CHRONOLOGY - 1855: Gold Trails

THE OVERVIEW OF THE STATE’S GOLD MINING FOR 1888

When preparing my Report for 1887 I had the pleasure of inviting attention to an increase in the output of gold, and I then hoped we had reached the lowest point, and were on the eve of more prosperous time in gold-mining, but the severe drought, and possibly to some extent other causes, have proved my hope fallacious.

Yet, in spite of the small production of gold in 1888, I feel convinced we still possess most valuable auriferous deposits, from which we shall yet obtain much larger yields of gold than have been won during the past few years.

During last year, in spite of the drought, considerable prospecting was carried on, though no doubt under considerable disadvantage, and some finds were made which give promise of considerable future yields.

The Inspector of Mines reports no new discoveries of any great importance were made during the year in alluvial mining, and that sluicing had in most cases to be discontinued owing to the protracted drought, but quartz-mining progressed steadily.

In some districts, where quartz-mining had been dormant for years, revivals occurred. The most important was the opening of the rich reefs at Baker’s Creek, Hillgrove, and he anticipates the discovery of payable reefs between Hillgrove and the W oolumlumbi and Warm Corner Falls towards Kempsey. He also reports that at Parkes quartz-mining has taken the place of alluvial, and has become a permanent and profitable industry.

A fresh start has als~ been made in the Grenfell district, and at Sofala, Sunny ‘Corner, Hargraves, Mudgee, and other districts. The following extracts from the reports of the Vi ardens and Mining Registrars indicate the condition of gold-mining in the several mining districts during the past year :-

In the Bathurst District the reports say :-” There has been no sluicing at all during the year, and many of the alluvial claims were idle for want of water. On the banks of the Abercrombie an attempt has been made by means of powel-ful pumping machinery, but it has not been at work sufficiently long to’ prove the value of the property operated upon.

Quartz-mining has been carried on at Napoleon Reef and at Cheshire’s Creek, and several parties are prospecting. Yield of gold, 435 oz. alluvial, 300 oz. quartz.

The returns from quartz-mines have not been very encouraging at Mount M’Donald, Trunkey, Tuena, Oberon, and Mitchell, but the work has been carried on in a half-hearted manner; ten times the quantity ‘of stone should have been treated.

At Truukey, the Bathurst Company is sinking a vertical shaft 800 feet to test the reef at that depth. The reef was payable from the surface to a depth of 520 feet. Owing to want of water, only about £1,000 worth of alluvial gold was won during the year.

At Tuena, £4,500 worth of gold was obtained from alluvial deposits. At Mitchell, the Paddy Lackey Company crushed 80 tons quartz for 145 oz. gold. The St. George Company obtained 186 oz. from 9 tons of stone. Gold to the value of about £5,161 was won during the year.

At Mount M’Donald, 438 tons of stone yielded 67H oz. of gold. Only 1,130 oz. of gold was won during the year. Permission has been given to some miners to prospect on the Grabine estate (freehold), near the Lachlan River.

Three parties bottomed on wash, varying from 3 gr. to 6 gr. to the dish. At Burraga only £501 worth of gold was sold locally.’ This was obtained at the Isabella River.

At Rockley, the Blossom Hill Co. washed 70 tons’ of dirt for 22 oz. of gold. Yield of gold at Rockley for the year was 196 ?z.

In the Orange division some promising reefs or veins have been discovered at Carangarah(freehold) ; 3 tons crushed yielded 33 oz. At the Bluff Ophir an expensive tunnel is being constructed through the company’s leases; 50 tons of quartz is at grass. About fifty miners are working alluvial at Lewis Ponds, with a fair show of success;

At Caloola several promising reefs and some alluvial deposits are attracting attention.

At Lucknow the New Reform Co. has reached a depth of 525 feet, the lode varying from 1 to 20 feet in width. About 3,000 tons of ore raised during the year, valued at £6,484. After extracting the free gold the ore is sent to Germany for further treatment. The New Reform Pups, at a depth of 225 feet, have a lode 3 feet wide.

