CHRONOLOGY - 1855: Gold Trails

THE OVERVIEW OF THE STATE’S GOLD MINING FOR 1886

The continued decrease in our gold yield cannot, I think, be due to exhaustion of our auriferous deposits, but must be ascribed to lack of energy or means to search for new deposits, or to develop those already discovered.

Since the breaking up of the drought there are slight evidences of a desire to prospect new country, and in view of the extent of gold-bearing country it is unlikely that any extensive and persistent explorations would be barren of good results.

We may, therefore, be justified in looking forward te the opening of some new fields if those who are inclined to prospect can procure the means to continue operatiens while feed and water are plentiful.

The discovery of an extensive gold-field, thou gIl only moderately rich, would, iu view of the large number of unemployed, prove especially acceptn,ble at the present time.

The output of gold in 1886 is, I regret to say, less than that of 1885, but the decrease in quantity amounts to only 2,319 oz., and in value to £12,371.

Each year I have been hoping that the lowest point had been reached and that the development of our auriferous deposits would have again attracted the attention of capitalists, but, perhaps partly on account of the drought, and partly on account of the general depression, the hope has not yet been realized.

During the year, a few discoveries more or less important were made, but with the exception of the deposits at Fairfield, they hn,ve not attracted much attention.

The late abundant rainfall may, it is hoped, lead the further testing of many of our older gold-fields, which have for some years past been neglected in consequence of the scarcity of water.

The fo1l0wing extracts ITom the Wardens’ and Mining Registrars throughout the Oolony indicate the condition of gold-mining in the several districts during the past year :-

In the Bathurst District the Wardens’ and Mining Registrars report :-At Dark Comer, Cook & Co. crushed 1,100 tons quartz for 660 oz. of gold. Sixty men are working at the Lagoon, 4 miles north of Mitchell, 1,272 oz. of alluvial gold has been sold in the locality. 120 oz. of gold valued at £462 was won in the Burraga division.

At Oberon only one mine was working at which ten men were employed; 1,500 tons ~f stone treated, yielded 975 oz., equal to 13 dwts. per ton, value £3,412 lOs. At Tuena, 116 men are working, they sold locally 609 oz. 6 dwts. of gold for £2,300.

At Trunkey the Bathurst Oompany was engaged the whole year sinking a perpendicular shaft, and it is estimated another year will be occupied in sinking before the depth will be reached at which the company expect to cut the reef.

Several parties were working alluvial, and Knowles & Co. were sluicing when water was available. G0ld to the value of £2,462 12s. was s01cl in the locality, being 484 oz. 11 dwts. 10 grs. from alluvium, and 150 oz. 18 dwts. 9 grs. from quartz. At Mount M’Donald sixty-seven men were working. From the Bobby Burns mine, 65 tons stone yielded 476 oz. gold; the average from this mine for the year was 7 oz. per ton.

Butchers’ obtained 680 oz. of gold from 140 tons, and the tributors in the Balmoral mine obtained 491 oz. from 130 tons. The total quantity of gold obtained from quartz during the year was 3,390 oz., valued at £11,899, the average yield per ton for the year being 3 oz. 5 dwts. 19 grs.

In the Carcoar division the escort retums show an increase upon those of the preceding year to the extent of 1,537 oz. gold, the quantity Rent away being 10,610 oz.; this is ascribed to the abundant rainfall during the latter half of the year 1886. At the mine known as “The Junction,” at the junction of the Belubula River and Mandurama Creek two trial crushings were had of 150 and 110 tons respectively, yielding 40 and 46 oz., which, considering the quantity or stone in view and the facilities ror working, should pay wel1.

The Brown’s Creek mine is said to have paid handsome dividends during the year; the quantity of gold won at this mine being 4,173 oz. 9, dwts. Some good cakes of gold have been sent away from Galley Swamp.

At Ophir, in the Orange division, the mines are at a stand-still for want of sufficient capital to work on a suitable scale. The Warden is of opinion that with sufficient capital the results from these mines would be surprising, The Forest Reefs and Lumpy Swamp mines are improving.

At Lucknow the New Reform Company is adding to the machinery. This company has during the past two years, paid £15,750 in dividends, besides sinking main shaft 100 feet deeper, and paying all expenses connected with machinery, &c.; At Carangam, gold and silver are found in large quantities in the copper ore.

At King’s Plains, the North Confidence Company have sunk their ma.in shaft 260 feet; the deposit is said to be 40 feet wide from the surface down to the bottom of the shaft. 2,000 loads of dirt were raised during the year, the yield of gold being 3 dwts. per ton.

The Inspector of Mines reports-at the Gordon mine (the principal mine in the Buckinbah Gold-field) a mass of quartz veins occur in a circular form, containing gold, carbonate of copper, copper pyrites, blend, and molybdenite; at present the mine is worked for gold only, owing to the low price of copper.

The monthly crushings average about 150 tons, and the yield of gold varies from 3 to 7 d wts. l)er ton. Some hills near the Wellington contain surface drifts in which gold is found. It is thought to be auriferous, though in sinking near this creek heavy drifts may be met with. The discovery of a new gold-field may be expected in the vicinity of the road between Buckinbah and Molong.

In the Mudgee District, the Wardens and Mining Registrars report :-At Gulgong some more or the importRllt mines have been abandoned. The Nil Desperandum at the Canadian continues to yield payable gold from the” pug,” found in the cavities of the limestone rock; the present depth or the workings is 220 feet, but the company intend sinking 300 feet, or to the slate bottom on which they expect to find payable gravel.

