After the discovery of gold in the late 1860s, a small settlement developed at Junee Reefs. By 1869 there were about 100 residents, a hotel (whose first license also ran the butcher shop) and a post office.

23 July 1868

EXPANSION OF GOLD REEFING ACTIVITY IN SOUTHERN NSW

Quartz-reefors who have acquired increased means, and an extended experience by then connection with the Grenfell reefs, are spreading the benefits of their practical knowledge and their capital over a very extensive part of the new mining districts of Cowra and Canowindra, of Murrumburrah and the Lovels.

These owe their development to Grenfell’s development, while capital from this place has been drawn freely for the proper trial of the reefs near Young, as well as for those of Junee, Chambers’s Creek, the Burnt Yards, and several other places. The latest news from Canowindra is very fav om able

21 September 1868

A party have been prospecting the ground near the Eaglehawk reef, Junee, for alluvial deposits. Several shafts have been bottomed at from twenty to sixty feet, and a thin layer of slightly auriferous wwash dirt struck, but up to tho present time nothing pay able. The last shaft was bottomed tit sixty feet on Saturday last, the party getting tho colour ten feet from tho bottom, but nothing f ni thei I ho índica tions of the existence of heavier deposits m the neighbour- hood aro however, sufficient to mduco further search, and the prospectors aro sanguine of ev entuallv finding payable gold

16 January 1869

THE JUNEE REEFS

An occasional correspondent of the Burrowa Express writes on the 2nd instant –

“The value of these quartz reefs is at length attracting the atten- tion of capitalists and others, principally from Grenfell.

Since I last wrote to you, there has been a small rush of speculators buying up shares here and at Ryan and Heffernan’s new reef. The discovery of Ryan and Heffernan’s new reef, five or six miles from here in the same belt of country, bearing N. by W. , goes far to prove their accuracy.

From this latter discovery there were eight tons of un- picked stone crushed at Grenfell a few days ago. The yield was 1 oz 13 dwts to the ton, a most satisfactory one when it is remembered that there are about a thousand tons of stone, apparently as good, lying on or near the surface.

Messrs Ryan and Heffernan have applied for a lease of four acres, through which there are three or four distinct reefs running.

The party holding No 1 north adjoining them have also got the reef, and a few other leases have been pegged out closo to them.

Some two miles farther on, a party have applied for a lease on a new reef, but nothing is yet known of its value.

In the gully under Ryan and Heffernan’s reef a party of Grenfellites are prospecting for alluvial. They have sunk a shaft 68 feet or so, but work is now suspended for the holidays.

24 March 1869

THE JUNEE REEFS

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

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

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

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

The claim of Messrs. Scott and Scalley is also producing a fine lot of stone, and all appear to be getting ready to keep the machine now being erected by Mr. Kirkpatrick in full work.

Every effort is being made by Mr. Kirkpatrick to further the work, and men are employed to urge it on without delay. This machine is put up on Wallett’s Dam. There is no water at present, and all are of courso looking anxiously for the heavy rain destined to fill this dam.

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

In Harry Monk’s leased ground gold has been found in the slip-stones at Ryan and Heffernan’s boundary. There are twelve or fourteen men trenching across Monk’s lease to catch the reef that is covered with the surface earth. Sinco the discovery of Ryan and Heffernan’s, three new reefs have been discovered that promise to pay, sooner or later, whenever machinery for crushing is avail- able.

Mr. G. O’M. Clarke, accompanied by Mr. Surveyor Coombes, visited this place on the 10th instant professionally, to settle disputes and measure all granted claims.

Several disputes were adjudicated upon by the Commissioner. Amongst other matters of moment Mr. Harry Monk put in a claim to the ground applied for by Messrs. Ryan and Heffernan, on the ground that the latter were in illegal possession, Heffernan having, it was alleged, no miner’s right since the occupation.

In an ordinary dispute about claims this would have been settled there and then, but the Commissioner has no power to cancel a lease. This, it appears, is a matter that rests solely with the Minister for Lands, and there is no means of judging when that officer may give the matter his attention. Monk has gone somewhero to procure advice in the matter.

