CHRONOLOGY - 1855: Gold Trails

Gold Trails Chronology: 1855. A timeline of events following the discovery of gold in 1851.

1869
Stamp battery

This was a very busy year for the expansion of quartz reef mining in NSW. All the existing fields were ticking along nicely and Victorian company interests were starting to cross the border to seek out new opportunities.

These company interests were more focussed on developing new fields as most of the existing reefing areas were held by small syndicates and a company could not easily buy into enough ground to make the investments needed in machinery and ore processing worthwhile.

Starting afresh in a new field and taking out a lease over a large area of ground was a much preferred option and this saw some significant new ground opened up at Trunkey Creek thanks to “speculators in NSW being loath to see all the ground taken up by their Melbourne prototypes.”

The year actually started out rather badly for goldmining as the old enemy – drought – ensured that the essential water needed to process the mineral ore was in very short supply.

Some fields were more affected than others, but in general it was a time of growing stockpiles as all eyes looked for some break in the weather.

Water was crucial to the crushing process in order to wash the pulverised ore mixture out of the stamp battery housing and across the mercury coated plates.

It also was the essential fuel used in the steam engine that drove the flywheel operating the camshaft that in turn lifted and dropped the stamper feet.

2 February 1869

THE GOLD-FIELDS. EMU CHEEK.

We still have to lament the stoppage of a great proportion of our crushing machines on account of the absence of ¡water.

During tho week but three machines have been at work, viz., Campbell’s small ono, Martyn’s, and M’Con nell’s.

The last-named one met with an accident on Thursday, and has stopped for repairs. The boiler got burned, and bulged in one place by reason of the accumulation of mud from the water used, and it will take three or four days to take out the plate and put a fresh ono in.

Wellington has also stopped to repair a slight defect, bnt this machine will again start in a few days. Martyn’s ma- chino has been kept going by water being carted to it, and is crushing stone from the Enterprise leased ground.

They will probably retort next week. Campbell’s has been during the week engaged on stone from the prospecting claim Welcome, and will clean up to-morrow; after which they will put through some stone from the reef at the Seventeen-Mile.

The Brundah has been running the amalgamated pan with some tailings, the result being, as we hoar, some 2J dwts. to the ton.

It is, undoubtedly, a very serious drawback to this field for it to be without water, but it will tend to give great confidence in tho stability of Emu Creek when it becomes known that several of tho reefs, as they are being worked deeper, aro greatly improving. No. 1 north O’Brien’s is now producing better stone than has eyer been got out of the claim. No. 1 south Lucknow is greatly im- proving at a considerable depth.

Tho Prussian is turning out again somo splendid looking stone, and O’Brien’s leased ground is still improving as it goes down. The absence of water is a temporary difficulty that timo and season will i ciiedy. Tho fact of our reofs improving as they dcopen t hows the permanence of the district, and that at least at one field in New South Wales we have gold mines worthy of ibe name, and that bid fair to last for years. In our last week’s report of the retort from the stone prospecting claim Welcome there was a typographical error. It should haye read 60 tons yielded 52 oz, instead of 59 tons, 62 oz.)

THE SEVEN-MILE.-The piobability of another gully being speedily opened in this immediate neighbourhood (Eays the Mining Record) forms at present tho paramount subject of action and remark among the mining community.

Juhging from the amount of accumulated wash, and the extra-average prospects obtained in a block claim situated midway in the lino traversed by the Peep o’ Day run, that there was evidence in the existence of a distinct run, but taking a more northerly direction, the last two shafts wero successively put down at a venture, and luckily, too, for bojh bottomed on gold at a depth of nearly 90 feet, and giving from 1 to 2 grains to the dish.

No sooner had the particulars of the discovery of gold in No. 2 shaft been made known than, as’ might have been expected, the more vigilant miners, wheeo peculiar position enabled thom, im- mediately became lessees, and of tho four tracts so taken up, we are led to understand that some of thess had been pegged off during the hour of midnight, to the no small amaze- ment and vexation of many who, at the dawn of day, came to] select, and take possession of what they preconceived to be available ground.

But then it finally rained, and all the good work and capital investment in Grenfell’s dam network paid off as a flooding storm replenished the town’s supplies in a day.

Crushing operations could instantly get back into full swing and business could prosper as people finally got some much needed cash in their pockets.

13 February 1869

THE GOLD-FIELDS. Emu Creek.

We are glad that we can now congratulate the public on there being an abundant supply of water for crushing and washing purposes.

On Sunday evening last heavy black clouds gathered over Grenfell, and a light rain bogan to fall. During the night, a storm of thunder and lightning cameo on, and to- wards tho morning of Monday very heavy rain fell such a Bhowcr ob had not been seen at Gren- fell for over a year.

By 9 o’clock on Monday morning, in tho place of tho dry dutns with thoir unsightly caked mud and sand bottoms, sheets of water could bo seen dotted hero and there around tho town.

It was a pleasant sight after tho wretched appearance of tho place for somo months provious; and was mado moro Îileasant by tho thought that thoso shoots of water meant argo cakes of retorted gold, increased business, and goneral prosperity.

Tho dams at tho various machines stood tho sudden pressure, ns n whole, very woll ; tho only ono giving way that wo hoard of being tho big reservoir, known as tho Company’s. AVhon wo visited tho locality at 9 o’clock on Monday, wo found that tho rush of water had mado a breach right through tho centro of tho embankment, cutting a road for itself somo twenty foot in width. The water had only reached about half-way np tho bank, and had evidently forced tho earth away at the placo where, “ it will bo remembered, a wooden pipo had boen placed when tho dom waa first con- structed.

About thirty mon wero at once sot to work to place bags of sand at the mouth of tho catting and fill in earth, and by tho ovoning tho domago was tolerably well repaired, Tho rain had howover, cloared off, and thoro was only a quantity of water in tho dam for somo thrco months for ono maohinn.

Tho lower dams at tho Brundah were, however, quito full. On Wednesday morn- ing early another heavy shower fell, but of vory short duration ; and again yestordny (Friday) a steady winter like rain sot in, which continued nearly all day, and must havo completely ulled all tho dams to overflowing.

Al tho Scven-milo wo hear all tho dams aro full, and there is great activity among tho minora, as great expectations nro entertained that much of tho ground will turn out payable.

Alongside news of the welcome rains that brought relief to many of the western and southern goldfields, news of another familiar kind of water problem was heard.

This was the problem of the workings filling up with water as they dropped through the water table and the need to set up pumping equipment to dry them out. This offered yet another example of how indispensable capital was to the long term development of any reef mine.

2 March 1869

THE GOLD FIELDS. THE NARRANDERA REEFS.

We understand that at Pyke’s Reef recent crushing of stone gave as much as 8 oz. to the ton.

Tho Boroo (Countess of Belmore) Reef ¡B now down 146 feet, and shows gold at every Btep now made in Binking ; the water in the shaft is salt, and makes about twenty-four gallons in twelvo hours.

A derrick is about to be erected, and with borso instoad of manual labour, tho progress in sink- ing will bo more rapid.

This country appears to promise well for (peculate rs in auriferous reefs, and soon wo aro ossurcd we shall hear that a largo number oro employed either in sinking or prospecting around the neighbourhood.

ADELONG.-rho correspondent of tho Gundagai Times writes :-” Mining matters, on the whole, aro very steady. There ore several claims taken up on the old Victoria Reef, and it is to bo hoped that shortly Adolong will bo itself again.

The miners*bavo confidence in their ultimate suc- cess ; all the claims* that havo persevered have been for- tunate)”

THE SEVEN MILE.-With regard to the above auriferous locality, the correspondent of ihe Burrangong Argus writes -” The payability of the new lead recently discovered in the immediato vicinity of tho township, and whioh has re- ceived the namo of ‘ Cbonoo Gully, is now fully estab- lished, n party in a third claim having been successful in obtaining satisfactory yields.

This shaft wos bottomed at seventy-fivo feet, thtt bed of w ashdirt being four feet deop, and exceeding in quantity any deposit hitherto found on this gold-field. Tho prospects are from two to throi grainB.

It is a pity that the extent of ground on the supposed run, occupied by block claims, numbering only three, is so limited, there being about twelvo acres taken up by leaso ; but w hile, in many respects, there is reason to murmur nt the inconvenient and disastrous effects of the latter system, tho mirers in the present instance have,1 in a great Ditr.iure, thtmselveB to blame for not securing a larger area, as they failed to toko advantago of tho opportunity offered them by pegging out claims when tho first shaft was in course oi sinking.”

ÏROMiANKB.-The Weitem Examiner’s correspondent reports -On Monday, the 6th ultimo, it rained without intermission the whole of the day ; somo of tho dams woro caTriod away, and others saved with difficulty.

AU the machines havo been enabled to resumo work, and the appinranco of tho surrounding country indicates a bene- ficial change. Brown ond Co. have had a crushing of quartz from the Happy-go-lucky Reef, which yielded 1 oz. ö dwts. io the toil.

THE CARGO DIGGINGS.-The correspondent of the Iff stan Ezamwtr writes, on tbo 24lh ultimo :-The peculation of this placo is now almost as groat as over it has been, the recently deserted hills und valleys’ being again thickly sprinkled with the hastily improvised dwell- ings which characterise tho scene of a rush OB the diggings during the suirmicr montbs.

Long Gully is boing worked from top to bottom ; and any number of abandoned claims bave recoived fresh occupants. The result is that one pr two Bmall fresh runs of gold have been discovered, and largo quantities of washdirt raiBod froin’end of the gully to the other, varying in yield from 3 or 4 dwts. (which is scarcely payable) to nearly 4 oz. to tho load-ono lot pf four loads, washed by Smith and party last week, having yielded 15 oz.

Fifteen loads from M’Lachlon’s claim produced 30 oz. : and 100 Lads from the Frenchmen’s claim about I oz. per ton-the above claims being all in Long Gully. Several parties are also at work in Tindish and Township Gul- lies, the earnings of tho diggers (working with the tin- dish or cradle) varying from “ tuckc. “ np to as much as £1 per day in an instance or. two. No fresh gullies havo been discovered, though numerous parties aro out prospect- ing.

What the future of this gold-field will bo it ¡shard to say. That gold is scattered over a very extensiva tract of country in every direction, taking Cargo as a centre, has been long proved, although nothing of very great import- ance has yet been discovered.

Canowindra, some twelve milos off, has given promiso of turning out woll both in ‘ quartz reefs and alluvial, on moro than one occasion, and at the present moment _we hear of a rich quartz disoovery ; while Jack’s Creek, only a short distance from the reefs, still continues to bo sufficiently attractive to keep several parties of alluvial minors there. Various locihtics also between this and Cargo have been proved auriferous,-in sorte instances highly remunerative. W

hat is needed for tho development of this as well as other auriferous districts, is a fund in the hands of Government to furnish rewards to the prospectors of payable ground, which would be aliko beneficial to the diggers and the colony. Many old miners consider the amount of prospecting done even in our immediate neighbourhood to bo comparatively nothing, and will tell you of the cheerless aspect which Lambing Flat wore, on moro than one occasion, immediately preceding the disco- very of some of its richest patches.

The business people here hayo commenced a movement to establish a prospecting association. It is very desirable for tho prosperity of this class that the largo copulation now congregated hore (about 1200) should be retained if possible: and there appears tobe an inclination on all sides to contributo a small sum weekly for the support of such an association.

A parallel reef, tíold-bearing, and tho same description of conglomerate as that of No. 1 North, Alpine, was opened last week within fhei boundaries of the prospecting claim “ Ironclad,” and several tons have already been grossed ; tho vein averages abont nino inches in width. 45 tons of quartz from tho Alpine and IroneJad ore to bo dispatched to Wentwoith for crushing this week. , |

With investment the byword for success in NSW’s revitalised gold mining industry, eyes also turned to established fields like Adelong to question why companies weren’t a part of this major field’s operations.

As one article commented, “This seems all the more singular as it is well known how well small parties with very limited funds often (indeed, depending upon storekeepers for their supplies) have succeeded.”

