AND R JE G J[.§ RA R So - Parliament of Victoria - · PDF fileAND R JE G J[.§ T RA R So ... 31 20 48 26 16 20 12 15 115 200 26 67 48 ... 5,422 0 0 0 3 0'50 819 8 18 300 feet Temperance

' 1866.

VICTORIA.

REPORTS OF TIIE

..) .

MJ[NING SURVEYORS AND

R JE G J[.§ T RA R So

QUARTER ENDING 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1866.

-. '·•

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF P A~LIAM.:ENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY'S COMMAND.

''

JOHN l'ERRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE.

No.l4.

, .

Cost of Preparation, abont Printing, &o.

APPROXIMATE COST OF REPORTS.

DErAILED PARTICULARS,

TOTAL

AMOUNT,

£ s. d. 10 0 0 81 16 4

£ 91 16 4

SUMMARY.-GOLD MINING STATISTICS FOR T1t:E QUARTER ENDING 30TH-SEPTEMB~R, 1866.

TABLE· showing approximately the NUMBER OF MINERS employed, the MACHINERY in use and its Value, on the several Gold Fields in the Colony of Victoria. • Compil~ed from the Mining Surveyors and Hegistrars' Reports for the Quarter ending 30th September, 1866.

Alluvla.lllliners. Quartz 1\Iiners. ~-~--- Machinery employed in Alluvial Mining,

DlS'rRICT, DIVISION,

Machinery employed in Quartz Mining. Approxi~ ---,--------:--1

m:1te

Value of

Number of

Square Miles of Aurife·

all rous

Price or Gold

per oz.

AND,

SUBDIVI:>ION.

Total I Steam Engines Number of employedWinding,

l)umptng, &c.

.Miners. I ~gregat~-, 1. . Ground -8, .a mmg aCtually ~~~~~~~~~·:

No. Horse- No. :a Plant. worked • Fro !:: upon. 1 m To

BALLARAT: Contr•l Division •. Southern Division .• Buninyong .. .. Smytllesdo.le •• {)reswlck .. .. Qordon .. .. Ste!gUtz • • .. B1ackwood .. .. Blue lllountain South

Totals ••

3,5lt 2115 4['}4 1,5!)6 682' 152 2,020 250 230 2,030 600 40

800 650 . 600

60 120 170 76 81 44

4,220 2,396 2,500 2,670 2,0.50

128 a 5o

1,308 65

15,687

88 33 44 75 21 I 5 l

268 -- ----1------

power. --£

2,987 138 16 .. •• • • .. •• .. .. .. i\(; 3 26 479 2 216 •• •• .. .. 280,268 ~! 830 60 4 7 • • .. .. •• .. .. .. 6 2 7 135 •• 78 • • 5 •• 2 54,550 8 700 -50 32 • • .. • • • • .. .. .. .. • • .. 13 270 • • 88 .. .. .. .. 66,000 13f

1,520 32 16 • . .. .. .. •• •• .. • • •• .. 6 140 I .. 40 .. .. .. .. 1o,ooo u 321 180' 12 ~ '.. .. .. •• .. .. .. 16 .. 29 6!0 .. '12832 .. 1 •• •• 108,000 8~

8 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • .. .. .. I 25 .. .. .-. .. .. 2,&00 2t 130 .. .. .. 44 .. .. .. 48 .. 3 28 • • 24 . 290 .. 176 -.. 3 .. .. 58,000 13

6,:;: 4~: I_;_ ;: I ::- '·: ~~- :: ·~8 :: ·~ ~~~ ·~ 1;; 2·,::: ;~ ~:: ; ;~ :: :~ 6:::::: 6:~ 1----- 1___:..:.__1--'-- --1----~--- --:: 10,::: 1~42711 1,:~ ' :;

BEECRWORTR: Beechworth · ); •• .. .. 587 119 .. 1,714 17 136 6 14 5 144 34 • • 55 3,100 .. .. .. I 3 34 · .. 17 .. •• .. 2 28,000 24 Stanley .. .. .. .. 274 20 .. 489 .. .. 18 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • .. .. • • I 18 .. 8 .. .. .. .. 5,300 121 Yacka.ndandah •• .. .. 9~2 310 .. 1,832 .. .. .. •• .. •• 40 .. .. .. •• •• .. .. 2 32 3 S9 3 .. •• .. 8,700 9 Sandy creek .. .. .. 31 126 I .. 158 .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 .. 6 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. , .. •• .. .. .. 750 2 Indigo .. .. .. .. 398 49~ 122 • • 1,016 19 308 • 62 37 25 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 58 .. 48 •• .. •• .. 36,500 2 Buckland .. .. .. .. ~35 1,599 259 .. ·2,093 I 8 1:.!1 •• .. •• .. 60 10 .. .. .. .. ... .. 7 S3 8 167 S .. .. .. 35,900 53 Crooked River .. •• .. 164 113 389 .. ljG6 .. • • .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • .. •• 8 102 3 94 3 .. .. .. 40,9410 48~ Mit<Jiloillt!ver .. .. .. 160 184 43 .. 387 I .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I 15 .. 9 .. .. • • .. 2,500 3 Jordan North, and part of Otneo ~8785 1!~. 1,

618798

_ .. 2,191 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 ~91 23 • 446 23 .. •• .. 118,300 37

Omeo Central .. .. .. 300 45 .. 59!> .. .. .. .. , .. 25 0 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,050 5 Jorda.nSoutb. .. .. .. ,, --~~ .. 1,423 .. •• .. .. •• .. l*l~-~~.. .. .. .. .. -14 273 7 208 7 •• .. .. 87,000 37 Snowy Creek .. •• .. 337 110 .. .. 4.47 .. .. .. 11 0 .. ~. .. 2,100 , 2£

~~--:·--11---- ---- -- -" Totals.. ••. .. 4,971 4,865 3,175 .. I:I,OU 44 565 81 51 30 144 175 I 59 '906 41 1,036 44. 2 367,000 235!1:

SANDHUUS'l': ' ---!--·--l.-----_:_l----l--------·1-- - ·------ !-

Kangaroo Flat .. .. .. 750 560 1,340 .. 2,650 .. .. ' 243 • 69 1,308. .. 709 •• 163,900 Eagleh<~.wk .. .. .. .. 3,!70 500 1,188 •• 4.858 31 390 191 .. ... .. • .. .. 265 ~8 509 .. 237 ,.. .. •• .. 1~0.000 Kllrnore .. .. .. .. 270 240 324 .. 834 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 126 .. 80 .. .. •• .. 0,000 Heathcote and Warafiga South .. 300 200 640 .. 1,140 I 8 61 2 .. 6 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 352 .. 107 .. 6 .. 6 42,650 Waranga. North .. .. .. 77 91 512 .. 680 .. .. 55 .. 22 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 96 .. 94 .. .. .. .. 20,500 ,Raywood ... .. .. .. 500 50 200 .. 750 .. .. 40 .. · .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 62 .. 66 .. , • • ll,350

--·-----1---1-----1------ -1--------- - -- --1--•- 1-10,912 32 398• 590 2. 22. 6 .. .. .. .. .. 265 136 2,453 1,293 6 6 397,400 '192/r

---- ---- - 1-- ---:-- 1--Totals •• fi,067 1,641 4,204

MARYBOROUGH: Maryborough .. .. .. 2,400 l,!ioo 1~e .. 4,6.>0 19 299 120 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ~10 170 .. 170 .. .. .. .. 51,600 54~ Amherst .. .. •• .. 1,359 490 o• .. 1,936 12 19.5 43 12 .. •• 3 .. .. 31 .. .. .. 4 68 .. 40 .. .. .. .. 30,000 Avoca .. •• .. .. I 23'1 800. 22 .. 2,054 8 / 165 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I 15 ., 12 .. .. .. .. 12,300 8 Dnnolly .. .. ,.. .. 1:s20 520 4!10 .. 2,820 8 98 85 26 .. .. .. •• .. .. .. I .. .. .. 20 322 .. 184 .. .. .. . ... 48,000 i3:f!: Korong .. .. .. 600 260 ~':;~ .. 1,415 1 20 72 I .. .. .. .. .. • ,. • • .. .. .. 24 300 .. 143 • • . 24 .. i 2tl 34,200 SO Redbankan6 St. Aruaud South.. 260 10 ••v .. 460 .. .. -· 3 .. .., .. .. .. - .. .. .. .. .. 4 6-5 .. 26 .. .. .. I .. 2,000 9! St.ArnaudNorth .. .. 165 206 115 .. 586 2 16 16 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ! .. ' .. .. 6 106 6 70 .. 14 -·-·-~~~· 15,000

1

=: 6

Totals.. .. .. 7,836 __2:786 __:299 = ~,921_ 50 . --79'3 -675!9a-J2- __:_:__ -~ 3 • • .. JII .. I .. = 69 1,046 6 645 .. 38 _·_· _1

1

2_ .1

CASTLE MAINE:

~~;:. :: :: ::I :!l! ::m 1~ :; !:~ 1! ffi ~~ H ~: ·~ :~ :: ~; :: 1 l< ·:: :: 4 ~4 :: ~ :; ~ :: ~~ 1 m5 :: ~~~1!~~~ew·~· :: :: .. ~t~ l,i~g ~~I :: 2,~~ i 1: I :~ :: :; ~~ -~ :: :: :: "I .~ :: :: 3~ 6:; '2 3~~ \i 49 6 :: 7~;~~~ 2~ Kyneton .. • • .. 20 fi 18.; .. ~10 2 30 .. 3 .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 95 .. 58 .. 4 .'. .. 10,000 7 Blue Mountain Nvrth .. .. 45\l 40 60 , .. ofiO .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. 3 74 16 .. .. .. .. 7,500 7;!;

.. 5,703 5,oo612,osH 112 13,3;;:;----;;-- l,i571-733 77 45-lrn- 6 .. 73 - -.. -!-.-.~--5- 12:1-.-. -~!i2 1,921 2 l,li6 --o-lao- -6-lB 294,037 139! Totals ..

ARARAT: Ararat .. Pleasant Creek Raglan ... Barkly ••

Totals ..

GRAND 'l'o;!'ALS

530 ~~-:-.-.. -~~~----I-:-.-.- .. 17 .. • ..... ~~-----i~-.-.-~-~ 164 i --.-.---.. -·-.-.-.-~ 19,400 33!:

260 'l5G I 676 .. 1,086 5 •• 3 2 . 30 .. .. .. 46 I 81 .. 60 .. 14 31\0 .. 1~ .. 19 .. 3 63,200 12

401 694 .. .. 1,095 15 47 13 I 3 .. .. '· I" .. tl~·: I .. _ / .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,000 '5~ .. 1_,130 180 16 .. I • 1,326 I 24 .. 6 93 I .. .. 26 •• .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,360 !at .. 2,32! ~~886-.. -l---;:27!'2'6-w81--8-0_lG_9_I;;S ______ -::_ 7218'1-.. - .. i----;3 514 --;;;-.. -19-.. --;-J~ 63!

..I 36,614 20,364 ~;-;---;-;-- 72,109 m· 9,832 2,623 ~ ~-;;;-I-;;- ~~ !70 5,770 i--;-1-s- 6 1-m . 8.958 --;;- 5,SO;J-;;;;- 211 6 -;;l-;:oo6,69~ m~ No·rE.-The ltes:_strars for Ute Raywood aud St. And!ew'.s ·west Divisions havlng failed to forward reports, their returns for the previous Quarter have been adopted. ,

.£ s. d • 4 0·6 4 I 0 4 0 0 3 17 6' 3 IS 6 3 18'6 3 16 3 3 16 6 s 17 0

3 19 6 a 19 o 3 19 0 3 11 6 3 19 3 3 17 6 3 17 6 3 11 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 8 7 6 11 50

3 17 6 ·3 17 6 3 15 0 3 1li_ 0 3 15 6 3 17 6

3 18 6 3 18 6 3 19 0 3 19 6 3 17 6 3 18 6 4 0 0

a 15 9 3 15 6 3 17 0 s 17 6 3 17 9 3 15 0 3 16 9 3 17 0

I .£ s. d. 4 2 0 4 2 0 4 I 0 4 0 0 4 0 3 4 1 6 3 18 0 3 17 0 3 17 0

3 19 6 3 19 6 3 19 6 3 12 0 3 19 6 3 18 6 3 18 0 3 16 0 3 19 0 3 19 0 3 17 6 3 12 0

a 17 6 3 17 6 3 16 6 4 0 6 4 0 9 3 1~- 6

4 I 6 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 I 0 3 18 0 4 1 0 4 1 0

3 17 3 3 19 0 4 0 3 3 18 9 3 19'0 3 19 0 3 18 0 3 17 0

; l~ ~ : 1~ ~ ( 3 18 6 3 18 6 3 18 o 4 I 0

Mining Department, :Melbourne, 8th Octob~r, 1866.

R. BROUGH SMYTH, Secretary for Mines.

No. 14"'

MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTR.ARS' REPORTSo

BALLAR AT <MINING DIST'RICT.

CENTRAL DIVISION .•

(Formerly Nos. I, 2, and 3.)

Mr. Ha'l"l'i6 Wood, ltfining Regiatrar.

THE TOTAL NUMllER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europeans. Chinese. Total for the B.ema.rks. Division.

Allll.vial Miners 3,511 255 3,766 ,. ... ...

Quartz Miners ... ... 454 ... 454

Totals ... 3,965 4,220

=

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED :-

Golden Point Lead Reilan ... Inkermann Lead and Reef Frenchman's Lead ' W oolshed Lead De~.d Horse Lead Essex Lead .. . Swump Lead .. . Col: bler's Lead Sebasto:pol ... MiJkma1d's Lead White Flat ... Golden Point... ... ... Old. Post Office Hill, Poverty Point, and

Hed Streak Gwn-Tree Flat

936 84

571 760 225 182

93 30

350 80

8 56 32

68 70

Snecimen Gully Sfnclair's Hill Canadian and Prince Regent New Chum and Sailor's Gully Clayton's Hill... . ... Pennyweight and Red Hill Ashe's Lead ... Eureka ... ... . .. Black Hill and Black Hill Flat ... Little Be · o Brown at Springs ... Dead Horse ... lnkermann Gully

Total

THE MAOHINl!ll.Y Is AS FOLLOWS:-

ALLUVIAL 1\:lmnm.

Description of Afoobinery.

At Work. Idle.

Ste1m Engines, winding and puddling Sii Steam Engines, winding and crushing Fuddling Machines 123 Whims ... 10 Wheeler's Patent Crushers Boring Machine!' ... 3

3

15 6

Aggregate HotSt>-l!!lWet of At JVork. ldle. Steam Eugines.

2,987 23 3

2

216

31 20 48 26 16 20 12 15

115 200 26 67 48 31

... 4,220

479

Total value of mining plant in the division, £280,268. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 6!. The price of gold during the quarter in the division' has been from £4 Os. 6d. to £4 2s. per oz.

4

THE FOLLOWING .INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED

THEREFROM :-

. . ! Remarks relative to the Name of Company. Where Quartz, &c., were Quartz crushed. Yi;jde~~S:,Id Total Yield I Depth at which the ohtained.

pe~Ton. of Gold. Quartz, · &c., were ob.

tained. · ··-

tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gi-. Black Hill ... ... Black Hill ... 5,134 0 0 0 4 10'02 1,134 1 0 60 feet to ISO feet Llanberris ... ... Gum-tree Flat ... 5,422 0 0 0 3 0'50 819 8 18 300 feet Temperance ... Little Bendigo ... 700 0 0 0 14 15'56 512 14 0 300 feet and 530 feet Majestic ... ... Black Hill .. . 1,440 0 0 0 6 5'23 447 14 0 200 feet Sisters ... . .. Little Bendigo ... 1,230 0 0 0 7 5·30 444 2 0 520 feet and 567 feet Monte Christo "'

Ditto ... ... 900 0 0 0 7 17'73 348 5 0 70 feet and 90 feet Old Post-Office Hill Old Post Office Hill 2,1,50 0 0 0 2 21'66 312 1 0 lOO feet and 140 feet Union ... ... Ditto ... ·, .. '•• ~ ' 1,590.· 0 0 0 2 9'60 180· 0 0 130 feet Endeavor ... ... Specimen Gully ... 1,144 0 0 0 2 21•76 166 5

16 lOO feet and 200 feet

Britannia ... Ditto ... . .. 1,061 0 0 0 3 3'05 i65 18 0 120. feet and 140 feet One-and-All .... Little Bendigo . ·~ . 210 ·o o· 0·12 0 162 0 0 350 feet Little Bendigo ... Ditto ... . .. 200 0 0 0 5 0 50 0 0 90 feet

I.; ~ t .. '·'· ~ . .. /. \.-Totals, Quartz 21,151 0 0 0 4 11'62 4,742 9 0

Quartz Tailings and Ce-.... - . .

ment crushed :-... J.•'I,800 Two-Ton ... . .. Black HilP<: ' · o.•:o '(j 1~ ,'2'66 "'lOO 0 0 Surface

• • .>f; •

•'--·IN THIS ~DIVISION :-• ,J '"' I

oz. dwt. gr, :

ALLUVIAL, \ Inkerman and Durham Junction Co. . ?~~0 ~~·. ~ <·' United Extended Band of Hope Co. . 7,490 8 7 Melbourne aildBallaratFreehold Co, 9 0 Koh-i-noor Co. ·· 1 6,676-17 12 '.:QUARTZ, ';;:~.!

Sir William Don Co. '6,007_ 1 0 Black Hill Co. 1,134 0 Albion Co. ... . 5,424 15 13 . Llanberris Co. 819 8 18 Prince of Wales Co. I 3,525 .J9 6 ' Temperance Co. 512 14 0 United Red Jacket Co •••• ... . 3,437 0 0 Majestic Co. ... 447 14 0 St. George United Co .... 3,038 2 0 Sisters Co. 444 2 0 Nelson and Wellington Co. 1,619 16 0 New Monte Christo Co. 348 5 0 Defiance Company ... . -· 1,317 .. 2 0 ·Band of Hope Co. ·346 2 18 Ballarat Extension Co ..•. 1,1,44 3 .8 Qld Post-Office Hill Co. .. 31~;' 1 0 Royal Saxon Co. 1,05.0 5. 0 Union Co: 180 0 0 Great Redan Extended Co. 979 18 .a· Endeavor Co. 166 5 6 Newington Co. ... 900 0 0 : Britannia Co. "165 '18 0" Essex Co. . . 809 12 . 0 One-and-All Co • . •! I 162 "·o· ·o Golden li'l~ece Co. . . ... 191. 7.12 :Two-Ton Co. lOO o· 0 Working Miners Co. ... HH 0 0 Victoria Co. 93· ··o · o• Blue Jacket Co. · · 150. 0 0 J~ittle Bendigo Co. . .... 5o: ·o o .... Arrah-na-pogue Co. 78 9 o. . ,. Mocking-bir~ Co. 50 0 0 • .1" TotaJ, Alluvial_and Quartz 49,375 18 7 ..

\1

The United Working Miners Compaiiy have only been getting gold since the 27th.September; prior to that date they were engaged in prospecting. . . .

. The falling off in the quantity of gold obta1ned by the St. George United Company is owing to· uriforesee;n circumstances in the miliing manager's department, which are not likely to occur :again.

The decrease in 'the quantity of gold obtained by· the United Extended Band of Hope Company duijng the quarter, is owing to the drives from the No. 2 shaft having been swamped. In my last report the value of plant other than engines and puddling machines was not given, but the value of all the company's plant is included in this.report; · · · . . · ·,: •

. , T~e Golden Fleece Company have been occupied during the· greater part of the quarter ·in prospectmg. , _ . '

TheN ewing'ton Company commenced raising golu ·ohly six weeks since. The Prince of Wales Company are not. at present working the quartz reef, ,the present level

having been worked out, and the shaft will have to be sunk, deeper before opening another level. · ' · The Sebastopol Company· have been engaged in cutting a ~main drive through reef. The manager states -there· is evc(y indication of a lead in the•face of the :main drive, at a distance of 470 feet.

.. The Reform Gold Mining Company have·not obtained any gold, in consequence of having to re-organize and to re-open the mine frorP the s~aft. 1 • .. • , • - , ..

No account·h'as been kept of the-quantity of quar.tz crushed by the Band of Hope Company at Little Bendigo, nor pf the quap.tityof ~ailings_ crushed !;ty the Victoria Company, Golden Point; 1• >.' ..

Several new companies are about 'starting at Ballaratl West ap.d. Sebastopol, and will probably' be in full work by the end of the next quarter. · '

I 'I ~ ' '

. '

·t

5

SouTHERN DIVIsioN.

(Formerly No. 4.)

M,T. MWhael O'Malley, Minvimg SurveyO'l' and Regist'I'M.

THE TOTAL ~UMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

I I

I Earopee.ns. Ohlnese. Total for the Remarks. Division,

Alluvial Miners ... ... 1,556 682 2,238

Quartz Miners .. , ,..., ... 152 6 158

Totals ... 1,708 688 2,396 - ..

THE TOTAL NuMBER oF MINERS IS THus msTRIBpTED :-

Bulldog ... Mount Misery Creek Moonlight · · · · ··· ' Junction Little Hard Hills Whim Holes Sawpit Gully Grassy Gully .. . Spring. Creek .. . Pinchgut ... . .. Frenchman's Gully ... Break-o' -Day and Raglan Italian Gully •.•

Description of Machinery.

Steam Engines ... Horse Puddling Machines ... Whims ... ... ... Whips •.. • .. ... Boring Machines ... ...

.. 400 soo

60 120 lOO so 20

100 50 80 70

'300 30

LongGully ... Kangaroo (j-ully Kangaroo Hill · · Staffordshire Reef ... Cambrian Hill and Winter's Flat BlackLead ... Napoleon and Dogtrap W atson's Hill ... Sago Hill

Total

THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :-

QUAitTZ Mnm!G,

I Number Aggregate I Nllliiber At Work.· Idle. of Stamp Horae-power of At Work. Idle. , of Stll.mp

Headll. Steam Engines, • I Heads. 1----

23 10 6 830 1 6 78 45 15 ... ... . .. ... .. .

2 2 ... . .. ... 5 . .. 7 ... ... ... . .. 2 ... ... 2 ... .. . ... ... . ... .. I

Total value of mining plant in the division, £54,550.

so 16 40

140 185 120 70 35

lOO

2,396

Aggregate Horse-power of Steam Engines,

135 .. . ... .. . ...

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, o~ may have been, actually worked upon, 8. · . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 8.

The price of gold during the ~arter in the division has been from £4 ls. to £4 2s. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO TBE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

Average I Total Y'eld of Nrune of Qompa.ny. Where Quartz was obtained. QuartzCl'llllhed. Yield of Gold ' 1

per Ton. 1 Gold.

-Staffordshire Reef

tens cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr,' ... ... Staffordshire Reef ... 600 0 0 0 1 20 55 0 0 Comet ... ... ... ... Ditto .. . . .. ... 235 0 0 0 '1 19•50 21 5 221 Great Northern (formerly the Orien- Ditto ... ... ... 601 0 0 0 2 4 65 2 4

tal) . . ' . Kangaroo ... ... ... Kangaroo Hill .. . ... 1,170 0 0 0 3 10 199 17 12

Totals, Quartz ----------. . .. 2,606 0 0 0 2 14'86 341 5 l4t

In the Sebastopol portion of the division matters generally are looking healthy, and confidence is strong touching the ultimate success of most of the deep lead companies along the valley of the Leigh from Ballarat to the Durham. The following are the yields reporte!I for the quarter :-

ozs. Alston and Weardale (7 weeks) 1,119 Bonshaw . . . . .. . .. 2,520 Great Gulf 2,312 Scottish 'iind Cornish 1,131 Sons of Freedom (6 weeks)... 600

The Prince Alfred Extended and Lord Palmerston Com.IJ~~.nies are still in expectation of ultimate success ; but as yet matters do not appear very promising. There was a small rush in the vicinity of Bulldog at the latter end of July, and some twenty claims turned out tolerably well, paying perhaps £5 or £6 pe~ week per man ; others as low as 30s. The place is now nearly wrought out, and the whole district thereabout is assuming a worn-out and deserted aspect; not so, however, with Break-o'. Day, where matters look promising and lively. The Elder's Estate Company, especially, are doing very well; and the old company known as Grant and Party still continue to obtain excellent returns. On the whole it may be said that this portion of the division is in the ascendant, and likely to become a paying gold field. ·

Alluvial Mlners

Qua.rtz Miners

I

Watson's Hill Durham Green .Hills Scotchman's Franklyn Hard Hills .. . Union Jack .. .

BUNINYONG DIVISION.

MT. Robert M. HaTVey, Mining SurveyOT and Regisflrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europeana. Chinese. Total for the Remarks. Division.

... ... 2,020 250 2,270 Increase of 70 during quarter.

... ... 230 . .. 230

Totals ... 2,250 250 2,500

·TBB.TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

... ,

50 750 120 250 100 100 100 100

·White Horse Magpie Cobbler's ... Long Gully ' ... One-eye and Spring Hill NewChum ... . .. Napoleon

'

50 100 100 50 50 50

300

·,

Black Lead ... Winter's Flat Hiscock's

50 180

Total 2;5oo.

TB.E MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Description .or Machinery.

At Work. , Idle.

QUA.RTZ JIUNING.

Idle. I Number : ofSta.mp

Beads.

Aggregate Borse-;cower of Steam Engines,

l------1--....------l-------------;------l---------

Steam Engines ... ... 37 7 700 6 7 88' 270

Fuddling Machines ... ... 47 3 ... .. . ... . .. . .. Whims ... ... ... 30 2 ... . .. ... . .. .. .

'

.~Total value of mining plant in the division, £66,000. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 13t. Number of distinct quartz reefs· which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 12. · ·, The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £4 to £4 1s. per oz.

. 7

THE FOLLOWING lNFOaMATION RAS BBEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE G~LD OBTAINED THEBEFBOM :-

I • ' Remarks relative to the Where QUMtz was ·I Avera~ Totlll Yield of Name of Company. Quartz crushed. Yield of Id Depth at which the

obtiilned. per Ton. Gold. Quartz Wllll obtained, &o.

--··~---

tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. 81'· oz. dwt. 81'·

Imperial ... ... Hiscock's Reef .. . 2,875 0 0 0 8 10'14 406 9 6 260 feet.

One-and-All ... ·Ditto ... . .. 2,000 0 0 0 8 15'101 862 19 0 180 feet.

Totals, Quartz ... 4,375 0 0 0 3 12'41 769 8 6

QUARTZ,

In this branch of mining there is no change to report. The claims at work on Hiscock's Reef are continuing to yield steadily an average of 3~ dwts. per ton. The Erin-Go-Bragh are driving for the reef. A new company is being formed to try tlie Long Gully Reef. Wit4 qUll.l'tz yielding such a poor average as the reefs of this division, the utmost economy and the best appliances for the saving the gold must be adopted.

ALLUVIAL.

During the quarter seven new claims have been registered, representing 149 men's ground.

Durham Leail. The National Company are obtaining excellent yields, and have struek some new ground which

promises well. A party of Chinese are erecting an engine on the Duke of Northumberland ground in Moore's Paddock.

The ttaribaldi, and other claims below on this lead, are doing little more than paying expenses; even this enables them to explore the mines, and I believe that hy these means much richer ground will be proved than has yet been found on the Lower Durham.

Scotckman' s Lead. The Buninyong Company report an improvement in their mines generally.

Frankl!Jn Lead. The Franklyn Company's yields have improved during the quarter.

Na!poleon anil Wellington Leads. The Leviathan Company are still working and obtaining gold in payins- quantities from the main

gutter; their expenses are, however, heavy, as they are at the smne time drivmg for the continuation of the Napoleon gutter, to which they now must be very close. The New Waterloo Company are sinking a shaft from which to work a tributary, proved in working the Wellington gutter.

[1nion Jack and Tributaries. · The Buninyong New Company have proved that a large amount of payable ground exists in

their claim, and are now obtaining large returns, this has led to a new company being formed to work the Union Jack northwards from the old Pactolus Company.

During this quarter the shallow workings have been in full operation throughout the division, and though the lucky finds of gold in large quantities are now very scarce, still all employed in this primitive mode of working can depend upon earning fair wages.

s~lY'l'HEsDALE DivisiON.

_TJ,fr. John Lynch, Mining Surveyor and Regutrar.


i

i I Total for the I Europeane. Chinese. Division. Remarks.

--- ---·-·-Alluvial Miners ... ... I 2,030 600 ll,630

Quartz Miners ... ... 40 .. . 40 --··-~-

Totals ... 2,070 • 600 2,670

. ,., . ~ ·~"1 ~'.I{; :·., . : ''·. \_., .. ,·; ·-·

THE' TOTAL NUMBER 'OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTilD :-

Smythesdale ... Scars dale Brown's · · ... ... Monkey Gully and Italian Gully Springdallah .. . · .. . ... Happy Valley .. . .. .

200 Carngham :.:.._ 650 Bottle Hill ... 100 Preston Hill 100 Snake Val}ey 520 600 Total

70 100 330

2,670

~HE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :-

I

ALLUVIAL MINING, QUUTZ MINING.

Description of Machinery. .. At Work. i !Idle.

Aggregate. At Work. Idle.

Number Aggregate Horse-power of of Stamp Horse-pawer of Steam &ginee. Heads. Steam Engine5 • .. .. -~ -- -···

Steam Engines ... . .. 58 17 1,520 3 3

I

40 140 Whims ... ... ... 13 3 ... ... ... . .. . ..... Horse Puddling Machines ... 32 .... ... . .. ... ... ~· .. '

. . . Total value of mining plant in the division, £70,000. Number of square miles of auriferous ground:which is being, or may have been, actUJl,lly worked

upon, 11. . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the, present

time, H. · The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. 6d. to £4 per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QuARTZ

CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

Where~z was y;,:fJ~T~td Total Yield Remarks relntive to the Name of Compo.ny. ob ed. Quartz Cl'UShed. of Gold. Depth at which the

per Ton. Quartz was o bl>ained, &c. - -------

Britannia Reef, tons cwt. qr, oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

Britannia ... ... 3,039 0 0 0 4 14•08 697 0 0 400 feet. No appre-CarlJgham ciable change in the

quality of the stone as compared with lesser 'depths.

The mines are looking much better now than at the close of last quarter. · Along the'Main Lead, from Scarsdale to Springdallah, a distance of about four miles, the returns

from the mines are very satisfactory, and a few months hence, it is to be expected, will be much more considerable. The Try A ain, situated in the Devil's Kitchen, had, for the last week, 103 ozs. 12 dwts. The Atlas, adjoinin Again, had Ill ozs. 16 dwts. This claim has but lately got into proper working order, and hdirt in the face of the drives is of great thickness, and the width of the gutter very considerable, it is hoped that this claim will continue im.[JrOving. The Golden Horn, adjoining the latter claim, have had for some weeks back difficulties in subduing the water ; but this is now effecte'd, and the result has been 134 ozs. for the last week.

The next adjoining claims are the Golden Lake and Scarsdale Extended, the former of which is sinking through the rock successfully, and the latter, after baling for several weeks, have ceased for a· while.

A little to the westward of the Golden Lake, towards the Springdallah Ranges, a party of twentyfour are sinking a shaft, and have reached a thick stratum of black clay. From all appearances they are upon a new lead. .

The Golden Stream had 112 ozs. for the last week. This is a great improvement upon. former returns, and from the appearance of the mine it is believed there will be no falling off, at least for a long ti_me. T!:te. company .is at present e~cavating a reservoir for th_e reception of ~ain-water for supplymg the boiler, 1t havmg been ascertamed that the feed-water obtamed from the mme acted very injuriously upon the boiler. The North Grenville continue to give excellent ret.urns; they are about si;1king a second shaft, and machinery has been already obtained. The A vonclift had, last week, 130 ozs., and the Bute 144 ozs. Such yields as these are highly encouraging, especially at a time like the present, when the district is not quite' recovered from the evil effects of the excessive speculations of last year. At the Red, 'White, aud Blue I~ead, Smythesdale, there are four companies at work, Harris and party have been getting excellent dividends for a long time back, and some of the others are getting paid. From the Red, White, and Blue Lead there is little or nothing doing as far as the Phcenix claim at Nintingbool, a distance of three miles. At the latter place several Chinese companies are at work, and, from what can be learned of their operations, they are doing remarkably welL They purchased the greater part of the Phcenix claim some months back, subdivided it into small claims, and sunk a shaft. on each. By their skilful and inexpensive method of treating such description of mining, they; have succeeded in realising excellent profits. ' .

',rh ere is a slight stir farther north, at Haddon. The Gladstone Lease Company there have got an excellent prospect, and are making preparations for operations on a large scale. The :Falcon are not doing much. The Gulf Stream !I-re idle; a lease of the ground has been applied for. Nothing further is doing in this locality.

Turning to the southern end of the Main Trunk Lead, we find things there less encouraging. The Grang 'frllnJ!: jlavfl had, for~ few we~ks back, a falling off in the yield i there is, ho~ever, no fear

9

of this claim not being able to resume its wonted place as one of the first in the district. The portion of the mine between the present shaft and the southern boundary of the Try .Again lease is nearly worked out, but there is a space of about 4,000 .feet south of the shaft still untouched; and as there is a shaft now being sunk and very far advanced towards completion, near the southern extremity of this block, and as the present shaft can be rendered available for the working of the block for a considerable distance southwards, it is easy to see that in a short time the Grand Trunk will be doing better than ever. ·

· The Exchequer have reached the gutter at a very convenient distance from the shaft. I believe they were a little too shallow, and had to open the drive a little deeper. Everything is nearly completed now, and strong hopes are entertained that this claim will soon rank amongst our best paying ones. .

The Cape Clear have been paying little more than current expenses for· a few weeks back; but still it is very poor; and, indeed, it may be remarked that the failure of this claim has done more to discourage mining enterprise in the locality in which it is situated than any event that has occurred from the commencement of deep mining to the present time.

The LaUa Rookh have driven into the gutter. The washdirt is poor, but I am told the mine will pay.

The Cape of Good Hope have re-organized, and are now working. .At Derwent Jack's the deep lead is deserted ; a few small companies are getting paid in the sliallow ground. Brown's and Italians' Diggings may .be ranked in the same category, with the exception of the sluicivg companies in the former place, and these would qo exceedingly well had they plenty of water. Their supplies are now obtained from the head of Rosa's Creek, where they have dams erected, but this supply is at best very limited, and in a comparatively rainless season like this exceedingly so. The sluicers have held a meeting lately, at which they prepared Fetitions to the neighboring local bodies to assist them in devising some scheme for the obtainment o a permanent water-supply, and referred to Lake Burrum· beet as the most likely source. There is no doubt, if the extensive tracts of shallow and surfacing grounds around Smythesdale and Brown's could be operated upon, with even half the results which the sluicers say they have realised from the portions in thoir occupation, it would' be worth while to labor hard to obtain a water supply:

.At Happy Valley matters are receding fast. The Robin Hood and the British (leases) are both worked out.

The Volunteers and Grand Junction have been at law since March last, and have not yet terminated; this has had a bad influence upon the affairs of both companies. The Waverly are about winding up ; there has been a long trial of this claim, and the owners have concluded that further operations would· be inadvisable. The Investigator have reached deep ground, but nothing· definite has been yet ascertained. The Cleft-in-the-Rock (lease) is paying. These are the only claims now on Happy V alley. .

· There is not much change. in the aspect of mining affairs at Linton since the date of my last. The few claims that are there using steam-pow{!r are barely paying, and the Great Britain has alto. gether ceased.

At Carngham there is a slight improvement perceptible. Some of the large companies that were formed during the mining mania of 1865 are being dissolved, and the ground is again reverting into the hands of small co-operative companies. It is for small companies of ten to twenty men that the ground at Carngham is peculiarly fit, the wash being rather poor but extensively distributed, and the sinking shallow. When the whole of the ground is again m the occupation of companies such as tliese, I have no doubt but that Carngham. will become as prosperous as it was during the years 1863 and 1864. The British Columbia is a14ain in the hands of a small company, and work is commenced there. The .Alabama are idle. The Black Tulip have made some efforts to recommence work. The Ca:zigham United were partly at work and partly idle during the quarter. The Magnum Bonum are paymg well.

The British Standard, on Preston Hill, have just finished the sinking of a new shaft. The General Kossiaski is being re-organized under a new title and proprietary.

The above are the principal claims in this division, and from this short review of their condition and prospects it will.be seen that the division is fast improving in its auriferous productiveness.

There are a great many small parties working in the shallow ~ullies, in all parts of the division, and, although no formal report is ever made of their receipts, I think it may be safely inferred that they are getting fair remuneration, and that a considerable quantity of gold is procured from that source.

CRESWICK DIVISION.

Mr. James Stevenson, Minvng Surveyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER 'OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europeans. Chinese. Tota.l fOl' the I &marks. Division, ,.

.Alluvial Miners ... ... 800 650 1,450 Quartz Miners ... ... ... 600 ... . 600

Totals ... 1,400 650 2,050

a.

Clnnes :, . ,.". : : .. Creilwick · · Spring. Hill , ... Eaglehawk ,. .. . Red:Streak Union Hill .. . Longpoint . · .. .

10 ' ~

THE TOTAL NUMBER OP MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-. • '> \" "' ~·.•t~ f'·· .'>" • o,;r ••IJ • ~• , t " •

,.~ ... ,. , ... . :. ..'z.oo · .s.;uky..Gully .. ~-

. ' > ~ ••• ' '1

100 Slaty Creek ... ·. 70 Mopoke •

30 Humbu,g Hill ... ·148 ·Portuguese Flat.

32 Back Creek ... ~- · 200 !.Rocky .Lead!" ... · ..

.· 20 PinchgU:t ... : · 50 ,·;·. • I ,., ' .,·.· ''.

so 90

·100 .60 80 50

180 60 Diamond Gully

Cobbler's:Gully Bald Hills ·"· 50 Total ...:. ··2,050

1 ; •• : ., L · 1·: •• f. ·-· ,,,

THE .MACHINERY .I·S ~S FOLLOWS:-;-

ALLUVIAL liiiNn!G. ' ''.

,I Qu.l.ll.:rz :Mmma.

At Work. I Idle.

Number j Aggregate, ofSt&mp ' Horse-power of,

. .~--~-- Number 1.. ~gregate At Work. Idl~ of St&mp, Horse-Eower of

I Heads. Steam .&>gines. , :-Heads: Stea.m Engmea!

28 182 ", 610 I ; '

... ... : ,,

~~--~--~----~1-~---r-----·J~--~ --~~~~ •. -------1-----~1------~ Stea!ll ;Engine~= · 14 5 W,hims · · .•. · ' . 5 's Fuddling Machines 140 40 ·

295

' '

'· Cement Mining. Steam _Engines Whims •

. ... .... 2

2,. , .... , 26

•••: ~ips 3 ·.·•··· ~. ""'•••. .....

