In 1894 Mr Fred Neeld and his sons discovered gold, and soon after the towns of Wyalong and West Wyalong began to flourish.

19 MARCH 1894

THE RUSH TO WYALONG. THEEE THOUSAND MEN ON THE FIELD.

Wyalong is the goldfield of which the first tidings reached here last Decomber, and to which there has been a rush of miners during tho last four weeks That it is easy of access and conveniently close to the railways is made evident from the fact that I lett Sydney for Wyalong by the 9 pm train on Wednesday, the 14th instant and in less than 24 hours was on the centre of the field wlioro I spent two nights and one dav >o-y busily before loturning to Svdnoy, which I reachcu on Sunday morning at 6 o’clock

Of the 81 h»urs thus represented about 16 wero devoted to tho inspection of tho various minos Friend» told me it would tako me not less than a week to got “the hang” of tho placo but the experience of 22 years mino reporting aided my work, and although my visit was bnof I think I may claim that during its course I saw all which was worth see- ing at Wyalong.

THE PROSPECTS OF THE FIELD

What is my opinion of tho field? This question was asked me ao frequently between here and Temora that I think it is well to answer it promptly .

It is a reefing field that, although full of possibilities is not likely to support proporly more than ono half of its present population which ib about 3000 lo call it a groat field is to utter nothing moro than a great pioco of nonsense

It is a place to which no mau should go mining without a stock of money safticient to defray his cost of living for at least six months.

One can live quite as cheaply at Wyalong as at bydney Bread is as cheap as in Sydnov and meat a little cheaper

Thero is no accommodation for trav ollera aavo what they may take themselvos I was glad to accept a share of a six-bv eight tent and go to bed supperless

Had I arrived earlier I might have secured a meal, but there i» no boarding-house in fact, nothing more than the roughest experience of a mew rush In all my travels I have nevor met a place ao near to permanent settlements which is lesa forward m point of accommodation for travellers for tho time it has been a field

SHOULD WE SEND THE MONEYLESS TO WYALONG?

To send the moneyless unemployed to Wyalong is an act of cruelty

For the one job opon thero aro at Secseut 100 men True there aro taken up 240 uilding lot« of tho town, which has just been sur- veyed by Mr Richmond, under Mr Warden Slee s direction Building» are going up rapidly threo bakers’ ovens are being budt No fewer than 57 persons have applied for allotments wheroon to erect hotel»

Business so far as storekeeping is concerned is even now overdone, and despite the great rush for town allotments, I would strongly counsel tradesmen a.dmmers to keep away fr.ra Wyalong if som- greater development» than those at present in force are not reliably reported

I met on my return journey scores of snagmen on the road to the Hold On tho day I started to it from Temora ours was oun of seven roaches, nil heavily laden, which went to the rush Is ow bo it remembered that as the hues of reef of w Inch probably there are seven are marked out for miles, the chances of the now comers aro very few ^nd most important met of all is tho accurate total return of the work since December

THE YIELD FROM THE CRUSHINGS

The crushings up to the 17th instant wore not more than 183 tons the yield not moro than 4”4oz tho averago, therefore is not higher than 2oz 13dwt., which is not high enough to make a great fuss about

There are 300 claims marked, which, if placed in a straight line woula give a total length of about lo miles, or ap proximatelv two miles on each of the seven assumed lines of reef

Beside*: these thero are parties Bkir mishing outside, and much prospecting has beeu done

If alluvial gold ba not discovered on somo port of the field it is not likely to support a copula- tion of 2000 persons

B0AD AND WATHE Dry weather would leave tho present approaches easily passable for heavy or light trafhc but while doing this would render the water supply ao small that it would cause very exnensive carting

On the other side heavy rains, say a fall of 2in , would make it almost im possible to bring stores irom Temora or anj other town to the field

The part of tbo road to be dreaded is between Barmedman and the bixteen-mileTank, so called because it is 16 miles from the town mentioned