Adelong it seems had come very close to recording a win for company shareholders in the past, only for a stroke of bad luck result in the operation missing the main line of the reef and fail as a result.

It was subsequently left to syndicates to pick up where they left off and strike the right line to prosperity.

Also of interest in this report is a major account of a new field at Dubbo.

23 March 1869

THE GOLD-FIELDS. ADELONG

It has often been asserted that Adelong would never be an important place until some largo companies had claims, and worked them after the Victorian fashion, but suffice to say, although numerous experienced men have ?visited and inspected our reefs, and have reported on them, no large company has as yet started into active or successful operation.

This seems all the more singular as it is well -known how well small parties with verv limited funds often, indeed, depending upon storekeepers for their supplies- have succeeded.

Tho failure of tho first pioneer company was a great check and discouragement to the formation «f other associations, although we ure well aware fr.im ita subsequent returns that it wns no want of gold in the roof that caused this failure, but the ill luck of the company lu »inking on the wrong channel and missing tho reef.

The ground has since then been taken up by private parties, and -ionio thousands of pounds worth of gold havo Wn taken «nt of it. .

A claim now working within twenty feet of tho cid Pioneer shaft is on good stonu, averaging from one ‘lo _ ‘ two feet thitsk, a. fonrth shnro in which would bo «sgerly bought for £’200, and other claims on tho same ground arc , paying wall.

The company of local speculators on tho Vic- torian reef, 1 am happy to say, havo good prospeots, and now that they havo materially decreased the water and secured a good shaft, thoro is nothing to prevent their raising stone Lnrgo quantities I

t is kDOwn exist in their claim, which al the present reduced price of crushing and «urtngc should pay well. Tho Victoria Jtesearcb Company -»ill, I hope, reap tho reward of their energy and perec- ed anee.

A largo amount of work has also boen dono at the portion of the creek below tho *IIB, which Mr. A. I). Sheppard is at present working for a Sydney company ?with, 1 believe, very satisfactory results.

THE GOLD FIELD AT DUBBO. – Mr. James Samuels, jun., writes to the Dispatch on 16th March : – A large in- flux of diggers having arrived at Dubbo, under the im- pression that a payable gold-field had been found here, a few remarks, bearing on the future prospects of the Dubbo diggings, may not be without its value to the public.

That alluvial gold could be obtained in small quantities in the neighbourhood of Dubbo is a fact which has been well known for many years; but no person ever thought it worth their while to prosecute their search for it, as an in- dustry, until Messrs. Mulholland and M’Gregors com- menced systematically washing at the gravel pits.

With regard to these gravel pits being a payable field for any number of diggers, I have had serious doubts, and the results so far justify those doubts, as several of the earliest workers at the rush, “and they residents of the town,” are now washing the river shingle, evidently finding it more to their profit than seeking for gold at the pits.

In examining the surface outlines of the country around Dubbo, the observer must have remarked the presence everywhere of waterworn quartz, and other gravels, particularly near places where the true local strata pro- trudes through the surface detritus, or the igneous trap overflows. On the tops of the highest ironbark ranges this gravel and shingle can be seen in the form of a conglomerate rock, resting on the subjacent sandstone formation, or broken and scattered about in a fragmentary debris – the fragmentary debris evidently not far from its original rest- ing place.

This rock seldom attains great thickness, and is often but a few inches thick. It is chiefly composed of quartz gravel, or boulders, cemented together by oxide ft iron, clays, and other sediments. Many persons who have passed over the coarser material have believed and as- serted that they have seen quartz reefs in situ when in fact it was but the exposed face of a sub-aqueous deposit, now a conglomerate rock, high and dry many hundred feet above its original place of deposit ; owing its present elevated position no doubt to the upheaving agency of igneous forces, the records of which are now so plainly to be seen in the trap and volcanic penetrations so numerous in this district.

The drift and hills of gravel are probably the results of the same influence, con- temporaneous with powerful aqueous action. I am disposed to set some value on the conglomerate I have been speaking of, as I believe it to be the youngest sede- mentary rock over a wide area of this district ; and having always noticed it in its true strategraphical position, I think it will yet become a guide in classifying our local strata.

We in a great measure owe to it, too, the conser- vation and purity of the water under our plains and gullies ; and from evidence, I shall endeavour presently to adduce, I think it will prove to be intimately connected with the finding of gold around Dubbo.

The rock may be seen at the back of Dubbo, on the Troy Gully Range. I have noticed it down the river at Burrabadine, on the summit of the ridges ; up the river, on the Dubbo side, it may be seen cropping out in many places, although the country here is much obscured by trap overflows and debris. A friend o mine informed me he had seen a similar conglomerate so far down the Bogan River as Mount Oxley, and that it rested upon trap. The latter statement, I think, must be a mistake, as it is more likely to have been flanking or coming out from under trap; and if the equivalent of our local conglomerate, I have no doubt but the subjacent strata will prove to be the equivalent of that around Dubbo also.

Tho conglomerate is prevalent, too, up the Talbragar River. About twelve months back I examined and found it capping the highest ridges along both sides of that creek, so far up as Ballimore Hill, twenty-two miles from Dubbo ; and a few weeks ago (in company with a gentleman of this town) remarked again the prevalence of this litbological surface feature to within a few miles of Nearan, some thirty-eight miles from Dubbo. Here my friend, who did not at that time estimate the conglomerate at my value, laid particular stress on the fact that the summit of the hills were without their usual capping.

This greatly perplexed me at the time, and I was only able to account for it on the grounds that we were near a change in the geological character of the place. I was subsequently led to doubt this view ; for, when returning to Dubbo, having climbed to the top of a high range lower down the river, I there saw, obscured on the one side by a sandy beach, but bare and naked for several yards along ; the edge of the section, what appeared to be the same red tabulated smooth surface strata seen at Nearan, pasting under strata twenty or thirty feet below the conglomerate. Having noticed, too, that the detritus after leaving Nearan consisted of a great deal of water- worn sandstone, and other shingle mixed with the quartz, I was induced to believe that the rounded outlines of the hills we had left must be the result of denudation.

Having endeavoured in as condensed a form as I could, without entering into the endless speculations which this subject suggests, to show that the particular conglomerate or its debris caps the highest hills over a large area of this dis- trict, I have now to point out that alluvial gold has been found on the tops or convenient to several of the hills pre- viously named.

On the Troy Gully range, James Groves, jun,, found gold several years ago. More recently, in the same range, Hunsworth and Co. found gold not far from Hieronimous’s road. In the same range, about two miles more to the east, where the Mudgee Road crosses, Messrs. Crew and Davidson found gold, and were so sanguine of their prospects that they completely exhausted their means by sinking a 120 fool shaft, through sandstone and shale, with slight indications of coal. They spent over three months, at this hole, a fortnight of which it took them to go through about two feet six inches of hard rock, probably iron-stone, or interstratification of igneous matter.

Crew to this day thinks the hole was not bottomed, and if he had the means I believe he would re-continue the enterprise of searching for the auriferous bottom. These men are an example of the wonderful energy and patience of gold diggers. I hear that a party are now sinking through the sandstone rock at the gravel pits, and mean to go on until they find a bottom.

I will now caution them that they are leaving the alluvial and the gold ; and will, like Crew and Davidson, most probably come down on carboniferous shale – certainly not on auriferous bottom. At Burraba- dine, over three years ago, some person informed me he had got gold at this place on the top of the ridge, conve- nient to a quartz reef (meaning the conglomerated quartz). Up the Talbragar, on the slope of the range, opposite Bal- limore Hill, Mr. A. Osborne found a small specimen of’ gold adhering to an iron-stone pebble.

I think I have said enough to prove that alluvial gold is scattered in small par- ticles pretty generally over a wide area of the district ; but I doubt it will be found in payable quantities for any number of persons at the one place, unless a field can be discovered near the matrix or proper auriferous strata. ¡STONE« ‘CatEEj;.-Tlie Young correspondent of the J¡imowa Expi-eis writes:-The oruBhinge at the Pioneer, «ince my lost I am -sorry to «ay, have not been of a cheering aiatnre. The proceeds “from James’s reef, Stoney Creek, ¡and the machine ins! (Young), did not realise sufficient to ?cover the expense orf cartage nnd crushing. Tho results ire much to be «sgrettod, more particularly when tho «mount of labour and-capit«! erpendod on them ¡a taken by fcoth parties into -consüoratúai. The Pioneer is now en ¿rsgedon a lot of 209 tons íroni Sullivan’s reef, Seventeen »lile.

Alongside accounts of Dubbo emerging as a new goldfields player, Junee also was establishing itself, with the owners of a small start up venture turning down an offer from a Victorian investor to sell up for £5000.

24 March 1869

THE GOLD-FIELDS. The Junee Reefs.

The time has now arrived when anything concerning the opening up of an important gold-field in New South Wales must be of general interest.

I have no new finds to report, but as the work progreses the indications upon the reefs are favourable. So much so, indeed, that I am informed that a mining speculator from Melbourne, during a recent visit to this place, and after due inspection, offered Messrs. Wallett and Company £5000 for the prospecting claim, and the dam erected in connection with it.

This offer was declined, because the owners do not care to part with all their interest in the claim.

The gold shows coarser and better as the shaft goes down. Messrs. Brown and Berri- gan’s leased ground is being efficiently worked, and they are getting a large paddock of stone, having twelve men constantly at work.

The claim of Messrs. Scott and Scalley is also producing a fine lot of stone, and all appear to be getting ready to keep the machine now being erected by Mr. Kirkpatrick in full work. Every effort is being made by Mr. Kirkpatrick to further the work, and men are employed to urge it on without delay.

This machine is put up on Wallett’s Dam. There is no water at present, and all are of courso looking anxiously for the heavy rain destined to fill this dam.

The stone from Ryan and Heffernan’s leased ground also shows well as they got down. The stone is estimated to be payable from one end of the leased ground to the other, as proved by No. 1 North, the party having got stone at a depth of fifty feet, in which gold is occasionally seen.

In Harry Monk’s leased ground gold has been found in the slip-stones at Ryan and Heffernan’s boundary. There are twelve or fourteen men trenching across Monk’s lease to catch the reef that is covered with the surface earth.

Sinco the discovery of Ryan and Heffernan’s, three new reefs have been discovered that promise to pay, sooner or later, whenever machinery for crushing is avail- able. Mr. G. O’M. Clarke, accompanied by Mr. Surveyor Coombes, visited this place on the 10th instant professionally, to settle disputes and measure all granted claims.

Several disputes were adjudicated upon by the Commissioner. Amongst other matters of moment Mr. Harry Monk put in a claim to the ground applied for by Messrs. Ryan and Heffernan, on the ground that the latter were in illegal possession, Heffernan having, it was alleged, no miner’s right since the occupation. In an ordinary dispute about claims this would have been settled there and then, but the Commissioner has no power to cancel a lease.

This, it appears, is a matter that rests solely with the Minister for Lands, and there is no means of judging when that officer may give the matter his attention. Monk has gone somewhero to procure advice in the matter.

The people are suffering for the want of water, which has to be brought ten miles. It is sold at 7s. per cask. Rain is much needed upon the Levels.

Emu Creek.-Wo take the following from tho Minhuf Record ot Saturday :-” In our mining report of this week will bo found somo returns of recent crushinga which will .show that our statement, published a short timo sinco, to tho effect that tho reefs of Emu Creek, as a whole, were by no means falling off in richness, was a correct one. Look- ing to past oxperience, it is only reasonable to suppose that there will bo a chango in tho various reofs, as they deepen -somo getting poor and »omo richer.

Tho ‘ Whe’d.haoe thought-it’ is a remarkable instanco of the changes aurife- rous reefs undergo at various depths, the last crushing of stone gave a return of only 8 dwts, to tho ton. A break took place in the reef¡ anti somo twenty foot was a perfect blank without a particle of quartz ; on sinking further on tho lino, the reef, or a leader into it, was struck, being rich in gold.

A few tons havo been cruahed, yielding at the rate of 4 oz. 6 dwts. to the ton. This stone was got at 00 feet, and tho vein is 12 inches thick.

