meroo.
On the whole the outlook for 1881 appears to be satisfactory, and if a fair supply of water be obtained, the yield of gold should be largely in excess of that for 1880, which is, I am happy to say, notwithstanding the drought, slightly in excess of that for 1879.
The following table, kindly furnished by the Master of the Mint, shows the quantities of gold brought by escort and otherwise into the Royal Mint during the years 1879 and 1880 :- The following table shows the results obtained from some of our quartz reefs during the years 1879-80. The returns furnished by the Mining Registrars for 1880 are more complete than those for the preceding year, but the average yield is very much lower. The lowest average is from the Bathurst District; this is due to the fact that in that district some very large reefs are worked for a comparatively small yield.
The average yield, though smaller than that of the previous year, is far from unsatisfactory considering the quantity of stone treated. It is to be hoped that in future our large quartz reefs will receive more attention from capitalists, because, though they cannot be profitably worked by the individual miner, they might with the aid of skill and capital be made to yield a very handsome profit if worked with economy upon a large scale.
From the returns furnished by the Mining Registrars it would appear that the number of gold-miners in the Colony in 1880 was 13,430, including Chinese, which is a very large increase upon the number in 1879. Of this number 11,403 were engaged in alluvial, and 2,027 in quartz-mining, while in 1879 the number were, alluvial 6,476, and quartz 1,826.
It is quite possible that the increase is not in fact so great as it appears, but there can be little doubt that a large number of persons from outside the Colony, or who were following other pursuits within it, were attracted to the Temora and Montreal Gold-fields.
By reference to the table annexed to this report it will be seen that, while no great increase in the number of quartz-miners has taken place, the number of alluvial-miners has increased in every district except Tambaroora and Turon. The increase in the yield of gold when compared with the increase in the number of miners is small; consequently, in following the practice of previous years of dividing the gold won by the number of miners the average of their earnings appears exceedingly small, thus :- 118,6000zs. divided amongst 13,430 miners gives less than 9 ozs. per man for the year’s work. The facts are, however,-lst.
That the increase in the number of miners did not take place till the latter half of the year; 2nd. At new rushes a considerable number of miners are engaged in looking about or in unproductive labour; 3rd. A very large portion of the washdirt raised at Temora during 1880 could not be treated for want of water.
Making due allowance for these special circumstances, the average has probably been quite as good as that of previous years; and taking into account the new discoveries made, and the extent of new ground prospected during the year 1880, the result of the year’s operations may fairly be regarded as satisfactory, and on the whole gives promise of considerable improvement in this branch of mining.
The new finds will doubtless give employment to a large number of operative miners, and if capitalists could be induced to undertake the systematic working of the deposits on onr older gold-fields, which present ample scope for the profitable employment of capital under skilful and economic management, the gold-fields of this Colony would probably take a position second to none in the world.
INSPECTOR OF MINES REPORT ON TEMORA
“Of late years the number of our gold-miners has steadily decreased, but the rich finds of gold at Temora have again brought many back into the rank of gold-miners and prospectors; and therefore indirectly the discovery of the Temora gold-field might be the cause of opening up other new gold-fields in New South Wales.”
INSPECTOR OF MINES REPORT ON TEMORA
The discovery of this gold-field has again drawn attention to the fact that large areas of payable and rich gold-bearing country lie still undisturbed in several parts of our Colony.
Tracts of country between the Murrumbidgee, the Lachlan, the Bogan, and Darling Rivers have as favourable surface indications of rich auriferous deposits as the Temora gold-field and its neighbourhood.
Of late years the number of our gold-miners has steadily decreased, but the rich finds of gold at Temora have again brought many back into the rank of gold-miners and prospectors; and therefore indirectly the discovery of the Temora gold-field might be the cause of opening up other new gold-fields in New South Wales.
I met several old miners whom I had known at Ballarat, Bendigo, and other Victorian gold-fields, as well as on gold-fields of New South Wales, who for years had exchanged the pick and shovel for some less precarious employment, but they are now once more ranked amongst the gold-diggers of the day, and henceforth likely to remain such unless fortune smiles on them.
I am of the same opinion as many of the veteran gold-diggers, that although their occupation might be full of hardship and privation, it is an occupation by which the hardworking horny-handed man can raise himself from poverty to affluence, from an employe ~o an employer.
I have, however, no hesitation in stating that there is not sufficiently profitable work for the large population congregated at Temora, which at the time of my visit could not be less than 8,000, because it must be remembered that miners’ claims are now far larger than they used to be, about seventeen claims in length forming a mile ; therefore, allowing a double line of claims at work for 3 miles, this would give 112 claims, or 612 men employed, but including Craig’s lead, quartz reefs, &c., about 1,000 men were employed in December last.