They have raised about 250 tons of ore. The quantity of gold purchased by the banks at Orange was 2,588 oz., valued at £7,702. At Gulley Swamp (Carcoar division), the Homewarcl ‘Bound Co., at a depth of 140 feet, have cut lodes of a more permanent and valuable character, which are said to increase in width and richness in depth; 120 tons of stone from a higher level, and including 50 tons of surface stone, yielded 200 oz. of gold.

The Brown’s Creek Co. was not worked, owing to the mine being flooded and other causes. 2,890 oz. of gold was sent from Carcoar during the year, but this, it is thought, does not represent all the gold won there. At M’Phillamy’s Hill, King’s Plains, two shafts have been sunk 116 feet and 98 feet.

At 114 feet a cross-cut driven 98 feet has cut twenty-one goldbearing veins. It is proposed to work alluvial on the same property. In the Blayney division, 1,009 oz. of gold was won, 276 oz. from alluvial and 733 oz. from quartz. In the COWl’ll and North Cowra divisions 121. oz. of gold was won, 70 oz. from alluvial and 71 oz. from quartz. In the Mudgee District, the reports say :-At Limostone Creek (Mudgee division), several small nuggets were found, varying from 4 oz. to 10 oz.

In the Gulgong division, 1,268 oz. of gold was obtained from alluvium. In the Wellington division, 595 oz. of gold has been won from alluvium, chiefly from the beds of the Macquarie and Mudgce Rivers, and 27 oz. from quartz.

In the Dubbo division there are three parties at Tomingley Reef. They crushed 253 tons for 60 oz. 13 dwt. of gold, and they have 305 tons of stone at grass. The width of the reefs varies from 3t to 10 feet. There are two parties working on the lfyall Reef.

They crushed during the year 568 tons for 707 oz. of gold. The reef is 12 feet wide. 75 tons of stone and 25 tons of tailings have been sent Home to be tested.

These claims have been idle the greater part of the year, owing to the drought. In November alluvial gold was discovered about 9 miles south of Tomingley. No washing could be done owing to want of water. Twelve claims have bottomed on apparently good wash. The depth varies from 40 to 140 feet; the wash is from 1 to 3 feet thick. There are several reefs in the locality.

On one a claim has been worked, and 30 tons raised, estimated to contain 1 oz. per ton. In the Hargraves division, at the Big Nugget Battery, 365 tons was crushed for a yield of 8 dwt. per ton. The last crushing at Queen of Sheebah Co. yielded 2t oz. per ton. The Catherine Co. crushed 50 tons for 18 dwt. per ton. Sundry parcels, aggregating 100 tons, yielded from 12 to 25 dwt. per ton.

The Hargraves Co. is raising Ii trial crushing of stone. Some valuable reefs have been discovered at Tucker’s Hill, about 3 miles from Hargraves. In the Tambaroora and Turon District, at Hill End, a few nuggets were unearthed, one weighing 28 oz.

The Red Hill Co. struck a reef, yielding 7 oz. pel’ ton, and improving. The Cornelian , Co. crushed 1,400 tons of quartz from a blow 15 to 50 feet wide, for abont 207 oz. of gold. In the Sofala division several valuable reefs have beeu discovered. An important discovery has been made in the Queenslander mine. It consists of a mass of auriferous rock, the extent of which has not yet been ascertained.

The gold obtained by the battery pays expenses, and concentrating plant is being erected, . which is expected to increase the yield; 120 oz. has been obtained from 500 tons. George Williams, to ‘whom aid was granted out of the Prospecting Vote, discol’ered a payable reef. An engine and batteryai’e about to be erected on the mine.

The Big Oakey Co., to whom aid was granted, struck a rich vein at 200 feet deep. Some rich specimens were found on Whalen’s Hill. Sundry parcels of quartz (292 tons) crushed yielded 212 oz. 3,054 oz. of gold sent from Sofala. At Ironbarks considerable quantities of quartz are awaiting crushing when water is available. 1,300 oz. gold obtained from alluvium and 700 oz . .;from quartz.