Tho complete rctortings, as reported to us this week, are as under :-CainoboH’s finished, on Thurs- day, 37 tons from the Who’d-have-thought-it, the yield being 1G0 oz, 5 dwtB.,’or 4 oz. 6 dwts. to the ton. At this machine, also, 159 tons from tho prospecting claim Wel- come, yield 77 oz. 5 dwts.-or at tho rate of 9J dwts, to the ton.

Also 6 tons of stone from Matthew’s four-acre lease, Junee, were finished, the yield boing 3 dwts. to the ton. Tho Brundoh finished 740 tons for No. 1 south Lucknow this week, the yield boing 781 oz., or a little over an ounco to tho ton.

At M’Connell’s there was a retort from 104 tons, from the prospecting claim Prussian, the yield being 486 oz. 3 dwts., or at tho rate of 4 oz. 13 dwts. to tho ton. At Vaughn’s, sinco our last report, thero has boon a retort from 348 tons from No. 3 South Lucknow, tho yield being at tho roto of 15 dwts. to the ton. Bevan’s finished, last Saturday, 550 tons from No. 1 South O’Brion’s, tho yield being 159 oz. 9 dwts., or an average of G dwts. to the ton.”

The Seven-mile.-The Record’s correspondent Bta’es with reference to tho above field :-At tho Seven-mile, although there is abundance of water in the dams, in con- sequence of the rain which fell on Tuesday, there is littlo work for tho machines to do. The paddocks havo all, with few exceptions, been washed-up, and the minerB are busily engaged raising more washdirl. Tho Peep-of-day, leased ground, did not yield so much as much expected, the’ average per load produced being 7 dwts. This result is attributed to the quantify taken of unpayable wash ; whereas, if tho shareholders had confined themselves to tho real run, a different and much larger yield would havo been obtainod.

Three months later and it looked like Brown and Borgen’s faith in the value of holding onto their claim was rewarded when intial crushing s of “the worst” stone gave promising returns.

Nearby at Narrandera “Other reefs have been discovered,and sanguine expectations are entertained that ere long the country concerned will hold out many inducements for enterprising men.”

1 June 1869

THE GOLD-FIELDS. THE JUNEE REEFS.

The alluvial prospecting in the southern portion of this district is discontinued, but is still being carried on by Garey and party at the northern, among the Sebastapol group. No success has as yet attended them.

On Saturday, 104 tons of Brown and Borgen’s were cleared up, and gave of amalgam 182 oz. : and, as gold in this stone boars tho proportion of _ about thrcc-BOvenths, its yield will bo IG dwts. per ton.

It is said, howiver, that this is the worst stone. The new gold bearing vein, which has aroused some little attention, was found fourteen days ago, and occupied as u prospecting claim rn tho 20th instant by Yuunç and othors.

It occupies tho Boutli-eastern slope’of the highest hill for a coDBiderablo distance around. From tho summit of this hill, which is comparatively treeless, mountains within n radius of many miles aro visible. There aro scarcely any surface indications of rich fragmentary quartz near tho vein.

The formation is coarse brown slate. Tho vein, which is very insignificant, not more than three inches, runs duo north and south, and undeilies cast. Not moro than six feet of it in depth, and thicc in length, have been exposed, so that to hiiznrd nn opinion of its merits is beyond any- one’s power.

It is simply n rich vein-possibly a” leader” to something more substantial, a finger-post to invito pro- specting, nnd, as such, the locality might ho worth the attent ion of those who have the wherow ith to do so.

C1 lims nro.tfikcn north and south, which, if allowed to be idlo until the prospectors aro “ cut dawn,” aro likely to bo unrcmu nei stive for a long pcried. «Evv itBErb.-ino li naga II agga express reports:

New reefs of greater or less vnluo are being constantly discovered about Junee.

A person was in town on Thurs- day, exhibiting specimens of gold-bearing quartz taken from aiejcently-fouiielieef in tho neighbourhood of Combaning.

The gold wns very perceptible to tho naked eye, and tho specimen was taken at hazard from tho surface of the roef. ‘Iheie aro three men interested in the claim, and there can iu ¿o doubt (hoy will obtain very satisfactory results from .lu ir po->seEsion as soon ns the nicanB for ciusning the stone >H vvithiu their reach.

From tho reports which continually lench us of tho opining up of reefs in various localities in this district, wo should fancy two or threo machines for crushing quartz could find constant employment.

T;IIE BKLMOIU’. RKEI’.-”We hear, writes tho Deniliquin Chronicle of the 27th, that all tho shares in tho company for ‘winking this reef, situated at Narandera, havo now been taken up; the crushing machinery, which has been some time on tho ground, will at once bo finished und put in motion.

Other reefs have been discovered,and sanguine expectations aro entertained that ere long the country concerned will hold out many inducements for enterprising men.

Ouit Goin-FiEi.n.-We havo been purposely (svys the Dubbo Dispatch) hanging on our ours to ascertain gomo de- finite information beforo shooting ahead, and.havo been re- warded with news of a moro cheering chnraoter in roferenco to our gold-fields. There aro four partios out still, two of whom aro sinking from the top of an adjacent hill, through trap rock, using powder to blast their way down.

They have penetrated to a depth of about thirty-four feot, and intend to co on till thoy bottom. The other party (M’Grcgor’s) is driving towards the hill.

Tho prospectors (No’wlan and Stretton) ate obtaining gold alluvially in pay- able quantities. They intend to procuro a tom, as being much profe-rablo to the slow process of cradling, and they arc sanguino of success.

All in all there was an extraordinary sense of optimism in the air about everything to do with the gold mining propsects across the southern and western districts at that time.

Reorganisation and investment was underway, with a major example being the formation of a new company to buy and operate the Lucknow goldfield which was located on the private lands of the Wentworth property in order to work in in a very thorough and systematic manner.

21 April 1869

GOLD MINING

The fine rains that have fallen during the past month have extended to every part of the colony, and have given the gold-miners of New South Wales a copious supply of the water so necessary to tho successful carrying on of their avocations.

As a natural consequence, now that fino weather has again set in, moro than usual activity is being displayed in tho several gold-fields, and we may onticipnto that tho next few escorts will bo larger than usual.

From the Southern Gold-fields the news is most encou- raging. The escorts from Kiandra keep up pretty well, considering how small a number of miners is at present at work on that gold-field ; tho gold, however,’ is principally procured front tho quartz reefs now working.

At the Tumut and at Adelong things are going on remark- ably well, the crushing machines aro now kept constantly at work, and .extensions of the reefs havo been opened up in two or three instances.

With regard to tho valuo of tho stono in this locality, it may bo mentioned that G8 tons of quartz, from the Prophet’s reef nt Kimo, gave 204«z. of gold. Three ounces or gold to tho ton of stone is some- thing very handsome.

Iho reefs between Narandora and “Wagga Wagga aro about to be worked by a company, a large proporlion of tho shares having being taken np. On tho Burrangong gold-field (Lambing Flat) there has boen some now alluvial workings opened nt the Wombat, an old diggings which at ono timo gavo some very splendid returns to the miners.

The now ground is found to be payable, but nothing moto ; but, with a copious supply of water for sluicing purposes, somethiuc more than w’nges may bo mode out of tho wnsh-dirt. Tho reefs at Chanco Gully and I the Soentecn-mile, both on this geld-ucld, havo not given I payoblo prospects, the crushings having shown only some I 3 awts. to tho ton.

Tho Emu Creek reefs still maintain I their reputation. Tho old reefs-O’Brien’s, Lucknow, Homeward Bound-keep up a good overage, tho stone, if we exe opt that lnken from experimental root’s, avoragmg iully 1 oz. gold to (ho (on. Turning to (bo Western Gold-fields, tho rainfall here hns been r.von glentor, ns it was much more wanted than on ti o Southern diggings.

At our last monthly repos t the t’liid-i.clds around Mudgee wero completely at a standstill for wont of wit cr. Now nil tho dams and reser- voirs nie full, nnd work is going on briskly at tt-c Apple-tree Flat, and at Two-tcile Fl.it. With this i ipplo ot water a correct estimate of the value of Iho wash dirt will bo arrived at. Mining is vciy dull on tho Moioo, the (riound bring all but worked out; but information reaches us from ihe Pyramid .

(hat paynblo ground has Iren opened nt tho Crudine Creek. This report reqniies confirmation, but if correct it will givo promise of a large extent of nvnilablo alluvial sinking.

At Tambaroora work is gointc cn very briskly since tho rain. Tho resei voirs have bein filled, nud the thieo crushing machines uro now con- stantly nt work.

Parties aro down on nearly all the reefs, and some very rich stono hns recently been uminrlhed. The lot of stono crushed a week or two ago gave S22 ounces, of gold for ihirty-nino tons of quarte, or rather moro than twenty-one ounces to tbo (on. .Most probably the stono wns picked, but oven in that caso the return is a -very handsome one.

The Wentworth Estate Company have commenced working their gold diggings at the Lucknow, near Orange. The manager has made his first rep0rt, from which it appears that the whole property is to be worked over in a complete and systematic manner.

Of the new alluvial workings said to have been discovered in the vicinity of Dubbo, we have lately heard nothing; and from the earnest manner in which the Dubho Dispatch warned diggers not to be led astray on the subject, it may be assumed that the ground has not proved payable.

Between the gold-field o the Wentworth Estate Estate Company nnd Cowra, a distance of something like ninety miles in one direction, and from King’s Plains to the Canoblas on the other, there is no di ul t thuf tho greater portion of the country is auriferous. JIuch of tho western portion of tho area desciibed has been worked for many years past, and within the lost two or (brou years that to (ho south-Cowra and Cargo-would bayo been most profitably worked, but for the “ long droughts and tho continued absenco of w.ucr.

With tho present supply prospecting has been pushed on most energetically, and for miles round Cargo payablo ground has been struck,

At Canowindra, oiico famouB ns tho placo whero the bushrangers wero accustomed to disport themselves and lo take possession of the town, eovernl alluvial patches have been discovered, und there is hopo of paynblo alluvial workings being opened up loforo long. At Forbes, (ho old Lachlnn gold-field, a little gold is still getting, but the number of miners at work here are still very tew. From the Northern Gold-fields, our news is very meagre.

Gold is being obtained on tho Peel River, sometimes in very consideiable quantities. Owing to tho ground having been portinlly worked over, tho metal is met with only in pntcbes, but thoso patches ara usunlly rich, nnd 30 oz. 1’ “”ti an area of a yard square is about tho usual result “f striking the lucky spot. A correspondent of the Tamworth Examiner mentions that he saw with hi« own oyes 65 oz. of gold taken out in one bucket of wash dirt from the claim of Tomison and Co. Everything looks very un- promising at the Rooky River just at present. Doherty’s Hil) .in which a rich lead waa anticipated gives only 2 dwls. to tho load, and that with soventy-fivo foot sinking will hardly pay expenses. Tho lend at Biggera’ Ridge has also run out and is completely lost. Drives aro being put in with n hone of recovering it. In tho extreme north the bulk of the miners is omplnyod upon some of the upper branches of the Clarence River, whero gold has bsen recently struck, Nothing of any material consequence is doing there.

The arrival of company interest in the state’s gold mining ventures was a much welcomed and long overdue event that fuelled a hectic year of mining expansion across central and south west NSW.

Prior to this time most of the reef ground was worked by small syndicates of miners and the system for allocating portions of the frontage along a reef catered to the needs of these groups.

To ensure that both miners rights and a newly expanded system of leasing ground to companies could effectively co-exist, a complete new set of mining regulations was introduced to help this process and also ensure people couldn’t go around taking up ground speculatively without actually working it.

These regulations make for an invaluable reference source for anyone curious as to the exact management of the goldfields.

Of particular interest is the way they required miners to have a very good reason not to be present on their claims – so serious were they about closing down the practice of shepherding off claims as speculative investments.

29 September 1869

GOLD-FIELDS REGULATIONS.

The following new Regulations, made in pursuance of tho Gold Fields Act of 1865, having been approved of by his Excellency the Governor, with the sdvico of the Executhe Connell, were published in a Supplement to last Friday’s Government Gazette (21th September) : Former Regulations repealed.

