CHRONOLOGY - 1855: Gold Trails

GOLD MINING OVERVIEW

GOLD.

It is gratifying to find that the depression which has so long affected the gold-mining industry is gradually becoming less, and that there are reasonable grounds for believing that with the aid of a moderate amount of capital arid suitable appliances some of our gold-fields would yield such returns as would quite revive this important industry-an industry which has done more than any other to attract popUlation to these Colonies.

The importance of gold-mining is demonstrated by the fact that the value of the gold won in the Australian Colonies, including New Zealand, to the end of 1878, amounts to about £275,000,000 sterling.

By reference to the reports of the gold -fields officers, it will be 8een that the Warden of the Bathurst District estimates that 200 additional miners could be profitably employed at Trunkey.

The Warden at Orange is of opinion that if skill and capital were employrd at Ophir the results would be surprising. The Warden at Carcoar says that though few miners are at work, the yield of gold exceeds that of the preceding year by 50 per cent.

The Warden at Hill End says the alluvial deposits in the basalt hills at Muckerawa appear to be payable. These deposits are very extensive in various parts of the Colony, and in very few places have they been tested, though there appears to be a desire now to test them in a few localities.

The Warden at Gulgong says thousands of acres known to be auriferous are left unproductive for want of capital to work the deep leads.

The Warden at Forbes is of opinion that the works of the South Lead Company will cause the whole of the upper portion of the South Lead to be reworked and the lower portion to be traced and opened up, because the Company’s operations will show what can be done by means of improved appliances and modes of working deep and wet ground.

The Warden at Armidale states that very important works are being carried on at the Rocky River Gold-field, with a view to re-open deep leads which have long been abandoned on account of the quantity of water.

The Long Tunnel Company are cutting a tunnel through very hard granite country, for the purpose of draining an extensive tract of auriferous ground; and the Bullion Company are sinking a shaft, with the aid of machinery, for the purpose of working a deep wet lead.

The Warden at Bingera refers to the want of capital for the developnient of the deposits in that district. The ,Val’den at Tenterfield refers to the extensive works in progress for the purpose of bringing water to a part of the Timbarra Gold-field proposed to be operated upon by hydraulic sluicing.

The reports of the several Mining Registrars are on the whole indicative of improvement. Mention is made of large quartz reefs at Ironbarks, and at Yalwal especially, which ought, if properly worked, to yield very handsome profits; also of extensive alluvial and cement leads at Muckerawa, Nundle, &c.;, and extensive deposits at the Dromedary.

As shown by the able report of the Geological Surveyor upon the Barrington Goldfield, there is an immense extent of country in that part of the Colony of a similar formation to that at Back Creek and the Bowman River, whei’e so many gold-bearing quartz veins have already been found.

This country presents an extensive and promising field for exploration, auriferous veins having been discovered (wherever search has been made) at various points long distances apart. And as the riches of those veins already discovered become developed prospectors will doubtless. be tempted to extend their operations, and thus at no distant date this vast field may be fully explored and afford profitable employment to a much larger number of miners than is at present to be found throughout this Colony.

That so vich a field as the Barrington should have produced so small a quantity of gold is due almost entirely to the want of a permanent water supply and of adequate and efficient reducing and gold-saving appliances.

The effect of this want would be forcibly shown if a correct return could be obtained of the quantity of gold that has been extracted from the quartz by the process known as dollying, i.e., crushing by hand. Had there been upon the field ample means of crushing all the quartz that could have been raised, there would, I believe, have been very few cases of non-work to complain of, and there would have been a very material increase to our yield of gold for 1878.

There are doubtless on all gold-fields, and probably always . will be, some persons who will not work-preferring to hold their claims in the hope of profiting by the labour of othersbut the large majority of gold-miners are only too ready to work if they can see a prospect of getting gold. Unless the stone is enormously rich it will not pay for crushing by hand; and if there -is no crushing plant, or no water available, it is obviously useless to keep on raising quartz, even if they ha:,e the requisite means, which unfortunately few of our miners have.

It is quite clear that if work were carried on vigorously and continuously upon all the mines at Back Creek only a very small proportion of the stone could be crushed with present appliances, and thus in very many cases the idleness complained of is enforc;ld. Back Creek, though ill supplied, has some crushing power, but on the Bowman, Coolongolook, and other surrounding fields there is none at all, and consequently the process of development is extremely slow. With restored confidence in mining enterprise we may hope to see these fields supplied with batteries to crush the quartz, apparatus to save the gold, roads from the mine~ to the batteries, and an abundant supply of water for mining as well as for domestic purposes.

Noone really interested in the progress of this important industry would wish to see a revival of the excitement which prevailed some six or seven years since, because at such times speculation is rife, and heavy losses are invariably incurred, and these are usually followed by unjustifiable want of confidence in legitimate mining pursuits; but it is very desirable that when such a field as the Barrington has been opened and fairly tested, the requisite capital for its development should be forthcoming.

If such confidence be established we may fairly expect soon to obtain such results from the Barrington mines, already proved, as will attract “ miners to the field; and as the number of miners increases they will be forced to extend their operations, and in so doing .will open up new veins from time to time until this extensive field shall have been fully developed.

Considering the extent of the auriferous deposits in this Colony (estimated at 35,000 square miles), it is quite evident that the number of miners (7,074) engaged in gold-mining, and the amount of capital (£306,532) invested in gold-mining plant, is altogether inadequate. In the absence of proper appliances, the few miners we have may be said to have performed wonders; but there is a limit beyond which they, unaided by suitable machinery, cannot go.

Hence it is that in most cases our larger quartz veins and deeper alluvial deposits have been neglected, because, to be worked profitably, they must be worked systematically on a large scale, aided by all the labour-saving arrangements and appliances available.

It is true that extensive works are in operation on some few of our gold-fields, but they are barely sufficient to show what can be done by good management and well-directed enterprise.

With a view to encourage those engaged in developing the auriferous deposits of the Colony, the Parliament voted the sum of £5,000 to aid prospectors. The regulations under which the money was to be distributed provided for the appointment of a Board (consisting of the Under Secretary for Mines, the Geological Surveyor, and a “Varden), whose duty it was to visit each of the several districts from which applications for aid had been received, and to inquire into and report upon the merits of the several schemes for the carrying out of which the aid was sought. The duty cast upon this Board was a most difficult one to discharge satisfactorily, because the applications for aid far exceeded the amount available, and because a large number of the proposed works, though deserving of support, were not such as could in terms of the vote be assisted. The Board at once recognized the impossibility of guarding altogether against the expenditure of some portion of the vote upon works which would not result in the discovery of payable deposits, but it was careful to select such sites as presenteq reasonable prospects of success, and endeavoured to secure the performance of a fair amount of work for the money expended, and also that the labour should be so directed as to thoroughly test the site selected.

The greater part of the works in respect of which aid was granted-are still in progress, and therefore it is not yet possible to form any estimate of the result that will be obtained from the expenditure of the vote, but some of the schemes !)ertainly give promise of opening up deposits which should afford employment to a large number of miners. I cannot refrain from expressing my appreciation of the services of the Geological Surveyor and the several Wardens upon this Board. The scientific knowledge of the former and the local knowledge of the latter were invaluable, and if success attend the labours of the Board, much of the credit will be due to these gentlemen.

The tables annexed to this Report show that the number of miners engaged in gold_ mining during the year 1878 was 7,074, and that the quantity of gold won during the year was 119,6650zs. (being 107,347 ozs. sent into the Mint, and 12,317 ozs. exported without passing through the Mint), valued at £430,033. Dividing the quantity of gold by the number of miners gives as the result of each min:r’s labour, 160z. 18dwt. 7’7 grs. of gold, being a decrease upon the result obtained during the preceding year; and dividing the value of the gold won by the number of miners employed, gives as the earnings of each miner for the year, £60 15s. 9!d.

In considering this result, it must be remembered that until quite late in the year the effects of the drought were severely felt on most of the gold-fields, and on very few could the miners obtain sufficient water to prosecute their enterprises, consequently they were idle or followed some other vocation during a great part of the year.

Moreover, large numbers of miners were attracted to the Barrington Gold-nelds, where, with very few exceptions, they were engaged in prospecting for veins, or opening out their mines, or were prevented by -reaso~ ‘of the scarcity of ‘water, or insufficiency of crushing power, from extracting the gold from their quartz. And it is quite possible that many miners who removed from other gold-fields to the Barrington during the latter part of the year have been included in two returns, namely,in the return furnished from the district where they were employed during the early part of the year, and the return of miners at the Barrington at the end of the year. Thus the aggregate number of miners may have been estimated too high, and the earnings of each miner too low.

The following table, compiled from information kindly furnished by R. Hunt, Esq., F.G.S., the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint, shows a decrease in our gold yield during the past year, as compared with that of 1877, equal to 14,245 ounces

Some Companies at Adelong and Hill End are still engaged in testing the quartz veins at depths varying, at the former place, between 800 and 900 feet, and at the latter place between 700 and 800 feet, and at both places the indications are encouraging.

These Companies are entitled to the highest praise for their energy and enterprise, because if their labours be as successful as they deserve,they will confer a material benefit upon the mining community, by proving the existence of gold-bearing stone at depths not hitherto reached in this Colony.