. ' Total .. value of mining plant in the division, £108,000. . . ' . · - · · ··: ·,-:; Ni:u:ilber of' square miles ohurife·rous grounu which is being, or may have beim; actually' worked

tipon,·8!.· , · · · :·· ·· ' ' I Number of distinct'quart~freefs which have been actually proved to'be 'auriferous to the present ·tune; 14.; ... · ·• · · ...... · · · · ·. · · · · ·.• ·. · • _.,. · · .. ,

,1:·:.1 /f.he;price of gold,during.th~ qq.~~~rin the di-r~io~_ha;s b~~u fr<_>m, £3 18s •. 6d. to £4. Os. 3d. pe~oz. · .. · .. · .•. :. ·., .. ;' ... , ; .· : '::;

,. ,. .. '·· • ., t · ·~. · · .' • ,, " . · ;. r · • • •• • ' · TB::B. FOLLOWING INFORMATION. ':HAS • BEEN .. OBTAINED' 'RELATIVE TO THE'' QUANTITY~ OF QUARTZ AND ~: .. ''"QuARTi''TAILI~Gs<AND CEMENT' cimsH1m 'DURI:Nt{ THE QUARTER, AND "THE GOLD OBTAINED .. ' >rii.}mEFROM :_:_ . ' . . . .

'l'\ ·.

- · · · Avera~e· j ltemarks relative to the 'Where Quartz, &c., .Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold, Total Yield of Dept.hatwbiebtheQuartz, ~·.N~Yf~~~~-.~-.b~~~· •I t .• .~.-~were~o'bta.ined.' . . ' .. , , per Ton. :. , "Gold.·: &C., were obtained ... "':~ .. , .. '

... ' r :I"·'·"' • • .. •· 1 : tons cwt:·qr. Oi. dwt, gr. oz: d-wt: gr. •' '· ' · · ·'· · Port Phillip Clunes Reefs 13,965 0 0 . 0 7 6·02 5,062 18 12 Greatest depth 374ft. Victoria , ... , Ditto 4,494 0 0 · :o 5. 14·71 1,261 5 0 Greatestdepth 630ft. ClunesUnited Ditto - ... •.• '920 0 0 · 0 4 7·33 198 ·1 0 ,Greatestdepth440ft. New North Clunes Ditto· ... 45 0 0 0 3 16 8 5. 0 Greatestdep~h600ft. Livhi.gston,e ana party,. Cobbler's Gully ... ' '98 .,0 0 0 4 23"63 . 24 8 12 I

Glad . ' ' 1 s"ulk' 'Gull'" Ran' 'e .. · '24 '·o· 'o o'' 9 7 I '11 ,. 3" d . · . ' · . . n·~·.~~-~~~· ~t· ~ .... · ;ti';~·, ,_~ ·· J:. • rY ~~H~ln, ' 1:.> ,_: >,'-L l\l~ J:..,l ~. tl :' ;;, c. ; r"" · . ..-".• .. 1:-. , - 1'r:· ' '

J.::" .H·t;, 1 I·'!,.;, ":A• ~- 1Totals~'Q~artz1:.' i9;546''''0 (( 0', 6 f7•241t5S6' "i .,0. -~·.·.h;,,- •X•* .· .. , .' .. :~.f.< .•z;f>%,:.·.~ n,'-"1.,',1 • .t,·~, ..;.~ ')' ""'1'- ''t ··• ~ ''·"--l'• '~:, t. • tL• ! .... "1ll,•' .. • ••)' .,:·jL! ;A•.· ··1,•. · cemeiitcrushed. ~- · · '' · · ···· : · ··~-'--'-· 1 .

Hard Hills Hard Hills 400 0 0 : 0 4 7'41 1 86 3 12 Enterprise Ditto 975, 0 0 i 0 1 21·14 91 14 6

Totals,Cement ... 1,3;;··0--~-~() -2-1~·091 1771718

..~ :.: .::'..

70 feet: Collected entirely

from surface and tailings.

. The impro~ement noticed in m{l~~he;~J~t- cdntitiii:Ei'~:·'fhe returns of some of the large alluvial companies are not so great,_ but this is more tl:J.an compensated by the yield of gold obtained in sluicing,

and als~!ns~~k;t;~ii;;iJi~t:tft~~·~f::d~:tc~m~l:~a!~C:~ ~~n:~~lleJ ·~ cll~~~~tinu~-work, owing to the settling down of the ground; the company have· not yet decided whether they will move the machinery and commence a new shaft. . .

At Bald Hills, the Great Eiitenaed 'Cdmpany'have 'l:iotairied during til-e quarter 425 ozs. l4 dwts. 2 grs. In working out'the new ground it was found to be dipping, and could not be reached unless by putting in a new level at a greater depth ;.t]fe directors considered it more advisable to sink the second shaft in Sims' ·paddock and work from~·it. ;. in the mean' time a portion of the claim has been let on tribut~,...employing the company's :na~hLn_ll_ry. In _shaft: No. 2, .. the depth .re.ached is 12_6 feet, n~mel:y, '6 feet clay, 80 feet rock, 20 feet st!lf clay, and 20 feet m second rock: Th1s IS the first mstan~e m .tl,t,ts division where a second rock has been' struck. . ·. · : . · .... , ·,. 1'·':

. At Graham's Hill very little wo_r~_has been dqne in mining, thb miners being still enga:ged.wit~· the1r farms, taken up under the 42nd clause of the Land Act. '

On Union Bill, the Rose of Allandale Compa!ly and Swindle'~ party are opening out the ground, but have scarcely ~a~hed any yet.. ... . .. .. . '. . c~·... ..

I

11 • ~· ~ • ~ t < ' ~ - ~

At the Red Streak, t>wing: to the threatened litigation.by the Grand Tru.nJc Conip1111y against the purchasers of that company's claims, I have been unable to get•any acctirate.returns of the yield or workings

1of the ground; it is, however, known that the purchasers are doing well. Two new lease

claims have been marked off a-head of the Grand Trunk Company's claim. The yield of the o~her companies for. the quarter is as follows:-

··Imperial Company, hired labor. ' Junction Company, hired labor ... Hit-or-Miss Company; 12 men:::: •, . First Chance Company,.5 men .. •.

·:. •" · .. ·.;'; oz. 601 498 363 '50

d~ gi,

12 0 14·. 12 10 2 0 0

At Rocky Lead the Jupiter Company, finding the gutter deepening. as it proceeds northward and that the main level will not reach it, propose sinking a blind shaft, and to use in the mine an engine with an air compressor. Owing to the manager's absence I have been unable to obtain the yield of this company. That of th~ other companies for the, quarter is .as follo.ws :.- ·: · ·

Golden Gate Company, hired labor Golden Emporium Company, 24 men You Know Company, 16 men ....

Some of the sluicing companies have had a first washing·uJl, the majority, chiefly Chinese, have, however, yet to wash; one Chinese party of 12, working at Humbug Hill, have had 150 ozs., and the Humbug Hill Sluicing Company, working near Bald Hills, have had 90 ozs. 10 dwts.

1 At Clunes, the Port Phillip C01npany crushed, during the quarter, 13,965 tons of quartz, which yielded 5,062 ozs. 18 dwts. 12 grs. of gold. A dredging machille has' been erected to clear the settling pool of sludge ; two percussion tables-one on Rittinger's principle, and the other according to H. A. Thompson's patent-are in course of erection; a hydraulic lift has also been fixed at the huddle, the truck-full of pyrites is lifted from the rails on to the upper floor, and there tipped, which is a great saving of labor, and an improvement in e.very, .w.ay .on the former system.

The Clunes Company paid, during 'tlieq\i~r&lr; di~id\)nds'amounting to £792, being Ss. per scrip, or £8 per each original,share. At main shaft on No. 5_level, the w:estern cross-cut has been continued at prices varying from £7"'18s~ to £10 ]')er·.fathom ;:·and;the ,e·astlmi, at.frolJi .£4 .17s. to £5 His. On No. 4level, the winzes on Robinson's Heef, north and south, have again been abandoned, owing to the influx of water. On N o:·3'level; stoping- has been continued on theW estern; Eastern, Robinson's, and Welcome Reefs, at from 6s. 9d to 7s. 3d per. ton •• At the .'south .shaft,. on. No. 51evel, the western cross-cut has been set at £3 15s. pcr.fathom.for slate, and £9 for quartz, and the eastern at £6 Ss. On No 4, level, driving ·on the western reef, south, has ·oeen set at' £4 15s. per fathom. Winzes have been sunk on Robinson:s Reef, at from•£8 10s. to £13 18s. per fathom; also three .. w.ere.commenced on the eastern reef, at from £6 15s. to £9, but· had to be abandoned o,wing to the water. On No. 3 level stoping has been done at the follow~ng prices : E!18tern Reef, 4s. to Ss. :per ton ; Western Reef, 68, ; and Robinson's Reef, 4s. 9d. to 6s. 6d. per ton. The greatest depth at which quartz is obtained.is 374 feet. and 244 men are employed on the mine. 1

The Victoria Company crushed 4,494 tons of quartz, which yielded 1,~f;j1 ·ozs. 5 dwts. of gold. The Jl1ain shaft._ has, b!lep. ,sunk .30 feet 1 during the quarter, making a total depth of 630 feet. A chamber has been opened, aud"-25 feet. drivell"frorii. the easte·rn cross-cut tOwards Robinson's Reef; which is expected to b~.soon cut. On No,_ 6.Jeve.l th~ north winze has been sunk 44 feet through quartz, and the south 'wihze"70 'feet, making 'tlie"pr'es'ent 'd'eptll on thio)' course of the lode of each winze 100 feet, and through payable stone the entire way. The north level has been driven about 60 feet, and the lode· found to be small and poor most of the. distan!Je .. : ',l;'.he nortp shaft has also been sunk 32 feet, and ·holed .to No. 5 level. On the ea~tern boundary of the claim a shaft has been commenced, to strike the run.of alluvial known as the Red Run, !lnd wh~<;h .. has b~en found so good in the claim of the Clunes Alluvial Company. It is down 75 feet, and still in rock, . which is considered a good indication. Stoping has heen done (l.t fro~ 6s. 3d. to 10s.: per .to;m, . T4e greatest depth at which quartz is obtained is 630 feet; some of the stone taken from this d~p~h looks most promising, and is expected to pay very well. Eighty-five men are employed on th~-mine; .

The Clunes· United Company, owing to the amount of dead'work done during the quarter, crushed only 920 tons of quartz, which yieiaed 198 ozs. 1 dwt. of gold. Two winzes have been sunk from No. 4 to No. 5 level, and rises put up to meet them. The reef is still found underlying west very much, and various trials of stone taken (rQm th(ll9we).".part of th~_winzes have yie~ded 4t dwts. to 6 dwts. per ton. A winze h!!-s been sunk 01;1 No. 3 level, Eastern Reef, and a rise put up from No. 5 level to meet· it. On No. 5 level the Eastern Reef has been driven about p6 feet; the lode is from 2 to 3 feet thick, and the' 'storie appears promising. A stope has been begun on the reef, going south. The mullock and air shaft on Robinson's Reef has also .been repaired and Jogged up about 120 feet. Sixty men are emJ:>loyed at the mine. . . :

· . Tlie New North Climes Elompany~, in' the .deep shaft, have. driv.en through Robinson's Reef, and found it 10 feet thick. Forty-five tons of the stone were crushed, and yielded 8 ozs. 5 dwts. After driving some distance, the work was suspended at this place,'pepdingthe sinking of the whim shaft. A whim has been erected at the Whim or Esmond's shaft, and a contract let for sinking it 200 feet deeper. At 235 feet a body of quartz, supposed to be Robinson's Reef, was struck, and sunk in for 20' feet. The reef was then cross-cut to ascertain its width, but after driving about 20 feet without meeting the outer wall the work was 1 suspended, and the men have begun to slab up the shaft. The· engine and plant of the Pioneer Company, Durham, have been purchased, and will shortly be er!Jcted Qver this shaft: ·

The South Olunes Company have established the co!mriurtication between the engine and·north shafts Oll the 446 feet level, and two winzes W('lre.alSC?, begun at the bottom, but had to be S1,1Spended, owing to the influx of water. Two rises are also iu operation on the upper shoot of quartz. 'l'he work at the south shaft has been res;umed, and 30 men are employed' on ·the mine.

The Clunes Alluvial Company obtained, during the quarter, 1,636 ozs. of gold. The various improvements and alterations alluded to in my· last report have ·been complet.ed, and are answering very welL The huddle enables a larger quantity of water to be used without injury, and the sludge .and s~nd from it, in conjunction with the water from the machines, are pumped into the settling pool, whence the water is again used. The ground in the western part of the claim is being blocked out ; some of it had, however, to be temporarily abandoned, owing to the timber being unequal to the

l2

pressure caused by the,washdirt having been taken out to a great height and. width. It having been ascertained that the rough quartz stones forked out of the puddling machinds, as well as the tail sand, would pay for being crushed, a tramway is in course of erection for the transmission of this material (some thousands of tons) to the Port Phillip Company's batteries. One hundred men are now employ!)d at the mine.

The Clunes Extended Alluvial Company have re-organized, with an increased capital of 300 shares, making a total of 620 • shares, at £10 each. The ~haft has been baled out, and a contract let for repairing and enlarging the shaft from a depth of 114 feet to the bottom, and then sinking a further depth of 20 feet, making a total deptli of 180 feet.

The Comet Alluvial Company have been prospecting, and have found the ground dipping westward to be poor, the washdirt averaging about 1 dwt. per ton. The ground eastward has averaged from 2 to 3 dwts. per ton, and from the prospects washed in driving south, the washdirt appears to be improving.

Thq,Ballarat and Clunes Alluvial Company have had different trials made of the washdirt. A crushing of 200 tons at the Port Phillip Company's works having given a yield of only 3 dwts. per ton, the directors, supposing some error had taken place, got some of the washdirt pnddied at the machines of the Comet Company, which gave a yield of 5 dwts. per ton; they have therefore decided to erect puddling machines, and afterwards have the quartz boulders and tailings crushe)i, if, on trial, it be found to pay. The washdirt has now been followed 250 feet from the shaft. 'fhe dip is towards the south 4 feet in lOO, and the face has 4 feet of washdirt, gradually increasing in thickness.

GORDON SUBDIVISION.

Mr. Thomas Oowa;n, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IB AB FOLLOWS:-

Europea.lll!. Chine sa. Tot&! for tha Remilorks. Subdivision.

Alluvial Miners ... ... 76 8 84

Quartz Miners ... ... 44 ... 44 ' -

Totals ... 120 8 128 V


Mount Egerton 4 All Nations Gully 16 Big Hill Reef 40 Parker's Gully 20 Moorabool .. . · 6 Bull's Run Gully ' 8 Greed's Reef 4 Saw Mill Gully 30

Total 128


~ ALLUVLU. Mmnm. , QUARTZ Mmn!G. •

DescriptiOD of llfuchinery. I Horse.power of I Hors&-power of At Work. Idle. At Work. Idle. Steam Engine.

I Steam Engine. .

------Steam Fuddling ... ... 1 ... 8 ... ... I ... . .. Steam Crushing ... ... ... ... ... 1 ... 23 25

Horse Puddling Machines ... 2 ... ... .... ... . .. . ..

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision,, £2,500. Number of square miles of ttll!iferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon,~- . . ' Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 17. · The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 18s. 6d. to £4 ls. 6d,

per oz~

•· ,.

13

THE FOLLOWING INF()]l,MATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELA'riVE TO '.!!HE QUANTITY OF QuARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

I

I I Where Quartz was : Avem :

Na.me of Oomps.cy. obtained. Quart-z crushed. • Yield of ld ' Total Yield of

Gold. Rem81'ks relative to th Depth at which th

e 0

' j per'j:on. Quartz was obtained.

-···

tons cwt. qr. \ oz. dwt. gr, .

oz. dwt. gr.

Mount Egerton ... Big Hill Reef ... 2,470 0 0 0 3 22"69 487 5 0 130 and 220 feet level 8 .

'

ALLUVIAL.

Within the last fortnight this branch of mining has improved 'in some slight degree, owing to a small rush having taken place at Saw Mill Gully, near I,al-lal, in shallow ground, the deepest working not . exceeding 6 feet. The bottom, below which no gold can be obtained, appears to consist of clay, mixed with sand. I forward herewith a tracing, showing the approximate position of the gully. It is situated 4t miles from the nearest gold workings, and 3 miles from the township of Lal-lal. There are no quartz reefs i.n the locality. From the appearance of the country I am of opinion that the workings will not be of a permanent character. The number of miners on the ground is about 30; the total population about 40.

Kerrit Bareet Oompany.-The claim of this company has been taken up by a new company, under the title of Armstrong, Roxburgh, and Co. It is being held in reserve for the.purpose of pro-curing machinery. · · A. party of eight Chinese have taken possession of a claim at Parker's Gully. These are the

only Chinese who have worked in the subdivision since it has been under my charge.

QuARTZ.

The Egerton Mining Company still continue to work steadily, as shown by the tables. The total number of days the batteries of the company have been at work during the quarter is 66.

The four men set down as working at Greed's Reef are simply prospecting.

Alluvial Miners

Quartz Miners

'

STEIGLITZ SUBDIVISION.

Mr. Henry Davidson, Minilng Surveyor and Registrar.

TJm TOTAL NuMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europews. Ohinese. Total for the Remarks. Subdlvlaion.

' ... . .. 60 120 ISO

... ... 170 . .. 170

Totals ... 230 120 350


Steiglitz ... . .. Morrison's and Tea-tree Dolly's Creek · Stony Rises ...

Total

THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-

168 ' 130

38. 14

350

Dcsaription of llla.chlnery.

Steam Engines .•. Flumes Sluice-boxes Dei:ricks Sluices Horse Whims

1 4 9

48 "3

44

Number A.ggregn.teHorse-ofStamp powerofSteam AtWork. Hea.de. Engines.

28 130 4 20 176

3

290

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £58,000. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been,. actually .worked

upon, 13. Number of distinct quartz reefs whieh have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 49. The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 16s. 3d. to £3 18s.

per oz.

~·

14 . . . . :I .. . ·. ' '. 'i:.·::.: ., . . .

Mining affairs throughout this subdivision have continued very dull' during. the. quarter, but within the last few weeks there hl).s been an apparent improvement. ·

A,_new, ref!f has bee.n.discovered)?Y Quick and party, near t},le old cemetery, on the road from Steiglitz tq M:egedith, froni'which some. very· good specimens have been obtained; several-other parties are prospecting in' the vicinity. Many have been making good wages at the alluvial diggings in the same locality, but I am unable to.furnish actual results, as there appears to be a disinclination to give any informatton on the subject. . · .

. ·· ·on Steiglitz proper, the only company at present crushing ·is the Steiglitz Company, Boxing Re~f ... ~!ld,_tJ:!~y have m;tl,y,_bE!~n ,d!'iying the las~ (<!W: ~!le~~. th~ eyt(ln,e, cru,~h.E!d ,being x.aised from several small veins, which afford no criterion of the real value of the' mine ; all the earlier part of the quarter was occupied in erecting machinery, winding and crushing gear, &c.

The Redan:Pompany, New Chum Reef, have -been at work at intervals during the quarter, and after being idl~ f9r s.t:Jveral weeks. hay!) again resum\)d operations. , . _. .

On N e~v X.eax:s Ree(, a~l t4e.claims, namely, the Mal;tkhoff, Ballarat, and Forty-Foot Companies, are idle; the two first are held under protecLiqn registration, and it appears very doubt(ul whether they

·will be again wor)wd by the presen:t proprietary. , . The Albion Company, Portugue~e ;Reef, are steadily at wqrk. opening out new ground, arid ha~e.

already raised some very promising looking stone. . -. . - ,. . ... The Prince of Wales Company have suspended operations throughout the quarter; at one time

there was some idea of re-organizing t_his company and resuming operations, but this appears to have fallen through. · . , , .. · · · ... :· . . . . . ·:· . _, .. ,. · _ . TheW aterloo Company, Wellington Reef, the Electric Company, arid the Sailor's Reef Company,

have all been sold recently; l:ly;.the.sheriff; and,the.m!!9hipery if?,-.beiu.g,rapidly.re~pved from the field. There is so m!) disput~ P!l~l;ii,_u.g ,as •to. the ownership. of the.Follow -~he-Leader, Qpmpany's claim, on

Boxing Reef, but in the meantime Bolt and party have heen at work occasionally, and have had several crushings, the results of which they decline to rriake 'known.

The Clifton Company's ground·, on German Reef, having been declared-forfeited by the warden, has been taken up by Robert Robinson and five others, under the co:operative system; they have raised some 'very promising stone, and are sanguine as to their prospects. The new co-operative company has been named the Ex-Monarch Company.

The Albert Edward Company's claim, New Chum Reef, has also recently changed hands, and the purchasers have commenced operations on a limited scale, but so recently, that nothing is as yet known as to the prospe_cts of the mine. .• .,... 1 , ,; ,,,·: • . ., •• : • : •

At Morr1son's and Tea-tree mmmg matters are dull, but w1thm the last week apphcatwn has been made to ta~e ,up W\?+.E!,.all.~~:!.fll.,g~<;>;g.l(l.!l.~h~~~! ,!J:.~4. I,ii,WA~p ... ~~f<?Jl)},E!~41,o!:f, g?od auth?rity, that several other parties are about to apply for registration and survey of claims In the same locahty. The same remarks will apply to Dolly's Creek, where several parties of Chinamen are now applying for surveyandregistrationofblock.c_l_a~ms .... ,,,_ . ,, '·'' .. ;, .... ; . ,

The Hit-or-Miss Company' (alluvial), Morriso~(s, have.,c:)~~IJ;\n~q ... ,:,tJ:l9.ut ~~Q,,q,z~. _of gold _during the quarter, the depth at which this was obtained was about 140 feet. · 1

The Golden ·Ri\'"ers Company's' clairii'is still unworked,. and there seems very little probability at present of operations bein~ resumed._ ... ··:· . . - - . ·. . . ·- ... . .. .. -· . - - . -

· · On Stony Rises the're ·Is no ~lluvml mmm,; now carried on. The Lord Palmerston Company (late Royal George) have been almost entirely engaged in sinking; tpey have, however, had one cr'ushing·of 70 tons, whic.h yielded an average of 17,.dwts to the ton. .. ' . . .

The Victory Company have suspen'ded 'operations, having been driven out by the water. The Old Royal Char lie Company's qlaim has changed han~.s : the, ground has peen recently applied

for and surveyed under lease, and the new company (the South' Jersey) have been engaged for several weeks in pumping out water, clearing drives; .&c., preparatory to.again commencing operations. As regards the Steiglitz gold field proper, nearly.all the claims are, one after the other, being sold, either by the bank or the sheri:fr, and it is to be' feared that much of the machinery will leave the district; but there appears-to be a strong inclination to take. up the. ground under tli~ico:operative system, and the previous -history of this gold field has already proved that·th'ere is.a Targii 'extent of ground which can be profitably worked under this system. .. ··.·· ·' ·' ·· ~; · ·:

At the latter end of last, :,tnd the early part. of this quarter, numbers ·or, people were attracted from' Steiglitz to the reservoir works at Stony Creek, and thus increased the depression already existing; but it is highly pr~b'able, when some of the .claims which are now lying idle, and which are.gradnally being sold off, ·have been delared forfeited, that numerous parties will return and again take up the ground under the co-operative system. •-: .

I' .. ~ ..... \ '

BLAc~woon n·rV!sroi Mr. E. ·a. Magnu_s; Mining Surveyor and Registrar.

.'1,

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AB FOLLOWS :- ., ....

Europeans. Chinese. Total for the . "'. r D,ivisi~n.

&marks. -ti ..

--~--~~-------~----1-------1-------1 ., .. · ... Alluvial Miners 613 427 1,040

Quartz Miners 268 !!68 .. \.:

' . ' ~ ( "il .. ~.! It,;) ;',j,. :1•.'

Totals 881 ·427 1,308

~ .

;

15

Golden· Point . Red Hill Simmons' Reef Sebastopol ... Yankee Gully

., THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

287 Barry's Reef 115 10 15 16 27 10 Ballan Flat .. .

Main Creek, below Sebastopol .. .

215 United Reef 126 Luckv-hit Reef 90 N ewma:n's Reef

100 Goodman's Creek · 30 ·Ballan 178

63 Split-tree Gully Ranges .. . J ackson's Gully 11 Total 1,308 Johnson's Reef 15

THE MACHINERY IS AI;! FOLLOWS :-

ALLUVIAL IIIINING • QUAllTZ MniiNG. . ,, ,.

Description of Machinery. Number Aggregate

At Work. Idle. Horse-power of At Work. Idle. of Stamp ~~a:-~~e~~ Steam Engine. Heads. : ·------- --- ------

Steam Engin.es .... ·•· ... 1 .. 15 .,5 5 90 169 Water-wheels ... ... . .. . .. ... 7 4 84 ... Wat·er-wheels, for.drainage ... 2 2 ... ... ... ... ... Whims ... ... ... . .. 1 . .. 1 8 ... ... Horse-pow~ Puddling Machines ... 2 ... . .. ... ... ...

Total value of mining plant in the division, £29,800. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have -been, actually worked

upon, 2t. Number ·of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the

present time, 16. : . The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 16s. 6d. to £3 17s. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING 'INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

, Average Remarks relative to the

Name of ?~mpany. Where Quartz, &c., were Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold Total Yield of · Depth at which the obtained. per Ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained.

' ...... tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

Crown ... ... Simmons' Reef .. . 2,950 0 0 0 1 1~ 239 13 18 4 o feet to 11 o feet Williams Bros. and Co. Ditto ... ... 700 0 0 0 3 18 131 5 0 150 feet Big Hill ... ... Ditto ... ... 450 0. 0 0 3 0 67 10 0 130 feet Guard and Co. ... Atkin's Reef ... 370 0 0 0 9 0 166 10 0 170 feet Harris and Co. ... St. George's Reef . .. 184 0 ·0 0 8 0 73 12 0 30 feet Faugh-a-Ballagh ... Ditto ... ... 444 0 0 0 8 12 188 14 0 30 feet True Blue ... ... Ditto . .. ... 400 0 0 0 14 12 290 0 0 130 feet Catherine ... ... Barry's Reef ... 550 0 0 0 4 0 110 0 0 85 feet Grace Egerton ... Ditto ... . .. 865 0 0 0 10 0 432 10 0 90 feet Hudson and Sons ... Ditto ... . .. 200 0 0 0 14 0 140 0 0 30 feet Taylor and Co. ... Homeward-bound Reef 350 0 0 0 9 0 157 10 0 45 feet Hansmann and Co. Ditto -82 .. 0 .. o· '0"18'''12 75 17 0 34 f'eet ... ... .. . Hansmann and Co. ... Ditto ... ... 51 0 0 0 1 0 2 11 0 34 feet, 10 feet of

reef Harris and Co. ... Eureka Reef ... 49 0 0 1 6 12 64 18 12 Surface to 1 o feet Trew hell a Bros. and Co. Lucky-hit Reef 400 0 0 0 8 0 . 160 0 0 Surface to 80 feet United r ,.~

:Unite~ R.eef. .. .. 640'· 0 o. I I 0 6.72 ,0 0 98 feet ... ... .. :.· .. ·

Alpine Barry's Reef .. t" 3oo': 0 0 0 2• 0 30 0 0 90 feet ... ... ... --------- ----

Totals, Quartz ... 8,985 0 ir 0 6 16•40 3,002 11 6 --------------

Quartz Tailings and Ce- ... ment crushed :-

Fletcl).er and Co. ... Split-tree Gully.:j.'l.anges 70 0 0 9 6 . 0 I ,21:. 0 0 ' ' -r: • ~.., I I • ~ ... ., . .. -~\ ... •• ~ l

The reefs in this division.are looking remarkably well, .but, owing. to the small supply of water during the whole of this winter, a great quantity of stone remaips tinc~ushed in the vicinity of Barry's Reef. ·

Harris and party opened a new·reef adjoining the Pioneer lease, and about 200 feet to the west of Trew4e)la's Reef. It is a well-defined and settled reef, but, unlike any ot.her in this division, it underlies to the east. They had a small crushing of ·49 tons, take'n ~ri:im tlie siirface down to 10 feet, whirh yielded 1 oz. 6~ dwts. to the ton·, taking the whole of the•reef, about 4 feet in thickness.

The Cornish Company have just completed their tunnel, on which they have been enga[)'ed upwards of twelve months, and the stone is looking t~lerably well. - " .. ·

Messrs. Williams Brothers and Company are through with their tunnel, which drains the mine to a depth of 180 feet. They will now be able to get out stone in qnantities at a very trifling cost.

16

. Alluvial mining generally is very dull, though there are exceptional cases of good .yields. The

majority of the hill sluicers are very ·short of water. Sweet and party (4 men) are still averaging about £8 per man a week.

We have have had a trilling addition to the Chinese population this week, and I understand there are many more coming. · ·

_ A new reef has been struck on land held under the 42nd section of the " Amending Lahd Act 1865," situated·about half a mile south-west of the Blue Mountain.

BLUE MouNTAIN SouTH SuBDIVISION.

Mr. R. H. Horne, Mining Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER 011' MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europeans! Chinese. Totaf for the Snbdivision. Rema.rks.

Alluvial Miners ... ... J'50 , 10 60 · OtherpopulatJon Quartz Miners 5 1--~-;·~--

5 ... ...

Totals ... 55 65 I

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

Old Camp Ground (south) Yankee Gully and the vicinity ... Snake Gully... .. . . .. J.Jocality south of the Blue Mo~nt (not yet named) ...

Total ...

20 30 10 5

65

about 15

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, .£80. · Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 3. . . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

t1me, 3. , · , The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been £3 l7s. per oz.

The inclemency of the last winter quarter, with respect to ice and snow, as well as stornis of hail and rain, frequently caused most of the alluvial claims to suspend operations.

BEECHWORTH MINING DISTRICT.

BEECHWORTII DiVISION.

Mr . .AieXander .Alderdice, Mining Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS -IS AS FOLLOWS :-

I Total for the Europea.ns. Chinese. Division. Remarks.

-Alluvial Miners ... ... 587 1,008 1,595

Quartz Miners ... ... ... ll9 . .. 119

Totals ... 706 1,008 l,il4

•

17

THE TOTAL, NuMDER OF' MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED i-

SP.ring Creek Silver Creek Deep Creek Hurdle Creek Pennyweight, &c ... . Two-mile Creek .. . Three-mile Creek .. . Six-mile Creek Bowman's Forest ...

.. Description of Jl!iij:hlnery.

Steam Engines ... Puddling Machines ... Whims and Pulleys ... Pumps ... ... Sluices ... ... Water-wheels ... Boxes ... ... Whips ... Boring Machine ' -...

I -

At Work. I

13 6

14 55

144 29

3,100 5 ...

112 Myrtleford, &e. 22 W ooragee ... 20 Reid's Creek 50 W oolshed ... . 46 Sebastopol .. . 51 Eldorado .. .

243 38 Totals

130


ALLUVIAL MlN:mG • I

Number Aggrega.te Idle. of Stamp Ho!'ll<l-power of At Work.

Heads. Steam Ellgines.

4 . .. 136 2 ... . .. ... ... ... . .. ... ... ... ... . .. ... ... ... ... ... 5 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 1 . .. ... ...

QUARTZ~G.

Idle. Ntunber ,

of Stamp ' Heads.

1 17 . .. ... . .. ... ... ... ... . .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

92 352

60 210 146 142

1,714

Aggregate

~=,;;·~Jg,~~:.

34 ... .. . ... . .. ... . .. ... ...

'

Tot~ value of mining plant in the division, £28,000. · Nm;;_ber of square miles of auriferous ground which. is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon,24. , Number of distinct quartz reefs which have be~n actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 17. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been £3 19s 6d .• per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ, ETC,,

CRUSHED DURING THE QuARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFBOM.

Name of Compa.ny, and I Whero Qua.rtz, &c., were Yi~~".;}'ft"old Toto.! Yield of Remarks relative to the Quflrtz crushed. Depth at which the where crushed. 1 obtained. per ton. Gold. Qeartz was obtained.

. Bolam and Wood's Mill: tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt gr.

Henderson and Co .... Excelsior Reef, W oora- lOO 0 0 3 17 19•20 389 0 0 180 feet gee -

I> Orion ... ... Orion Reef; W ooragee 40 0 0 0 13 0 26 0 0

.Totals, Quartz ... i 140 ·o 0 2 19 .6·85 415 0 0

Mullock, Casing, crushed:-

~c.,

Stanley Crushing Co.'s I

Mill: Golden Bar ... Golden Bar Reef, Three-! 150 0 0 0 2 20'32 21 7 0

mile Creek I

A very marked improvement has taken place in the prospects of the miners in this division, as until a few week's back it was thought that this winter was likely to be a repetition of the last, and that the miners would be at a standstill for want of the usual supply of water; but the increased rainfall for the months of August and September has raised their hopes considerably, and it is now believed that the supply of water will reach the average of former- years.

Spring Creek and neig!tborltood.

All the sluicers are vigorously at work, and speak of their prospects as remunerative. Some attention has been again directed to the quartz reefs in this vicinity, and several of the

old reefs have been taken· up, among others, the Canadian, Madman's Gully. This reef was opened about four years ago, and as long as it was worked gave very good returns, but had to be abandoned on account of the water being too heav'y. A short time back it was taken up again, and some stone got out that looks remarkably well. The Pioneer Cement Company, W oolshed, have agreed to erect their machinery on the reef, to do the 'pumping and crushing. Pending the erection of the machine, some very fair stone is being got out above the water-level. ·

The reefs at the head of Three-mile and Six-mile Creeks will have a chance to be tried now, as the Stanley Crushing Company have purchased the mill of Messrs. Bolam and Wood, formerly at the Two-mile Creek, and have erected it at the head of Three-mile, where it is surrounded by reefs, and no doubt will be a paying speculation for the company. A trial crushing of stone from the

No. 14, b.

'

Golden Bar Reef~id ~ot ~vrn_ out1well, v.il!:•. 3.!fw.ts.,;but !t is said __ that_ th~ greater part was casing·and mullock. The mill IS employed at. P'-;esen~ in crushing from the Manhattan Reef, and it is thought that }he stone will- run about! oz. per tonT;:· ·· · ·: ~- · ·- ' - ' ·

,.., .,. ~

. Woora'gee. • .. u .

-._.::Since the· commencement of winter: ill1riiD.g has been resumed' here; and the Chinesi/ express themselves· as being generally ·satisfied ·with the rerimneration they obtain. Some o.f the claims pay, rema.r1rably well; giving as much as 30 to ·40 ozs. weekly': · ·

_' _The reefs in this neighbor,hood art> paying very go_od dividends; the Excelsior rem:jrlrably ~o. This ree_f (better known as .Lees), when opened first,- ,gave the very large_yield <;lf 9 ozs; .to the ton. After bemg worked a short time the reef was supposed to have run out, and the claim changed hands, the present holders, however, have proved the fallacy of the supposition; for, instead of running out, it has increased in length and breadth.' Tlie shaft is'now down (80 feet; the reef shows an average breadth of 2 feet, and continues to look-well. ··The ·present proprietors ·have crushed· lOO tons of stone, which yielded 389 ozs., .or.a trifle under.4 ozs. to the ton ........ .,.

' .. The Orion .Company.~ave given up .their.old sh~ft,' the la~t crnshin_g from it only producing 13 dwt~·- to .the- toQ,.. In therr new shaft they have struck. the reef, which looks-. well;. though only 6 inch'e~ wide. ·.-- . . . .• ' . .. . ·' . ' .

-~-:The stone'bein'g r~~~ from the Lily R~ef'promi~es to pay. A trial crushing will take place in the course of

1a few days. . , · .. · . - .. , · · · · · · -· ·

. In Johuston's Lease, Young's Creek, they have not washed up yet, .so cannot tell whether-it will be such a success.as was anticipated. A great deal of money has been spent on this lease, in· bl~~:sting up the tail-race, and building a dam in the creek for the purpose of supplying the claim -wit)l'w,:a~r; as in summer: the creek is almost dry.

B01ornan's Forest. \ :. • ,. •I· • ..

• The aijuvial diggings here will so.on be in the hands of the Chinese altogether, as the Europeans continue to sell out to them. Nearly all the claims held by Europeans have been suspended, the ·late rains having increased the drainage to such an extent that t~e machinery employed (horse-whims) is unable to keep the water down. : , . ... The Balclutha Tunnelling Company; Kne~bo~e's 'Gully, have not yet reached the r'eef, but they

hope to do so in the course of a fortnight. . . · .. - ,., :'.. ·• . ,_. ~'"·. · ;;-i- · .. , ... , '; ·' 'My~tlifdr'di.';;... ,•.,;,, .. ,.,_ .. '" : .... •

' . ~' " . ,,

1, '.!;'he M;id<Uesex Co!llpany have cease~ .dr~ving ~h~.ir.tunnel, and ar~ now. sinking pn ,the reef.

They are down 70 feet, and the stone sent'to' grass looks 'more than payable.· The Old Victoria' Reef has. been taken up again, and. will get another trial, the _prospectors believing that they will be.able 'to' find the old vein which' paid se\ well. ·c , •. _. ; ~- ... ·· "' ·•· c :;,, · · '· --' •. , · · :,;," .. ' 1 •

From the Reform some very fair stone is being procured; a crushing is now taking place at Wallace's.miH: In connection with this mill a .. very ·interesting experiment is .being tried,, viz., the

• erection of one of Golding~s pat~mt,amalg\tn;mt~rs. r:. The.patente_e.~tates that his machine ":ill be ·able to save all the gold that is in the quartz, no matter how fi:iJ.e, and that the new machme may be attached to any crushing mill at a trifling expense. ···n is' to be hopea that. the representations of the patep.tee may; prove ,correct.;_for it must be clelJ.i' to any one,acquainted .with- the matter, that a large 9-ua_ntity' of gold' is lost iri the tailiri.gsJr~nn quartz miiis; more especially-in those. cases .where -the stone Is.nch .... _______ .

Reid's Creek,·· Wools ked, Eldorado. . '; . '

The Ex~elsior Tail-race Company, :Reid's' Creek, have l~tely wash.e!l do.wn~ and got. the very handsome retuh of 453 ozs. of gold, and 27 cwt. of _black sand .. This is the produce of the l!!bor,9f 5 men only. It is nearly 8-months Rince .their . .Iast .washing down, but the greater part of the time work was suspended for want of wa~er, .and not more -th!!n. three.months' 'ivork can be counted· for this washing. · ... ; _

·The Pioneer Cement Company, Devil's Elbow, have had a trial crushing from the~r· claim, but· as it did not turn out as well as was expected the company gave it UJ> in disgust,_ :witliop.~ lettill,gjt have a fair triaL They are removing their machinery to the Canadian Reef, Ma.dman's GUlly.... . ...

Anoth.er diamond has b~en found,. by a Chinaman- .at Sebastopol,. who parted with. the· 'gem to Mr. Bussell, storekeeper. It js.a very small one, and valued at 15s: only;;.·: 1

The claims at Eldorado are ail paying .well. .Thefollowip.g are the quantities of gold o_btained since la.st report:-;-Wellington, 319 ozs.; McEvoy's, 539 ozs.; Kneebone's, 4tiO ozs. ~he Welling~on C9mpany are workmg on the bottom, at the depth pf ~~9 feet .. ,_The ot~e.r two comp~me~ are worku~g

~heu~t~e;~~~~}~_ethich p~~\n~~rly ~s :~1~ as_ t~~' bo~to~ .. In ~lie o~~-clai~ the deP:~h I~-~o :ee~, and m

-· · iThe Ovens Gold and Tin Mining Company have suspended their claim, which is below..the W ellington, in order to procure machinery. They.-have :tried the ground by -means of. a boring. apparatus, so that they may be able to have their shaft on or near the lead. They have put down four bores; the last, at 216 feet, showed a prospect of a highly encouraging nature. '

1,,'

·~·

,,1 . ~ . • ' I

. ' -~--

II'•J

J., .. ·~~ I . -, .. ~. I. -

.. . \ ~: ~: ... ,,

0

Alluvial Miners Quartz Miners .,.