At Slasher’s Flat some twenty or thirty men are earning fair wages. Payable prospects have been obtained by Fletcher and party in the vicinity of the diamond mines. The quantity of gold won during the year is 1,724 oz. 15 dwts. 5 grs., valued at £6,652.

At Apple Tree Flat, in the 11: udgee division, some good results have been obtained. Rochester and party obtained a nugget weighing 102 oz., and another party a nugget weighing 20 oz. The quantity of gold purchased locally was larger by nearly 400 oz. in 1886 than in 1885.

At Hargraves, most of the claims were abandoned during the ‘year, mainly owing to the want of means to procure machinery. Towards the end of the year some comparatively large areas were taken up by Mr. Coghlan who proposes to test the reefs by boring with the diamond drill. In the Dubho division, gold-mining is carried on only at Tomingley, where the population and the yield of gold were somewhat larger in 1886 than during the previous year.

According to the returns furnished by the owners of the crushing mills, 3,778 tons crushed yielded 2,820 oz. 7 dwts. 7 grs., valued at £10,927. In the Tambaroora and Turon District, the Wardens and Mining Registrars report ;-The Carnelian Company, Hawkin’s Hill, raised and crushed 517 tons of quartz for 320 oz. 15 dwts. 16 grs. retorted gold.

They also crushed for tributors 222 tons, which yielded 200 oz. 4 c1wts. 15 grs., and 103 tons ror the public which yielded over an ounce pel’ ton. A main shaft, 8 ft. x 6 ft. has been sunk to a depth of 150 feet, and is to be ~mnk 400 ft., and it is proposed to construct a tunnel from Oakey Cl’eek to drain the water from the mine at a low leve1. Some good yields have been obtained from small parcels or stone. The quantity of gold sent from Hill End by escort (including the gold from Hargraves and Windeyel’) was 3,375 oz. 11, dwts. 9 grs. Carver and Porter’s mine, from which such rich stone was raised, is flooded, and they have not the necessary appliances to keep the water down. The Red Hill Company, at Tambaroora) have sunk a shaft 9 ft. x 3 ft. to a depth of 250 ft.

They cut :qve veins, three showing gold, the last one cut at 240 ft. is 14 inches thick, a trial crushing from which gave 12 dwts. per ton. Since the rain commenced considerable sluicing has deen done at Hargraves and Windeyer. At the R00t Hog, on the Macquarie, a party of miners have erected a battery to be worked by water-power, the quartz yields from trom 8 to 16 dwts. pel’ ton.

At Sorata. SOlllB good yields have been obtained from smitH parcel;; of stonA. Grice and Clark obtained 150 oz. 16 dwts. frolll 7 tons, and Prince & Hibberd, 52 oz. from 10 tons. Mr. Howard discovered a rich vein at Back Creek, 2 tons of stone, from it yielded 15 oz. of gold.

Owing to the abundance of water during the last quarter of the year, there was some activity in sluicing, &c.; Total yield for the year at Sobla, 2,234 oz. 7 dwts. 21 grs. from alluvium, and 1,520 oz. from quartz. At Ironbarks, Scott’s machine crushed 324 tons stone for 176 oz. 15 d wts. retorted gold. At Buckin1Jah Messrs. Veitch and party crushed 1,480 tons of stone for 384 oz. The Muckerawa Junction Company, on the Macquarie River, erected expensive pumping gear capable of pumping 70,000 gallons pel’ hour, and now seems to be in a fair way to work the deposits in the river bed.

The quantity of gold won in the division was 1,549 oz. 4 dwts. 1 gr. In the Lachlan District the Wardens and Mining Registrars report: –

At Forbes the Nil Desperandum Co., on the south lead struck payable wash-dirt from 2 to 3 ft. in thickness, average 6 dwts. per load, from 120 loads. On the same lead the Crinoline Co. have bottomed on wash-dirt, but have not washed, as they were engaged in erecting machinery and buildings.

On the same lead the Forbes Alluvial Co., the shaft has not yet bottomed. In all these mines great difficulty has been experienced in sinking through the drifts. On the Britannia Reef a company has raised some stone estimated to contain 2 oz. per ton; but operations are stopped pending the arrival of machinery.

If this mine prove payable other miners may be attracted to this reef, which has been traced to a considerable distance, but has not been tested to any great depth.

A partv on StrlCkland’s Reef has had some stone crushed at Parkes, which yielded 16 dwts. per ton. A plant is being erected to work the old Pinnacle keef, a shaft has been sunk 70 ft. into the reef showing gold all the way down.

The reef is 8 ft. wide at the bottom of the shaft, the average width being 5 or 6 ft. The yield of gold at Forbes during the year was 496 oz. 1 dwt. 19 grs. At Parkes there has been a great improvement upon previous years in alluvial workings, and several new qnartz reefs have been discovered. On the Buchanan Reef Quayle and party obtained 1,512 oz. from 504 tons, equal to 3 oz. per ton; and Haselhurst and party obtained 1,755 oz. from 351 tons, equal to 5 oz. per ton; and very handsome returns were obtained from some of the newly opened reefs.

There are a number of parties prospecting for alluvial deposits; and some of the claims of newly discovered deposits are payable, and though not rich are likely to provide employment for a number of men. Appliances are being erected for the treatment of tailings; samples from a heap at the Curragong have been tested and found to contain 6 dwts. per ton. T

he quantity of gold won at Parkes was 5,234 oz. 8 dwts. 1 gr., namely, 655 oz. 12 dwts. 11 grs. from alluvium, and 4,578 oz. 15 dwts. 14 grs. from quartz. There are about twelve miners prospecting about 30 miles from Condobolin; the gold they find is in alluvium, but the quantity is nothing to speak of.

