5 January 1870

OPENING OF GREVILLES COMMERCIAL ROOM.

The unparalleled success of tho Melbourne Commercial Room, which has now become a veritable Exchanga, and, in fact, an indispensable institution in that city, has induced Messrs. Greville and Co. ‘(Hunter’s agents), who believe that a speculation of that kind would be profitable and convenient in Sydney, to undertake tho formation of a Commercial Room in those well-adapted central premises in George Street, adjoining the General Post Office, lately vacated by Messrs. Chisholm and Co.

The room, is well lighted and appropriately furnished. It will bo liberally supplied with tho journals of New South AVnles ami tho adjoining colonies, and the leading liri tish, Foreign, und Indian, and other papers ; tho London Directory, Army and Navy Lists, Stabler’» und other triulo circulars.

The sheets of tho Trado Protection Societies of New South “WalcB, Victoria, and Queensland will also bo on file for re- ference. Attached is a retiring room, for members to conversa in, supplied with thu principal magazines, and another private room, to which members may withdraw for discussion on private business, and a third supplied with writing materials for correspondence.

It is in- tended to keep a shipping register according to tho plan of. Lloyd’s. Telegrams will be received daily from Molbournc, reporting commercial transac- tions and results of auction sales. . Ship- ping casualties will bo promptly telegraphed.

On arrival of tho English mail. Router’s latust com- mercial telegrams, received via Gulle, will bo imme- diately posted, prior to publication through the press. “With these and other facilities it is hoped by tho pro- prietors that they will meet with tho support of tho mercantile classos and the public ; ami by way of inauguration, tho room» were opened at 2 o’clock this afternoon in tho presence of a numerous and influential assemblage of gentlemen to whom card» of invitation had been issued.

Tho internal decorations aro really of un elegant and highly ornate character, and relluct uiupialiticd credit upon tho spirit of enterprise which so eminently cha- racterises the firm. Tho room was crowded on tho Occasion, and tho chair was occupied by Roulton Moli ncaux, Esq., of tho firm of Scott, Henderson, and Co.

Tho inaugural address was delivered by A. ll. Richardson, Esq., who said “Mr. Chairman and (iciitlemcn,-AVu aro assembled to inaugurate tho Commercial Room of Sydney 1 Grcville’s Commercial Roum’-ami J nm proud of tho honor of addressing you on the occasion, although quito sensible how inadequate I am to do justico to tho subject.

I »eek, therefore, from your indulgence a gentío hearing and kind consideration of my address. As commcrco increases ia a community, so arise» a necessity for increased facilities in a multitude of way»; and, among Buch facilities, nono aro more required than thoso which administer to the convenient meeting together of merchants, at stated limes and places, for tho transaction of business.

Tho want of a central hall, woll supplied with latest intelligence from all quarters, with nil requisito appliances, and well adapted otherwise for such meetings, has long boen folt in Sydney ; and tho von-general favour with which tho proposal of Mr. Grovillo’s Commercial Itoom has boon received demonstrates the necessity for estab- lishing such au institution.

1 »hall prosonlly advert moro particularly to tho advantages which it holds out, and will now venture to say a few words of a moro general natuio bearing upon commerce and tho commercial relations of our country. With an import mid export trado. each to tho amount of seven to eight millions a year, tho commerce of Now South AValos has already attained largo dimensions, mid, estimated with reference to tho number of inhabitants, exhibits a proportion of no less than £10 por head of the en tire population, both in imports mid exports. Hore is work for tho mer- chant.

But considering that tho development of tho resources of this groat country is hardly yet begun, a very fow years under good laws may ba effected to doublo tho figuro» given abovo ; and to commoron bolongs tho dovolopmont. Hitherto, tho nativo lierbngo of tho colony has produced the main export, under cir- cumstances of restricted employment of labour, and a vory thin settlement of tho land ; but tho time is at hand when greater inducements will bo hold out to tho settlement and cultivation of tho hinds of tho colony ; and it is from this sourco that, in thc process of a short time, tho internal tindo may bo doubled.

Heretofore, our vast gold production, although highly Bcr viccablo to commerce, hos benefited thu colony only in a limitad degroo ; for, in thc absence of of homo production of tho requisite cereal crops for tho sustonmico of tho people, tho precious metal hos served but as a medium of payment for tho importa- tion of supplies, without much addition to tho national wealth.

But this stato of things is fast changing ; mid tho bountiful harvest of tho present season promises to odd largely to tho publio wealth, by preventing a draw upon our resources in payment for tho importation of food. Tho merchant has boon well described as liberal in his views, and unconfined by any national prejudices. Ho is a citizen of tba world, mid his function is to pro- mote tho happiness of tho wholo world, by imparting to tho inhabitants of every region tho comforts and luxu- ries whioh, but for him, thoy could not possess. Tho cha- racter of tho Sydnoy merchants i» unsurpassed, and to thoir entorpriso, prudonco, porscveranco, und public spirit, wo must look for tho development of our national wealth ; and it is theirs, in ii country of suol. progress and promise, to assist in guiding legislation, with a view to kcop opon and clear of hindraiieo ami obstruction, tho broad channel requisite for tho full flow of tho conimorcial tide.

Hulls of commorco and exchanges, for tho mooting of merchants, havo boon in uso in all commercial cities. I do not proposo to search antiquity for examples-our business concerns tho wants of tho day. Coming down to more recent times, however, I may mention that tho London morchnnts wcro wholly destitute of an Exchange until, about tinco centuries ago, Sir Thomas Gresham, a wealthy merchant in Queen Elizabeth’s roign, built tho first London Exchange nt his own cost.

Tho merchants, previously, wcro accustomed to moot providou tho coiivouionco of a suitable building were contant to face tho inclemencies of tho weather in an unsheltered street. So tardy is improvement, and so much deponds upon individual energy and ontorpriso.

At this day London contain» many exchanges and commorcial rooms, sot apart for thu transaction of tho busincsa of particular tiiulos. Melbourne, in tba sister colony, possesses a commercial room, instituted four years ago by Messrs.

Grevillo anti Company, and its advantages aro recognised on all hands. Tho import- ance of a control focus, into which tho rays of com’ morcinl intelligence may bo brought together with tho utmost dospntch by telegraphic communica- tions and other moans, cannot bo overrated in a commercial point of viow, and it is tho concern of ovory porson connected with tindo and credit to uso untiring industry to obtain tho cnrlicst possiblo in- telligence in id! matters affecting his business.

Tho days of pigoon-oxprcKHCS mid carriers on horsobaok aro passed and gone, and those wore means of curly intulli gonco which ofton favoured tho fow at tho oxponso of tho many; wlillo tho mora rapid and impartial telegram convoys like information to all, and its authenticity is raroly impeached. Tho Comnioroinl Room, enabling morohants to meet in friendly and familiar intercourse prcsonts opportunities for transacting business superior to any other-tho personal intorviow at onco conducing to a porfect understanding in any negotiation.

Com- mercial business is thus aided anti accolloratcd, first by tho appliances which tho Commercial Room affords, and noxt by that ‘conunorco’ in its other signification, namely, tho personal, friendly, mid social commorco whioh links mon togotlior by mutual CBtcoin and good- will, mid proparcs tho way for hearty co-oporation in casos requiring united notion for tho attainment, it may bo, of a great object of common interest; and this latter commorco is tho legitimate offspring of tho Commercial Room.