The country is a light loam on clay, au excellent Boil for wheat or wines, but, like all good soils, very easily cut up in wet weather by wheel traffic There ore two miles of the road perhaps more, over gilgi holes These holes would, after rain, bo that soft that I would not like to venture with a buggy across them T

he Roads Department Bhould prov e itself trustwortny in this matter Timber of a suit- able kind is very plentiful Pine, box oak, yarran would give the material for cheap cordroy, which is a very simple form of road, and thus, by an expen- diture of a. few hundred pounds much misery and suffering would be saved tho Wyalong people. Self help is good help, and pending the result of this appeal for a few small lengtliB of road, it would be well for the Wyalong storekeepers to lay in heavy stocks

THE SUBJECT OF WANTS

While on the subject of wants, Wyalong needs a daily mail, a telegraph line from Barmedman to the town, a resident warden a mining registrar, and a large publie tank

What would Wyalong have boen if it had not preceding it the pastoral enter- prise which induced the proprietors of the stations to excavate a couple of largo tanka ?

Greatly to the credit of Mr Blyth is the fact that he promptly gave permission to the miners to use water pending Mr Warden Slee’s arrival, upon which the White Tank was fouccd in and reserved for domestic purposes.

The greater part of the stock-watering is done at tho Sixteen-mile Tank The settlement or canvas town made on the edge of the White Tank has rendered it useless for Mr Blyth’s purpose as the holder of the run, and it is to bo hoped that ho will be properlv compensated for the service ho has done in assisting Wyalong’» development

THE BEST ROUTES

Some detads of my journey to and from the field may at this stage be interesting All authorities which I consulted on the choico of routes agree upon tlie point that the easiest way of reaching Wyalong from Sydney or southern parts is via Cootamundra and Temora.

Now, let us see what are the distances Tho mail trams which go southward on Mondays Wednesdays, and Fridays catch at Cootamundra the Temora trains which run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays Sydney to Cootamundra is 2”)o milo», Sydnoy to Temora 201 mile« Hie fares U the latter pla^e are First class, 57s 9d second class, .ISs Gd

Return tickets cost S6s 6a and 57s 9d Temara is 9a6ft. above sea level and as the 20 miles to Barmedman and the 22 miles to Canvas Town on the rush are over very level country, it may bo that Wyalong is about 900ft above the level of the sea Temora is well furnished with hotels

You start at 9 p m from Sydnov, and at 9 25 the next morning arrive at Temora Coaches from the hotels of which there are sei eral, await the arrival of the train there is time for breakfast and to get booked for the Wyalong coaches, which up to last Saturday were taking passengers for 42 miles to the rush for 12s each On the 16th instant, however, there was a meeting of coach proprietors who decided to make the charge 15s

Tha present rate paid teamsters for heavy carnage varies considerably, tut is, I believe, much below Is a ton per mile Well, at H o’clock a m you start from Temora, and have a solid road, partly made and wholly cleared past farns for threo or four miles, and at about half past 12 p m the coach makes a stay at what is called the halfway house Prior to tho outbreak of the rush this particular place of accommodation did not take as many sixpences as it now does pounds There ib plenty of dust on the road red fine, end pene- trating andlit takes a lot of washing don n does this dust

Eight miles further on you ore in Barmedman a pretty clean little place, which, like the halfway houso just mentioned, is now turning in the dollars very rapidly

HiSTOEiCAL roivrs

Barmedman ia an old reefing field Auriferous quartz was first discovered there in 1874 by a miuor named Treasure and it is a. remarkable fact that the first quartz crushed from it wa- at Grenfell at Slee’s mill Thus Mr Slee, known now to everyone as the most energetic of Australia s mining wardens, should know something of the country m which he has during the last 10 days been acting in his official capacity Barmedman was streaky and patchy, and for mauv years was considered of little account.