At Grenfell there are a few parties prospecting and a few working alluvial and quartz claims. ‘The quantity of gold won from alluvium was 227 oz., and from quartz 193 oz. 5 dwts. The highest average yield from qual’tz was 1 oz. 5 dwts. per ton from Lawson’s Reef; and highest from alluvial was 13 dwls. per ton from Quondong Gully.

At Oanowindra 629 tons of quartz crushed during the year, yielded 801 oz. 12 dwts. of gold, and 80 oz. were obtained from alluvial workings, chiefly by fossickers. At Paling Yard Creek, about f) miles from Cudal, a gossan10de has been discovered, the lode varies in width from 6 ft. to 18 in. Six claims are at work upon it.

The prospectors had 63 tons crushed, from which they obtained 13 dwts. per ton; another party had 11 tons crushed from which they obtained 11 dwts. per ton; but the lode stuff has to be sent 10 miles over rough country to Cargo to be crushed. The cost of carting and crushing is 2513. per ton, con· sequently the other parties have a quantity at grass awaiting treatment. At Boney’s Rock, near Toogong, 48 tons were crnshed for 168 oz. for one party, and other part-ies are on gold.

A party is raising stone from Bevan’s Reef, near Toogong, 201 oz. 10 dwts. were obtained from quartz. At Young several companies have been or are about to be formed to work large mines on the Burrangong Creek; these mines have been tested at various points with most satisfactory results, and it is anticipated that these mines when opened up will yield l:wge returns.

During the year the quantity of gold won, was 1,654 oz. 16 dwts. 15 grs., being an increase upon the previous year. At Murrumburrah, the Ounningar Quartz Mining Company during the year completed their extensive plant, which with labour has cost upwards of £20,000.

The reef worked by this company contains no free gold, the pyrites which contains the gold is concentrated and then smelted, from 100 tons of quartz 138 oz. of gold was obtained. 460 oz. 10 dwts. 7 grs. was won during the year from alluvium.

At Temora most of the alluvial mines were flooded during the heavy rains, and after they had been drained it was found that owing to the soft nature of the country the shafts and drives had been destroyed, so that the works had to be started afresh.

The quartz mines have been steadily but surely progressing. The South Australiau Oo’s., mine has continued to yield steadily payable-returns; at the same time lodes have been disclosed which it is thought win be permanently profitable.

Attempts are being made to form companies with capital to work the Hidden Star, Mother Shipton, and other mines at Temora; also the mines at Sebastopol, Muttama, and Barmedman. The ‘,luantity of gold which passed through the Gold Receivers’ hands at Temora, in 1886, was 7,161 oz. 10 dwt. 5 gr.; this includes gold from Sebastopol and Bal’medman.

The quantity of gold that passed through the Banks at Temora during the year was 7,5·17 oz. It is not known what proportion of the gold was from alluvial and quartz mines respectively; but it is known that one of the Banks purchased some 1,360 oz. from alluvial workings, and some 1,431 oz. from the quartz workings, at Barmedman.

Owing to the stoppage Jf the works of the Barmedman United Company, tIle miners were unable to get stone crushed withont sending it to Temor:L during the first half of the year. In June last the Company sold their mine and plant, which were purchased by Mr. Cassin and other local storekeepers. Since then 1,616 tons of quartz have been crushed, for a yield of 2,054 oz. 1O dwt. 1 gr.

The last crushing of 329 tons, taken from thirteen different claims, gave an average of 2 oz. 12 gr. of gold pel’ ton. The whole of the stone l’aised was taken from above the water level 80 feet.

It is regretted that the Barmedman United Co., which had the requisite appliances, did not explore their mine at greater depth, a,s it is thought that the mine if thoronghly tested below the water level would prove payable.

At the” Hard to Find” mine an engine and pnmps have been placed on the ground with a view to testing below water level. At Mutta::na some rich stone was discovered in one of the olel workings, aud farther workings have induced hopes that the locality will prove a valuable quartz-mining’ district.

Sebastopol should be a prosperous mining centre, but the minCfl have been ruined by bad management and litigation. At “Vantiool very little work has been done, the quantity of gold won being 113 oz. 7 dwt. 8 gr. At lfitta Mitta there is a fairly good mine; but it has I:ot been l)roperly opened. At Adelong large tracts of valuable auriferous lalla have been alienated, which, if open to them, would l)rovide profitable employment to many hundreds of miners.

The New Mount Hope Co. are employing a few men to prospect for gold at Ironstone Hill, near Mount Hope. In tIle Albert District the ,Vardens and lIining Registrars report :-

At Mount Brown, on Eillygoat HilI, steady work, with satisfactory results, has been done in the claims where the water was not too heavy, the yield being about 1 oz. pel’ ton. In two of the claims they llave not been able to overcome the water sufficiently to ascertain the value of the wash. The Warden thinks handsome returns will be obtained as soon as the miners get machinery to overcome the water. The lead found at the One-mile, at a depth of 16 ft., under ccment, has been teaccd in a southerly direction to a depth of Hi5 ft. Four claims are on wash which yields fl’Om 1 oz. to 4 oz. per load.

At the J!’our-mile one puddling machine has been steadily employed washing surface dirt which yielc1s about [) dwt. per load. At the Warratta Reefs, the daim of the late ,Vhittabrennah Company has been let to tributol’s, who, during four months, crushed only 40 tons for 23 oz. It is thought much of the goM is lost owing to the defective machinery. At 1’ibbooburra the pnddling machines are yielding good returns from sUl’face dirt. Thos. Stevenson puddled 2,000 10ac1fOi of surface, which averaged 1 c1wt. to the load. The quantity of gold won \’a.s 3,839 oz., valued at £15,161. In the Wilcannia Division there are about fifteen to twenuy men prospecting for gold 011 tho K untherungce Run, between “Vilcannia and Milparinka; some of them are earning rations by surfacing.