If some simple and inexpensive method could be found of extracting the gold from the tailings, sludge, &c.;, of which large quantities have accumulated and are lying waste on our gold-fields, or failing that, if a market could be found for such material, the earnings of our miners would be considerably increased, a new field of industry would be opened up, and much of the waste that is now carried away by the waters of creeks or rivers would be conserved.

It is to be feared that in many cases the cost of carriage will be an obstacle in the way of securing a market for the waste from our gold mines, but as each year increases the facilities of transit, the time may not be far distant when our waste heaps will possess a commercial value; and therefore it is most desirable that the practice of allowing the tailings, &c.;, to be carried off in creeks and rivers be discontinued, because by that means not only is the gold irrecoverably lost, but the creeks and rivers are injured.

BATHURST DISTRICT: Bathurst, Oberon, Rockley, Trunkey, Tuena, Orange and Carcoar Divisions.

(Mr. Warden T . .A. Smith, Trunkey.)

In forwarding you my report for the year 1878, I have the honor to state that mining in the Bathurst Division of the Western Gold-field has not been satisfactory during the year.

With the exception of the sub-districts of Trunkey and Rockley very little gold or copper has been obtained.

The following are the detailed particulars :- Trunkey.-Alluvial mining has not been during the year prosecuted with vigour. In the early part of the year, water was very scarce; in June it was more plentiful-sluicing operations began afresh that had been suspended for many months for want of water; the country not having been saturated for three years the soakage did not continue long, the creeks soon became dry, the sluicing was again consequently suspended.

Since June the water has been in very limited su:pply, materially affecting the yield of gold, which probably did not exceed 953 ozs. 9 dwts. 19 grH., purchased by the Trunkey storekeepers during 1878. This does not include the gold obtained by Chinese, who usually sell to a countryman storekeeper, “Ah Chong,” who deals direct with his countrymen in Sydney, into whose hands the gold passes for goods.

I think in this way the total yield of alluvial may be estimated at about 1,200 ozs. derived from all sources within the Trunkey Gold-field. Reefing, however, seemed to be in a much more healthy condition, though the number of men employed was very limited, there being room for 100 men to work the reefs facing the village, and as many more could set in on Spak’s Hill, and I believe, if experienced in mining, and inclined to work, could do well-at least making full wages, certainly not less, on an average, than £2 a week per man. The number of men working these reefs was twenty-eight; the quartz raised by them (702 yards) yielding 807 ozs. melted gold. Rockley.-The only matter worthy of notice on this field is the opening of the Thompson’s Creek Copper Mine, situated about 18 miles from Rockley. The ore is at present carted to Cow: fiat by bullock teams, at 35s. a ton. This is a serious item, and no doubt will soon be remedied by the erection of furnaces on the ground. I am informed that the prospects of this mine at present are highly encouraging.

Oberon.-This field is deserted, but I have no doubt some day payable alluvial deposits will be found under the extensive basalt ranges so frequently to be met with in these parts. I am very sanguine that payable copper will be found about here also. Tuena.-Very little mining, merely fossicking on this field. The Peelwood Copper Mine ceased working a year ago, and remained closed ever since. The reefs about Junction Point have not been worked with success, and are almost abandoned. Bathurst.-N 0 new discoveries have been made either in copper or gold; the old copper mines are, however, active. At Mitchell’s Creek, Cheshire’s Creek, and the intermediate country a few persons still continue to mine, but the prospects are not very encouraging. Taking all things into consideration I do not think mining is at this date as profitable an employment as it was a year ago, but at the same time I believe that on the Trunkey reefs, miners could do as well as anywhere in the Colony. Those miners who have been working here during 1878 have had no cause to complain.

BATHURST DISTRICT-ORANGE DIVISION.

(Mr. Warden Lane, P.M., Orange.)

THERE is very little doing in connection with the mining interests in this district. At Ophir there are a few miners at work, some of whom have recently done pretty well ; so also have some men who are working near the Macquarie, a few miles north of Ophir. With the exception of these two places, I have no “finds” to report. My opinion of Ophir is unaltered. If skill and capital were employed, I believe the results would surprise the world.

BATHURST DISTRICT-CARCOAR DIVISION. (Mr. Warden E. J. C. North, P.M., Carcoar.)

I HAVE the honor to report that during the past year gold-mining operations have not been very extensively carried on in my division of the Bathmst Mining District, there having been but few persons engaged in that occupation during the period mentioned. Nevertheless the escort returns show a considerable increase in the quantity of gold obtained in 1878 over what was obtained in 1877, the total forwarded in 1877 being 3,043 ozs., as against 4,666 ozs. 10 dwts. in 1878; and taking into consideration the facts that in the early part of the year, until the breaking up or the late drought, scarcely any gold was obtainable, and that since then but few parties have been engaged in the work, the results must be considered highly satisractory. Of the quantity or gold produced, the Brown’s Creek Gold-mining Company’s claim at Brown’s Creek yielded more than one-half, the balance being principally rrom Lumpy Swamp, The Forest, Flyer’s Creek, and GaIly Swamp, in each of which places the few parties at work seem well satisfied with the return made ror their labour. The new proprietors of the Prince of Wales claim, at Burnt Yards, after working for a short time, found the expenses heavier than they anticipated, and closed the mine; but I have no doubt if a strong company were formed who could afford to thoroughly test the mine, the Prince of Wales would be found to maintain its old reputation of being one of the richest mines in New South Wales. At Woods Flat, in the Oowra District, little has been doing. One or two parties have been engaged in prospecting in that locality, and on 21st November last Lawrence and party reported having discovered payable gold at a depth of 90 feet, the yield being 10 dwts. to the load. M’Donald and party, who are receiving aid for prospecting at N oyeau Gully, near Woods Flat, signed the agreement, &c.;, on the 14th December, and are now energetically prosecuting the work with every hope of being successful. This party consists of seven men, and previous to signing the agreement they had sunk two shafts to the depth of 164 feet and 150 feet respectively within the prospecting area that had been marked out for them; they had also driven about 135 feet, the colour of gold being found throughout. At Wallaroo (between Oowra and Oanowindra) Orawford and party, who were also to receive aid from the Prospecting Vote, had, at the time of my visit, in December, for the purpose of obtaining their signatures to the agreement, &c.;, sunk one shaft to the depth of 90 feet, but without striking gold; and in consequence of some delay in getting the papers duly executed they have not prosecuted the work any further up to the present time. Oopper. The Coombing Mine, which has been handed over by Messrs. Samuel and Lloyd to Mr. Icely, has not been worked for some time past. The Milburn Oreek Mine has continued its operations, and although it is said to have been badly worked, has yielded a considerable quantity of good ·ores, and is said to look remarkably well at present.

TAMBAROORA AND TURON DISTRICT.

(Mr. Warden Sharpe, Hill End.)

I regret that I am unable to state that there is any improvement in the prospects of mining since my last report.

During the past year some new discoveries in quartz reefing and alluvial have been made in various parts of the district, but they have, so far, not turned out satisfactorily.

On Hawkins Hill there is a sad decrease in the number of mines at work, and consequently in the number of miners employed; and I regret to say that many of the miners perhaps, and probably from want of means, have, when their employment as wages-men ceased, resorted to other means to obtain a livelihood, the public works, roads, and railways affording permanent employment easily obtained and offering good wages.

The recent discoveries at the Barrington have drawn, and I have no doubt will draw away, a considerable portion of the population from here.

The Hill End Division, which is the most important in this district, labours under an immense disadvantage in not having any extent of agricultural land in the vicinity of the mines, which miners could cultivate, and thus unite the two industries of mining and farming.

The Sofala Division owes its partial prosperity to the fact that the miners residing there, especially at Wattle Flat and that neighbo~rhood, have been enabled to take up small portions of land, which they cultivate, and with the assistance of a few cattle and other stock, which depasture on the commons or reserves, many of them make a comfortable living.

They thus have the means to prospect, and occasionally make valuable discoveries, but capital is wanting to enable them to continue the search when the reef ceases to be payable, and unfortunately this capital is seldom forthQoming. In the present state of things it would almost require a lode of gold to tempt capitalists to invest their money in gold mines. I have already remarked that the population has much decreased in this part of the Tambaroora and Turon Mining District, and it is a puzzle, not easy to solve, how those miners remaining make a living.

There are still a considerable number, and considering the few mines that· are payable, how they exist is a mystery. I believe Hill End would be almost deserted. were it not for the .. fact that so:me of the miners, very old residents, and experiencedw. ~lLe ch~racter ot t4e reefs they have be~n working for so many years, know pretty well where they are likely to find a patch.

This being found, they work as long as it is payable or holdR out good prospects. As soon as it is exhausted, or the stone looks poor, they leave the claim and search for another. In this way the rich claims at Hawkins Hill were discovered, and in this way, probably, at some future time, perhaps not far distant, finds just as important will be made in this district.

The day will come when this surface mining will cease to be profitable. Then either the gold-field will be deserted or deep sinking resorted to. On Hawkins Hill there are at the present time few of the old mines at work, and those that are, are principally in the hands of the Star of Peace Company, who have in some cases bought out the former owners, in others have leased the land when it was cancelled, and in others, have the mines on tribute.