But Mr Quaylo nu energetic miner, commenced to work there and during several years Barmedman turned out large quantities of gold Temora wa» opened as an allu- vial goldfield in the year 1S80 and although never very rich, supported a population of some thousands for a considerable period It is now a great town surrounded by farms , Wyalong, which is 40 miles uorth west of it has just as great chances of becoming a permanent agricultural centre as Temora had

FACILITIES FOR CRUSHING QUARTZ

There is only one quartz crushing batterY at Barmedman.

It is managed bv Mr W Downey a kind obliging young man Of the 2o head of sumners about lo are now kept at work on Wyalong quartz The charges for crushing aro From 5 to -0 tons, 15s per ton 20 to 40 tons 13s 40 to 60 10s 6d over 60, 9s lid per ton

The lots of quartz from Wyalong are usually Bmall, the l_rgeBthavingbeenabout41 tons The stone is bagged and taken from the field on bullock waggsns cart- age being from 10s to 15s per ton Roughly estimated, therefore the cost of crushing and carting under the present conditions need not be more than 25s per ten to Wyalong folk But a moist seafian would reader it almost impossible to use Bar medman a» a crushing-place

The prospects of Wyalong securing batteries of its own for crushing purpose» are I regret to say indefinitely remote A dispute regard ng a battery site which had been marked brougnt about the cole brated case Thternan v Gough I was present the other morniag when this va» heard by Warden Slee, who gave in favour of the latter, Thieman having neglected 6ome essential point in his application Then Mr Gough, M L A expressed his willingness to combine with the opposing party and put up two batteries, but just as i was leaving the field on Satur- day I heard that Thurnan and party had marked the site afresh, and that there woulri be more trouble over the matter While litigation is growing the prospect» of Wv-loDtfa crueaing plant are starr ing

Thcro should bo at present m courte of excavation the largo tank which is needed to catch the water wnich is essential for the mill. The rainy season may set in any day and bo missed Our modern miuers aro nothing if not litigious and what with jumping ca«es and the efforts made bj certain people on tho held to hold tv o or three properties at one time the work of a warden is rendered more than ordinarily onerous soar ALTi r itiovs necessar

Tortunatolv for all persons coucernod in the ad- vancement or mining, the nractico is nott not to grant le ises on new nuning fields

Thus when a party of mon murL out a claim 60ft by 100ft each along tho line of reef, tho claim if it is for eight men, is ruicd to havo four men regularly working upon it Tho law ir a little too lenient Tor in- stance, tho man or men must bo absent from the claim three wholo days before the claim or shares aro lumpable

Ihis condition is taken advantage of to such au el»nv that thcro aie men at Wyalong who are shephoiJing interests on manv parts cf the field Would it not bo botter to hae m loi ce the old rulo under which tho parties roprconting tho labour of a claim had to bo on their ground at certain hours during each wonting day-1 Hie miner is a great monopolist Een some of our great labour KLitatois manage by following out this system ot maikmg out ou several snows to hae men work for thom Irco of cost

Thus the smart man who kuows how to overcomo the law mav manage to secure cheap or free labour Bad as it is, this claim svatom is far better than what I ha e seen under the leasing practico« Mea must make a show of work If leases were the rulo on W yalong, we would havo forests of pegs and notices, instead of hands and picks A good sharp mining registrar at Wyalong could render much valuable service

Tho Barmedman man has boen working »ight and day on tho registrations and applications, which men have had to travel 40 miles to bring under his notice I behovo that ho has issued this month about 1000 miners’ rights

VRRIVED AT WYALONG The road between Barmedman and the Sixteen milo Tank is a straight, cleared line The gilgis before mentioned occur about halfway, and from this point largo belts of malleo are passed rho ¡MXtecn-mte Tank is a. great camping-place, and appears to be almost as thickly populated as the rush. I fear there is not at present m the tank suflicicut water for a month’s supply Our coaches, which have kept well together all tnrough the journey, have a long rest here, watering horses and doing othor neccssarv work, prior to turning sharp to the west or loft, to take tho three miles of tracks which lead to the White tank and the Canvas Town of the rush It is long past daik ero the fires and glare of the slush lamps which illuminate the main street come in view Hundreds of mon are lounging about, Tho mallee loga send up bright flames showing dozens of tents and a few temporary buildings which aro used as stares