To tho junior members of tho Room great ad- vantages aro presented. They aro enabled to tako profit from intercourse with their seniors, mid by their oxnmplo ncquiro thc habits anti manners best calculated to fit them for advancement in lifo.

Tho groat varioty of information brought together by means of tho numerous journals, magazines, and othor poriodicnls, is caloulatod to inspiro a taste for further rending mid inquiry, mid to quicken a desiro for know- ledge, and so lead tho young mon forward, by cultiva- tion of their intellectual powur», to a successful professional career.” Mr. Richardson boro read Mr. Oro villes’» circular, describing tho objects ami advan- tages of this commercial room. “Such,”ho resumed, “is ‘Grovillo’s Commercial Ronni,’ which wu aro in- augurating. Mr. Grovillu has, with much energy and publio spirit, carriud hi» arrangements to com- pletion, anti wo now »eo in thi» elegant mid com- modious hull tho result of his labour».

It is by moans af tho public spirit of tho people that cities mid nations prosper, ami tho endeavour tu advance thc prosperity of tho place to which wu m o attached by tho ties of citizenship is mi honourable aspiration. AVc desiro for Mr. Grevillo a full measure of success, ami thoso who, in tili» assembly, aro. nuquniiitad with his industry, nolivity, and iiitolllgunoo, will confidently predict it for him-” V«i» àptrrivnv”- (ivor to oxcol in usefulness.

Lot thin continuo tu bo his leading motto. Gcutlomoii, I have thu honour to pronoiuico Grovillo’s Commercial Rooms open.” Thu formal proceodliigs thou turminntcd. Tho adnilniblo manuel’ lu which thu rooms aro fitted up wns tho subjuut of gimoral remark, and grunt confi- dence in thu succès» of Messrs. Grovillu and Co.’s undertaking weru oxprussud. Thu architect umploycd was Mr. Baokliousu ; anti tho decorator was Jlr. P. Brown.

11 January 1870

TAMBAROORA. MONDAY.

The Victoria engine has ushered in the new year by crushing 51 tons of quartz from Mr, James Brown’s claim on Hawkins Hill, the result of which was 772 oz. l8 dwt£. of gold. Mr. Brown’s claim is only fiity feet frontage-ten feet abort of a two-men’s claim.

The quartz extracted for the last six months has been 196 tons, and the gold obtained 3071 oz. l8 dwts. Although several adjoining claims are considerably richer in gold, none has yet given such results in the same space of time.

21 February 1870

THE new Gold-fields Regulations have been published, and invite the criticism of all who may be affected thereby.

In framing’ them the Ministers have had the benefit of two deputations, consisting of persons professing to be enlightened on the subject, also of the official staff.

The former, however, only re- presented one side of tho question, and the Minister has been left to consider for himself what maybe the rights and interests of the public generally in the gold-ñehb of the colony.

That the Regulations will please everybodyis more than can be expected. They are made under the powers of the Act of 1866. and therefore they do not in any way reconstruct the system of gold-fields’ manage- ment. If that is to be done at all, it must be done by an entirely new law.

The MINISTER has yielded the question of alluvial leases, in order to “allay the clamour that has been raised un that point. From this time forth and until fhn Kegulations 6hall be again altered, no lense of “new or uutrisd alluvial gronnd” wiil be granted.

The only exception is made in favour of cases where, aícer the fullfiBt investigation by competent persons, it, is clear that the area applied for does not contain any auriferous ground capable cf being worked at a less depth tru’.n 5,30 feet; and even then 10 acres is the maximum area to be granted for a period not exceeding five years, at an annual rent of £2 per acre.

The limitation is obviously based on the supposition that io a depth of 250 feet the ground might be profitably worked by small miners’ claims, but that beyond that limit the aid of the capitalist would he required.

As, however, the area is limited and the lease shorthand tha proof cf a negative is required in the first instance, which proof cen only bo j furnished approximately, and at considerable expense, the Regulation is practically equ’va-’ lent to tabooing alluvial ground to the capi- talist altogether.

It is not only the depth of sinking that has proved too much for the resources of the individual miner. There have h sen cases «here, from the moist nature of the ground, he has been beaten back by water, and where pumping machinery alone could enable the ground to be worked.

In such cases it was until lately lawful for capital to take up the neglected opportunity ; but under the new Regulations this will not be possible, unless the phrase “ untried “ ground shill be held to mean ground which has never been dis- turbed in the slightest degree by. pick or shovel.

‘Ihe word “untried” is not defined, and the interpretation is therefore open. It is not clear on what principle of social or political economy leases of alluvial ground are refut-ed. It is admitted that when ground is worked carefully, systematically, and on a large scale, the total result is more satisfactory than when it is worked on the plan of a scramble.

A great deal of labour is wasted i’t alluvial working, and a great deal of gold ¡8 wasted, “ when every rod of ground maintains i’. man.” Why the wasteful system should be the only one tolerated, and the economical system, should be for- bidden, certainly requires some explanation.

If both systems were allowed to have an equal chance, the public might in time learn to see which was best. There is no such restriction in the neighbouring colony of Vic- tor!». Leases of new ground are freely granted lhere, provided that there are no special objec- tions to them on public grounds.

Land neglected by miners may bo taken up by com- panies, and is not doomed to remain unpro- ductive till somebody thinks proper to fossick in the neighbourhood. Lessees are not forced to restrict their operations merely to miners’ leavings.

But though the MINISTE» has consented to warn capitalists off alluvial operation, he has not conceded the total abandonment of the leasing system, though he has been pressed to do so. This is continued, subject to some fresh modifications. The arrangements for the employment of labour have been altered.

They used to require four mon for one acre, and two men for every additional acre. Now, the rule is one man for every acre, and, within one month from the issue of the lease, aa additional man for every acre. For the first month this is an im- provement, because for at least that time it does not necessitate the employment of what is often useless labour; but after the first month it is harder on the lessee than the previous plan.

The system of shepherd- ing, whick has grown up in order to comply with the terms of the Regulations, is essen- tially vicious. It is simply paying men for being idle.

To see able-bodied men smok- ing their pipes for an hour a day on a block of land, simply to go through a legal form necessary to protect property that would otherwise be liable to forfeiture, is not calculated to inspire a spectator with a sense of the wisdom of the law.

Any regulation which compels a lessee to spend his money unproductively is so far for the bad. Most quartz claims are taken up on speculation, and the first thing to be done is to find out whether they are worth working. T

his is generally done by sinking a shaft, and whether the lead be of one acre or twenty, one such shaft is all that is necessary, in the first instance, to prove whether the reef runs down, what direction it takes, what is its quality and width, and what Í3 the nature of the bounding rock.

It would be injudicious in any lessee to com- mit himself to any other expense, until he had first ascertained the value of the ground be was proposing to mine ; and indeed Ihe disappointments and losses most frequently incurred, and which have had a deterrent influence on the investment of capital on our gold-fiejdj?, have been mo3tly due to precipitate and premature expendi- ture.

Yet, by tho Regulations, the lessee of a five-acre block is compelled to employ five men during the first month, and ten during the second, whether he has useful work for them or ‘ not. Arid if he has a twenty-acre block he must, after the first month, employ forty men, although he may be engaged on nothing but putting down one deep shaft, and although any work beyond that would be injudicious. The object of course, of the Regulation is to prevent claims from being kept idle; but some provision might surely be made to allow those who are carrying on a judicious exploration, at a reasonable rate of progress, to be exempted from the necessity of wasting money.