The principal gold deposits were found in a narrow deep valley with diorite, schist, and conglomerate formation, the sinking being through layers of red gravel and clay, from 70 to 90 feet, with the exception of one or two claims near Parker’s Prospecting Olaim, viz., the Golden Gate, which is about 130 feet in depth.
This no doubt is one of the ancient GilgaiHoles, as the deep ground cannot be traced from it. The valley trends in a northerly direction, and does not contain a regular or continuous run of gold. This opinion is confirmed by the fact that short streaks or runs of gold are met with in an easterly and westerly direction across the valley, whereas I have already stated the valley trends in a northerly direction; to this must be attributed the several blanks or poor parts in or between reputed rich claims, as well as the apparently great width of the payable auriferous deposits in different parts of the valley, especially below Malony and Ley’s prospecting claim.
Had the supply of rich auriferous deposits in the valley derived its existence from the quartz-reefs at the head of the valley and not from other sources the coarse samples of gold would also have been found in its vicinity, but such is ~10t the case, as the coarse gold is found fully a mile below these quartz-reefs.
This in my opinion proves beyond doubt that the rich deposits in the Temora Valley received their supply from sources close at hand, such as the several points or brows of hills on which rich surfacing might yet be discovered, as well as narrow rich quartz-veins.
The gold throughout the valley is generally of a coarse descJ:iption; the largest nugget obtained up to the date of my departure was 76 ozs. The gold is very little if any waterworn, some of the pieces, both large and small, being ragged, others fiat, and intermixed with quartz, having the appearance as if at one time they formed part and parcel of small but rich quartz veins.
Probably after the original shareholders have deserted their holdings and the fossicker has taken their place, some of these narrow quartz-veins may be discovered, from whence this valley received its golden treasures.
There are no less than four registered prospecting claims, viz., Parker & 00., Tynan & Co., Murray, Ley & Co., and Malony & 00. Parker & Co., sinking 82 feet with thickness of a clayey wash 4 feet. They had about 350 loads of wash dirt at grass, and picked by hand about 18 ozs. of gold. Tynan & 00., half a mile lower down the valley, sinking 72 feet; thickness of wash 5 feet.
They had about 1,400 loads of wash at grass, which was supposed to yield t oz. gold per load. Murray, Ley, & Co., !-mile below Tynon’s, sinking· 74 feet; thickness· of wash, 6 to 8 feet. They had about 800 loads of wash dirt at grass, which is considered payable; they had picked by hand about 800zs. of gold. A sixth share changed hands at the time of my visit in December last for £400 cash. Malony & Co., !-mile below Murray, Ley, & Co., sinking 80 feet; thickness of wash, I! foot.
They have several hundred loads of washdirt at grass, which is considered payable. Between these prospecting claims, and above Parker’s as well as below Maloney’s reputed payable claims are at work, but I cannot go into details in this report as to the prospects, &c., of the several claims along the whole length of the valley; suffice it to say that the washdirt (auriferous strata) varies from 1 to 8 feet in thickness; and I might here mention an instance which occurred in Messrs. John Bolton & Oo.’s spare ground, immediately below Murray, Ley, & Co.’s prospecting claim. Bolton & Co. had taken 6 feet of washdirt, and while engaged sinking a foot-hole for a prop, which is generally sunk deep enough through the swelling schists on to the harder rock, in this instance 2 feet, they came upon a nugget weighing 5 ozs. Since then this party are taking 8 feet of washdirt.
Considering that the length of the alluvial workings is about 3 miles, and the great thickness of washdirt taken, as well as the insufficient supply of water for prospecting the wash dirt, it is but reasonable to suppose that several claim-holders will be disappointed when their present large heaps of wash dirt are operated upon by the puddler; but there is no doubt whatever that good payable and rich washings will be obtained froll different parts of this -valley.
About i of a mile in a north-westerly direction from Maloney’s prospecting· claim are situated the celebrated nuggety claims of Keating and Hayes, Nugent and Adams, and Buckley & Co. Out of these three claims about 1,500 ozs. of nuggets have been picked by hand. In the first week of Decem bel’ a nugget was found in Keating and Hayes’ claim weighing 59 ozs. 1 dwt., which was 7 inches in length, 2i inches in width, and about 1 inch in thickness, not the least waterworn, but ragged, and had a half-turn or twist in it. Again, on the 6th December, at the time of my inspection of the underground workings of these three claims, Nugent and Hayes obtained a nugget weighing 64 ozs., and Buckley & Co. (the adjoining claim) obtained about the same time a nugget weighing 46 ozs. 18 dwts. 20 grs. I· had these three nuggets in my hand, and by their appearance I cannot COlle to any other conclusion than that they came from some source close at hand, and not from the large reefs at the head ofthe Valley. I should not be the least surprised (and my opinion is based on personal inspections and observations made in the underground workings of the principal mines at Temora) to hear that narrow veins, even as rich as those at Hawkins Hill, Hill End, had been discovered. I am anxious that miners should try in or near these rich claims for the source of these rich auriferous deposits.