In the Tumut and Adelong District the ,Vardens and “!.lining Registrars report :-At Tumbarumba the want of water dUl’ingthe early part of’the year retarded slnicing operations. A new reef was opened at Paddy’s River, but, after testing, was given up, the return being about 6 dwt. pel’ ton.

But little prospecting was done. The quantity of gold won was about 1,380 oz. At Albury, the Bungowannah Co. made a valuable discovery of quartz neal’ the falls to Jindera, and north-west from Splitter’s Creek. TIle deposit is an immense dyke reef which has been driven into 25 ft. without touching the opposite wall.

The stone is quarried out, and will payat 3 dwt. pel’ ton, but avel’ageslO dwt. The Company have erected a 15-head battery, and constructed other important works. The manager estimates thathe can crush 250 tons pel’ week.

The Soudan Co. has a dyke reef of large size at Splitter’s Creek, and are pushing on their preliminary works, but have not yet tested the stone. Several parties are prospecting in the adjoining hills. 11:essr8. Pye & Wealands, of May-day Hill, Black Range, crushed 75 oz. from 21 tons of stone. Mr. Polkinghorne, of Hawksview, obtained 2{j8~’ oz. from 59 tons stone. The quantity of gold obtained in the division during the year was 650 oz. At Adelong thero has been much depression, especially at the quartz mines. 2,40S} tons quartz crushed yielded 1,715 oz. 7 dwt. 9 gr. From alluvial mines, 4,085 oz. 9 ehvt. 6 gr. of gold was won. Preparations are being made to work Mr. A. D. Shepard’s mine by the aid of a hydraulic injector. At Reedy :Flat, 760 oz. 4 dwt. 1 gr. of gold was obtained from alluvium.

At Tarcutta, 263 tOilS of quartz crushed yielded 140 oz. 10 dwt. of gold. At Ki:Lndra, during the first seven months of the year, the water supply was insufficiellt. At Kiandra, the Kiandra Gold-mining Company obtained 1,672 oz. of gold from 6,358 yards of earth. In consequence of the exceptionally dry weather up to the beginning of August, sluicing was not commenced till quite late in the year.

In the Southern Mining District the Wardens and Mining Registrars report :-”Thfessrs. Dunstan & 00. at Diggers Oreek, in the Berl’ima District have recently erected a puddling machine with a view to test their mine for gold and gems.

A little gold and some diamonds have been obtained, but the works are not sufficiently advanced to determine the value of the deposit. At the Carrington mine, neal’ Marulan, the lode which is being tested is said to contain gold, silver, galena, copper, and iron; and it is thought it will prove remunerative, but considerable capital will be required.

In the Braidwood District the want of water retarded sluicing operations, notwithstanding the spring rains; quantity of gold won at Braidwood, 310 oz. At Araluen, where the deposits can best be worked in dry seasons, there was a slight increase of gold upon the output of the previous year. Races are about to be constructed from the Oorang and Shoalhaven Rivers to work some ground in the N erriga Division; the yield of gold in this division was 400 oz. At Spring Oreek a 10-head battery has been erected to work Plum’s Reef, which is 14 ft. wide, 370 tons crushed averaged a little over 2 dwt. 12 gr. per ton. Mr. Oarter has crushed 630 tons from Dargue’s Reef, including surface, for a yield of 68 oz. of gold. He has also treated 20 tons of mundic tailings left by previous owners, from which he obtained 40 oz. smelted gold. Total for Major’s Oreek Division-500 oz. from alluvium, and 129 oz. 12 dwt. 3 gr. from quartz.

The quantity of gold won from alluvium in the Little River Division was 999 oz. At Araluen there was at times scarcely enough water to wash with at the stripping claims, and ground sluicing was practically at a standstill.

The quantity of gold won during the year was-Alluvium, 5,500 oz.; quartz, 20 oz. 2 dwt. 9 gr. In the Nowra District the Homeward-bound Co., at Yalwal, obtained 1,282 oz. from 800 tons of quartz; the average is somewhat lower than usual in consequence of the Oompany having to clear low-class stone out of the way; some of the stone yielded 31 oz. per ton. The Pinnacle 00. crushed 642 tons for 680 oz. 10 dwt., besides saving pyrites for treatment.

The Pioneer 00. crushed 240 tons for 77 oz. 6 dwt. There is a large percentage of silver in the gold from these mines. In the Nerrigundah Division, what is thought to be a payable reef, was discovered in Tom North’s Gully. The quantity of gold won during the year was 420 oz. In the Moruya Division a rush of about 200 miners to a flat called Oabbage-tree Creek was caused by the bottoming of a shaft by prospectors, and the finding of about 30 oz. of gold.

This was the first shaft that had been bottomed on the flat, owing to the quantity of water. Nothing of importance has since been found, although several parties have made good wages. Some of the quartz reefs show as much as 2 to 3 oz. pel’ ton, but there is no battery on the ground for crushing.

The quantity of gold won was 281 oz. At Wagonga there are distinct gold-bearing reefs. The Belle of Australia, which has an average width of 3 feet, has been proved by trial crushings to be payable. It is intended to form a Oompany to work the three amalgamated claims on this line, and to erect machinery thereon. ·

The battery erected on the Lady Oarrington Reef has been enlarged and the latest improvements added, and it is thought the claims when opened out will give employment to a number of miners. The John Forster Reef shows good gold; the width of the reef is 18 to 20 in. ; numerous trials of the stone taken from different depths in sinking the main shaft indicate that the stone will yield from 2t to 3 oz. pel’ ton.