At the Gordon. mino, 2,459 tons of stone raised yielded 600 oz. of gold. In the Lachlan District, the reports say:-The Brittania Reef (Forbes), which had been long abandoned, has been taken up again, and a good crushing plant and gear have been erected thereon; the last crushing gave nearly 1~· oz. per ton, the average being over 1 oz. The reef is about 2 feet wide, and appears to improve in depth. The Pinnacle Reef, between Forbes and GrenfelT, though poor, is largan feet wide in places-and has averaged t oz. per ton, and appears to improve with depth.

A good battery has been erected by Nicholas and party on their claim. The Forbes Alluvial Co., Old South Lead, have won over 400 oz. of gold for the year. At the Bald Hills one claim is at work in alluvium, from which t oz. per load has been obtained at a considerable depth.

A quartz reef 4 fe.et wide showing gold has been discovered. The gold won in the Forbes division was 549 oz. from alluvium, and 402 oz. from quartz.

At Parkes, Hazlehurst and party won 860 oz., and Drummond and party 740 oz. from the quartz claims. The small reefs at Opossum Gully continue to pay well. At the Kohinoor Reef, Caledonian Hill, a large body of stone has been regularly worked, and yielded H oz. per ton.

The old Strickland Reef has been opened again, and a body of stone varying from 12 to 15 feet wide, carrying afai!’ proportion of gold, has been discovered. Sundry parcels of quartz, aggregating 2,789 tons, were crushed at Parkes yielding 3,742 oz. of gold. 1,245 tons alluvium puddled gave 243 oz.

The quantity of gold purchased by the banks was 4,269 oz. At Delaney’S Dyke, about 15 miles from Molong, Delaney Bros., the prospectors, their shafts have been sunk, one to a depth of 145 feet; there is a large lode visible all the way, averaging 6 feet wide.

A crosscut at the 60-feet level has cut another lode of 7 feet wide. From 1,500 to 1,800 tons of lode stuff is at grass. 70 tons crushed in March is said to have yielded 15 dwt. of gold and 5 dwt. of silver per ton. Since then there has been no water to crush with. Most of the quartz claims in the Grenfell division were idle for want of water. At the Pinnacle Battery several parcels from Sandy Creel{ were crushed, va,rying from 14 to 21 dwt. per ton. About 600 tons was at grass. Machinery has been erected at Star Gully to treat quartz tailings, but has been idle for want of water. At Quondong, a few claims were raising payable wash, but only 90 tons (which averaged 1 oz. per ton) could be puddled, owing to the scarcity of water. 166 oz. was won in the Grenfell division.

At Boney’s Rock (eudal), 85 tons of quartz crushed yielded 125 oz. At Paling Yards, 80 tons gave 40 oz. ; tbis is a large lode, and should give employment to a number of miners. At Canowindra, 1,237 tons from the Blue Jacket Reef , which is 4 feet wide, gave 1,293 oz. of gold. 44 tons from Hayes Reef gave 49 oz. of gold. The Ironclad Co., Cargo, crushed 723 tons for 566 oz. of gold. In the Young division, several new reefs were dis covered during the year, from which a number of miners are earning good wages. The new Burrangong Co. which only recently reached the main wash, obtained 215 oz. from the Burrangong Lead. Two other Co’s. start shortly.

Two trial crushings from a reef on private property at Wombat gave It oz. and 2t oz per ton, and it is reported that gold-bearing stone has been found on the surface about i mile eastward 156 tons from the Archdeacon Reef yielded It oz. per ton.

At Murrum burrah, a new reef of great promise has been found on private property. The Cunningar works obtained 1,565 oz. 10 dwt. of gold, valued at £6,490, during the year. Gold won in the Murrumburrah division, 218 oz. from alluvial, 1,718 oz. from quartz.