A rule intended only to prevent sham holdings ought not to be oppressive to those who are working bona fide. Under the late system lessees were not com- pelled to go and work till their leases were issued, and it very often happened that the dn hy in the Lands O Hice afforded in this way a long reprieve.

But under the new Regulations this loop-hole for idleness will no longer exist; for fourteen days . after application, should no notice of objection have been received from the Commissioior in charge, work must be commenced at the prescribed rate.

This arrangement, however, is open to the possible objection that the Government may be compelling the lessee to spend money on a claim to which he has no title, and to which ho may never get a title ; and, where boundaries are disputed, this may lead to grave complications. The new Regulations, also, alter the estimated propor- tion between steam-power and m*nual lab.mr.

Where machinery was employed, each horse- power used to be computed as equal to f.mr men. Henceforth it is only to be computed as equal to two men, so that a machine will only protect half the men that it fsrmarly could. To some extent this will act as a dis- couragement to the erection of machinery, as hitherto there has been an inducement to put up a machine in the fact that it protected a good quantity of land. Qs.

Taken as a whole, the tendency of what is new in these Regulations must be considered as adverse rather than otherwise to the form* tion of companies, and to the investment of capital on the gold-fields; but the changes are undoubtedly in harmony with the repre- sentations that have lately come from the miners themselves. Whether the revised policy will be successful in stimulating the development ¡p the gold mining industry of the colony remains to be] seen. In any case, it is to btgpr. sumed that the new Regulations have no retrospective efie-jt, and that ail ckitn* and leasts held under the previous tenure remain so.

8 March 1870

NEW MINING REGULATIONS V. CAPITAL.

The Government appear to have acted with nervous alacrity in complying with the cry of the working miner for the expulsion of capital from the gold-field; and through the persevering pressure brought to bear by the members for the Gold-field?, the Honorable the Minister for Lands has not only given them what they asked for but a great deal more -indeed he has gone so far that, so long as these new regulations remain in force, not a single public company can be formed, and capital will be entirely banned from that source of industry.

Clause 8 enacts,-” That no lease« «hall be granted except for old or abandoned ground, either alluvial quartz er river bed, and that the period of the lease shall be for five years.” With very good prospects, I have found »tup-hill work to induce capitalists to invest in new and pro- mising ground, let alone old and abandoned ; besides the terms of a lease is ridiculously short-on ly five years, with not even the option of a renewal.

The most expert miner has his work cut out to float a cempany, to procure and erect machinery, and to open up the underground works of a mine so as to bring it into a dividend-paying state within from one to two years, and to do this in the time he must be lucky.

Then what inducement does the remaining period of so short a lease hold out to a capitalist an an investment? I think but little. There are a few instances where mines have paid handsomely in a very short space of time,i but it is the exception to the rule. Experience teaches us that where a mine opens out rich it is not lasting.

Those are the best paying that gradually increase in value as depth is attained ; and as to the time required to bring a mine into a dividend-paying state, the sta- tistics give an average of seven years. Clause 9 enacts,-” That no lease shall be granted in new alluvial ground when the gold is capable of being worked at a less depth than 260 feet.”, There will be few instances where the pick and shovel man has the means to spare to protfe ground to this depth, and the small area granted will prove no inducement to investment. j Clause 14 enacts the conditions on which a lease can be hela. Fourteen day« after an application has been made, there must immediately be employed one man to each acre, and two men to every 100 yards of a river bed ; and within one month of a lease being granted, there must be two men employed, to each acre, and four men te each 100 yards of a river bed. Independent of this, a rental of £2 per acre, or 100 , yards of a river bed, has to be paid. 1 Now, how far does this act detrimentally to a leaseholder ?

After applying for a leasei twelve months fritters away in preliminary arrangements, yet the law compels him to employ, or, ¡in other words, to pay wages to two men for every acre, and ‘lour men for every 100 yards of a river bed. Then, if he leases ten acres, or 1000 yards, he has j to incur an expenditure-supposing he payti only at the rate’of £2 per mine per week-of £1920 in the ¿rat, and £3840 in the second instance, whether it isjrequisite or not ; whereas the actual expenditure necessary for him > to incur for the benefit of the mine, in many cases, would not exceed £300.

Is it not clear that this,exaction is an incubus laid upon the development of our mineral resources ? Besides, tim expenditure ÍB exacted upon old and abandoned ground, as no other will be leased to the capitalist. ! The foregoing is sufficient to show the absurdity of the new mining regulations, and the direct action given by them to the expulsion of capital {From the gold-fields.

I tmnkjit would be difficult to Compile a set of rules likely to give more satisfaction to the clamouring few, and to the great detriment of the many. ¡ e J n j On the other hand, the ^ position of the individual working miner is greatly improved, so far as acquir- ing largely extended areas to be held under a miner’s right.

| From the,above you will observe that thej clauses ‘ relating to individual miner«, working undtó miners’ rights, have largely increased the area of the claims, allowing in all cases, excepting in river beds, creeks, and quartz reefs, double the measurement of ground allowed to be held heretofore 5 but notwithstanding these increased advantages, the pick and shovel man will find himself placed in the same predicament, and be as helpless as he bas, always’found himself for -want of capital,

1 Without good teeth he cannot orack nuts ; so, without quartz-crushing machinery, he , cannot pulverise the stone and extract the gold. _

He.possesses the ground on sufferance of a{ miner’s right only, and has no fixity oí tenure to offer as a guarantee to the capitalist in exchange for machinery, &c.; 1 The Government having acted so liberally as to make the working miner oomplete;master of the gold- fields, the next best thing it cap do is to supply the , various districts with powerful crushing machinery, and take one half the igoldr less the cost of raising the stone, in payment. S

omething must be done to extricate the, miner, from the dilemma ¡he will now be in;-he will be able to raise plenty of stone to grass, but he will have to sigh to the capitalist. By-the-bye, this thought may prove a happy idea for some one. Six men can hold sixty yards on the base line of a reef.

Supposing thp Btone to .average two feet wide, and to hold good for 300 feet in depth, and they raise twenty tons of atone per week, they will have seven years’ work before them. If the Btone gave . yield of 8 dwts. per ton, and the cost of raising should not be more than 7s. per ton, they would have for themselves, after giving one half the gold, les« cest of raising to the crushor, at weekly income of £2 2s., besides their tucker. Hoping I have done some little towards ventilat- ing the subject, J I am TOUTS, &c; . Sydney,

25 March 1870

GOLD AND OTHER MINING.

THE most important feature in our gold history for the past month has been undoubtedly the passmg of a resolution by the Assembly calling on the Government to appoint a Commission to inquire into the working of the gold-fields law and the state of our gold-fields.

These fields, though they have given a most unmistakably handsome yield, as compared with the small number of men employed upon them, have been all but ruined by the utter neglect with which they ‘have been treated by al! parties in power.

The mining interest has been looked upon us of no importance in comparison with others who made themselves moie urgently pressing upon ths Government, anil iu-isted upon that attention whic’i theie nus no erne of en r^y enough to detnitid ior the*gold-fields. Of late, things hs.ve taken a vry mattrial chongo.