At Mount Dromedary no main reef has yet been discovered; the veins, varying from 2 to 8 in., carry gold; a R much as 4 oz. to the ton having been obtained. At Tin-pot the Tuross 00. are opening up their mine by sinking shafts and tunnelling; 80 lb. of stone, unpicked, yielded at the rate of 56t oz. of gold per ton. At the junction of Delegate and Little Plain Rivers, in the Bombala Division, se,eral good stream claims are being worked with good results. The quantity of gold won in this division was 254 oz. 16 dwt. 21 gr.

In the Oooma Division, 104 oz. of gold was won from the Snowy, U maralla, and Murrumbidgee Rivers. In the Hunter and Macleay Mining District the Wardens and Mining Registrars report :-At Oopeland, owing to the want of capital, economy of labour cannot be studied, and in the absence of labour-saving appliances the miners have adopted a primitive process of working, nevertheless the yield of gold for the year shows an increase of 600 oz. As an evidence of the disadvantage under which miners without capital labour, stone containing less than 2 oz. pel’ ton barely pays for raising, carting, and crushing, whereas the tributors in the Hidden Treasure mine, who are able to work systematically, say they can make a good profit out of stone containing 1 oz. to the ton. It is thought that taking all the stone on a face from the working claims on the field, it would yield 15 dwt. per ton, and with propel’ appliances it could be raised and treated for 12 dwt. per ton. 958t tons of stone crushed from the various mines during the year yielded 1,600 oz. of gold. o In the Bulladelah Division several new claims have been taken up, and payable stone has been found.in all of them; but there is no battery in the district for crushing stone. Machinery has, however, been placed on a site on the Ooolongolook River, and will be erected as soon as the title to the site is complete. Machinery has also been placed on another site.

On the Mountain Maid and Ourrecki, day and night shifts are engaged trying to overcome the influx of surface water caused by the late rains. The Mountain Maid has .30 tons of stone at grass supposed to be equal to some tons sent to Sydney, which realized 2 oz.’ per ton. The Currecki has 5 tons at grass equal in quality to 6 tons sent to Sydney, which realized upwards of 4 oz. per ton. At Bunker’s Hill, some 3 miles, and Paddy’s Creek, 7 miles, from Coolongolook, good stone has been found. In the Kempsey Division there are several prospecting parties in the neighbourhood of Mount Sea View, on the various creeks running into the branch of the Hastings known as the Forbes River; rough shotty gold has been found in the washdirt near the surface, but not yet in paying quantities.

At Lower Wangat, in the Dungog Division, the Golden Spur Co. crushed 117 tons for yield of 190 oz. 14 dwt. 18 gr. ; the deepest level is 300 ft. ; the lode is 8 in. wide. At Upper Wangat, GUIT & Co. crushed 93 tons for 74 oz. 16 dwt.; deepest level, 175 feet; width of lode, 12 in. In the Peel and U ralIa Mining District the Wardens and Mining Registrars report:-At Moonan Brook about 230 tons of quartz have been crushed, yielding an average of 1 oz. per ton. Barber & Co. are sinkmg on Crow’s Nest Hill, the highest point of which is nearly 5,000 ft. above sea level.

They have raised 10 tons of quartz, estimated to yield It oz. per ton. From another part of the same hill they raised 6t tons, which yielded 7 oz. of gold per ton, and 5~ tons which yielded 3 oz. per ton. The cost of conveying stone to the battery is so great that less than 1 oz. per ton will not pay.

There is any quantity of stone both at Moonan and Stewart’s Brook that would yield from 5 to 10 dwt. per ton, but this will not pay under existing circumstances. At Stewart’s Brook the battery was idle all the year; but there are about 200 tons of quartz at grass now ready for crushing, 100 tons of which is estimated to contain 4 oz. per ton. Two good reefs were found during the year between Nundle and Bowling Alley Point.

From one 70 tons have been crushed for 120 oz. of gold; the width of this reef is 12 inches; from the other no crushing has yet been had, but the stone looks well. From the large reef at the Hanging Rock the results obtained by the prospectors varied from 4 to 14 dwt. per ton. This would pay with crushing machinery near at hand, as the reefs are large and easily worked; but the prospectors have not the necessary capital. The same may be said of the Lady May and other reefs, the stone having to be carted 9 or 10 miles. Mount Ephraim.-

The claim has been worked upwards of ten years without having been bottomed, on account of the water; fine gold has, however, been obtained from the surface, to a depth of 70 ft., and to a width of 150 feet. The quantity of gold won was 3,235 oz. 5 dwt., namely, 2,460 oz. from alluvium, and 775 oz. 5 dwt. from quartz. In the Armidale Division, owing to the rainfall, the output of gold has improved, though the heavy rains at intervals retarded alluvial and sluicing operations. The quantity of gold obtained is estimated at 4,000 oz.

At the Duval Gold-field a reef has been discovered, from which rich specimens have been obtained, and it will shortly be tested by a battery. The Eleanora Co., having purchased the Isabella mine, has crushed 3,301 tons of quartz for 1,841 oz. 19 dwt 21 gr. of gold. Several parties of prospectors were out searching for gold. Terry and party crushed 85 tons of quartz from a new reef at Tin River; yielded 27 oz. George and party cl’Ushed 90 tons from the same reef ; yielded 26 oz. At Uralla the heavy rainfall had the effect of increasing the yield of gold obtained by sluicing, the yield for the year being 1,607 oz. At Barraba, 221 tons of quartz crushed yielded 490 oz. 13 dwt. 13 gr., equal to 2 oz. 4 dwt. 10’8 gr. per ton. There were about seventy miners working and prospecting at Wood’s Reef, Crow Mountain, and Tea-tree Creek.