So far all attempts to trace a run of gold into or out of these three rich claims have been unsuccessful. At Bourke & Co.’s, a few claims below Murray, Ley, & Co.’s prospecting claim, a nugget 76 ozs. had been obtained. This is one ufthe richest claims at Temora.
They have a large body or rather belt of veins in their alluvial workings, and I have no doubt that here too gold of payable nature will be found in narrow streaks and not through the whole body of quartz.
At the Deep Lead, Craig & Co’s. prospecting claim was the only claim which could be considered as working on payable gold. By examination of the underground working, I think this to be an alluvial lode, similar to those worked in the Gulgong, Cargo, and Carcoar districts. Several claimholders were still sinking on the frontage, and some of them had struck water, which could be made available for gold-washing purposes.
At the time of my visit there could not be less than 10,000 loads of washdirt at grass on the various alluvial claims at Temora. When once a plentiful supply of water can be obtained for mining purposes, more prospecting will be carried on, and new discoveries of gold are likely to be made, as the country for miles around has the appearance of being auriferous.
In the alluvial workings at Temora the swelling schist (pipeclay bottom) and the glossy fissures (greasy heads) are a source of danger to the miner, which can only be obviated by filling the ground behind when worked out, adopting a system of securing the ground in squares (pigstying), also to keep shafts sunk ahead of the main workings, by which persons below could escape in case of danger.
Parts of the workings at some of the claims had fallen in through insufficient timbering, but there is abundance of timber close at hand, therefore there cannot be any excuse for not properly securing the underground workings. Quartz Reefs.-The quartz reefs discovered up to date of my inspection were principally in the diorite formation, at or near the head of the valley, and are several feet in width, but as far ‘as I could observe the gold generally carrying in a narrow streak, but probably as depth is obtained the gold might become more evenly distributed throughout the body of the quartz.
The large quantity of quartz which could be raised at a comparatively small cost might yield payable returns. The future prospects of Temora are such as will place it on a permanent footing, and what but a few months ago was a mere sheep-walk will henceforth rank amongst the permanent towns of New South Wales, surrounded by a prosperous mining and agricultural population. Although the population of Temora will perhaps be considerably reduced, and some of the tradesmen who helped to erect the buildings in the town, which consist of one street nearly 3 miles in length, named Upper, Middle, and Lower Temora, will also leave to follow their avocation in some other parts of the Colony, but there will still remain a large mining population, especially as the alluvial workings are patchy and nuggety-they will be worked over again several times, and new payable finds will be made both in alluvial and quartz perhaps where they a~’e least expected.
Reservoirs, dams, and puddling machines are erected on every available and suitable site all over Temora, and miners are only awaiting the first heavy downfall of rain to commence operation. Ba’rmedman Reef.-These reefs, which are situated about 25 miles from Temora, have been at work for about eight years, and if the surrounding country was thoroughly prospected, there is very great probability that payable results would be the consequence.
MINES INSPECTORS BRIEF SUMMARIES OF VARIOUS FIELDS
Gold.-The following districts were officially visited by me during the year 1880:
West – Mudgee, Gulgong, Wellington, Parkes, Forbes, Orange, Cargo, Carcoar, Cowra, Canowindra, Rockley, Bathurst, Sofala, and Hill End;
South – Grenfell, Young, Gundaroo, Queanbeyan, Paddy River (Tumbarumba), Adelong, Gundagai, and Temora.
North – Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Armidale, Uralla, Tamworth, and Copeland (Barrington).
MINES INSPECTORS BRIEF SUMMARIES OF VARIOUS FIELDS
This gold-field is still very dull, the several prospectors so far having been unsuccessful. There are however a few mines at Home Rule, Canadian, and other places which have given fair returns.
Parkes.
The quartz reefs in the Parkes district have of late employed a good number of men, and if the quartz veins were more thoroughly prospected Parkes would again be a prosperous mining district.
Forbes.
The South Lead Gold-mining Company carries on the principal mining operations in the Forbes district, but so far the Company ht’,s been unsuccessful. They have large machinery, but they have only one small shaft 240 feet in depth. On my last inspection in December last, I found the ventilation in this mine very bad, and I am afraid the Company will not be able to carryon work much longer unless they sink another shaft and connect with their present working shaft. Gold can be obtained throughout the whole workings, but the manager (Mr. Phillip Davies) has hitherto been unable to work the mine to the best advantage, owing principally to having only one small shaft. There are a few other mines working at Queen’s Lead, Bald Hills, and other places.
Carcoar.