The people are suffering for the want of water, which has to be brought ten miles. It is sold at 7s. per cask. Rain is much needed upon the Levels. Emu Creek.-Wo take the following from tho Minhuf Record ot Saturday :-” In our mining report of this week will bo found somo returns of recent crushinga which will .show that our statement, published a short timo sinco, to tho effect that tho reefs of Emu Creek, as a whole, were by no means falling off in richness, was a correct one.

Look- ing to past oxperience, it is only reasonable to suppose that there will bo a chango in tho various reofs, as they deepen -somo getting poor and »omo richer. Tho ‘ Whe’d.haoe thought-it’ is a remarkable instanco of the changes aurife- rous reefs undergo at various depths, the last crushing of stone gave a return of only 8 dwts, to tho ton.

A break took place in the reef¡ anti somo twenty foot was a perfect blank without a particle of quartz ; on sinking further on tho lino, the reef, or a leader into it, was struck, being rich in gold. A few tons havo been cruahed, yielding at the rate of 4 oz. 6 dwts. to the ton. This stone was got at 00 feet, and tho vein is 12 inches thick.

Tho complete rctortings, as reported to us this week, are as under :-CainoboH’s finished, on Thurs- day, 37 tons from the Who’d-have-thought-it, the yield being 1G0 oz, 5 dwtB.,’or 4 oz. 6 dwts. to the ton. At this machine, also, 159 tons from tho prospecting claim Wel- come, yield 77 oz. 5 dwts.-or at tho rate of 9J dwts, to the ton. Also 6 tons of stone from Matthew’s four-acre lease, Junee, were finished, the yield boing 3 dwts. to the ton. Tho Brundoh finished 740 tons for No. 1 south Lucknow this week, the yield boing 781 oz., or a little over an ounco to tho ton.

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

The Seven-mile.-The Record’s correspondent Bta’es with reference to tho above field :-At tho Seven-mile, although there is abundance of water in the dams, in con- sequence of the rain which fell on Tuesday, there is littlo work for tho machines to do.

The paddocks havo all, with few exceptions, been washed-up, and the minerB are busily engaged raising more washdirl. Tho Peep-of-day, leased ground, did not yield so much as much expected, the’ average per load produced being 7 dwts. This result is attributed to the quantify taken of unpayable wash ; whereas, if tho shareholders had confined themselves to tho real run, a different and much larger yield would havo been obtainod.

1 June 1869

THE JUNEE REEFS

Tho alluvial prospecting in tho southern portion of this district is discontinued, but is still being carried on by Garey and party at the northern, among the Sebastapol group.

No success has as yet attended them. On Saturday, 104 tons of Brown and Borgen’s were cleared up, and gavo of amalgam 182 oz. : and, as gold in this stone boars tho proportion of _ about thrcc-BOvenths, its yield will bo IG dwts. per ton.

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

It occupies tho Boutli-eastern slope’of the highest hill for a coDBiderablo distance around.

From tho summit of this hill, which is comparatively treeless, mountains within n radius of many miles aro visible. There aro scarcely any surface indications of rich fragmentary quartz near tho vein.

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

It is simply n rich vein-possibly a” leader” to something more substantial, a finger-post to invito pro- specting, nnd, as such, the locality might ho worth the attent ion of those who have the wherow ith to do so. C1 lims nro.tfikcn north and south, which, if allowed to be idlo until the prospectors aro “ cut dawn,” aro likely to bo unrcmu nei stive for a long pcried. «

Evv itBErb.-ino li naga II agga express reports:

New reefs of greater or less value are being constantly discovered about Junee. A person was in town on Thursday, exhibiting specimens of gold-bearing quartz taken from a recently discovered reef in the neighbourhood of Combaning. The gold was very perceptible to tho naked eye, and the specimen was taken at hazard from the surface of the reef. ‘Iheie aro three men interested in the claim, and there can iu ¿o doubt (hoy will obtain very satisfactory results from .lu ir po->seEsion as soon ns the nicanB for ciusning the stone >H vvithiu their reach. From tho reports which continually lench us of tho opining up of reefs in various localities in this district, wo should fancy two or threo machines for crushing quartz could find constant employment.

17 August 1869

JUNEE.

The Burrowa Express, of Saturday, states that reports are current in town of a rich and valuable discovery having been made in the neighborhood of Junee.