The Star of Peace mine is, I believe, the deepest on Hawkins Hill, but their prospecting up to the present date has not resulted in any permanent valuable discovery. Two or three times small patches have been found at different depths, but these have not led to anything more valuable.

The proprietors seem however to have confidence in their mine, as they have lately erected neal’ their works machinery for crushing, professing themselves dissatisfied with the returns from the machines where their quartz has heretofore been treated; be this as it may, a substantial benefit must accrue to the company in the saving of expense in not having to cart or pack the quartz to a battery at a distance. Hawkins Hill, in the vicinity of the rich claims, may be said to be thoroughly prospected, and all valuable surface stone removed to a certain depth, about 300 or 400 feet, except in one or two instances where there may perhaps be a surface shoot left, because from some reason the miners have not been able to get possession of the ground to take it out. It seems very probable that most of the rich claims, or those known as the rich claims, will fall into the hands of the Star of Peace Company-indeed they hold a very large proportion already. This has given rise to great dissatisfaction among the miners. If the company employ a large amount of labour, I have little doubt but that dissatisfaction will cease.

I am of opinion-and I have no doubt that most of the miners here will agree with me-that the Hawkins Hill mines, in the state they are now in, could not be worked to advantage, except with the assistance of more capital than is likely to be obtainable by the working miner in the present depressed state of mining in New South Wales. . Before concluding my remarks about Hawkins Hill, I may mention, as an interesting fact, that Mr. Pittman, the Geological Surveyor, recently sent up by the Government to make a geological survey of this place, has shown me some fossil corals discovered by him in rocks taken from Messrs. Vere and Company’s claim on Hawkins Hill.

Mr. Pittman states that the overlying rock on Hawkins Hill is metamorphosed conglomerate, and not diorite, as is generally stated. I may here mention that one claim here still preserves its character for producing rich stone. I refer to the new Lady Belmore, at the foot of Hawkins Hill. The specimens are very rich, and the owners may congratulate themselves that they have a valuable mining property. During the year a reef carrying payable gold was discovered at a place called Washing Gully, which is situate about half a mile west of the township of Hill End. On the reef 01’ vein a good many mining tenements were taken up, but I am sorry to say only one of the present claims is at present payable. The vein is very narrow, and runs close to an old line of reef called the Washing Gully line, which was worked to a considerable depth and distance some years ago. At Tambaroora there is little 01’ nothing doing in mining. One party of Chinese are on payable stone.

They are working a claim on the Red Hill. There are several parties of Europeans engaged in prospecting, but their efforts have not as yet been crowned with success. At Ohambers Oreek there is no mining of any consequence being carried on, and the line of reefing country from that place to the foot of Hawkins Hill, a distance of about 6 miles, is totally abandoned. At Ironbarks mining has not progressed so favourably as was expected at the date when my last report was written.

There is little doing in quartz-mining, and no fresh discoveries of reefs have been reported during the past year. In July last the prospects of alluvial mining in this division of the Tambaroora and Turon Mining District were considerably improved by a new discovery near the Mookerawa Creek, at a place called the Bald Hills, distant about 5 miles from the township of Ironbarks.

A drift was discovered under the basalt. and the prospects in the Prospectors’ Claim and that adjoining it were remarkably good. In the former it is stated that prospects were obtained showing from 14 to 21 dwts. to the dish. A number of claims were taken up, and various tunnels driven into the hill. After many weeks hard and expensive work the majority of the tunnels were found to be at too high a level. The miners were disheartened and left the place; in fact, most of the claims were abandoned without even getting on to the wash. Some few, more persevering than their fellow miners, remained, and in the claim known as No. 2 North, the Minli1g Registrar reports that the holders are at this date driving through 40 feet of wash-dirt, with very good wages prospects.

Their success has caused matters to look up, and several abandoned shares are retaken. In the Prospectors’ Claim the proprietors have not as yet had a washing up. They have about 100 tons of wash-dirt to treat, but I am unable to ascertain what the probable yield will be. Some time back a few loads of wash-dirt from this claim gave a very handsome return, seven or eight loads yielding 38 ounces of gold. I may here mention that there are in this district very large areas. For instance, on either side of the Turon and Macquarie Rivers, and extending for many miles on the Mookerawa Creek, to where leads exist under the basalt. In some places cement is found containing gold in payable quantities; in others wash-dirt occurs without cement, which has yielded very satisfactory returns.

For example, on the hills known as Finch’s and the Horse Bald Hill, on the Macquarie River, I am satisfied that a considerable number of miners working quietly under the basalt in these places have for years past been obtainmg very satisfactory returns. The only drawback is, water is very scarce, and the miners have often to wait a long time before they have sufficient to wash up the stuff they have obtained. I am confident that in time to come these hills will supply large quantities of gold; but until the place is more easily accessible, and where gold is less difficult to obtain and save, are exhausted, I presume the basalt hills will not receive much attention from capitalists. I have had occasion to mention m my former reports that two large crushmg plants had been erected at Pulley’s Hill, on the Macquarie River, for the purpose of crushing the cement which is there found in large quantities under the basalt.

After crushillg some of the cement, and trying some of the wash-dli·t which lies under the cement, the owners were not satisfied, and allowed their leases to lapse. It is to be regretted that this valuable machinery, which can hardly be removed-one plant especially, which is erected on the river, and which has leadmg down to it a tramway 500 yards in length-should be allowed to lie idle and be destroyed without a further trial being made to ascertain whether the cement and alluvial are payable or not. At Sofala the Mming Registrar reports that durmg the last twelve months mmmg operations have been greatly retarded m consequence of the scarcity of water durmg the past year; but I observe that on comparing the returns of the quantity of gold won during 1877 with those of last year there is an increase of over 4-00 ounces for 1878.

At Sprmg Creek, near Sofala, the reef belonging to the Sprmg Creek Gold-minmg Company will, it is supposed, prove payable. A crushing plant has been purchased, which has yet to be removed from Tambaroora to Spring Creek. Most of the miners who have worked this reef speak highly of it; and if the present Company obtam payable stone in quantity it will probably be the means of inducmg capitalists to work other reefs in this neighbourhood. At Wattle Flat there are a few claims at work, and the miners complam that various leases, the property of Sydney Companies, and supposed to be very valuable, are allowed to lie idle.

I may here remark that the bailiffs of the Vardens’ Courts are instructed to report all cases where the labour conditions of mining leases are not complied with; and I believe, as far as this district is concerned, they perform their duties faithfully, but they labour under a great disadvantage m not bemg able in many cases to identify the leases.

The mmers complain that the labour is not employed, but they seldom report a lease themselves as havrng no labour employed; and I hwe no hesitation in saymg that some of those who signed petitions complaining that labour conditionfil were not fulfilled on gold leases were themselves guilty of the salVe def:mlt. One or two claims at ‘Wattle Flat have lately been yielding very rich stone. Muir and Vassella’s claim, on Oakey Creek, adjoining the ground belonging to the O. K. Company, has given some handsome returns j 43~ tons yielding 189 ounces 4 ptmnyweights of gold, and 17 tons of rubble, 38 ounces 12 pennyweights and 8 grains. The owners are at the present time engaged in raising quartz which shows gold freely. No 1 North, which belongs to Williamson Brothers, has also produced some rich stone j 12 tOllS of quartz gave 67 ounces and 10 pennyweights of gold. Another crushing from the same claim of 29 tons of quartz and 12 of rubble yielded 193 ounces 3 pennyweights and 10 grains of gold.

At the Back Creek, Crudine, a new vein has been discovered by Elkin and party, who are at present engaged in raising what they consider payable stone. Besides the prospecting claim two leases have been taken up on this vein. At the Box Ridge and Quartz Ridge there are very few miners at work. Most of the reefs in these neighbourhoods have been worked to the water level, and further prospecting requires more capital than the working miner can command. During the past year I have been requested to name any gold-field likely to afford profitable employment to a number of miners, provided water for mining purposes could be brought on the field at sufficient elevation; and in the event of my knowing any such field, I was requested to state its distance from a river or other source of water supply, and the extent; nature, and position with respect to supply of water, of the deposit to be worked; and also to give any information indicating the practicability or expediency of bringing water for mining purposes to any particular locality.

After making careful inquiry, I was unable to name any locality in this district which would be likely to afford profitable employment to a number of miners, even though water for mining purposes could be brought on the gi’ound at sufficient elevation. There are limited areas in the vicinity of Hill End and Tambaroora, and in other places, that would pay private companies if water could be got on without great expense j but there is no source of water SUl)ply, exc!’lpt what is caught in dams erected in the gullies leading down off the range; and the same m~ be said of the cement hills I have already mentioned. If water could be got in quantity sufficient for hydraulic sluicing on to these cement hills, it seems probable that large returns would be obtained. I may state that a private Company are, or were, engaged in bringing water for hydraulic sluicing from the Upper Turon to Circus Point, a distance of some 15 or 20 miles. They purpose sluicing the various auriferous points occurring on the line of race. Much doubt among the diggers was expressed whether the water would ever reach even near Sofala, which is a considerable distance from the terminating point j but this has been accomplished. A

t the date of my visit a strong stream was running in the race, a short distance above the township. The bringing a race, such as the one I have mentioned, for a long distance down a river, where mining tenements have been long in existence, is attended with great trouble and expense; so many old water-rights and water-races have to be purchased, and doubtful rights to be investigated, that the undertaking, unless in the hands of those experienced in mining matters, would seem hopeless.