At Temora,6,400 loads of alluvium puddled gave an average of 2t dwt. per load, Bourke’s Reef Co. crushed 417 tons for 178 oz. of gold. G0ld purchased at Temora, 1,771 oz. At Barmedman , 2,665t tons crushed for 989 oz.; the low yield is due to the fact that the bulk was obtained from stone and mullock raised from shallow workings.

In the Cabal’ District, the reports say :-Considerable work has been done en the claims on the reefs discovered near the town of Cabal’, though the drought has retarded the development of them.

At Fort Bourke, arrangements are being made for the erection of a large crushing plant on tIle Chesney Cabal’ Co.’s mine .. Some 22t tons of quartz from this mine was sent to Melbourne for treatment, the result being 47 oz. of gold. Encouraging prospects have been obtained from other mines, both at Fort Bourke and at the Peak. At Mount Billagoe, the Mount Billagoe 00. have had assays of their are as high as 32 oz. gold and 946 oz. of silver. Some 30 cwt. of quartz was sent to Ballarat for treatment, and 31 to Sandhul’st, with the following results :-Ballarat, gold, 6’85 oz. silver, 46’047 oz.; Sandhul’st, gold, 11’876 oz., silver, 112’076 oz. Since then 2 tons 18 cwt. of stone was sent to Dry Creek, B.A., for treatment, with the following result :-8 oz. gold, and 121 oz. of silver per ton. In the Albert District, the reports say:-At Milparinka and Tibooburra the rainfall for 1888 amounted to about 2 inches, and at Mount Brown to about t inch; the effect of this upon mining can easily be nnderstood.

Mining operations at Tibooburra ceased by the end of February, and some of the miners turned their attention to the reefs in the Warratta Range. Messrs. House and Lawes struck a promising leader, and at the Milparinka mine the battery and other machinery have been put in order, and the mine is being pumped out with a view to thorough working. At Mount Brown there was no water for any purpose, except what was raised from the mines; this enabled some of the puddling machines near to work during part of the year, and dirt that Wl>tS rich enough was carted to them. For surfacing, the miners had to resort to dry blowing. The Mount Brown Prospecting Co. had to discontinue sinking when they had sunk to a depth of 241 feet, owing to their inability to keep down the water by means of a whim, though they worked their shifts.

The quantity of gold won at Tibooburra was about 764 OZS.; at Milpal’inka, say 1,120 ozs. There have been some nuggets found during the year-one 12 oz. 1 dwt., one 28 oz. 17 dwt., one 9 oz., and several from 1 oz. to 4 oz. A specimen of gold-bearing quartz was brought into Wilcannia, said to have been found 30 miles from that town; wa

nt of water prevented prospecting operations being carried on. In the Tumut, and Adelong Distri’ct, the reports say:-At Tarcutta, the Wagga Wagga Co. have raised 300 tons of stone ready for crushing.

At Adelong, the total yield of gold, 1,357 oz., viz., 350 oz. from alluvium, and 1,007 oz. from quartz. 273 tons stone from the Perseverance, ‘Victoria, and Williams mine gave 335 oz. of gold. Owing to -the difficulty and danger of working the mine by means of underground excavations, Mr. A. D. Shepherd has been engaged in bringing to perfection appliances for stripping the ground by machinery with the aid of water, and it is thought he will succeed. A

t Tumut, 138 oz. of gold was won. At Reedy Flat, 453 oz. of gold was won. A prospecting party has found a reef showing gold at a depth of 36 feet; it is 8 inches wide; 17 tons have been raised, estimated at’ 3 oz. per ton.

At Cowabbie, Ferrier and party crushed 200 tons for a yield of 4 dwt. pel’ ton, but it is supposed a large proportion of the gold was not saved, and they are introducing special appliances. They have 200 tons at grass. Several new and apparently promising reefs have been discovered in the Junee Division; the crushings from the Redan claim have given from Ii to 2 oz. per ton, notwithstanding the defective machinery. Some very rich stone is being raised from Fincher’s claim at a depth of 60 feet; the last crushing of 14 tons gave 2 oz. 13 dwt. per ton. There is about 120 tons of stone at grass at Wantiool.