Capitalists have gone in upon our l’tefs and have invisted their means to develop them ; and tbuB a class of , persons h is obtained an int-rebt in the .diggings, who will not allow the wants of the miner to be disregsrded, or permit that justice should be refused to -him.

Thtie ihas also been an increase in the number of members interested in the gold-fields, and Mr. M. H Stephen une! Mr. Lio j d have recruited the’M.nks ,of the gold-fields’ meniLers proper.

Thif-lbeing the case, Mr. Church, on the 4th Mireh, cal ritd1 a resolution affirming the desirability of appointing a Commit-siou of inquiry tn’vUit the gold- fields, to luke evidence on the spot, to examine fir themselves the tevi-ral localities, to report ti the Governor” oil that they might see worthy of note, und’ to suggtst such altera’i’.ns in the existing law which might 8’Gui desirable. Sucha OointiiisMon will have it in its power to do itnn.ense t-eriee to the colony, if it does its work pro- perly. .

An accurate account of the results of ehe woikings upon the vaiious gold rtVlds will give a confidence in the production of gold in New cioti’h Wales that can only result in afracting to our diggings a much larger pripulatio i thin they hive, ever before possessed. Circuí ned in England, iç will assure the intending emigrant who may sel-ct N-w South Wales for his future home, tint thus otii out of our nany resources offers a boundless fi Id for labour, where the strong arm itul tne siout mind will always f-ecure an adequate regard for the labour of the one and the couralie e>f to- oth- r.

12 April 1870

The Gold Commissioner, Western District, to the Under- secretary for Lands.

Sir,-1 do myself the honour, to submit my annual report for the year 1869 upon the condition and prospects of the gold-fields in the Western district.

2. There has boon a marked increase in the activity of aiming operations during the year 1869, as compared with previous years, and some valuable discoveries havo boen made, mero particularly at Two-mile Flat, whore diamonds in considerable quantities havo boen found, and at Truneoy Creek and Tuena, whore a sori03 of Kold-bcaring quartz have attracted tho attention of capitalists in this and the neighbouring oolony of Vto °3.a’

Tho other Gold-Fields have fully maintained their previous reputation, and although on the year there has leen a slight decline in tho amount of gold transmitted by escort, compared with 1868, a calculation which cannot bo relied upon as showing the entire yiold of gold, muoh being conveyed by private hands-the general prospoots of tho gold-fields have undoubtedly improvod, and I am oonfident that the result of mining operations during tho pro sent year will ebow the strido that has been takon since 1868.

4, Of the older fields, Tombarooro has beon tho most prosperous, tho qusrl/.rcefs there having yielded a very high ‘ return, in some instances at the rate of many hundreds of ounces to the ton, fi, I annex a return, flhowing the number of miners’ rights ord business licenses, also the leases issued at oach gold-field in this distriot for 1889, and the estimated popu- lation on the 31st Docomber ultimo, which exhibits an in- crease in all its items over tho corresponding return of 1868.

In leases especially it will bo perceived that the increase ia very great, being moro than two-thirds ; in addition, 39 applications havo been made on Church and School lands near Carcoar, where rich quartz roofs have boen oponed up and successfully worked, and 122 other leases, applied for in 1869, havo beon authorised to be issued in 1870, bringing tho number of applications made in 1869 up to 636, exluiive of about 50 rejected for various reatons,

The majority of tho quartz roof leases ,aro, situated at Trunkey Creek and Tuena, and those of alluvial and river-bed at Two-mile Flat, and .n the Cudgegong River, near Mudgee, where the search for diamonds is being prosecuted with much spirit and n fair prospect of success in tho alluvial flits, basalt hills, and in the drift of the bed of the river.

Small diamonds in large numbers are found in some of tho claims, and a few of fair mercantile value. Whether this new industry will over bo successful is still a matter for speculation ; but at any rato the prospects have been sufficient to induoe the formation of two companies for the purpose of mining for diamonds, as veil as for gold, on an extended Beale, Doth of which are (anguine as to their ultimate success, and satisfied with tho existing indications of a valuablo deposit of precious atones, 6,

At Trunkoy Creek, a discovery which was unduly magnified before its auriferous capabilities had or could be fairly ascertained, there has been the reaction consequent upon the failure to realise the most extravagant expecta- tions based upon the, in many instances, purely fictitious value of the reefs.

Merely because avery rich crushing was obtained from a portion of one of the roefs first opened in that locality, it was assumed that tho surrounding reefs, of which a great number exist, must also bo valuable. Some of these have been amply remunerative, and many others I feel assured will, when systematically worked, prove of real value. Recent operations havo tended to show that the veins now opened will continuo to “ descend to considerable depth, increasing in size and depth, and not disappear within a com- paratively short distance from the surface, as waa at first predicted by many practical miners.

It requires some time to fully develop a quartz mining district, and also necessi- tates the expenditure of much capital, I am aware that an outcry has been raised against the system of leasing auri- ferous trsots now in vogue, and that Trunkey Creek has been specially pointed out as having beon retarded in its develop- ment from that cause only ; but I am of opinion that, although a larger population might for a time have remained there, and a temporary and fictitious prosperity thereby promoted, had extended areas not beon available under safer conditions than ordinary claims, tho extensive and valuable machinery now eroded, or in course of erection, at Trunkey Creek, would never have beon there, and the apparent prosperity of the place would have subsided as soon as it had boon ascertained that capital was necessary to work the ground with any pros- pect of success.

I am still of opinion that Trunkey Creek, including Tuena and the adjacent country, wiil afford a large and profitable field for tho employment of capital and ( organised labour in connection with quartz mining. In proof of this I may state that the stone crushed at the several engines has averaged two ounces to the ton.

7. I cannot close the report without adverting to the necessity of Bome improved system of dealing with miners’ disputes, moro especially in the matter of appeals from the decisions of unpaid Justices of the Peace. The only appeal under the Gold Fields Act of 1866, that of from one to two or moro Justices in Petty Sessions, is in some distriots now unattain- able from the difficulty of obtaining Justices who will consent to hear these appeals, from the fact that pro- hibitions are frequently moved for in the Supreme Ciurt .gainst their ruling in gold mining eases; and in one instance obtained with costa against the Justices for a moro error in judgment as to the application of the law of evi- dence. The result of this has been latterly to bring many of these appeal cases to Bathurst, in which I have felt it my duty to adjudicate as one of the revising justices j and the fact of their being so brought from other .districts is also a proof of the anxiety of the miners to have their oates heard before a tribunal presided over by officials who nave had some experience in deciding upon gold-fields’ / natters, I have, &c;,

14 March 1870

The Gold Commissioner, Southern District, to the Under Secretary for Lands. Southern Gold-fields Office, Young, March, 1870.

Sir,I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Honorable the Secretary for Lands, a report on the gold-fields in the Southern diatrict for the year 1869.

During that period there has not been any discovery of such importance as to render the proclamation of a new gold-field necessary ; nevertheless, gold has been found in many localities not at present proclaimed, which may eventually prove to be rich and important fields.

It will be seen, therefore, that the chief and most notable mining operations carried on during the past year have been on the gold-fields that have been proclaimed for some years ; and now propose to notice them according to their order of importance.