In conclusion, I may state that in spite of the deplorable depression that exists in mining in this district at the present time, and especially at Hill End, where so much capital has been expended fruitlessly, from want of management and other cnuses (and I fear we will reach a much lower state even than that we are in at present), the time will come, I am confident, when many payable mines will be found on Hawkins Hill and elsewhere in this district, and the place will again flourish as it did in the days of the rush. As this is probably the last report I shall have the honor of writing for this district, which has been for four years under my charge, I take this opportunity of expressing my thanks and gratitude to the Under Secretary for Mines and other officers of the Department for the unvarying courtesy, consideration, and kindness I have received attheir hands since myappointment as Warden in charge of the Tambaroora and Turon Mining District. The annexed schedule shows, as nearly as can be ascertained, the quantities of gold won in this district during the year 1878.

MUDGEE DISTRICT

(Mr Warden Browne, P,M. Gulgong.)

WHEN furnishing my last annual report, I was compelled to allude to the abnormal want of moisture which had characterized the season of 1877, with reference to its unfavourable effect upon nearly all branches of mining,

The early part of the present year, or rather of the one which is the subject of this report, promised only a too copious supply of water; but although amply sufficient rain has fallen for pastoral purposes, the watercourses upon which the miners rely for their more important sluicing operations are still low.

Indeed, in those localities where large areas of ground must be treated at small cost, by means of a steady supply of race-water, the smaller streams are, for the time of year, unprecedently shallow.

From this and for other reasons (among which may be mentioned a considerable exodus of skilled miners to the Barrington and other diggings) it has occurred that the general yield of the Mudgee Gold-milling District has conspicuously fallen off, although the total quantity of gold won from the diiferent divisions is not discouragingly low when compared with that from other auriferous localities.

1’he total amount forwarded. by escort during the year of 1878 was, in all, 15,385 ozs, G dwts. 4 grs” of which rather more than half was forwarded from Mudgee, Hargraves, and Vellington,

It has always heen the opinion of the most experienced miners on this and other goldfields that the lower portions of the best and most celebrated leads have never been adequately tested. In the vicinity of Gulgong proper the great depth of basalt and the invariable presence of water have tended to shut out such enterprise from all but the capitalist.

So much money has been hopelessly Slink in unprofitable and indefensible enterprise that no one can be astonished at the unwillingness ot’ monied men to come forward even in perfectly legitimate and promising mining ventures. Such, however, the fact remains, and thousands of acres well known to be auriferous are condemned to unproductiveness and abandonment on account of the prejudices which have arisen-not wholly without foundation-against anything in the nature of speculative mining.

It can be easily proyed, however, that the auriferous drift is to be found at a certain depth in several well-known localities. With powerful machinery equal to keeping the driftwater down and raising the wash-dirt with economy, it can scarcely be doubted that rich and permanent results might yet be relied on in the vicinity of Gulgong and Home Rule.

The vote of £5,000 for aid to prospecting enterprises passed last Session, was, a1though small in amount relatively to the vast industry which it essayed to develope, distinctly a movement in the right direction. The Prospecting Board has the requisite scientific, praetical, and local experience which qualifies it to test exhaustively any project which may come before it.

Subsidising mining parties to the extent only of stimulating genuine prospecting labour, and repressing mere desultory occupation, it may confidently be asserted that seldom has the money of the State been expended more effectiyely and economically. Several moderate grants in aid have been recommended by the Board for enterprises in the neighbourhood of Gulgong and Home Rule, none of which are unlikely to produce gratifying resu1ts.

On a deep and wet lead, named the David Buchanan, at Home Rule, much time and money haye been spent in the earlier days of the gold-field. The former shareholders did all that men could do to keep down the incessant flow of water with the rude mechanical appliances then chiefly in use. After a desperate conflict of weeks, at a depth of 170 feet, it was found that work and pumping could not be simultaneously carried on. The present party of shareholders have the benefit of powerful steam machinery, with winding and pumping gear complete.

They are men of skill and experience in almost every phase of alluvial mining. “Vith the aid of the promised subsidy, and the mechanical power now upon the ground, a full and complete trial, whether eventuating in success or otherwise, may with certainty be predicted, The lower portion of the once famous Black Lead is also about to be subjected to the same exhaustive treatment, when the question of the contraction or expansion of the bed of that most ancient of streams, au the borders of which are still found the fossil fruits of long extinct orders of edible seed-bearers, will we trust be definitely set at rest.

In another portion of Gulgong proper, as well as near the once rich alluvial workings of Budgee Budgee, shafts are about to be sunk to prove the exceptionally deep ground-not less than 200 feet-known to exist in both localities.

‘Vhen it is considered that only one discovery of importance in the lower alluvial deposits would suffice to place on the ground and support a large mining population, adding at the same time thousands upon thousands of pounds to the public revenue, and benefiting all classes of producers and distributers, it will be seen upon what a sound economical basis all aid to prospectors stands.

Although discoveries of magnitude have been scarce in the district during the past season, many minor deposits have been traced which go to prove the existenee of the precions metal in the locality in nearly every position. At Surface Hill, near the town of Gulgong, at a depth of only a few feet, Messrs. Campbell & Parker unearthed in less than a week coarse gold to the value of several hundred pounds.

At Mullamuddy, on the Appletree Flat Gold-field, on the bank of the Clldgegong River, a nugget weighing nearl.V 200zs. was found during the winter. Another of these oceasional rewards for patient toil was found among the thrice-worked alluyial of Hargraves. At the same place, on the line of the Eureka Reef, Messrs. Bond & Coriolis found a quartz vein in which the gold formed the larger half of the mineral extracted. Latterly, on the upper part of the Black Lead, several claims have come upon good payable gold upon a high bar rising not less than 30 feet from the (lId le·el of the gutter. In several of these discoveries all mining experience has been at fault, leading to the deduction that around Gulgong it is impossible to predicate the absence of gold from any given locality.

At Home Rule, the Co-operative claim, known as the Red, White, and Blue, is still working, it is understood, with steady paying results. An extended claim, of the largest area allowed by the Regulations, has been taken up by a large body of shareholders on the abandoned portion of the Red Lead, where formerly great obstruction exi~ted from water. It is understood that tbey have received sufficient inducement to purchase and erect powerful steam machinery and pumping gear. In the event of-their area being proved to be permanently payable, much of the lead will be re-occupied, with a view to the same mode of working. A portion of the lower part of the celebrated Home Rule Lead has been occupied under lease by Messrs. Oharlton, Headley, and a strong party.

The gold several years since made a very abrupt cessation at No.8, for which there was apparently no sufficiently clear geological reason. It is not improbable that the present occupants may solve the riddle, to their own benefit and that of the neighbourhood.,

• In the neighbourhood of Lincoln, near Wellington, I trusted to have been enabled to report that the smelting works of the Eskdale Company, upon the lease of the Belara Copper Lode, were in full and constant work. Such is not the case, however, although a large number of bricks have been burned, and now lie rea.dy for the erection of the furnaces. The Kaiser Mine, where copper lodes and reef gold exist in juxtaposition, and where one of the most complete crushing plants in the Colony has been erected, at great cost, is stm inactive; but no doubt steps will be taken to test the value of the copper lode as well as of the large quantity of tailings before very long. The Mitchell’s Creek Reef, under the superintendence of Captain Richards, has just been engaged in raising several hundred tons of stone to grass from a deeper level than has yet been touched. The tributors will, I am informed, commence crushing at the machine belonging to the reef without much further delay.

This is one of the best paying and best managed reefs in New South Wales, and apparently is as permanent as profitable. In the neighbourhood of the Pipeclay Creek, about 8 miles east of Mudgee, where formerly very rich alluvial deposits existed, a quasi revival has taken place. Payable gold was reported to me as having been discovered on the conditionally purchased land of Mr. D. M”Phee and of Mr. Silas Shute.

In accordance with the provisions of the 14th clause of the Land Act, permission was granted by the Minister for Lands to certain miners to dig and mine for gold thereon. Many sbafts were sunk, and important finds occasionally rumoured, but eventually it appeared as though the auriferous tidings had been magnified, for the miners gradually deserted their shafts, and apparently despaired of any reward for their labours. In the event of really payable gold being found, the Government has the power to resume the land, compensating the holder of course for his land and improvements. In the case quoted no such necessity arose, but no doubt exists in my mind of the locality being highly auriferous, though patchy. At any time a discovery of importance might arise in the -neighbourhood and restore the mining population, once so thick at Newcastle Gully and elsewhere. In tbe neighbourhoods of Grattai, Avisford, Oakey Oreek, and Maitland Bar there are still small parties of miners, who mostly dig near to or in the beds of the streams. If not credited with large finds of gold, they do not fail apparently in making a livelihood. The gold here is found in shallow and patchy drifts, chiefly in the crevices of the slate rocks.