Some l,ich ground has been opened up at ‘V ood’s Reef. Withers and party succeeded in getting on gold at the Ballarat lead, at Upper Bingara, but were beaten out by an influx of water. The quantity of gold won at Bingara was 600 oz. from alluvium, and 45 oz. from quartz. In the Glen Innes Division, 220 oz. of gold were won from alluvium; total for division, 350 oz., valued at £1,312 lOs. Some extensive works have been constructed at Glen Elgin with a view to work a large area of land held nnder special lease. The Varden is of opinion that the country on the eastern fall of the tableland from Timbarra to Oban presents a promising field for the operation of prospectors. In the New England District the Wardens and Mining Registrars report:-

A number of new reefs and some old ones had been opened at Boonoo Boonoo before the heavy rains set in, and many of the reefs have been proved to be gold-bearing-some good; but none of the stone could be crushed owing to there being no battery on the ground. Since the rain, operations have been much retal’ded; but it is expected that a battery will be erected as soon as the state of the country w111 admit of it, and it is thought Boonoo Boonoo will then prove a most important gold-field. At Poverty Point and Timbarra a number of miners are prospecting, and are likely to be successful.

A fair amount of gold was abtained by sluicing. At Fairfield a rich deposit of gold was found on private land in March of last year, which led to a great deal of prospecting on Crown lands, the result being that a large area of auriferous country has been opened up. Mount Pleasant, distant about

It miles from the property where the gold was discovered, is the chief centre of mining operations, gold having been found in nearly every place that has been tried; but so far only a few tons or picked stone from some of the principal claims have been crushed and treated. The deposits have been traced about 8 miles north of Mount Pleasant, and about 4 miles south. Some rich discoveries have been made at Red Rock, about 8 miles north or ~airfield. Fairfield.

It is proposed to work a large area of this land as one mine, and to erect a battery on the Cataract River to be worked by water-power. At Violet Creek, between 3 and 4 miles south-east of Fairfield, a number of claims are considered payable. The deposits differ from those at Fairfield and Red Rock, and, according to assays, contain both gold and silver in payable quantities. The veins or lodes are said to vary in width from 6 in. to 20 ft. Very little stone has been crushed, as the only battery on the field is upon the private land on which the gold was discovered, and is employed exclusively upou stone raised from that land. T

he yield of gold in division was 440 oz. 14 dwt. from alluvium, and 1,333 oz. from quartz. In the Solferino Division some rich patches were found during the year. The gold won from alluvium was 118 oz. 2 dwt. 3 gr., and from quartz 92 oz. In the Clarence and Ricllmond District the Wardens and .Mining Registrars report :-There are some ten men employed on tIle reefs at ~ ana Creek, who raised 164 tons of qua,rtz, which yielded 268 oz. 13 dwt. 4 gr., the highest yield being 5 oz. 5 dwt. 21 gr. per ton, and the lowest 18 dwt. per ton. Some 13 or 14 men were working alluvium in the vicinity of the little Nymboi and Little Plain Creeks, and won about 50 oz. At Dalmorton, 122 tons of quartz were crushed for 32 oz.8 dwt., and 100 oz;. were ohtained from alluvium.

MINES INSPECTOR SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FIELDS

Commencing with the Adelong gold-field, which for years past headed the list in the produce of gold, and from whose deep quartz mines such great results were expected.

Very little is doing in the development of these mines, owing, principally, to want of capital. When this is once forthcoming, Adelong will again become one of the leading gold-fields of New South Wales, not only in quartz, but also in alluvial mining.

At Temora, no fresh discoveries worth any special note have been made during the year.

On Lambing Flat, about 3 miles from the township of Young, mining operations are still carried on with vigour, in the wet alluvial ground.

Pumping and other machinery has been erected, and the auriferous drifts are exceptionall.v rich, but the h9a1’y water-soaked drifts have, hitherto, greatly baffled this undertaking, which is a legitimate mining enterprise. Grenfell has had a small alluvial rush at the Quondong, and, with the exception of that, very few miners are now employed on this once famed gold·field.

Capital may, however, be well expended on some of the quartz reefs, such as the Lucknow or the Consols, and prove very profitable to those who under~ take the enterprise. A company was formed in 1872, to test the Lucknow reef at a depth below 400 feet, but the company had not sufficient capital to complete the sinking of a perpendicular shaft; the latter could be enlarged, sunk deeper, and made use of as a main shaft. Forbes. Of the quartz reefs, the Britannia reef is the principal one at present at work in the neighbourhood of Forbes.

It is situated about haH-a-mile we~terlv of the town of Forbes, at the head of the Britannia lead. Rich quartz was obtained out of this re~f some twenty years ago, by Snow and party, but it was afterwards abandoned, and remained so to within eighteen months ago, when another start was made by some of the very men who had abandoned said reef for twenty years.

The Company have erected a small ten-stamp battery, which is driven by a 10-h.p. engine.

They have crushed several large samples of quartz, with payable resulk That from the 90-feet, or deepest level, has, so far, given the best return, viz., 1 oz. 5 dwt. pel’ ton. But to work this reef thoroughly, the shaft should be sunk to a greater depth, levels opened out, and back stoping should be adhered to.