Gold-mining in this district has lately come to the front, some rich quartz veins having been discovered near Milburn Creek.
Hill End.
Several mines are still working with varied success. The Krohman’s Amalgamated Goldmining Company are now down 713 feet with their perpendicular shaft, gold showing freely in leaders, although the crushings of late have not been payable. The Star of Peace Mine.-This mine holds the largest area at Hawkins Hill, but want of capital has prevented this mine being developed. It is but reasonable to suppose that if work~ ing capital (say £10,000) were forthcoming, this may become one of the best dividend-paying mines in New South Wales. The Patriarch mine is on the northern boundary of the Star of Peace mine. Mr. Charlton, the manager of this mine, in an easterly cross-cut 140 feet in length and at the depth of 250 feet, struck a new vein. The last 30 feet of the cross-cut were driven through a belt of veins, about fourteen in number. The most easterly vein in this belt, at first supposed to be the Frenchman’s but now known as the New Patriarch vein, shows good gold, and varies in thickness in rolls from 2 inches to 2 feet. A crushing shortly before Christmas of 72 tons gave 214 ozs. of gold, or about 3 ozs. per ton. This leaves a profit of £483 lIs. after all the expenses of raising and crushing are paid for. The mine is the property of Mr. Christopher Newton, of Sydney. The Caledonia Mine.-Mr. Moustaka, manager, has also had some payable crushings. There are several other mines at work between Hill End and Tambaroora, but not much worth noting has taken place, and mining matters have rather a dull appearance at present. Bathurst. Prospecting is now carried on at the Bald Hills and other parts surrounding the city, but nothing had been found at the end of the year which could be considered payable.
Grenfell.
Mining matters are dull, but there are rich quartz reefs which only require capital and judicious management to make them once more bring forth their wealth, and make Grenfell what it ought to be-a prosperous mining town.
Young.
So far the expectations of the Burrangong Drainage Tunnel have not been realized, but the Company are still prosecuting their work. A Company has been formed to prospect with boring-rod the large flats known to be auriferous below the drainage tunnel.
The Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company at Uralla was the principal gold-mine at work in the Armidale District. This Company had expended nearly £5.000 in a drainage tunnel which commenced at Mount Jones, and io; intendf)u to intersect the heavy water-soaked drifts of Sydney Flat. This flat or rather table-land of a basaltic range has been partially worked years ago, but the individual miner not being able to cope with the difficulties appertaining to deep wet workings abandoned the whole of this aUTiferous ground, which laid idle for twelve to fifteen years, until the Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company started to work in April, 1876.
This Company at first applied for 25 acres and 17 acres respectively; but finding their original capital insufficient, they increased their capital, and at the same time took up a large area of country under the 28th section of the Mining Act of 1874, on the Uralla temporary common, which was granted, no objection having been lodged against the Company taking possession of said land. The total length of the tunnel, including drives on the top levels, was at the time of my inspection 1,555 feet in length, the half of which required blasting. I was informed by old hands of the Rocky River Gold-field that the prospects of this Company are excellent.
The Bullion Company.-This Company’s works were suspended, pending a settlement of dispute between them and the Long Tunnel G.M.e. On this matter I reported fully on the 17 th April last, therefore will not again insert it in this report. There were also a few sluicing claims at the Rocky River, but they were idle for want of water.
Copeland (Barrington).
This gold-field has also been reported on by me in May last; I will therefore not go into details in this report. The quartz veins on the Copeland gold-field will always be expensive and difficult to work. The steep ranges on which these reefs are situated, and the porous natUTe of the ranges in the vicinity where the auriferous quartz veins are found, will always retard the progress of this field. To counteract this as much as possible, a system of tunnelling should be introduced where practicable, and each line of reef should have a battery as near to the mouth of the tunnel or site of mining operations as possible. Where tunnels could not be driven advantageously, short lines of self-acting tramways may be erected, especially as the timber for such purposes grows in abUlrdance near every mine. By the adoption of this plan, the mines would be drained of water and the cost of carting and crushing the quartz would be considerably reduced. Gold-saving appliances of the most improved principle should also be introduced, and add to this the strict enforcement of the labour condition on gold-mining leases, and Copeland would regain its former prosperity.
MINES INSPECTORS REPORT ON ADELONG
“The principal quartz-mining property in the whole Adelong District – and I have good reasons to think in the whole of New South Wales – is now owned and in course of being developed by a Mr. Bolton Molineaux, one of the most enterprising and bona fide mine proprietors in the Colony.”
MINES INSPECTORS REPORT ON ADELONG
This gold-field, one of the oldest in New South Wales, is still keeping up its yield of gold.
The Adelong quartz veins have been sunk on to a greater depth than the quartz veins of any other part of New South Wales. The Williams, North Williams, and Great Victoria mines have only just cleared working expenses during 1880.