Whether these reports are reliable or not we cannot say ; but from information we can glean, we believe that the reef at the place indicated, and which has been worked for some weeks, now presents indications of a very encouraging character, and has inspired tho shareholders with renewed confidence as to genuine value of their discovery.

Several claims have been taken up by a number of our townsmen, all of whom entertain a firm belief that wealth and fortune await their effort to disembowel tho riches said to be there deposited.

31 August 18693

SEBASTOPOL REEFS JUNEE

Upon these reefs, which are about ten miles distant from Wallett’s, the Junee reef proper, and fifteen from the Junee Post-office, there is settled an actively and profitably employed population of about 120 persons.

The little township, the centre of a district rich in reefs, now boasts of two very good hotels-one, the “ Reefers,” kept by Mr. Heffer- nan, and the other the “ Exchange,” by Mr. Nicholls ; also four stores, and in all of these a very fair amount of busi- ness appears to be doing.

The neighbouring country is naturally dry, and as little has been done by art to supple- ment the deficiencies of nature, the water on the diggings is both scarce and bad, and, if not replenished by rain, will barely hold out for another two months.

There are, how- ever, plenty of places in which good dams and tanks might be constructed by a little expenditure of labour, and after the first rain-fall a permanent supply of water might, in this way, be very easily secured.

Should these precautions not be taken, and the weather continue dry, the population of the diggings will, at no distant date, have to entirely depend for their supply of water upon the tanks upon Temora, Coman’s and Combaning, all some miles away from the diggings.

The miners all speak hopefully of the prospects of the place, and from the number of gold-bearing reefs that have already been discovered, and the richness of the specimens that have already been obtained from so many different quarters, there are fair grounds for believing in the permanence of the field. Upon the prospecting claim, a four acro lease belonging to Messrs. Ryan and Heffernan, there are now ten men at work.

The stone that they have grassed shows very encouragingly, and it is believed, will average throughout, over an ounce to the ton ; and as the reef averages about five feet in thickness, and is tolerably easily worked, this would yield a very pay- able return. The shaft in this claim is down about thirty feet.

Upon the ground there is being erected a twelve stamper machine, brought over from Grenfell, by Mr. Campbell, for the purpose. This work, it is expected, will be completed in about three weeks or a month, and crushing will then immediately commence. No. 2 north is a six men’s claim, and also belongs to Messrs, Ryan and Heffer- nan.

The shaft upon it is down about 46 feet, with the reef in it showing a slight decrease in point of thickness, but apparently more than a corresponding increase in the quality of the stone. In Nos. 2, 3, and 4 north, though a considerable amount of sinking has been done, the reef has not yet been struck. No. 5 north is a three-acre lease, applied for but not yet granted. Pending the result of the application, no work has been attempted upon it.

No. 1 south was originally a six-acre lease, but this was afterwards cancelled, and it is now but a four-men’s claim of 120 feet in length. A shaft has been put down upon it to a depth of about 70 feet, and the stone raised from it appears to be something more than payable. B

eyond these claims nothing further has been done upon this reef. About two miles in a northerly direction from the prospecting claim, there is another reef upon which a four acre lease has been applied for by a party of men from Grenfell.

About ten tons of very promising looking stone has been taken from this claim, but work upon it has for the present been suspended, pending the issue of the lease. Next to this, a four acre lease has been applied for by Messrs. Nichols and party, under the name of the Homeward Bound Company.

The reef in this claim looks very well indeed, and from the fifteen tons or so that have already been raised capital returns are anticipated. From the next claim (the Cameron) the lucky shareholders have raised and sent to Kirkpatrick’s machine at Junee, about 100 tons of stone to be crushed, which looks so well that heavy bets have been laid that the returns from it will not run less than between five and six ounces to the ton.

About two miles south from Ryan and Heffernan’s yet another reef has been discovered from which some thirty tons of very good looking stone has been raised by a party of ten men, who have applied for a four acre lease, and rather inappropriately christened, either themselves, or their claim, the “ Maids of Judah.” Besides these reefs, several others in the neighbourhood have been tried with greater or lesser pro- spects of successful working, and there cannot be a doubt but that many more discoveries will yet have to be recorded. In alluvial mining some little prospecting has been done, but has not yet been attended with very encouraging results. Provisions and the ordinary necessaries of life can be obtained upon the diggings at very moderate rates ; but powder, fuse, steel, and mining implements are not as well or as plentifully supplied as they might be, and some little inconveniencs to the miners has been the result.