The most productive and consequently the most import- ant gold-fields in the Southern district last year were those in the immediate vicinity of Grenfell, known as Emu Creek and Tyagong Creek,

On the fermer the mining operations carried on were, for the most part, in connection with the quartz reefs that have given that neighbourhood such a foremost place in the gold-fields of the colony, and caused such a valuable impetus to this branch of mining.

I think it may be said that at the commencement of 1869 the quartz reefs at and around Grenfell had reached the summit of their importance, and that since that time they have, with one or two exceptions, been gradually on the decline, the quantity of stone produced by them and the yield of gold having decreased pro- portionately.

At the period referred to, there were within a radius of three miles of Grenfell, twelve crushing machines, with employment actively and positively ensured to them for some months, as soon as the drought that then prevailed broke np, and a sufficiency of water would be obtainable.

At the expiration of the year the yield of stone from the once singularly productive reefs only afforded employment to four of these crushing mills. The remainder are either now idle or have been removed to other localities. The reefs that have shown the greatest decline are the “ Homeward Bound,” “ Britannia,” the “ Outward Bound,” the “ Prussian,” the “Leased Ground,” and “Wilson’s Reefs,” some of which are entirely abandoned, and the remainder have fallen into the hands of the owners of crushing machines, to whom alone can they prove remunerative, as the stone is too inferior to pay for crushing at the public mills. With regard to the decline of these reefs, it is worthy of remark that whenever they showed a falling off in their yield, or became unpayable, they were at once abandoned by the original proprietors.

I am aware that the claim- holders cannot be blamed for the adoption of a course that will generally be pronounced to be the exercise of a wise discretion, but at the same time it shows a lack of spirit of enterprise and perseverance, and is quite at variance with the course of action that is invariably pursued under similar circumstances in Victoria, where the breaking-off of a reef, or a decrease in its yield, does not dishearten its owners, nor deter them from using every effort and appliance to enable them to ascertain, beyond all doubt, as to the possibility of tracing the reef, or of its yield being payable.

I need hardly say that in innumerable instances the energy and perseverance thus displayed are crowned with complete success. The want of enterprise to which I have alluded is attributable I am sure, to the fact that these reefs have been taken up in ordinary claims by small parties of men, many of whom were entirely ignorant of this branch of mining, and who, when the yield of their claims became poorer, gave them up, being either satisfied with the results already attained, or without the means to incur any further outlay.

The time may come, perhaps, when those abandoned reefs will be taken up by companies, with the capital and improved appliances necessary to insure their future successful development. The reefs that continue to yield good returns for the capital and labour expended on them, are “ O’Brien’s,” “ Lucknow,” and “ The Welcome.”

On the first named two claims produce an immense body of stone that affords handsome dividends to the proprietors. The “ Luck- now Reef, although not considered so productive as it was at one time, nevertheless is very valuable mining property, and it may be a said has already yielded fortunes to the share- holders.

“ The Welcome Reef,” though far inferior to those already referred to, turns out a large amount of stone that proves moderately remunerative. The alluvial workings on the Emu Creek Gold- field during the past year have been of a very unimportant character, and have mainly consisted in the reworking of ground formerly abandoned.

On the Tyagong Creek gold-field some extensive alluvial discoveries have been made. Which have afforded occupation to a large number of miners. At and in the neighbourhood of the Seven-mile, the various gullies and slopes were worked to considerable advantage by many of the claimholders, although the deposits of gold were found to be very “ patchy,” or partially distributed.

The leasing system was brought into active operation here, and the miners availed themselves of it very generally. In fact, had it not been so I question very much whether the greater part of the ground would have been worked as the sinking was too deep and the course of the gold-bearing deposits too uncertain, to have induced the miners to take it up in ordinary claims, or even under the popular “ frontage system.” ,

When the diggings at the Seven-mile were nearly ex- hausted, new discoveries were made in Quandong Gully, some three miles distant from the former place, and here again the leasing system was generally adopted. The sinking varied from 120 to 180 feet in depth, and the deposit of gold was likewise partial and uncertain. It was here, however, that the discontent respecting leased tracts, which has since been so loudly expressed, commenced, (Before closing this report I shall take the opportunity of noticing the working of this system, and of stating my views respecting it.)

The discoveries I have described, led to others in the neighbourhood, and towards the close of the year the Two- mile Gully was opened up, and it was there that the com- plications arose, in regard to the simultaneous operation of the leasing and frontage systems, which resulted in the recent abolition of leases in new alluvial ground. It will thus be seen that the mining operations on the gold-fields under notice during the past year have been in alluvial ground ; for the quartz workings were of a very insignificant character, and it was the yield from these alluvial workings that assisted so materially to keep up the standard of what are generally known as the Grenfell Gold-fields.

Without these discoveries the falling off in the return of gold from Grenfell, owing to the decline of the quartz reefs, would have been very marked. It will be seen, on reference to the appendix, that on the whole year there was a falling off from its predecessor in the amount transmitted by escort. I would here remark that the gold from Grenfell, for some unaccountable reason, is conveyed by a Western escort to Bathurst, established specially for that purpose.

The Southern escort already comes as far as Young, only thirty miles distant from Grenfell, and I am at a loss to know why the gold from that place should not be transmitted by it. It seems only reasonable and proper that the produce of a Southern gold-field should be con- veyed by the Southern escort, the more especially when by so doing a great saving would be made in the public expenditure. The scarcity of water in the neighbourhood of the recent discoveries on the Tyagong Creek Gold-Field is likely to interfere materially with the speedy development of the workings, and to delay any positive knowledge as to their value or future prospects. My own impression, how- ever, is that they will not prove of any very great extent, and that the yield will not remunerate the claimholders beyond ordinary wages.

The population on the Grenfell Gold-Fields during the year, has, I think, averaged about 2700 persons, and of these the camber of miners may be set down at 1200, The gold-field next in importance is Araluen, the yield from which, during the year very nearly comes up to that of Grenfell, but nevertheless, is con- siderably below the standard of previous years. Although thus placed second on the list as a producing field.

I think that in all other respects it may be said to excel any other in the Southern District. As a permanent gold-field it has no equal, and the amount ef capital in- vested and of labour employed in connection with the min- ing operations that are carried on there, give it a character of very prominent importance.

The principal and larger portion of the claims are on pri- vate property, and are held under special agreement with the owners of the land, who derive a very handsome income from their rents and licenses. The high rents end fees charged by these proprietors for permission to occupy their lands for mining purposes are in marked contrast to the liberal terms offered by the much-condemned leasing regulations.

On the pri- vate ground the lessee or a claim is subject to a heavy rent, and has also to pay a license fee of £1 per month for each man employed. On some of these claims 100 men are employed, so an idea may be formed of the enormous expense thus imposed on the claimholders. On the Crown lands at Araluen several leased tracts have been taken up, which have proved very productive, and still continue to be worked successfully, and to afford em- ployment to a large number of miners.

The nature of the soil in the valley presents unusual difficulties, and neces- sitates in most instances the employment of machinery, and the construction of costly works, thus involving the expenditure of a large amount of capital. As a matter of course these extensive operations require the employment of a large amount of hired labour, and a means of livelihood is thereby afforded to some thousands of miners. The terms of agreement between the employer and the employed have been reduced to a regular system, which appears to work most satisfactorily.