1. All Regulations hitherto in force for tho management of the Gold licldB of New South Wales aro horeby repealed ¡ Pro- vided that any existing interest or privilcgo shall not bo atfeoted by these regulations. Explanation of terms,

2, Tho following terms in mvereed commas, except whore the context may otherwise indicate, shall bear the meanings set against them respectively – “Commissioner”-The Commissioner residing nearest to any claim, Bharc, or other matter or thing which shall ha tho subject of any question or dispute, or of anything required to ho done under these regulations.

“Commissioner in chatge”-Any Commissioner intrusted with the general superintendence of a Gold Field, whether Northern, (Southern, or Western.

“Registrar”-The Mining Registrar residing nearest to any claim, Bhare, or other matter or thing which shall be the subjcot of any question or dispute, or of anything re- quired to be done under these regulations, “Claim”-Any authorised holding whatsoever, unless other wise specified.

“Amalgamated Claim”-One or more claims of which tho labour otherwise necessary for each, is concentrated upon I one or more of such claims, Bubject to these regulations.

“Prospecting”-Searching for gold in any new or untried locality. | “ Protection Area”-Additional ground authorised to be tem- porarily occupied for purposes of prospecting. « Prospecting Claim”-a. claim allotted by way of reward for the discovery of gold in a protection area. “ Frontage System “-A modo of working and occupation in regard to deep sinking, dcolared by the Commissioner in charge to be In operation within a certain area “ Frontage Area”-Ground allotted by the Commissioner m charge for the frontage system.

“ Frontage Claim”-A claim within a frontage area, and sub- ject to the frontage system. “ Block Claim”-An ordinary claim in a frontage ares, not sub- ‘ jeet to the frontage system.

“ New Ground”-Any unooouplcd ground in a frontage area, in which it ia intended to sink in search of a lead. i

“Working party “-Any person or persons actually working and occupying a claim, whether on their own account or as représentatif ea of any other authorised person or persons. “ Old Workings”-Ground on which a number of shafts have been sunk, and the greater part of which has been under- mined or worked out

“ Water Right “-The right to convey by means of a race a specified quantity ot water to any locality, or the right to a specified quantity of water in its natural place or channel. ‘ “ 8 orm Water”-Water collected by temporary drainage, and not permanent in a creek, river, lagoon, lako, er artificial reservoir.