THE BOREE REEF.-WO learn from a Wagga Wagga journal that The Countess of Belmore Gold-Mining Com- pany (limited), has commenced operations. The mine, which ia held partly by Victoria and partly by New South Wales capitalists, is situated about seven miles from Naran dera, and near to Pike’s reef, which hal lately given such excellent returns.

A crushing plant of eight heads of stamps ia now upon the claim, a good supply of water ia stored in the dam, and the manager fe only waiting for a supply of goods ordered from Melbourne before completing the erection of the machinery and conuneneing to crash. There are now about 280 tons of quartz raised and ready for crushing. The reef has been proved to a depth of ISO feet, end at this depth is two feet in thickness with gold obtainable in washing prospecta. Tho mina is well opened up and timbered, endin a short time we may expect to Bee the enterprise of the proprietors rewarded, and a further testimony afforded of the mining richea of the district.

12 April 1870

NEW DISCOVERIES NEAR JUNEE

Some discoveries made on Crown lands other than gold fields during the peet year demand a brief notice.

At Houlahan’s Creek, near Junee, several very promising quartz reefs were opened up, and claims on them were eagerly sought after.

A number of loosed tracts were also obtained there in the expectation that the prospects obtained would oventually lead to tho development of a gold-field of considerable importance.

It was subsequently found, however, that most of the reefs were not suflloiently productive to afford remunerative employment to tho olaimholders, and at the present time only two or three aro occupied and worked.

Thoy yield a very large quantity of Btono of a payable quality, and tm crushing-machineB in course of erection will in a short time have ample employment ensured to them. Some gold-bearing reefs have also boen discovered at Cumbaming, on the border of The Levels, about fifteen mileB distant fron Junee, and it waa thought that they also would be unusually productive.

The description given of Junee Reefs would apply to these, for low claims still promise to pay well, and a crushing-mill is kept constantly employed in connection with them.

Cowabie, about thirty milos north of Narrandera, for a time attracted a considerable mining population, and one reof there certainly presented as promising prospects UB any that ever came under my notice. I regret to say, how- ever, that a subséquent testing did not show any encourag- ing results.

Junee Reefs.

From Sebastopol it is reported in tho correspondence of the Mining Record 30th July, that tho, shareholders of tho different claims and the business pcoplo are at last in receipt of news of tho starting of the machine from Grenfell, and aro quite jubilant thorcat.

Wo lill hope to seo it on Hie ground, or the greater portion of itj in tho course of a month, ,ll}o shareholders of the Morning Star lenso oro buBily cngugod raising and crushing stone, I understand, and tho claim-is looking hotter, ¡tho last , week’s crushing averaging oVer 15 dwts. to tho toni Nos. 1 and 2 north on tho same line of reef aro raising stono.

Tho former’s paddock must now contain nearly 900[tons of ,quarts. On the Homeward Bound line of reef the Cambria ihas been registered until after crushing.

The Homeward Bound lease bus been turning out somo vory good stono lately from a depth of ‘ about 150 feet.

The Golden Bar, same line, oro increasing thoir paddocks of stone! Thero aip two or tlirco parties out prospecting in different direc- tions, but up to tho present with no favourable results. A numorouslv-bigncd memorial has boen forwarded to the acting,Minister for Lands, praying the Govornnieit not to ‘ allow any freo selectors within a radius of two miles from the township.

This is in consequence of Mr. John Ryan, one »f the discoverers of the Morning Star Reef, applying for a 200-acro solcctipn .ono hundred yards below, and 1 one hundred acres one hundred yards abovo the lino of thc-Morning Star Roof,’which applications, if ; bpranted,’ will debar the inhabitants from keeping any doinestio animals without his permission, or render thom liable to havo them continually impounded, and, as Govfcrnnicnt receive a goodly revenue from (ho residents about hero, it is to bo hoped their memorial will recoivo duo consideration. After a fortnight’s delightful weather wo have a ¡chango, and, whilst I write, it is raining heavily.