Even the arrival of a coach affords some oxcitomont, and we aro wel- comed by tho tho pet cry of tho rush, “ Hawker, Hawker,” bawlod loudly (airing our slow progress along tlie street which still bears its stock of trees aud stumps Wo aro at our destination, which in this caso is no placo m particular for wo know not where to shelter our heads from the dews of the night Our coachmen “stable” their horses by tying “thom for tho entire night to ùoos The luggago is «imply dumped on to tho tiackside

Wo aro not likely to got either bite or sup, but wo are at Wyalong, and wo aro moro or less stiff and contented The ah ire of a small to/it kindly granted by Mr Cuaacl my “ room “ mate being Mr Heffernan, of lomoia, was an estimablo boon The noiflo was groat, too great tor sleep, but 1 dosed, and nt 5 JO in tho morning was granted a little water to pel form a mticu-neodod ablution

As I thought it a good plan to start from the head of nffairs I walked a httlo gi or a mile on to the Gormans’ lino of reef, whore, in the camp of Mr Cassiu, T P , and member of thu Tomo-a Land Board, “Mr Sleo had been nine days quartered That this was a comfortablo camp I had during the following 24 hours ampio prooi», and I also discovered that Mr Cassin was one of tho most goneious ot host« I should indeed bo ungrateful if 1 did not take this opportunity to return to him and Mr Slee my pubhclv expressed thanks for tho kind- ness which I experience 1

A VISIT TO THE MINING WARDEN

I was at the warden’s camp before 7 a ra , but I found him even so e îrh surrounded by a crowd ot suitors Mr Sleo is not an eight-hour man, and from 6 m the morning until 11 at night is ready to render what service he can to miners

Ino plan of the town had just come to hand, and the warden was besieged by applicants for allot- ments I boliovo no fewer than 240 quarter-acre lots were entered to various owners Air bice does not like speculators in town prop-rties, and through this cause each applicant undergoes a strict elimina- tion ‘

What do you want it for” An hotel5 You’re the fifty seventh on the list of men who in- tend to erect hotels Well, here’s a piece of paper for you, und remember, that in less than a fortnight from the time that I givo you notice, you must build “

On nearly all nuning fields it is tho custom to make a great rush for towu allotments, and I regret to acknowledge that there is almost as much shepherding with these properties as there is with claims Mon who hae not the slightest inteution of building apply for lots, and the bona fide would-be builders have to pay staff prices to the gentle shepherds The day of my stay on the rush £60 was paid for tho transfer of an allot- ment

TUE BUSINESS ELEMENT There arises now the rather important question, mil it be possible to moe the business element from The Canvas Town to the site of tlie now tonn ° I inspected tho latter, which is a gently-sloping, wcll-oloated ridge

When cleared of its present light covering of scrub, and dotted with some substantial buildings, the town Wyalong will be fit to take its place as ono of the best settlements of the colony, whereas tho present site of residence is flat, dirty, and otherwise unumtmg It may be said that the freshly-marked town is not more than a milo and a half from tho centre of tlie chief workings Ot course this Government town will havo all the public offices, and it is said that no hotel licenses will be granted to its rival Indeed, for the purposes of health it would bo well if Camas 1 own woro promntly allowed to regain its primitivo simplicity

TUL POPULATION Speaking of population, Wyalong has doctors, chemists, law} ers, and nearly all kinds of tradesmoti I counted eight temporary stores, and as I was leal . ing the held 1 was íavited by a blue handbill to “Look out for the first number of the lf’i/aloi g Slai and Mai medman and 2cinora .irfi n – :i j«, a biweekly up-to-date raper, giving all the latest news ot mining agricultural, pastoral, comn.crcial, and sporting events “