GKNREAI, REGULATIONS, Folleo Magittratee also Commissioners. , 8 Ri cry Police MaglBtratOBhall bo ex officio a Commissioner under these regulations. , Clerke of Petty Bessions also Mining Registrara. “’ ; 4 Eury Clerk of Petty Sessions shall bo ex officio a Mining Registrar under these regulations. Registrar to kcop books. 5. Each Registrar shall enter In books to be provided for the, purpose, all applications, particulars, and other matters by these, regulations required to bo registered by such Registrar, I Fees to be paid to Registrar. , C. There aball be paid to the Registrar, ia respect of the several rcgittratlons and other dutlcB mentioned in these regulations, the fees set forth in the schedule hereunto marked A, which fees the Registrar may demand and receive previoua to making any regis- tration, Mode of marking claims. 7. The mode of taking possesBian of a olalm, unless other who I provided under theeo regulations, shall be by defiling the, boundaries thereof by sinking substantial pegs at each corner oft such olaim, leaving at least two feet if each peg, st all times, exposed to view above the ground. ( “~~~ Spare greund; ! 8. Where ground la occupied er marked off in exoess of the ex-1 tent authorised by theso regulations, any miner may mark off | such excess of ground, and shall be entitled to chooso from which end of the claim it shall be taken, and may take possession of thol same as a claim in the mode hereinbeforo denned: Provided, alwayB that the original occupant shall be entitled to retain auch part of auch ground as contains the shaft. Number of claims and shares not limited. 9. Any holder of a miner’s right may hold one or more abares in any number of claims, provided suoh BhareB be represented in accordanco with these regulations. Principal to appoint agent. 10 Any person holding an interest or share in a olaim shall, in case of his absence from the looahty, appoint a miner as his agent, > whose acts shall be|held to be those of his principal, provided the nbmo and addrcsB of such agent be first registered with the Registrar. Claim not forfeit ed through Sbicnce of hired representative. 11. If any agent appointed to represent any interest or share in any claim Bhall absent himself from the looality, or otherwise mglict to repicsent tuen interest or share, the same shall be forfeited, unites, within three days after notice, In writing, of Buch absence or neglect shall have been served on the owner or bis agent, the owner’s interest or share be fully represented in conformity with these regulations. Claims and shares may be transferred. 12 Claims, and shares In claims and leases, may be transferred to any authorised person by registration. Claims to be continuously worked. 13. All claims must bo continuously worked after the expira- tion of forty-eight hours from tho time of occupation ; and any claim, or share In a claim (except as otherwise provided for under these regulations), remaining unworked and unregistered for thtee clear working days, shall be liable to forfeiture. Amalgamation of claims allowed. 14. Tho holders of any number of adjacent claims may register such claims as one amalgamated claim, and from and after such registration the sold claims may be held and worked as one claim ; hut unless a number of men, equal to the full number necessary to hold the saul claims severally, shall be employed upon or In connection with the Bald amalgamated claim, suoh amalga- mated claim shall be null and void. And uny number of olaimB, whether adjacent or not, where difficulties of working are occa- sioned by water or otherwise, may, with consent of tho Com- missioner, be amalgamated in like manner and subject to the like conditions. Claims may be held in reserve. 15. Any miner whose claim may be unworkablo from any eauae whatsoever, or who may himself be unable to work from any I reasonable cause, shall be entitled to register his claim as held in reserve, hut he must first obtain a certificate of such registry, and keep a eopy of the same constantly posted OB tho ground ; and the working of the olaim rauBt be recommenced as soon as the* Comraittloner shall require, or the same shall be considered and treated as abandoned. Shareholder wilfully absent to be responsible for wages to hired representative. 16. When any shareholder in a claim shall absent himself from his work, the partner or partners of auch shareholder may supply his place by a competent miner, and Buch shareholder shall be responsible for any reasonable wages due to the person so employed. Work in connection with eltims to be deemed working Bach claims. 17. Any miner or miners performing any wotk appertaining to or necessary for carrying on mining opérations on nie or their claim or attending any Court of law in any suit connected there- with, shall be deemed to be working wltain tho moaning of these I regulations. Wash-dirt, quart«, stone, &c;, may be registered. l8. Any miner or miners may by registration, retain FOBS – sion, for any time not exooedingsix months, of wash-dirt, cement, tailings, quart?, stone, or other auriferous eubstanccB, for the purpoec.oi extraoting gold therefrom, üolldays. 19. Miners may he absent from their claims on all the follow- ing days :-From Good Friday to Easter Tuesday, both Inclusive; from tho 24th December to the 2nd January, both inclusive ; on any day on which the election of a member of the Legislature may tako place, and on any day which shall be proclaimed a holi- day by tbo Government. Orders regulating washing at streams and water-holes, 20. The Commissioner may make such temporary orders, not inconsistent with the existing Gold Fields’ Act or Regulations he may consider neeestary to prevent publie injury, regulating the mode of washing at any stream or waterhole, or the disposal of sludge, tailings, or refuses. Orders for facilitating working ef river olaims. 21. The Commissioner may make such temporary orders for facilitating the working of river or other claims, by combination of labour or ethcrwise, as tho difficulties and olrcumetanoes of each case may appear to htm to require. Proportionate cost of works. 23. When any race or tunnel shall have boen out, er other work performed, by which the working of any claim may bo facilitated, every person benefited thereby shall pay snob, propor- tionate ahare of the cost of such operation aa may be duly assessed by the CommiEsioner. Digging npon authorised holdings prohibited. 23. No person, without first obtaining the consent of the Com- missioner, shall dig upon or undermine any land enclosed by any authorised occupant, or oecupied by any building or maohlnery in connection with mining operations, or used aa a garden, or a Government camp or police station, or for any publio purpose. Claims sot to be taken up in certain cases.-Injury to danu, &e;,, prohibited. 24. No claim will be allowed to bo taken np in any position where, by Its interference with tho supply of water requisito for publio use, by undermining or digging up of roads, or by obstructing publio thoroughfares, or otherwise, it will tend to publio injury or inconvenience ; and no person shall sink or drive so near to any race, dam, or reservoir, as to.impair its efficiency. Flood-race to be constructed. 25. Every holder of a claim or a loose in a river or creek shall form and maintain a «nflicient flood race through or past Buch claim, and shall he entitled to maintain tho natural lovel of the water at the head of his olaim. Retention of sludge frem machinery to be provided for. 2G. Where machinery, either horse or steam, Is employed, the owner or owners thereof shall construet an embankment for the purpose of retaining tho sludge, not moro than loo yards from the Bite of such machinery ; unless in tho opinion of the Commistioner it can be mora conveniently oarrled off by drainage, without causing injury to any private or public interest. Bight to tail-water to cease. 27. No person shall have further right to any tail-water after it shall have passed his warks. Obstructions causing public inconvenienoe to bo remsved. 28. The Commissioner may order tho removal to a reasonable distance of any tent, dwelling-house, stable, or other obstruction placed se as to cause publio inconvenience. Waterholes, &c;, may bo reserved for polioe, &e.; 29. The Commissioner may reserve any waterhole or spring for any publio purpose. Springs, waterholes, &c;, may be occupied. 30. Any person may occupy Bprings, waterho’es, or wells, for domestic purposes, subject to the same condition as regards application and registration as described for dams and reservoirs, Residence area. 31. Any person holding n miner’s right may oocnpy, for the purpose of residence, land not exceeding 1210 square yards, or 22 yards by 55, where such measurement may bo practicable. Commissioner to make orders. 32. The Commissioner may determine any dispute which may arise upon any matter connected with the working of any claim, or tho occupation of any holding, not otherwise in these regula- tions provided for ; and moke such order in respect thereof, not being inconsistent with the Gold Fields’ Act or these regulations, ns he may think í’cquiBÍtc in the matter ; and any claim or share in a claim, or any holding, occupied contrary to such decision or order or to these regulations, shall bo forfeited. Appeal regulated. S3. Any person may appeal against any decision of a Commis- sioner within seven days after such ileoision, by lodging a written notioe of appeal, with the prescribed fco of £S, in the hands of the Registrar, who shall forthwith inform the members of the Court havirg power to entertain such appeal of such notice having been lodged, in order that the appeal may he heard with aa little delay as possible. Frotcction area. 34. Any miner or party of miners desirous of prospecting shall be entitled to a protection area, and, on tho discovery of payable gold, to a prospecting claim as hereinafter provided. Protection areas regulated. 35. Every protection area, as well ns the name or names of the holders, shall be registered aB soon as practicable, and a cer- tificate of such registry issued by the Registrar accordingly. Other Rules for protection arcas. 36. No protection area of any description will be allowed within half a mile of any other of a similar character ; and every such > protection area must be effectively and continuously worked from tbe time of registry, or the same will be held to be forfeited ; and no protection area shall be held for a longer period than three months. Prospecting claim, 37. On the discovery of payable gold in a protection area, the holder or holders shall without delay report the same ta tho Com- missioner, hy Mhos« authority a prospecting claim will then he marked off, according to the nature of the ground and the dis- tance from other claims or areas, as hereinafter provided. ALLUVIAL GBOVKD. The extent »! a protcotion area in alluvial ground. 38. In alluvial ground the extent of a protection area shall not exceed as follows, namely : yds. yds. At a distance from any claim then producing gold, not less than half a mile … … HO by 100 > Exceeding half a mile and not lees than 1 milo,,, 200 by 200 , exceeding 1 and not less than S miles… * ,., 300 by 300 i Exceeding 3 and not less than 7 miles.,, … 400 by 100 | Prospecting olaim in alluvial ground. I 39. In alluvial ground the extent of a prospecting claim shall ‘ not exceed as follows :- > feet, feet. At a distance from any claim then producing gold, ; not lesB than half a mile … ,» … 80 hy 120 Exceeding half a mile and not less than 1 mile … 120 by 120 Exceeding 1 mile and not less than 3 miles … ISO by 150 Exceeding 3 miles and not less than 7 miles … 200 by SOO I Aficr the claim shall have been so marked off, so fewer than four men must be kept continuously employed. Protection area In rivers and creeks. 40. On any nntried river or creek, or portion of a river or creek, distant upwards of half a mile from a locality where payable gold > is obtained, a protection area having a frontage not exceeding I 300 yards may be taken up in like manner, and on the same < conditions as prescribed in other cases ; provided that when I payable gold shall have been discovered, the claim shall be > allotted, allowing an additional claim for each man la the working i psrty, so long as the total measurement shall not exceed that of ‘ twelve claims. When the claim shall bave been finally allotted, ‘ It must be worked by the whole working party for whom it Bhall i hare been laid off, or it will be liable to a proportionate reduc- tion, ‘ _ Protection area on quartz reefs. 41. *On> any unoccupied quartz reef, or vein, the extent of a protection ona sholl not exceed as follows : l” Jds. yds. , At a distance not less than half a mile from any then existing quartz working .” … 200 by 200 , Exceeding half a mile, and not less than 1 mile,,, 300 by 200 i Exceeding 1, and not iesB than 3 miles,,. … 400 by 200 Exceeding 3, and not less than 7 miles,.. … £00 by 200 Prospecting olaim on quartz reef. 42. In a quartz reef or vein a prospecting claim shall he subject to the esme conditions as in the case of river claims, , ALLUVIAL OTHES THAN RIVER CLAIMS. ‘, Size of alluvial claims. < , i Feet. Feet. One miner “.40 by 40 Two miners … ,., … … ,” 40 by SO’ Three miners … … .” .,, “, 60 by 80 Four miners.80 by 80 i Such olaim, when practicable, shall be marked off in a rectangu- ‘ 1er form, and no claim shall exceed in extent the area allowed for four men. When from any cause It shall be impracticable to I take the claims in the form above mentioned, a departure from that form may be sanctioned, and Buch area of ground may bo allotted by the Commissioner as will give to eaoh miner or work- I ing party the prescribed or any less area : Provided that in no instance shall a olaim exceed in length twice its breadth The olaims for any one working party shall be contiguous. Rivxa CHIMB, Size of claims in riven and creeks. , 44. Thii ty feet frontage in beda of rivers and creeks, extending i across the whole bed will bo allotted as a claim to eaoh miner. I No working party shall take up more than six of such claims, which must be contiguous, QUARTZ CLAIMS. j Size of quartz claims, how marked. 45. The claim allotted to each miner on any quartz reef or vein ‘ shall not exceed thirty feet along the line or course of the roof or I veiD, and 100 yardB in width ; and tho total number of claims to’ be allowed to any one working party shall not exceed six. Pro-1 vided that until auch party shall have commenced crushing, only one-half of their number need be employed. No lesa extent than two claims shall bo allotted, UUIOBB 1 in the case of spare greund, or ground held in excess by anv i working party, whicn may be takenup according to the extent uvailable The boundaries of eaoh claim sball be marked at each ‘ end of the line or reef, and at each corner by substantial neis securely sunk into the ground, and leaving at least 2 feet of each ‘ of them at all times exposed to view. Base-line. i 40. All quartz delma shall be marked upon a base-lino the! dirictlon ol which in case of dispute BhaU be determined bv the Commissioner; such base-Une shall be altered only by the co». sent of a majority of the shareholders and the order of the Com mission«, and the width of the claims shall be measured atrláht angus to the base-line. The holders of jach olaims shall be in-, tit ed io work all reefs or vclnB within their defined boundaries In the cue pf convergence of reefs the preference, at and cn wardB from the junction, shall he given to the claim holders on the line first laid off hy the Commissioner. uoiucrs on Quartz claims to be numbered and registered. 47. Claims on quartz reefs or veins shall be numbered oonsc outively, sBdreglsteied within four days after occupation/ AU transfers and subdivisions of anaret shall be registered in like OLD WoaKiKos. Size of claims In old workings, 48. The ti?« of cla’me in old workings shall not exceed as reel. reci. One miner … … … … … 70 by 70 Two miners … … … … … 100 by 100 Three miners… … … … … 120 by ISO Four miners … … … … … 150 by 150 hut a Commissioner may, in any case, under special circum- stances, permit a different form of measurement, and allora leas area. , ‘ WATEE-aiOIITS. Mode of appUtatlon for water-rights. Objections to be deter- mined on the ground. , 40. Every application for permission to cut a raoo for the con- veyance of water muat be made in writing to the Registrar, describing the propesed course, width, and extremities of suoh race, together with the width of land proposed to bo held on each side thereof ; notice of inch application having been made must also be posted at the described extremities. If within fourteen clear days from the time when such application was lodged and notice posted »a aforesaid, no valid objection shall hare been heen made and upheld, the Registrar shall issue the necessary certificate of reg’Btry, specifying the natnrc and extent of the right or arlvi’cge granted. In the event of objection having been made, the Commissioner shall In due course inquire into and determine the matter on the ground. Water-rights-bow gauged. SO. lach water-right shall entitle the holder or holders thereof to avolumo of water 3 inches hy 12 inches, and shall be gauged in the following manner:-A box 6 feet in length and 12 inches in width, with a Beale of inehes marked on the inner side at tho lower end, Bhall ho plaeed as nearly as practicable to the head of the rice, having a fall or inclination of 6 inohes in the entire length of it, and the gauge of water as above specified (3 inches by 12 inches) shall bo taken at the month of the box where the water is discharged. When the raco shall exceed a mile in length, the width of the box ma; be increased half an inch for each mile. Water-rights-when forfeited. 31. All water-rights not used and upheld for a period of ono month shall be considered forfeited, except when the supply of water is insufficient. Priority of water-rights determined. 52, The priority of water-rights shall be determined by the date of registration ¡ and in eue of failure of water supply tho person lastly registered shall forego his rights during suoh failure of water as agabiBt tho person previously registered, and so on in rotation as the supply diminishes. One sluice-head of water shall at all times be allowed to flow in the natural course ef any river or creek, if required for mining purposes, No race to be cut near an existing race. C3 Any person cutting a race so CIOBC to an existing race, or to the properly defined line of an intended race ia actual and iona fide course of formation, as to cause drainage or other damage, shall be responsible for such damage as for a trespass. Extending or altering the heads of races. {4. The extension of any race, or alteration of the head or course thereof, shall be subjaot to the sams conditions as the formation of a new race. RaccB te be kept in repair. 55. Proprietors of taces shall keep tbem In good repair, and make efficient bridges, at least (12) twelve feet in width, in places where the race crosses roads in ordinary use. DAMS AND RKBSHTOIES. Hodo of applying for dams and reservoirs. £6. Any person wishing to construot a dam or reserveir, shall lodge with tho Registrar a written application for permission to do so, and post a notice of such application on a conspicuous part of the gronnd intended to be so occupied. The application shall eet forth the area of ground required for euch dam or reservoir, and the source of watershed from wbloh it is proposed to obtain the wntcr supply. If at tho expiration of soven clear days from the dato of application no objeotlon shall hare been looped and upheld, the Registrar Bhall issue a certificate of registry. ¿Objections to construction of dams and reservoirs. £7. All objections to the erection and construction of dams and reservoirs Bhall be, at the option of suoh Commissioner, heard by the Commissioner, with or without assessors, on the ground ; and should it be found that any other dam, or reservoir, or hold- ing whatever, could or might bo injuriously affected by the dam er reservoir applied for, such application shall bo refused. £8. Any person havlBg obtained authority to construct a dam or reservoir, who shall fail to commenoe its construction in a bona fide manner within seven days after suoh authority shall have been granted, shall forfeit the samo ; and any person who. having so commenced to construct any dam or reservoir, shall suspend the completion thereof for seven oonscautlvo working days, or having completed tho tome shall cease to use or uphold it for a period of three months, shall forfeit such dam or reser- voir unless he can show such cause for the delay as the Commis- sioner shall think sufficient. Races in connection with dams and reservoirs. 