Totals

STANiEY SuBmVIiubN. ·

Mr. Thomas St'libbi~, Mining Registrar.

Total for the I Eoro~s. Chinese .. 11 Subdivision.

195-.,

294 195

-- .. 469·----

20'

489

••• ; tj.l

. '"' ··-

Upper Nine-mile Lower Nine-mile Rocky Point ... Poverty

THE TOTAL NU.MBER ·oF MINERS_ IS THUS 'DISTRIBUTED:

. 83 . Back Creek 97 Deep Creek ...

UP.per Six: Milkman's Flat Hurdle Flat

.• .64 Nuggety Gully . ,.. ~ ·':" ... 5 Europa Gully

12 53 38

~· ..


ALLUVIAL MINING;

Tot!!!~.

60 20 14 43

--.

Descrlption of.ll:l'&chinery. I I·· ._..,:eg:>.te . I N1ltllber I ··- . : · ...,... • Id! of S'·mp Horse-powe,r of At' Work. Id! •. e. . Horse-power of At Work. e, - Ste En

• .. Steam Engines. i Heads. , :>.m gwe. ____ __;;_ ________ ,_. ---· '----1-'-'"--==--- - ! ·•_;;_ ___ _

::: I ~.~ .. ~ .. ·l:: p -. ~1-:.-1 :"'· ... Puddling Mills Steam Engine

'l~f~ 'i · • • <: •.l' t ."'.L~ L.l...

• With water-power, when s suppJ.y ca.n be bad.

Total value of mining plant in. the subdivision, £5;300. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 12-f. •. ·. o • . .. • . . ,, .. .. .. . ~

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 15. · " · ·· · · ·

The price o~ gold during the quarter in the subdivisiOJ]- has been from £3 19s. to £3 19s. 6d. per oz.' ·· · . · · · .. ' ... " · · · . ·.

THE FOLLOyn,N.G, INFORMATION. HM DEEN OBTAINED RELATIYE T1~ THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

· CRUSH:ED D.URING. THB QJl',A~TER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED TH.EREFRO:M :-

.. -·

I

! . - ... · Where Quartz was Quarti cri.J.ali.ed.

I .A.vera~ Total Yield of Remarks relative to the Name of Company, obtained.· :Yield of ' ld G<lld. Depth at which the

per Ton. Quartz was obtained. . .. .

tons cwt. qr, : oz. dwt. g:t, o:i!. llwt. 1!1· " .. . . ..

Homewa.rd-bound, ... Rocky Point ... 65 0 0 0 13 o. 42 5 p 420 feet Kerry Eagle ... Rocky Point 47 0 0 0 19 0 . 4413. 0 so feet .. '" ... ...

-------Totals, Quartz ... 112 0' 0 0 15 12•42 86 18 0

••

Sluicers and puddlers have been actively employed during the quarter, the supply of water being sufficient to give ful tir:ne to the sluicers, and with every prospect of a good supply for many months to come. In alluvial mining no fresh ground has been opened since my last report. .

. . The quartz r~efs at Upper Nine-mile ~ave not, up to date, had a trial crushing; they are still raismg stone, and wa~hng their turn for the mill. ·

The reefs at Rocky Point are·not being much worked at the present time, the yield of gold not being sufficiently remunerative to warrant the proprietors ip employing many hands.

-Alluvial Miners Quartz Miners ...

German Flat Muddy Creek ... Murphy's Flat Hayes' Point Kirby's Flat ... Bell's Flat ... McCarthy's Flat Whisky Flat Township Hills Pyke's Flat ... Rowdy Flat

•

20

YACKANDANDAH SUBDIVISION. .

Mr. Phos. G. Kennan, Minirng Surveyor and Registrar.

THE TOT~L. NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

EluopeallS.

I Chinese. Total for Remarks. , the Bubdivlllion.

922 600 1,522 I• -... ... ... ... 310 . .. 310

Totals ... 1,232 600 1,832 ~

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS ·DISTRIBUTED:-

70 Osborne's Flat 62 Allan's Flat ... 75 Stag horn Flat... .. . . .. 20 · 's Creek and Range ... 31 Twist' k ... 37 Clear Creek 60 Little River , ... . . . • ...

140 Gullies between Kinchington's Creek and 50 Y ackandandah . . . •. . .. .

150 220


ALLUVIAL l'ti:INn!G.

Total

QUARTZ ·l'ti:INn!G •

180 50 55

195 217 160 10

50

1,832

~scription of ~err. .Aggregate Number .Aggrega.te

At Work. Idle. Hol'!l&cor At Work. Idle. of Sta.mp Hors&-power of Bteru:n . es. Heads. Steru:n Engines.

Wa.ter-wheels, for drainage 25 - 15 ... . .. . .. ... . .. purposes '

Water-wheels and Stampers ... . .. ... . .. 3 16 ... Stea.m Engines ... ... ... ... .. . 2 ... 23 32

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £8,700. Number of square miles of auriferous ground' which is being, or may have been, actually worked

.. upon, 9. , . N umbe0 of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be .auriferous to the present time, 58.

The prico of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £319s. to £3 19s. 6d. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ms BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE. TO THE QuANTITY OF QuARTZ

!JRUSHED DURING THB QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

I Where Quartz wa.s Quartz crushed. Yi~d~ld 'TotaJ RemArks relative to the

Name of Company. obtained. Yield of Gold. Depth &t which the porTon. Quartz was obtained.

Homewa.rd-bound tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr, oz. dwt. gr. ... Kinchington's Creek 2,340 0 0 1 5 0 2,925 0 0 90 feet

Taff Reef Prospectors Ditto ... ... 160 0 0 1 0 0 160 0 0 40 feet Ditto No. 1 North ... Ditto ... .. . 106 0 0 0 10 0 53 0 0 30 feet Fulton's ... ... Ditto .... . .. 47 0 0 2 12 0 122 4 0 80 feet

, Markham ... ... Ditto ... . .. 20 0 0 0 6 0 6 0 0 40 feet Bangor ... Clea.r Creek ... 150 0 0 0 4 12 .33 15 0 40 feet Scandinavia.n ... Twist's Creek ... 36 0 0 010 0 18 0 0 60 feet United ... - ... Ditto ... ... 458 0 0 0 17 20'64 409 0 0 100 to 160 feet Sydney ... . .. Ditto ... ... 14 0 0 I 517:14 18 0 0 20 feet Nonpareil ' ... ... Ditto ... .. . 75 0 0 1 10 22'40 116 0 0 Twist's Creek Reef ... Ditto ... ... 58 0 0 0 11 0'821 32 0 0 Danish Reef ... Ditto ... . .. 22 0 0 I 15 10•90 39 0 0 -... Homeward-bound, No. Ditto ... ... 67 0 0 0 1519'70 53 0 0

I North ... Homeward-bound ... Ditto ... .. . 53 0 ·o 0 17 8'60 46 0 0

'Polar Star ... . .. Ditto ... .. . 6 0 0 I IS 16 ll 0 0

~Totals, Quartz 3,612 0 0 l 2 9'13 4,041 19 0 I

~

\

21

There is nothing new to report for the quarter. Alluvial miners are very busy during the continuance of the supply of water, but it will be very short this year. Quartz miners can do com. paratively nothing towards increasing the escorts, owing to the want of machinery. Four or five additional mills would find ample employment. Most of the miners have not capital to erect machinery, and have been obliged to register suspension of their claims until such time as more mills are erected. With an average, as above, of I oz. 2 dwts. 8 grs. to the ton, I do not think it will be long before such is the case.

SANDY CREEK SUBDIVISION.

Mr. John W. Beattie, Mining Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS l'OLLOWS ::-

Eu:rope!mll. Chine~~e. I .Tota.l for the Subdivision.

------ ·-·-·----

Alluvial Miners ... ... 31 126 157 Quartz Miners ... ... 1 ... 1

Totals ... 32 126 158


Sandy Creek, from Reservoir downwards to Cemetery (3 miles) Sandy Creek, from Cemetery to Niven's Flat, inclusive (Ii miles) Sandy Creek-Beazly's Flat Lockhart's Creek Sandy Creek, below the Junction

Total


ALLUVIAL MINING/ QUARTZ MINING.

-~-· --

Rema.rks.

30 108

4 8 8

158

Description of Machinery. Aggregate Number Aggregate

At Work. I die. Horae-=of. At Work. I die. oii=P Horae-cot Steam · a. · Steam • es.

·---~ -·····--

Water-wheels for pump- 4 I ... ... ... . .. . . .. ing

Elevator Pumps ... 4 I ... ... ... ... . .. Californian Pump ••• I I ... ... ... ... . .. . ..

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £750. . Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 2. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proyed to be auriferous to the present

time, nil. The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 lls. 6d. to £3 12s.

~- a

Comparatively little progress has been made iJ:~ the working of the creek claims during the quarter, owing to the wet weather, which precludes the employment of horses and drays in stripping. Damage too, though fortunately of·no great extent, was sustained by the majority of claims from a flood. The Nil Desperandum Company, referred to in my last report, bottomed on payable washdirt, and are almost prepared to commence washing. Surfacing has not been prosecuted to the same extent as during the preceding winter.

The only other subj!lct that calls for notice is that a prospecting party is at length engaged. in the search for auriferous quartz. ,

22

•• 1 • · l@mo' :Orvrsw~ ... ·Mr .. _R. 4.rrOWfJ'm#k,. J(im:i(f!:g S.v/rve,yor~ ~ne], Regisfl(ar.

''· (

I Europeans. Chinese. Totnl for the Division.

' ' I~·

. "' ,. '·

------------!-"'10'-------------i-------------.Alluvial :Miners 398

. ... . .. 496 894 Quartz Miners ... . .. 122 122 I ...

I

Totals ... ,,.,. 520 ' .• ·'· '496 .. .. I,oHr :; I ' .,

.. ... .. ... .I ; •r

TIIE TOTAL Nu:M:nER. OF MINI!RS IB TWS DISTRIBUTED:-Chiltern Lead 170 ... W ahgunyah Lead ••. 12 New Ballarat Lead .. · 30 Perseverance Lead 32 Suffolk Lead 18 Glencoe Lead

Queen, and Clyd~~: 44

New Hibernia.n Lead ..

8' Lucknow; Briti8li Lancashire Lead 30 dale Leads 14 Black Dog Lead ... 80 Hibernian Lead 24 Indigo Lead 184 N ewcastie Lead 18 W allace's Gully 12 Quartz:-'-· W oodlimds Lead S2 Magenta Reef ... jJ •. Mount Pleasant Le~d 10 Higgins' and Attree's Reefs 30 Allandale Lead 4 · Parish's Reef. ••• ... 4> Harrietville Lead 10 Nicholson's Reef · 4 Cornish town Lead , . , 8 Prince Albert Reef 4 Devonshire Lead !·.-:. 10 Eureka Reef .... ,_2. Durham Lead .~. 28 All Nations Reef 9 Caledonian Lead

" ·::. ~ ··.i' 20 Baram~Ogi£! Reef . ::: 2 Clare Lead '12'' Reefs north of Rutherglen 52 Fifeshire Lead ... •,•.• ,, :~•' 6; Warmol's .Reef 9 Robert Burns Lead ':.· ~ 18 Lanarkshire Lead : .. . s2·· • ' ; . J • :_" r; 'Tdtal ] '• ·!.': 1,016 ... All England Lead 28 ...

THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-., .~' . !

A.!.LUVIA.L Mnmm. QU A.RTZ Ml:Nn!G. '·

Description of Machlnery. A,ggregate Number Aggregate At Work. Idle. HorS&-power of At Work. Idle. of Stamp Horse-~wer of

Steam Engines. Heads. ~team ljines. --~- ., '

Steam Engines ... 10 9 308 4 J _, ~!l. • -~8~ . -~' Steam and horse-power} - ·- 58 4 . "'··•• .. : ...... . .. Fuddling Machines · · ... "' ......... ~. . .. Horse Whims ... .... 24' 13 ... ... ... . .. . .. Whips - ............. ·,(1 ... 25 ... ... ... ... <·:·j s: •• : ~ .... '

- '• . ·~ ··" ~ . J' • ' ..

Total value of mining plant in the division, £36,500. · --- ... . . . . . Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, B,ctually worked upon,2: · . ·!" .,,_._., .......

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually pro:ved to be auriferous to' the present time, 17. .

The price of gold. during the quarter in the division ~as been from .£3 19s. 3d. t.o · ii3 i9s. 6d. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN,70D~A.INED'. RELATIVE TO THE QUANT~TY OF .QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

Name of Company.

--------

Magenta .. . Ditto .. . o-olqen Bar ... , Ditto .. . All Nations .•. Ditto ... Great Eastern Ditto ...

·Where Quartz was obtained.' ·

Average I I Remarks relative • t·o· the . Quartz crushed .. Yield of Gold Tota.l Yield of . Depth at . which the

per Ton.· ,'' · GOld.----··:"" QiiaitZwaaobtained ..

tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

... J,ady Darling Reef... 180 0 o o 16 2·66 145 o o 50 feet to 70 feet · From various reefs... 80 0 0 0 6 0 24 0 0 20 feet to 100'feet

... Higgins' Reef ... 692 0 0 I 0 5 16·25 196 8 12 50 feet to 220 feet

... 1 From various reefs... 77 0 0 0 13 10 51 13 6 Surface to 70 feet

.. . All Nations Reef .•. 440 o o · o 4 7·47 94 17 o. 30 feet to i5o feet,

.. . Victoria Reef .. . 537 o 0 0 5 7.•82 143 .o 0 20 feet to 80 feet

... Campbell's Reef ... 16 10 0 2 2 16 35 ,4 o Surface to 100 feet

... Trial crushings'from, 58 16 0 0 11 19'59 34 14 19 From surface to 60

various reefs ... ~------l-----l------1 feet Totals, Quartz ... I 2,081 6 o o 6 23•17 724 17 13

23

,There is little .(!r .no ahange ,observable in al~~vial I]lining. since my last report. 1

-The continued success '6f the Extended Sons· of· Freedo¥1 Conipariy has induced other parties to register ·claims on the supposed course of the lead, and attempts ;ue being made to form companies under the Limited Liability Act. ·

The Murray Valley and the Indigo Grand Junction companies (registered) have not yet resumed operations. •

:;': . Tlie whole.o'f the alluvial claims on the Clydesdale Lead are at a standstill, the Black Ball being worlied out; arid the others are. protected by registration suspensions.

·The Glencoe, the United Buttons, and the Perseverance Comptnies have been the most successful during the quarter. , .

,. ·Although ·water is plentiful, there are.comp~ratively few Chinese at work on the dry l~ads. Alluvial mining, I regret to state, is not improving, the difficulty of raising capital proving a

great-obstacle to the formation of new companies to. work the deeper and more difficult ground. Several reefs are being prospected in the division, but no discoveries of any importance have

been made. Some of the • recently discovered . reefs, north of Rutherglen, appear to be more than payable, but tq!') atone being confined to small veirui or:leaders, it wohld be premature to pronounce an opinion. : · ' · · · ' · · " ·

A crushing machine of 8 stamps, worked by an 8 horse-power engine, has been erected, by which•the miners can have their stone crushed at· hand, two~ding the expeJ1Se of cartage to Chiltern, a distance of 12 miles. ,

· BucKLANn DrvrsroN.

Mr. Lewis 0. Kinchela, Mining Registrar,. . .\

,TRE TOTAL ~UMBER OF MINERS IS :AS FOLLOWS:-

:

• :> Eu.ropea.ns. Chinese. Total for the Remarks. I ~ I Div:Won.

Alluvial Miners .... ' .... 235 1,599 ' 1,834

Quartz Miners 'r. • ~ ~··

:259 ... 259 .... ·'1

Totals ... 494 1,599 2,093

.., . TRE TOTAL NUMBER 'OF MINERS IB TllUS DISTRIBUTED:--

Two Branches of Ovens River lo' Harriet- Morae's Creeli .. : .. . . .. ville •.. , .,. , ... ·· l.. 188 Buckland River to First Bridge .. .

Harrietville to"Freeburgh 'crossing ·73 First Bridge to Upper Bridge · .. . Freeburg_h crossing to Bright ... . 174 Upper Bridge to Junction ... Bright Bi:idge to Buckland and Ovens R1ght Branch .. . · . . . ,

, Junction 88 Left Branch Junction of river to boundary of division,

including Happy V alley ... · ... 63 Total Growler'sDreek · : · .. '. ·103·· ' · ·'' · .: · . ·

"' Desaription of Maohlnecy. ·

Water-vrheels on Deep Leads Water-wheels in Well Claims Hydraulic Hoses

.,

ALLUVIAL l\tnrnm.

At Work.

2 53

7 5 3

Idle.

234 451 '400 112 105' 102

2,093

2 : {atWork56) {. at Work 57} :, Idle 25f Idle 26

2 I {atWork74} ... .

8 Steam Engines

Water-wheels ... 6 Idle 12 ,·,

Total value of mining plant in the division; £3~,900. Number of square miles of auriferous ground' which is being, or may have been, actually

worked upon, 53. . · ':Numb~r .. of distinct quartz reefs ~hich have bee:n actually proved to be auriferous to the prese:nt-

time, 114. .; ... . The price of gold du,ring the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. 6d. to £3 18s. 6t;l,

per·oz, · · ·

'

.

24

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. HAS DEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ,

QUARTZ TAILINGS, AND MULLOCK CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED

THEREFROM :- . Name of Company, Where ~uartz, &c., were I Average Yield Total Yield of Remarks relative tO the

0 talned •. Quartz crushed. of Gold Gold. Depth at which the

' ; ~rTon. Quartz was obtained.

" Morse's Creek:- tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr, oz. dwt, gr, Perseverance ... Oriental Reef . .. 5,009 0 0 0 6 2 1,523 ll 5 From surface to 153 feet .Australasia ..• ... Ditto· . .. 1,300 0 0* 0 8 0 520 0 0 160 feet to 200 feet Moore, Phillips and Co. M?rni~g Star Reef

1

590 0 0 0 9 8'54 276 0 0 Surface to 90 feet Davis and Co.' •. , V 1ctona Reef . .. • 104 0 0 1 10 0 156 0 0 Surrace to 21 o feet J ames and Company ... W oolloomooloo Reef I 27 0 0 1 2 5'33 30 0 0 Rowe and Company ... Lucknow Reef ... 50 0 0 0 8 0 20 0 0 Ditto ... ... Butler's Old Reef . 40 0 0 010 0 20 0 0

\

Growler's Creek:-Gregory and Co. ... Ebenezer. Beef i 96 0 0 I lO 0 144 0 0. From 19\l'feet to 220 feet ... Gitclwll and Company Fenian Reef ... 18 0 0 o' 16 12 14 17 0 57 feet

Ovens River:- -M cLean,· W allace, and Rose, Thistle, a1;1d l,llO 0 0 0 14 9'08 798 0 0 From surface to 400

Gale Shamrock feet Morton and Co. Wombat Reef ... 30 0 0 l 0 0 30 0 0 Cadzow and Company Golden Rock ... 18 0 0 2 0 0 36 0 0 Surface Try Again .•• . .. Try .Again Reef ... lOO 0 0 0 3 0 15 0 0 Reliance ... ... Reliance'Reef ... 500 0 0 0 3 0 75 0 0 Surface Brown, Craig and Co ... Three-mile Reef ... 24 0 0 0 15 0 18 0 0

Paulessy and Company Buckland :-The Welcome Reef 90 0 0 1 12 2"66 144 lO 0 Surface to 58 feet

The .Alta ... ... The .Alta Reef ... 11,312 o· 0 0 7 7•61 480 0 0 120 feet

Quartz Tailings and Totals, Quartz ... 0 0 0 8 6'16 4,3oo 1s 5

Cement crushed. i

Stev~ns and Company QuartzTailings from Oriental stone for-

1,000 0 0 0 2 (I 'loo 0 0

merly raised Ditto. ... ... Ditto, Old White Star 170 0 0 0 2 2'82 18 0 0

Reef Ditto ... ... Ditto, sundry. at Git- 140 0 0 0 2 20"57 20 0 0

chell's Mill -"

~~--~·

' · T?tals,Q~artzTail-} 1

1 :.no 0 0 0 2 2"56 138 0 0 mgs anu Cement ' --ll;.-, Mullock crushed ... Butler's Old Reef ... 10 0 0 0 6 0 3 0 0

• The accuracy of this return is doubtful. , N.:B.-&venty-ftve top~! of tailing• are estimated to produce 1 ton o! mundic, wbich yi.eldl!. from 2 to 3 OZi! of line gold.

A very marked increase has taken place in the quantity of quartz crushed, and the amount of gold obt~ined ~herefrom, this quarter, as compared with the returns furnished to your department for the previous e1ghteen months.

The increase has not been caused in any appreciable degree by the discovery of new reefs, as hitherto no stone has been crushed ; in fact, little has been raised from the numerous reefs at and in the immediate vicinity of Harrietville ; but the abundant supply of water now admits of eruahing being· effected at a price, which renders many of our previously abandoned reefs sufficiently re- _ munerative to induce small parties to re-occupy them ; in addition, a more economic system of work is now adopted by the' large companies, whereby they render payable stone previously passed over as almost valueless. ~

. The result of the first crushing from the Welcome· Reef on the Buckland River was regarded with considerable interest, as indicative of the success of-quartz mining iu. that portion of the division, where that branch of mining may be looked on as a new industry. I give in the schedule annexed the amo.unt of gold obtained from eight days crushing up to 29th September, and, as far as I can judge, the party have now ready for the mill about 300 or 400 tons of equally good stone. The .Alta Reef, Upper Buckland, is likewise paying'handsome dividends to the shareholders, though for many/ears previously (since it was opened) it was a ruinous undertaking for all the companies who attempte to work it.

The Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock reef, Ovens River, which perhaps is one of the most valuable mining properties in this division, is noteworthy from the fact of the reef being larger and apparently richer at the level it is now being worked upon-400 feet from cap of reef-than at any previous point hitherto worked, excepting the surface stone first struck. This mine is the deepest in this district,

Of the ei~ht reefs registered during the quarter, only two may be specially adverted to, viz.-one at the head of Happy Valley Creek, a locality seve.;ral miles distant from any previously known reef, and from which a trial crushing of 4 tons yielded 14 ozs. 5 dwts. of smelted gold, This stone was crushed in the Beechworth Division, and consequently does not appear in myreturn. The other new reef is one on the Buckland, also at a considerable distance from the reefs already known.

From the accompanying return it will be seen that the extraction of gold from quartz tailings has been commenced here on a large scale, and with, I believe, very 'satisfactory rt>sults.

A reduction of our mining population has taken place, mainly on the Buckland, a considerable number of Chinese having left, -A tendency is shown by the miners to leave the upper portion of that river, and set in some .miles nearer to Bright, which accounts for the fact of. some of the

25

heretofore valuable races in that locality being now without parties to use the water they contain, although the rent for. a sluice-head has gradually receded from £6 to £3 per week; however, when a. more moderate price for water is accepted, I have little doubt of operations being again vigorously renewed on the upper banks of the Buckland.

The deep leads here are, I regret t<?, say, apparently as far from being developed as they were at the date of my last report. The Ovens River Deep Lead Company are still slowly driving in the rock, and hoped that ten days' work would have enabled them to reach the line of the supposed gutter; however, the breaking of a spur wheel has thrown them back some weeks.

The only other deep sinking•company at work, the Wallace, after repeated efforts to bottom their monkey shaft, have been compelled to abandon the task from the heavy influx of water. The intention now is to sink in the rock a further distance of 45 feet, thus nJ.!!.king a total depth of about 160 feet, and ,to drive for the deep ground afterwards. ·

In no other wet frontage claims has any work been carried on during the quarter. One of our large companies, the Morae's Creek Gold Mining Company, agreed to sell their claim

and plant for the sum of four thousand pounds sterlin~ to some Melbourne and Ballarat speculators; however, the transaction was not completed, and I beheve the company will themselves shortly renew operations.

CROOKED RIVER SUBDIVISION.

Mr. James Travis, Mining Registrar.

THE ToTAL NuMBER oF MINER~ Is AS FoLLows:-

I Total for the Europeans. Chinese. Subdivision. ·.Remarks.

Alluvial Miners ... . .. 164 liS 277

Quartz Miners ... . .. 389 . .. 389

Totals ... 558 ll8 666

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:

Good Luck Creek Wentworth River Hiberuia Creek Black Snake Jungle Creek .. , W ongungarra River ..• W onungatta River .. . Crooked River .. . Dargo River Mount Pleasant Spring Hill Thirty-mile Creek Twelve-mile Creek Good Hope

Total

THE MACHINERY ·IS AS FOLLOWS:-

.

52 lOO 25 20 25 85 14 84

195 110 10 20 6

20

666

.

ALLUVIAI.. MI!ffiilG, QUAl!.TZ MINING,


At Work., Aggregate Horse- Number I.AggregateHOJ'II&o

Idle. power of Steam At Work. Idle. of Stamp power of Steam Engines. - Heads. Engine11.

---Steam Engines ... ... . .. . .. ... 5 8 66 102

Water-power Machines ... ... .. . ... 2 1 28 . ..

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £40,900. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 4St. • . Number of distinct quartz-reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

tlme, 317. The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 17s. 6d. to £S lSs.

per oz.

No. 14, c.

T:m~ FOLLqWING INFORMATIOp 1us. PllEN oB~AINED RE~ATIVE To THE .QuANTITY oF .. QuARTZ CRUSHED

DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD'OllTAINED THEREFROM :'--'-' , ..

" Nama'of Oompa!iy, , 'Whare Quartz was;, obllained.

Total Yield of Gold.

Remarks relative to the ' Depth at which the

· Qnartz WIYI obta.ined. '

--,-.-------1'7'"'"-~·------- ------ -.-· .-· -·,::--~ .....;;""-' "-'--.~~~-----:---.!.··· tw: ~""··tOil ·cV?.qr. "oz:dWt. gr~..._. 1 Oz'.dWt-~"d~~.H ..... " •..

Rose and Cro~n .. . Rose and Crown Reef 20 o o 1 2 o 22 o o 40 feet Rose of Australia .•. Rose of Australia Reef 20 o o· o 10 o ·· · 10 o ·o · 4o feet to 60 feet Globe .. . ... Globe Reef ... 10 o o o 13 2·20 6 11 o Surface ·to 40 feet Golden Dream ... Golden :bream Reef 10 0 0 o 11 21"60 5 19 0 Surface to 30 feet Albury and All an . .. Oriental Reef .. . 13 o o . o 19· 3·70 12 . 9 0 25 feet Lint oil and Co. ...• . St. Leger Reef .. . · · 5.6 o o o 13 9"43 37 9 o 60 feet to 90 feet Magenta .•. Magenta Reef 26 0 0 2 17 16·61 75 0 0 100.feet to 130 feet Glen Ora .•. • .. ,Glen Ora. ;Reef .. , .. , .. ·39 o o, o.- 19.n~·23 .,. 3,7, 16 ..... o . 90 feet to 120 feet Frank Walsh ... Frank Walsh Reef... · 'Y3 o 0 2 o 16"61 26 9 o Surface to 20 feet Cocksey and Co. ... Royal Saxon ReefE. 6 10 o l 4 o o 26 o o · 135 feet Russell and Co. ... Excelsior Reef ... 14 0 0 1 o 14 o 9 16 0 40 feet to 60 feet Kennedy and Co. ... Royal Sa:xon ReefW. 10 0 0 I 1 2 21"60 11 9 0 50 feet Mooney and Co. ... Invincible Reef···::-: "-'!'2-~o-· .. o· ~-f'J4 er 20 8 0 Surface to 15 feet Brice and Co. ... Eglinton ... ... 5 o 0 1 12 9·60 8 2 0 Surface to 40 feet Good Hope ... ... Good Hope Reef 707 o 0 • 1 1 18•43 769 10 0 240 feet to 340 feet Jeff. Davis ... ... Jeff. Davis Ree:(,., , .. ,..225 o,.,q o. 1 :17~2,8< · 86 17 o 60 feet to lOO feet Morning Star .. . Morning·Star Reef... 20 o o I 1 10 o 30 o o Surface to 60 feet John H. Conness and eo. John Conncss Reef 22' o o 22 o o 484 o o Surface to 30 feet New America ... New AIJ!e~icaReef .. ,, , 28 o ·o o 16 4",29 ~-;22 13 0 . Surface to 45 feet -----1---, Totals, Quartz ... 1,_246--ro---o 1 1 1 1-55 1,102 s o

;

No improvement· has taken·' plactf'in "mining operations in this subdivision during the quarter. The annexed schedule shows a decrease of· I!early 1ii.Q.in the numper of quartz miners, as compared with my last report; There is a slight-increase in the n:umoer· of alluvial miners, which is occasioned partly Jhro]Jgh a_ portion of.those :vho were dischargea. from the reefs having. set in to work the ~!uvial at Good Luck Creek, and P,lirtly !hrough a sm

1 all rush 'Y:Wch has taken place to the W entwo!1fh .

.. naver. • ·~ · ·

Notwithstanding the large return 'from the John Conness Re~f. the average for the qtlart~r is about 8 dwts. less than that for the last .... , · ., . . , . . . ; .

Work has been suspended on several of the reefs in the neighborhood of Grant, the owners· of the claims having found that, at the present cost of· ·cartage and ·crushing, the reefs are neither extensive enough or rich enough to pay for working. Very few reefs in this part of the subdivision . exceed 8 inches in width; and although nearly all that have been worked have given a return of over 15 dwts. to the ton, yet they ar_e too small to leave any profit for working, after paying_ 35s. per ton for cartage and:25s. for crushing. ' · ':· · ·J

\ i . ~~ ' • I, ".: . '' ' \.

Of .tlie reefs lately discovered near Grant, I 'consider the Frank Walsh t)le,:roos~ promising. The first crushing gave a return of a little over 2 ozs. to the ton. Since then, a :sb,at:t _has:been put down to a depth of 75 feet, the wiath of the reef at that level being about 4 ... f..eQtJ<.!l.!ld.t,h.e stone looking qui~e as well as it ·did on the surface. .. . , ·: . , ........ _

The~JJnion Reef, I regret to say, is about being abandoned. The company have·been 'engaged during the ~whole of this ·quarter in prospecting the reef, but without success; and have therefore determine4. ~Q exp~nd no more money upon it. ,. , - ·· ·

On the Upper Dargo, mining operations are looking much more promising: ~d now that the winter is over there will in all probability be a considerable increase in the population: ··The. crushing from the John Conness Reef, as well as that from the Morning Star, has giv;en· every satisfaction to the shareholders. The Conness Reef is about·3 feet in width, and the shaft is·down about 30 feet. Up to the present time there has not been more than 12 men at work on it. ·The Morning Star is·from 3 to 5 feet in width~ and although not so rich as the .John Conness~ bids fair to be a good paying reef. There are about 12 men at work on the prospecting claim.

The Eureka Company have not had any stone crushed from their claim during the present quarter. The reef is about 18 inches in. '\Yidth, and the quartz looks very well. There are 12 men e~ployed on this claim. also •. , . • , , .

Work is suspen~(;)Q on the Moonlight, True·,Briton, Great Britain, G:x:_and Junction, Ophir, El4Q!ado, 1-~ariposa, Banner of Ulster, Sir Charles Darling, and North Star Reefs.

The Jllvening !:!tar Compa~y have on,ly ·4 men at work. The reef in the' jm)specting claim is a little•over 3 feet thick, and'the stone is remarkaqly rich, .. ,. ' ,. ' '

... The Califor'Iiia and America Ree(s .. ar~ 'both lo~king. well. so far as they_ have. been openl.)d ;' the foi:nief is about 2 ~eet wide, and the other 12 inches. .There are only 2 men employed o_n each.~.e~f •. , ....

E~cepting the rush,' before. mentioned, to the w ent~orth' River, I have nothing to report' concerning the alluvial mining in the subdivision. There about 100 people, principally Chinamen; ·at work on that r~ver, most of whom are making average :wages.

, •' I

.; •r: *:.\ r t;.: • ' l•t\ I :•-

· ..

27

MITCHELL 'RIVER SUBDIVISION.

-¥'~'·A. M. Ross, Min?!ng Surveyor and Regi8trar.

Alluvial Miners Quartz'Miners

Totals

THE Toin NuMBini 'oF MINERs IS AS FOLLOWs:-

Europeans.

. ; 160

43

203

Chinese.

184

184

Tota14'o~ tl:ie ··Subdivision,

' 344

43

38i

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERs IS' THUS DISTRIBUTED :-

Store Creek MacDonald's Creejr Barmouth Creek N icholson l{iver Shady Creek Prospect Creek Merrijig Creek Two-mile Creek

30 ~.sandy Creek 14 Morris Creek 18 W entworth River

.20 Burnett's Creek 8 Haunted Creek

30 Tambo River . 36

8 Tota,l

THE MACHINERY. IS AS FOLLOWS:-:1' ' . ··:

., Remarks.

... 72 12

r 110

8 9

12

... 387

Description of Machinery. At

·Work. Idle. Aggregate , Number H f

Ho· f at Idle. of Stamp . orse-~wer 0 Ste&~·~,;\',;~8• Work, Heads. Steam Engine.

---------..,.--~j----1--------1-~----1 ------ -----------

Steam Engine 9 15

. : ~

Total value of m~ning plarit in: the subdivision, £2;5oo. Number .of· square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually

worked upon, 3... . • : . · . . Number of d1stmct quartz reefs whwh have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

tinle, 11. · · ,, . The pric~ of g~ld during the qull!t~r in the subdi visiqn h\19 been from £3lls. to £3168. p~r oz •

. .. I have the honor to report the commencement of the crushing by the Tambo Company's ste!\m mill,

at the Store Creek,' on the 4th of,September, of inferior stone selected for the first tri8.1 crushing.· The result was stated to be 11 •dwts. to the-ton.- I- have not· ~eeeived any further particulars from the manager. The introduction of this machine is expected to give great encouragement to quartz mining in North Gipps Land, and will probably lead to the discovery, at Store Creek, of reefs as numerous as those at Swift's Creek, where machinery is now being erected.

In alluvial mining;· nothing of importance has o~curred. The rush to Haunted Creek proved unsuccessful. One has lately been. made to the W entworth River, and consists principally of Chinese miners. ·

Alluvial Miners

Quartz Miners ..

JA.MIESON SUBDIVISION.

(Part of Jordan North.) '

Mr; Samuel K. Vickery, M?!ning SurveyOT a!ii,d Regi8trwr. . . .

THE To.u~ NUMBER OF MINERS IS As F10LLOws :-

Enropea.ns. Chinese.

... 250 40

... 220 "

.. ----

Totfils .. . .. 'mi '4o ·· . .-,: .. ,,t···

Total for the Subdivision, Remarks.

290 The incre.ase on last quarter's 2 return is due to the discoveries at 2 ·0

.. ·· • Mount: Pleasant and Cameron's ......-----;-~-0--- Creek. ,

I I . ·. • ,_. . ·, • '. -•. - ·~'\ i --

28

THll: TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

Hell's Hole and Dry Creek, near Merton 45

Benalla .. : 25

Banks of River. Goulburn, between SwamRy Creek and Jamieson 45

Mack'a Creek .:. . ... 15 Mount Pleasant, Molesworth 75 Devil's River 10

Sailor Bill's and Swampy Creeks 75. Prospectors throughout subdivision 20

Howqua River, including Cameron's Creek and tributaries ... .. . 165 Total 510

Banks of River Goulburn, between Big River Junction and Jamieson ••. 35

THE. MAcHINERY Is AS FoLLows :-

ALLUVIAL l'!f:rh"ING. QUARTZ 1\lmmG,

.. I I I Description of Macllineey.

Aggregate Number of Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse-power of At Work. Idle. lsmmpHeada Horse-~w'!'" of ' Steam Engines.

-~-~---... -~-- r:.., .... : ·---

Steam Crushing Machines ... . .. ... . .. Water-wheel Machine 1

. 1o ... ... .. . ... ... ...


upon, 14.• Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to tl:fe present

time, 12. The price oi gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 14s. 6d. to £3 17s.

per oz.

THE, FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS .BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QuABTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QuARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED TREREi?ROM :-

Name of Company. Where Quartz was obtained. Quartz crushed. ;~~~Id I Total Yield of per Ton. Gold.

--~-- --·~

tone. cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr

Star of the West ... Company's leased Mack's Creek

ground, 210 0 0 0 9 10•28 99 0 .o

Luck's All Company's Creek

claim, Mack's 310 0 0 0 3 5•41 50 0 0

Just-in-Time Prospecting claim, Bill's Creek

Sailor 40 0 0 0 8 1'20 16 2 0

Champion Company's leased Flume Creek

ground, 66 0 0 4 4 9•45 278 10 0

Mountain View Ditto, Swampy Creek ... 250 0 0 0 14 \•92 176 0 0 Elizabeth Prospecting claim, Swampy 40 0 0 010. 0 20 0 0

Creek· Trio Company's

Creek claim, Swampy 122 10 0 0 8 0 49 0 0

Totals, Qua.rtz ... ll,;;-38 10 o 1 o 13 6•26 688 12 0

I have the honor to report that, during the quarter, mining in this subdivision has been prose· cuted with unequal and variable results. The want of success which attended the mining ventures during tlie summers of 1864 and 1865, in another portion of this gold field, has resulted in producing a want of confidence throughout the district which is now severely felt in this neighborhood. A large number of claims nave been placed under suspension or abandoned, and many of the miners have left for other parts of the district or New Zealand. Notwithstanding this general depression, the yields from the trial crushings on the different reefs at the workings have been sufficiently encouraging to lead to the belief that the Jamieson gold field proper will eventually prove important and remunerative.

The desertion of quartz claims has led to the opening of new alluvial claims on the Goulburn River, which, though by no means rich, afford constant and prof}table employment to a limited population. ·

During the quarter a new gold field has been opened at Mount Pleasant, near Molesworth, at which place two payable reefs have been discovered, and on the courSes of these about 40 claims have been taken up. The reefs have every appearance of being permanent, and the quartz taken from them exceeds in richness any previously discovered in this district. At the date of my first visit to this field, four weeks ago, there were about 50 men engaged, which number is being daily augmented.

Subsequent to the discovery of the reefs· some alluvial claims were opened, in one of which payable gold was obtained. .

The yield of gold from Mount Buller (Cameron's Oreek) continues regular and satisfactory, though nothing of special importance has to be noted as . having taken place since the date of my special report on that gold field.

29

The alluvial workings at Hell's Hole and Dry Creek, near Merton, still afford steady and remunerative employment. ·

At Benalla ·quartz mining is not being prosecuted with that degree of energy which might be expected from th~ character of ~e reefs ~eady open~d. A crushi!lg machine has just been completed by the Lion Company, but the y1eld obta1ned from their tnal crushing has not yet been reported.

GAFFNEY'S CREEK SUBDIVISION.

(Part of Jordan North.)

Mr. H ugh St. H. Blair, Mining Su'I'Veyo't' q;nd RegistTatr.

THE TOTAL NuMBER oF MINERS IS AS FoLLows:-

I Europe!lllll. Chines&. Total for I

the Subdivision.