It w ould appear that hundreds are anxious to start business in Wyalong, and I much fear that all lines of business will soon be overdone tnero I did not seo more than a dozen of the female sex among tho popu- lation oi the rush By reports which reachod me before starting for tho field, I was led to behevo that the chief sinking on all tho hues of rocf was through diorite. I did not hud this to bo the case, for moro than three fourths of tho shafts which I examined wero through decomposed granite Mr Slee calls this granitic porphyry

The town site is on diorite Another noteworthy fcaturo is that all the workings are afected by bad air. Fans and wind sails aro necessary, and great caro should bo exercised ia the various claims, tor the ground stands badly There are no shafts on the field over 100ft in depth, and the greatest depth has not bottomed what may be termed the decomposed country

HOW WAS THE FIELD DISCOVERED

p>The gold was found by the accidental picking up of a pebble on Mr Neeld’s conditional purchase.

This gentleman came from Victoria last August and selected and leased about 1000 acres

He brought with him eight sons, the youngest ot whom is 10 years of age Ihe pebble thus picked up contained gold, and, after being kept dark lor 3omo time led to some surface scratching, which m turn caused the oiscovery of payablo gold to be reported on the ISth December last

Nearly all the reefs run through either con- ditional purchases or conditional leases, and thus the greater part of tho work done on the J00 claims is by permits

If a sufficient number of tho claims provo payable» such leases and purchases as aro requisite will be cancelled Ihe gold is of high standard quality worth closo to £i per oz Roughli estimated there are 40 claims on gold more than 20 of these should bo payable Tho veins or reefs run through the decomposed rock for the grcatei part on a course a little east of north T

hey almost invariably under- lie to tho eastward I saw, on Conway’s claim, not far from the wanton s camp, some rich iron stainod ruhblv quartz from a vein which was C u wide at the sunace, but which grow narrower before 50ft were reached

A crushing of 22 tons from this vein yielded 103oz üdwt, and ranks, X beli’ve, as the richest stone on the field Tor milos ana miles across these seven lines thora are courses of » quartz eins running al- most through east and west and yielding fine gold from dollying

There is very little other than fine gold in any of the stone on the field If I wero to find a fault it would be that there are exposed, even now, too inony gold-bearing reefs I do not appre- ciate *hese broadcast favours of nature, but would repeat the statement that it is a field of great possi- bilities Law and order aro observed, and the people as a whole are well conducted Sub-inspector Burns, a well-Known active police omer, is at the head of the police camp, which I fear is much undermanned There are hundreds of men on the rush who hao large appetites and no cash

The terms are cash, and some disagreeable episodes may soon be reported I did bear it hinted that mauy well-knowu bad characters from Victoria have taken up their quarters’ in Canvas Town

MINES DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 1895 – Wyalong and Wyalong West Divisions.

Although the population on this field has decreased, owing to discoveries in other parts of .Australia, the claims have been steadily developed during the year, and the quantity of gold won has increased from £35,946 in 1894 to £91,863 the value of the gold won in 1895.

The want of water for crushing purposes, combined with the refractory nature of the ore below the water level, has teuded to keep the returns down, although it has been proved that the reefs are payable at and below the water level. Among the deepest shafts on the field are :- Hilderbrand’s .. “ ………………….. “ 245 feet Vhite Reef,,, ……… ,, “………………. 185 feet Hidden Treasure ….. :………………… 225 “ Barrier…………………………………… 180 “ Pressers …….. “ ……………………….. 210 “ Dickson’s Bantam……………………… 170 “ Boltes’ …………….. _………………….. 193 “ Curragong ……………………………… 160 “ Snowden and party …………….. ;…… 185 “ ‘Welcome Stranger.. …………………… 150 “ ~ The foregoing are all considered payable claims. The old “Called Back” line of reef is again being worked with every prospect of success. The owners of No.1 North sold to a Sydney Syndicate 23 tons of ore they had at grass at the rate of £10 per ton.