This reef occurs in the diorite formation, and as quartz veins, in this formation, generally occur in blocks, and the gold in shoots, there is a probability that when a greater depth is reached the country will become more settled, and the blocks of quartz and shoots of gold may greatly increase in extent and value. ‘1’he diorite dyke in which the Britannia reef occurs, trends in a r:.orth-east and south-westerly direction, and it is, most probably, the source from which the several allu”rialleads near Forbes derived their auriferous deposits, and 1£ this dyke were thoroughly prospectecl, other gold-bearing 1’eins, in addition to the Britannia, }t~ountain Head, Consols, &c.;, would, no doubt, be discovered, and quartz-mining become a permanent industry in the Forbes district.

Judd’s reef is at present idle, and all Strickland’s reef some prospecting has of late been carried on, but both reefs are awaiting the erection of machinery.

The former (.J ndd’s reef), which is situated on the Parkes road, about 1 mile fro111 Forbes, promised well when first discovered. ‘1’he reef is large, and a crushing taken out yielded .~ oz. of gold to the ton. It is several feet in thickness, and if the abovementioned yield could be obtained, on an average, the reef ought to pay well.

Alluvial.-A few parties are working near the head of the Caledonian lead, but, I am afTaid, with not very bright prospects of success. On the Britannia lead, the Crinoline Gold-mining Company have cleaned out and fixed up an old shaft, and expect payable results, as the lead in the neighbourhood of the shaft has been but little worked, or even prospected. ml . I

The Forbes Alluvial Company (Mr. H. H. Cook, manager), is situated sonth of the Crinoline mine, and it is intended by the Company to work both the south and the Britannialeads. The depth of sinking is about 200 feet.

A contract to sink the shaft has been let, at a cost of £600, the contractor finding all material and appliances. Heavy drifts had to be passed through, and a diving dress ofthe most improved pattern was made use of while sinking through the heavy flow of water and drifts. The Company’s prospects are excellent.

The Nil Desperanclum Gold-mining Company is situated where the south lead crosses the Lachlan River. This Company bottomed a shaft (which had been partly sunk some years ago), and obtained payable prospects off the b0ttom. Indications are not wanting to predict this Company a successful career for years to come.

Credit is due to this Company for their energy, perseverance, and enterprise, not only in the erection of their steam winding and puddling machin81’y, but also in the opening of their mine. Farkes. Quartz-mining has now become the principal industry of the Parkes gold-field.

Hazelhurst, Quails, Stewart, Drummonds, and several othcr:’!, are still obtaining gold in more than payable quantities, proving beyond doubt that the system adopted by the Mines Department in opposing the alienation of auriferous lands in or near the town of Parkes, has proved most beneficial, not only to the mining population of Parkes, but to the general public. Several new finds in quartz-mining have been made during the year, and indications point to the belief that new reefs will be discovered in future, as they have bepn in the past. In alluvial there is nothing new to chronicle.

Rushes which took place during the year have either turned into total, 01’ partial failures, and I am sony to state that the Prospecting Vote for 1885, which was partly expended in 1886, has borne no fruit. In 1fay last, Ginther and party reported payal)le gold, stating at the same time that they obtained 2 dwt. of gold pel’ dish of stuff, the depth of sinking being 56 feet.

I was instructed to proceed to Pat’kes, and to take SUCll steps as was thought IllOst advisable to prove the correctness of the report.

On arrival on the scene of the prospecting claim, I found from 400 to 500 persons already on the ground, out of which I selected two miners ·who were disinterested in the prosPJcting claim, and, in company with them, went below to examine the underground workings and to take out some auriferous drift, to be washed publicly. The thickness of the wash was from a to 9 inches, aud out of eleven dishes (01’ say six small tin buckets), 4 dwt. 6 gr. of gold were obtainod; the prospectors had previously obtained 10 dwt. of gold out of foul’ dishes, making a total of 14 dwt. (j gr. of gold, out of fifteen dishes of stuff. I put it to the vote of the miners, whether or not thq considered the prospects obtained to be payable, which they carried in the affirmative, and I then declared the valley to payable, and named it the J. P. Abbott Lead (01’ valley), in honor of a late Ifinister for Mines, under whose administration the prospectillg votes were commenced.

Although a gr~’at many shafts were sunk in all directions, I am sorry to state that no lead, 01’ even an extensive patch of gold could be traced. The gold was of a coarse nature, impregnated with quartz and cement, and I am still of opinion that although no payable gold to any extent has been diRcovered in the tertiary drifts in the .T. P. Abbott Valley, a narrow reef of gold 01’ rich quartz vein might still be discovered, either in 01’ in the immediate neighbourhood of Ginther’s prospecting claim. 1’he alluvial consists of tertiary drifts, and the geological formation of the rocks is diorites and slate. Several attempts have been made to prospect for alluvial auriferous deposits north of Parkes, but so far with very little success.

Tomingley. Here the quartz veins still employ a number of miners. Those at TOillmgley propel’ have not yielded large returns, but some very good crushings llave been obtained during the year at the Myall reefs, about Ii miles from rromingley. Prospecting for auriferous alluvial deposits has also bew carried on both by Government aided 3;nd private parties, but without any success, still there is a large area of country between the Myall and the Ten (10) Mile Ridges, which has not been prospected. . Buckinbah. In September h.st I proceeded from Forbes via Parkes, towards Buckinbah, for the purpose of inspecting and reporting on the Buckinbah gold-field ~tl1d neighbourhood, and found the principal mine working on the field to be the Gordon Mine, which is situated 5 miles easterly of the Buckinbah (Yowall) township, and is under the management of Mr. James Veitch.

The formation in which this mine is situated is granite, and the lode 01’ deposit occurs in au irregular mass of quartz veins in a circuJar form, whicu contain gold, carbonates of copper, copper pyrites, blend, and molybdenite.