The Pioneer Co., at Eurongilly, 105 tons have been crushed for 79 oz. Prospectors have obtained some very good specimens from the reefs at North Junee.

The gold won in the division was 232 oz.

The yield of gold at Tumbarumba was 151 oz. The prospecting party (aided by Government) had sunk 48 feet through basalt, and expect to bottom in nine weeks. If they find the lead payable it will open up a large extent of untested alluvial.

At the Black Range (Albury), some very rich specimens were found in Meredith and party’s claim, and there is now a prospect of the reefs on the range being tested to a depth. Some rich crushings have been obtained from the Hawksview claim, on Maher’s Hill. At May-Day Hill, Pye and party obtained 95t oz. from 13 tons, and 45 oz. 13 dwt. from 10 tons. Yield of gold (Albury), 425 oz. Gold won at Kiandra, 586 oz.

At Kydra, a large quantity of stone has been raised, but could not be crushed, owing to want of water. The Fiery Creek Reefs, on the Umeralla River, have caused some excitement. On the Coolamon Creek (Queanbeyan), several men were getting good returns from alluvial workings. At Bindabella there is said to be an alluvial d~l)osit, which has been tried to a depth of 95 feet, and is 300 yards wide, upon which operations are about to start.

At Mac’s Reef, a vein 18 inches wide showing gold was struck by a party to whom aid out of the Prospecting ‘Vote had been granted. On Wright and party’s lease, 400 tons of 4-dwt. stone bas been raised; reef 4 feet wide. On New Mac’s Reef work has been suspended, as the mines are within a conditional lease. The Colinton Reef (Cooma), found in June last, has been tested to a depth of 40 feet; is 3 feet wide. Several tons of stone sent to Sydney for treatment yielded from 2 to 8 oz. per ton. At Fiery Creek there are several parallel reefs from 6 inches to 3 feet. The gold is very fine, and the stone requires careful treatment.

The assays made show from 1 to 10 oz. per ton. Over 100 tons of stone has been raised ready for crushing. Several other auriferous reefs have been found in the district. In the Southern Di~trict, the ~eports say:-Gold won in the Braidwood division, 727 oz. The Day Dawn Reef, Little River, averages 36 inches WIde.

The tailings from this reef contain 5 per cent. clean pyrites, which assay 20 oz. of gold per ton. 10 tons of these pyrites have been sent to Cunningar for treatment. The Day Dawn Co. crushed 240 tons for 143t oz. of gold, and have 150 tons at grass waiting crushing. In the Little River division, 650 oz. was obtained from alluvial, and 335 from quartz. In the Nerriga division, 450 oz. from alluvial.

At Major’s Creek (Braidwood), machinery is being erected for the treatment of the mundic reefs in that locality, and if it prove successful, it will probably lead to the working of numerous reefs now lying idle. 554 oz. of gold was won at Major’s Creek-459 oz. from quartz, and 95 oz. from alluvial.

The yield of gold at Araluen was 4,128 oz. At the Homeward Bound claim, Yalwal, lately worked as an open quarry, during the twelve months prior to May, 1888, gold to the value of £8,000 was taken out. From then till the end of the year crushing was retarded by repairs to the machinery and want of water; nevertheless, gold to the value of £2,565 was won. Since June, 1882, this claim has yielded gold to the value of £25,600. At the Pioneer mine, 400 tons of stone has been raised.

During five years this miue has turned out gold to the value 0f £10,000. While awaiting the erecti0n of machinery on this mine, small crushings made at a local battery have yielded from 15 dwt. to 2 oz. per ton.

From the Eclipse mine, during the past eight years, ,gold has been won to the value ov £10,577. From the Pinnacle mine, it is said, gold to the value of £15,000 was obtained””:”1875 and 1885. The tailings from the creek having been tested, and given 7 oz. per ton, some 2,000 bags ,vill. probably be sent to Sydney.