The White Reef, Curragong, and Welcome Stranger Claims especially have given splendid retnrns, and shares in them have changed hands at large figures. A number of the claims have been under suspension for various causes, such as excess of water, refractory ore, bnt.they will soon be at work again. As far as can be ascertained, the total yield of the field for the year is 24,337 oz. from 15,634 tons of stone crushed, but this does not include the return from small lots sent to thc several Works in Sydney for treatment which would make the yield for the year little short of £100,000.

It is considered that there are 90 payable claims on the Wyalong Gold·field at the present time, and the following returns are from some of the principal claims :- Curragong …….. , …… 1,000 tons 2,620 oz. Klink’s …………… “ White Reef ………… 1,213” 2,447 Four’s ……………….. . Welcome Stranger… 318” 1,782” Golden Fleece ……. .. True Blue …… ……… 1,060” 1,426” Wye and party …….. . Perseverance ……. “… 260” 621 Cunning and party .. . Hilderbrandts’ “ ….. “ 458” 468” Christmas Gift …….. . Neild’s …… ………… 205” 433” Kelly and party …. “ Mousetrap…………… 97” 496” Pioneer ……… , …… .. Boltes’ ……….. “…….. 71” 390 “ 39 tons 275 “ 152 “ 115 “ 32!;- “ 127 “ 10 “ 6 “ 311 oz. 860 “ 332 “ 300 “ 177 “ 165 “ 25 “ 18 “

During the last quarter of the year Nicholas and Raymond’s new battery started work, and has been kept constantly going. CHmo and Company are erecting large works at a cost of about £8,000, and are expected to he at work abont M~rch. There are about 6,000 tons on the field now. A few figures with regard to the work done by the batteries on the field may prove interesting :- Gough’s No.1 Battery West’s ……………….. . Channan’s …………. . 5,799 tons 3, 112 “ 2,153 “ 9,099 oz. 2,516 “ 3,793 “ Cox’s ………………….. . Nicholas and Raymond’s Ashcroft’s …………….. . 1,161 tons 774 “ 821 “ 1,170 oz. 1,246 “ 620 “

Billy’s Look-Out is now included in the vVyalong Division, and there are about 100 mine’rs at work, who have won a fair amount of :tlluvial gold, but their operations were much retarded by the unusual scarcity of water in that locality, many of the claims yieldiug payable gold haYing to cease prospecting operations altogether. There is every prospect that payable reefs will ultimately be found in this locality, and when rain sets in sinking for reefs will be vigoronsly carried on.

MINES DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT 1900: Wyalong and Wyalong West Divisions.

It is again impossible to separate these Divisions as they simply comprise the Wyalong Gold-field, consequently they are trcatld as one.

For ready reference it is well to show, in tabulated form, the progress made in regard to yield and value. Year. Tons treated. Oz. Value. £ 1894 ………………… 6,358 9,649 25,946 1895 ………………… 15,634 24,497 91,864 1896 ……. , ……… , … 18,297 33,495 130,000 1897 ………………… 30,750” 34,370 137,490 1898 ………………… 30,940” 34,582 138,328 IS99 .. , ……………… 15,116 44,675 178,700 1900 .. , ……………… 22,387 32,425 129,700 ‘”

These quantities include sand, slimes, aud concentrates. The reduction in yield, in comparison with 1899, is explained by the fact that leaseholderq kept the batteries going on low grade ore, estimated as thirds, and also on mullock, both paying for treatment.

There was not any scarcity of water and all reduction plants were kept fully employed during the year. In 1899 only the richer ores were trea-ted, which accounts for the better results. No are or concentrates as far as can be ascertained have been sent out of the district for treatment. In 1899 an average of 1,600 miners were employed, whereas in 1900 only 1,200 were similarly engaged, ’hereduction heing accounted for by the treatment of low grade ore raised the previous year, as already referred to, thus enabling mine·