These YGins have been taken out and crushed to a depth of 120 feet from the surface. 1’he whole or the workings represents a pit 01’ quarry 120 feet in depth, by about 70 feet in diameter. Everything, whether rock or quartz, has been crushed, and as the bottom of this pit is larger in circumference than the top, the walls 01’ sides are therefore overhanging the lower worl{ings, which gives it a rather dangel’OUf! appearance. There is a second circle of veins which appeal’ to be quite distinct from the first, but whether they will join the :first circle can only be proved by development.

A main fissure 01’ dyke about 40 feet in width, also traverses the Gordon Mine, trending for a considerable distance in a north-westerly direction. Although this dyke contains no gold from the surface down to the deepest or 120 feet level, it contains traces of other minerals, intermixed with quartz, and when greater depth is reached the mass of circular veins abovel1lentioned may be found to be connected. with tht;) main fissure, and form a valuable minerallode. For the present the mine is being worked for gold only (copper being too low in price), the monthly crushings averaging about 150 tons, and the yield or gold from !:l dwt. to 7 dwt. per ton. There are also about 1,000 tons of concentrated copper ore lying near the crllshing maehinery.

Mr. Veitch, the manager, informed me that assays from the ~aicl ore gave 9 pel’ cent. of copper; 12 dwt. of gold, and 2 oz. of silver per ton. The machinery consists of a twenty-stamp battc];y, of which ten heads are only of late in use, a 25-h.p. engine, and foul’ grindel’~, self-taking concentrating ties, constructed by the· manager. Unfortunately the crushing machioery was idle at the time of my inspection.

The machinery is erJcted neal’ the Little River, and connected with the mine by a tramway about three-quarteTs of a mile in length. A Nationa.ll’ock drill, driven by compressed ail’, is also at work. Several other lodes have been partially worked in this district, such as the Buckinbah, the Upper and Lower Trinity copper, the Burgess, Bonfields, and other gold mines.

A few crushings taken out of the above-mentioned reefs have returned payable results. The geological formation near the Buckinbah township i::l granite, some of which is likely to be stanniferous. Abont a mile from Bnckin bah, near the )Vellington road, and in granite formation, there are SOille hills on which gold has been discovered on the surface, in drifts or wash dirt, consisting of angular and round pebbles, ironstone, and conglomerates. Seve-ral dishes of this drift were wilRhcd in my presence, all containing more or less gold, and eyen such primitive appliances as a puddling machine, long tom, or a large-sized common cradle might be sufficient to pr;we, at least some of these depu~its, payable.

The Buckinbah Cre01r, which contained a fine stream of water at the tiille of my inspection, seems also to be auriferouR, but probably in sinking near this creek heavy drifts and flow of underground water would have to be contended against.

Auriferous indications can be traced in a southerly direction for a considerable distance, and there are likely-looking hills and gullies, with not one shaft in them; and, in addition to gold, very probably precions stones, such as diamonds, topaz, &c.;, will be discovered in this neighbourhood. On the Molong road, the granite disappears within three miles of Buckinball, and then Devonian sandstone, slate, and conglomerate succeed, until Yallandry, about 9 l1lile~ from Buckinbah, is reac]led, where the DeYonia,n rocks disappear under the basalt. :From here the road passes over basalt, Devonia!l sandstone, slates, dykes of diorites, and porphyry, and conglomerates, and on a place known as the Gap, the road passes through a yery steep, but narrow, range of red Devonian sandstone.

After lea’ing this gap, the sandstone is the principal formation, until the limestone formations of }Iolong are met with. By indications on the surface, the discoyers of a llew gold-field may be looked forward to in the vicinity of the road betwe:’l1 Buckinbah and lVfolollg. Luekl1ow.

The mining operations on the Lucknow or ‘Wentworth gold-field arc still progressing very satisfactorily under the able management of Mr. H. “IV. Newman, .J. P. ildditional and exte:lsive winding, pumping, and crushing machinery has been added during the year. Other improvements, such as damB, have been erected, in addition to which the Company have been a,bie to pay seyeral dividends.

Fnlly 100 men are employed in connection with these mines. Mr. Newman has also con~tructed new dams, which h1Ve increased the capacity for water storage yery considerably. Eight additional stamps are now in course of erection, which will enable the Company to crush and treat several additional hundred tons of stuff per annum.

The main shaft has been sunk and substantially timbered to the depth of 400 feet. A full description has been given by me, in former reports, as to the veins R,nd geological formation, and I have only to add that the Industry vein has now been worked down to the 370 feet level, but still shows well underfoot. It will, however, probably take another twelve months before the Perseverance vein is worked out from the surface to the 370 feet level. This yein also shows well underfoot. The winding, pumping’, air-compressing, ventilating, crushing, and concentrating machinery is all in good order.

There are now on the field, under Mr_ Newman’s immediate supervision, two 25, two 20, two 16, one 10 and one 6 horse power engines at work, and, in all, thirty head of stampers, twenty in the R3form Gold-milling Company, and ten stamps in Frederick Valley Company. The whole of the works are carried on in a satisfactory manner, and every possible care is taken by the management to prevent any accident in 01’ about the mines. .Llfount M’])onald.

This gold-field still snpports a popnlation of abont 200 persons. It is an e3sentially quartz-reefing district; the gold occnrs in shoots through narrow quartz-yeins, which is one of the reasons that individual miners succeed better than large companie~. Some very rich quartz and payable crushings have of late been obtained out of a mine known as MatheRon’s, which had been formerly held but abandoned, by a company. Truukey Creek in the west, and Bingara in the north, were also inspectei by me, but nothing of any importance has occurred on these gold-fields during the year.