It is often coarse, and nuggets are not seldom met with. Unless large areas could be sluiced, for which of late years there does not appear to be sufficient water procurable, it is not likely that these once thriving localities will ever carry a large population again. From Maitland nearly all the Europeans have lately migrated-the Chinamen alone remaining.

A very large number of them comparatively elect to remain gold-hunting beside Bd,;£,ave8.these mountain streams, nearly 250 out of the total of holders of miners’ rights and business MH?i l er~Ro~ h- II·C enses I. n t h e H argraves D”I StrlCt be’ll lg 0 fthe’l l’ nat i’o n. andn eBrsu sin1e9s s …

Along the hills which skirt Long Oreek and the other tributaries or the Meroo may be Licel1llell, lIIS, seen the traces of enormous labour bestowed upon reef claims, then promising, doubtlel>s, but now long abandoned, well-nigh forgotten. In many of these shafts doubtless money was sunk in the search for gold, which had no existence, save in report and prospectus. But on the other hand, it cannot be doubted that really good investments were often deserted before they were properly tested, from blind panic or unreasoning timidity.

Their day may yet come, and if but one reef can demonstrate its gold-bearing stone, doubtless much of the silent country of crumbling whims and caving tunnels will echo once more to pick and drill, and the” shots” which used to make a line of reef in full work resemble a_park of artillery at irregular practice. That enterprise is not whol1y dead is evidenced by thl:l fact of the sllareholders in the Crystal Palace Reef, the last crushing of which went over an ounce, having taken a second contract for their tunnel, making in all more than a hundred yards. By this mode of working they hope to strike the reef, and so be enabled to bring out their quartz more economically than by haulage up a shaft. .

The Eureka Reef at Hargraves has made a sign, but of course it may be transient. A quantity of specimens of great value were taken a few months since out of the claim of Messrs. Bond and Ooriolis, who are still, however, sinking for the main reef.

In the neighbourhood of the Apple-tree Flat Gold-field, and generally upon the Hats which border the Oudgegong, more or less gold has been procured during the past year. Several claims are understood to have paid fairly upon Mr. Pauling’s purchased land, and also upon the Orown land adjacent.

Between the range and the river, on the northern side, the land is all more or less auriferous, and may possibly yet pay for sluicing in large areas, if we receive again the superabundant supplies of water which former seasons provided.

A rather promising discovery at Oampbell’s Oreek, reported on by me during the earlier part of last year, has apparently retrograded. What gold was procured was coarse and waterworn, and occurred at shallow depths, with considerable uniformity, within a few feet of the course of the creek. Within the last few weeks good specimens have been obtained, and, as it is situated in a locality above the general line of prospecting, more satisfactory results may yet be reached.

Gold is found more or less distributed near the watercourses in all the Hats and gullies between it and the Pyramul. The Spicer’s Oreek workings, lying between Gulgong and Wellington, employed at one time a considerable mining population. Many of the alluvial claims were· sufficiently rich, giving more than an OUnce to the dish. It is very possible that much of the area was never fully tested, as before its legitimate close as a gold-field the more promising rush called “Two-mile Flat” was announced, which caused nearly the whole of the population to migrate en masse, few of whom, if any, returned. During the last year Messrs. W. Oraigen and party, who are experienced miners, have been prospecting with partial success in this locality, having sunk nearly a thousand feet in all, and driven most of the shafts. In some instances sufficient gold was extracted to pay ordinary wages, but eventually the party had to discontinue their operations. ,

This is the only one among the numerous auriferous localities in the Mudgee district of which it is impossible to say whether they will not ultimately become the seats of extensive mining operations. Far less promising spots have revived and recovered a golden reputation. . In concluding this report, I may state my opinion, confirmed by added experience, that the auriferous deposits of the Mudgee Gold-mining District are still very far from being worked out, or indeed exhaustively prospected.

Many rich veins and leads will hereafter be discovered. Much alluvial working has been done in a hurried and incomplete manner, while With regard to the lower and more difficult portions of many of the best known leads, they can hardly be said to have been attempted. With respect to the quartz reefs of the district, more especially those in the vicinity of Gulgong, trial sinking, possibly with the diamond drill, will be necessary at greater depth than has yet been hazarded before the true reefs are likely to be reached. Then those astonishing quartz ledges may be invaded, from which, in disintegration, so many tons of gold during this decade must be held to have proceeded.

LACHLAN DISTRICT: Parkes, Forbes , Grenfell

(Mr. Warden Dalton, P.M., Forbes.)

IN submitting my annual report as to the progress made in the development of the mineral wealth of the Lachlan Mining District during the year 1878, for the information of the Honorable the Minister for Mines, I have to state that generally throughout the district goldmining, as during the preceding year, has been restricted to portions of the old leads anq workings.

Although prospecting has been carried on in several portions of the district by parties of miners, aided by local associations, during the early part of the year, and also by other parties working on their own resources, no discovery has been made of any new lead or auriferous deposit that could be worked with remunerative results.

In many instances, at a considerable depth, gold has been found on the bed-rock by the prospectors referred to, but nowhere in payable quantities. . .’

On the ‘plains of the Lachlan District, often a dead level for many miles, and entirely devoid of watercourses, the alluvial surface presents but few indications of the subjacent: formations or the course of the ancieut channels; hence the difficulty in prospecting new ground or picking up lost leads. To illustrate this, I invite atteution to the fact that eight leads, each from 1 to 3 miles in leng~h, have been traced on the north bank of the Goobang Creek, and worked to the margin of that stream, where the auriferous drift was Iound at a depth of 70 feet below the bottom of the present channel. All attempts to trace the continuation of these leads to the opposite bank have hitherto proved unavailing.

About a mile and a half southerly from the lowest workings on the leads indicated were four small block claims, situated on the Scrubby Plain, and evidently forming part of a lead. From a depth of 54 feet these claims yielded alluvial gold of the aggregate value of about £50,000. All efforts made to discover a connection between these rieh deposits and the leads on the north bank of the Goobang Creek have up to this date proved failures.

Many miners who have worked on every lead in the locality are convinced that such a connection does exist, and during the last four years the search has beaIl prosecuted from time to time with unabated confidence in ultimate success.

Prospecting has been carried on over the country for 50 miles due n.orth of Parkes, and while gold has been obtained at various depths in the vicinity of reefs :!mown to contain a little gold, it was nowhere payable, and only in sufficient quantity to induce further search. The same result was obtained at the depth of 109 feet to the east of the Goobang Creek, lnd yet the most expeL’ienced prospectors still have faith in these several loealities.’ . .. Billabong Gold-fielil, . e During the year ended on the 31st of December last no new aUtiferou! deposit has been reported on tbis field.

The mining population has been still further reduced, and those who remain have partially reoccupied such portions of the old workings as were said not to have been exhausted, and are thus scattered at long intervals over eighteen of the principa~ l~a,qs,. These have been already described in former reports. The most productive during the year have been the South Bushman’s Lead, when it was discovered that the main.. lead had been split by a bank of mullock, and that the outside run had been overlooked, by the first occupants, the South Welcome Lead, and the North Bushman’s; and on these the majority of the alluvial gold-miners working upon the gold-field have been continually employed.

Amongst the minor leads, Tearaway Gully has attracted attention h~re. Apqut ,August last, a nugget weighing 19 ozs. 7 dwts of gold was obtained fr0111 an old claim by a miner named P. Burdett, who found it at a depth of 15 feet. Aliout two years since a nugget weighing 39 ozs. was unearthed at a similar depth in the same locality, and several others of less weight at a subsequent date, all indicating that a valuable auriferous quartz reef c1tnnot be far distant.

There are but few places more worthy of the attention of the quartz-miner than the heads of the Welcome Lead, more particularly Tearaway Gully alid its vicinity. The hills and ridges on either side of the gully contain several large quartz reefs, associated with dykes of diorite and masses of porphyrite, traversing highly disturbed silurian formations, altered, fissured, and contorted, and abounding in iron, sulphur, and such other minerals as are usually found in gold-bearing formations, or altered rocks investing auriferous veins. On the crest of a-long ridge immediately above that part of the gully whe.re the nuggets were found is the Welcome Reef, in a mass of diorite ana altered slates and shales. This reef was worked some years since, when the gold won is said to have exceeded 3 ozs. per ton, decreasing in depth as the strata became more settled, until with a change in the walls of the fissure it ceased to be worked with profit at a depth of 80 feet.

At the base of both sides of this ridge is an unbroken succession of patches of surfacing and leads, all tributary to the main Welcome Lead, and all indebted for their gold to the disintegration of the gold-bearing dykes and veins by which they are encompassed. It is probable that much of the gold-bearing rock that once crested the hills has been disintegrated and washed into the valleys, but much must still remain in situations favourable for its preservation.

Although the slopes and valleys round Parkes have been worked by the alluvial gold. miner since 1870, the quantity of gold transmitted by escort from the local Banks proves that the yield in proportion to the number of miners actually employed is not below the average of former years. The number of miners employed in the alluvial mines during the year, exclusive of prospectors in new ground, did not at any period of the year exceed 300.

Early in December eighty-seven claims in the aggregate were being worked by about 250 miners; of these 187 were raising wash from their respective claims. These claims were in many instances worked from the old shafts and drives in dry ground.