59. The owner of a dam or reservoir may cut and construot races for the purpose of intercepting storm water to supply such dam or reservoir ; and such races and their sources of water supply shall be subject to the Bame conditions ao to application and registration as in the case of water-rights. BUSINESS ALLOTMENTS. Business allotments to bo applied for. 60. Any bolder of a business license,” who may desire to occupy lands thereunder, must make np»lioation for suoh authority to the Commissioner; and tho holding must, when allotted, be registered ia tho office of the Registrar. Any allotment not obtained and occupied in strict accordance with these regulations will not be recognised. Extent of business allotments. 61. The extent of land to be occupied under each business license shall be Jith of an acre, and the form of measurement 22 yards frontage to any Btrcet or roadway by SS yards in depth. When the land may be situated in a position detached from any tents or buildings and from the Une of any street or roadway, tho area to be allotted shall bo 1 acre. A Commissioner may, in any case, under special circumstances, permit a different form of measurement, and allot a less area. Number of business allotments to be held by one person limited. 62. No more than two allotments shall bo allotted to the same person ; and no occupant of a business allotment shall bo per- mitted to alienate or sublet any portion thci cof, exoept with the consent of the Commissioner. Business allotments-when forfeited. 63. If, at the expiration of seven working days from the date ef registry of a business allotment, the sumo shall not have been Im- proved to a value not less than £16 per acre for town lands, £5 for suburban, and £2 for other lands, It shall become Uablo to forfeiture, and may be re-allotted to any other peraos. Persons not holding business licenses prohibited from taking up huBincBB allotments. 64. Any part of an area marked out for business purposes shall only he occupied by persons holding business licenses, except in the case of ground held prior to the time of such marking, . Permission to search for gold on business allotments. OS, Whenever any business allotment, or minor’s residence allotment, may be supposed to contain deposits of gold, any miner may enter upon such allotment, for purposes of soarohing, upon payment to the holder of the allotment of such amount, by way of compensation for injury to the holding, as may be duly determined by the Commissioner. Land may be reserved for public purposes. 66. The Commissioner may, for public purpoBCB, temporarily withhold any land frem occupation. MACHINERT. Bites for machinery to be applied for. 67. Every application for permission to ereet machinery must he in writing, and lodged with the Registrar ; and a notioe of such application must also be posted on the proposed site. If at the expiration of seven clear days from the date of such applica- tion no objection shall have been loaged and upheld, tho Regis- trar Bhall Issue a certificate of registry. The extent of land which may bo occupied for such purpoeo shall be ifth. of an acre, and the form of measurement 22 yards frontage to any street or roadway by 65 yards in depth. Provided that the Commissioner may in any case, under special circumstances, permit a different form of measurement and allot a less area, WATXE RACEB. Races through private lands. 68. In all cases where application is made to the Government, to authorise the pagsage of water for [gold mining purposes, or the passage ol any water or liquid discharge from gold mining ope rations, through freehold laid, the party making suoh appli- cation Bhall pay into the hands of the Commissioner in oharge the amount of compensation to be paid to the possessor of suoh lands, before the authority applied for shall be granted. Mode of arbitration. 69. Thenmoustof compensation in any case of application for authority to cuta water-race through freehold land shall be determined is follows :- The party applying for suoh authority shall cause a notice, in writing, to be served upon the possessor of the land, setting forth with reasonable certainty tho direction of the proposed raco, cutting, or other means of effecting the pasiage of water-the quantity of land proposed to be taken or used-the time for which the same will bo required-and the amonnt of compensation which such applicant is willing to pay ; and shall require the possessor «f such land. If dissatisfied with the amount offered, to appoint within seven days from the service thereof, by writing, an arbitrator on his behalf to aceist in determining the amount which shall be paid as such compensation, and within the Bamo period to forward the said appointment to the Commissioner in charge; and the party giving such notice shall, within the same period, by writing under his band, appoint an arbitrator on his behalf, and forward Bach appointment to the Commissioner in charge; and every suoh – appointment shall be deemed to bo a submission to arbitration on j the part of the person signing tho same, and the award of tho ‘ arbitrators to appointed shall be final. After consent, arbitration to proceed, 70. After the appointment of arbitrators in any case, ncltho ‘ party shall have power to revoke the same without the consent of the othir, nor shall the death of either party operate as a re- > vocation ; and if either party shall neglcot, within the said period of seven days after the service of the said notice, to appoint an arbitrator, the other party, having himself appointed an arbi- trator, may appotnt such arbitrator to act on behalf of both parties, and sucn arbitrator may proceed to hear and determine the mattcis BO referred, and hie award shall be final. Provision in certain eases. 71, When csch party shall have appointed an arbitrator, and i cither of auch arbltratora shall, before the determination of the I mattera so referred to them, die, or refuse or beoome Inoapable to act, the party by whom such arbitrator was appointed may, by writing under his hand, appoint another person in his stead ; and if he fall so to do for the space of teven days after notioe from the other party requiring him so to do, tho surviving arbitrator may proceed expai te. Umpire to bo appointed. 72. When each of the parties shall appoint an arbitrator, such arbitrators Bhnli, before entering upon the eanslderatien of the i matters refei red to them, by writing under their hand, appoint an umpire; and in caso the said arbitrators shall fall to make their award, in writing, within fourteen days after the day on which the last of them WOB appointed, the mattera referred shall be determined by suoh umpire, whose award shall bo final. Coats of arbitration. 73 The costs of arbitration and award shall ho In the diacre-> tion of the arbitrator, .arbitrât ore, or umpire, as tho case may bo. Arbitration to commence ile novo in certain cases. i 74. If a Bingle arbitrator, or an umpire, die, or refuse or beoome incapable to act, beforo ho shall have mado his award, or Bhall i fail to make such award within ten days after hia appointment, then the matters referred to him shall bo again referred to arbi- tration as If no former reference had been mado, Award to bo In writing. 75, The award shall in all cases be In writing, and shall be delivered to the Commissioner in charge within fourteen days from time of making the eamo, and may bo made a rule of Court on the application of cither party, retmieeion to carry water through Crown Lands, to be used on private landa. , 70. Application for permission to carry through Crown Lands, on any gold field, water for gold mining purposes, to bo used I upon alienated lands, may bo made to tho Commissioner, by any i holder of a miner’s right, in like manner as prescribed in respect to the conveyance of water for uso upon Crown Lands ; and if the – Secretary for Lands sanction such applicatfoa, the Commtssioaer in oharge shall Issue the necessary “ permit,” whtoh Shalt have in aU respecta the Uke effect as if granted ia connection with the working of Crown Lands; and any holding thereunder thal) be deemed to be a “ claim “ within the meaning of the Aot. LXASID TíACTS. Leases-extent and duration thereof, i 77. Leases of auriferous tracts will be granted of from 1 to 501 acree of alluvial ground’and quartz reefs, and from 200 to 1,0001 yards «f a river bed, for a period not exceeding 16 years, atan annual rent of £2 per acre, or £2 per 100 yards of a river bed. I Alluvia) and quartz reef tracks shall bo measured in a rcotangular. form, in the euee of tho fermer ; and such measurement Bhall in i no instance exceed in length twice its breadth; and in the casa I of the latter the width shall be as prescribed in the Bohedulo ‘ herito annexed, marked B. t Mode of obtaining lease«. j 78. Any holder of a miner’s right désirons of obtaining a lesee | of auriferous land shall, previously to making application for the i esme, at hereinafter directed, and on the tame day on which tosh application shall he; made, erect at each angle ef the land proposed to he leased a post not less than three inches square, I and standing, at least, three feet in height abovo tho surface of I the ground, and shall affix upon each post a board with the I wordB “ Applied for Lease,” together with the dato of tuob appli-1 cation, the name and address of tho applloant, or names and) addresses of the applicants, and tho extent of the area! applied for, legibly painted or otberwiso marked thereon ; i and such poett shall bo maintained at tha expenso ofj luch applicant or applicants, until the application shall. b»vo ; been gientcd or refused. The applicant or applicants, as the; case moy be, will also he required on the same day to post copies ; Í of such notices on tbeneariBt Post, Police, and Mining Regis- trar’s Offices, and apply in writing to tbe Commissioner In chargo for such lease, setting forth the boundaries and ‘area of the ground proposed to ha taken up, the machinery intondcd to be? used, and describing tho proposed method of working, tho ox« tcat and nature of preparatory work to be p»rformod, and, If tho application ia made In behalf of a company, tbo constitution of tho company, the number of Bharcs, and tho namoi of the share« holders, must also bo specified. Rent for leased traots. 70. The rent for caoh year mutt be paid in advanoe, and the) application for lease must be accompanied by a deposit of £5 when the extent of ground docs not exceed 10 aorct, and £5 foe every additional 10 acres or portion of 10 aorce; or £2 for every 100 yarda of a river bed, together with tho fee for survey, as per Bohedulo annexed marked C-suoh deposit to be forfeited by tho applicant should the leaso lot be taken out within one month after the granting of the same Bhall have been daly notified. Chief Commissioner to forward applications te Government. 80. The Commissioner in ohargo shall forward to tho Govern« ment every auch application, with bis report thereon, and maw issue the leaae whenever duly authorised; and If the notices re« quired In such case shell have been duly posted, and after thai expiratiou of fourteen days from the day when tho same were to pouted, no objection shall havo been preferred to the Commis« sloner in charge and upheld respecting tho lease of suoh land, he may permit Ha immediate occupation, eubjcot te tho decision ot the Government as to the granting of auoh loose. Conditions of leases 81. Leases under theso regulations will be granted subjcot tor the following conditions : 1. That the ground applied for ia not required for any publia purpose, or it not in tho authorised occupation of any person. 2. That labour ehall be employed upon the ground as [foi« lows : Upon the Commissioner in chargo granting permission tot. the applicant or applicants to occupy such ground-ona man for each aorc, and ia a river bed two men for every 100 yards, shall be immediately employed thoroon ; ana within one month from tho lesuo of tho leaso an additional man for each acre ; and In a river bei two additional men for each 100 yards : Provided alwayB that while steam or water power Is employed, caoh» horse-power of the machinery ehall bo computed as equal to four men ; and when other works of an expensive naturo, such as darna, reservoirs, or races, have bcon constructed, a diminution in the number of men required to be employed will bo allowed at the rate of two men for cvory £100 BO ex« ponded, to be determined, in case of dispute, by the Com«, misaioncr, in duo course. LcascB, when forfeited. 82 The infraction of aay condition of a lease will involve th* forfeiture thcuof. FaoNTAOB SYSTEM. Commissioner in charge to proclaim frontage system, 83. The Commissioner in charge may deolaro any gold-field, or division of a gold-field, as regards alluvial workings to be undec the operation of tho “Frontage System.” Extent of frontago claim. , 84. A frontage claim shall have a width of ono mile, until gold sholl havo boen struck therein; but the Commissioner In charge. may, in any particular locality, deolare a rcduotlon of saok width. Claims to be marked on frontage system, 85. On new ground, within a frontage area, all claims must, In the first instance, be marked on the frontage syatem, Ground undtr 100 feet in depth to be token up In blook olaimt, “ 86. When the linking in now ground shall bo found not terete!» a depth of 100 feet, of which the bottoming of one or more abaft* on the supposed Une of lead aboil be a auffiolent tctt, unless the Commissioner shall specially Btnation a further totting, all mark« inga on the supposed Uno of lead shall be null, and the ground shall then be open for taking up block claims ; provided that each miner shall have the right to inoludo in his blook claim any shaft which had actually been commenced by him, taking stub shaft for the centre. Mode of marking olotms. 87. The mode of marking a claim on an undeclared lead shall bo by the erection of a post not less than 8 feet In height at either end of the claim. I Frontage system when to ho deemed to bo in operation. 88. When any person Bhall strike payable gold at a depth not IOBB than 100 feet, the frontage system ehall bo deemed to bo in operation and the lead declared. And all claims previously held on such lead sholl bo cancollo», and tho holders thoroof shall be entitled to occupy claims according to their priority of oooupatlort on the lead, excepting whero any claim-holder may havo Bank a shaft at lcaat 20 fcot in depth, In which caso ho Bhall bo entitled to tho claim in whloh his Bhaft ÍB situated. Basc-llnc to bo marked. 89. A base-line shall be laid down by the Commissioner, and registered within four days, from either boundary of the proa« pecting claim, along tho supposed courso of Buch lead, on which lino the length of the claims shall bo marked , and such olaima shall be taken up according to priority of occupation on the lead. Cross-Unes shall also be laid down, as nearly as possible at right angles with the base-line, at each boundary. Base-line may be altered. 00. If the actual course of the lead be found to differ mate« rially from the course of tho base-line, and tho majority of claim holders affected thereby desire it, a new base-lino may bo laid, down by the Commissioner, and claims on the now line may bo taken up according to their order on tho former Uno. Fresh claims, how marked. 01. The occupation of a fresh claim on a declared lead shall be- taken by marking the samo in like manner as on an undeclared lead, but in continuation of tho base-Une ; and se soon as tho cross-lino shall have been laid, the claim shall be marked by similar posts at cither end of auch cross-Unes. When the olaim, sholl be reduced in width, the further poatt must be withdrawn and placed at each corner of the block-claim sclcotcd. Frontage syatem, when te cease. 02. When on any doolarcd lead tho sinking ehall have been found to have diminished in depth, BO as not to rcaoh 100 feet, tbe frontage system shall oease, and blook claims thereafter shall thereupon bo taken acoording to priority of occupation on tho frontage, Claim to be marked in oontinuance of Une: S3, AU claims taken up tn advance of any line of declared lead, and which would by extension of the Uno come within the wings of euch lead, muBt bo marked in contlnuanco of the Uno, and will bo held to be claims on auch declared lead. Prospecting claim on declared lead, 94. Any person deBlrlng to take np a prospecting claim on a declared lead, may do so at a dlstenco not loss than half-a-mUe in advanoo of the last paying shaft, by registering the same; and he may mark out and hold on suoh prospecting claim an additional claim for caoh mon employed therein, so long as tho entire extent of claim ehall not exceed eight claims, or ICO fset. On any undeclared supposed lead, doublo olaimt may in Uko manner be marked out and registered, so long ns tho entire extent shall not exceed twelve claims, or 240 feet. All prospecting claims must be effectively and continuously worked. Any number of claims taken up for the purpose of prospecting may be amalgamated ; but the additional olaimt, by way of reward, will only be allowed (on the discovery therein of payable gold) to the registered prospecting olaim. No prospecting claim on any declared or undeclared lead shall be taken up within half a-mile of any other prospecting claim. Length of frontage claims. 95. The length of frontage olaima shall not exoced as follows : Two men.,. *0 ,, Four men. , . $5 7 No claim ehall be taken up for other numbera than as above stated, Width of frontago olaima. > 96. The width finally to be allotted for a frontage claim, after the gold shall have been struck, ehall not exceed 80 feet, unless when tho depth of Binking shall bo found to exoced 200 feet, after, which an additional width not exceeding 20 feet shall be allotted for every 100 feet in depth. And tbe depth of sinking for any lead, or portion of a lead, shall be determined without reference, to the depth of any particular shaft. i Convergence of leads. 97. In the ease of a convergence of leads, the preference at and onwards from the junction ehall bo given to the claim-holders on the lead fitBt declared. Amalgamation of claims permitted. 08 Whonovcr machinery ia employed, or other sufholent reason exists, any number of claims may bo amalgamated. And while steam machinery is employed, eaob horse-power of the machinery fhall bo computed at equal te four men, in represeatlng the labour required to hold such amalgamated or any other claim. Effcotlre working of olaim required. 99. The working of all claims ehall be effectively commenced and carried forward continuously after the expiration of three* clear days from the time of taking possession. But in the ease of a duly declared lead, the registered claims shall not be required to be BO worked, except the twenty-five olaims, whother amalga- mated or not, on either Uno of lead next onwards from the, prospect claim, and afterwards In advance of the last payable] shaft. Shareholders to bo present from D till 11 a.m. 100. On the other olaima upon a declared lead tho position of which doeB not require them to be BO worked, every shareholder, or his representative, to the fall number required by the dimen- sions of the claims, must be present from u till 11 o’eloek a MU daily. Period allowed for proving olaim. 101. The holder of any claim bottoming on tho lead shall be) allowed fourteen days to prove tho breadth of his claim. The) claim shall then be reduced to the prescribed width and marked off. In ease the shaft and tho drive of tho holders shall bo without the block claim chosen, they may retsin such draft and drive for tho working of the claim, and suoh shaft or drive shall not be taken possession of except by consent of the orlgUsl holder or holders. Flag to he hoisted when goA is struok, 102. Upon gold being strook in any claim, the claim-holdersr shall cause a red flag t» be hoisted en the last claim on the lead, to indicate the course of the gutter The holder of «uah «laira must give every information as to the course of the Butter, and the bolder of a shaft must allow it to bo entered In like mannst by any person having tho written authority of a Commlssloaer« Declaration of load to bo rosoinded when abandoned) 103. When any declared lead Bhall have bcon abandoned fot fourteen clear days, the declaration of lead shall bo deemed to be rescinded. The declaration of a lead on wbioh the number of shafts actually at work during tho twenty-ono preceding day« shall not exceed ten, shall also be deemed tobo rescinded ; but the» holders of any olaims then working on such lead shall bo entitled to retain their frontage, Frontage olaims to bo regulated as ordinary claims, 104. The holding of frontage claims will, with reference to any question not herein provided for, come within the terms of thej general regulations for ordinary olaims.