There, is a decided improvement in tho quality of stono ¡in, tho Morning Star Reef (lease). Thoy havo forwarded 180 oz. of gold’during the past weok to Wagga Wagga, and, for five days’ crushing, havo obtained upwards of 70 oz. of amalgam from the copper plates.-

”The other chums on this line,are progressing favourably.,

The same may bo said of .those on tho Homeward Bound line. St. Vincent Quartz-Crushing Company.-T,ho half yearly meeting of the shareholders of this company took placo at Darke’s Commercial Hotel, on Saturday, 23rd ultimo, There wore,but few of tho shareholders , present.

The secretary’s report was read, Nothing definite was doñeas to tho futuro opoiations of the company, ¡whethor the plant should bo sold, or removed, or remain where it is until tho reefs at the Little River aro further tested, it being left an open question for tho requisite number of shareholders to call a special meeting for the purposo of deciding what should bo done. ¡ ^ I

2 December 1870

JUNEE REEFS

The Sebastopol correspondent of the Mining Record reports that the returns from the Morning Star Reef (4-acre lease) show a decided improvement in thequality of the stone during the last three or four weeks.

The only other claim at work on this reef is No. 1 North; they are sinking their shafts deeper. The stone looks very well as they progress downwards.

A share in this claim changed hands since my last for £400.

No. 2 is registered, awaiting crushing. Tho I principal event of the laut week has bean tho slatting of Messrs. Wellington’s machino. As I was absent myself at tho time, I can only tell your readeis that everything; patsed off successfully.

Mrs. Jenkins, the wifo of one of . tho shareholders in No. 1 North Morning Star christened it tho “ Nonpareil.” Messrs. Wellington, Edwards, and Colin Campbell each delivered a speech on the occasion..

Lots of champagne, grog, ale, and porter woro quaffed by ; the assembled sight-seers, and all went merry as a marriage bell.

Since my last I havo paid a vinil to the reefs at Yeo, Yeo Cieek,aboutnino miles from Coman’s public-house; Tho first one in impoitiince is tho Littlo Wonder. Thoj prospectors havo not yet marked off their prospecting area ; j the stono in this leef, though only from six inches to ono! foot in width, will, from all lean learn, pay wall; tho parties working it consider it will yield from 2 oz. to ?, oz. j per ton.

A fourth share wns sold two or throe weeks sinco lor “50, und since then tho reef has improved considerably. The next reef ia tho Sussex. This (niter 30 tons of stono I being íuised, supposed to go 3 o/. lo lho ton) ran out, and j vins given up; it is now, howover, about to bo again, worked.

‘Tho stono fiom this roof has boen carted to, Kii¿patrick’s machino, Junee, during tho lost wcok. Thoi only other íeof at work is the Blackwall, a prospectiug ¡ claim held by two men.

They havo had one or two j ciubhings of small lots, which averaged 1 oz. 2 dwts. to j tho ton, and havo now about 150 tons on tho surface, 50 lons of which fhey aro going to send immediately to Junee

The country nil around looks highly auriferous, and, I j believe, only wants systematic prospecting to boeoino a valuable gold-producing district. I almost forgot to mention ‘that thero’ oro two parties out prospecting* for alluvial, and ‘ they aro very sanguino ‘ bf, success,

Tho total population consista of ‘ – only iMolvo or Ihii leen minor», who havo to go a dibfauco of nino or lou milos for provision*. Ou,tfio22iid, ho nilds that Messrs. Wellington’s maoliinn ‘ i» at last hard at. worE.

Thoy had a difficully, at til« first slnrl, in karping up slo’nm ; but everything is now in lirsl ratu Vioikingorder. Thoy aro operating* on thoComtntims . stone, which juill bo finished, in the oourse nf next wuiik. I hear that up to Saturtluyflust 80 lons wore put ‘ throii0-!i, and 55 OK, of iininlgam ubtainod from tho’ (ables. . fl’lic next I’liiim to ciush is tim HoH)ewn¡d Hound -tea.T.

The Moiuing-Slar leasp is looking very well indeed. I ain told thal (ho .ieef_.,where they ufa working is about fivo fcot. iu thickness, bno foot of which is very rich. No. 1 uro iib mt , iicctipgji whip, us Ihey lind it moro economical to haul willi a borso than Mitha wJKdlass._ “ “ “

18 January 1871

SEABSTOPOL AND JUNEE

From the latest accounts the Sebastopol and Junee reefs, are paying well, particularly those reefs which have had a small amount of capital laid out on them.