The whole of these mines are under the management of a Mr. Harford, who is certainly doing his best fOr the interest of these Companies.
At the deepest or over 800 feet level of the Great Victoria Gold-mining Company, in the most easterly cross-cut, a vein was struck in the early part of the year, which it was thought was of a permanent nature, but although this vein yielded several ozs. of gold per ton of quartz, it became so poor as to be not payable.
When I inspected this.mine in November last I endorsed Mr. Harford’s opinion, namely, that the country in the lowest level was very unsettled and broken, there was no proper overhanging wall, and therefore the eastern cross-cut should be extended until the overhanging wall and solid country is met with.
Annetts Bros.-This Company were still obtaining payable gold below the depth of 600 feet. The Research Company (Alexander Bruce, manager) were also on payable gold.
There are also several other quartz mines still at work, with various success.
The principal quartz-mining property in the whole Adelong District-and I have good reasons to think in the whole of New South Wales-is now owned and in course of being developed by a Mr. Bolton Molineaux, one of the most enterprising and bona fide mine proprietors in the Colony.
This gentleman, by his enterprise and perseverance, has done much to bring mining on a sound, legitimate, and renumerative footing, which deserves every legitimate and justifiable encouragement.
The Perseverance Gold-mining Company (Mr. B. Molineaux, proprietor). This property comprises the mine formerly known as the Prouse and Woodward’s the Our own, the Adelong, and the Middle Reef, situated on the eastern side of the Victoria Hill, and known as the Old line of Reef, and Middle line of Reef, an area of 36 ‘acres, or thereabouts, on whi.ch four shafts have been sunk to the following depths, viz.: No. 1 shaft or Prouse and Woodward, to a depth of about 840 feet; No.2, or the Our own shaft, 375 feet; No.3, or the Adelong shaft, 460 feet; No.4, or the Middle shaft, 250 feet on the line of reefs. On the No.1 shaft levels have been put in north and south, commencing on the 240-feet level, extending south a distance of 176 feet, and north a distance of 133 feet, from which the vein has been stoped upwards to the cap of the reef, proving a thickness of from 4 to 12 inches, with an average yield of Ii oz. gold per ton.
On the 375-feet level drives have been extended north from the main shaft a distance of 132 feet; thickness of vein, 10 inches, yielding from 1 i oz. to 3 ozs. gold per ton.
The south drive from this level has been extended a distance of 300 feet, in which the vein averaged 1 foot in thickness, yielding 3i ozs. per ton all through; this level has been stoped through to the 240 feet level. .’
On the 475-feet level from surface the vein averages 1 foot in thickness; the north drive has been extended 130 feet, and the south drive upwards of 400 feet, from which the vein has been worked and stoped up to the 375 feet level, yielding from 1 to 2i ozs. gold per ton. The south drive on this level is still being proceeded with, showing stone of fair quality. The amolmt of ground opened on this level is about 530 feet. On the 530-feet level from surface drives have been extended north 131 feet and south about 275 feet.
On this level the vein averages a thickness of 15 inches, yielding about I! oz. gold per ton. This level is still in work; stone of a remunerative character shows in all the faces south of the main shaft. On the 640-feet. level drives have been extended north 65 feet and south upwards of 200 feet; on this level the vein averaged a thickness of 9 inches, with fair quality stone.
On the 740-feet level the north drive has been extended 50 feet; thickness of vein, 6 inches; stone of fair quality. Here seems to be a pinch in the cleavage of the rock or channel. In this portion of the mine at present progressive work only is being carried on, consisting chiefly of driving and sinking winzes from one level to another, in order to facilitate the speedy output of stone when stoping commences.
From this level the shaft has been sunk to the depth as above stated, which is still being continued in the ordinary way i but in consequence of the change in the temperature, the work is aided by the air-compressor and Burleigh rock drills.
The working of these drills by compressed air has the advantage of supplying fresh air to the deepest part of the mine and the various levels, and is therefore a.great boon to the miners working in. these deep levels, as the fresh air escaping during the working of the drills has the effect of immediately dispersing all noxious gases· resulting from the use of dynamite or other explosives.
The prospects of the bottom of the shaft are encouraging, sufficiently so to induce the manager to continue the sinking to a greater depth. On the bottom of this shaft a lode exists well-defined and of fair quality, heavily charged with pyrites and other minerals showing gold frequently. It is intended to open out on the stone at this level.
All the underground works in this mine are in good order; the levels have been laid with iron rails up to the faces for conveying the quartz and refuse in trucks, which are sent direct from the face to the surface.
The shaft is skidded and worked by cages. Machinery.-One 14-horse power boiler and engine to drive air-compressor, with four Burleigh rock drills. A winding engine, 12-horse power, situated near No.3 shaft, 1,600 feet from No. 1 shaft, but arranged so as to work with ease Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 shafts.