OWners to reduce expenses. The estimated value of machinery is £60,500, and the reduction works comprise :- Nicholas and Raymond’s ……. , ………………………………. Battery, 32 head of stamps. Turland’s (now’1’rue Blue) …………………………………… “ 25” “ Neeld and Sons’ ………………………………………………… “ 20” “ West’s ……………………………………. “…………………… “ 10” Channons’ ……………………………………………………… Huntington Mill. Duncan Noyes & CO.’s ………………………………………… Cyanide plant. Stephenson’s ….. ………………………………………… …… “ Spiers’ ………………………….. ,……………………………… “ “ Sully’s …… ……………. ……………………….. …………… “ “ Neeld and Sons’ ……………………………………………….. Chlorination plant. Sully’s …………………………………….. “………………….. “ “ In addition to the foregoing Messrs. Neeld and Sons are erecting a cyanide plant at their mine, and have also provided air compressors for working rock drills. Only the best machinery and appliances are on this mine, and the fortunate owners are not sparing expense in having everything complete and up to date. At the close of the year Mr. Turland sold his battery to the True Blue Gold-mining Company, which intends keeping it wholly engaged on are from its own mine. Only two batteries are therefore ava-ilable now to crush for the Imblic, viz. :-Nicholas and Raymond’s and ‘West’s. These are not capable of meeting the requirements, and unless two or three more are erected inconvenience and loss to some of the mine·owners will probably ensue. The richest and most productive mines on thc fieW arc-Ncelfl’s No.1, depth 300 feet; True Blue, 560 feet; JJllClmow, 532 feet; Bantam Itud L:trl~’ ([race (am”lg:tlllatc:!), 6,10 feet; ,Tunction, 646 fect; Slmmrock-cum-Varatah, 460 feet; and Forget-me-not, 2(;0 feet. The pl’esent state of the othcr mines mlty be summarised ItS follows: -Uolden Fleece, depth 420 feet, good prospects, recf 15 inches; Klinks, 510 feet, work confined to prospecting; Kimberley, 260 feet, prospecting; Dead Rabbit, 250 feet, prospecting; Golden Treasure and Brilliant, 500 feet, prospecting; Great Britain, 450 feet,a rich narrow vein passed through; Mltllee Bull, 430 feet, prospecting; Klondyke, 470 feet, good prospects; Sauta Claus, 175 feet, prospecting; Yye and party, 130 feet, prospecting; Appeal, 230 feet, good returns; Red Flag, 170 feet, sinking; Hampden, 318 feet, prospecting; Union, 210 fect, prospecting, good; Perseverance, 280 feet, prospecting; The Daisy, 400 feet, prospecting; &c.;, &c.; Qnite a number of the foregoing leases gave fair returns and a few nil, as work has been confined to sinking main shafts, driving at lower levels, &c.; The Hongkong Syndicate, which is represented by 1’111’. J. Yhear Roberts, has been sinking and driving on the vVhite Reef all the year without success. This is to be regretted as a large sum has been expended_ The company, however, holds some valuable property adjoining, including the Four J’s, Welcome Stranger, and the Barrier, which will no doubt recoup the outlay. A strong syndicate, formerl at Charters Towers, Qneensland, has acquired a good extent of land, and propose starting operations as soon as all the leases are grauted_ This will give an impetus to the field, as the sinking will extend from 1,000 to 2,000 feet to catch the underlay of the Mallee Bnll (Neeld’s and True Blue) line of reef, which is the richest yet discovered. This syndicate, having proved the occurrence of rich mineralised reefs elsewhere, to upwards of 2,000 feet in granite country, very similar to that of Wyalong, seems confident that the permanence of the reefs on this field, at a similar depth, can be fully demonstrated. There is not any diminution in the value of highly mineralised ore at the lowest depth, as the average, by bulk treatment, is 5 oz. to 24 oz. When it is considered that a large quantity of low-grade ore and mullock has been treated, the general average for the year of nearly 11, oz. to the ton must be regarded as very satisfactory. The population is apparently unaltererl, the decrease from 1,600 to 1,200 miners as comI!ared with the previous year is fnlly made up by the increase ot prospoctors in the neighbourhood, which are indicated heretlnder. Kildury.