The quantity of auriferous wash treated by the puddlers was shown by their books- 16,860 loads; quantity treated of which no account has been kept, estimated 1,140 loads; total, 18,000 loads. The average yield of gold was 5 dwts. 2 grs. per load. In consequence of the breaking up of the drought sufficient water has been available for mining purposes during about eight months of the year. The discovery of some important lead will be necessary to induce the miners to relinquish their present occupations and return to the gold-field.

Quartz.-The only quartz reef worked during the year was the Bonnie Dundee; from this reef 440 tons of stone was raised by Eckroom and party, from which they extracted 450 ozs. of gold. This reef is in a decomposed argillaceous rock, and underlies the Bushman’s Lead, at a depth of 80 feet below the surface.

The stone raised by Eckroom and party was from a depth of 140 feet. – Nearly all the reefs on this field are associated with diorite in dykes, where they prove gold-bearing. An examination of the quantity of gold won on the several leads and fields will prove that while there is a reduction in the number of gold-miners employed on the several leads and pafches of surfacing, and a reduction in the aggregate quantity of gold won during the year, there is no reduction in the quantity of gold won by each miner of average capacity and industry.

Lachlan Goli/-.fieli/s, Forbes.

Since the date of my last report a company, known as the South Lead Gold-mining Company (Limited), has been formed for the purpose of working 50 acres of old and abandoned ground at the lower end of the South Lead, on the Lachlan River, near Forbes.

This company holds more than half-a-mile on the gutter of the old lead, and in August last commenced mining operations. Within five months these works were prosecuted with so much energy that the main shaft had been puddled and timbered to the depth of 250 feet, being 20 feet in the bottom-a slate formation; the main levels had been extended 100 feet .below the wash-dirt; a water lodgment had been sunk in the rock; and the underground works had been opened out in the most approved manner for working such mines.

The old works had been drained, and the wash inspected by the manager. On the surface a winding-engine of 18 horse-power with gear complete isin operation; a smith’s shop and all other requisite buildings have been erected; two cast-iron puddling machines are about to be erected 23 feet above the ground, and driven by a second 18 horsepower engine. When this machinery is in every respect complete it will form one of the largest and most perfect alluvial plants in the Colony.

The quantity of water making in the mine is 450 gallons per hour, and this is brought to the surface without difficulty. , Mr. Phillip Davis expects to have all his arrangements complete in two months, when he will commence blocking out wash-dirt. Should this company pay a reasonable dividend, and their mine prove to be a success, all the old leads round Forbes will be worked under the same system, with much new ground in the basin of the Lachlan River. The operations on the Bald Hills by If ey and party, and upon the Victoria Lead by Henke and party, have been so fully described by the Mining Registrarthat I can add nothing to his report, except that arrangements have been made by a large and efficient party to work the Bald Hills.

There has been no other mining near Forbes during the year. Pinnacle Reifs.-Eighteen miles south of Forbes are the seven Pinnacle Reefs. These have been worked with profit some years since, but decreased in value with depth, and were abandoned in 1866, and have not been worked since. There is no water within several miles sufficient for mining purposes. Hall and party prospected the western slopes in search of alluvial gold during the year, but at the depth of 180 feet found no gold in payable quantity. The Wheogo Mountain, 6 miles south of the Pinnacle, contains auriferous reefs unworked, although frequently occupied for that purpose. Strickland’s Reef, between Forbes and Parkes, has been unworked during the year. Robert Callow, machine-owner, at Forbes, crushed between 800 and 900 tons of surface rubble quartz pebbles; the return was 60 ozs. of gold. No other reefs near Forbes have been mined upon during the year. Lake CU~’lellico.-Foster’s Reef Gold-mining Company (Limited) :-The tract held by this company is 13 acres, now under application for lease, the original lease having been cancelled for non-execution by the lessees.

The total quantity of quartz treated and raised was 5,675 tons, from which 1,774 ozs. of gold were obtained, of the value of £6,801 3s. 4d. ; of this quantity 1,099 tons were operated upon during the half-year ending on the 31st July last. Mining operations- were suspended by the company on the 1st of August, 18’78. They have again made application for a lease of the same tract, which they continue to occupy.

The plant was erected at the cost of £6,391 19s., and includes every modern improvement. The depth of shaft is 185 feet. The width of lode varies between 3 and 6 feet, with a north·east bearing. The hanging-wall is a soft talcose slate, the foot-wall a close-grained sandstone. The water level is at a depth of 45 feet below the surface-that made on the north end of the mine is salt, and at the south end fresh and pure.

In that part of the mine where the quartz was most rich in gold there has been much disturbance, and the quartz is fractured. The number of men employed averaged thirty. It is expected that this mine will be re-opened in a short time. There are about 150 adult inhabitants residing in the town, thirty of whom are miners. Oargo GoZil:fieZrl. During 1878 the mining population of this field has somewhat decreased, and there have not been more than five alluVial claims occupied on Gum Flat; of these one has reached a depth of 340 feet, These claims have been worked for several years with the same results, the wash varying but little in its yield of gold, the average being 4 dwts. per load. The Ironclad Company have resumed work, and, under a change of management, are treating pyrites with much success, and upon this the profitable working of the mine depends.’ The alluvial mines upon ihis field may become exhausted, but the Ironclad Range is a vast field for enterprise, and will afford employment to a large number of miners for many years.

The working of the mineli on the range will require a large capital, which may be obtained if the Ironclad Company can work with profit. The Milling Registrar has so fully reported with respect to this division that a repetition of the details is qnnecessary. Fencing and tank-sinking in the back country is the dernier resort of the luckless goldminer. He forms a party, and takes large contracts that extends over years, so that a long drought has an effect upon the gold-fields that does not terminate with the dust storms and whirlwinds. – The marked reduction in the quautity of gold won within this district is attributable to many causes.

The number of miners is becoming less every year, a great many finding other employment; and the prospecting for new gold-fields is in no way commensurate with the extent of known aurifeI’OUB country. It is frequently asserted by many of the residents in OUI’ gold-field towns that the old gold-fieldo; have been exhausted, but I hold a different opinion, based upon long experience and a comparison of our progress with that of Victoria and other gold-producing colonies.

The Lachlan, Billabong, and Grenfell Gold-fields have only been very partially worked, al1d I believe that theI’e aI’e on each of those fields numerous leads to be yet developed..

It is not probable tha.t th~ wet deep leads of Forbes will ever be worked by the individual miner ; in fact, tbe gold-digger of New South Wales is only experienced in his work up to a certain stage of mining, what may be termed shallow rushes in dry ground of limited depth, such as can be worked by manual labour aided by horse-power to the extent of a whip or whim; and wherever the difficulties become too great to be overcome by the aid of such appliances, as a rule, the gold-field has been abandoned, but this is no sufficient reason for sa~g that it has been worked out. .

I feel justified in saying that if adequate machinery was, under competent supervision, employed upon our deep and wet leads a new era in gold-mining would be established. Small parties of miners, pos~essed of neither capital or machinery, cannot work ground of this nature with profit .. In fact, this class of gold-mining should be in the hands of those who have a.mple means at their disposal; until this is effected there can be no reasonable expectation of seeing the deep and wet portions of our partially worked gold-fields efficiently mined upon.

The deep’leadll of Forbes have been idle for sixteen years, although known to contain gold. When the shallow mines of Ballarat had been followed until they became too deep for manual labour, a great lun in the yield of gold followed, and the mines lay unoccupied; the field, as far as the powers of the ordinary digger enabled him to work with profit, had been exhausted.

At length a new set of men came upon the field, provided with both machinery and capital sufficient to enable them to follow the gold to any depth; the mines were reopened, and at great depths proved to be more productive than ever, and in many instances the profits Were immense. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect that such gold-fields as Forbes, the Emu Creek, the Tyagong, and the Billabong should under similar conditions still be able to contribute larg~ly to our yield of gold.

There is, however, as far as the deep leads of Forbes are concerned, a prospect of our being on the eve of a change in the system of working our deep leads. As already stated, a company has been formed under the Limited Liability Act, with a capital of £5,500, with a view’ of working the continuation of the South Lead.

This company have already made good progress with their work; it is expected that washing will soon commence. It is to be hoped that the company will succeed in their enterprise, as it will stimulate the formation of others. They already” employ over twenty men, who will soon be increased to 100. Last ‘winter aix men were employed working the Bald Hills Lead; the de;pth’ is about 200 feet, and no drift to contend with. The last machine of dirt washed on thIs claim contained eighteen loads, and yielded 18 ozs. of gold, yet this party had to suspend work, owing to an excess of water, for horse-power. A very small pump would keep this mine dry. The water is making in the slate, and would be a benefit to any company who had machinery; it would be required for puddling. This mine is about to be worked by an efficient party.

The obstacle has been hitherto a want of capital-a want that has prevented the working of many .valuable gold mines with profit. . There are quartz reefs in this district that have been abandoned for a similar cause. The Britannia quartz reef, situated about a mile south of the town of Forbes, has been abandoned for fourteen years; while it was at work it yielded as high as 10 ozs. of gold per ton, and never less than 1 oz., but, as in all the other mines, the water became too great for manual labour to contend with.