~--~--~~-~~~·--~~ ·--·-··---- --Alluvial Miners ... ... lOO 70 170

Quartz Miners ... ... 250 . .. 250

Totals ... I 350 70 ~--~

TliE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS If} THUS DISTRIBUTED :-

Goulburn River Gaffney's Creek Cannon's Creek ... Raspberry Creek and branches ... Victoria Gully . .. • •• Bald Hills .... . .. ~ ..

30 Ryan's Creek 100 Lyre Bird Creek 25 Wallaby Creek

120 Prospectors ... 60 4

1:> THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Total

:Remark!!.

6 40 30 ..,5

420

I ALLUYL\.L l\{IN!NG, Qua:rz Ml:!:nl<a. • ---~------~~-~-~ ~-- ..

Description of Meebinery. .Awegate Number Awegate

At Work. Idle. f~~=.:t At Work. Idle. of Stamp Ho,...,_Wn~-;or Reads. Steam · es.

' ---- ·--;-------- ----Water-wheels ... ... ... . .. . .. 6 ... 58 . .. Ditto ... . .. ... ... ... . .. ... 4

I 40 ...

Steam-power ... ... . .. ... . .. 2 ... 26 32 Ditto ... ... ... ... ... .. . . .. 8 28 24

Total value of ll!inin$: plant in the subdivision,.,£28,000. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 2!. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 13. The price of gold during the quarter in the subdiviBion has been from £3 10s. to £3 18s. 6d. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED

DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

Name of Company. Wbere Quartz wn.s I Average \ Total Yield Remarks relative to the obtained. Qu:a.rtz erushed.

1

Yield of Gold j of Gold. Depth at which the per Ton. Qu:a.rtz w ... obtained.

oz. dwt. sr.-1----:-dwt. sr. --------tolll! cwt. qr.

Golden Gate ... Castle Reef ... ... 40 0 0 0 11 12 2~ 0 0 Surface to 30 feet A 1 Company ... Ditto ... . .. 800 0 0 I 15 0 1,400 0 0 Surface to 60 feet Welcome ... . .. Welcome Reef ... lOO 0 0 I 15 0 175 0 0 70 feet Raspberry and Welling- Outward· bound ... 40 0 0 0 7 12 15 0 0 20 feet

ton Golden Belt ... ... Homeward-bound ... 1,782 10 0 0 2 7'36 205 12 0 7o feet to so feet Victoria ... ... Ditto ... . .. 700 0 0 0 5 3•42 180 0 0 80 feet Hunt's ... Ditto . .. ... 1,500 0 0 0 7 2•061 531 9 0 70 feet to I oo feet GaJfney's Creek United Ditto ... . .. 745 0 0 0 8 28"67 141! 10 0 40 feet to 7o feet Perseverance ... Cannon's Reef ... lW 0 0 1 15 12 60 7 0 10 feet Rose of Denmark ... Eureka ... . .. 1,866 0 0 0 4 s·os 296 4 0 70 feet Eldorado ... ... Lyre Bird Reef .. . 820 0 0 11 12 7"20 1,824 6 0 1o feet

o \o 10 ·28·9514,859

t Totals, Quartz ... 7,927 10 8 0

30

. The sanguine expectations f\)rmed last year as to the probable yields of the qUlll'tz r~efs in this subdivision during the present season have, I am sorry to say, not justified (on. tlie whole) the high opinion which many had formed of the richness of the subdivision. This is partly referable to the unreasonable ·expectations formed by distant and everi, ·in some cases, local holders of mining shares, but is in a much greater degree attributable to:_ 1st, the costly but defective machinery erected;' 2ndly, to too great a reliance having been placed on the limited water-power attainable, and to the high rate of wages which have long ruled, to the injury. both of employers and employed. Owing to these causes, several mills have until lately been permitted to stand Idle, while water was almost everywhere available as a motive power; and this has mostly occurred in cases where the yield from the mine has given a low but steady average, say fron1. 2. to 4 .. dwts. per ton, with a. gr~at . breadth of crushing stuff easily got and as easily reduced at the'mill.' A.t'last (and·very recently) the'tribute system; which has wrought such changes elsewhere, has been essayed here, lj.nd so. fa,r with the most complete success. This co-operative system of mining is advantageous in every respect, both to claimholders and the working miner, for the intelligence of.·the latter prompts him to strain every nerve when l<ia own interests are immediately concerned in the economical working of the mine, and then, a fair and honest equivalent of labor being given and expenses reduced to a minimum, the hitherto profitless mine becomes a source of revenue to its proprietors, and the material prosperity of the district is also largely enhanced. I may also instance some of the' older and richer claims which continue to furnish the larger portion of our escorts, viz., the A 1 Company, Castle :J:teef; the Eldorado, Lyre Bird Reef; Hunt's, .Victoria,· Rose of Denmark; and· t.he Gaffney's CreekoUnited (formerly known as the Shakespeare Company); these, by :.;eference tp t)l!).tabulated returns, will be found to ~urnish the larger portion of the gold of this subdivision. .. . . '

· With regard to the alluvial workings, I have mucl). pleasure, in reporting an increased activity, which promises well for the coming summer. · The upper portions of Raspberry and Gaffney's Cree)rs

· may be now considered as thoroughly worked. out; riot so .that portion of Gaffney's Creek which , extends from its junction with Raspberry Creek to its confluence with the Goulburn River. This portion of the creek was neglected at the first, on.account of its depth and general difficulties in the way of readily working its bed. During the latter end of the past summer excellent prospects were obtained, and now nearly the whole of its course is qccupied by strong working parties, who look with confidence to good yields OI{tlle subsidence of the Winter floods: Thavt3'also pleasure in reporting that a party has been formed for working the bed·of·the River Goulburn below Gaffney's Creek.~~ The bed of this river has long been known as highly: aurif<:rous, but up to the present time has only been partially worke4 by means of" wi.ng d~ms" from Its banks (C_hiliamen being th~ principal advimture.rs .~Itherto); but thiS party purpose divertmg the ·Stream ·from Its course for a distance 9f about a mile ID .length, a highly favorable bend of the river has been secured, across the isthmus of which' the current will be carried by rriea.Ds ·of an open· channel, terminated by a short tunnel. Should tnis venture succeed there will be a large increase in the population, as the Goulburn undoubtedly contains quantities of fine gold. The success of one attempt would lead to the worlci'ng of the bed of the river for lllany miles of its tor~uous qpurse.

·,' --

WooD's PoiNT SuBDIVISION. I

(Part of Jordan l'!orth.)

Mr. A. B. Ailnsworlh, Mining Swrveyor and Registrar.

I Europeans. Chinese. TotaJ for I the Subdivision. Remarks.

AlluVial Miners Quartz Miners

Totals ···I

• '4 244

663

------1----·1-----

903 4 907

., . ~

.; .. ,

THE TOTAL Nu:r.UlER OF MINEBS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

Wood's Point and Morning S~r Lower Goulbum · ·. · Right and Left Branches of ditto Gooley's Creek and Bald Hills Harper's, Killar's, and Pheasant Creeks Perkins' Creek and W averley ... Emerald claims All Nations Maori Creek Edwards' Reef Bald Hills to Matlock Toorak to Columbia ... Black River ... Movjng po?ulat~op. of I)liner~ ~nd prospectors

'

·.••,

.. 'fQ.t~t '· .... _. "'··~ ...... , .. '" ·--· .. -- "----· .. ·-

250 140 80

130' .. 25 .. 20 ...

12 5o 4 4

10 20 80 82

.. 901

' '

31

THE MJ.OliiNERY IS J.S FOLLOWS :-

.ALLUVIAL l\Inm!G. QUARTZ l\Inm!G,

~---~--~~-,

Description of Machine.\7. Aggregt>teHorse- Number Aggregn.teHorse-

At Work. Idle. power of Steam At Work. Idle. of Stamp power of Steam Engines. Hen.ds. Engines.

-----~------- --- ----~----

Crushing Machines :-Steam Engines ... ... . .. ... ... 3 2 74 97

Water-wheels ... ... ... .. . ... 3· 3 79 ... Turbines ... ... ... ... ... .~1 ... 32 ...

' Steam Engines, with auxiliary ... ... ... 3 ... 55 41

water-wheels or turbines I Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £60,000.' ~· .. · Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 18. · . , ; ··. . ·. . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time; 90. ·. · ; The_ price of'~old di:uitlg th~ quarter ~ the subdivision has been from £3 to £3 19s. per oz.

TH~ FOLLOWING INFORMATION HJ.S, BEEN .OBTAINED REL~TIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QuJ.RTZ

CRUSHED DURING THE Q,UJ.RTER, AND THE GoLD. OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

I Where Q~z was Yi~J:C"&Jd I Total Yield of , Remarks relative to tbe

Na!Jle of Company. Quartz crushed. Deptb at · which ·the obtained. per Ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained.

------ ----

. Morning Star Reef tons ewt. · qr . oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

Prospecting .Claim : •••r • 2,400-· 0 .o 1 -3 21•45 2,867 5 0 Surface to· lOO feet Scott and Cherry ... Ditto ... ... 2,400 0 0 0 18 18•80 2,254 0 0 Surface to 150 feet Hope ... ... Ditto ... . .. I,600 0 0 I 14 22'72 2,795 I5 0 150 feet to 250 feet Wood's Point ... Ditto ... ... I45 0 0 0 8 I2'41 6I 15 0 IOO feet Champion ... Champion, Reef· ... 435 0 0 0 10 0 217 IO 0 Surface to 50 feet Robert ·Burns ... Robert Burns Reef 180 0 o· ·o 3 0 27 0 0 50 feet Never-Mind Prospecting Never-Mind Heef ... 1,500 0 0 0 1423•28 1,122 15 0 Surface to lOO feet All Nations ... ... All Nation~ Reef ... 1,570 0 0 0 6 2•75 480 0 0 Surface to 150 feet Prince of Wales ... Ditto ... . .. 357 10 0 0 . 9 6'20 . I65 10 0 70 feet · Blazing Star ... ... Blazing Star Reef ... 400 0 0 0 10 10•68 208 18 0 Surface to I 00 feet Vulcan ... . .. Vulcan Reef ... 6 0 0 0 7 3 2 :liS Surface to 30 feet Alps Great Claim ... . .Morning· Star Reef 982 0 0 1 ·10 0 1,473 0 0 3oo·reet · · ·· R<ty a.l Standard ... Royal Standard Reef 2,700 0 0 3 I 18•45 8,338 16 0 Suliace to 70 feet

' --------------Totals, Quartz .•. 14,675 10 0 I 7 6•62 20,014 6 18

The tonnage of the :Blazing Star crushing is estimated only. All other;particulara are from the bank or claim books •. The Star of the East Company nave not yet had a washing-up.

Considerable.Clepression continues to be felt throughout the district, but the excellent returns which I am enabled, to forward will show that the cause of this depression lies in the past chiefly.

· .The. ;yield.of gold is over 20,000 ozs., ,pving.an average, per ton, of quartz and mullock crushed, of over 1 oz. 7 dwts. ; and taking the miners m round numbers at 1,000, and the average value of gold at £3 .10s .. per oz., the production will be worth 15s. per head per diem, or much higher than on any other gold field in Victoria, and this without' including the alluvial 'gold obtained, which I estimate at from 1,200 to 1,500 ozs. for the quarter: · '· · · · ', · ·

.A considerable decrease of population, caused br, the extreme tightness of the money market and the high cost of provisions, has taken place; and. while the'number of quartz miners has diminished, the body of alluvial miners has nea;rly doubled. Three quartz prospActing claims, seven ordinary claims, and thirty-eight alluvial claims, have been registered for the quarter; most of these, however, are under the new bye-laws, and represent only one man's ground. Very few interests have changed hands; and the wants of the subdivision have been· but slightly assisted by extraneous aid.

The additional crushing power, obtained during the pas~ q~~!-fper, ~lf only be felt during that ending with the year, no return having as yet resulted from its operat~~ns. , The machinery for the Leviathan prospectors, and that for the Golden :Bar Reef, is on the ground~ and partially erected; they are both to be worked by water-power.

All the claims at present giving paying returns look more promising fdr. the immediate fqture, and; notwithstanding the all but complete stagnation in business, the district has never been healthier, or of more promise, sirice the quartz mining began to be developed. Mining management has materially improved, though much yet remains to be done :iii that direction. ·

In conclusion, I would c~l attention. to the. escort for the month of July past, which was the largest yet sent from Wood's Pomt, namely, 16,704 oza. ,

\ !'I •. U<

32

BIG RIVER SUBDIVISION.

(Part of Jordan North.)

Mr. Penrose Nevf;ns, Mining Surveyor anil Registrar.

TilE TOTAL N liMBER OF Munms IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Alluvial Miners Quartz Miners

·Totals

Eur<>pe!l.llll.

298

56

354

TIIE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

Head of the Big River 4 Railway Creek and Reefs ... Frenchman's Creek... 20 Jcm Thomas's Creek and Reefs Sixteen-mile Creek... 8 Sebastopol Creek Warner's Creek . . . 5 Frier's Creek Enoch's Creek and Reefs ... . .. 28 Prospecting Big River, from the township of Enoch's Unemployed

Point to Warner's Creek .. . . . . 4 Ditto; to N ewman's .. . .. . 10 Total Ditto, to Darlingford, from Newman's 16


ALLUVIAL .Jil:n!ING. I Qu.uTz lllnmm.

21 29

3 176 10 20

... 354

Description of Machinery. I • I Number of /Aggregate Horse- :Number of ~~!; ~orse-At Work. Idle. Stamp Heads / power of At Work. Idle.

-~----~~~: ---l Stamp Heads. Steam Engines.

--- ,_ Water-wheel Crushing Mill .

I l 4 ... ... ... ... ... .. .

at the Luck's-All, War~ ner's Creek '

Steam Mill, dittO, ditto ... ... ... . .. I

. .. . .. I 12 16 Water-wheel, Unknown ... . .. . .. . .. ... , I ... 8 .. . . Steam Mill, ditto ... ... ...

I

... . I

...

I

.. . I

I 5 16

Water-wheel, Star of Erin ... . .. . ··~ ... I ... 8 . .. Water-wheel, Stade's Reef, ... ... ...

I ... I .. . 2 .,. ~-.

prospecting claim ... I

.. .

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £13,800. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually

worked upon, lij. ,, Number of distinct quartz reefs which hav;e been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 8. · The price of gold dUring the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 16s. to £3 18s per oz.

TIIE FOLLOWING INFORMATION liJ.S BEE:N OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED

DURING THE QU~TER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :- •

Where Quartz was j Avera~ . ! Itemarks relative to the . :Na.me of Company. Quartz Cl'llllhed. Yield of Id Total Yteld of 1 Depth at which the

obtained. ./ per Ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained.

--- -~ --- ----~--


Luck's-All ... ... Warner's Reef, War- 500 0 0 0 2 19'20 70 0 0 150 Jeet ner's Creek

Unknown United ... Unknown Reef, Rail· 876 10 0 0 6 10•51 282 3 0 Surface to 80 feet way Creek

Hope-On Hope-Ever ... Seek-and-Find Reef 300 0 0 0 19 22'88 299 6 0 130 feet Prospecting claim ... Stade's Reef ... 30 0 0 2 3 14'80 65 8 !2 Surface to 30 feet Star of Erin ... ... Enoch's Creek ... 460 0 0 0 4 8'29 99 19 0 Surface to 30 feet Nil Desperandum ... Railway Reef• -2-~~-2 I o_

1

_4 ~ Surface to 3Q feet

Totals, Quartz ... ~,168 10 0. 0 7 13•70 820 18 12

• Trial el'llllhlng, at the Unknown Companys machine.

33

I have the honor to report that during the quarter. quartz mining in .the subdivision .has been of a very discouraging character, and consequently a great degree of depression at present ex1s~.

The· yield of gold from the Luck's-AU Company, at Warner's Creek, the Unkno~n. Umted, at the Railway Creek, and the Star of Erin, on Enoch's Creek, as will be seen by th~ statistical returns, has proved highly unsatisfactory, so much so that'it appeared probable, at one tiiJ?-e, that all would have to be wound up. I have, however, now reason to hope tlla.t an event so disastrous to quartz mining in this subdivision as this would be will be averted.

Owing to the poor returns from the crushings of the Luck's-All Company, work has, for a considerable time, been totally suspended. Within the last few days, however, an arrangement has been entered into to let the mine on tribute, for 6 months, on the following terms :-Twelve and a half per cent. of the gross yield is to go to the company, 10 per cent. to be retained as a reserv~ fund to meet contingencies, the balance to go to the tributors, who are seven in number, and who mtend to commence work at once. If the 10 per cent. reserved should not be required, it is to be equally divided between the tributors and the company. .

Adjoining this claim, a lease applied for by W. Knowles has been forfeited. Th1s ground embraced No. 1 south, .and a considerable extent of unoccupied ground adjoining. I am informed that it is probable that it will be again applied for on lease by other parties. . .

No. 1 north is entirely at a standstill, as also is the Ariel Company adjoinmg, who have apphed for a lease, but are unable to carry out any further prospecting. 'rhe large outlay they have already gone to has crippled their resources, and has.not as yet been attended with any satisfactory results.

The Star of Erin Company have also been signally unfortunate, so far. This company commenced crushing in the first week in J um~> The results /roved eminently disappointing. The machinery is worked by-water-power, which, being very limite , prevents it being worked to advantag~. It has, further, been put up in a very unsatisfactory manner, so that a considerable a~<!unt of ~old .1s supposed to have been lost. This claim, however, from which great results were ant1c1pated, IS st1ll not looked upon as a total failure. It has, within the last few days, been let on tribute to a party of three men, on the following terms :-The tributors to receive 80 per cent. of the proceeds, to have the use of the machinery, and to find everything they require at their own expense, th~ remaining 20 per cent. to go to the company. ,

The Stade's Reef prospecting claim, situated on the same creek (Enoch's), is turning out very satisfactorily. This company completed the erection of a small crushing plant of 2 head of stampers, worked by a water-wheel of 20 feet diameter, the stampers weighing 500 lbs. each. They commenced crushing on the 4th of September. The first return, from about 20 tons of stone, yielded 32 ozs. 5 dwts. 12 grs. of gold. Eight men are employed on the claim. The materials cru~hed consist pa~tly of mullock, and of quartz from a number of small leaders, taken from the face, m an open cuttmg to a deJ:lth of about 35 feet. The shareholders in this oompany having gone to work very economically, and bemg mostly good practical miners, there is reason to expect that it will prove a success.

No. 1, north of the above, and the Great Britain lease, adjoining, are at a standstill. The Unknown United- Gold Mining Company, Railway Creek.-The returns obtained by this

company, of which very great expectations were entertained, have proved eminently unsatisfactory. The new machinery is completed, but as the company cannot obtain stone in sufficient quantities to keep the full complement of stamps employed, the steam engine is standing idle. The greater part of the men employed on this claim have been discharged ; 5 or 6 men only are now employed. The statistical returns obtained from the manager will show the falling off in the yield. The comparative failure of this company, from which so much was expected, has caused a general gloom in the subdivision, and has done much to induce the great depression which at present exists.

The Unknown Company's lease, south of the above, is still being partially worked, but no results as yet have been obtained.

Adjoining these companies, on the western side, is the Never-Known lease, upon which the applicant has put in a tunnel 22 feet, and also made an open cutting of about the same distance. He is still at work, but I fear will be unable to prosecute his researches, owing to the failure of the Unknown United above alluded to. •

The Nil Desperandum Company's arrangement to obtain machinery has, I regret to say, fallen to, the ground, the parties who had entered into the arrangement being unable to obtain that assistance from Melbourne capitalists or the banks that they had anticipated, owing to the great depression and depreciation of mining _Property in this district. The company are now proposing to construct a tramway from their claim to the Unknown, but I fear at present there is very little prospect of their being able to raise the funds for this purpose. During the quarter this company had a trial crushing of 2 tons of swne, at the Unknown machinery, which yielded 4 ozs. 2 dwts.

The application of P. M. Kirk for a lease for the adjoining ground, north of the above, has been refused by the Mining Department. The ground has, however, again been applied for, on lease, by the Railway Gold Mining Company. The prospects on both these claims are, I consider, favorable. On all the other claims in this locality, includmg the Lincoushire lease, 'l'am-o-'Shauter, oii the British Pennant, the Surprise, No. 1 north, the Enoch's Point Gold Mining Company, the Tiro Bobbin No. 1, and several other claims, nothing at all is doing.

The Hope-On Hope-Ever Company, Seek-and-Find Reef, are in difficulties, and have consequently let the claim on tribute to 12 tributors, for a period of 4 months from the 17th of September. Eight of these men are sinking a shaft, which is to be carried to a depth of 250 feet. The new tunnel, which this company commenced some time ago, has been stopped, being found to be too expensive, The return of gold would have been of a satisfactory and paying nature, had they not been greatly impeded by water in t}l,eir shaft, which as yet they have no efficient means of getting rid of. The company will crush for the tributors, charging them 50 per cent. of the proceeds. 'rhere is litUe doubt but that this company, if able to work through their present financial difficulties, will ultimately prove a successful speculation. ·

No. 1, south of the above, has been applied for on lease. Nothing is doing on it. The adjoining ground, south, applied for by the Shenandoah Company, and two or three claims intervening, appear to be entirely abandoned, with little prospect of being again taken \lp. ·

The True Blue Company has been at a dead standstill for a long time, but I am informed by the manager that there is every reason to believe that work will shortly be resumed and energetically prosecuted.

The Dundas lease has been forfeited, and all the claims on this supposed line of reef are abandoned.

No. 14, d.

34

Vario)ls other leases in this subdivision have been forfeited, through the inability of 'the. parties to carry on work:· I·may especially mention the Nulli Secuildus, upon whicli ·favorable and decidedly encOUl'~gil_lg prospects have been obtained, . . . .

:· :· The Star of India, ·Frier's Creek.-The projectors are still at work, and appear sanguine of success, but as yet there is nothing to report. It h:;~s been the general opinion that some good reefs would be found near this creek, but as yet this expectation has not been' realisf'd. · '_One new quartz mining company, situated about half a mile froni' the 'township ~of Enoch's Point, has been started during the quarter, called the Big River Gold :Mining Company. ·They have applied for:a lease. .&_couple of·very p:omising leaders of quartz have J:een stru~~ -;ithin a few inches _of .t~e surface, averagmg from 8 to 12 mches. The promoters entertam confident .hopes of-success m th1s claim', but being destitute of fundslare at present quite unable to prosecute their 'searches: · The utter want of capital in this district renders it totally impossible for the miners tp test the discoveries they may make; .... ' ·, .. • ' . . . '•) " "''"· ., ........ .

_•As regards alluvial mining,- Stockman ahd ~company some time ago· applied for·a lease of 100 acres, near the l1ead of the :Big Riyer. There was a temporary'and ·slight rnsh·to·thi~ -locality, but the results. proving very unsatisfactory it speedily collapsed. ·'The ground is 'very ·wet',-·the sinking about 18 feet. ·.One party or three worked a paddock of about 30 feet by 18 feet, and only. obtained 2 dwts. To -~ake this ground payable, owing to its being so·wet~ 5 ozs. to a paddock wo.uld be required. Stock~ man'~ party have abandoned the ground, but some' of them are prb'specting' about one mile lower down the r1ver. · · _ . · · ·

On most o'f the creeks in this subdivision 'there is no-.t but little·doing/and--owing'to'tlie winter rains the Bi~ River has been too high to allow of work being carried on in its bed. A few spurs are, however, still being worked.. Several parties are now• out prospecting on various" creeks, but · no results have yet com!'l to my lmowledge worthy of being reported. · ·· · . · : Frier's · Creek· has • drawn off the principal 'portion· qf the men ·engaged ·in' alluvial· digging. This creek is now, for the most part, being worked in its entire·length, supposed to-he aoout 10 miles. As a general rule, I can safely assert that ·the majority of the miners are doing well, and in many instances ve_r:y favorable returns have been obtained. One nugget was found ·about three weeks ago, weighing 28 ozs. · 1 dwt. 5 grs.. Last week another· nugget was discovered,· which ,Yeighed iJ;l t~e ~o11gP, 16 ozs. 1 dwt., and after being retorted 14 .ozs. 15 dwts. Besides these, various nuggets of from 8' to 9 ozs. have been found.•· ' " . ·. ' - · , .

, There are numerous creeks in this subdivision ·which I have little. doubt will be well_··pros.peQted , during: the approaching sumJrter, ·and which there is reason to believe would prove remunerative, unless New Zealand should draw off the population, which is· alreaay the case to a very considerable' extent, and which appears day by day,· to the 'people here; to present increasing attractions. It willue seen that there. is a ·considera?le diminution in. tl~e population.·· .To ~he above cause1 and th~ disappointment oceas10ned by the fa:tlure of the reefs, th19· may be attributed. The great expenses attendant ·upon· living in these mquntains; and the inability to obtain emplo:yplent, must necessarily produce this.' result; which is much to be regretted, as, after very careful inveshgation,' I· am satisfied that with good and efficient management, which is· :ihsolutely essential, and the ei;ercise of' the most minute and careful economy, the quartz reefs in this subdivision may still be rendered remunerative, and that there are yet various. creeks whicl.l-.will for .a· considerable, time prove payable. ·

' . . ' . . ' : ' . '. ' . . . , ·.:: , •• .« ,.., ......

f'

I '• .,

• l

MATLOCK SUBDIVISION. .: . .

(Part. of Jordan South.)

. Mr~ A. J! .. !li{nswcmk, Mining 8_urveyor an{l ReiJ§stra~.

THE TOTAL 'NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

'' I •

.• Total for the

" ; Europeans. Chinese, S.ubdivision. .. RemMkll, . . '

-~-

.Alluvial Miners ... ... 334 70 .. ' 404 Large emigration of t:J.ken place.

Quartz Miners ... ... 172 ... '172 , . .. - ' ,.

' ' .

,., Totals 506 70 ·. 576 ... .. . ' ;

'THE T~TAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:...:...

Matlock, Thackeray, Alabama: All;uimbra, &c. 30 Loch Fyne · ... · · .:: 12 :B. :B. Creek and Spurs ... ··: 200 Jericho and the Jordan... 140 Garibaldi . , 8

.. Moonlight and New Chum Reefs ... A~erfeldy_River. , .... . .. : Tliompson River · .. · M~~irig population ,_

:Blue Jacket 16 Red Jacket .:.~ .. · ·: 10 l · .. , .Total .

1,,

Chinese

I'

has

8 80 20 52

576

85

ALLUVIAL MtNma. QU..utTZ Mnn:sa. ". ' ' ... ~-- -~ '"·'· ·L~::,_: _____ ~~---..--•" ·- ' -.' ' Description of :Machinery. j Aweg~te

At Work. I ! Numbe;r I Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse-~·er of Idle. of Stemp . Horse-power of

: Heads. :Steam .Engines. - .,, ']{) : ~ tr -· ~.· . . ,s~~ , gines., -· . :: •' 'i . ._, I ·- -· .. . - .. " - . ... '

Steam Engines :-'''.)'. 12 12 The Loch Fyne C.omp:,tny's Crush- '! ·~~, ... . •t ..... .x:-:· . .' ... 1 . ~:·~·~' i.: •) ... · .. -·.~ •

ing :Mill ditto - --·- ·--· - ··- "12

- .. Hi

-~ .. "

The Alabama ditto ... ... . .. ... . .. 1 The Blue Jacket ditto ditto ,,. 1 12 .. 25 ... ... ! '"i ... ... V-

Water-power Engines :-Mason's Crushing Mill, water·wheel ... --.:.. ... '·- ... 1 4 .. Dry Creek Crushing Mill, water- ... ... ... ... 1 10 ... . wheel ..

Blackwall Crushing :Mill, ditto " r io ... . .. ... ... . .. ... Aberfeldy Gold Mining Company's ... ... ' ... ... l 10 ...

ditto, turbine ... ; ~' l• .. .. ~ . " . ·-

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £20,000._ -. Number of square miles of auriferous ground wh~ch is being, or may have been, act1,1~lly 'wor~ed.'

upon, 25. · · ,,.. .. · .. · · · Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time,26. __ -'<:· •. . .. .... --~ ;.•· The price of gold during the quartfJr, in· the subdivision, has been from £3 to £3 19s. per oz.

. ' ~ ·: ' l ~. .

T:a:li: FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTA.INED RELATIVE TO :r:a:E QUANTIT:Y .• <:>F .. QUABT.Z CRUSHED

· ·D~~ING,THE :QU'ABTEB;. A~D~~~·E GoLD oBTAINBD' THEREFBoM :-.. ~ \ '" ... !: •.._ ·;.~: .L .... • • '" .

Name of Compan,y. Where Quartz was Yietd"~ta~ld Toro! Yield llem~k• relative to the Qun.rtz crushed. Depth .. t which • the obtained. per Ton. of Gold. Quartz waa obmined.

tons c~. qr. I '1;1 .• ,,

' oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr, ' I

United Miners Gold· Biue Jacket Reef ••• .. 2 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 100 feet! Mining Company

Blue Jacket Gold Min- Ditto ... . .. 500 0 0 010 0 250 0 0 50 feet to 120 feet ing Company · ... ~>"'~· - ... --------

Totals, Quartz ... '; 502 0 0 •0 10 18'17' 270 0 0

The' tonnage given abov'e' is' ~pproximate only. The crushi.ngs are alf that have''(so far ae I am able to ascertain) taken place in the subdivision during the quarter.

I ·have the· bono~ to· report that in this. subdivision quartz mining has almost reached a standstill; it will be seen that.ofseven mills the.Blue Jacket alone has been crushing. This mill also is now stopped, owing to the heavy amount of surface-water in the workings. As a most valuable counterpoise to this state of things, alluvial mining has shown itself largely on the increase, and though for the most part old ground·; is beingfworlred for tlie s~cond and third time: The. 'average wage is >:ery goQd and above the current rate of laBour. .As "a ·consequence; Jericho and' its·· vicinity is in a more healthy monetary state than any other part-of-what-is termed the ,Wood's-Point district, and-the-quartz miner, unable to get his ~ues.frgl!:J the various.compap}es, hps.~aken up his .hea4-quarters on the B. B. Creek, where he meets with a better reward-for his ex~rtions.. A ,large emigratiOn has taken place, both to New Zealand and Ballarat; and Matlock and 't.he'towriships on the main Dividing Range s'eem almost deserted. A number of Chinese have also left Jericho and the neighborhood. I estimate the quantity of alluvial gold obtained in the subdivision during the past quarter at considerably over 2,000 ozs. The :r;tnmber of alluvial claims registered for the quarter (single men's claims under the new bye-laws) is 14; the number of prospecting quartz· claims, 1; two water-races and. 24transfers, residence sites, or suspensions ; in all 41 registrations for this quarter. · ·

' t .,

, ..


Edwards' Re~f Crinoline Reef

, Boys' Reef ...

36

DoNNELLY's CREEK SUBDIVISION.

(Part of Jordan South.)

Mr. John Grirnes Peers, ll!ining 811;rveyor Cllnd Registrar.


I EuropeanJJ. Obiuese. Total for I &marks. the Subdivision.

... . .. 60 . .. 60 I

... . .. 169

I . .. 169

Totals ... 229 ... 1--;9-- ..

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-'

50 Aberfeldy, Donnelly's Creek, and 70 tributaries 80 3

20 Independent Fulton's Creek 6 Total 229


ALLUVIAL l\!INING.

-c~-~,~~------~-~---~-- .~

Desc.ription of Maclrlnery. Aggregate Number

At Work. Al!gregate

Idle. Horse-power of At Work. Idle. of Stamp r~:~= Steam Engines. Heads.

--- --- --~- --~--~-

Crinoline Prospecting (steam and ... ... ... 1 ... 16 46 water power)

Buctouche (steam) ... ... ... ... . .. .. . I 10 12 Concord (steam) ... . .. ... ... . .. . .. l 10 20 Mountain Queen (steam) ... . .. ... ... . .. 1 10 15 Golden Wall (water) ... ... ... ... ... . .. 1 12 .. .

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £30,000. Number /of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actul).lly worked

upon, 2. · 1 ·

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been 'actua1ly proved to be auriferous to the present time,·IO. ·

The price ofgold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £315s. to £3 17s. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION H.AS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

I - I Wbere QUartz was Aver e

Name of Company.._ Qua.rtz crushed. Yield olf::,ld obta.iued. per Ton.

tona cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr.

Crinoline Prospecting Tunnel ... ... 1,179 0 0 0 18 4'03

f

. !Remarks relative to th Total Y 1eld of Depfuat which the Quart

G<>ld. ' was obtl>ined.

e z

--~--·~

oz. dwt. gr.

1,071 0 0 About 230 feet

I have the honor to report that, owing to a want of capital, the majority of the machines in this subdivision have been idle. The companies most worthy of note are as follows, viz.:- · . The Crinoline (prospecting) still continue to obtain very fair returns. They have been prevented

from crushing for about a month during this quarter, in consequence of having to make several repairs to thl;)ir machinery. ·

The South Crinoline have all their machinery nearly erected, and will, as I am informed by the manager, commence crushing in about a fortnight. I am also informed by the manager that they have found a new reef within their lease. A large quantity qf stone is now stacked ready for crushing.

The Independent machinery is now erected, and will be formally opened and commence crushing on the 2nd of October.

The new proprietors (Messrs. Cherry and Perkyns) of the Concord lease are at present busily engaged repairing their machinery, tramroads, &c., and expect to commence operations very shortly.

The Harp of Erin Company have applied for a leas_e of their claim. They have been crushing at their mill (Buctouche) for a portion of this quarter, and have obtained about 64 ozs. of gold. I was unable to find out from what quantity of stone this gold was obtained.

37

I am of opinion that were more capital introduced into this subdivision mining operations would be more successfully carried on, as there are a number of auriferous reefs which, if opened out, would, I think, remunerate the investors, and benefit the subdivision generally.

There are comparatively no alluvial workings in the subdivision.

SALE SUBDIVISION.

(Part of Jordan South.)

Mr. Charles R. Geoghegan, Mining Registrar.

TnE TOTAL NuMBER oF MINERS Is AS. FOLLows:-

European e. Ohlnese. Total for the Subdivision.

---..-~-- ----Alluvial Miners ... ... 130 ... 130

Quartz ~liners ... ... 20 ... 20 \ .

--- ----···-Totals ... 150 ... 150


Crossover Creek Russell's Creek ... ... Overland, Pheasant Creek, and Gumsucker Reefs

Total

RemArks.

50 so 20

150

Mining plant in the subdivision, nil. . · Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually

worked upon, 3. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have peen actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 3. The price of gold during the· quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 10s. to £3 15s.

per oz.

Most of the quartz claims in the immediate neighborhood of Crossover Creek ha.ve been suspended, the holders being occupied in sluicing in Live-horse and Dead-horse Gullies.

Of the miners working in the locality of Russell's Creek, about 20 are engaged in vrospecting the reefs known as the Overland, Gumsucker, and Pheasant Creek, in all of which gold has been obtained, but not in quantity suflicient to warrant the large outlay necessary for the erection of machiner.r. . .

The yield of the alluvial gold workings has been ver.r fluctuati~, and !J.S there is neither a bank nor gold brokers in the neighborhood the quantity of gold obtained therefrom cannot be estimated with any degree of certainty.

The workings on the rivers Latrobe and Tangil are the chief support of the alluvial miners, but at this season of the year, the rivers being high, the miners are obliged to resort to the tributary creeks and gullies.

STRINGER'S CREEK SUBDIVISION.

(Part of Jordan Sonth.)

M-r. John, S. Patterson, Minvig Registrar.

TRB TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europei>ne. Cliliiese. I Total for the :Remarks. Subdivillion. I

-------------~---~

Alluvial Miners ... ... !51 . .. 151 Laborers, storekeepers, tradesmen, Quartz Miners ... ... 317 . .. 317 a.nd others, about 140.

Totals ... 468 . .. I 468

as Tiut;rO'.r~L'':N.~~~in·--~~ M:iii~;·\~.'~"-Ru~ ;is'TrnBu~E~·:- ...... :-···., ..• ···. J

Stringer's Creek. ... ..::·:···' ': .. ·: ~o9 ·: · Tlid~pso~ River ....... ··, . ..... ... , "35·: Happy-go-Lucky .. . ~ · · · 105 · ' Copper Mine .. · ... ••·· ' ·· .. · ·' •·· ·. 6 Girls' Reef and Tubal Cain 16 Russell's Creek 36 Britannia Reef .30 Hawthorn Creek 31 Longfellow's ----·- 20 Aberfeldy· 9

· Black Diamond 8 Red Hill .. . 34 Shamrock... 14 Scra;t-a-bit 15 • .

.·' " i

TnE M~cni.N:EBY IS· As FOLLows;_ ........ ; ... ~ .• A~">'"'

Description of Ma.chineey.--: ·

ALLUVIAL ·:MINING.

... ,, . ' ..... Stringer's Creek :

Steam Engines Water-wheels

Happy-go-Lucky Britannia Reef Tuoal Cain

I • • • J ~,...

I ••

*·Water-wheels engaged pumping only:

r *2

l ... •u;

Total

Total value of mining plant·in the subdivision~ £37,000:•;• ··'.! "'

3 ,40 5

15 10 10

. , .

468

55 . .. 20 25 25

Number-of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon;7 •. c. ·• · .. · ..

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have· been actually proved .to·be'lmHferous to the present time, 13. ,

The price of' gold during the quarter in ihe·s~bdivision has been £3 17s, 6d."per.oz.

• · t' , .- - •· · ' • r • ~ .., • 1 •• t . : ~ '" · "

THE FOLLOWING ,INFORMATION .HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUAN'J.'ITY OF QUARTZ, CRUSREl>

DURING ~HE Q~~RT~~. AND ~HE GoLD OB~A~~ED ;mi~EFR.o:r.'r·:~ ... ,.. -··- ~-- _ •' ..

Nrune of Company. Where Quartz was . . . I Average ,Total Yield of, Remarks .relative to. the "

l .. •' QuartZ Cl'UBhed. Yield of Gold Depth at·· 'which the · - o btairied. per Ton. ' G<:>ld. ' Quartz was obtained. · ·. --.. ~--~~----Walhallli·

., . " No: 1 North,C61len's' tons cwt. qr, .oz. dwt. gr, oz. ' dwt. ,gr.

72 'feet ilbove creek ... ••• < ··;·-956 ··o·· o· 2 l 20'18 :?~~~~~ ··o J!:

Reef ·· · '" - ' • < '· . ·~'iever ·l • __ ,,.,,. .... .,

Idahoe ... . .. No. 2· South, Long- 25 ·0 0 2; I 6'72 51 12 '·o · 70 feet below surface •' ' " fellow's ·Reef-"' •; . .- '· :. ' ' . .ti '. .. .. :.-.. I ('"~· ~dtil,j .:: ,·, t_..,,

Golden Fleece :· .. ... No .. 5 North, Cohen's l09 0 0 3 9 .•8'59 -378 .•0 ·0 90 feet above :5Jreel{ ~--·~--~-~ ---- level ... -

' Totals, 'QUI~rtz ... 1,090 ··o · 4·ta'9'r ..