The inequities of the system that the new regulations came in to replace were detailed in some length at a public meeting in Forbes prior to the changes being announced one month later.

6 August 1869

THE G0LD.FIELDS LEASING SYSTEM.

Important Meeting At Forbes.

A puiblic meeting was held at the Old Musketeer Hotel, Forbes, on Tuesday evening, 27th July, for tho purpose of taking steps to obtain a revision of the present Gold Fields Act, more especially as regads the leasing of aurf- ferous tracts.

The hour of meeting was 8 o’clock, but before that time the room was crowded. On the platform were all of our oldest miners, and one or two storekeepers. The chair was taken by Mr. Robert Callow, late Chair man of the Local Court, Forbes, who read the advertise- ment convening the meeting, and on retiring Mr. Arthur S. Burne, solicitor, was unanimously called upon to preside over tho meeting.

The first resolution was moved by Mr. Robert Callow, seconded by Mr. John Shaw,-”That, in the opinion of this meeting, the present system of granting leases of auriferous tracts is opposed to the general benefit of the minors, inasmuch as it diminishes the employment of labour, and gives rise to a system of monopoly, and that such system should at, once be repealed.”

Mr. Callow dwelt on tho code of laws that had been framed by the late Minister of Lands, and proceeded to I show how an acer allowed under the frontage system to ten men, viz.., two eighty feet claims and one forty feet claim, such area under the present leasing claims could be held by four men, thus depriving six men of labour, and no dis- tinction was made as to the description of ground taken up, which has caused unworked ground to be monopolised to the detriment the really the practical miner.

The resolution was carried by acclamation. The second resolution was moved by Mr. Lieferrman, “ That, in considération of tbe injurious effects the present leasing system has occasioned, we are of opinion that leases should only be granted for previously worked and aban- doned ground.”

He dwelt shortly upon tho injurious effect the present leasing system was creating within the gold-fields about Forbes, leases being occupied by five or six parties of about twenty men, in the aggregate, which under the frontage system would employ about one hundred men.

The thrid resolution was proposed by Mr. Henry Bret nell,-”That, when leases may be required, all applications for the same should be made to some local authority, whose duty should lo to inquire into the matter, and make a report thereon to the Minister for Lands.”

Mr. Bretnoll advocated that the Police Magistrate located upon any gold-field was the most fit and proper person to whom applications for extended areas should be made, instead of to tbe Commissioner at Bathurst, thereby saving time, and enabling the miner to point out any substitutes that may be named in tho application who really had no standing in the place, which would save a great deal of fraud now committed in applications.

Mr. J. Thomas supported tbe resolution by stating his, experience in Victoria with regard to applications for extended areas, such being visited by the Police Magis- trate, who was also Commisioner, and deciding upon tho ground, whether such applications could or would be granted. The next resolution was moved by Mr. J. Smith, Toler,

“ That the foregoing resolutions be embodied in a petition, and forwarded to tho Government without delay.” Mr. Thomas Hand, after a few introductory remarks, said,-the question of gold mining and gold-fields’ man- agement may be divided into two parts, in the first place there is the theoretical part of mining, and secondly, the practical part. I look upon the Gold-Fields Act as a sort of a theory made by the legislators of the colony into a law which the practical man has to work by, carry out, and strictly observe. The framer of the Act looked upon it as a complete system of gold-field management ;

but it has been put to a practical test by the practical minor, and, after three 3 years’ experience, we find it has made such a dead set against our interests- and ought to be cited not the Gold-Fields Act of 1866, but John Bowie Wilson’s “ duffer “ of 1866. Here are two questions which demand from this meeting an answer. The first question is :

“ Have we any just cause of complaint against the present Gold-Fields Act and Regulations, and what are the complaints?” The second question is: “Can we suggest any improvements?” The first com- plaint we have to make is, that we have not a properly constituted Court of Appeal. If you will refer to tho Act, and to tho 2lst clause, you will there discover that your present Court of Appeal is the Court of Petty Sessions. I am not going to speak disparagingly of our Justices of the Peace ; I should be sorry to do so ; yet we have to look at things as they are, and to shut our eyes against facts is to shut our eyes against the evils of which we complain.

It Is everywhere understood that tho Court of Petty Sessions ia a ten pound Court-that is, ten pounds is the highest amount it can adjudicate upon ; if a person has a claim against me over that amount, he must recover in tho Dis- trict Court. Now, this is the nail I am trying to drive into your head : that if it is right to limit the adjudicating power of Court of Petty Sessions to tho amount of ten pounds only in ordinary cases, it must be wrong in principle to enlarge that power to tho amount of one hundred pounds in mining disputes. Is not one hundred pounds of your money as good as one hundred pounds of a squatter’s or storekeeper’s ?

Then why should it not have tho same consideration at law, and be heard before a Judge and jury ? The present Gold- fields Act deals with one hundred pounds of your money with, no more consideration than ten pounds of any one else’s. Now, I ask is this common sense or common justice? The next cause of complaint to be considered is the “ leasing system.” and this part of the subject should be considered in a fair and impartial spirit.

Before I pro- ceed to consider the objections to this system, do not understand that I am opposed to a proper system of leasing, but opposed to the system of leasing in its present form. My first objection is that It diminishes the employ ment of labour. We all know the more labour that is em- ployed the more work is done, and the more benefit attained ; but this leasing system works in dead opposition to such a principle, and I will shew in which way : suppose a load runs direct through an acre of ground which would contain two eighty feet and one forty feet claim.

The regulations próvide that on an eighty feet claim on the frontage system four men shall be employed, and two on a claim of forty feet ; thus you see that an acre of ground would give employment “ to ten men, .while under the lease system, four men are all the regulations require to be employed thereon. The labour is diminished by six men. Look at your regulations, and you will find your scale of labour to be employed reads thus : “ Four, men for the first acre and two men for every additional acre.”

Now I must confess that I am fairly beaten to find out by what principal the farmer of such a clause could have been guided. Why put only two men on the second acre when it says four men shall be employed on the first? The very clause itself shows no common sence in it, for if it is right to put four men on tbe first acre, it must be ‘equally compulsive to do so wilth regard to the’second. What then are the fruits of this leasing system? The anawer is the busi- ness of all that are injured by it. Our property is depreci- ated in value, our mechanics rank amongst the unemployed, the.bulk of our miners have been driven to Queensland and New Zealand, where such a systcm as the one we complain of is not tolerated.

When men leave the colony they take with them the money they have made in it, and thus enrich other colonies with the wealth they have made in this. Those that have money are making away from this gold-field. To some, such a fact may be looked upon as not worth a consideration, but remember the great senti- ments of a great man when he said, “ the strength of a country is in its population, and the best part of the popula- tion are the tillers of the soil,” and to my mind the next best part are the producers of a negotiable metal, who become consumers and cash purchasers of the husband man’s produce.

The copper and tin mines of Cornwall, tbe coal mines of the, north and west, and the fer- tility of the soil of Great Britain, are the primary industries out of which has grown the greatest and noblest nation and people of the earth ; and as in the mother country, may we not expect that our salubrious climate, the fertility of our soil, and the richness of our gold mines, if fostered by wise and judicious laws, will eventually become the chief corner stone in the super- structure of a great commercial and enterprising people This idea is handsomely set forth in the arms of the colony ; the sheaf of wheat betokens the agricultural in- terest, the golden floeco represents tho pastoral interest, Ibe laden Bbip is emblematical of irado and commerce, and the fourth representa in its pick, shovel, tub, and eradlo, the interest which we this evening- advocate, viz., gold mini-g.

Tho second question to bo answered is, “ Can a better system be suggested?” leay “Yes.” Tho reso- lutions you havo adopted this ovening embpäy suggestions whieh would materially improve tho leasing régulations.

Let tho number si men to bo employed on an aero bo increased I – that is, when tho proposed method oí working is by manual labour only, and instead of holding tho ground for six months, without doing the least work lo;it, which is tho I case under tho present arrangement, tho full complomont of men should bo employed immediately. The next part of tbo business to bo considered is : What can be done to obtain a revision of this legislative piece of blundering ? The step you havo taken to-night is undoubtedly tho ono in tho right direction.

I know it ia often saie! that the Government caro nothing for the mining intereat, and I am sorry to say their conduct toward» tho mining oom- , munily baa a great tendency to create such an impression.

1 Against this very Byatem wo have been complaining tins | night. I assisted to roll up a potition to forward to tho Government, and you may imagino that it was numerously , »gicd, when I tell you it measured twelve feet in longth. But what was the result ?

Why thoso thooreticol miners in Sydney thought that wo practical minors in tho bush were not compétent io siva an opinion on tho matter. When the bill was before tho House, being practical miners, wo saw tho principles of tho bill were wrong, and told tho Government so, and I believe in very plain terms, too. But all we could Bay was looked upon as speculative. Now, I say, your position íb much strongor, as you havo had at tho back of your arguments three years’ experience, during whith time there has been nothing but “ dodging tho Act,” monopoly, nnd great discontent.

In our battles against Mr. Wilson’s seheme of gold- fields management, a few victories have leen gained. When tho regulations of 1866 were first published, 1 hastened to obtain one. At that timo 1 had a notion to prospect a picco of ground, and I at once turned over the leaves to find out what Mr. Wilson’s arrangements for prospecting areas were ; and what do you think ? I could boldly bclievo my own oyes, as pago after pago I turned over, and failed to find what I was seeking for. Tho fact wap, he had forgotten all about prospectors being re quiud to find gold ; tho mntter waB taken up, and whon the Grenfell field was opened tho Grenfell pooplo mado a dim demand for prospecting arcas, and the object waa gained. The wholo of our requirements I will sum up in a few werde.

Wo want on Act in which shall bo embodied thoso principles ¡-First, limited liability ; secondly, proper Courts of Appeal; thirdly, local self-government ; and lastly, no monopoly of auriferous tracts. Mr, Burns having boen moved from tho chair, a voto of thanks waa awarded to him by tho meeting, for whioh ho returned a suitable reply ; after which he addressed tho meeting, pointing out ihó applicability of the movement of the cr n’mS to (ho present state of Trunkey Creek-reading stverai’ extracts ¿rom tt »ewspniiir, shewing that really practical woikirg ritfners on arriving there from somo dis troco could mit find any opportunity of testing tho valuo of 1 the frround through the obnoxious lease system.