This certainty of regular employment has had the effect of re- taining a fixed and settled mining population at Araluen, and its beneficial results are noticeable in the substantial and permanent character of the miners’ residences, and the comfort and contentment that appear to prevail. It must be acknowledged, I think, that a most striking argument is here given in favour of encouraging by all legitimate means the introduction and investment of capital on the gold-fields.

The population on the Araluen Gold-field may be esti- mated at 4580 persons, of whom about 400 are Chinese. The number of European miners cannot be less than 2600. The returns from the Adelong Gold Field during the year have nearly come up to the yield of 1868. The quartz reefs at Lower Adelong continue to be worked to much ad- vantage, and keep four crushing-mills pretty constantly em- ployed. The names of the reefs are the Victoria, Crown, Gibraltar, Kurrajong, Fletcher’s, Caledonia, and Donkey Hill, Reefs, and the number of claims occupied and worked about 30.

These reefs contain a very large body of stone which, although not rich, still, with the low price of crushing, yields very satisfactory dividends to the shareholders. At the Lower Adelong there is also a large leased tract in the creek bed,held under the old royalty regulations, which is worked by a Victorian company. A very considerable amount of capital has been invested and expended in this claim, as the difficulties to be con- tended with were very great, and rendered the erection of machinery and other costly works necessary.

I am led te believe that notwithstanding the disheartening nature of the obstacles at first presented, and the heavy ex- penditure in preliminary works, this claim is now in a fair way to reimburse its spirited proprietors. Middle and Upper Adelong are, for the most part, occu- pied by Chinese miners, who appear to be contented in re- working the old and abandoned claims.

At Reedy Flat some leased tracts have been obtained, and the sluicing works in connection with them are of a very extensive and valuable nature. In most instances races to convey water from a great distance have been cut, and large reservoirs have been formed to store all surplus and storm-water.

The yield from these claims has been unusually good, and has amply rewarded the proprietors for their outlay and labour. The number of miners on the Adelong Gold- field, including Chinese, may be set down at about 500. The Braidwood gold-field is the only one in the southern district that has, during the past year, shown any improve- ment in its return, which is mainly attributable to some reefs that have been discovered in the neighbourhood of the Little River, some of the stone from which proved sin- gularly rich. These reefs or veins are very narrow, and do not produoe any very great body of stone; and it is, therefore, perhaps questionable^ whether the main reef has yet been traced. The veins or leaders that are now being worked are very numerous, and are, as before Biated, very productive.

The appearances they present boar sufficient promise to have cauBed tho erection of the crushing-mills that are now being woiked in connection with them. At Major’s Crook, also some productive reefs have lately beon discovered that may perhaps, eventually, prove valuable and extensive. The alluvial workings on the Braidwood Gold-field have not shown any improvement during the year, and no now discoveries of any importance have been made.

The slopes of the Warrambucca, the Mongarlowe River and its tribu- taries, and the Shoalhaven River, continue to afford occu- pation to a limited number of minors, and some sluicing operations at Major’s Creek and Bell’s Creek have been at- tended with satisfactory results. The most noteworthy foaturo in mining matters at Bur- rangong has been the leasing of some large tracts on the pld alluvial workings near Young, known aB the “ wet lead. ‘

In the early days of this Gold-field thiB ground Was partially worked and was found to contain very rich dopOBits. Owing to the greaj; quantity of water to bo con- tended with, a considerable portion of valuable ground had to be abandoned, and has Bince remained unworked. It has now been taken up by companies possessed of the capital and appliances necessary to overcome the diffioultios hitherto presented. The claimB are in full work and givo employment to a number of miners, and it is anticipated that m a short time the probable results and future pros- pects of these important undertakings will havo been ascer- tained. During the wot season the sluicing parties havo been enabled to render their water rights ‘available on some of the shallow slopes of the main creek, and the yield has, I am informed, proved satisfactory.

Beyond this, thero had »o’ been any work done worthy of record. Tho yield for 1869 is slightly in excess of the previous year, but I think that the increase hns been earned by the importation of small parcels of gold from places beyond the limita of the gold field. At Nerrigundah, the principal localities where mining operations are carried on, are Deep Creek, Ballook Creek, end the Gulf Creek. These and a few sluicing olaims give occupation to about 200 miners, and have produced during the year about 4000 ounces of gold. The quartz reefs discovered at Kiandra some time since, created eome excitement in that remote region, and led to the hope that some important results might follow. The subsequent opening up the reef» did not realise these expec- tations, and it found that the stone was poor and diffloult to Dring to grass. Some 400 tons of the quartz was crushed, and did net average mere than half-an-ounce to l ne ton. The plentiful supply of water, always obtainable at lvianara, enables the holders of races and water permits to avail themselves of the means thus offered to work the SÍ^T/íSÍT P”0»11* «hat abounds in the neighbourhood, ?« rt.» ~ y* V8*”^! m&toB; *»* ha8 mainly contributed to the return from that gold field. The diggings at Delegate are occupied principally by Chinese, who «re satisfied with email returns for their labeur and persévérance. About 200 miners ore at work there, and duriig the year they obtained about 24J0 oz. of The prospects of Tumberumba gold-field havo not shown any Biiin of improvement, but nevertheless it still rotuina about 2Ö0 u.intrp, who tor the most part aro old residents, and wbo follow their occupation with varying BUCCAB3. i ho yield of gold dots not however show that mining in that part of the world is a very profitable employment.

In lhe neighbourhood of Gundagai some quartz reefs have engaged tho attention of a few partios of miners, the return for whoBO labour haa been certainly above the average ; and it therefore appears étrange that the workings on this gold-field are not on a larger scale. The Black Bango closes the hat of gold fields in tno Southern diatriot, and I may simply state, with regard to it, that during the year it has produced no gold, and! therefore would recommend that its proclamation as a gold field be at once cancelled. Some discoveries made on Crown lands other than gold fields during the peet year demand a brief notice. , At Houlahan’s Creek, near Junee, sevoral very pro- mising quartz reefs were opened up, and claims on them were eagerly «ought after.

A number of loosed tracts were oleo obtained there in the expectation that the prospects obtained would oventually lead to tho development of a gold-field of coneidorable importance. It was subsequently found, however, that most of the reefs were not suflloiently productive to afford remunerative employment to tho olaimholders, and at the present time only two or three aro occupied and worked.

Thoy yield a very large quantity of Btono of a payable quality, and tm crushing-machineB in course of erection will in a short time have ample employment ensured to them. Some gold-bearing reefs have also boen discovered at Cumbaming, on the border of The Levels, about fifteen mileB distant fron Junee, and it waa thought that they also would be unusually productive. Tho description given of Junee Reef s would apply to these, for a low claims still } promue to pay well, and a orushing-mill is kept constantly employed in connection with them. Cowabie, about thirty milos north of Narrandera, for a time attracted a considerable mining population, and one reof there certainly presented as promising prospects UB any that ever came under my notice. I regret to say, how- ever, that a subséquent testing did not show any encourag- ing results.