The Our own, or No.2 shaft has been sunk to a depth of about 375 feet, where a small vein of quartz exists, but not of sufficient value to induce the manager to sink this deeper at present, but at some future time it is intended to effect a communication between No. 1 and No. 3 shafts at some specified depth.
The Adelong or No.3 shaft has been sunk to a depth of 460 feet, where there is a vein 20 inches in thickness, which yielded from 12 dwts. to 1 oz. per ton, which is considered payable now the proprietor has a powerful battery. At this shaft, at the level of 420 feet, drives have been extended north 375 feet, showing a vein 12 inches in width, but of poor quality. The south drive has been extended 165 feet, with 14-inch vein, yielding from 15 dwts. to 1 oz. per ton.
Winzes have also been sunk, proving the vein of the same quality and thickness. The work in this shaft has hitherto been of a progressive character, with the view of a speedy and cheap output of stone from the mine. The Middle Reef, or No.4 shaft, has been sunk to a depth of 250 feet. At present no work is being carried on in this shaft, as this portion of the property is to be tested from another point at a lower level. .
The Little Victoria, belonging to the same proprietor, a 20-acre lease on the Victoria line of reef, south of the Great Victoria and Research Companies, but immediately adjoining the Union Gold-mining Company, out of which, in former years, some very rich gold had been obtained. Work commenced on this property about twelve months ago; since then No. 1 shaft has been sunk and timbered up 175 feet, and No.2 shaft is also down 200 feet, and securely timbered, also skidded for the working of cages.
A 12-horse power engine is so placed as to work No. I and No. 2 shafts, which are distant from each other about 900 feet, the steam for the engine being supplied from two powerful boilers attached to the crushing-machine situated in close proximity on a portion of this property.
The prospects in No.1 and No.2 shafts are very encouraging, sufficiently so to induce the manager to both sink and drive, with a view of still further developing at a greater depth this portion of the property. At the time of my visit a large quantity of stone was at grass at the No.1 shaft; but owing to the heavy strain laid on the management, this stone could not be put through for a time.
Machinery.-The crushing-machine which is erected on the bank of the Adelong Creek, near a point where the Victoria line of reefs crosses the Adelong Creek, has not only a command of the easiest and most economic transit of quartz from the principal mines, but also of a permanent supply of water in the driest seasons. 1’his crushing battery consists of a 45-horse power engine, supplying steam both for the battery and winding-engine as well as for a steam-pump which conveys the water from a well to the battery.
There are four boxes of five stamps each; after the crushed stuff discharges through fine grating from the boxes, it runs over tables charged with mercury in ripples, and two sets of copper plates, each set 2 feet in width, after which the stuff passes into Chilian mills, of which there is one to each five stamps; from the mills it passes into Denny’s pulverizer, of which there is also one to each five stamps; from here on the usual blanketing tables into a patent buddle for the concentration of pyrites, from which the residue afterwards passes into a Renfray’s separator for further treatment; then into a reverberating furnace, thus reducing the loss of gold and mercury in crushing to the lowest minimum.
This powerful and effective battery will no doubt enable the manager to treat stone, tailings, pyrites, &c., and which hitherto have been considered not payable, or waste, with profitable results; it will also have the effect of employing a large number of men.
Tramways.-A tramway has been laid through the whole length of this property (which commands the various shafts previously referred to), for the transit of quartz or other goldbearing material to the crushing plant.
The length of the tramway is 1 mile 18 chains. The iron rails were supplied by the Eskbank Iron V orks, and the manager informed me the rails were guaranteed to carry a load of from 7 to 10 tons.
A locomotive engine has been especially constructed to work this line. The locomotive is a splendid specimen of engineering skill, being a speciality for mining purposes. The weight of the locomotive in full working order is about 4t tons.
The principal portions of the machinery in connection with the battery, &c., has also been supplied by Mort’s Dock and Engineering Oompany, and give entire satisfaction.
The rails supplied by the Eskbank Oompany, however, do not give satisfaction, the strength not being equal to carry the locomotive, viz., 4t tons. This has somewhat hindered the manager in completing this branch of the work, but means will be taken to rectify this as speedily as possible.
During the last twelve months the works in the above-described mining property have been purely of a progressive character. The number of tons of quartz crushed at the public battery has been 796 only, yielding 1,032 ozs. of gold. Since the proprietors’ battery has been started, about 200 tons have been put through, with ten heads of stamps only, yielding 225 ozs. retorted gold. Total amount of stone crushed for the twelve months, 996 tons, yielding 1,257 ozs. of gold.