I 0 2 2,429 12 0 ; ... ) . . ~ . ' .. '. .. . '··'.·· 1,,• l

. ;· .... l'•' l'. • ! :

Several1of'the original-claims in·this• subdivision 'ha.ve beeh obliged to;suspen:'d~work'for various reasons, and a .!400d many miners have been paid off. The fact of so many mi:m (who were 'contributing from their weekly wages towards the opening up of new ground) having been thrown out of. employment has stopped the development of the reefs reported by me as having been discovered during the last quarter. ·-·-·-----·- ----------- ·

Since the 1st of July 6 prospecting claims have been registered, and since the 1st of the present month 14 claims have been suspended from work for a period of 3 months .

. •-:r,[..- On<tke'Line Of. Col;en's Reef.·· ·;.·.,., ~

Below No. 3 South only enough work tq protect ~he .claims from being jumped is carried on. 'fhe shareholders of No. 3 South have erected a water-wheel to ~rive 5 stamps and pump. They

have been working under t.4e qisaq~ai\t\lge\of;a great .intl"ux of water,'.-o.wing to the winter rains and the pumps of the Alpine· Company"(No.'1 South) and of the prospector's claim having ceased to work.

The pumping gear of the .Alpine Company having got out of order, their mine is submerged to a depth of 60 feet, and all work is suspended till the arrival 9f new .p~mps.from Melbourne. ·

. The Prospecting clairri;and claims No. 1 and 2 North, are in a· similar dilemma.. A very good run of gold-bearing quartz has lately been· fourid by the prospectors, abovetlie-water!levei:'from 'wllich· they are taking.ou.F !Jtone. ,, ·." . ., •.·.·~·· . ~-~··'i ,

I have noth1ilg new to report from ·Nos. 3 and 4 North. 1 ; . .

No. 5 North, the Golden Fleece Company, have found the' reef,-and-:navinfrnslfed'109'"t6ns of stone,. with a result or 378 ozs. of gold.· · . · ...

. .. No. 6 N ortli, North Gipps Land 9ompany, have exhausted their rich lode above the '80 feet level; and are now· driving their· creek-level tunnel. 'rheir machip.e is idle. ' . . . ' ,

No. 7·North, Walhalla Company, are constantly crushing, an_d their mine is well opened. No. 8 North, Wellesley Confpany;liave!oiiild''the'reef'at a· distance of 480 feet from the mouth

of their tunnel, and thestoneis good •. ; . .: · :,_·r.': Nos. 9 and 10, Jjong Tunnel Company, have driven ~j)6_feet, _ _witho~_t any sign§ of the..JJI.9f..~--·N orthward~ \Ill Cohen's Reef,-frofi'i'N o:-"11 to 'No.-18; 'the'cliii'iiil;. areonlyri'Oiiihuu!ya£ wor:K. '

39

Longfellow's, Black JJiamond, and Slwrifellow's Line of Reefo. ·The prospectors of'the Longfellow•s· Reef are driving a tunnel to meet their shaft where the main

reef_ has been discovered, and have made arrangements for machinery to be erected on their ground by the 1st January, 1867. .

The Idahoe Company, No. 2 South, have had a trial crushing of 20 tons of quartz, which yielded 51 ozs. 12 dwts. of gold. · · The other claims on this line are at work.

Black Diamond Prospecting claim.-The men have found several rich leaders, but have not yet come upon the main reef. ·

The S~ortfellow's Reef Company, which is supposed to be on a continuation of the Longfellow's and Black D1amond reefs, have found gold-bearing quartz at a depth of 100 feet, but from want of money have been obliged to suspend operations •.

Britannia Line of Reif. The prospectors have got thell: battery of 10 stamps completed, and employ six men sinking for

the reef at a lower level. . . . . The Palmerston Company have been obliged to suspend wo'rk, on account of the influx of water

and want of machinery. · · ', · ·Tubal Oain and Vulcan Reefo. ·

The engine of the Tubal Cain Company is nearly completed. Two hundred tons of good stone have ·been got out. ·

The Vulcan Company are· at a standstilll from want of immediate funds. The claims on the Fulton's Creek are suspended. ·

Tke Shamrock and Scrat-a-bit Reefo are being vigorously worked; arrangements for machinery have been made.

·' Happy-go-Lucky. The prospecting ciaim is the only one in this locality at work ; all the others have been BUS·

pended. . · The drawback to this subdivision is too little capital •

.. .. ,,.

0MEO CE~TRAL SUBDIVISION.

M1'. W . .Phipps, Mining Regist1'ar.

THE TqTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AB FOLLOWS:-

Europeans. Chlnese. Total for the Rema.rkil. .. Subdivision •

.Alluvial Miners ... ... 30Q 250 550

Quartz Miners ... ... "

45' . .. 45

' .. Totals 845 ... 250 595 .. __ ,,

' 1 TltE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS .. THUS DISTRIBUTED :-

New Rush Creek, Upper Livingstone 15 River Tambo ... Livingstone Creek .. : ... .•. 65 Swift's Creek ... Cobungara and Upper Mitta-mitta River... .10 Cudgewah Creek, Upper Murray Mitta-mitta· River, below Cobungara to

Wombat Creek Wombat Creek

25 200 . ;

Total

THE MACHINERY IS AB FOLLOWS:...:..

'

30 225

25

595

ALLtrVU.L MINING. " QUA.RTZ MmiNG.

. Description of MMbinery .

AtWork. 'I"I~.·' ' f•' Ht l Aggr'ega.te Number Aggregate

Horse-~wer of At Work. Idle. of Stamp Horse-power of Steam gilles. Heads, Steam Engines.

-----Californian Pumps and Wheels ... 20 5 ... ... .. . ...

• : l .. 1.\ Sluice-boxes ... ... 500 50 ... . .. ... . ..

l .. ' Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £1,050. ' ·

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 5. ·

Nun1ber of distinct quartz reefs which have .been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 15. _,. , ... ,, ... 1,. . . , : " ...... .

· Tlie price of gold dUring tlie quarter in the subdiVision has been from £8 7s. 6d. to £317s. 6d. per oz.

40

Since last quarter sev.en more quartz leases have been applied for at Swift's Creek, and are now unde~ survey .. The uncertam state of the entrance of the Gipps Land Lakes has delayed the arrival of c~ush1?~ J?Jachmery~ but all, or nearly all, the gear for a mill carrying .15 head of stamps to crush for SIX adJmmng lenses IS no~· on the ground, and will be at work in a few weeks; arrangements are being made for two other machmes to follow for other leases, so that the value of the reefs in this remote and little known gold field will soon be proved.

I ~ll~Ve nothing new ~0 report of an~ ~ther part of this subdivision ; and except a slight decrease on the L1vmgstone, and an mcrease at Sw1ft s Creek, there is no change in the popUlation.

SNOWY CREEK SUBDIVISION.

Mr. Andrew Trench, Mming Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AB FOLLOWS:-

I Europeans. Chinese. Total for the Subdiviaion. Remarks.

-~---~-----,----~ --- -·---·1---- ------------

Alluvial Miners 337 110 447 . Quartz Miners ...

Totals #

337 -, no. 447 I _., ........ -........... _,...,~.~--..,....,.,..~,------------------------------

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ,MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

Junction of Snowy Creek and Mittamitta River to Sandy Cre.ek ...

Granite Flat 30 90

Thunder-and-Lightning Creek ... Mitta-mitta River, from Snowy Creek

to Womba~ Creek

Total

THE MACHINERY 18 AB FOLLOWS :-

.. ALLUVIAL llfiNDIG. QUARTZ MINING,

I .

295

32

447

Description of 1\fachinery. i I . Aggregate Horae· Number of Aggregate Horse-At Work. Idle. s:~:f •. At Work. Idle. Stamp Heads. power of Steam power of Steam .

Engines. Engines.

-----~-----~---~--~ --- - . --~--- - ---- -~---

Californian Pumps and Wheels 10' 1 ... ... I

... ... . .. ... I

Sluice-boxes ... ••. ,2,000 ! ... ... ... ... .. . ... .. .

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £2,100. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or 'may have been, actually· worked

upon, 2!. · Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually pl,'oved to be auriferous to the present

time, 3. The price of gold during the quarter in _the subdivision has been from £3 5s. to £3 12s. per oz.

I hav~ the honor to report that very little alteration has taken place in the general aspect of mining affairs in this subdivision since the qate of my last report.

There was a small rush to a branch of Snowy Creek, and although payable prospe~ts were obtained on first trial, still when the pros rectors got into the bed of the creek they found that rt would not pay, so I believe they have abandoned it. ·

On Granite Flat there is a slight improvement. Claims have been taken up on the hills and are paying very good wages. ·

There is a slight improvement on Thunder-and-Lightning Creek, owing to the few fine days we have had lately, and parties are getting into their claims in the bed of the creek again.

On the Mitta-mitta River portion of this s~bdivision mining affairs are not looking so bright as at the date of my last report.

41

SANDHURST MINING DISTRICT .

. KA:NGAROO FLAT DIVISION.

MT. N. G. Stephens, Mining RegistroT.


Europeans. ohmese. Total for the Division.

----~·- --~------ --~-~~--

Alluvial Miners ... ... 750 560 1,310

Quartz Miners ... ... ... '·'"' ... I 1,340 ----,.--~-

Totals , ... 2,090 1 560 2,650

THE TOI'AL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:

:Bendigo Flat, including Sandhurst and Irishtown Iron bark Long Gully ... . .. Victoria Reef and New Chum ... Crusoe Gully and neighborhood ... • Lockwood and Shelbourne ... Kangaroo Flat Golden Square Golden GUlly Sheepshead ... Spring Gully Back Creek... . .. Milkmaid's Flat and Axe Creek

Remarks.

920 200. 290 240 lOO 100 lOO 120 200 130 60 80

110

Total 2,650

TnE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :-

ALLUVIAL lii:DrDro. I QUARTZ lii:DrDrO,

Dell<lrl!ltion of MachiDery. .Agfll'!lgate Number Agfll'!lg&te At Work. Idle. Horse-power of At Work. Idle. of Stlllllp Horse-cor Stelllll Engines, Heads. Stelllll es.

·----~~----~ .. ------ --- --- ----Steam Engines.

Crushing ... ... ... ... .. . .. . 19 3 332 346 Crushing and Pumping ... ... ... .. . 7 2 126 216 Crushing, 'Pumping, and Winding ... ... . .. 9 4 221 312 Crushing and Winding ... ... ... ... .. . 1 2 30 32, Baling and Winding ... ... ... ... .. . 2 .. . ... 18 Pumping ... ... ... ... . ..

5··~ l' 1 ... 29 Pumping and Winding ... ... . .. . .. 7 5 ... 243 Winding ... ... "' ... ... ... a a . .. 112

Horse.

Fuddling Machines ... ... 225 18 ... ... . .. ... . .. Total value of mining plant in the division, £163,900.

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 7. .

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 80. -

The price of gold during the quarter in the divi~ion has been £3' 17s. 6d. per oz.

No. 14, e.

42

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTaiNED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

CRUSHED DURiNG THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

Name of Compa,ny. Where Quartz was I I Average Total Yield of Remarks relative to the Depth obtained. , Quartz crushed, Yield of Gold Gold. at which the Quartz was

, per Ton. obtained, &c.

" '" tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

Hustler's Reef ... Hustler's Reef ... 393-0 .. 0. .. 1 .0 20'94 410 3 0 320"feet Comet ' ... Ditto ... 2,794 0 0 0 9 8•36 '1,306 0 0 Various depths . .. Denmark ... Various reefs ... 203 0 0 0 2 o·u 20 7 . 0 All near surface Herculcs ... Hercules line, Vie- 400 0 0. 0 6 21•60 138 0 0 350 feet

toria Reef Rae and Co. ... Various t:eefs (prin- 4,030 0 0 1 2 2'71 . 4,456 0 0 Various depths

Indefatigable cipally Victoria)

2'57 15 12 ... Specimen Hill prin- ·1,940 0 0 '0· 2 15•77 Ditto

Union cipally ... . .. Shcepshead princi- 249 0 0 0 4 4•91 52 7 0 Ditto

Metropolitan pally

I,SOO ... Various reefs ... ! 1,800 0 0 I 0 0 . 0 0 Ditto

Alliance· ... 'Ditto ... . < ~ ••• 380 0 .. 0 0 8 15·15 .164 0 0 Ditto F,razer and Co. ... Ditto ... ... 1,523 0 0 0 16 6'68 . 1,239 12 10 Ditto Glasgow Reef ... Ditto ... . .. 1,881 0 0 0 4 20•27 455 13 0 Ditto Ramrod Reef ... Ramrod,N an kin, and 225 0 0 ~ 1 0 9"97 229 13 12 Surface to 35 feet

Kelso Reefs ' Adelaide Gully ... Various reefs .. . 1 644 :o 0 0 10 22•01 · 351 10 15, Various depths Bird's Reef ... Ditto (principally · 1,659 0 0 0 3 13'44 · 295 6 12 Ditto

Bird's Reef) · ' . ' Break-o'-Day ... Brown's Reef . .. . 66 0 0 1 l 6"54 70 4 0 160 feet level ·

Alexander Reef ... Alexander and W al- 165. 0 0 0 13 18"15 1)3 9 18 Various depths laby reefs ..

Great Extended ... Axe Creek ... 273 0 0 0 3 12'39 48 0 0 Ditto H.- Koch (Pioneer Various reefs ... 6,972 0 0 0 8 8'90 2,918 2 IS Ditto

engine) I -----.o tt. 4"6411~,326 ~ Totals, Quartz ... 25,597 0 0

Pnvat~ com:panies are estimated to have. crushed say 8,000 tons, from which they oh~ined e. bout 7,000 ozs. of gold. They object • to give retmrns. . ,

I have the honor to report that during the quarter the Saf\le activity in quartz mining which I menti(/~ed in my last has not been observable. The old lines, ~ most instances, are bein~ worked energetiCally and profitably, but many of the newly-formed compames have suspended operat10ns, and some are wound up, having failed to give anything like an encouraging return for .the money expended.

Hustler's Reef.

The Great Extended Hustler's Reef Company have completed their machinery, and commenced active operations. Messrs. Latham and Watson are obtaining rich stone at .their 400 feet level. A hydraulic lift has been recently placed in this company's mine, to raise stone 50 feet from a blind shaft. The Hustler's Reef Company have completed 'and started their new erushii;l,g machinery, and have obtained very satisfactory yields from their quartz at the 400 feet level. The Eclipse and North Hustler's Reef Companies are chiefly engaged in prospecting operatious. The Comet Company's batteries are entirely employed on their own mine, .and th~ir returns are highly satisfactory.

Garden Gully Reef.·

The United Garden' Gully Reef Company are ~re~ting crushing machinery, and raising stone in which gold is reported as being frequently seen. The claims adjoining are awaiting drainage by the abovimamed company. 1 ... • •

,:.:~ ~ ·- .. . · · .. . • ·pr;,:ngie' a Reef.

Prospecting is being actively ~~ed on, ·as some of the private e~aims are giving good returns.

Bi'rd' s Reef.

The :Bird's Reef Company are in full work.

Victoria Reef.

At present this line is par,ing most handsomely. The Advance Company's claim still continues its extraorilinary rich Jjelds. 'I he Try-me-')Vell Company, adjoining it, struck gold in August; the first crushing of 133 tons gave 827 ozs. of gold. ·The Adventure Company and Ballerstedt and Son's claims are known to be very rich. The Hercules Company have lately struck good stone at between 300 arid 350 feet in depth. The Energetic .Company's returns have been satisfactory ; they are now erecting pumping and winding machinery .. TheN orth Energetic Co!"pany are prospecting. ~he Victoria Reef Gold Mines· Company_, aft~r ten years of uns~ceessful operatiO!ls .• hav~ lately found a r1eh reef, ~eported to be about 40 feet m w1dth. The VJCtoria Reef Quartz Mmmg 1../ompany worked nearly SIX years without meeting with anything payable, but struck rich stone in July last. Other claims on this reef are being worked energetically, the OWners feeling COnfident Of being ultimately SUCCessful.

New Chum Line.

Almost all the claims on this line are· getting .rich stone. Dennis and Company have nearly completed a large ·kiln for calcinmg their quartz, which contains such large quantities of pyrites and

43

other m,merals as seriously interferes with amalgamation, and are believed to cause the escape of a. great deal of fine gold. In the Garibaldi Company's claim, the farthest south, the tributors have lately found some good stone.

Nlfrtk Whip Reef.

The claimholders on 1.b.i.s ~e a~ actively ~t work, excellent. yields having been obtained.

Don Juan Reef.

On this reef the prospectors have come on some very payable-looking quartz, and the whole line is, i,n consequence, expected soon to be in full work. · , · · · · •

Sarnia Reef.

Rich stone was found in one of the claims on this line a few days since.

Wallaby Reef. · The prospects of miners on this reef are· improving, one lot of quartz, about 30 tone, having

averaged about 3 ozs. of gold per ton.

ALLUVIAL MINING.

Generally there is no change worth reporting. One :(lrospecting claim has been applied for at the Upper Sheepwash, the applicants stating their stuff y1elded about 1 oz. to the loa~, Jn 14 feet pinking. A small rush also took place in Adelaide Gully last week.

EAGLERA WK DIVISION.

MT. Go w. Hani, Mifflt1tng,Burveyor ana Registrar.

I THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AB FOLLOWS:-

! Europeans. Chinese. Division. Remarks. I ' Total for the I A-11-uVl-.-al-M-in-e-rs-.. -.. ---.-.. ---.-.. 1 3,170 500 3,670 ;------------

Quartz Miners ... ... I, 188 ... 1,188 ~--~- ~·~-~~ -·-- '

... 1 4,358 500 · 4,8!)8 I Totals

THE TOTAL NmmER OF MINERS• IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-. . St. Mungo and D~vonehire Windmill Hill Reef Johnson's Reef Robert Burns Reef Eagle Reef ... Comet Reef ... Red Hill Reef East Johnson's Reef ...

• Catherine Reef Star Reef Specimen Hill Reef ... Moon Reef ... . .. Clarence Reef Dead Horse R,eef, Napoleon Gully Dead Horse Reef, Peg-leg · ... Prince of Wales Reef Moonlight Reef Bignall's Reef Snob's IIill ... W etherall Reef Black Forest Reef Shellback Reef Red Jacket Reef ~edan

91 120 140 30 30 28 12 18 93 48 80 36 41 19 ·30· 13 8 2

56 48 10 16 2

81

Nelson ... Lightning Reef American Reef Jackass Reef Sophia Reef .. . Agnew Reef ... . Peter the Great Reef Albion Reef ... Eaglehawk Myers' Flat ... Dead Horse Flat California Gully Pottery Flat .. . Bendigo Flat .. . White Hills .. . Whipstick Huntly Epsom ... Ironstone HillSydney Flat ... Red Jacket Flat Telegraph Lead

'fotal

59 2

17 2

42 8 2 ... 4

900 350

'200 300 250 230 ... 240 140 380 300 200 60 30 90

••• 4,858

44

THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :-'-

ALLUVIAL MINll..-G. QUARTZ M!NI!!o.

Deseription of Mllllhinery. .Aggregate I Number ! Aggregate

At Work. I · I Number Idle. lofStamp Horae-power'of At Work. Idle. of Stamp I Horse-c of

Heads, Steam Engines,,

Crushing and Pumping ..• Pumping, Winding, and Crushing Crushing ... ... . .. Crushing and Winding .... ~ump~ng and Winding ... lumpmg ... .•. . .. Baling and Winding .. . . .. B3;lin~, Winding, and Crushing Wmdmg .•• ... . .. Horse Puddling Machines ...

3 4

15 1 2 I 1 2

... I I65

-- --~ ~-·-·--... 24 36 ... 49 70 2 172 2ll ... 8 10

... ... 17

... . .. 10 ... . .. 14 ... 12 22

. .. ... .. . 26 ... ...

Total value of mining plant in the division; £150,000.

Heads, i Steam · es. --·· --

2 ... 30 58 I ... 24 45 9 1 162 206 I 1 21 ' 22 8 2

I 154

~ ... . .. ..... ' .. . ... l . .. 7 ... . .. ... . ..

2 ... I . .. 17 ... .. . I . .. ...

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon,6t. .

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 67.

The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been £3 17s. 6d. per oz.

THE FOL'LOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED

THEBEFRO.M:- ,

Name of Company. I Where ~UAI'tz, &c., were I o lained.

,

Wellington ... ... Dead Horse Reef ...

Peg-leg ... ... Prince of Wales Pease and Company ... Devonshire Reef ... Clarence Reef .:. Clarence Reef ... Johnson's Reef Gold Johnson's Reef .... -

Mines Eagle ... ... Specimen Hill Reef MeN air and Company Various reefs ... W etherall Reef ... Sundry reefs ... European· ... ... Various reefs .. . Star Reef ... . .. Star Reef . .. .

Totals, Quartz Quartz ·Tailings and

Cement cMI.llhed.

Guy and Company Epsom ... ... Felix ... ... Epsom . .. ... Shenandoah .•. ... Epsom ... .. . Sampson Brothers ... Epsom ... . .. R<Jyal Oak ... ... Pottery .... ... Lewis and Company ... Epsom ... . ... Bon Accord ... ... Ironstone ... Caledonian ... ... Pottery .... ... Huntly Deep Lead ... Huntly ... ... RisingSun ... ... Pottery ... ... Mitchell and Company Epsom ... . .. Hardie and Company ... Pottery ... ... Cambridge ... ... Huntly ... ... True Briton ... ;.,. Huntly ... . .. Ballarat and Bendigo ... Huntly ... ... North Star ... ... Pottery ... .. . All England ... ... Pottery .•• ... Undaunted ... ... Pottery ... ...

.. /

Totals,Q,uartzTail·} ings and Cement

\ Averafi:, Quartz crushed. Yield of Id per Ton.

tons cwt. qr. oz.dwt. gr.

949 0 0 0 4 18'93

217 0 0 0 I 9'99 1,985 0 0 0 3 3•91

655 0 0 0 8 9'52 3,034 0 0 0 8 14'34

4,596 0 0 0 5 11!•21 l,IIO 0 0 011 1'08 1,737 0.0 0 7 2'61 1,385 {) 0 0 7 23•30 I,698 0 0 0 I 14•36

.. - .. " ·-·-- -~-----t-

17,366 0 0 0 6 3'83

2,224 0 0 0 I I9·26

3,300 0 0 0 3 9•30 1,680 0 0 0 3 0

900 0 0 0 2 I6 150 0 0 0 4 0 780 0 0 o· 4 0

1,950 0 0 0 5 0

400 0 0 0 5 Q 2,200 0 0 0 4 .1'52

450 0 0 0 6 8•53 1,400 0 0 0 5 17'14

750 0 0 0 3 12 1,440 0 0 0 2 I3·33 1,444 0 0 0 2 II'73

500 0 0 0 8 22•32 1,045 0 0 0 3 13'98

504 0 0 0 5 22'85 900 0 0 0 1 I5

-------22,017 0 0 0 3 15•71

Total Yield of Gold.

oz. dwt. gr,

• 227 4 I6

I5 7 9 3I3 I9 0 275 0 0

I,304 6 0

1,294 14 12 613 0 o· 617 8 9 552 0 o. 135 I4 0

5,348 I3 22

200 9 0

559 0 0 252 0 1 o· 120 0 0 30 0 0

156 0 0 487 10 0

lOO 0 0 447 0 0 I43 0 0 400 0 0 131 5 0 I84 0 0 179 I4 0 223 5 0 187 4 3 150 0 0 73 2 I2

4,023 9 ISI

Remarks relative to th • e Dept.h at which th Qlll>ftz, &e., were ob ta.ined.

Various depths; pub· lie crushings in-eluded

Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto

Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto

. Cement; from surface

to 30 feet Cement Cement Cement Alluvi!fl, 100 feet Cement; 60 feet Cement, various

depths Cement; 100 feet Cement Alluvial, lOO feet Cement Cement and gravel Alluvial, 120 feet Alluvial, 120 feet Alluvial, 120 feet Alluvial, l1 o feet Alluvial, 110 feet Alluvial, IOO feet

Since f!lY last report quartz mining may be, said to. have improved but little, the incr.ease in some companies bemg almost counterbalanced by a falhng off m others. Reefs, however, are hable to have breaks, certll.in blocks in some mines being non.gold bearing ; but it is a matter of satisfaction, that on most .of the linea the returns obtained from the greatest depths fully equal anything got nearer the surface. ·

45

The Perseverance line may be meutioued as a paying one; all the claims are in full work. Betts and Company, on this reef, reported 231?,; ozs. from their last crushing.

American Re~f.-Success on this line seems chequered; many claims at present are not paying, while from Collman and Tacchi's claim magnificent returns are received. The adjoining claimholders hope to reach the stone when a greater depth is attained.

The Nelson Reef has improved, the last returns from the Nelson Reef Company being very satisfactory.

The Eagle Company is still unsuccessful in discovering n payable lode in their deep shaft, which is down upwards of 500 feet on the underlie. .A. fine looking reef is being driven along at that depth. 'l'he Great Extended Eagle Company, on the same line of reef, but south of the former company, have given, returns of late fully equal to anything ever obtained in this district ; the last ctushing gave 932-f ozs. of gold from 177 tons of stone.

. In Sailor's Gully; many private claims are paying well; but the Sailor's Gully, Clarence Reef, and Star Companies, at present are anything but profitable mines. ·

The Catherine Reef Company's mine, after a temporary falling off, has again taken a favorable position, the late yields being payable. •

fl The Prince of Wales and Peg-leg Companies' mines seem unable to meet with payable stone at present, this line of reef being of a patchy nature. The St. M:ungo line of reef is also patchy. The Lady Barkly Company on this line have again struck rich stOnf', the first crushing from which gave 150 ozs. of gold. '

On the Robert .Burns Reef, Walker and Company, after years .of unavailing search, have been rewttrded with success, having lately found. a reef 14 feet wide, 70 tons of which yielded 144 ozs. of gold.

The Johnson's Reef has much improved, the Johnson's Reef Company having had of late satisfactory returns. ·

On the Windmill Hill Line, Brennan and Company, and the other claimholders at work, are doing well; but I regret to state that many of the richest claims on this line (or in fact in the division) are unworked in consequence of want of drainage. 'l'he stoppage of such claims as the .A.nglo-German, Kent, Cinderella, and others, operates most unfavorably on the returns from this division. A good deal of dead work, in the shape of sinking shafts and other permanent works, is being done by many of the companies, and necessarily aff'ects unfavorably the present quarter's returns.

In the alluvial mines; the Huntly wqrkings are·still successful, as the returns will show, among others the newly established Deep Lead Company holds a promineut position; the result of the ~uccess is quite obvious on visiting the Jocality, as a settled and thriving population is now seen on the ground only lately covered with bush.

0

KILMORE DIVISION.

-Mr. Martiln Meagher, Milnilng Registrar.

\

THE TOTAL NUMBER Oli' MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europeans, Chinese. Tota.l for the B.e!DMka. Divillion.

--------Alluvial Miners ... ... 270 240 510

Quartz Miners ... ... 324 ... 324

Totals ... 594 240 834


Alluvial. Flat Lead ... Reedy Creek ... 2l0 Tea-tree Creek Ranges and Junction S d C k 20 Cattle Range, King Parrot ...

16 36 8

40 un ay ree . .. 8 da c k Snobb and Dry Creeks 40 'un Y ree Reedy Creek (Chinese) 240 ~~=~~!1g1d.Diggings'

Murrendindie ... Quartz. Reedy Creek Strath Creek ... Welcome Reef and Tea-tree

50 36 60

Providence, Yea

Total

THE MACHINERY IS AB FOLLOWS:-

Qu AP/l'Z M:lNINa.

6 20 20 32

834

Description of lll.a.cbine17. ALLUVIAL llfiNING. I

---~---- --------------.,---1 Ag!ll'eg&te

At Work Idle. Ho,..e-~er of At Work,

... r-e_ - --6 Idle.

Steam Engines

Number Aggregate of Stamp Horae-l!!'wer of Heads, Steam .ISD8ines.

80 1116

46 I

Total value of mining plant in the division, £9,000. ' . . N Ulilber of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 40. . .· · · Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time,.45. , • . . The prioe of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 15s. to .£3 16s. 6d.

~a .

THE FOL.LOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QuANTITY oF Quu.Tz

AND QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DUlliNG THE QUARTEX, AND THE GoLD

OBTAINED THEREFXOM :-

Name of Company. I Average Remarks relative to th

Where ~uartz, &c., were Quartz Cl'llSbed. Yield of G<>ld Total Yield of Depth e.t which th o tained. per Ton. G<>ld. Qne.rtz, &c., we~ 0

te.ined. ·; ---·-------

'' tons cwt. q.r. 0~ dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Providence Mining Asso- Muddy Creek, near 120 0 0 2 10 0 800 0 0 25 feet to i 52 feet

ciation Yea Rising Sun ... ... Ditto, ditto ... 18. 0 0 4 0 0 72 0 0 70 feet Welcome Reef ... Tea- tree Creek 60 0 0 810 0 210 0 0 160 feet

Ranges The Sons of Freedom ... Flat Lead ... 9 0 0 1 3 0 10 7 0 20 feet to 50 feet Slillor Jack's· Reef ... Strath Creek ... 112 0 0 3 0 0 336 0 0 95 feet ---Totals, Quartz ... 319 0 0 2 18 4•89 928 7 0

Quartz Tailings and Cement crushed.

Providence Mining Asso· ciation

Muddy Creek, near ;yea

500 0 0 0 5 0 125 0 0 Surface to 25 feet

Kllmore, Moranding ... Near Mount Willia.m 6Q 10 0 .o 10 0 so ·o 0 Surface to 40 feet Ranges.

--;;;--o--;-jo-5-12-So Totals, Quartz Tail·} 155 '0 0 ings and Cement- .

' Better results may be expected. Pl'eJ)Grlltions e.re more general, and show more eonftdenoe and determinat.lon than 1lSUIIJ.

Reedy Creek. . On the Leviathan and Wallaby R~~fs there has been no ~uartz crushed during the quarter •. The

prinCiiJal works done are sinking a .. main shafi, raising quartz, erecting a battery and engine, and other fiXtures. Rllefs from'12 to 18 inches thick. Depth of main shaft, 130 feet. '

The Reedy Creek Quartz Mining Company have been putting in new. stamp-boxes, repairing the engine and gear, sinking and cleaning the reservoir, repairing the dam, and raising quartz. Shafis, from 50 to 180 feet deep. Reef.from 12 to 18.inehes. Quartz raised, about 60 tons ; none crushed.

Magenta and Solferino Reefs.7-:No. quar~ crushed. Tunneling by contract progressing very slowly, as the rock is very hard; only 60 feet have been made during the quarter. Reef about 12 inches thick. ·

Shepherd's Reef.-About 10 tons of quartz raised, one ton of which was crushed in Melbourne, and produced 5 ozs. ; cost of raisipg £5. per ~on, an~ £3 cartage. ~he company are well satisfied, it being still payable. The W<!rk done here durmg the qu;arter was clearmg two shafts, of 140 and 75 feet respectively, from mullock and water, and timbering the old ground. There has been also a tunnel200 feet put into this ground. Reef averages.12 inches. .

.The Sailor's Reef Company have crushed 200 tons of quartz, yielding 1 oz. to the ton. Reef from 2 to 3 feet. thick. Tunnel, 230 feet. . ·

Stratk Creek. The Sailor Jack's Reef Company (registered), crushed, in 2 months, 112 tons, producing 3 ozs.

per top.. Epgine, 8 horse-power; 6 stamp-heads. Reef, 1 foot thick. Shafi, 95 feet deep; no water m it. Engine and plant purchased from the Volta Company. _ · ·

There are several other claims on Strath. Breek, but the reefs have not yet been struck.

· · Tea-tree Creek. The works done on the Welcome Reef, during the quarter are, making the tunnel deeper,

putting in a cross drive, sinking a shaft 50 feet deep in this drive, and timbering the works. About 160 tons crushed; 60 of which produced 3if ozs. to tlie ton. Depth from surface to bottom of working shaft, about 160 feet. Works dry ; said to be in perfect order now. Stone of a superior descr_iption taken out of the new shafi. · • '

Other works are in progress on the ranges at the Junction and parts adjoining, tunneling and sinking shafts, &c.

The Flcr.t Lead. ' The Sons of Freedom, the Staffordshire, and ,the Coachman's Reef.-The principal works sus-

pended for the purpose of making preparations on a larger scale. The engine and plant are now in P.erfect working order. Sever!ll tons of stone have been raised; 9 tons lately crushed averaged 1 oz. a· dwts. to·theton. Better returns are·expected, the stone looking rieher.

Muddy Creek, near Yea.

The Providence Mining Association.-Main shaft, 152 feet deep. Reef, 2·feet thick. Two hundred tons of quartz and 800 tons of conglomerate sandstone have been raised during the quarter. One hundred and twenty tons of quartz and 500 tons of sandstone have been crushed; the quartz produced 2! ozs., the !!and~tone f? 4w~s! to ~he ton~ The sa,n4~tone reef is 9 feet thick; the quartz is taken out of a

47

shaft on the hill25 feet deep, the sandstone reef from the surface. It is intended to apply better pumps to dry the deep shaft, and also to sink it 100 feet deeper immediately.

The Rising Sun, adjoining, raised and crushed, during the quarter, 18 tons, averaging 4 ozs. to the ton. Depth of shaft, 70 feet. Reef from 6 to 12 inches thick. Not working at present, the shaft being full of. water.·

A munber of miners have driven a tunnel 300 feet long through their three amalgamated claims. Reef, ·10 inches thick. They raised only 10 tons this quarter; none crushed. They are now sinking a shaft 60 feet deep in the tuunel, but which has been temporarily stopped, as they struck water. Pumping apparatus will be procured. ' . ·

Sunday Greek Ranges. Three prospectin~ q~artz claims were taken up "during the quarter. The ground and qu!l.).'tz have

been prospected, and satiSfactory evidence obtained. Several tons of quartz have been raised, ready for the mill, which has 8 head of stamps, and is to be driven by a water-wheel 30 feet in diameter. It is expected to be in w~rking order shortly, and capable of considerable execution.

Kilmo-re Old Diggings, Moranding.,

About 100 tons of picked rubble quartz have been raised ready for the mill, 60 tons lately crushed produced 10 dwts. to the ton. The mill and gear have been undergoing repairs and improvements during most of this quarter. By the assistance of an amalgamator, which has been set up, it is expected the claim will pay better than before. The reef is a kind of rubbly sandstone, intermixed with small leaders.

On the Cattle Range, near King Parrot,

Twenty-five acres, lately abandoned, part of Hamilton's run, has been again applied for under lease, to be called the Research.

Paris!• of Goldie, Moranding West.

The Harp of Erin Reef, on the Lancefield-road side, about midway between Kilmore and Lancefield, has been prospected, and good reefing indications having. been found, 25 acres have been applied for under the leasmg regulations. .

I am informed that' a new rush has taken place between Tallarook and Seymour, near the junction of the Sugarloaf and Sunday . Creeks, about one mile on Kilmore side of Sunday Creek

, bridge ; one shaft has been bottomed at a depth of 30 feet, and a fine prospect obtained. Four or five other holes were also rapidly put down. The washdirt is described as 4 feet thick. Hopes are entertained, from the indications, that this field will be payable.

Received, during the quarter, by the banks in Kilmore :-

Bank of Victoria. j Colonial Bank •. ozs. dwts. grs.

Quartz gold .. . 179 11 1

1 Alluvial gold 420 5 13

Total:.. 599 16 14 I Quartz gold ... Alluvial gold

Total ...

HEATHCOTE DIVISION AND W ARANGA SOUTH SUBDIVISION.

Mr: _J. T. Strong, .Minftng Swrve'IJD'r and Registrar.

T:a:E ToTAL NuMBER oF MrNERs Is .A.B FOLLows:-

Europea.ll!l, Chinese. Total for the Division and Remarks. Subdivision,

--~~

Alluvial Miners ... ' ... 300 200 500 Quartz Miners ... . .. 640 ... 640

Totals ... 940 200 1,14(1? .\

T:a::E TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS TliUS DISTRIBUTED :-

Heathcote, Golden Gully, Red Hill, Com- Black Swan missioner's Flat, Caledonia Gnlly, Long Coliban River Gnlly, Argyle, Victoria Flat, N uggety Campaspe River Gnlly, &c. 509 Mundy Gully, &c. ...

Wild Duck 296 Costerfield and Redcastle American Hill 80 Hard Hill .. . 15 Total

OZll. dwts. grs. 160 0 0 41 6 4

201 6 4

..

7 12 50 71

lOO

1,140

48

THE MAORINEI!.Y IS AS FOLLOWS:-

ALLUVIAL Mmi::No. I QUARTZ Mmi::No.


' Number Aggregate.

At Work, Idle. Horse-J)Ower of Steam Engine. At Work. Idle. of Stamp Horse..~ of

Heads. .Steam · ea.

-·-- ----· ,---~~-- --- -Steam Engines ... ... ... l 8 13 3 107 . 352 Puddling Machines ... ... 52 9 ... . .. ... . .. . .. Chilian Wheels ... . .. . .. ... .. . 2 2 ... ... Horse Whims ... . .. ... 2 ... 6 ... .. ... . .. Horse Whips ... ... . .. ... . .. ... 6 . .. ... .. . Tailings Machine ... ... I"' ... .. . ... . .. ... .. . Sluice Heads (water) ... ... 6 . .. . .. ... ... ... . ..

• Set of amalgamating pan•.

Total value of mining plant in the division and subdivision, £42,650.

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 80.


· The price o~ gold du~ing the quarter in the division and subdivision has been from ·£3 15s. to £4 Os. 6d. per oz. _

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS DEEN OBTAINED llELATIVE TO '£RE QUAN'l'ITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED

DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED TREREFROM :-

Name of Company. Where Quartz was obtained.

Alabama ... . .. I Caledon~a Gully ... Costedleld ... . ..

1 lJ pper Costerficld ...

Schwartz and Co~npany l Corinth Heef ... T. J. Stephenson ... Result Uecf ... Kirby and Company .... Scandinavian Reef ... Riley and Company ... Swede's Gully Camp bell and Company Fo'rd's Gully Kastania and Company Victot"ia Reef Smith and Company ... Golden Gully Hanson and Company 1 Norris' Reef Steadman and Company I Swede's G11lly Sundry crushings at

Vonderluft's machine Ditto at Stephenson's

machine

Totals, Quartz .•.

I . Average T t 1 y· Id f Remarks relative to the Quartz crushed. .Y1eld of Gold O a ld.le O Depth at which the ; per Ton. 6<> Quartz was obtained,

.. _:_ -~ 1-~~- ----~-~ ..:.~-----. tons cwt. qr.l oz. dwt. gr.

508 n o .o 18Ja·03 849 o ()

1

. o 14 2·65. 98 0 0 I 0 19'59 1

13 0 0 3 0 0 . 46 0 0 : 0 I 0 20'86 : 61 0 0 15 1617•31 a1 . o o 1 o 1 1 1 o·o6

140 0 0 I 1 18 10·28 23 o· · o : 3 6 2·08 30 0 0 0 10 0 J 4 0 0 0 14 6'85

'lil 0 0 1 10 18'46

100 0 0 0 5 (1

oz. dwt. gr,

471 0 o 360 feet to 410 feet 599 0 o 260 feet · 102 0 o 160 feet 39 0 o Surface 25 o o : 180 feet

356 o 0 40 feet to 80 feet 2i 0 o Ditto

269 o o 120 feet 76 o o 20 feet 15 'o o . 180 feet IO o o 40 feet to 80 feet 20 0 0 l 5 0 0 2

( Various depths

I I

! 1;26' o-;;- ~-2·91 : 2,034_ ~I·

I have the honor to forward my usual quarterly report on the mining operations carried on in this division within the past quarter. ' ·

In alluvial mining there has occurred no change of sufficient importance to warrant special remark. . . · , . ,

In quartz mining considerable activity is beginning to manifest itself, and the superior prospects which this branch of mining holds forth has induced nearly all the alluvial miners to give up their old calling, and concentrate their attention on quartz prospecting.