At Moruya, the Little Gem Co. has recently completed the erection of machinery, and has about 300 tons ready for crushing. The quantity of gold won in the division was 1,100 oz. From Coman and party’s reef, at Bumbo, 30 tons crushed gave 30 oz. of gold. At the Mount Coman Co. mino, N errigundah, the reef is 4 feet G inches. 600 tons have been raised ready for crushing. Motley Bros. crushed 49 tons for 150 oz. The Fiery Cross Co. crushed 277 tons for 48t oz. Total, Nerrigundah Division, 896t oz. Quantity of gold purchased in the Bombala Division, 502 oz.

At one of the mines at Dalton (Gunning), 500 tons have been raised ready for crushing. ‘l’rial, crushings from these reefs have given satisfactory results. , In the·Hunter and Macleay District, the reports say :-At Wonga Wonga mine, Lower Wangat (Dungog), 90 tons of stone crushed yielded 9S oz. 12 dwt. Total yield of gold in the division, 112 oz.

At Copeland the small quantity of stone crushed has yielded nearly 2t oz. per ton. notwithstanding the absence of model’n gold-saving appliances. Total yield of gold for the division, 330 oz. At the Golden Butterfly (Bulladelah Division), 115 tons crushed yielded 16i dwt. per ton. They have 40 tons at grass. The reef -varies from 7 to 12 inches. Stuar~ and party (the Mount Springfield Co.), owing to want of water, were able to crush only 50 tons, which gave 1 oz. per ton. They have 100 tons at grass. At 70 feet deep the reef is 4t feet wide. The Suttor Co. crushed only 5 tons for 8 dwt. pel’ ton. They have a well-defined .reef 3 feet wide at Paddy’s Creek.

A trial crushing gave 2 oz. per ton. Total yield of gold in the division, 167 oz. At Deep Creek (Kempsey Division), a considerable blow of mispickel quartz was found, from which several samples were sent for assay, with results varying from 3 to 6 oz. of gold per ton, while a sample from a depth or 40 reet gave llt oz. of gold per ton. Since then a quantity of stone has been sent to Sandhurst to be treated by chlorination.

The reef has also been struck on an adjoinin;; claim, but the stone is difficult to treat, and there is no machinery or appliances on the field. In the Peel and U ra!la District, the reports say:- (Scone Division) .-The Royal Standard Co. have crushed SOO tons of stone, which yielded 1,900 oz.

The total yield of gold at Stewart’s Brook, from about 1,250 tons of stone, is estimated at 2,250 oz, and there is a large quantity of stone at grass waiting to be crushed. Two crushings from the New Year’s Gift line of reef gave 13 and 21 dwt. per ton respectively.

From Carter’s line of reer, average width or reef 2 feet, several crushings were had, averaging 1 oz. per ton. Crushings from the Early Rose line of reef have given nearly 5 oz. per ton. From Fuller’s Reef numerous crushings have yielded from 1 oz. to 10 oz. pAr ton. From Welchman’s Reef, which is 16 feet wide in places, some crushings have yielded as much as 5 oz. per ton. 150 tons crushed at Denison yielded 197 oz. of gold. A

t Tamworth, Aitken and party (aided out of Prospecting Vote) are driving a tunnel 250 feet, to cut a series or reefs; they have driven SO feet, and have cut one reef 10 to 21 inches wide, carrying gold. At nfount Ephraim, Nundle, a quantity of cement has been treated in pans, with satisfactory results. Extensive water-supply works for sluicing at Mount Sheba have been constructed, but operations have been delayed by the drought.

Tunnels are being constructed for working deposits of cement on a large scale; if successful, a field oflabour, 10 miles by 5 miles, will be opened. The yield.of gold in the division was (approximately) 1,700 oz.