At Spring Creek, in the neighbourhood of Bungonia, the discovery of some masBea of gold-bearing quartz induced a number of persons to take up claims, and for some time considerable excitement prevailed, and no email amount of labour was expended on them. The shareholders wero chiefly farmers and labourers in tho neighbourhood, and had had little experience in mining ; and this may aocount perhaps for the unusual pertinaoity displayed in the reten- tion of many valueless claims. The country around Spring Creek is much broken and upheaved, and doeB not favour the expectation of the successful traoing of quartz reefs,

A crushing-mill has, however, been erected there, but I cannot think that it has boon a profitable invest- ment. Appended to this report will be found tabular statements of the yield of the various gold-fields during the year, the number of licenses issued, and leased tracts taten up during that period, and also an approximate estimate of the machinery employed, and capital invested, in connection with mining in tho Southern district. Having thus given a description of the state of the gold- fields in ino district under my superintendence, and a nar- rative of the course of events on them for the past year, a few general remarks will not, I trUBt, be considered altogether out of placo.

It bas been already stated in another part of my report, that the complications that arose at Grenfell, through the simultaneous operation of the leasing and frontage Systems, led to much difficulty, and have resulted in the abolition by the Government, of leases in new alluvial ground. As a matter of course, the opinions that exist respecting the proper settlement of tho question of the occupation of claims aro very numerous and conflicting.

Tho ordinary miner thinks and contends that he has a prior and absoluto right to occupy for mining purposes all alluvial ground, whero the difficulties BB regards depth and requisite pre- liminary works come within nis meaiis and resources.< His view in this respect ia not limited to the gold-fields, or even Crown lands ; for at a large meeting of miners, hold at Grenfell a short time ago, it was proposed that any now Gold-Fields Act should contain a clause authorising any miner to enter and work upon any private lands, and this proposition was carried without a dissentient voice.

It will therefore be conceded, I think, that the demands of the miner are not at all times reasonable. The mining capitalist at the same time Becks a right and opportunity to invest his means in a legitimate manner in developing the resources of the gold-fields to his own profit and advantage, The question to be determined is, whether the views of the miner are to prevail, or whether the capitalist is to have a fair chance given him for the employ- ment of the means at his command. The regulations recently-issued entirely favour the views of the miner, and he has now the perpetual monopoly of all new alluvial ground when the depth of sinking does not reach 250 feet. There is a great deal of ground on tho gold- fields of a leis depth than 250 feet, that presents many difficulties with which the miner cannot contend, and which can only be worked by the employment of machinery, the cutting of raoes for the conveyance’ of- water from great distances, and the construction of other costly works. Stich ground must now remain idle, for the miner cannot work it,’ and the capitalist is debarred from taking it np. Had theeo regulations been in force hither- to, a ‘gieat extent of ground that is now being worked to great advantage on the Gold Fields would still have re- mained unoccupied.

At Adelong more especially would this have been the case ; and I can positively state that some large areaB of ground, hitherto unworked on the Burrangong Gold Field, were about being taken up at the time that these regulations were promulgated. The inten- tions of the proposed lessees had of conree to be abandoned.

My opinion therefore ÍB, and I submit it with very great reBpect, that the giving to the ordinary miner a complete and perpetual monopoly of all new alluvial ground is a step in the direction of retrogression, for the introduction of capital on the Gold Fields is thereby discouraged, and largo areas of ground that would otherwise be taken up and profitably worked, muBt now remain unoccupied. By the sBme regulations the size of claims is largely in- creased, find the frontage BJ stem is made to obtain on ali ground where the sinking is of the depth of sixty feet. It appears to me that the eize of claims ought to be on a graduated scale, and should- increase in area according to the depth of the ground.

The facility now afforded for the epe ration of the frontage Byetem, is likely to hovea very injurious and pernicious effect on the gold-fields. The BJ Btem when first introduced was intended only to be re- sorted to on ground where the sinking was of unusual depth, or the difficulties otherwise presented ware very §reat ; and therefore to apply it to ground where these ¡faculties do not exist, is to bring it into operation where it is unnecessary, and where it may produce the moBt baneful results. The great charm of this peculiar system to the miner is, that it insures to him within certain parallel linee a claim on the lead of gold. In admiration of a regulation that may thus confer a possible benefit on him, he forgets, and fails to calonlato the loss he may sus- tain in time and expense while the lead is beinc traced, and while he is “shepherding” MB claim.

The spectacle presented by some hundreds of mea, divided into parties of tight, “shepherding” or occupying in idleness, claims on perhaps an imaginary lead for weeks, or may be months together, is not calculated to impress an impartial observer with any degree of admiration for it ; nor to load to a favourable impression of the effioaoy er ultimate benefit to the miner of this system. During the ourso of my experience I have seen some hundreds of men occupyiug claims in this manner for many weeks, and after all it was proved that there was no payable lead.

There ¡B no system that retards the development of a gold* field more than this, or that is BO likely to held out falte hopee to the miner, or is so deceptive to the pub lio. It ia also a system that leads to endless litigation, and ro-; quires a staff of officials daily in attendance to carry it out with any degree of satisfaction ; and for these reasons I think that it is only in extreme cases and under extraor- dinary circumstances that it ought to bo called Into requUi tion. Recent occurrences havo shown mo that it is quite im- possible that the licensing and transfer systems am bo made to work harmoniously in new ground ; eithor tho one or the other mutt remain in abeyance ; ana it was to meet the advocates of the two systems half- way tbat^ I proposed, in a memorandum I submitted a short time Bince, that no leases Bhould be granted in new alluvial ground until four years after the proclamation of the gold-field within whioh such ground is I tituattd.

I Btill think thnt this would have mot the diffl cully. The admirers of the frontage Byatom will have four years to avail themselves of the benefits to be derived from it, when it would close, and afterwards the leasing system Bhould prevail. Perhaps to make this better understood it would be as well to have the gold-fields rooognised by the termB “ new and «? old “-the former to be BO designated for the period of four years, and to be subjeot to the front ogo syBtem ; at the expiiation of that period thoy would be known as the « old “ gold-fields, and available for losBing purposes, and the former system would cease.

I presume that the general question of the gold-fleldB management will be dealt with in tho amended Act oro poeed to be introduced. With regard to the settlement of mining disputes I would beg to remark that the jurisdiction at present given to all Justices of tho Peace in these cases haa not led to any satisfactory results. These gentlemen invariably decline to adjudicate m these matters, and I do not think they can bo blamed for pursuing that course, for it cannot bo ox peoted that they should intuitively possess the teahuical knowledge required in determining these caaos, whioh can only be gained by experience on tho gold-uYlds. It has been urged in many quarters that the framing of regulations and by-laws should rest with the minors them- selves, and that for that parpóse Local Courts or Mining Boards should be established, I muBt confess that my ox perienco of Local Coarta has not impressed mo fawurably with regard to them, and my chief objeotion to them is that the practical Bnd bena fide miner is not likely to be properly and really represented among tho members.

The par. sons who are elected to these Courts are invariably pro fcBBional agitators, whose sole funotions appear to be to bully the Government, abuse its officials, and invent imaginary grievances. They manage the eleotions, and the real miner is not seen among their number. These Courts aro alBo costly, far the Government is called upon to pay the expenses of the elections and the salaries of the offloers. No good results ever came of these establishments in this I colony, and I never yet heard any person speak in favour of the Bimilar inetitutions that exiBt’in Viotoria. I The Appeal Court, in cases of dispute; has proved mist unsatisfactory, and may be said to bo wholly inoperative. An appeal from tho decision of a magistrate in ene Court to the same magistrate in another Court cannot be viowel otberwiso than as u very ineffectual and useless proceeding; a -»peedy alteration in the conntitution of this Court is therefore ureently required. I have, &o.;, G O’MALLEY CLARKE, Gold Commissioner.