The outcrop of this same lode is tracf’a ble on the surface for half-a-mile in length, and in several places rich stone has been discovered to the depth of 50 feet, water-level. It may be said that the Britannia quartzose ridge is the rock that produced much of the gold in the neighbouring leads-Grasset’s, Madman’s, South Lead, Victoria, Caledonia, North Lead, Thompson’s, and some others have been all traced to the same belt of auriferous rock; and no doubt when this outcrop is followed and searched further to the southward it will be found to be auriferous, and will yield its gold to other tributary gutters from its eastern flank.

The outcrop is traceable to the bottom of the Lachlan River; on the southern bank there is a very bold outcrop of the Britannia Reef invested in slate. The leads of this district, after having been traced some miles, become impoverished and ill-defined, spreading out into a series of crab-holes, or what may be termed “gilgies,” and at this juncture they are usually given up; in other places they are persistently followed, and sometimes found to have again re-formed.

All the leads that take their rise from the diorite ridge of Forbes trend to the south; when they are followed a few miles further in that direction they may be found to junction with the ancient bed of the river winding from the eastward and pursuing its course westward beneath the plains. Emu Greek ana Pgagong GoZit.jteZits. Have been for some years in an inactive state as compared with the energy with which both alluvial and quartz mining was carri~d on between 1866 and 1870. The Consols Company has been wound up, and the machinery removed. A small outcrop of quartz was discovered orr the boundary of this mine some time ago that gave profitable employment to about six miners, but this vein has become of no value; and is abandoned. There is no prospect of this reef being worked with energy and efficiency. There are a .large number of quartz veins and lodes on both the Emu Creek and the Tyagong.

A number of these were celebrated for their richness, and produced a large quantity of gold, but when followed down to the first and second breaks or faults they fell off in yield. Of these the Enterprise is at present the most productive, yielding a large profit to the shareholders. Several other reefs that had been long aband_oned were re-occupied by small parties during the year, and generally the quantity of gold won has been-remunerative, and, as a whole, quartz-mining has progressed. There is abundant room for the legitimate miner in this district.

The ground must be tried at greater depths, and cross-cuts driven to intersect the almost numberless quartz veins that are known to exist on these gold-fields.

I believe that the leads, if persistently followed to the deeper channels, would be found payable. The alluvial basin of this district is exceptionally well-defined, being surrounded on all sides by belts of granite, diorite, and altered rocks. Alluvial mirring has not been prosecuted with energy; a few miners, not exceeding thirty, have been chiefly employed in fossicking on the old leads at the Seven-mile and other outside parts of the field. . Mining for minerals and metals other than gold has not bE’en carried on during the year within this district.

At the close of year 1877 I stated that there was a growing disposition amongst the quartz-miners of Grenfell tore-occupy the abandoned reefs round that town. Portions of many of these during the year 1878 were taken possession of by small partieBof working was proved that these mines might still be worked with profit. There were but two crushing plants upon the gold-field in operation during the year 1878.

At the first, under the direction of Mr. J. D. Campbell, 1,040 tons 17 cm. of quartz were treated; and at the second, under the management of Mr. Duncan Cameron, 771 tons of stone were passed under the stampers, making a total of 1,811 tons. Much of this was trial parcels from old reefs that had been unworked for several years.

The total quantity of gold extracted from the 1,811 tons was 1,092 ozs. 10 dwts. 19 grs. Much of the stone treated was raised from mines that when first worked produced from 2 to 3 ozs. of gold per ton; but the stone gradually decreased in value with the increased depth and with every change in the investing rock traversed by the fissures that now contain the reefs. The porphyrite, slate, and gold-producing rocks to a considerable depth iu the country round Grenfell have been fractured and dislocated, slides have occurred, and nearly every auriferous block of marked value has been found to terminate with a break or fault at either end; frequently a block of slate is found to have intruded across the line of the reef, as at Lawson’s Hill.

There is no reason why the dislocated or shifted portion of the reef should not be as rich in gold as that in its original position, or why these lost blocks should not be persistently sought for. . I am informed that 18 tons of quartz obtained from a recently discovered reef or block in Lawson’s Hill has produced at the rate of 3 ozs. 10 dwts. of gold per ton. The reefs in this locality were amongst the first worked round Grenfell, and is one of those places that abound in faults and evidence of disturbance at a period subsequent to the formation of the goldbearing reefs and veins of tbe district. I transmit herewith a return of the several parcels of quartz crushed and treated at Emu Creek during 1878, with the quantity of gold obtained from each parcel.

As far as can be ascertained, the quantity of gold obtained from the alluvial leads within thE’ Emu Creek Gold-field during 1878 was 138 ozs., but as the Banks at Grenfell have purchased 320 ozs. of gold more than has been accounted for, I am inclined to think that a large part of this excess should be placed to the credit of the alluvial.mines at Grenfell. Fossickers usually sell their gold to the storekeepers on the leads, who transfer to their dealers and merchants, who in their turn dispose of the gold in a vnriety of irregular channels.

The quantity of gold purchased by the banks at Grenfell during 1878 was 1,552 ozs. The number of miners actually employed at the Emu Creek and the Tyagong Goldfields did not at any time exceed 150 men in 1878. ‘l’hat the Emu Creek and Tyagong Gold-fields do not make more rapid progress may be attributed to the poverty of the miner, the great depth of the country to be operated upon, and the little interest taken by the commercial community of the district in mining affairs. Quantity of Quartz crushed and treated at Grenfell, being the produce of the Emu Creek Gold-field, during the year 1878, on account of the undermentioned parties

:- Williams and Moran-202 tons; yield of gold, 95 ozs. 11 dwts. T. Handshaw-142 tons; yield of gold, 5’7 ozs. 1 dwt. Cotto me and Palmer-24 tons 3 cwt.; yield of gold, 23 ozs. 18 dwts. Niggmann and Evans-60 tons 10 cwt. ; yield of gold, 140zs. 17 dwtfl. 6 grs. Fitch and Son-25 tons 7 cwt. ; yield of gold, 13 ozs. 16 dwts. 6 grs. D. O’Malley-2 tons 5 cwt. ; yield of gold, 1 oz. lOdwts. James Tippett-9 tons 10 cwt.; yield of gold, 1 oz. 18 dwts. Iiomeward Bound Reif.-Schmkel, Clarkson, and party-262 tons 2 cwt. ; yield of gold, 106 ozs. 19 dwts. Joseph Tippett and party-16 tons; yield of gold, 6 ozs. 15 dwts. Lucknow Reif.-T. Pritchard-76 tons 16 cwt. ; yield of gold, 26 ozs. 15 dwts. 12 grs. Homeward Bound Reif. -E. Williams-13 tons 8 cwt.; yield of gold, 40zs. 13 dwts. T. Williams-15 tons 4 cwt.; yield of gold, 9 ozs. 2 dwts. T. Easton-3 tons 5 cwt. ; yield of gold, 3 ozs. 2 dwts. 12 grs. Young O’Brien Reif.-H. Fitch and Son-7 tons 3 cwt.; yield of gold, 7 ozs. 3 dwts. J. Bolton and party-17 tons 6 cwt. ; yield of gold, 19 ozs. 17 dwts. John O’Connor and party-2 tons; yield of gold, 1 oz. 10 dms. A. Stiff and Sons-82 tons 10 cwt.; yield of gold, 35 ozs. 17 dwts. 12 grs. Pru88ian Reif.-T. O’Malley-15 tons 15 cwt.; yield of gold, 23 ozs. 12 dwts. 12 grs. ‘Victorll Reej.-T. Allsop-I6 tons 8 cwt. ; yield of gold, 5 ozs. 10 dwts. Homeward Bound Reef.-H. Maher, T. A.-SO tons; yield. of gold, 23 ozs. 15.d.wts. ~ Barmedman Reef.-H. Minter and party, No.2 N orth-9 tons; yield of gold, n ozs. 5 dwts. Scalding Flat Reif, Oura.qabal.-H. Hilder-8 tons; yield of gold,5 ozs. 4 dwts. Result Reif.-T. R. Wallace-4 tons; yield of gold; 1 oz. it dwts. Nine parcels of alluvial pebbles, 110 tons 19 cwt., collected on the surface; yield of gold, 17 ozs. 13 dwts. 23 grs. All the parcels of quartz, as above described, were crushed and treated at Campbell’s Steam Crushing Plant, at the head of Star Lead, near Grenfell. 2 dwts . Welcome Reef No. 2.-A. Dunn andparty-108 tons 10 cwt.; yield of gold, 26 ozs.17 dwts. Homeward Bound Reif.-Maher and King-I 5 tons; yield of gold, 5 ozs. 14 dwts. Homeward Bound Reif.-Mitchell and party-139 tons, 6 cwt.; yield of gold, 18 ozs. . Law8oii’s Reif.-John Laurence-5 tons; yield of gold, 7 ozs. 1 d~t . . ‘Lucknow Reif.-J. Pritchard-16 tons; yield of gold, 7 ozs. 14 dwts. J. Stanton- 9 tons i yield of gold, 14 d wts. Lawson’s Reif.-R. Hinchcliffe-13 tons 10 cwt.; yield of gold io OZ8. 14 dwts. Enterprise Reif.-Hall and Son-49 tons 6 cwt.; yield of gold, 25 ozs. 14 dwts. Pettitt and party-224 tons of quartz; yield of gold, 363 ozs. 16 dwts. 7 grs. Welcome Reif.-Allen and Paice-70 tons 10 cwt. ; yield of gold, 17 ozs. 16 dwts. Prussian Reif.-J. O’Mealy-5 tons; yield of gold, 3 ozs. 16 dwts. Welcome Reef.-J. Albert-6 tons; yield of gold,2 ozs. 6 dwts. Britannia Reif.-Nelson and party-44 tons; yield of gold, 7 ozs. 13 dwts. Victm’Y Reif.-J ohn Allsop-42 tons 18 cwt. ; yield of gold, 29 ozs. 29 tons rubble surface quartz; yield of gold, 4 ozs. 23 tons wash-dirt crushed; yield of gold, 4. ozs. 4 dwts. In transmitting my report at this late season, I have to express regret that a delay, caused entirely by maladventure, should have taken place.