Prospecting has, therefore, during the quarter, been carried on with considerable energy. and in many oases with marked success. ·

It is ~ra~ifying to be able t~ report that the various public mining companies established through this division still retain' their prosperity, and that well sustained scientific efforts always seem to be attended with success.

I regret my inability to gi"e a detailed report of the result and workings of the Californian quartz tailings amalgamating pans recently introduced into this district, us a very decided reticence is maintained on the subject by the manager; I trust, however, t.hat the experiment may be successful, and I shall take the earliest opportunity of furnishing you with all the information obtainable ..

The machinerv of the Red Hi1ll\liniug Company is :now erected,· and the stampers in constant work. The company have tunnelled into the side of the hill, and propose cr"Q.shing everything taken out without any selection. .

The Costerfield Company are in full work. Some yery interesting experiments have been carried on at these works by the manager, relative to t.he amount of gold contained in the refuse quartz

49

tailings; the conclusion he arrives at is,-that in every ton of these tailings is lost from three ounces to half an ounce of gold, which it is impossible to save, in consequence of its combination with the sulphilret of antimony.·

- The Argyle Reef Company report having again cut the reef, and obtained· stone of very excellent quality.

The Mclvor Hydraulic Company report having cut their water-race as far as Hayes' Gully, a distance (along the contour) of ten miles, They have taken up areas in this gully, by virtue of miners' rights, and are now engaged in carrying on sluicing operations, but I cannot state with what result.

W ARANGA NORTH SuBDIVISION.

Mr. H. B. Nicholas, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.

THE,TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

I

Europeans. Chinese. Total for the Remarks. Subdivision.

-~--- --

Alluvial Mine:t:s ... ... 7J 91 168

Quart!/: Miners ... ... 512 .. . 512 ' • -----

Totals ... 589 91 680


Rush worth-Old Lead and adjacent gullies Chinaman's Flat, ditto ditto N uggety and parallel reefs Mongohan, ditto ditto ...

Whroo-Main Gully_ and adjacent gullies :Balaclava Hill . .. . .. Albert and parallel reefs ... White HillS and Fontainbleau

48 '46 121 47

48 41 36 19

Coys-

Londori and parallel reefs :Byron, ditto ditto .. . Cherry-tree, ditto ditto .. .

Creek .. . oRanges .. .

M.ary Taylor's Creek

Total

THE MAOHINERY IS AS FOLLoWS:-

---~-~--L-·~--~·-·-:

Description of Ma.cblnery. I I • At Work. Idle.

: Aggregate :Number 1 Horse-J)OWer of At Work. Idle. 1 '0j!'!=P - Steam Engines.

-·-~--- -~----

Steam Engines-Quartz Crushing •.• . .. ... . .. . .. 6 . .. 82 Pumping,Crushing, and Winding

1

... . .. . .. I I I . .. 12 Horse Puddling Mills .• . . •• 33

I 22 ...

I ...

l . .. . ..

Horse Whims andWhips ••• 22 ... .. .. . .... . .. . .. .

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £20,500.

127 67 45 14 12

9

680

Aggregate Horse-~! Steam · •

-·-·

80 16 . .. .. .

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 9.

. Number of_ distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the pres~nt time, 83.

The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 15s. 6d to £4 Os 9d· - · per oz. · · . · · •

No. 14,f.

·•

50

TilE FoLLOWING INFORMATioN" l!:As BEEN oBTAINED RELATIVE To THE QuANTITY oF Qu.<~,~TZ AND QuARTZ

TAILING~ ·AN~ CEMENT CRUSHED· DUlliNG THE QuARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

I ' . ' I I A' Name of Company. Wbere Quatj:z, &c., were ; Quartz crushed. Yield":;f'.tld

~---_.:_---1..,..-'--:-o-b-tn.m_ed_. ___ l . I per Ton.

·•. • "' ,. ··""· ... ·''' .",,, · · [ tons cwt. qr, I oz.dwt, gr. oz. dwt. gr. •·

Angiade and. Co ..••. } 'Albert Reef and} 1

';'·76 0 0·- ' ' 1 2 14.84 "; ss\9'' () ·Surface to 200 feet Crago and others... Great Eastern . I Geyle and Co. ... } South Devon and} 1 Scott and others ••. Mongolian reefs 276 0 0 0 2 8'40 170 8 16 40 feet to 220 feet

~~c~~::~dof~~s :::} G~~ds:fherHJ;~·,}. .. 49~ O . ~ .... ·~--~~-:?·os Mason and Co. "·} Cherry-tree Ree:fi_s... 290 o 0 0 6 0·82

92 14 0

Crawford and others · Murray and Co. "'} Murray,·Welcome,} J ones and others .. . and other reefs 1

Pollon and, others ... Byron and other reefs.· Ditto ditto , ... London ditto· ditto ... Lewis and Menzies ... Balaclava • ...

Quartz Tailings and : Cement crushed.

Totals, Quartz ... ·~-·:' ( ~· . -. - . . .

Law and Darroch Ditto •.. RobertLaw

·.'

.. : Chinaman's Reef ... • .. Carr's Reef ... ...

1 Gr9wle~'s and Scrub

reefs

I ';rotals,Quartz Tail- } ,, ings and Cement

1

91 0 0

970 0 0 130 0 0-

1,675 · o"'o ·

1 11 18•19

0 8 4'85 3 19 14'95 o'·'s 6

87 10 0

144 10 0

397 16 0 517 11 0 690 18 18

---------1----3,557 0 .. 9. 0 i2 7•17 2,187 7 10

--------558 0 0 0 0 19•62 22 16 6 176 0 0 0 2 10•63 21 10 0

1,038 0 0 0 2 4'29 ll3-l 8 .,

----- ----~- ---.--1,772 0 0 0 l 18'63 157 7 '14

,L I ~ '•·

60 feet to 160 feet

40 feet to 120.feet

70 feet to 110 feet lOO feet to 150 feet lOO feet to 175 feet 150 feet

} Tailings, cement, and mu!lock, from old workings .

In allU~ai mining·; on the old parts of, the field, there is nothing to report worthy of record. · The prospectors at the Buffalo Ranges, and in· the coui,itry between Tait and Hamilton's and Coys Diggings are obtaining payable gold. !·believe a large population will ultimately be settle4 .. cm ~ho~e. portions of W aranga. · , · , ·

The only fa~orable cha_nges in quartz mining _have b~en at Bal~clava Hill and the London Reef. In each case the ~nes .are bellig developed very sat1sfacto;-ily. ,

. I , . .. - ·-·

I.

MARYBOROU.G:H MINING DISTRICT. ll . r " • 'i .. ~ • :

MARYBOROUGH DIVISION.

Mr. D. O'Leary, Mining SulrvByor and &gistrar.

THE Tc;tTAL NUMBER OF .MINEl!.S IS AS FOLLOWS :-

-Ohineee.' Total for the Europeans. . •• Division. Remarks.

alluvial :Miners ,, ... ... 2,400 1,500 3,900

Quartz Miners ... ... 750 ... 750 .,

Totrus ... 3,150 1,500 : 4,650 ;

THE TOTAL NUMBER. OF MINERS IS• TllUS DISTRIBUTED:- ' , ..

M aryborough, Ma~n Le~d! ~nd Blackman's Waterloo and gulhes adJommg ... ... Mosquito Flat and adjacent r:efs. .

140 ; Chinaman's Flat and.adjacent reefs. 70 Adelaide Lead and reefs adjoining

600 Alma and Balaclava 200 Irl different gullies

... 215

..

550 280 170 325 Old .Man's Gully and reefs adJOlmng

Golden Point and adjacent reefs Havelock Flat and reefs adjoining , Majorca, including Gil;lralta:t ' ·· :·:: ·l,~~g. Total ... 4,650

\ '

51

Tn:m · Mlc:m:Nli:~tY is As FOLLows:-.

I ..

ALLUVIAL ~G. Qtr..um: MJ:Nnra-. -l>esori:ption of Machinery •. I

I ...

. .Aggrega.te· I Number .Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse-er At Work. Idle, I of lltamp Horse-Power of

Steam · s. Heads. llteam&gines. --··-~··

,_,). ·-·~··-~·------~-

' .. Steam Engines, employed in 17 2 299 ... ' . .. ... . ..

pumping, winding, &c. t .. 95

•I•• ' ••'' Puddling Machines ... ·225 ... . .. ... ... ... Whims ... ... 120 ... .. . : ... . .. I . .. I

Steam Engines, employed . 9 1 I 170 '170 ... ...

in pumping, winding,

·I crushing, &c. • .

. •'

·~~·-- .. ~otal value of mining plant in the division, £51,600. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is beipg, or may have been, actually

worked upon, 4~. ' . - ' Number of distinct quartz .reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 119. · · ··- · ·· · -· · · The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 18s •. 6d. ·to £4 ls, ·6d.

per oz. ,. r·.i· •'··· .

THE FOLLOWING lNFORM.ATION HAS :BEEN OllT.A.INED 'RI!lLA.TIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUaTz AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD .O:BTAINED

THEREFROM:-

I ~ Where Quartz, &c., were Avera~ I Total Yield iJtemarks relative to tbe Name of Company. obtained. Quartz erushed. Yield of ld

1 of GOld.- Depth at which the per Ton. Quartz w:as obtained.

tOllll ewt. qr, oz.dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr, - -· ~ . Mariner's Reef ... Mariner's Reef . ... 30 0 0 l 1 8 32 0 0 570 feet Ditto ... ... Ditto . .. ... 35 0 0 5 8 O* 189 0 0 590 feet Ballarat ... . .. Leviathan Reef, &c ... 2,750 0 0 0 6 0 825 0 0 130 feet Penny and Company ... Alexander, White 1,750 0 0 0 14 12 1,268 15 0 Surface to 300 feet

Horse, &c. ' ., ·-· Greenawayand Wallace Sydney and Blucher 450 0 0 0 12 0 270 0 0 200 feet Johnston and Company White Horse, &c. 538 0 0 0 17 18•02 477 10 0 Perseverance ... Great Western, &c .. _. 2,160 0 0 0 4 12 486 0 0 80 feet to 120 feet Watkins and Company Oxfo~dshire, &c. ... 520 0 '0 0 ·.4· 0 104 0 0 About 65 feet

------- ----- ------ '' ~ . ' . Totals, Quartz .•. · 8,233 0 0 0 8 20'93 3,652 5 0

Quartz Tailings and .. . .. -Cement crushed. .. •( ' .. .. l",/i . , . • • \r·,,

Greenaway and Wallace Cockatoo .~-. ... •· . 400 0 0 0 7 0 140 0 0 Johnston and Company Majorca, 8!;9. 265 o --o 0 6 3•82. 81 12 0

------1 ~ Totals, Quktz Tall- }

0 6,15'~51 ·~L~,~ .

•. 665 0 ~0 221 12 0 .

~ ings and' Cement . • The return given by the manager of the Mariner's Reef Conipa.ny, though SinAll in qua.ntity, deserve•_specJ&I mention, .in

consequence of the rio!Uless of the stone at the great depth of 5W feet ($.e.), 5 ozs, 8 dwts. per ton. ·

Though mining operations generally in the 'division have much of the appearance of a settled character, yet the lack of energy and promptness, and the consequent failure of,many of the recently formed mining companies, have principally been the cause ofthe-dullness which at present-manifestly prevails. This, however, does not extend to quartz mining, as the main lines of reef are being constantly worked with the usual favorable results. · A :hew reef· has been discovered on the western boundary of the borough of Maryborough; it has been traced to a depth of SO feet, about 1 foot thick, f!.nd the first crushing,realized about 1 oz. to the ton.:."_ t:. • '

The a.lluvial claims of the Hit-or-Miss and-United Companies, on the Chinaman's Flat, have been worked out, and the system of working the claim of the Magnum Bonum is about being altered •

. . :·The next.favored grouncf on the flat, a~ d. extending still' northerly, has been secured under the local bye-laws by 90 miners, who have. arranged to w:ork it 011.the co-operative .principle. .

. Majorca exhi~its a dull appearance in mining matters at present, but st:ron~ ho:pes !J.l'e enter. tamed of a !lhange !f!r the better shortly. · ·r" . '

52

AMHERSTt DIVISION •.

Mr: Joseph Smith, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS :-

I Total for the I Divillion.

-------------------------l---------l-----------------1--------------------------Europeans. Chinese.

' Alluvial Miners 1,359 490 1,849

Quartz Miners 87 87

Totals --~-.446 --I 490 /----;-:;;--I


EUROPEANS.

LoCALITY. I C:a:INEBE. TOTAL,

Alluvla.l. Quartz.

Long Gully and Flat ... ... ... 10 .. . . .. 10 Grub Gully ... ... .. . ... 6 ... . .. 6 Red Hill ... . .. ... .. . 13 . .. . .. 13 Rocky Flat .... ... ... . .. 20 ' .. . 2 22 Scandinavian Lead ... ... ... ... 28 ... • 16 44 Chapel and Star Hills ... ... . .. 10 ... 6 16 Good-Woman's Hill' ... ... .. . . 16 ... 4 20 Ballarat Hill ... ... ... "31 . .. 10 41 Kangaroo Flat ... ... . .. ... 250 ... 110 360 Nuggety Gully ... . .. 12 j

12 ... ... . .. ... Mysterious Lead and Hard Hill ... ... 24 . .. 2 26 Black Lead ... ... ... . .. 11 . .. 6 17 Mia-Mia and White Hill ... ... ... .48 ... 6 54 Daisy Hill and Flat ... ... ... 40 ... 16 56 Moore's Flat ... ... . .. . .. 30 . . .. 8 38 Adelaide Lead ... ... . .. .... 250 ... 80 330' Opossum Gully ... ... ... ... 16 . .. 6 22 .Blacksmith's Gully ... ... ... ... 60 ... . .. 60 Liverpool Hill ... ... ... .. . 20 . .. . .. 20 Emu ... ... . .. ... ... 70 .. . 120 190 Cockatoo ... ... . .. ... 100 .. . 65 165 Hong Kong, Emu ... ... ... ... 8 .. . 3 11 Battery Point ... ... ... . .. 12 . .. ... 12 German Gully ... ... . .. ... 10 ... ... 10 McCallum's Creek and Flat ... ... . .. 18 ... 10 28 Talbot Flat ... ... . .. . .. 9 . .. 8 17 Kangaroo Gully, Amherst ... ... ... 14 ... . .. 14 Rambler's Gully, Kangaroo ... ... ... 7 . .. 4 11 Mount Greenock ... ... ... .. . 70 .. . ... 70 Miscellaneous places ... ... . .. 30 . .. 8 38 Churchhill Reef ... ... ... ... . .. 6 ... 6 Laura Reef ... ... . .. .. . ... 20 ... 20 Dana Reef.:. ... ... ... .. . .. . 6 ... 6 Whitehorse Reef ... ... ... . .. 25 25 Finche's Reef ... ... .. . ... ... 6 . .. 6 Welcome Reef, Amherst ... ... ... .. . 6 ... 6 Crump's Reef, Adelaide Lead ... ... ... 10 ... 10 Hamsom's Reef, Bung-Bong ... ... . .. 2 . .. 2 Private paddocks ... ... ... ... I 116

6 .... 122 --~- ---- -------

Totals ... ... ... .. . 1,359 87 490 . 1,936


. I - ' ALLUVIAL Mnrl:NG. QUABTZ Mnrl:NG.

Description of M&ehineey. Aggregate Number Aggregate

At Work. Idle. Horse.~ of At Work. Idle. of Stamp Horse-cor .. Steam · ea . Hea.ds. Steam . ea.

--·~-~ -~-- ·--.. ---·~

Steam Engines-

I Crushing ... ... ... . .. ... 3 1 40 68· Pumping, winding, &c. ... ' 10 ll 195 ... ... ... . ..

Pnddling Machines ... ... 146 36 ... ... ... . .. . .. Whims ... ... ... 34 9 ... ... ... .. . ... Whips ... ... . .. ' 6 ' 6 ... ... ... ... ... Quicksilver Cradles ... ... 28 3 ... ... ... .. . ... Hydraulic Hose (sets of) ... 3 ... .. . ... ... ... ...

' ·•

·,

53

Total value of mining plant in the division, £30,000. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, aetually worltcd

upon, 5. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 45. The price of ~old during the quarter in the division has been from £3 18s. 6d. to £4 per oz.

T.a:E FOLLOWING !NFORI\!ATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED 'l'HEREFROM :-

y;ef.i:r~ld i Remarks relative to the

Nr.me of Company. Where Quartz was , Quartz crushed. Total Yield of Depth at which the obtained. per Ton • Gold. Quartz Wllll obta.ined, &c.

------···-- .. t<>ns cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. 'oz. dwt. gr,

Cosstick and Co. ... i Laura Reef, Amherst 1,400 0 0 0 G 21'16 481 14 12 90 feet to 135 feet Archy and Co. ... Ch urahhill Heef, ditto 42 0 0 0 G 17'71 14 3 0. 52 feet, l foot thick Julian and Co. ... Ditto, ditto . .. 49 0 0 0 15 0 36 15 0 25 feet to 75 feet,

1 foot thick Duncan and Campbell 'Welcome Reef, ditto 34 0 0 0 6 0 10 4 0 70 feet. 4 feet thick Kehlet and Pattison ... Dana Reef, ditto 48 0 0 0 18 IS 45 0 0 110 feet, 3 feet thick Victoria (trial crushing) Whi tehorse Reef, ditto 7 0 0 0 7 0 2 9 0 30 feet, 3 feet to 5

i feet thick Bartlemore's, TalbotFlat Various reefs ... 152 0 0 0 7 15•15 \ 5S 0 ()

' Totals, Quartz .•. ~,·----~~~-'------!

1;732 0 0 0 7 ll•66. 648 5 12 I

The large decrease in the mining population which has taken place in this division during the past year appears now to be stayed, the numbers now employed being the same as in the preceding quarter.

More attention appears to be paid to quartz mining, which I trust ~ill steadily improve. The Victoria Company, at Whitehorse Reef, near Amherst, has erected a steam crushing machine, of 30 horse-power, at an outlay of about £3,000. The stampers (10 in number) commenced operations on 26th ultimo. The results are not yet known; but the trial crushings previous to the erection of the ma.chine gave 7 dwts. per ton.

The crushing machine at Bung-Bong has been doing little or nothing' during the last quarter, owing to the poorness of the stone in that neighborhood. · ..

·The alluvial mining about Mount Greenock continues to be in a depressed state, owing to the want of sufficient capital to work the main lead, which is so heavily char~ed with water. The Hoffnung Company, at Mount Greenock south, has had a12 horse-power engine, with 6-inch pipes and a 70-foot lift, employed for some months past almost exclusively in pumping, but have had to suspend operations to place in 10-inch pipes, which it is thought will clear the lead so as to enable the miners to proceed.

The leads about Cockatoo and Emu appear to be attracting more than ordinary attention. Several nu~g-ets of unusua.I size have been found during the last quarter; on~ of 35 ozs. was

found near Adeltude Lead.


Avoca. Homebush ... Amphitheatre Mountain Hut Green Hill Creek

AvocA SuBDIVISION.

Mr. Willialm Byrne, Mining SW1'1.ieyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS A.S FOLLOWS:-

Jji!ll'()pea.na. Chinese. Total for the Subdivision. Remarks.

1----1---~---- ~-----~ -----------... ·-·--··---

Totals

1,232

22 _ ........

1,254

T:B:E TOTAL NUMBER

0 -

800 2,032

22

800 2,054

OF MINRRB IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

870 Lamplough 201 No. lCreek ... 412 Fiddler's Creek 106 25 Total

156 84

200

2,054

Description of Ma.ohineey.

Steam Engines, engaged in pump· ing, puddling, and crushing:

. 64

THE MAO:qlNERY 19 AS FOLLOWS :-

ALLUVLI.L Mni:ING.

At Work. I ·. • Idle. At Work~

s "165 .I

Idle.

12

Horse-power of steam Engine,

15

' .'/f •

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, ;£12,300. . · · Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been: actually worked

upon, 8. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the

present time, 7. · ; , , ' The price of gold during the quarter in the 'subdivision has been from £3 19s. to £4' per oz.

TllE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN-OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND QUARi'Z

TAILINGS CRUsHED DURING THE ·QuARTER, AND TJ;IE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :- ·

i I

Na.meof Compru>y. Where Quartz, &c., were obtained. Quartz erushed.

--~·~ .. -~ .. -~.

tons cwt. <11'·

ly1Jd''i."r~ld I Total Yield of per Ton. . of Gold, - ... -

oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

I relative to th at which th

8 8

was obtained.

Vaie's Reef Bosanko. and Party ... . .. 96 0 0 0 7 22'50 38 2 0 , From surface to 50 feet

Ditto ... ... Maryborough Road 15 0 0 0 3 0 2 5 0 Surface Reef - '

Ditto ... . .. Iron bark Reef, Four- 10 0 .0 0 2 0' 1 0 0 Surface mile Flat ' ' . "

Totals, Quart~ ••• 121 0 0 o. 6 20'03 ·41 7 0

Quartz Tailings crushed. : . '

Bosanko and Party ... Tailings from .A,voc.a River

840 . 0 0 0 I 12· 63 0 .. 0

' The yield from the claim of the A voca Gold Mining Association has been for the last quarter

2,331 ozs., and that from the Golden, Lake Company, Homebush, 400 ozs. The greater'portion.of•the latter has been obtained within the last few days, one machine alone yielding 36 ozs. There is nothing new to report,in quartz mining. • ·

'!':": , ••. :.,L ,.

DUNO~Y DIVISION.

Mr. R. J: Mc)f~ll~,.rM~i'f0. Swrv~¥or -~---~eg~trar.


Europeru:ts. Chinese. Total for the Remarks. Divi&on ..

·~---- --.. ~--

' Alluvial Miners ... ... 1,820 520 2,340.

Quartz Miners ... ... 480 . .. 480 -

·I Totals ... 2,300 520 2,820

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTllD:

Dunolly :-.,Gooseberrv ... Pound Rush ... Old Lead ... ...

Burnt Creek and Bet-bet Inkermann and Wattle Flat Moliagul

Bealiba 240 Cay's... ... · ... . .. · 360 Tarnagulla • .. ... . .. 400 Llaneley1 l!ard l!ills, and Halfway 260 Jones' Creek ... , ... 260 250 Total

240 50

400 200 160 --

... 2,820 -

55

THE MAcHINERY IS AS FOLLows :-

ALLUVIAL ~"TNG. QtrAllTZ Mnrnm. I

Deseriphlon of Maohinery. I AtWork. \ Aggregate • -· [ Number I Aggregate

Idle, I ~:;::c::.l At work. Idle. [ of Stamp . Horse-power of . Heads. i Steam Engines,

--- ----

Steam Engines, employed pump- 5 3 98 15 5 184 322 ing, winding, and crushing •.

Whims .•. ... ... 26 ... . .. . .. ... ... ... Puddling Machines ... ... 85 ... ... . .. . .. . .. ...

, Total v~u~-of ~ining plant in th~ division, £48,000.

Number ofsquare miles.ofauriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 13!.

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 160 •

. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has. been from £3 19a. 6d. to £4 Is. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OIITA.INED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QuARTZ AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OIITAINED

THEBEFROM :-

Name of Oompany. Where ~artz, &c., were · · o tamed.

Quartz<ll'Ullhed. Average

. Total o:;;:;:ld of Yield of Gold

"' per Ton. •,; ..

tons cwt. qrs. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

R. W. Hammond ... Poverty Reef ... . .. 417 0 0 0 10 2•36 210 11 0

Frazer . and Williams... { Greek's Hill ... ... ·70 0 0 0 9 3'43

' 32 0 0

Phantom Reef ... 19 0 0 0 10 1•26 911 0 Growler's Reef ... 30 0 0 0 8 0 12 0 0

Cambrian ... ... New Chum Reef . .. 1,004 0 0 I 8 0 1,154 12 0

... { Sandstone Reef ... 318 0 0 0 4 18'26 75 14 0

Bousfield's Watts' Reef ... 8 0 0 2 0 6 16 2 0 ... Various small parcels, 42 0 0 011 8 23 16 0 from several reefs

···I

Queen Reef ... 204 0 0 0 9 9"88 96' 0 0 Patterson's Reef ... 29 ·o 0 0 7 15·72 11 2 0

McCoy and Co. Stewart's Reef ... 48 0 0 I 3 22•50 57 9 0 Walker's Reef I ••• 47 0 0 3 10 21"96 166 13 0 Arvon Reef, ... ... 24 ·o 0 1 14 4 '41 0 0 March Reef ... 6 0 0 0 14 16 4 8 0

Totals, Quartz ... 2,266 0 0 0 16 20'78 I

1,910 18 0 Quartz Tailings, and

Cement crushed. I' Glamorganshire ... ... Bealiba . .. ... 1,700 0 0 0 3 0 255 0 0 Knight's machine Ditto ' 780 0 0 0 3 8 121 17 12 ... . .. . ..

Totals, Quartz Tailings } , and Cement · ... _.2,480 0 0 0 8 0•90 376 17 12

KoRONG DIVISION.

Mr. W. G. (/ouchman, Minilng Swrveyor and Registrar.

THE. TOTAL NUMBER' OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-·

Europeans. Chinese. I Total for the :Remarks. Division.

Alluvial Miners ... ... 600 260 860

Quartz Miners ... ... 555 . .. 555 .. Totals ... 1,1,55 260 1,415

New Inglewood .. . Old Inglewood .. . Thompson's Gully

. Korong ... ·Jericho Kinuower Mcfntyre's

56

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JYfiNEBS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-·

'510 45

. 20 430 75

120 ll5

Sinnott's Bourke's Flat ... Commissioner's Flat Loddon and Kingarra

'fotal

TirE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-

' ALLUVIAL MDliNG, QUAMZ MINING,

Description of Ma.oi:unery.

At Work. I· I Aggregate , - • Number . Idle. Rorae·JlOWer of. At Work. Idle. of Stamp

I \ Steam Engine. , Heads.

- .. "'"~~-- - ! ------~ I

Steam Engines, employed pumping, i winding and crushing I ... I 20 18 6 143

Whims ... ... . .. I . .. ... I2 I2 . .. Whips ... ~., • I ... ... . .. I ... IS ll . .. Puddling Machines ... ... 33 39

I . .. ... . .. ...

I __ ............,.,~ Total value of mining plant in the division, £34,200.

60 40 10 70

1,415

\

Aggregate Horse-~er of Steam ginea.

300 . .. . .. . ..

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been; actually worked upon, 30. ·

, Number ofdistinct quar,tz reefs which have been actually provr.d to be auriferous to the present time, 143. · . · , ·

The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £317s .. 6d. to £3 18s. per.oz.

THE FOLLOWING lNFORl!ATl(ll'i HAS BEE"! OBTAINED RELM'IVE 'rO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND QUARTZ

TAILLl!GS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING l'HE QUAllTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED TIIEREFROM :-

,

I f ' Average ·

Name of Company. Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold / Tote! Yield of Where Quartz, &c., were obtained. Gold.

---·-·-----'-----'---·--·--------per Ton. '

... ------ ---·-


T,<tdy ·Darling ... March Reef, Inglewood . .. ... 58 (l 0 0 2 I6·19-; 7 I.5 3 Leicester Reef, do. · ... ... 107 0 0 0 5 20 BI 4 4 Welcome Reef, do. ... 34 0 o· o 7 4'4] 12 4 6 Old Inglewood Reef, Inglewood ... 65 0 0 Il42I·7S l13 9 0 Cainbrian Reef, do. · · ... 43 0 0 0 ll 1I'90 24 14 8 European Reef, do. ... 403 0 0. I 2'20·36 460 8 0 Jersey Reef, do. ... ss () 0 0 !I 9'54 50' 3 0 Morning Star Reef, do. ... 208 0 0 0 9 J·Js . 94 2 6 . -May Reef, do. ... 8 0 0 0 2 9 0 I9 0 Oolumbian Reef, do. '••• 13 0 0 0 l 0 0 13 0 Manchester Reef, do. ... 28 0 0 0 2 12'85 3 11 0 Dreadnought Reef, do. .;. 10 ·o 0 0 3 15'6 I 16 I2 Garibaldi Reef, do. ... 2I 0 0 0 2 0 2 .2 0 Rising Sun Hccf, do. ... 7 0 0 0 4 I6•2S I I2 18 Catherine Reef, do. ... 6 0 0 0 5 4 I !I o' Greek's Reef, do. ... IO 0 0 0 0 12 0 5 0

l'rince Albcrt ... Maxwell's Reef, do. ... 126 0 0 0 6 4'19 38 18 0 City of Bath Reef, do. ... I49 0 0 0 7 21'84 58 IS 14 Odin Heef, do. ... 12' 0 0 0 5 6 3 3 0

- Comiskey Reef, do. ... 4 0 0 0 I IS 0 7 0 March Hcef, do. ... 80 0 () 0 10 15 42 lO 0 Morning St-ar Reef, do. ... 120 0 0 0 ll 4'40 67 2 0 ·Daly Rer;;f, . do. ... 36 0 0 0 3 9',33 6 2 0

Victoria ... . .. Morning Star, do. ... 95 0 0· 0.7 4•85 34 4 5 Dreadnought Reef, do. ... 62 () 0 0 3 2I'29 12 I () Odin Reef, do. ... 162 0 0 0 4 10•93 36 l 20 Poverty Reef, do. ... 71 0 0 I 4 16•90 87 14 0 American Reef~ do. ... I7 0 0 0 6 l2'll 5 10 14

Duke of Cornwall ... Nelson Reef, do. ... 22 0 () () 2 18'54 3 I 0 }~uropean Reef, ao. ... 124 0 0 0 5 ll•22 33 18 0 Eureka Heef, . do. ... 10 0 0 0 0 2I'6 0 9 0 Jersey Reef, do. ... 36 0 0 0 3 I'33 5 10 0 Mfty Reef, do. ... 21 () 0 0 4 4 4 7 12 Rising Sun Heef, do. ... 144 0 0 0 4 13'26 32 I5 I4 Manchester Reef, do. ... 60 0 0 i 0 1 !J•6 4 4 0

I Wdoome Reef, do. ... 16 0 o I 0 l 21 ' I IO 0 Permanent Strata Reef, do. ... 37 0 0 0 , ,,. I lO 19 0 Leicester Reef; do. ... 117 () () 0 7 5'74 42 7 0

, Glasgow Reef, do. ... 26 0 0 0 l 7•85 1 14 12

'

' -TRE .FOLLOWING, INFORMATION RAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATlVE TO TRE QUANTIT~ OF QUARTZ AND

QuARTZ TAILINGs, MutLocx, AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING TRE QuARTER, AND TRE GoLD

OBTAINED TREBEFROM-continued :-

I

Where Quartz. &c., were I I Average Total Y" Id f \ Remarks relative to the Name of Company. Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold Gold~

0 ~~~. ~as~~:,~~ obtained. \ per:t'on.

--~-----~-- -----~---- -----~- --------tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

Prince of Wales ... German Reef, Jericho 1,340 0 0 0 l1 10'53 766 8 0 Catto's ... ... Ditto do . 62 0 0 0 9 20'90 30 12 0

Adelaide Reef do. 20 0 0 0 2 8'40 2 7 0 Phillips Reef do.l 2 0 0 0 13 0 1 6 0 Morning S~r Reefdo. 40 0 0 1 16 10'2 72 17 0

Thompson's Gully ... Welcome Reef do. I 50 0 0 0 1 17'52 4 6 12

Totals, Quartz ... ~ 4,170 0 0 0 10 15•27 2,217 14, 16 Quartz Tailings,Mullt!ck,

~

and Cement crushed. ~ I I

Lady Darling ... Daly Lead ... 39 0 0 0 5 23'08' ll 12 12 Old Inglewood ... 19 0 0 . 0 10 22•42 10 7 18

Prince Albert ... Deep Lead ... 19 0 0 0 4 19 411 0 Sundry Lots ... 25 0 0 0 2 16'32. 3 7 0

Victoria ... ... Daly Lead .•. 69 0 0 0 5 1·80 17 10 4 Commissioner's Flat 129 o. 0 0 4 4•08 26 17 23 Potter's Hill ... 23 0 0 0 4 10·26 5 1 20 Caledonian :Inat 4 0 0 0 2 9'50 0 9 14

Catto's ... ... German Reef Mullock 122 0 0 0 0 23"21 5 18 0 Tailings ... . .. 190 0 0 0 1 0•28 9 12 6 Ditto ... ... 500 0 0 0 0 13"20 13 15 0

~·-~-----

Total, Quartz Tail-} ings, Mullock, and 1,139 0 0 0 I 22 109 3 I Cement ...

, The improvement in mining interests, noticed in my last report, has been generally. sustained during the present quarter, more especially about Inglewood and Korong.

The returns of the crushings from the various Inglewood machines show a considerable increase in the general average, chiefly attributable to the resumption of. work by some important reefing companies, and to the plentiful supply of water for the machines.

At Inglewood, the March Reef, from its proximity to the focus of business, always engages the anxious attention of the {JUblic, and I am pleased to report that it more than maintains its past reputa. tion. The Prospectors Company· have resumed work energetically, valuable interests have changed hands, infusing new blood into their operations. Their machine has just now finished crushing from a new and rich lode to the westward, lately discovered by the Independent Company, and the stone continues to increase in richness; splendid results are speedily anticipated. The Independent Company's ·claim was, about seven weeks since, let on tribute, and after diligently prospecting the mine above water, and obtaining a crushing averaging 5~ dwts., the tributors discovered the aforesaid lode near their southern boundary; it narrows towards the Prospectors' (adjoining) claim, and they have not yet obtained results as brilliant as those of their neighbors, although about 60 tons at grass is expected to average i oz. The Unity Company's extensive plant is rapidly- advancing to completion. The machine of 24 stampers is exl'ected to be ready for work in a fortnight. The entire line of reef shows a mar]red change for the better, as do also the neigh boring Cambrian and Exhibition Reefs, in the latter of which the l<Jxhibition Company have lately obtained excellent prospects .. · Among the northern reefs, the once-famed Old Inglewood has agam come to the front. 'l.'he recently-formed Royal Standard Company, having the old prospectors' groiiDd, have fortunately obtained almost immediate and very handsome results, the last crushing having averaged 2t ozs. The European Reef has also yielded to the Ophir Company the excellent return of 387 ozs. from 335 tons. 'l'he Jersey is also giving fair returns. On the important Maxwell Reef, the prospectors have at length organized their company and resumed operations. Their pumping machinery is at work, and the deeper sinking of the main shaft will be commenced in a day or two. The Enterprise Company will re-commence work as soon as their claim has been drained by the Prospectors. While sinking their own shaft deeper, by contract, to drain the drive from which they were extracting 12 dwt. stone when arrested by water, the clack-piece burst, and the contractors, disheartened by encountering a large body of stone while sinking, applied for a cessation of contract. This the company granted, the expenses of working'their machinery while sinking being very heavy; and as their means were straitened through having a very small capital at command, it was resolved to sink no deeper at .Present, but be drained sufficiently for work, and.more economically, by their neighbors. I mention this company more fully as an instance of the protracted results of operating with an insufficient margin of capital. A loan has been raised, but as this appears to be chiefly required to meet liabilities for purchase of plant, &c., considerable delay has occurred, perhaps almost compulsorily. However, as the management seems to be carefully looked to, their good prospects will probably soon realize well. The Havilah (late Great Extended) Company have applied for extension of lease all round. Nothing else of moment is being • done .on this reef at present.

At Jericho, the Prince of Wales Company's claim still turns out well; decidedly better since the last report. They are now about erecting new pumps and an engine for winding.

At Burke's Flat the pumping and winding machine, in course of erection at date of last report, is completed, and crushing has begun. Two new reefs have been discovered in this vicinity, the prospects of which are good.

At Korong there is nothing of importance in reefing; Three new alluvial rushes (Silverdale, 'Possum Point' and Williams' lGullies) are all turning out well. Several large nuggets have been lately discovered.

No,l4,g.

58

· At Kingower there· is nothing of any moment noticeable. . . . . In .reefing operations.generally at Inglewood an increasing. ()onfidence is perceptihle, chiefly

omng to the improved position of some of the older 1ines, which are slowly, but gradually, attracting the attention of extraneous capitalists. · · ·

ALLUVIAL }\fiNING. . . The Inglewood Alluvial (Deep L~ad) Company hav.e commenced work. In the drive, at 90 feet, 1t was ~ound that the bottom had dipped 4 feet, with a· ratio of 1 in. 7 '· They have not yet. struck the wash-dirt. The· public interest is strongly manifested in the career of this company, •whose success would undoubtedly open up a new bran~h of mining industry at Inglewood.

Alluvial Miners

Quartz ·Miner~

Red bank Hines Donkey Hill ...

REDBANK AND ST. ARNAUD SouTH SUBDIVISIONS. ' . ~· .

Mr. WiUiam Byrne; ... 'Mining Suiveyor and Registrar:·•

I ~opeans. ... :i ' 'le 260 .. ...

; .... ·' . ..... 190 ··---·· -----.

Totals. ~- j ; ...

450 ,., I '

Chinese •. Total for the Subdirillions, .

io

10

.. .:.·( '• 27~ ..

'"

190

460 '-~ l,

Forest Hut ... Stuart Mill .. :· ·' Darling Flat

,. :,

... ,, " I

·'

20 50 40

Moonambel ... ... . .. Vic¥>ria, ~d ~dj~ining·gullies ··~,

200 ·'20'

' 40 40'

.50' Total, 460

THE MAcHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-

'. i

-~-

Description of Machinery. 1- I Numbat' Aggregate At Work. Idle,. Horse-power of At Work./ Idle. of Stamp Horse-power of

Steam Engines. I Heads, Stea.m.Engjnes. •:j ~

. " 7' 9' ... ... I ... . .. . .. 2

.. :· ... i·· ~·. ~

! ...

j I

... . .. '' .... ... ..... 1 3 26~ 65 . " .. ,. "

' .. .. __ .,._,

Puddling·Machines ·:.. , .. .. Whims ' ... 1 ... .. .

Steam Engines, employed in crush-. ing, pumping, &c: · ··: . : ·.

• t • .. ; . • ' . ~ • i

. Toti.tl,.v~Iue ~~.mini.ng pl~t,i.q. t~c;: subdivision~, £2,000. . , . . . , . . ... . N:umber of square miles of-auriferous gr~iund which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 9t. , Number of distinct quartz 'reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 26. · · · · Th~ price of gold during the· quarter in the subdivisions has been from £3 18s. 6d. to £4 la.

per oz. ' · · · ·

' l

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION tUB BEE~ .OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED

: .. '·DURING TilE Q~.A:RTER, AND· TilE GoLD OBTAINED THilR.EFIIOlll :-

NameofOompa.ny.

Lancashire . . Reef Crushing Stuart Mill

. :·

... What'C Quartz WIIS

1

obtained. • 1

1 Average ' I 'QuArtz crushed. . Yield of Gold

I per Ton . Total Yield of

Gold.