This small output of stone during the year has been chiefly due to the great amount of progressive work done, in the opening of levels at greater depths, the erection of machinery, &c. All the erections of the heavy machinery are built for the carrying on of extensive and successful mining works, in a manner which redounds to the credit of Mr. John M’Lennon, under whose care and guidance these works have been progressing; and I trust Mr. M’Lennon’s hopes of making this mining property the best dividend-paying quartz-mining property in New South Wales will be realised. If honesty, energy, and ability will accomplish it, Mr. M’Lennon will certainly succeed.
The former yields of gold out of this property have been very large, as statistics will show (see my annual report, Department of Mines, for 1876, on Adelong mines). There is, therefore, every reason to think that Mr. Bolton Molineaux will have a rich quartzmining property as soon as his works are fully developed. The Ohallenger Gold-mining Oompany, also on the old line of reef, is now on payable stone, and with their large new engine will be able to haul quartz more speedily from their lower levels than hitherto, and thereby pay dividends to the shareholders. This is also undoubtedly a valuable mining property.
So far, Adelong possesses the best quartz-crushing and gold-saving appliances in New South Wales. In my annual report to the Department of Mines for 1876 I gave full details of both Wilson & Co. and Williams’s crushing-machines, as well as statistics of the yield of gold obtained from the Adelong quartz mines; I therefore consider it superfluous to again go into the same subject in this report. In alluvial mining Mr. A. D. Sheppard’s mine still keeps up its reputation as a rich gold-producing mine. Nearly 100 men are now employed in connection with same. There are also a few parties at work below Mr. Sheppard’s mine, and a large area taken up lower down the creek; but at the time of my visit in November last no active operations had been commenced.
MEANWHILE – BACK AT HILL END
In a wonderfully concise report on the Hawkins Hill workings the Mines Inspector looked at how amalgamation of the tiny claims had finally occurred and of the history of how the field was orginally worked by miners rights holders.
He then looked ahead to how the future of the field involved moving mine entry workings down into the steep gully and tunnelling across to the deeper levels.
MEANWHILE – BACK AT HILL END
This Company’s property consists (including some land held under tribute) of about 16 acres, and embraces some of the principal parts of the famous Hawkins Hill.
Since the Company bought Fisher and Beard’s mine, their property is bounded to the north by the Patriarch mine, in which gold has lately been struck, and the proprietors of which in December last obtained out of 72 tons quartz, 214 ozs. of gold.
The Star of Peace also holds nearly all the eastern country of the richest mines at Hawkins Hill. There are several shafts sunk in different parts of the Company’s land, but with the exception of the main shaft they are shallow; perhaps on the whole few shafts having reached a greater depth than 400 feet.
The main shaft of the Star of Peace has been sunk vertical 200 feet, and from thence it has been continued on the underlay of the Star of Peace vein for 580 feet; total depth o£ main shaft, 780 feet.
At the 765 feet level and 114 feet south of the main shaft, a winze has been sunk 56 feet in depth, making the greatest depth obtained in any part of the Company’s property 821 feet.
From the 280-feet level to the 750-feet level, there is not a single cross-cut to the east, but at the 765-£eet level a cross-cut has been driven to the west 40 feet in length, in which no less than fourteen veins were cut, some of which showed gold; however, in the higher levels only three veins are met with, therefore pointing to the probability that an entirely new belt of payable gold-bearing veins may be discovered to the west.
The Star of Peace Company have obtained several rich patches of gold and have paid £14,000 in dividends; but from my own personal observation, having been through the Company’s working scores of times, I believe the mine has never been systematically worked, principally due to want of working capital.
Formerly the whole of the mines at Hawkins Hill were held under miners’ rights, each miner’s right holder being entitled to 30 feet on the line of quartz vein by 300 feet in width. The parties seldom consisted of more than four men, consequently the largest mine (claim) would be about 120 feet along the veins by 300 feet in width: and still some of the shareholders in these small claims (generally working miners) in a year or two became rich men-owners of thousands of pounds sterling.
The rich finds made in Carroll & Beard’s as well as in Krohman’s mine, the proprietors of which obtained out of 436t tons of stuff 24,079 ozs. 8 dwts. of gold, valued at £93,616 lIs. 9d. sterling, and Beyers & Holtermann’s mine, the proprietors of which in 1873 obtained out of 415 tons of vein stuff 16,279 ozs. 6 dwts. 3 grs. of gold, valued at £63,234 12s. sterling, and the Monte Christo (Hurley & Moore’s) mine having a vein out of which were taken several crushings averaging 200 ozs. per tOIl.
In my presence Mr. James Moore, of Hill End, handed Mr. Alfred Fairfax 12!- ozs. specimens, which were obtained from the 200 ozs. and the Star of Peace veins. Rawsthorne’s, Brown’s, Cock & Attwood’s, Hickson, Creighton, & Beard, Rampant Lion, Paxton,. Star of Peace, Meyers, Fisher & Beard’s, Oxon’s, Rowley’s, Crown Prince, Mathewson, and several other mines, some of which have now been incorporated with the Star of Peace Company, had payable and very rich crushings, in consequence of which speculation became rife, the public became frantic, and the memorable mining mania set in.