We also hear of two or three very promising reefs on tho Geo Geo Creek, Levels, of which tho proprietors have great expectations.

8 February 1871

GULGONG FIELD DRAWS MINERS AWAY FROM JUNEE

The news from the great rush to Gulgong, in the Western district, has, for the time, injuriously affected the prospects of North Junee, a large number of the miners having been lured from their claims by the reports of the extravagant riches of the now El Dorado.

Tho population of Junee has, in consequence, sensibly declined, but from the claims that are working the most encouraging prospects are still being obtained, and after the first of “the Gulgong I excitement has blown over the working of the claims now lying idle is sure to be resumed.

Sine-lair’s party, next to tho “ Dust Hole/’ on the Hopo line of reef, havo just con- j clndcd the crushing of 2Ô0 tons of stono at Morris’s ma- ‘ chine, and obtained a return of 230 ounces of gold-a little under an averago of on ounco to tho ton.

Their shaft ie between 70 and SO feet in depth, and tho stono in it iSj still looking well, and promises to pay most , ‘ JmndEomcly for crushing. In tho adjoining Dust ‘ ‘ Hole cjaini tho reef, after proving very rich, ran out to a depth of about eighty feet. The shareholders not feeling satisfied put down a second shaft at a depth of 150 feet, the last twenty or ninety feet being very hard, and costing 50s. a foot to go through.

Not finding the reef then the shaft -WBB abandoned, but will probably bo again tackled and sunk still deeper beforo tho claim is finally givon up. ‘Messrs. Wallctt and party, tho original prospectors of tho field, aro now crushing about -100 tons of stono from their prospecting claim nt Morris’s machino ; about one ‘half of tho stone has already been operated upon, and from its general appcaranco is expected to turn out most hand- somely.

Mr, Kirkpatrick’s machine is at present lying idle, that genthjman being outraged upon the erection ot another machine at tho Littlo Wordcr reefs, noar Comans’. The reefs in this locality are very numerous, and the Little “Wonder itself has yielded somo magnificent prospects, and will probably pay for working better than any yet found in the district.

1900

JUNEE SECTION MINES DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT

Junee Division. In this Division increased activity has been displayed during the year, and slightly better results have been obtained.

Operations have been carried out continuously by the Howells’ Consolidated Gold-mines (Limited). At the” Dust Hole” Mine a ten-stamp battery was erected, and commenced working in September last. T

Developmental work was pushed on vigorously during the whole year, the total work done being :-Shafts sunk, 200 feet; levels driven, 687 feet; winzes sunk, 150 feet; rises put up, 105 feet; total, 1,142 feet.

A cyanide plant hag been purchased, to be run in connection with the battery, and the prospects of this mine are decidedly encouraging. The output for the year was valued at £1,775. At the Doctor’s Reef Mine, held by the Howells’ Exploration Company (Limited), systematic development is proceeding, but the results so far are disappointing. Baker and party, of Junee Reefs, report a return of 113 oz. of gold from 58 tons of stone.

At Wantiool, 7 miles east of Junee, 55 oz. of gold were won from the lode by two parties, and 20 oz. by another party from the alluvial. At Eurongilly, 21 miles east of Junee, a party working old tailings through a cyanide plant report a return of 200 oz. from 700 loads of sand. The field appears, however, to be otherwise entirely deserted.

Want of capital is generally alleged to he the chief obstacle to the development of thc mineral wealth of these districts, and their future would seem to depend on the successful development of “Howell’s” Mine.

The company holding this ground is supported with adequate capital, which is being skilfully used in exploration, and should they be able to declare a dividend, there is no doubt but that the much needed capital would flow in.

Many of the reefs worked in these districts were rich at the surface, hut got poorer as sinking proceeded, until, with the appliances used, the cost of working exceederl the returns.

‘With up to datc machinery and plant these abandoned reefs might be made to yield a profit on the outlay. Mr. Warden Martin invites especial attention to thc reefs at Vantiool, nertr Junco, which, in his opinion, arc well worthy of examination by mining investors.