15 June 1870

GOLD AND OTHER MINING.

The Tambaroora reefs still keep up their auriferous character, and fairly astound us with their wonderful yields. The reefs on Hawkins’ Hill have, turned, out more gold per ton for the past five or six years than have any reefs yet spoken of in mining history.

There havo been somo fine returns obtained from Hawkins’s Hill, since my last, the foremost being Appleby nnd CO.’B 1170 oz., from cither 13 or 15 tons of quartz.

This company are still crushing, but only what they term ihe-ir “poor stuff.” Next on tho list comes Dwyor’s party, with 10G0 oz. from 50 tons.

These aro, of coursa, tho “ plums,” yet many other claims aro turning out very rich.

A thort timo Binco, a piece of ground on Hawkins’s Hill, tonic 50 feet only in length, changed hands for the sum of £2,000, after being worked for nearly four yoars, It may be worthy of rsmark that tho two lots of gold mentioned above-in all 223 oz -wero taken to Sydnoy on Monday ln>t by privato hands. For the simple roason that our gold escort trips are now reduced to once a month, and as thora m no one to take chargo of gold, except on tho oveniag im- mediately preceding the departuro of tho escort, possessors .if the precious metal must noeds either risk boing stuck up un the rona, or, by keeping it on their premises, stand the chaceo of a quiet midnight visit from some one anxious to’ :< lievo them of their responsibility.

Several new rushes arc spoken of. Two or ; three new leads are said to have been struck, running into Stewart’s Gully and thc Quandong, Emti Creek ; and it is reported that payable : gold has been found at Native Dog Creek in the same district.

Workings have been opened af» I Cooyal, some miles north of Mudgee. About .1 ; hundred men have set in there, and all aro getting gold, more or less. _ Tho ground is very .. patchy, but the sinking is very easy, ranging ! from 4 feet to 18 feet, and the men are all con- j tented. With regard to thc new rush at Gul- 1 gong, which we alluded to in a former summary, j a gentleman who visited it reports that Ï there are about 500 men on the ground, and that they are mostly doing well. The sinking runs i from 8 feet to 12 feet, with an average of 18 . inches of wash dirt, giving from 14 dwts. to 24: ! dwts. of gold to thc load. Several nugget» : ranging from 4 oz. to 8 oz. have been found ; and one man, whose name is given, picked a good sized diamond out of his cradle. It has been publicly stated that tho Cadian gulong copper mines havo been leased by Captain. Holman, wno is about to work them.

3 August 1870

THE GOLD-FTELDS: Hill End

Our population is daily increasing; now business places of all kinds are being opened, and now crushing machines are about to be erected. Indeed Hill End looks now more like a good, new rush, than the gold field long ago reported worked out. I have not much to say about recent crushings, as the roads are so had that a man can hardly walk along them, much less can the teams travel to convoy tho,quartz to bo crushed.

Many of the machines have been for somo time idle, for the carriers will not face the ltask of ploughing up the roads, with their drays axle deep in mud, having to employ three or four horses to convey a ton of stone.

We hopo that the weather will soon take up so that the roads may be mended and the crushing carried on with spirit.

There are now about 800 tons of quartz waiting to.bo carted’to the crushers.

Sovcral of tho claims on Hawkins’ Hill aro looking very well ; in other claims sovcral exchanges havo taken place.

Mr T. Brown has bought his old claim back again from Messrs. Bell and Anderson, for the round sum of £6000. Mr. Fisher sold one-half equal share for- £100. Another half equal sharo in tho Star of Hope claim, ad- joining Moore and Hurley’s claim, was sold last week for iCSöO; this party expect to bottom, their shaft shortly;

tho constant wet weather has prevented operations, and has proved a great ‘drawback to the miners on Hawkins’ Hill. , Hollman’s claim and others on the hill look well — yield good returns to the shareholders, and are likely to continue for a long time.

Tho different veins on the hill, some of which are very rich, have been traced a long distance, and it is hoped will furnish good re- turns to the prospectors.

Tho Scandinavian reef on the Red Hill looks well at a depth of 140 feet, but the water is very troublesome ; tho most of tho work in these claims is performed with whims and threo shifts of men, who work night and dny, Sunday exeeptcd.

There aro some good openings hero for mon who can ailord to prospect and sink on deserted veins, which paid good wages for a timo ; but vi oro given up on tho supposition that tho gold had *’ run out.”

The small engine ( belonging to Mr. Pullen, of Louisa, hasbcen kept constantly at work and haB given general satisfaction. At present It is idlo as thoy uro making preparations to affix another battery.

Mr. Vickery, of Box Ridge, is erecting a machine close to Hawkins’ Hill, and expects to havo it in working order within eight weeks; this machine has two batteries of six, stampers each, and is able to crush 70 tons por weoki

Mrs. Beard, of Tambaroora, is getting the site granted to her for machinery fenced in, and intends to commenco tho erection as ,soon as tho weather becomes ‘settled. Rumour says that two other machines will be on the ground shortly ; hut I cannot vouch for this.

26 October 1870 THE GOLD-FIELDS.-Writing on tho 19th instant tho cor i respondent of tho Bathurst Times says :-

Tho moat noto | worthy item in mining matters since my last, has boen : Gellard and Co.’s crushing from Hawkins’ Hill; I am not ‘ informed as.to tho oxact quantity of stone crushod, but I ‘ believe it_ is 25 tons, the yield being 19 oz por ton.

Some I of the claimB on tho samo hill aro now crushing as muoh as, ; sixteen feet in width of a reef, and in the Messrs. Hohnan’s ‘ ground tho thickness of payablo stone I am told by ano of ‘ the shareholders, has increased to twenty-six feet.

Creigh 1 ton’s claim washed up last week 40 tons for 130 oz. with ; tho result of Atwood and Co.’s crushing I presume your readers aro already acquainted ; if not, the same was 2500 ; oz. from 270 tons Btone-rather pretty.

Tho works of the Great Western Undaunted Gold Mining Company aro being carried on with great vigour. “As, probably, a slight idea of what tho company’s prospects actually consist of may not provo uninteresting, I hero givo it. Under the present Gold Fields Act a frontage of 100 yards 1 is allowed (measured from tho baso line of the reef) to all I claims on a quartz reef. Now as most reefs boar away on an inclined piano (very fow going perpendicularly down- wards) towards this frontage boundary, it is at once ob- vious that a shaft sunk perpendicularly on this boundary must at some depth or other cut’Jtho reef.

This is pre i cisely the object of the “ Great Wcfltorn.” The ground I in advance of the frontage boundary of some of tho I richest claims on “ Hawkins’ Hill “ has been leased by the ‘ company, and a shuft is now being sunk for tho purpose of cutting off tho reef. It i« estimated by the majority of . the miners on the hill thal the company’s shaft will cut ¡tho reef very little, if any, over 400 feet, as tho claims hitherto havo increased in riclmess the greater the depth attained.

Some first-class stone is being raised on tho “ Red Hill,” Tambaroora, that from Woods and Co.’s claim being adjudged worth 10 to 15 oz. nor ton. Kelly 1 and party’s quartz is also looking splendidly. Many other olainiB on this hill aro paying good wages, whatever that mav bo supposed to mean.