LACHLAN DISTRICT: Young

(Mr. Warder Robinson, P.M., Young.)

Ihave the honor to furnish my report for the year 1878. The Young Division of the Lachlan Gold-mining District has been so thoroughly tested, and its gold-bearing capacity is so widely and correctly known, that it would be writing merely for the sake of filling in space were I to attempt getting up a lengthy report.

Those who may require more ample detail, I would refer – them to my reports of 1875-6-7. During the past year there have been issued from this office 314 miners’ rights and 23 business licenses, which give an increase of 61 rights as compared with the preceding period.

Notwithstanding tbis, the number of actual miners haa not been enlarged. The discrepancy is explained by the fact that a 8care seized upon a number of persons who were ~nd still. are h?lding pub~ic lands ,:,ith~ut the !>anction of law j they rushed the office for mmer’s 1’lghts, III the belIef that thIS kmd of document would entitle them to take up any number of portions of the public estate.

I may menti6h that none of these persons were in any way identified with gold-mining, except to impede its progress. Although the miners have not grown in number, the production of gold has considerably more than doubled that of the previous season. .

All told, there are about a hundred European diggers, and say twenty-five Chinese, employed on this gold-field. The quantity of gold raised in 1878, taken in round numbers, amounts to 2,143 ounces, and of the’ aggregate value of £8,145. This distributed would average £65 per man for the year.

I may state that even in this unexceptionably favourable season the water supply has not afforded a working period to the digger of over four months out of twelve.

The ground throughout the whole division is easily worked, and with larger extent of water storage, adding better working appliances, the place would sustain the character of being eminently a poor man’s diggings.

There is no engine employed here on any tenement or claim of any kind,

The operations in force are surface sluicing and alluvial sinking-chiefly the former, “’hich gives a cash return of about a shilling to the cubic yard.

The work performed in alluvial sinking is no less remunerative. Bottom is nsually reached at Wombat on granite at a depth of from 6 to 18 feet.

On Lambing Flat the depth is greater, but water supply is more abundant. Paid labour is Dot largely brought into requisition, as the price offered–two guineas a week-fails in drawing any considerable number of hands from the general market.

I cannot realize the hope that any attraction presented on this field of labour will bring here-in mining parlance” a rush.” The few diggers we have are full of cliscontent. I do not mean to constitute myself murmurer for a body of men who proyerbially are so well able to grumble for themselve~, but in common fairness I must state that they have much reason to complain.

Their burden of grievances is capable of being removed, but no remedy has been applied. Imperfect and obscure as the Land and Mining .Acts may be, they, however, afford sufficient force and meaning to give the digger ample protection if the administration of the law were carried out with firmness, consistency, and regularity.

This is not done, hence the complaint that the interests and privileges of the miner are at all times, and in all places, encroached upon, interfered with, or subjected to trespass of one kind or other.

The law is as plain as need be, “ that only one portion of land can be taken up by virtue of a miner’s right 01’ business license, and that portion must be of specific quantity.” It is quite true that a power is given, so to speak, outside the .Act to augment the quantity, but that can only be reasonably exercised when it is shown that some exceptional case is presented for consideration.

What is the system here? Why this, that persons take up whole township blocks, ten or twenty 2-acre portions, and they hold them at the expense of other interests, and in defiance of both law and com:mon right. The question naturally arises, how is it the law is not enforced.?

Simply because there is no machinery provided for setting the law in motion. The digger comes again and again to the Warden with his complaint, “that the lands in and about the town are being monopolized by persons having no connection with mining j that they require these places to mine upon j that they cannot even get a decent spot whereon to reside; that their water catcbes are ruined.”

The Warden will not-he must not-be induced, under any circumstance, to:be a party to instituting prosecutions, and then adjudicate in such cases.

This is a power which no public officer should possess, much less should he exercise it. The digger refuses to be a common informer, so the matter rests, and the trespassers remain in p0ssession.

I may just state that a prosecutor bringing any case of this kind before a Warden’s Court, the law is clear enough, and quite sufficient to reach the offender. I know of no exceptional case that has arisen on this gold-field where any man would be entitled to purchase beyond the quantity prescribed by law. A.ssuming this statement and view to be correct, then everyone who has had liberty to purchase more than one portion, or beyond the quantity mentioned in the .Act, has gained more than he is legally entitled to hold.

So likewise those who are in possession (and have not been permitted to purchase) of more than one portion should be warned off, and in default of compliance he should be prosecuted by the Crown.

On the other hand, if it be determined that the exceptions, which I have indicated, are to constitute the rule, then no time should be lost in making such decision known, both to the digger and the general public.

The time has arrived which renders it absolutely necessary to pursue with vigour one or other of t11e courses here pointed out. Had the Act been strictly enforced when first it came into operation the mining interests would not have been now contendiIlg against difficulties and antagonisms which ha’e become really formidable, if not quite insurmountable, that is, so far as Young is interested. It remains to be seen what the underground tunnel of Tonking and Company will do for this place.

When finished it will at least partially drain a large portion of ground known to be auriferous, as well as the old workings, which originally were very remunerative, on “Possum :Flat.” The police paddock is being prospected; this portion is well known to have been tested long ago-there is no claim to be found there to pay for any extent of labour.

The best prospects for developing an extensive gold-field with us lie in theeountry beginning at Cumbamurrah, bearing south, then west, and extending from there to 10 or 12 miles, still in a westerly direction, beyond Cootamundra. Would it not be well for Mr. Wilkinson to map out the country, so that the auriferous lands in that locality should be taken up under section fOUl’teen of the Lands Act? In conclusion, I most respectfully submit that, although the aims of the Mining Act are obvious, the wording of its provisions are indefinite, obscure, n,nd inconclusiye.

There cannot, I think, be two opinions about the urgent necessity of introducing a new Mining Bill. The measure now in force is capable of being cut down, pruned, and by a careful recompilution a suitable measure ought to be produced. From the ready address with which the most intricate questions are disposed of in the Mining Department, and the reputedly thorough knowledge of mining affairs possessed by the Honorable the Minister for Mines, I caunot think the task of revising both the Mining Act and Board Hegulations would be either very arduous or difficult

TUMUT, ADELONG & ALBURY DISTRICT.

(Mr. Warden Vyner, P.M., Tumut.)

I have to report great dulness in mining matters in that portion of the Tumut and Adelong Mining District under my charge.

The small demand for miners’ rights as compared with previous years tells a tale of decreasing population, and the escort returns show that the gold won’is getting small by degrees and alarmingly less.

At Adelong I have never Seen reefing prospects worse and the chance of improvement less hopeful, and I fear the same thing may be said of both quartz and alluvial mining throughout this district .

Some people seem to think a large supply of capital and water would improve prospects, but I am of opinion that there must first be a fresh discovery of auriferous ground, for the old ground is beyond doubt nearly exhausted.

In copper-mining there is still considerable activity at the Snowball Mine, with a fair prospect of ultimate success when the railway from Cootamundra to Gundagai is completed.

ALBURY DrvIsION. (Mr. Warden Brownrt’gg, P.M., Albury.)

IN forwarding my report of the mining operations in this division of tIle district for the year 1878, it may be stated in brief that the occupation of mining has all but died out here.

The only claim operated upon at the Black Range Gold-field is that held by the Black Range Gold-mining Company, from which about 600 tons were raised, yielding in value £2,250.

The number of men employed has not exceeded on an average twelve. With reference to the gold~fields at Yarrara and Four-mile Creek-at the former there was raised from the Perseverance Reef 207 tons of stone, which only yielded 16 ozs. 6 dwts., and from the Just in Time Reef, 132 tons, yielding 360zs. 16 dwts.

‘The company holding these claims are still hopeful as to the prospects of the Just in Time, and have continued operations under the expectation of receiving out of the Prospecting Vote the amount recommended by the Board.

The Mountaineer Reef, at the Four-mile Creek, has been kept at work. The quantity of stone raised, 351 tons, which gave a result of 154J ozs. 16 dwts. 21 grs. The company holding this claim also rely upon receiving the amount recommended by the Board out of the Prospecting Vote. , With regard to the operations of the Jingellie Tin-mining Company, I am unable to afford any information, as my request to the superintending manager of the company’s works for any particulars he could favour me with has remained unnoticed.