The quantity of gold won in the Armidale Division was 11,500 oz., at Hillgrove 10,454 oz. The Baker’s Creek Co., in the four and a half months between May and December, obtained S,964 oz. from 766 tons of stone. The Eleanora Co. crushed 6,053 tons for 1,490 oz., average 4 dwt. 22 gr. per ton. Work was stopped during four weeks from want of water.

The drought, though it retarded the working of the mines, is thought to have given an impetus to prospecting. Great progress is anticipated in the development of the Hillgrove mines in 1889. (Walcha Division).The Glen Morrison Prospecting Co. report they have good prospects on the Star Reef, at 50 feet level, ‘ and 127 feet level 4 oz. to 5 oz. per ton; width of reef, 6 to 15 inches.

On the Bar Reef the stone averaged 3 oz. per ton; the width or the reef at 150 feet is 1 foot to 3 feet. On the Temperance Reef which is 2 feet wirie, trial crushings gave 1St dwt. per ton. The Centennial Co. reports the reef 3 feet wide; stone estimated to yield 1 oz. pel’ ton.

At the Tia Reefs, 150 tons or stone has been raised ready for crushing. On the Mountain li[aid Reef the “pro~pectors (aided out of the Prospecting Vote) have sunk 101 feet; have a reef, 22 inches wide, showing gold; 10 tons stone raised. Gold won in the division, 100 oz. (Uralla Division).-

Or the three parties to whom aid was granted out of the Prospecting Vote the return ~ obtained by me is so far very poor, but the prospects of another are very promising.

About a dozen parties have been working at the rush at Mount Jones, the yield averaging t oz. per load. The sinking is shallow, and the wash is about 2 inches. During the drought the wash. dirt had to be carted about a mile. The wash is very patchy, and the rush is not likely to be permanent. Yield for division, 820 oz. (Bingera Division).-The yield of gold was 1,250 oz., in spite of the suspension of work, owing to the drought.

Large quantities of wash stacked waiting for rain. Mr. A. S. Low has sunk a sha£t250 feet in basalt, with a view to test a deep lead, but had to suspend work, owing to a great influx of water. Payable gold is said to have been 13truck on the Town Flat. (Glen Innes Division).-410 oz. of gold won.

The reefs at Kookabookra are narrow, but the stone in places is very rich. The owners of the Welcome Stranger Mine are erecting a battery. The field appears to be’ extensive. Alluvial gold has been worked for years in all the creeks and gullies in the neighbourhood; but quartz veins have only recently been prospected.

In the New England District, the reports say :-In the Fairfield Division the difficulty of saving the gold, owing to its fineness and its association with otber minerals, has not yet been overcome, though extensive works are in course of erection, which will soon prove wbether the practically unlimited extent of poor or low class ores cau be profitably treated, If it proves tbat ores containing from 4 to 10 dwt. of gold to the ton can be made to pay, it will open a vast field for enterprise. In the Straus Mine the are is low grade, but from the size of the lode (D or 10 f~et wide) the are is plentiful and easily obtained. From the surface to water-level about 1,400 tons crushed gave about 10 dwt. per ton. At the Great Northern Mine extensive appliances are being provided for working, at small cost, for gold, silver, and eopper, an extensive deposit. The ore is not expected to yield more than 4 to {j dwt. of gold per ton. 1,420 tons of stone taken from various parts of the mine yielded about 235 oz. of gold, but tests show a loss of gold in the tailings. A deep shaft is to be sunk on the Adeline Mine, and a new process to be used for saving the gold, which is mixed with iron, eopper, and other minerals.

A small, but rich, find of gold was made in Rivers an(;’ Co.’s lease at Long Gully; 13 tons of are treated gave 353 oz. of gold. The reef is a narrow seam of ziuc blende, carrying free coarse gold.