Companies were floated in all directions, but the capital often finding its way into the pockets of original shareholders, as well as brokers and promoters, leaving little if any for actual working expenses. Any visitor to Hawkins Hill must be fully impressed with the idea that a large amount of capital and labour has been wasted through the number of shafts sunk, &c.; but, as I have already explained, the whole of the Hawkins Hill mines were held by working miners under miners’ rights and not under lease as at present.
In my opinion, the resources of the Hawkins Hill mines are not exhausted, but their partial failures may be fairly attributed to the small area of the mines, each Oompany being obliged to keep a stat!:’ of officers, such as legal and mining managers, boards of directors, &c.-to the want of actual capital-and last, but not least, to the cheese-paring, false economy, and primitive style in which the whole of the Hawkins Hill mines have hitherto been worked.
It is a notorious fact that on the whole Hill End gold-field not one shaft is or has been worked with cages, but the quartz, debris, water, and even working miners are raised and lowered by the primitive style in buckets. The main shaft in the Star of Peace mine is not even centered, although I have often made complaints and drawn the mining manager’s attention to this important fact.
While inspecting the underground workings of the Star of Peace mine I have seen a full bucket coming up the shaft, and the empty bucket in its descent, instead of passing, would rest on the full bucket and be hauled up again perhaps 50 to 100 feet, until the weight of the rope on the empty bucket would pull it over, and in its fall smash timbers, break the rope, and otherwise do a large amount of damage, independent of being a danger to persons employed in the mine.
The same thing often occurred with baling water, the (kibble) bucket having to be wound fully 700 feet would come in contact with the empty bucket, and spill most of the water. Had money been forthcoming for centering this shaft the Oompany would have been the gainer.
In the Star of Peace Oompany’s property there are some fourteen veins known to be auriferous, and in some very rich patches of gold have been obtained. With the exception of the Star of Peace vein, few of them have even received a partial trial.
To thoroughly develop this property requires capital sufficient to sink at least one perpendicular shaft 9 x 3 feet in the clear, with three compartments, two for cages and one for pump and ladder-way to a depth of at least 1,000 feet, to open main levels on different veins, and cross-cut east aud west, at least every 50 feet, in different parts north and south throughout their property.
Their prese,nt machinery, which consist of a 15-stamp battery with two boiler« of 15-horse power each, and two winding-engines of 10-horse power each, is also insufficient for winding, pumping, and goldsaving purposes.
Before closing this report I beg to reiterate the opinion expressed by me on the Adelong mines in my annual report for 1876, and which might be applied with equal force to the Hill End mines, viz.,-As long as Oompanies will persist in the suicidal practice of starting the workings of their mine with a nominal instead of an actual capital-as long as they persist in declaring dividends without having any capital reserved for times of need-so long will there be almost a certainty of failure.
When a mine is paying, sinking and cross-cutting should be forced ahead, but instead of which, the bunch, run, 01’ patch of gold is generally worked out, dividends declared, and no capital reserved to meet the expenditure for future development; consequently as soon as the gold-producing powers diminish, development is stopped, or perhaps where power under deed of settlement has been reserved, a call of one or two shillings per scrip made, after which the mine is often condemned as worthless, no matter how shallow or undeveloped it may be; and last, but not least, this defective system of working a mine discourages the mining manager, gives him no justice, as it affords him no opportunity of bringing his ability and practical knowledge to bear on the development of the mine under his charge;
Mining is not such a reckless or uncertain venture, provided capital is judiciously laid out under a local manager who has energy, ability, and practical experience which is requisite to guide a new undertaking through its first and greatest difficulties. Many good mines have been ruined through want of working capital and good local management; although it cannot be denied that many mines have been misrepresented by unscrupulous persons.
I also beg to draw your attention to the fact that nearly all the rich Hawkins Hill mines are within a mile of the Turon River, and in this short distance they are from 1,200 feet to 1,500 feet above the level of said river; therefore it is obvious that a main tunnel could be driven on the Hawkins Hill quartz veins, leaving backs from 1,200 to 1,500 feet overhead.
Powerful quartz-crushing and gold-saving machinery could be erected near the mouth of the tunnel, and tramways laid from the face of the workings to the crushing machine. The water which now has to be brought to the surface (causing heavy expenditure) would drain through the tunnel, and could be utilized for quartz-crushing and gold-saving purposes. The geological formation of Hawkins Hill and Hill End Gold-field has been fully reported on by Mr. Geological Surveyor F. F. Pittman, in the annual report of the Department of Mines for 1879.