–At this station, which is about 32 miles south-westerly from Wyalong, and about a similar distance westerly from Barmedman, a large number of Authorities to Enter have been issued, and prospecting is proceeding vigorously with satisfactory results. The reefs are a good width and carry a payable quantity of free gold. Several crushings at Wyalong have taken place, with the result that more applications for holdings have been lodged. Should the prospects continue good a 20-head battery will no doubt follow, and a profitable field will be established before the elose of the year 1901. Hiawatha_-This place is also private land and is situated about 9 or 10, mile~ north of Wyalong. A number of Authorities have been issued, and the work of prospecting has been courageously pursued with varying prospects. Several narrow veins of rich free gold have been struck, and the present miners are testing the permanence and increase of width at greater depths. . Bartley’s Find.-This is a large outcrop of reefs about 3~ miles east of vYyalong, which had been worked to a depth of 90 feet some years ago. The conntry is ironstone amI granite, the reef averaging about 9 inches wide, and former battery tests gave 10 to 15 dwt. to the ton, which would haye paid if there had been a battery on the ground. Unfortunately, the cost of carriage of the ore prevented the working miners, who previously held the ground, from persevering. A Wyalong syndicate has now secured the ground, and operations will be commenced immediately. Alluvial.-A great deal of prospecting has taken place, by private individuals and the Government, in the search for alluvial, but, unfortunately, without success. The Department has put down eleven bores on the sonth end of the rich reefs, and a similar nnmber is being put down in the Ti-tree Gully, 3 miles north-easterly of Wyaloug. Forbes and party have sunk to a depth of 98 feet abont 5 miles easterly down the same gully and 8 miles east from Wyalong, on the Back Creek Road, which is on the fall from vYyalong to Lake Cowal. They had not succeeded in bottoming the shaft at the close of the year_ Wyalong, undoubtedly, ranks high as a gold-producing district, and if an alluyial find he made the population would quickly increase to a large extent-a consummation much to be desircd. Barmedman Division. The Fiery Cross is the most important mine in this Division, and has been n-t work ,luring the gran-tel’ portion of the year. Thc plant consists of a 7-inch pump and a lO-head battery, to the yalue of £3,500. Yater is yery hcayy, Itnrl It 1O-inch pnmp is required to cope with it, sufficiently to allow sinking an,! driving to bc carric,l on uninterntptedly. Rich free gold has boen struck in It winze some 40 fect below water-level, 1tl1f! other ’crv rich veins Itrc known to exist; but these cannot be worked until the main shaft has been sunk a sufficient depth to effectually drain thc wholc mine. This lease has produced good returns in the past, and there are promising indications that the present owners will reap a rich reward. The ‘White Cross-an adjoining lease-has b3en sinking and driving with fair prospects, cutting several promising veins. The water in this property, as, indeed, in all the mines at Barmedman, is very heavy; but the lessees have a 1O-inch pump, which can cope with the greatest flow. The mrtin shaft is down 190 feet; but it will rcquire to be snnk a further depth of 100 feet before opening out on the Fiery Cross reef. . Hitherto miners have been driving, at shallow depths, which has resulted in loss and delay. Jackson and party have a claim on the Fiery Cross line of reef-a crushing of 66 tons yielding the satisfactory return of 179 oz. This line of reef runs through the northern boundary of the town, and in addition to those named, “”. entworth and Tucker and several other claims are at work, and all appear satisfied with their prospects. Conway and Sons’ lease on the Phamix Reef is situated about 22 miles south-easterly from Barmedman. Having rIone well in the past, the lessees are sinking to a much greater depth. At 220 feet the reef is good; but they are determined to sink 50 feet fnrther before opening out. The returns show that for the Division 2,278 tons were treated for 745! OZ” value £2,922, When the small number of men employed is considered, the return is lery satisfactory, especially in view of the fact that by fltr the greater part of the work done has been sinking and prospecting.