. . ~a~g-. o~r-R~e-ef-.~~-.• -.. -.~~~-- ~: ~~~-. -•l-~~-z.-1~-wt-.I,....·agr-.7-.1-, oz; ~~· ~· Ditto ... · 12 10 '6 o 18 14·40 s· 10 o

, ",.Eureka Reef ;, c:·;,i .. _ ·c..·--7'---'-0--·'-o'-'- -"~o_,-7_o ____ . __ 2_9 __ o_, Totals, Quartz •.• I· 33 10 0

I 0 12 5•02 20 9 0.

59

The late rains have given a considerable impetus to operations in alluvial mining, particularly in the neighborhood of Victoria and other gullies near Stuart Mill. The, North, British Company, Redbank, having obtained payable prospects, have purcJtased two engines, which are now on the road .from Ballarat. Great expectations are formed as to the success of this company.

I~ quartz mining there is nothing to report, the claims on thePyrenees Reef being unable to work, pending arrangements for drainage with the Pyrenees Company. , At tlie mill of this company no crushing has taken place during the last quarter.

'!

ST. ARN.AUD NoRTH SuBDIVISION ......

lf[r:. ___ .[oh't} __ Phillips, Mining Surveyor and Registrar •

. THE TO'UL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS :.!-.

.·I . E?!,ope~~ Chinese. Total for the

-···-*" ·- ~· "' Subdivision.

Alluvial Miners ... . .. 165 206 371 . ·.• . ..

Quartz Miners ... . .. 215 215 -· -----~---~ ' T~tals ... 380 2o6 586

• T~E TOTAL N uM~ER oF ·MINEis ~~ THus DISTRIBUTED :-- ' ~,

Wilson's Hill Chrysolite: Hill- · .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . McCredie's, Chapman's, Edelsten's, and Williams'. engines

1 lnglewood Road . .. ... · .. . . ... . .. Unexpected, ~ete~~. l\nd Ros~rons' Diggings Caledo~ia~ 1R!l~! . .. ,_,,. __ ,, . ... ... Jerejaw Reef · · ·' ... · · .. . Royal Kent... ... . .. Tunnel Hill, Carney's, Carrapooee Sawpit Gully .. . .. GapGully ... Armenian Gully Emu and vicinity . . . . .. Banshee, Dogbury, and She-Oak Malakoff, V en us, Hopeful, and Association Reefs Bell Rock Reef .. . .. • .. .. . Greenock and Spinster Reefs ... Bristol Reef ... New Bendigo and vicinity ... Silver Mines and Stuart's Rill... . Blink .Bonny !Jlld Strathalbyn Reefs .

Total ...

THE MACRINER'f IS AS FOLLOWS:-

i

llemarlm.

12 25 16 4

14 6

22 ' 2 39

6 6 6 8

22 18 11 11 24

270 48 16

586

ALLUVIAL Ml:NJ:NG. QUARTZ MINING.

------~--------

Description of lllaobinery. Aggregate

At Work. I Number I Aggregate .At Work. Idle. Horse-power of Idle • of Stamp Horse-power of ' Steam Engin"':·l I

Reads. Steam Engines. ~---··--~--

., ___ , __ Steam Engines ... ... ... 2 .. . 16 4 2 70 106 Balfour's Pulverizer ... .. ... ... ... ... 1 . .. .. . .Appleton's Breaker -~·1 1 ... ... . .. ... . .. . .. . .. Whims ... ... ... .. . .... . .. s 6 . .. . .. Chilian Mills ... ... . .. . .. . .. .5 . .. . .. . .. Fuddling Machines ... ... 13 3 ' ... ... .. . ... . ..

i I '

Total value of mining plant in the subdivision, £15,000. Number of square miles of auriferoUll groUIId which is being, or may have been, actually

worked upon, 6.


The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £4 to £4 Is. per oz.

'\·

. 60

THE FOLLOWING INFOR~IATION HAS BEEN on·rAlNEJ> RELATIVE TO THE QuAN'ri•ry OF QUART;; . AND QUARTZ

TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QuARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

I : Remarks relative to the I Average I . Name of Company. Where ~rtz, &o., were Qua.rtz crushed. Yield of Gold Total Y1eld of ' Depth at which tbe

·· o tained. · per Ton. , Gold. Quartz, &o., were ob-tn.ined.

tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt~ gr. oz. dwt. gr.

Chapman and Co. ... St. Arnaud Reef, 811 0 0 0 14 8'12 581 8 12 public crushipg .

Lees and Co. ... Greenock Reef, &c., 65 0 0 I 4 ll·o8 79 10 0 to 200feet ditto •.

Chrysolite ... ... Own and others' 855 1.0 0 01714'68 753 7 0 quartz'

1-' Near surface Edelsten and Co. ... Ditto ditto 17 0 0 0 1~ 22"58 9 6 0

.Totals, Quart.z ... 1,748 10 I) '0 16 6'80 1,423 ll 12 Quartz Tailings and

Cement Crushed. :

McCredie's engine ... Public crushin!i, tail- 150 0 0 0 4 19•20 36 0 0 ings

Williams' machine ..... Alluvial, tailings ... 480 0 0 0 2 12 60 0 0

I I 630 0 0 0 3 1"14 96 0 0

I Cement from-' New Bendigo ... 77 0 0 0 13 2g•75 53 14 o:

Carapooee ... lOO 0 0 ; 0 6 0 30 0 0

fi 177 0 0 lo 9 10'98 I 83 14 0

Totals, Quartz Tail- } ings and Cement 807 0 0 0 4 I0·8s 179 14 0

Silver Ores with Gold Mixed MetaL . Crushed.

SilverMiningAssociation Stuart's Hill ... 1,727 0 0 ... i 1,940 0 0 .. 1.50 feet Masters and Prs. ... Ditto . .. ... 52 0 0 ... ' 135 10 ot 20 feet to 4 5 feet

-----Totals, Silver Ores} 1,779 0 0 ... 12,075 10 0 with Gold ...

* Value of alloy not given. t Alloy worth over £1 per oz.

I have the honor to state that the western slopes from New Bendigo are now presenting a new item in my report, viz., a quantity of cement of good yield; and at Peters' Diggings alluvial tailings are yielding to the crusher a payable amount of gold, and inducing new enterprise.

It is strange that New Bendigo, so remarkable for the steady yield of its reefs (now generally over an.ounce per ton), should, after eight or nine years, continue to, be taxed by a cartage of two .or three miles. 'rhere are large masses of inferior quartz untouched, which would pay a machine in place. The alluvial ground alone demands a machine, as much of it is cemented and will not puddle.

. The wrought reefs of this subdivision are paying well, and there are other reefs, being as good to look at, but requiring to be laid open. .

I have registered sn alluvial prospecting claim; depth of sinking, 3 or 4 feet ; yield, not less that 1 oz. to the load; locality, 2t miles south-west of St. Arnaud township, taking westward into the

· plains.

;

61

CASTLEMAINE MINING DISTRICT.

CASTLEMAINE DIVISION.

Mr.,Thorna,s L. Brown, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMllER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

I ' Europea.ns. Chine Be. Total for

the Division.

------- ~-~--

.Alluvial Miners ... ... 81,0 1,420 2,230

Quartz Miners ... ... 548 12. 560

Totals ... 1,35S 1,432 2,790

THE TOTAL N tl'MBER OF MINERS IS THtl'S DISTRIBtrT:iSD :-

Castlemaine Campbell's Creek Diamond Gully Guildford ... Barker's Creek Muckleford · Moonlight Pennyweight Chewton Golden ~oint Cobaw

Remarks.

240 370 320 255 300 45

215 230 519 280 16

Total. ... 12,790

THE MACHINERY IB AS FOLLOWS:-

ALLUVIAL :Mn!l:NO, QUA.ll.TZ :Mn!l:No.

Description of Macbiner7.

At Work.! Idle. Number of I ~gate Number of Aggregate Stamp Heads. Iloni6'~er of At Work. Idle. stu,mp Heads. HorS&-power of

Steam gines. Steam Enginea. ·-~-~- !- ----

ff'.J.-"1 Steam Engines ... ... / 5 ... 16 97 16 s 258 395

' Horse Puddling Machines .... 168 32 ... ... ... ... ... . .. Horse Whims and Pulleys .•. 10 ... ... ... 35 . .. ... . .. Sluices and Toms ... ... 63 ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ..

I I I

Total value of mining plant in the division, £64,000.

Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, l?r may have been, actually worked upon, 9. .


· The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 15s. 9d. to £8 17s. Bd. :Per oz.

'

62

THE .FOLLOWING !N.FORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE_, QuANTITY· OF QUARTZ

CJmSHED DURING THE QuARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED TREREFROM :-

I

Na.me of Company. Where Quartz waa Avera~ I Totlll Yield Remarks relative to the obtained. Quartz crushed. Yield of ld of Gold. Depth' at which the

per Ton. Quartz was obtained. ~---~--~--- ---------

tons cwt. qr. oz.dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Ajax Walker

... . .. Bolivia Reef . .. 975 0 0 0 10 1'77 491 2 0 140 feet to 196 feet ... ... Manchester Reef .•. 424 0 0 0 16 9'55 347 12 18 ~o feet Harvey ... . .. Ditto ... .. . 35 0 0 0 6 3•71 10 15 lO Walker ... . .. Wattle Gully .1 l 229 0 0 0 4 5'82 48 11 13 Fair bairn ... ... Ditto · ... ~ ... 780 0 0 0 5 17"25 223 0 16 Lloyd ... ... Ditto . .. 117 0 0 0 1'4 '4'41 82 19 12 Kent and Others ... Ditto . .. . .. l3i 0 0 0 1 2 48 ·10 12 James · ... ... Town Reef . .. 142 !) 0 0 12 4 86 7 17 130 f'*;t Myers ... ... Shanks Reef ... 325 o· 0 ·o '7 0 ll3·15 0 Mcintosh and Others ... Vineyard Reef ... Ill 0 0 0 6 5'93 . 34 13 10 . Salmon ... ... Burns' Reef . .. 46 o.o 0 16 4'69 37 5 0 Me Waters ... •••: Ditto ... . .. 35 0 0 0 4 13"03 7 19 0 Lewis ... ... Sebastopol Reef . .. 166 0 0 0 18 1•73 150 0 0 Straede ... - . .. Ditto .. : ... 829 0 6 0 4 2"66 170 8 0 Ditto ... .. Luck~o)Y ~!Jef ... 86 0 0 0 6 12"55 28 I 0 Gregory Dead-Cat Reef 88 0 0 0 4 18"82 21 l o· • !'-~ ... ... Bennetts ... South American Reef 2ll :0 0 0 6 5•30 65 12 15 Logan and 6¥hers ... Argus Hill Reef ... · 365 0 0 6 13 19·26 251 1,7 22' ]'lint and Co. ... Chewtoh Reef . .. 149 0 0 0 5 13•69 •41 10 0 Jackson. ... ... Victoria Reef . .. 120 -0 0 0 5 18'70 34 13 12 , Martin and Others ... Horseshoe Reef ---::·. 27 0 0 o·: 5 16"66 7-13 IS James ... ... Sheepshead ... 33 0 0 0 ll 14"54 19 3 0 Matthews ... . .. Lady Sutton Reef ... 32 0 0, 010 4'12 16 5 12 ,Curnow ... . .. Garibaldi Reef ... 42 0 0 0 6 21"71 14 10 Q Evans ... ... London Reef .. . 33 0 0 0 3 20 6 6 12 Opie and Others Post Office Reef ... 71 0 0 0 6 8'45 22 11 0 40 feet Lewis and Others ... Nimrod Reef ... 606 0 0 0 9 6•82 281 6 6 Jones and Others ... Various Reefs ... 167 0 0 0 3 19•10· 31 13 22 Stephens and Co. ... Cumberland reef ... 15 0 0 0 10 0 7 10 0 .. : ·----

., Totals, Quartz ... 6,396 0 0 0 8 10"84 2,702 16 11

... '

The quarter has been exceedingly dull, alluvial mining, with our present 'appliances and water supply, daily becoming more precarious; many miners now employ themselves re-washing old tailings. Tlie only exc(lption is at Barker's Creek and.Harcourt, where 74'men are sluicing, making good wages . after paying for .the water.

Many miners are again on the move, .preparing for departure to New Zealan9-. Our mechanical appliances are also on the decrease, two steam. engines, the Aberdeen Company's

and the White Horse Company's plants, having been sold and removed. · Quartz l!linin,g in Chewton continues prosperoua. Two _continuations of reefs~have been opened,

and named Ganbald1 and Lady Sutton; upon each several clmms have been taken up. Nearly all the' returns are from Forest Creek, there being no payable reef at work at Barker's Creek, and only the Ajax Company upon Oampbell's Creek, consequently the crushing machmes in those localities are unemployed. -.- ·

" ' ,, • ~ > ...

· FRYER's': CREEK SuBDIVISION.

Mr. R .. L. M. Kitto, MVn.ing Surveyor and Registrq,r~

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS':-

l!."uropeans. I Chinese. Total fur the Remarks. Subdivi!lio_n. . - ---.. AlluviaL Miners ... ... . 1,375 1,481 2,856

Quartz Miners .•. ... ... 140 ... 140 - -~-~·-

Totals I ... ... 1,515 I 1,481 2,996 I

I

63

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED;-

43 10

Glenluce Hard Hills Sailor's Gully ...

157 -120

Spllcimen Hill :Blacksmith's Gully Spring Gully Church's Flat · Deadman's Gully Chapel Hill

189 47 60 54

120 177 449 128 267

. Pickpocket and Loddon Holcombe ... Fryerstown Vaughan ...

, ....

67 375 164 223 346 New Year's Flat ...

German Gully and Mopoke Strathloddon and Guildford Tarilta ... Loddon and V alley ...

Total 2,996

THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS ;-

Description of Maebinery. ~-----~ALL---mn~AL--~ ____ -o_.~-~------I------~-Q-u_AA~T-z_~--~~----------! :At Work.

Number Aggregate Idle. ofStamp Horse-power of At Work.

Heads. Steam Engines. Idle.

Number of Stamp Heads.

Aggregate Horae-power of Steam Engines.

---~----------SteamEngines, washing,pump-

ing, and crushing cement Horse Puddling Machines ... Whims •.• .~. Whips ... . .. , Horse Pumps ... Sluices and Toms ••• Water-wheels .. . Steam Engines .. . Whims ••• Whips '... • ..

10

210 12 40 60

lOO 8

2

20 .... 5

13 7

108 260

8 8

14

0

70 117

4


upon,2Sf. ' Number of distinct quartz l!eefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 28. · The, price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 15s. 6d. to· £3 19s.

per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, HAS BEEN OB'l:A.INED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QuARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED

.THEREFROlll ;-

•

Name of Company.· Where 21,uru:tz, &c., were Average .

TotaJ Yield of Remarks relative to th Quartz crushed. Yield of G<>ld Depth at which th o tained. per ton. G<>ld. Quru:tz was obtaloed.

-·

tons owt. qr. oz. dwt. gl". oz. dwt. 81"·

Rowe Brothers Ferron's Reef .. 75 0 0 0 6 16 I 25 0 0 50 feet ... ... Rowe Brothers ... Clark's Reef ... 60 o· o 0 8 8 10 0 _o 60 feet Rowe Brothers ... Cattle's Reef ... 167 0 0 0 19 1"94 159 6 12 110 feet Stephens and Company Ferron's Reef ... 266 0 0 0 15 8"59 204 5 6 40 feet Gattle and Company ... Cattle's Reef ... 126 0 0 1 0 0 126 0 0

} 60 feet Cattle and Company ••• Cattle's Reef ... 107 0 0 0 10 0 53 lO 0 "Rowland and Company Bristol Reef ... 17 0 0 1 0 0 i7 ·o 0 120 feet Rowland and Company Bristol Reef ... 14 0 0 0 7 0 4 18 0

} 60 feet Row land and Company Bristol Reef ... 6 0 0 0 9 0 2 14 0 Birmingham ... Specimen Hill Reef 12 0 0 0 10 0 6 0 0 40 feet Hicks and Company ... Bindon's Reef ... 14 0 0 2 0· 0 28 0 0 20 feet Hicks and Company ••• Bindon's Reef ... 4- 0 0 l 10 0 6 0 0 20 feet Duke of Cornwall ··~. Cattle's Reef ... 1'12 0 0 0 10 0 86 0 0 60 feet

Totals, Quartz ... 1,040 0 Quartz Tailings and

0 0 I~ o·3o 728 13 18

Cement crushed. -----

Table Hill ... ... Table Hill . .. 780 0 0 0 4 0 156 0 0 "'Eldorado ... Guildford Hill ... 1,000 0 0 0 3 0 150 0 0 Francisco and Company Mein's Hill ..• ... 130 0 0 0 10 0 65 0 0 William Tell ... Mein's Hill ... ... 455 0 0 0 3 12 79 12 12 Alpha ... ... Alpha Paddock ... 300 0 0 0 6 16 100 0 0 Ditto (public crushing) Various places ... 1,620 0 0 0 10 0 810 0 0 Sir H. Barkly ... Company's ground 650 0 0 010 0 325 0 0

. Ditto (public crushing) Various ... ... 780 0 0 015 o. 585 0 '0

Totals, Quartz Till- }

1 ings and Cement 5,715 0 0 0 7 22"7012,270 12 12

" This oomp~my will be reducing fully 5,000 tons of eement quarterly in future.

,,

64

I have the honor to report the discovery of a new reef at the head of Golden Gully, to the west of and parallel with Clark's, Cattle's, and Heron's Reefs. The proprietors have· named it Bindon's Reef. The 4rst crushing gave 28 ozs. from 14 tons of stone ; and a subsequent one, 6 ozs. from 4 tons ofstone. ·

The average yield from the quartz crushed in this subdivision' during the past quarter is con· siderably above •any ·previous return. · .

I mentioned in my last report the fact of the Hand of Friendship Company, on the Emu Reef, r~moving their engine. They commenced working last week; I hope to be able to report regular returns from· this mine in future.

In ordinary alluvial mining there is no visible chanffe· The puddlers are gradually but surely exhausting the various gullies and flats, while no new discoveries of this class of mines are being made. , - .. ... ..

. In reference to the deep leads, I 'think; we shall be enabled to show in a very short time that · they are highly remunerative. ' '

The Eldorado, the first large alluvial company in this subdivision that has fairly set to work, gave for the last three weeks 83 ozs., 101 ozs., and 87 ozs. respectively. ·

The Alpha Mine, one of those started about a year and a half ago, .was managed in such a way as to cause the shares to be comparatively worthless, but the mine having been. taken on tribute, a few months has brought the company out of debt, and a considerable sum is beginning to accumulate towards paying a dividend, which is expected at Christmas.

The Gtrildford Gold Mining Company have a val~1able mine.

HEI'BURN DIVISION.

Mr. Antbrose Johnson, Mining St1rveyor and Registrar.

- THE TOTAL NuMBER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

Europeans. '· Chirtooe. Total for the Dirtsion. Relll.llJks.

---··----

Alluvial Miners

Quartz l'rfiners

Totals

1,772

604

2,37~

576 2,348

604

576 2,952

TliE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THt'S DISTRIBUTED

Brandy-hot ... Boots Blind Creek ... Wombat Creek Stony Creek ... Spring Creek Sailor's Creek D'ry Diggings ... Daylesford and Comoora

' I

Descriptien of Ma.ehinery.

Steam Engines, empl in pump-ing, winding, pud , &c.

Steam Engines, employ in pump-ing, winding, crushing.

Crushing Mills (water-power) Whims Horse Fuddling Machines

98 63 52

166 240 215 349 148 445

Wombat Connell's Gully

reek P cket ... Forty-foot ... Doctor's Gully


! Aggregate At Work. I r=~~~!e~~ At Work.

---u. 9 500 ...

16

14 22 14 93 ]<:>" -=>

Total

QUARTZ MlNINO,

Number Idle. of Stamp

Heads. ~·····

10 246

3 22 25

316 93

435 114 30

188

2,952

Aggregate

~~=-lrn~e~~

466

Total value of mining plant in t.he division, £69,000. , Number of square miles of auriferous ground w4ich is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 47. · Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the

present time, 83. . , , The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. to £4 Os, Bd. per oz.

65

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING TilE QUARTER, AND TilE GOLD OBTAINED

TIIEEEFROM :-

Where Quartz, kc., were Average I . Rellllltks rel&tive to the Name of Company. Quartz orushed. Yield of Gold Tota.l Ywld of Depth at which the obta.illed. per Ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained.

~···--~~··

tons owt, qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Prince of Wales ... Glamorganshire Reef 1,200 0 0 0 1 12 90 0 0 so feet to I 00 feet Chance ... . .. Chance Reef ... 700 0 0 0 7 0 245 0 0 50 feet to lOO feet C. Morrison and Co. .. . Christmas Reef ... 46 0 0 0 10 0 23 0 0 100 feet Dannevirke ... ... Adelaide Reef . .. 258 0 0 1 10 0 387 0 0 232 feet to 355 feet Ditto, for hire ... Adam's Reef ... 6 0 0 2 0 0 12 0 0 Surface Ditto, ditto .•. ... Iveson's Reef ... 10 0 0 2 17 0 28 10 0 11 feet Wonderful ... Wonderful Reef ... ,600 0 0 010 0 300 0 0 150 feet Specimen Hill ... Specimen Hill ... 150 0 0 0 9 0 67 10 0 175 feet North Crown ... Wombat Reef ... 400 0 0 0 4 0 80 0 0 140 feet Havelock ... ... Ditto ... .. . 1,000 0 .o 0 7 12 '375 0 0 350 feet Cornish ... ... Ditto ... . .. 1,600 0 0 0 8 12 680 0 0 265 feet Cornish and French ... Collier's Reef .... ' l,lOO 0·0 0 3 0 165 0 0 ! 25 feet Geo. Howe's Mill ... Various reefs ... I 520 0 0 0 6 0 156 0 0 Nuggety ... ... Nug@\ty Reef ... 358 0 0 0 4 0 71 12 o /40 feet to 50 feet

···l Spring Creek ... 150 0 0 0 11 12 86 5 o 55 feet

Barckly's Mill Ditto ... . .. 45 ,o 0 0 9 0 20 ,5 0 Pitcher's Reef ... 122 0 0 0 2 0 12 4 0 Surface Ditto ... , .... ' 60 0 0 0 2 6 6 15 0 50 feet

Crown ... ... Wombat Hill ... 1,162 0 0 0 10 0 581 0 o ' 240 feet Jenkins' Mill .... { Bray and Co. ... 650 0 0 0 8 12 276 5 0 70 feet

Various .reefs 555 0 0 0 4 16'60 130 4 0 ----

Totals, Quartz ... 10,692 0 0 0 7 2'30 3,793 10 0 Quartz Tailings and

Oem1mt crushed, ' Prince of Wales ... Daylesford Extension 50 0 0 0 4 0 10 0 0

claim Howe's Mill ... ... Various claims . .. 780 0 0 0 4 0 156 0 0

Barekly's Mill . I Doctor's Gully ... 100 0 0 0 3 0 15 0 0 ... l Spring Creek ... 150 0 0 0 5 0 37 10 ·o

Totals, Quartz Tail-} 1,080 0 0 . 0 4 1•11 218 10 0 ings and' Cement !

No marked improvements have taken. place in mining matters during the quarter, and as a consequence the mining population is materitilly decreasing. The supply of water has· apparently been sufficient in the greater part of the district to keep the sluices busy, but the number of claims yielding sufficiently good returns to pay, at the rate of £3 or £4 for water per week, is gradually diminishing, and hired labor is scarcely being employed in any claim of this description. ·

In quartz mining some slight improvement is vjsible, and attention is gradually being directed into this channel. The returns obtained from the different quartz crushing machines are more than usually complete, and show a slight increase in the average yield over that for the preceding quarter.

Tunneling continues in much the same condition as before, the working being, with a few exceptions, confined to re-working old ground, and generally, both in the- old and new ground, the return is just about ordinary wages. I may, however, mention that the Ballarat Tunnel Company have again got their claim in working order, and anticipate washing up from 120 to 140 ozs. per week. The Smeaton Estate Company, in the same locality, are calling for tenders to have additional puddlincr machinery erected by the time the ground is fairly opened up, and I understand the intervening grouna will shortly be brought before the public.

No new ground has been opened in any part of the division, and with the exception of the find of two nuggets, one of about 60 ozs. and one of about 28 ozs., nothing worthy of remark has occurred.

TAR.A.D.A.LE SUBDIVISION.,

Mr. ThomaB Orwin, Minilng Registrar.


I I

!

Europeallll. Chinese. Total for the Remarks. Subdivision. -~~~--~--

:Alluvial Miners ... ... 470 I 134 604 Quartz Miners ... ... 120 .I . .. 120

Totals ... 590 I 134 724 !

No. 14, h.

•

66

Taradale '(scattered) · Yankee Point Park Lead ... Bell's Lea'd· .,t Malmsbury'·(riorth) Belltopper : ... ·

150 45 40

' 80 85 35

Wattle Flat ... Barfold ... Redesdale (scattered)·:·

150 55 84

I

'"! Total' 724

:, ...

·.'ALLUVIAL MJ:NIN\}. ',,

QUARTZ MmmG. " '· '

De~cription oi M\J<iilw.lerr. '" . ,..,

j Number " Aggregate ' ' .I· Aggregate "' ' f :At Work;· Idle. Horse-power of 4-twor~:- Idle. of Stamp Horse-power of -.. • ! Steam Engines.

' Heads. Steam Engin~s. . '" ! -~,.-1---., . '' --, ---.,

•'

Steam Engines, _for puddling ~d pumping 9 251 ..

4, ... ... . •••' ... .. . Ditto, for crushing .•. ... ... '· ... ... .. . 6 l 46 " 64 Horse):~udd!jng, Machines ... ... 10 1 . .. . .. . .. ... ... ,,. I Horse Whims · ... ... . ... 11 5,. ... ... ... . .. . ..

'I ''l j·;: !'

Total V!!olue· of miriing plant in the subdivision; £22,000. Number ~f square •mile~ of aurif~~ous ground which is b-~ing,,or may have been, actulilly

worked upon, 15. - - . -·-, ~ •

t.

1N8

umber of distinc(q~~ti r_ee:fs. 'w¥~h h!J.v'J bee:n: actually' p~~ed 'to be ainiferou~ tq ~e p:~~~~~ l.Ille, • ' :· •.

The price of' gold•du:ring tthe quarter in the subdivision has'beeri fi:om '·£3 17s. 6d~·'to '£3·•188; 9d.peroz. . _ ,._, - .. 1 : .,,.1 ; • .. ,

1 ·,.· , ,_ ·,_ .,

THE FOLLOWING :!~FORMATION HAS, D!!JEN OBTAINED RELATIV'E:.TO · THlp QUANTITY OF QUARTZ

AND QUARTZ TAILINGS AND-CEMENT' CRUSHED .. DUniNG.-THE QuARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED I < • l' r • ~

THEREFROM :- .. ' . . . · • ' · , . ·

· : · I -Average Quartz Cl'Ullhed. Yield of ~ld TotaJ Yield of •' • - ·c per, To~. ..._Gold.·."·, •

'' '· ••• t <''\• .Alpha , tons cwt; qr.T. vz~•d-.. •• .,_., i .oz. dwt. gr •

••. · ··25o , o~ ' o 1• o 12 · o .. 156 o o

Prince Albert · Bellt~pl_ler ...

· · ·:·' .. !" -Taradale Ditto .Ditto_ ">

' 50- .o 0 i 1 '2·. 2 :· 55\ 4 4 . •·· n'~ ·- ••• , ,32 .. o" o .

1

: 0.'15 o. ,._ 24 .. o .o ... -----.---------

Quartz Tailings ·and Cement · crushed·

,. . Totals, Qua.rt'z .•. , . ,332 0 0 '. 0' 13 19'38 l 229 4 4 '~~.' --------------.-.-.. -

l . · London and Melbourne. to o o 0 10.0 5 0 0

,. ..., .... - • ._ J •'.' • > ". +-· ·~·.'':

I ' In my last report I alluded to the evil effects of over speculation in this subdivision; which, I regret to. say,•:is stili operatiD.g inj~ously on the mih~g inte!-'ests here,-- as is obv:ious from- the· want of energy displayed .by several companies--on whose chum~ thousands of pounds have been:.-expended<; nevertheless there are a few claims which have been continued, and are bidding fair to be dividend paying claims. The prospects of the London and Melbourne are of highly encouraging character. They will shortly commence to block out ground where the wash-dirt is 4 feet thick, having the lead of gold one hundred feet wide by several hundred feet long f the company have enlarged their claim considerably. · ·

The Nil Desperandum Company have let the claim to tributors, who are doing well ; last week they obtained over 30 ozs. of gold fi:om two m;whines. The _London have good prospects. The Union claim is also let to tributors and yieJ!Pgg'_)Vell, ; .. TJl!'l.;Qa:I;Qbrian have suspended operati9ns for a while, in order that the manager· may communicate with the shareholders of the company i and have their opinion, concerning a sudde~ dip in the~r.main_ drive, supposed, t<? be in ·close proximity to the lead now worked by the London'and:'Melllourne Company. The L'o'rd · Malmsbury are regarded with great interest; having gone.an unexpeeted depth, _they- will shortly bottom, and thus prove the ground between Taradale and Malmsbury. · , .

~· ... . ' . · __ • "'' QuuTz·.· .,, ·'

.. - -But little ~ppears to ha~e been -done' m quartz crushing, owing.--to pe~a.r-~ircumst~ces whl~h happily seldom occur. '7'::','': ~;;-:'v ' ..• , •. ·:'· · .• , •"-'"'' . • • .... _. '.f.llil.Achille_s_has·not beE:m able to: obtain stone, as thepvere swamped by a flood in winter; they

have almost got. the water down. The Alpha are wa~ting to comll:Jence. sinking a new. shaf!; on their claim., · The Levmthan has been sold to a new proprwtary, who are gomg·to work With v1gor. The Green Hill (the Old Hit-or~Miss Quartz Company) have not crushed for three months,

having just completed their registration·under.:Fraser's Act, under the name of the English and Scottish Gold Mining Company. They have 100 tons of' good looking stone ready for crushing.

The Prince Albert are engaged sinking a new iJ4aft near the ,old one,.~nd have struck stone of good quality 4 feet wide. · · ·

The Old Bell topper, is ag~n taken. up and is y~elding W!:lll . . The Victoria Reef is also again<being worked"after having been deserted for over four years.

Thus miners are at last devoting their attention to the numerous quartz reefs in this subdivision.

MALnoN DIVISION •

• Mr. Robt. Nanlcivel~, Miming SurvfJyoT·and Registrar. •••• t.

#

_ TnE. _ToTAL N.u:r.rBEB oF MINERS Is AS FOLLows.:-

I Europeans. Cblnese, · Toto.l for the 1·- " DiviSion.

.. .Alluvial Miners ... ... 515 1,200 1,715 ' Quartz Miners . ,,, ... . .. 6lio ... 650

Totals ... ... 1,165 1,200 2,365 .. . . .. I ,.

·TRE TOTA.t NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:~·

Mou~t Tarrangower ... Eaglehawk · · . : .. Growler's Gully Pegleg Gully ' Beehive Hill Porcupirie · :·:: ·' : ·

·~· j_ ,d! Nuggety .. : · Sandy Creek Newstead ... Pickpocket ... Gardner's Gully' Lorig Gully Ironbark Gully Armstro.ng's Gully

. Hard Hill .' .. Hunter's Rush:· Back Creek

j~ • -

Fryingpan Gully · ... Long Gully, Muckleford Green V alley .. . . Frenchman's

, •.··

•• .'l".

Total

TIIE MAcmNE&Y Is AS FOLLows:-

'• " .. :-.~' . "

. -,,.

Bemarks.

' ....

..... ·

.210 180 33 63

117 50. 60

'219 22

1,200 12 45

-20 2 8 8

13. ·14 30 49 10

2,365

...

t

ALLUVIAL :IIIn.-mG. QUARTZ MINl:NG.

Description of ~:inner,.. I .. ' '"' .. I Aggregate Number Aggrege.te At Work. Idle. Horse-power of At Work. Idle • ., of Stamp HorB<l-pow<Jr ot

i Steam Engines. Heads. Steam Engin""· .. , ' -·~------- --~··

Steam Engiu~s employ~d in wind- ! I 15 21 11 328 647 · ing, pumping, and qushing

I Whims ... ... ... . .. ... 30 . . 19 . .. . .. Derricks ... . .. .. ... 2 3 ... ,j, 2 . .. . .. Fuddling Machines 65 9

,, ... ... ... . .. ... . .. ... Toms ... ... ... 12 3 ' 0 . .. ... ... .. . . .. Water· wheels ... . .. .' 3 ... .. . . .. ... . .. . ..

I .Total value of minillg plant in the division, £73;M3;

. Number of square' miles of auriferous grou!ld ~hich is ·beir!.g, or may have. been~ actually worked upon, 9!. , . · . · .. , . , ,. ·

Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present ~~ .

The JlriOI.l of .1oJd. lillrillg th11 qullfier ~Jl flle divi11icm ha11 b!"~Jt from £~ l?s: 9d: t? ~3 Wr;. ftill' OJ~r

t•.

68

TBE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BAS B'EEN OBTAINED .RELATIVE ~0 TBE QUANTITY OF QUABTZ AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND· CEMENT CRUSHED • DURING T:E[E QUARTER, AND TilE GOLD OBTAINED

THEREFROM:-

I "Where Quartz, &c., were Average Relll&rks relative to the Quart" crushed. Total Yield of Depth at which the

Name of Compll!lY. obtained. Yield of Gold Gold. Quartz, &e., were ob· ' per Ton. tained.

tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. 'lfz. dwt. gr.

Beehive ... . .. Beehive Reef ... _2,102 0 0 Oil 9'89 1,199 8 12 50 feet, 210 feet, and

Beehive and Eaglebawk 300 feet

Eaglehawk .. ... 994 0 0 0 IS 5'46 905 18 6 260 feet Wellington ... Linscott!s Reef ... 150 0 o· 0 8 14'08 64 8. 0 240 feet Phomix •'l<• ... Wilson's, German; Vie- 1,239 0 0 1 11 ·22•74 1,979 3 o· 300 feet

toria, &c. North British· ... Eaglehawk, Wilson's, 1,272 0 0 1 7 s·s5 1,740 13 0

Parkin's, .&c. 1,151 Oswald's ... ... Eaglehawk, Wilson's, o· 0 ! 5 12'47' 1,468 13 0

&c., ·&c. Great Western ... Beehive Reef ... 1,320 0 0 1 4 10'72 1,613 10 0 160 feet to 260 feet Welsh and English .. : Excelsior and Teetotal

Reefs 74 o· 0 I 6 17'51 98 18 0 80 feet

Brittingham's ... Thornhill's Reef, 90 0 0 0 16 12'80 74 8 0 Muckleford

Linscott's ... ... Linscott's Reef ... 1,300 0 0 0 19 N7 1,255 5 0 280 feet average Young Hope, Muckle- Omega Reef ... 910 0 0 0 7 0 318 10 0 90 feet

ford '

Nuggety ... ... Nuggety and Linseott's 1

6Q6 0 0 0 8 10•14 255 4 0 240 feet

Totau;, Quartz ~------.... 11,208 0 0 0 19 13•97 10,973 18 18

Quartz Tailings and

.. ;-12,000

----Cement crushed.

Prince of Wales ... ~Cement ... 0 0 0 1 16"32 168 0 0 Surface I ...

ALLUVIAL.

It will be· seen by the accompanying ·return that a large number of Chinese are employed in this division, the greater ·portion of th~m being located on Jim Crow Creek, where they have built villages, consisting of substantial weatherboard buildings. The whole of the diggings are on private

. property. , As much as £300 per acre has been paid for the privilege of mining the land for two years, and a further sum of £100. per acre deposited for making good the surface. The ground is worked by paddocking from the surface, and drained by pumping with small water-wheels. The. depth of sinking is from 10 to 15 feet. In this locality about 1,000 men are employed, and, besides the Chinese, there are 100 Europeans working on the old leads. ·

At Sandy C~eek about the usual number of miners, say 250, are employed. Here the old system of washing with the tub and cradle }s still adhered to. About a fortnight ago a nugget weighing 70 ozs. was found, which caused a small rush, but nothing else of importance has been discovered.

· ..; . In the locality of Muckleford the numbers employed are about the same as usual, and there, as well as at Porcupine Flat,-a general complaint prevails on the part of the miners that the diggings have become very poor.· :

QUARTZ.

Nilggety Reef.-This reef has been nearly all taken up under leases from the Crown. The claims (which were formerly very small),. owing to the depth and hardness of the rock, became too expensive to work by private par#es, and these, in order to induce capitalists to assist them in erecting machinery, considered it best to. amalgamate. Several claims have therefore been united, and leases obtained. Some of the richest claims on this reef are now merged into the Alliance Company. 'l'hey have a 25 horse-power engine on the reef for pumping and hauling the dirt. The depth of the shaft is about 450 feet; for the last 150 feet the lode is very large, over 30 feet in thickness, but very poor. The Speculation Company, adjoining the Alliance on the south, is the only company at present on the

. reef paying dividends. The last crushing of 88 tons from this claim yielded 365 ozs. 7 dwts. ' The best paying reefs at present in this division are the Old Beehive, Victoria, and Wilson's,

The engine shaft of the Beehive Company is 360 feet in depth, at the bottom of which a cross-cut has been driven, and a reef struck 54 feet to. the west. The lode here is 2 feet in thickness, and is supposed to be a new formation, as in the cross-cut 70 feet above the bottom there was nothing more than a face or division in the rock, and it was not until they had driven 50 feet south on this face that quartz was found. Tlie new lode at the bottom speaks well for the future of the mine.

• The Mount Tarrengower Tunneling Company have suspended operations duriD.g the absence of the manager, who has proceeded to England for the purpose of purchasing one of the new patented drilling machines.

The South Ea.glehawk Company's new engine· shaft is down 230 feet; when 'they reached this level the infl.u.x of water was so great that• sinking was suspended and must continue to be so until the pu~ps are taken ?ut of the o~d ~haft and_ fix!Jd in the new on(l. This shaft is caiculated to strike the Iode at a 'depth of 400 feet, wh1cli will dram 1t 170 feet below the present workmgs, and enable the tributors in the south part of the mine to resume operations. The average yield from this part of the mine is about 1 t ozs. per ton.

'

69

' ST •. ANDREW'S EAST SUBDIVISION.

Mr. Alfred Armstrong, Mining Suroeyor and Registrar.


Europeans. Chinese. Total for the Subdivision.

Alluvial Miners ... 97 . .. 97

Quartz Miners ... 10 ... 10

Totals ... 107 ... 107

THE TOTAL NuMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-

Christmas Reef 13 Hoddle's Creek Cumberland Creek 6 W orri-yallock McMahon's Creek 28 Warburton's ... 10 Total

' THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-

B.em!ll'ks.

43 7

107

ALLUVIAL MINING. QUAJ!,TZ JIUNil;:G,

•


0~'ft'~ I Home-power of At Work. Idle. Horse-power of At Work. Idle. Steam Engine. Heads. Steam Engine.