At Red Rock a considerable quantity of work has been done, chiefly by the Great Red Rock Gold-mining Co., who have crushed a large quantity of ore; but it was found that by the ordinary process they could not save all the gold, nor any of the silver, and a’ propel’ plant 1S now being obtained, under the advice of Mr. Howell. 800 tons of stone taken from various parts of the mine was crushed for 207 oz. of gold, whereas the ore assays over 1 oz. per ton. Assays of the tailings show a loss of nearly two-thirds of the gold. 1 ton tested at Sandhurst by chlorination yielded 1 oz. 3 dwt., and a ton of tailings similarly treated gave 14 d”t. Total, 1,713 oz. of gold won in the Fairfield Division. The Surface Hill Co. (Timbarra) are working auriferous granite dykes, which, by crushing and hydraulic sluicing, yield about 4 01’ 5 dwt. per ton. The ore, which is unlimited in quantity, can be broken out at a low cost, and worked on a large scale shOllld pay, but the plant is quite insufficient. The watel’ is very troublesome in the quartz mines at Boonoo Boonoo, and at several of them machinery bas been erected, and crushing has been carried on, but the results are not made known. Some stone was recently crushed from Vickery’s mine at Boonoo Boonoo which yielded 3 oz. 9 dwt. pel’ ton.

A few men are making fair wages working the alluvium in the creeks. At Solferino, an alluvial deposit 3 feet deep, yielding t d wt. to the dish, was found on ~1:arcolini Creek in December. The Garibaldi Prospecting Co. had 25 cwt. of picked stone treated ‘at the Mint for 144 oz. ‘Three tons of stone from the John Bull Reef, Cangi, sent to the Mint for treatment, gave 3t oz. per ton. Total, SoUerino Division, 343 oz. In tbe Clarence and Richmond District, the reports say :-At Grafton, 400 oz. gold purchased At Nana Creek, a crushing of 20t tons from the Nana Queen Co. yielded 25t oz. From the Day Dawn Reef, 4 tons crm;hed gave 5 oz. 13 dwt. Parcels of quartz crushed, aggregating 133 tons 17 cwt., gave 159 oz. 7 dwt. At Dalmorton, four new reefs sbowing gold were opened. From the Little Dora Reef, trial crushings gave from 1 t to 2 oz. per ton-total gold, 277 oz.

At Ballina, rich alluvial deposits are supposed to exist behind the terraces on the Beach; but there are no appliances in the locality to cope with tbe water. Some sluicing claims south of Evans River are working with payable results. Trial crushings aggregating 8 tons from tbe mine at Block Rock averaged 12 dwt. per ton; the gold is found in a seam 9 feet thick, showing in the face of the cliff at Black Head, Ballina.

MINES INSPECTOR SUMMARY

No new discoveries of any great importance have been made during the yeur in the alluvial working, and even sluicing had to be discontinued on account of the protracted drought.

Quartz-mining is, however, steadily progressing, and in some districts were quartz-mining had been dormant for years fresh starts have been made; notable of which is Hillgrove, in the Armidale District.

Here, for a number of years, the :Eleanora Mine was the principal payable mine neal’ Hillgrove; but during the year several rich quartz reefs have been opened, such as the Baker’s Creek Mine, the Sun Light Mine, and others.

Thousands of ounces of gold have been obtained from Baker’s Creek Mine, and large diYidends h:tvc been lJaid.

There is now a flourishing township at I-lillgrove, with Warden’s :tnd Police Court, Post and Telegraph Office, and Public School.

Indications are not wanting which point to the belief that in the neal’ future Hillgroye will become a very extensive auriferous quartz-reefing district; and that· othel’ discoyeries of payable reefs will ‘be made towards the W oollumlum~e a~d. ,Varm Corner Falls, towards Kempsey.

At Parkes quartz-reefing has now taken the place of alluvlal mining, and has become a profitable permanent industry.

A fresh start has also been made in the Grenfell District, where years ago the quartz reefs yielded rich returns for the fortunate shareholders; but through various causes the Grenfell reefs were nearly one and all abandoned.

They have been reoccupied, and, if systematically worked, may again give pay-able returllS. Fresh starts have also been made in the SofaIa, Sunny Corl).er, Hargraves, Mudgee, and other districts.