After Einging “ God Save tho Queen,” tho mooting sepatalcd. __^______________. Woolwash^ o. – Ono of tho most praclisod wool watlers in the colonies (says tho Pastoral Times) gayo us a littleinfcrmaticnafewdayseigo. Ho states that his ex- perience has (uught him thut soap and soda can bo dis- pensed with, ns a rule, nnd that water should bo used at a tempiraturoof from 70 degrees to 80 degrees. Wo havo heard that somo of our Eottlers ovcrwashed and ovor spcuted their wools last season, and so lost about eighteen pence per lb. on Uieir clip. Tho wool had from this over washing veiy much the appearance of cotton-much of tho brietntftess of «Lo wool waa wassel otf of, j.^/p>

A general call of the card of mining across the board in NSW in mid 1869, speaks very much to the urgency of these regulatory reforms to meet the needs of the expanding gold industry.

8 September 1869

GOLD AND OTHER MINING.

The start ahead which goldmining in this colony; has token within’ the last few months has been maintained, and we continue to reçeive good, accounts from the several, diggings and quartz reefs.

At the same time hardly a’day passes without tho announcement of the discovery of another quartz reef being discovered, in ono portion or tho other of our auriferous territory.

Quartz ana other mining mining companies have been projected, speculators in the colony being loath to seo all tho ground taken up by their Melbourne prototypes.

As yet only, ene of these Now South Wales companies has been fairly launched, tua Ttunkey Creek Quartz Crushing Company. This has so far pro gressed that not only has it been formed, but tbo dam for the water supply of the engine and stampers has boen ‘ ncarlv completed, part of the machinery is on tho ground, and the other part is cn the road.

Tho engine and crush- ing battery from the Old Napoleon reef, near Bathurst, has also been removed to Trunkey, and it is oxpeoted will bo at work in a month from tbo present dato. This machine will crush for tho public.

There is also talk of other machines from tho vicinity of Carcoar being also shifted to Trunkey. The average yield from tho Emu Creek reefs keeps up very well, at rather over an ounce to the ton ; whilst the prosperity of the district has been maintained by the open in g-up of several alluvial areas, which havo all given ! payable roturas, and ihe last of which, at tho Quondong, promisee, at no very distant date, to give employment to u large number of persons, so soon «s tho difficulty at present existing in connection with the leasing system shall havo leemcruoved. Some lime ago, Mr. Coombes, managor of tbo Glanmire Gold Mining Company, constructed a race, about eight ‘miles long, to bring in water to tho old working« at tho Glanmire.

ThiB race bas been full during tho whole of the wintor, and sluicing operations have been carried on vigor« ously. It is presumable that the* have boan-successful, as the example has been follow ng in other places. At the Tuion, btciim power has been employed to raise tho water from the r ver into a reservoir, whence it ia fed out by a hose for the purpose of ground-sluioing tho whole of tho old workings upon Palmer’s Oakey. This ground, when originally worked, turned out remarkably rich, ana sinoo then it has been worked over two or three times, and, even up to the timo of its being leased by tho sluicing company was occasionally fossicked over by tho Chinese.

As there is a good run off for the tailings, the whole will bo grouDd-sluiced. The first day’s work was so far pro- fitable that a twelve-ounco nugget was washed out from the refuse, amongst which, it must havo been turned over more than once.

MiBsrs. Morehead and Young have parted with thfl valuable mining property at Cadiangullong to a Victoria company.

The original Cadia company held it solely fot copper mining purposes, tho plant for clearing°and refining the ore bung very perfect in every respect It is under- stood, bowtver, that the purchaso has been made moro for’ the sake of the quartz reefs existing on the ground than for the copper lodos, 1 ho Currawang Coppor Mines ara advertised for salo, with tho plant, &c;, at tho ond of the) present mentb.

Something of a lull has occurred in tho diamond excite- ment. Since the discovery that the enormous “ diamond” which was to outrival tbo Koh-i-noor and overy existing; gem of price waa only a pebble of quartz, people hava been rather shy in believing tho tales told about wonderful deposits.

At the same time several parcels of stones, whick have been duly authenticated as diamonds, have been shown m Sydney, having come from Boveral different quarters from those already named as producing gem «tones.

‘ In the North, gold mining has been languishing for tha last two or three years, until that part of tho country iai almost forgotten as a gold-producing district.

It is there«! fore graliiying to find that it is once more looking up, willi a promise, of making itself again talked about before very long. Beveral good crushings have lately occurred at tha Denison reefs,;Üppcr Hunter; and a very fino vein of golden^ stone has becnstiuck in an old alluvial claim bolonginse. to Tomison’s party.

From one boulder of quarts about two pounds weight of gold was obtained. New alluvial workings havo also been opened on tho uppor part of tha Timbarra River water-shed; and the copious supply of water given by the recent rainy season has filled all tha races, so that ground sluicing Is now being actively and profitably carried on at many of the old workings. At the coal mines, busineBB Is ‘more than usually brisk« extra orders from California having como in, in very larga numbers, at tho same timo that the usual steady trade li going on. ‘

And the good news continued. One month later and the “Gold and other mining report” was still able to report on a thriving and expanding industry looking forward to a prosperous decade ahead.

8 October 1869

GOLD AND OTHER MINING.

Quartz mining is exciting more and more attention in the colony every day, and reefs are being discovered ‘and opened up in every direction – south, west, and north.

Even since our last summary scmo noh reefs have been opened upon and adjoining te the old Major’s Creok Gold-field.

I’ rum these the accounts are so good that the Bungonia reefs have been well nigh deserted for the now land of promise.

Reports from that quarter mention that the stono shows well, as, though the gold is very small, it Js woU diffused through the stono. No crushings have yet beon had lhere, but Bteps aro being taken to test the quality of the stone prior to the erection of crushing moohinery.

J On tho Little River, also in the Braidwood district, there has been a very rich find of gold in the Homeward Bound claim on tho Mosquito Reef. A leader was struck, whioh at one port contained nearly moro gold than stono, and the parties netted some £3000 only by hand crushing.

Since then the country round has boen regularly ruBhod, ‘and several new reefs, some of them showing excellent pros- pects, have been opened. From the expérience gained by prospectors it is now evident that the whola of the first’full of the land, or rather the first plateau from the table land on tho cast coast of Australia, from Bungonia south- ward to the boundary of the colony, ia auriferous, and moro or less thickly intersected by gold-bearing quartz roofs.)

Kiandra ia onco more looking, Up owing to the plentiful supply of water furnished by the winter’s rams. This has enabled sluicers to go to work, though it has stopped pro- ceedings in some of the dcop claims.

Tho reefs in tho Gundagai district have also been turning out well,’and lather more than tho usual quantity of gold haa lately beon received there.

One parcel of stone orushed at Kimo gavo 274 oz. for Gi tons quartz, whilst the Adelong crushings have averaged over an ounce. ‘ j In the South bordering on tho Riverine country reefs aro being opened and worked with goed sucoosa, Melbourne speculators, in this as in other cases, have set the ball going, and tho Now South Wales men have not boon slow to follow the lead given to them.

New alluvial workings have just boon opened on. the Emu Creek Gold-field, at a place called tho Quondong, Eomo seven miles from Grenfell.

The wash dirt has not yet been tested, for there is no avallablo storo of water on the ground, but three shafts put down at intervals over a line of some two miles havo each bottomed on auriferous drift with wash dirt from two to throe feet deep, and cal- culated by the teBt of the dish, to go about 12 dwts. to the load. The alluvial workings on this Hold havo been alto- gether very successful lately ; a great portion of tho gold sent thenee by escort being duo to this source.

The stono has not gono so well lately, and tho averago of the crushings chows something less than an ounce to the ton.

Of tho “WeBtern Gold-fields, Tambaroora and its roofs certainly keeps the lead which it has so long held. ‘ From 40 tons of stone from James Brown’s claim, no leas than COO oz. were obtained ; whilst 247 tons of stono crushed during eeven weeks ut the Victorian machino gavo 1120 oz.

Trunkey Creek promises to become an established reefing country. Three companies aro now actively engaged there, i wo being Sydney, und one Melbourne, companies.

The first established of thefio Sydney companies is now well on m its preparation, its dam being nearly finished, and the machinery rapidly arriving, ana boing fitted up as quickly as received. Tho Molbourne company havo tho Ono Eyo property on lease where there is a store of pormanent wator. Here their machinery will bo orected as it arrives.

Now reefs aro being discovered in this district in all direc- tions. From the Northern Gold-fields wo learn that a rich auriferous vein has been struck in a reef at Bowling Alloy Point, in “Williams’ and Co.’s claim, from this by.hand picking and crushing.

Tho pnrty have been making for some time past from £15 to £17 per week por man. The Denison leefs, on a tributary of the Hunter, near Scone, have lately been exciting moro than usual notice ; tho last crushing reported being 29 tonsof Landrigan’« stono which gave 61 oz- Tho crushing from January to August,jO¡ght months, 416 tons had been crushed, tho product being 760 i ess. gold. There is only ono quartz-crushing machins on, 1 the gtound, and it » worked hy e, water wheel» i

In this environment of general diversity and optimism, of expanding investment and general confidence in the long term future of gold mining, the last thing NSW needed was any untoward developments to complicate matters.

Take Victoria for example. By this time it had been through its boom days, its times of rags to riches stories and settled into a long term productive pattern of goldfields development where investment supported communities and held out the prospect of the mining’s long term development.

In the process they had become a centre of excellence for research into gold recovery techniques whereby they could operate profitably on lower grade ores than NSW could at that time.

Nearly 20 years on from the first gold discoveries, the evidence was in that speculation and investor frenzy were no friends of the long term development of a regions’ mining industry.

Hence – what does NSW manage to do just at the point at which it’s gold industry is starting to prosper? Sadly yes – come up with the speculation and investor frenzy to beat them all – the golden treasure chest that was Hawkins Hill, Hill End.

Located just 10km up the road from Tambaroora, it’s not surprising that originally the Hawkins Hill claims were reported under the banner of that well known goldfield – especially as the ore from its mines would have at first been carried down to Tambaroora for processing.

The first glimmer of something remarkable happening on the hill came in late winter with a couple of lines in the Sydney media. This was not quite the same as putting a very large gold nugget through a crushing battery – but it was about as close as reef gold got to this.

10 August 1869

TAMBAROORA.M0NDAY. The Victoria Crushing-machine crushed this morning 1 cwt. oí stone from Hawkin’s Hill, which gave 118 oz, of pure smelted gold, or at the rate of 1772 oz. per ton.

The several months later, another stop press moment emerges from what would later become an iconic claim on the hill. The mine was was actually that of Pullen and Rawsthornes, but Porter and Hawthorne was close enough at that time.

18 October 1869

TAMBAROORA. SATURDAY EVENING

Messrs, Porter and Hawthorne, have crushed, at the Victoria machine, 40 tons of quartz, which yielded 830 oz, 4 dwts. of pure gold.

By years end, the “Gold and other Mining Report” was moved to comment on the claims emerging from Hawkins Hill.

As they said “Amongst the items of intelligence, perhaps the most important is the unparalleled yield of a crushing of stone from the Hawkins’ Hill”.

Little could they have guessed the import of these words or what the golden discoveries prefaced for the start of the decade to come.

3 December 1869

GOLD AND OTHER MINING.

THE past month has been productive of some interest in so far as gold-mining ia concerned.

Amongst the items of intelligence, perhaps the most important is the unparalleled yield of a crushing of stone from the Hawkins’ Hill reef at Tambaroora.

Messrs. Appleby and Hurley came upon a very rich vein of stone in their claim in the reef,- so rich indeed that, instead of carting it ”in the usual manner, they loaded it in bags.

The total quantity picked out of tho vein was nine tons fifteen hundredweight, and thus on bringing this to the Victoria battery, gave a return of 1819 ounces of clean retorted gold, or at the ruto of 9 o/. G elwts 13J grs per cwt ; and of l&tit; OB to tho ton.

During the same week, Beyers and Co, crushed 11 tons of stone from their claim upon the same reef, and obtained a yield of 136 oz, or a trifle less than 10 oz to the ton, These extraordinary yields are by no means solitary instances of the richness of these Tambaroora reefs.