--- --~·~·· ·-Water-wheels ... ... ... .. . ... 2 . .. 14 .;, . Steam Engine, employed in pump- l ... 4 ... ... ... . .. .

ing, &c. i

Steam Crushing Mill ... ... ... ... .. . . .. 1 10 I 9 I

Total value of minin~ plant in the subdivision, £1,900. . Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 9. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 6. The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from_ £3 15s. to £3 16s. per oz.

I have the honor to report that mining affairs in this subdivision are in much the same state as reported for the quarter endi!:!,g the 30th June last. At Rich Hill thero is now a reef 12 inches in thickness fairly developed. The owner of. the steam quartz mill has substituted water-power instead of steam-power for the same. 1

Two small rushes are reported to have taken place recently, one near McMahon's Creek and the other at Hoddle's Creek.

As the summer season is the most favorable. for mining operations in this subdivision, it is highly probable that this gold field, which is comparatively l:mt little known, will become further developed, and there seems to me no reason to doubt that a considerably larger population might find remunerative and permanent employment upon the same.

ST •. ANDREW'S CENTRAL SUBDIVISION;

Mr . .Alfred Armstrong, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.


: Total for tl).e Subdivision.

--------------~---------~

Europel!lla.[ Ohinese.

Alluvial Miners

Quartz Miners

Totals

170 150

249

419 150

320

249

569

70

T:e:E TOTAL N UM:BEB OF MINBBB IS THUS DIS'l'll.IBUTED :-Black Calf and Wild Dog .. ~ ' ·. '. . .. 18' Queenstown. !lack Creek .. . .. . 24 Mountain Rush

86 28

Ironbark Gully · ... . .... .28 Queenstown Hilt ... Yow-yow, QueenstoWn. ... 82' Panton's Hill . .': Smyth's Gully, Queenstown 33. , . Research and Wet Gully Long Gully, St. Andrews so Rocky and Scrubby Creek Red Shirt GullJ, ... ... 16 Anderson'a Creek· ••• First Watery ully ...

. , 18 Pioneer Reefs ... ,, " Second Watery Gully ... 17 Cherry-tree Gully ... 18 Total Whisk Gully · · ··· ..... , 12

20 22 20 14

115 ... 29

569

Old c:Kedonia. ?9 \ _;: ;- ~

. Tlm MACHINimY .. Is. AS FoLLows:-

Description of Me.ohinery. Aggregate ~l Aggregate

At Work. Idle, Number of ; Horsa-poW1lr of At Work. Idle. her of Horse-lj&,~~ Btll!pP Heads: Btealll Engines. !Ie~~~ Steam ·

---------------.·----1 . '-; .

Steam Engines, Queenstown . l' 3 44"

•.. ..• ~ .. 40

.. Anderson's Creek ... . .. ,••• 4 14 '

Total ~alue of,mini,ng plant in the subdiviaipn; £5,900. . " Number of square miles of. auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 4!'. . 1 ., "··- ·.• .• .

. ~umber 6f distinct quartz reefs which· have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 40: •· ·: · · · · ··. · · ·

. The price of gold during the qua;rter in the subdivision has. been from £8 18s. to £3 19s. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING !NFORMATIO~ HAS B~EN OBTAINED RELATIVE ~0 THE QU+JFITY 91' QtrA!',TZ! M.u,L•

iocx, AND CEMENT CRUSHED DURING THE QuARTER;· AND THE GoLD OBTAINED.THEREFROM :-:-

N a.m.e of Compa.ny. Where Quartz, &c., were obtained.

Quartz Crushed. I y;~;I·;~ld Total Yiel~ ~i ~':;t~ ::'a:~r.:O ::: , per ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained.

• ·-·~~----,------~ --------1--~--~ .. -.----

Eureka Reef... .•• St. An drew's ... tons cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr,

26 0 0 5 5 5.~53 Boomer's Reef ••• Ditto ••• • •. 20 0 0 0 18 7•75 Comet Reef, No. 1 ... Ditto ... • •• Ditto, No., 2 ... : ... Ditto ... , .•. · ·

,3 10 0 4 14 20·57 11 0 '0 0 16 0

Ditto, No. 8 ... ... Ditto ••• ... 7 0 0 I 2 10•28 Ditto, No. 4 ... ... Ditto ... • .. 10 0 0 0 18 16•80 Ditto .. • ••. Ditto ... • .. 13 10 0 1 18 10"14 Ditto ' ... ... Ditto .• . • •. 17 0 0 3 1 9•88 Eureka Reef, No. 1 ... 'Ditto .•• • .. 8 0 0 4'8 4 Ditto, No. 2 ... ... Ditto ••• ... 8 0 0 1 8 0 Ditto, (prospecting) ... Ditto ... . .. Mountaineer(prospecting) Ditto ... ... Ditto, No. 1 North ... Ditto ... • ..

11 10 0 2 11 12•26 6 0 0 0 13 0 ' '

18 0 0 4 13 ll•07 Oram's Reef, No. 1 North Ditto ... . .. 1 10 0 0 9 5'82 Ditto, No. 8 South ... Ditto ... .. . 4 10 0 1 3 0 Ditto, No. 4 North .•• Ditto ... .. . 16 0 0 1 8 18 Oram's Reef... ... Ditto ... • •• 2 10 0 3 5 16 Moonlight Reef ... Queenstown .. . 4 0 0 0 14 0 North Star Reef ... Ditto ... .. . 2 10 0 0 6 16•80 Gill man's Reef ... Ditto ... .. . German 1Reef •.. Yow-yow ... · · ·.-::-Millar's Reef... ... Ditto ... ...

1 10 0 0 14 0 ---5-3 ·o- ·15-o-o 132 0 0 0 12 20•36

Golden Point Reef ... Queenstown ••• 3 15 o. 0 16 16 Jenny Lind Reef ... Ditto .. . Antimony Reef ... Ditto :.. .. .

4 5 0 0 3 16 200 131•

Band of Hope Reef ••. Ditto ... .. . 4 17 0 0 13 4•70 Barker's Reef ... St. Andrew's .. . 10 0 0 2 5 7 Early Bird Heef ... .Anderson's Creek ... '8 0 0 l 10 21 Pioneer Reef... ... Diamond Creek ... 8 0 0 3 14. 0 Ditto, No. 2 North ... Ditto ... ... 2 0 0 0 16 0 Pi~to, No. 3 Nol'th ... Ditto ... . .. 600 0110

oz. dwt. gr; 136 16 0

18 6 11 16 12 0 8 r6· o 7 17 0 9 7 0

22 11 5 52 4 0 13 4 12 9 4 0

29•12 1 9 3 18 0

60 15 0 0 13 20 5 3 12

23 0 0 8 4 4 2 '16 0 0 16 18

}

200 feet t~ 215 .. feet .

I 1 0 : 92 5 o I 15 feet 84 16 o 30 feet to 45 feet

3 2 12 110 feet 0 15 14 2 6 2 3 4 0

22:12 22 12 1 o· ll 2 0

1 12 0 ~ 6 0

----1--·---1-----

Mullock and Cement Totals, Quartz ... 364 0 0 1 16 17•39 668 7 21

crushed. ~ullockfrom Comet Reef ·St. An drew's ... Ditto, from Minnie Reef Wet Gully .... Cement .. . ... Anderson's Creek ... fdullock •.. Ditto ... . ...

65 0 0 ' 0 1 13:10 : . 5 0 12. 20 o o o o 4·2o o 3 12 16 0 0 0 10 1•50 i 8 1 0 33 0 0 0 4 18•18 ! 7 17 0

o a -~·:~s I .. Bt a o "

Totals, ltllfllock} . 1.34 0 0 nnd Cement •

\,

71

No attempt having been made during the quarter to discover any fresh alluvial ground, I am unable to report any improvement in the prospects of the alluvial miners near Queenstown.

The Chinese continue in.equal force, and seem perfectly satisfied with their earnings. ·On the south side of theY arra, at Anderson's Creek, some very good patches have been discovered,

yielding in some cases as much as an ounce to the tub ; they are worked by parties of four men, in about 17 feet sinking; this has given employment to the usual number of miners located there, who are generally employed in river workings, at present discontinued owing to the winter's rain.

There appears a very great reduction in the returns of gold crushed during the qnarter, which may be accounted for from the fact of one of the best claims on Allan's Reef having been suspended, owing to the proprietors being engaged in sinking a new shaft required for the proper development of the. claim ; also froih the fact of Messrs. Oram, Stewart, and Mickinson having met with a .fault in their claim mentioned in my· last report, and from the discontinuance of nearly all the quartz workings at Anderson's Creek.

The Minnie Company, near Eltham, crushed 20 tons of conglomerate, consisting. of sandstone, quartz, :md otlief substa!lces, for the plirpose of testhtg t~e same, which· yielded 3 dwts .. 12 grs. from the entire mass. As this was not supposed to have 'been taken from the· reef only, It cannot be considered as any criterion of the ultimate yield of the claim. '

A new reef, named by the prospectors the Pioneer, has been discovered, about three miles from the Diamond Cre!lk Reef. The prospectors' experimental1 crushing yielded·3 ozs.14 dwts. to the ton; the claim No. 1 North, '16 dw,ts.; No. 2, 1:j. dwts. These results having been obtained from stone taken from a little below the surface, I am unable t'o give any opinion as to the probable permanency of the same. The vein varies in thickness from 1 foot to 2 feet 6 inches. . ·

I think it very probable that some good alluvial gUllies ,might be discovered in the neighborhood, if ~he miners would but take the trouble to prospect for, tl+em. .

KnmToN sim:DrVisioN.

MT. Jarne8 M(J,(JJwell, Milnilng Swrveyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS As FOLLOWS:-

Europeans. Chinese. Total for the Subdivision.

··---

Alluviallfiners ... ... 20 5 25

Quartz Miners .•• ... . .. 185 . .. 185

Totals ... ... 205 I 5 210

THE TOTAL NUMBER oF MINERS IS THUs ·DisTRIBUTED :-

Lauriston Kangaroo Creek

Total j''

}.

THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :-..

.,

' Remarks.

... 155 ~5

210

ALLlJVIAL 1\Inmm. I QUARTZMnmiG,

Description of Maeh.inery, I Aggregate At Work. I Number Aggregate

-. At Work. Idle. ft~=-t,~:.~~ Idle. of Stamp Home-power of Heads. Steam Engines.

--- !-

Steam Engines, for pumping and 1 1 30 4 2 58 95 crushing

Horse Whims ... ... . .. 2 1 . .. 4 ... . .. . .. ' - -·

- Total value of minin~ plant in ~he subdivision, £;tO?~' . · , Number of square miles of' auriferous ground wp10li 1s bemg, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 7. ' . Number of distinct qnartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the

present timi:>, 10. · The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 16s. 9d. to £3 !Ss.

per oz.

72

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QuANTITY OF QUARTZ

_ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD. OBTAINED THEREFROM :-

' I ! I

Name of Compe.n:r. Where Quartz was i , . Average Total Yield of Remarks relative to the . obtained. : Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold Gold. Depth at which the

per Ton. Quartz was obtained. ~---~


Frenchman's ... Kangaroo Creek . .. 1,400 0 0 0 4 6'86 300 0 0 Tunnel North Wyndham ... Glass's Paddock ... 119 0 0 0 4 15'98 27 15, 6 80 feet Glengonner ... ... ·McCracken's ... 98 0 0 Oil 5•39 55 0 0 Hanagan's ... . .. Lauriston . .. 55 0 0 0 9 0 24 15 0 40 feet Lonergan's ... Ditto ...

' . .. 60 0 0 0 1 10•98 4 17 11 80 feet

Job Barr and Co: ... Ditto ... ... 39 0 0 0 .7 4'31 ! 14 0 0 45 feet Pullen and Co. ... Ditto ... . .. 46 0 Oj 0 11 22•70 27 9 12 48 feet General Wyndham ... Glass's Paddock ... 2,400 0 0 0 8 10'95 i 1,014 15 0 180 feet

Totals, Quartz ... 4,217 0 0 0 6 23•11 1,510 13 5

' A number of the miners in this subdivision have been prospecting their ground by sinking new shafts. The Nelson and Wellington claims have not been crushing, waiting the completion of their new machine, which consists of a 25 horse-power· engine and 10 head of stamps, and a self-acting inclined plane railway for conveying the quartz from the shafts to the crushing machine, which is placed about 400 yards from the shafts, on the east bank of the river Coliban. The Abraham Lincoln are down about 80 feet with their shaft, and have obtained very good prospects. The Sir Charles

, Darling are busy sinking; they are down about 40 feet ; and two neyv quartz claims have been applied for, but have not yet broke ground. The falling off in the yield of gold for the quarter is principally attributable to the principal claims not crushing.

BLuE MouNTAIN NoRTH SuBDIVISION.

Mr. R. H. Home, Mining Registrar.


Europeans. Chinese. Total for the Subdivision. Remlll'ks.

Alluvial Miners ... ... 450 40 490 The other populatipn amounts to about

Quartz, Miners ... ... 60 ... so 400.

Totals ... ... 510 40 550 /

THB TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:

'l'rentham, inclwling Rocky Lead, Stony Creek, Trentham Creek, &c. Dry Diggings - · . .. · · · . • . . . . . .. .. . .. , Newbury, including Main Flat, Dover Castle Creek, Old Camp

Ground (north), &c. Amelia Reef Alma Reef ... Garlick's, The Glue Pot, &c. Mudlark ... ... Doctor's Hill, Canadian Hill, Blue Creek, &c.

. Total

THE MACHINERY IS AB FOLLOWS :-

85 20

50 35 50

240 15 {15

550

ALLUVl.U Mn•·ma. ~~· QUA.RTZ MINING.

Description of Machl:ne'llf. Aggregate ! Number At Work. Idle. Horse-'li:er of At Work. I die. ofSta.mp

Steam gines. i Heads. ---- ---

Steam Engines, for crushing ... ... .. . 3 ... 16 and pumping

Aggregate Horse-Power of Steam Ellgiuea.

74

,,

73


upon, 7t. . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 5. ' The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been £3 17s. per oz.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION !IA8 BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QU·ANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED

~ DURING THE QuARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROJ!l :-

. I. Where Quartz was

Average . • Remarks relative to the Name of Company. Quartz crullhed. :Yield of Gold Total Y leld of Depth at which the

· obtained. i per ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained. i

tons cm: qr. oz.<lwt. gr. oz. d wt;. gr.

Alma Reef Quartz Alma Reef Prospect· 247 0 0 0 12 14•31 155 11 8 160feet to 180feet Mining ing Claim•

Amelia Reef Quartz Amelia Reef ... 523 0 0 0 7 9'31 193 4 0 140 feet to 180 feet Mining --------

Totals, Quartz ... 770 0 0 0 9 1'41 348 15 8

During the last quarter the winter has been so severe in its ice and snow, hail storms, or cold winds and rains, that many of the alluvial miners were often obliged to suspend operations. With regard to the large alluvial claims, for from 30 to. 150 men's ground, they have nearly all been abandoned for want of funds, and from other causes not referrible to the character of the ground, auriferous or otherwise. N everthelcss, the gold from alluvial claims of small parties on this gold field purchased by one banking firm has amounted, for the last quarter, to 227 ozs. 1 dwt. 7 grs., and from the Alma and Amelia quartz reefs 303 ozs. 17 dwts. 12 grs., making a total of 530 ozs. 18 dwts. 19 grs. More than this has, no doubt, been obtained, but I have no means of estimating it. The above returns seem to indicate that good hopes may still be entertained of the ultimate value of this gold field.

ARARAT MINING DISTRICT.

ARARAT DIVISION.

Mr. Oharles J. W Russell, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.

THE TOTAL NuMl!ER OF MINERS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

• Europeans. Ohlnose. Total for the Rema.!'ks. Division.

------

Alluvial Miners ... ... 530 1,040 1,570 The increase in the number of Quartz Miners ... ,. . 194 . .. 194 alluvial miners is cl1iefly due to

·--- a great influx of Chinese, which

Totals 724 1,040 1,764 occurred in July last. ...

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRil!UTED :

Ararat, including the White Lead, Canton Lead, Commissioner's HiH, Old Korns, Old and New Deep Leads, Hopkins, and :Black Lead... ...

Armstrong's, including Dutten's Gully, Long Gull Napoleon Gully Philip's Flat, Nil Desperandum, and Slaughteryard ... ' ... Cathcart, with Spring Lead, :Bowman's, Gibson's Flat, and :Black Hill

Lead ... ... ... ... ... Shea's Flat, MeN ab's and Swamp Gullies, Opossum and Wattle Gullies,

and Port Curtis . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. Moyston, with Campbell's reefs and alluvial lead, Camp Lead, Jonathan

and Shepherd's Gullies... ... ... ... ... ...

424 186 150

280

470

25.11.

Total ... . .. 1,764

No.14, i.

74

TRE MACRINERY. IS .AS' FOLLOWS:.::._


! ..

Qu.A.ivrz Mnrma. ' 1 ~ . ·-

.A,t Work. Idle. Aggreg~te

Horse-Power of At Work. , Idle. Steam Engines.

Number Aggregate · I .

of Stamp Horse-Power of Heads. Steam Engines.

Steam Engine~;-::- . . _ _ , Pumping, hauling, and crush-

ing . '· -'· ...

2 14 36

Pumping and hauling , 9ruslli,ng_ ,. , _ ... .Hauling

,- ... 20 2 ... 85 .. .. . ..

Pumping Pumping, hauling, and ~ud-

dling •: ·• '" Fuddling Machines ••• · - · ·· • Toms ... . .•

•l':_.

l.":'437"

60 12

5 34 43

................ '"' .. ' . .... . ....

Total value of mining plant·in the division;.£19,400. . · · ·.

3N3;mber of square IP,~les o(a'!lri,ferous ground which is being, ?r may J!.av~ 'J:leen, JtC.t:ually _wdr~!"d

upon, 4 •

. . . N um~er of distinct quartz reefs which have bee!). actually proved to be auriferous to the present t1me, 14. · · , · · · ·

The price of gold during 'the quarter in 'the'di.vision has been from £316s; 9d. to £317s. 9d. per o'z.' ! I \>'- •, , !•· . I, ' • >

THE •• F,OLLOWING lNFORMAT~ON IJ;A~ B~E~ ' OBTAINED RELATIVE TO ~HE QUANTITY OF QUAJiTZ

CRUSHED DURiNG THE QUARTER, AND THE ~O~D OBTAlNED TH.EREFROM :-

' ·· •

1 AVerage

.. ...

Remarks relative to the .w.~;;~~"'1.i~ ~§ r, • Name of Company ••... Total Yield of - Quartz crushe<t.1 Yield of Gold • · Gold. · , Deptb at which the Quartz per Ton. wasobtilined.

!

· tolll! owt. qr. oz.dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr.

North Star ••• ... Campben's Reef . .. 881 0 0 0 16 0"11 705 0 0 181 feet Southern Cross ... Ditto ... 650.:0. 0 017 0'37 553 0 0 330 feet ---· ·-Kangaroo ... ... Ditto ... .. . ·- sor···o if 1"2'ig:22 578 0 0 450 feet Burke's ... . .. Burke's Reef, Port 130 0 o ·o 16 0 104 0 0 20 feet

Curtis

" Totals, Quartz ... 2,168. 0 0 0 17 21'52 1,940 0 0 :et f"l ~"' .. ' . '"''" .. r . . , "' - . "

NOTE.-Total amount of Gold purcllased by the Banks during the quarter 5,978 ozs.l4 dwts. 13 grs.

The" alluvial miners generally have been more active since the rains; and although the number of European workers has been little increased, there ·has been an apparent addition to the Chinese population, who are distributed throughout the old workings. Fifteen alluvial prospecting claims, on abandoned or lost leads, have been registE>red· during ,the .quarter, four of these have been for Chinamen. . , · · · · · ·

· The extended alluvial block claims have, from various causes, been suspended during the last month, and are.still idle;:with tlie exception of that of the.Black Lead· Company.··' ~o· .

The Black Lead Gold Mining Company have been engaged sinking a working shaft through trap rock, and are down about 82 feet. Their works have· been 'stopped. tliree or four weeks, by the breaking of a part of their machinery ; this has been repaired, and they have resumed worjr. The water makes in their shaft at the rate of 40,000 gallons' per hour, a quantity their fine steam engine and large pumps .easily.·dispose of."" ... r ·. · ..• -~ .. , ~ ,., .· ·• ., · , .. ~ ,,.. • .. • • .. • • · • • · · . . · • ·•-" •••

. The Ararat Gold Mining Company have sunk their shaft 34 feet, 16 feet is through clay, the remaining portion through trap rock; ~furtlier progress is suspended., The company have recently completed a trial.boring, 192 feet through trap rock, then.through clay and gravel to 196 feet, on to a pipeclay bottom, Water is abundant from 70 feet from the surface. .. ..

· The Canton Gold 'Mii!ing Company have sunk their working shaft 87 feet through clay, cement,· and detached fragments ·of ·rock. 'Tihe sinking was dry till the water suddenly broke in, and stop:pedc further pr' · 'of t?-e work. The company will now erect pumps to be worked by their steam engme, already on d. , : . . , ·, · · .

' Th Gold Mining Company have also been sinking a working shaft, but the influx of water having be'come. too great for their pU:rriping power~ they will have to erect additional pumps before they can proceed. ..· .

The Moystoll Grand Junction ConilJany (Moys'ton) have discontinued, or rather abandoned their alluvial works, and have recently been prospecting for a quartz reef within the bounds of their claim.

Quartz reeling ~as latterly received· considerable ·attention in this division, and promises to become very iml?ortant; Sonie old workmgs on the Kangaroo Range, Ararat, have recently been taken up under lease, w1th the title of the United Albioll Quartz Mining Company. Work has been commenced from the bottom of an old ·shaft 41 feet deep, and- a·.:vein or reader, three to. four inches in thickness, followed. at an inclination of 45 degrees. The stone has a good show of gold. ,.

. .The reefs at Moyston are·lo.oking, generally, .v.ery. satisfactory, although.comparatively little gold has been procur;ed dui,"ing the quarter. , , • · ·

The North S~ar: .. Gold -;Mining. 8ompany have· recently .erected a fine battery of. ten head of revolving stampers, and a large. extra ·q0iler and. additional pumps. Their working shaft is 181 feet deep. From a level at that depth they are raising stone from a reef two feet in thickness, of which 1,663 tons have been b.rought ~o.,the surface, and 881 tons have been crushed, yielding 16 dwts. of gold per toll.

..

75

The So!lthern Cross Company h~ve a. ":or~ing shaft 330 feet in depth, where they are working a. level from whtch 650 tons have been raised, )'leldmg 17 dwts;·per ton. '• · ·

The Kangaroo Gold Mining Company are actively working, and have recently struck a large reef, seven feet in thickness, in their 481 feet level; from a level at 450 feet they have raised and crushed 1507 tons, yielding 578 oz. Their working shaft is now down 510 feet. ·

The Perseverance Gold Mining Company have partially suspended their mining operations, in consequence of negotiations pending with the purpose of amalgamating their claim with that of the Kangaroo Gold Mining Company, with the object of arranging a combined and more economical mode of working. They have recently increased the depth of their shaft from 420 to 480 feet.

The Koh-i-noor and the Northern Light are both suspended. The Burke's Reef, Port Curtis, is a distinct formation from tl:ie Camp bell's Reefs at Moyston. It

varies from 3 to 18 inches in. thickness, deposited in partially decomposed granite, with a granite bottom. The stone haS varied from 15 dwts. to 5 oz. to the ton. At present, a small10-horse steam engine, with a. Berdan basin, are the only appliances for crushing. . .

Several small quartz claims are being worked at Armstrong's, but only recently, and the results are not known.

A company, called the Oathcart Freehold Gold Mining Company, has recently: been formed for working an alluvial lead in some freehold land at Cath.cart. The ground was partially worked seven years ago, but abandoned in consequence of the large supply of water. Many of the early claims were rich in gold, and some large nuggets were found,

The absolute and sudden withdrawal of all accommodation hitherto afforded to the mining interests by the local banks-even to proprietors of undoubtedly valuable/roperty-has been attended with .very embarrassing and injurious consequences, and seriously retarde the progress o.f mining.

PLEASANT CREEK DIVISION.

Mr. Jokn D'Alton, Mining Swrveyor wnd' BegistrOI¥'.


.. ,, I· TOt..t for the EUJ'Ol)e!lllB. Chinese. Div:illion • .

Alluvial Miners 260 150 \ ~10 ... ...

quartz Miners ... ... 676 . .. 676 ----

Totals ... 936 150 1,086


Deep Lead .... Commercial Street preat Western Church Hill ... Quartz Reefs Elizabeth Creek Manners Sutton Reef Durham Reef Ross-shire Reef ColUlllbine Reef Bolangam Reef

l!.<m:tarkl!.

200 150 50 10

600 8

46 4

10 4 4

Total 1,086

THE MACHINERY IS AB FOLLOWS :-

•

ALI:.VVIAL Ml:NING • QUARTZ Mml:NQ, . DeO!Crlption,of Machinery.

Number Aglll'egate Number Agl!l'egate At Work. Idle. of Stamp Ho,...,..power of A~ Work. Idle. of stamp ~~:~;;;,.et Heads. Steam Engines. HiJ!'ds.

__ ........ __ - --- -----

Steam Engines ... ... 5 ... 60 76 10 4 1,88 350 Whims ... . .. ... 3 . .. ... 9 10 ... .. . Whips ... ... ... 2 ... ... .. . ... 3 . .. ... Sluice· Boxes ... ... 12 34 '" ... ... ... . .. ... Toms ... ... ... 10 20 ... ... .. . .. . .. . ... Compound Cradles, worked 8 ... ... ... . .. ... .. . ...

by horse-~wer ... . Chilian Ro rs, crushing 14 ... . .. ... ... ... . .. .. .

Quartz tailings

76

Total value _of mining plant in the division, £63,200. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 12. . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present

tune, 19. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 15s. 6d. to £4 Os. 6d. per oz.

I

TRE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QcANTITY OF QuAR'l'Z AND

QUARTZ TAILINGS AND 0EnnJNT CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GoLD OBTAINED THEREFRO~[ :-

Name of Compa.ny.

Lamont and Company

Pleasant Creek ... Moonlight ... . ..

Where Qun.rtz, &c., were opta.ined.

; North, Cross, and ! Scotchman's Reefs Cross Reef Sloan's and Scotch-

man's Wimmera } Davidson and Company Various reefs Victoria .•. ... : Cross, Sloan's, and

! Scotchman's St George's Rose of Denmark Cato and Company

.. • ' Scotch~an's Reef ...

.. . Scotchman's

... New Chum

Quartz Tailings and Oement crushed.

Cambrian ... N. and S. Wales .. . I ,j ttle W ea tern .. . Hit or Miss ... .. . Tregea and Company St. George's... . ..

Totals, Quartz ...

Cooper's l!'lat ... Deep Lead ... Great 'Vestern ... Deep Lead ... Deep Lead ... Quartz Heefs ... Totals, Quartz TaH- }

ings and Cement

Quartz crushed. Average I ' . ' Remarks relative to the

Yield of Gold Total Yield of Depth at which the per Ton. 1 .Gold. Quartzwaaobtained,&c.


3,657 0 0 0 15 0 2,742 15 0 285 to 460 feet • 1,260 0 0 0 19 0 1,197 0 0 400 feet 1,892 0 0 0 15 17'20 1,486 16 0 150 feet to 280 feet

1,659 0 0 0 8 7"34, 689 0 0

200 o o I 3 12 235 o o 300 feet

650 1,120

160

0 0 0

0 1 15 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 5 0 _____ , ______ , __ ,_

1,137 10 0 285 feet 560 0 0 270 feet

40 0 0 130 feet

10,598 0 0 0 15 6·34! 8,088 I 0 __ ,, ---'---··-; ···-

600 0 0 0 3 12 105 (} 0 weight estimated 1,460 0 0 0 3 2 225 1 !li ditto ditto

300 0 o·o 4 () 60 0 0 Old Hill, Great Western 61 0 0 0 5 .12•89 18 ll 0

320 0 0 i 0 4 :! 65 6 17 1,000 0 0 :0 2 0 foo 0 0 estimated only

3,747 0 0 10~3-1"52: 573 19 9

QUARTZ.

The statistics for this quarter show a considerable increase in the number of quartz miners; this is in a great measure owing to the uninterrupted success with which the new deep reefs are being traced from claim to claim along the lines of the Scotchman's and Cross Reefs. This has also given a very great incentive to prospecting for new reefs, so that within the last two months three new reefs have been opened along tlie Ironbark Range (to the north-west of the Quartz Reefs), named respectively the Ross;shire, the Durham, and the Manners Su:tton Reefs ; the latter has attracted special attention, and about twenty claims have been taken up.

Amongst the old reefs, the Golden Point, the Caledonian, theW exford, and Doyle's Reefs have been again taken up, so that about sixty claims are now working in excess of those occt<pied during last quarter.

The Bolangam country, between the Dogtrap Creek and the Richardson River, is also attracting attention, and more than one party are at present engaged prospecting in ,that locality.

On the old. Scotchman's Reef a new pumping and hauling engine has been erected, on the northern end ~ this has enabled six claims, whwh have for a length of time remained idle, to resume work. Four claims have also commenced work on the Perthshire Reef; and all those on the Hampshire and Nowhere lines, having effected temporary amalgamation, are engaged sinking shafts, or otherwise prospecting for ti;J.C deep reefs. 6•

The Pleasant Creek Quartz Mining Company have for·the present suspended operations, pending the putting in of a drive by the adjoining claim owners, for the purpose of testing the reef at a lower level.

The North Cross Quartz JYlining Company are about commencing a main shaft, intended to cut the Cross R.eef at a depth of 600 feet from the surface. · ·

On the outlying reefs at Elizabeth Creek a good deal of work has been done, and the abandoned ground is now all occupied. The prospectors are now engaged erecting machinery to enable their ground being worked below the water level. ·

ALLUVIAL, •

With reference to alluvial mining, I regret to say that in this division it exhibits anything but a prosperous appearance. Only one prospecting claim has been registered during the quarter, and a considerable diminution has taken place in the number of miners, both European a.nd Chinese. The Fourposts is altogether abandoned, and the new ground opened at Concongella proved a failure. The decrease in the alluvial mining population, however, admits of another explanation, namely, the settlement on the land in the surrounding· agricultural areas having for the present attracted a number, who are engaged in fencing, making dams, or sinking wells. Many of these will doubtless return to the gold fields when the season is over.

Owing to the lateness of the rain, the aluicing claims on the Seventy-foot Hill, Commercial.Street, have remained idle.

A lease of twenty acres has been applied for on the Welshman's flat; but that granted to Oppy and party at Stawell has been abandoned after the sinking of two shafts, each of which bottomed on shallow ~ound. On the Church Hill, near Stawell, some very remunerative results have been obtained by

1 sluicmg the old ground ; and at the Deep Lead a few patches of le cement have been worked.

·The old Commercial street diggings have been extended a htly in the direction of the Silver Shilling. . . '

Mining matters are very quiet at the Great Western, where the old hill still gives employment to miners. ··

77

RAGLAN DIVISION.

Mr. John T~mpleton, ;M1tn1tng Begisflra'r. "


Europeans. Chinese. • Total for the lle!:narkll. Division.

-

Alluvial Miners ... ... 401 694 1,095

Quartz .Miners ... ... ... I ~;.-_

... Totals .... 401 1,095

THB TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED :-

Beaufort and Yam Hills 76 Sulky Lead Jock's Lead, &e. 130 Tributary Gullies ... Old Main Lead 330 Waterloo and tributaries Tributary Gullies 90 Sailor's Gully and tributaries Old King Charlie's 16 Long Gully 4 Total

THE MACHINERY IS AS JJ'OLLOWS :- '

80 55

194 120

1,095

ALLUVIAL Mll!I!;G, QUARTZ M:nm!G,

Description of Maciilnerr. I .Aggrega.te I ~ta At Work. Idle. Horsa.ljg,~~ of At Work. Idle. Horse.~ of

Stea.m • ""· Stea.m • es.

- ----

Steam Engines, employed in pumping, wind- 8 ' 6 1'15 .... ... . ..

lug, &c. . Steam Cement Crusher ... . .. . .. I 10 ... . .. . .. Puddling Machines ... ... ... 40 7 ... " . .. ... Whims ... ... ... ... 9 4 ... ... ... .. . Whip ... ... ... . .. I ... ... .. . ... .. . flluices ... ... ... . .. 3 ... ... ... .. . .. . .

Total value of mining plant in the division, £10,000. Number of square miles of auriferous ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 5!. · 1


The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been £3 l8s. 6d. per oz.

I have the honor to make the following report on the condition of mining affairs in this division during the quarter.

From my own observation, and as far as I can learn by inquiry; there has been no sensible increase or diminution of the mining population during the period.

During the greater part of the quarter the rain-fall, although continuous, has not been very heavy, still there has been enough to fill the various dams in the gullies. During the latter part of the previous quarter enough rain had fallen to set going many of the puddling machines which had previously been idle, so that there is not much difference in the number at work now and then.

The races irom Mount !Jole and the head of the Wimmera appear to have plenty of water in them, as also one leading from the Vf aterloo Swamp, so that there is no scarcity of water for mining purposes.

Since my last report the Hope Company, in the Police Paddock, have been working steadily, and 'the shareholders appear to be very well satisfied with their prospects. ·

In Wingfield's-Gully, the Perseverance Company have struck gold, and. are doing moderately well. The Burke Company, in Musical Gully, have also obtained gold, and the same remark applies to them.

In Shicers' Gully, O'Hara's party report that they have been doing very well during the quarter. At Sulky Flat, the Charlton Company have finished the erection of their machinery, but have not

commenced washing, having been occupied getting the water out of the shaft and clearing the drives, &c. At the same place the Crinoline Company's second shaft has been giving fair returns, and they are now sinking a third, which they have got down 50 feet.

The Prince of Wales Company, adjoining, report that their returns have been very good during the last quarter.

f: . tuOver the range towards Raglan the Da~ghters' Company have stnf~k Rolq ~t()ly, and report

all' re rne. _ · ·

78

· At Sailor's Gully, the Helmsdale Company have 'been doing very well. The Royal Saxon Company, adjoining, have sunk a new shaft since my last~ report, and have bottomed at 40 feet on the 'dip, and purpose sinking another shaft a little further to the westward.

· The Defiance Company have had .fair re'turns during the quarter. The Great Victoria Company; to the south of the last-mentioned, have been driving, but have not··hitherto been very successful.

In the Waratah Company's lease the shaft has been sunk to the depth of 40 feet, and the slabbing, &c., is being gone o~ wit~. \ ·

BARKLY DIVISION.

Mr. John D'.Alton, Mining Su'l"'Jeyor. and Regisfrar.


I Tot.Ufortbe Euroieans. Ohinese. !Wna.rks.

' Division. l

-----------~-

Alluvial Miners ... . .. 1,130 180 1,310

Quartz Miners ... l ' . .. 16 . .. 16

... ) I -

Totals 1,146 180 1,826

THE TOTAL NUMBER .OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED 1-

Ba.rkly ... FrenChman's ". ..':-

200

.Glenpatrick and Nowhere Creek

·-

80 40

100

Ray's Rush ... Burwood Lead Paul~s ~.ad ... Emerald Hill EmuFlat · ... Glasgow Lead Malakhoff ....

6 350 150 t50' ' Total .... 1,326

. Deaoription of Machinery.

'

Steam Engine ... ... Puddling Machines : .. ... Whips ... ... ... Toms ... ... ... Sluice-boxes · ... . ..

100 150


: ALLUVI.Ai. 'MINI:NG.

I

Number Aggregate At Work. Idle. of Stamp Horse-Power of

Heads. Stearu Engine.

I .. . 12 12• 24 ... ... ...

6 .. . ... ... 70 23 . .. ... 26

. ... .. . ...

"-4').11.~· \.~

I Q'O'.utTZ lll:l:NING •

. Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse-Power of

; .. St0'~1'f Engines.. ; -

... ' H ... . .. ... . .. . .. ... . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ... .. . . ..

1'otal value of minin~ plant in the division, £3,360. Number of square miles of auriferous. ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked

upon, 131!. · . , . · · · Number of distinct qll.artz reefs which have be~n actually proved to be auriferous to the present

time, 7. _ . ' · The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 18s. ,to £4 1s. per oz.

THE FOLLownio INFoRMATION· HAs BEEN oBTAINED ' RELATIVE To THE QuANTITY OF QuARTZ .A.ND Qu.t~.nTz T.t~.ILINGs ANn CEMENT CnusHED DURING THE QuARTER, AND TJI·E GoLD OBTAINED THEREFROlr :-

-·------.------..,.-----:--~---..,...-----1 Total Yield of

Gold and Silver.

NameofCompa.n,y.

Landsborough Crushing Montgomery Reef ...

Quartz Tailings and Cement Crushed.

Lands borough ... >4> Ray's Rush

Average Yield per

ron. Remarks.

tons cwt. qr. dwt. gr. oz.' dwt. gr

17 0 { 1 0 0 0 0 17 15'53 i

aso o o 1:--o-~ 17 0 0 15 0 0

Gold } Depth Silver 25 feet

I

_3_2_4_' _0 ___ 0_1 '

~ So;ne of ~e !ll'ment obtained at Ray's Rush averaged 2 ozs. to the ton,

79

QUARTZ.

The only reef at present being worked in this division is :t.'lontgomery's Reef, Landsborough. The prospect obtained was most favorable ; a large proportion of silver is found associated with gold in this reef. The chief drawback in JlrOspecting is the comparative shallowness at which water is struck. The claims have amalgamated for the purpose of sinking a deep shaft to test the reef below the water leveL •

ALLUVIAL.

Ray's Lead, near Lands borough, has proved the most remunerative diggings that have been opened since the first Landsborough rush; tlie returns varying from 6 dwts. to 3 ozs. to the load.

Paul's rush is a new lead discovered about three miles to the north-west of the township of Landsborough, the sinking bein!J about 65 feet. It is not so payable as Ray's Lead, but gives very fair returns, the washdirt averagmg•8 dwts. to the load. Emerald Hill is another new patch, adjoining Paul's rush, on which a number of miners are now at work.

The older workings in the neighborhood of Landsborough are comparatively ted, with the exception of the Upper Malakhoff, where Chinamen are now busily employed. At y nothing new has been struck, beyond the old workings, for the last three months. The· few miners employed there are contented with working out the old ground.

· Glenpatrick iB attracting unusual attention, the Co-operative Company having bottomed their shaft with ease, the water being easily kept down without any unusual exertion ; the prospect obtained from the bottom of the shaft gave 17 dwts. to the load, with washdirt 4 feet high.

The Midland Sluicing Company, on the same lead, are also doing rentarkably well, being able to clear about £6 per man per week. The above mentioned companies purpose at once erecting steam machinery for more efficiently working their ground.

The higher portion of the gu].l:y is occupied by Johnson and Co's. sluicing claims, also Blane and party's extended claim, both of whiCh companies are paying fairly.

The Glenpatrick Gold Mining Company, on the lower portion of the gully, have also got good prospects, but have found their whim totally inadequate to work that part of the lead.

In various parts of the division parties are out prospecting, and although the number of miners has decreased, the general healthy appearance of alluvial mining has not undergone any unfavorabl"

· change; the reason for the diminution being that many have relinquished mining for the present for the purpose of fencing and tilling ~nd taken up under various sections of the Land Act.

0

By Authority: JoHN FElmES, Government Printer, Melbourne.

Q

Documents

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