1868
“Mr. Hargraves states as the result of his observations, that from the foot of the Big Hill to a considerable distance below Wellington, on the Macquarie, is one vast gold field, that he has actually discovered the precious metal in numberless places, and that indications of its existence are to be seen in every direction.”
When Edward Hargaves announced news of his discovery of a vast goldfield across central west NSW in 1851, few would have guessed that he had massively underestimated the true extent of the gold bearing region.
By 1868, it was becoming apparent that the whole of south west NSW along the Lachlan Fold Belt was in effect a massive goldfield. It was during this year that the impetus provided by the major investments in the Grenfell field spread outwards as new reef gold mining operations sprang up across the region.
That there was gold in abundance was clear beyond measure. The only problem was that sometimes there was a bit too much rock mixed in with it.
The thing about reef gold is that it is the most erratic and unpredictable of resources to go in search of.
Now imagine coming across the chaotic remains of this explosion millions of years later and finding one of the large globular gold masses – a miraculous find that puts you amongst the lucky ranks of lottery winners.
Pocketing this good fortune you then dig deeper in search of more of the same. The only problem is that every new day in search of uber-rich gold deposits is another lottery draw.
For investors seeking a more secure return, the real issue is the daily grind – what’s the minimum amount of gold you need per ton of ore crushed to make the operation pay? This in turn has two aspects. One is how rich the ore is in the first place, the second is how good you are at getting the gold out of it.
22nd April 1868
“We have auriferous reefs spread like a net work over the face of the country, and all that we require to make them handsomely remunerative is not enterprise, for of that we have abundance, but complete machinery, that shall work easily, well, and quickly, and that shall save everything of the precious metal which is contained in the stone.”
22nd April 1868
The main feature of interest in the history of our gold fields is that attention is now being more generally directed to the quartz reefs of the colony, as even a more certain means of procuring gold than the ordinary digging or alluvial mining process.
Since the fine yields that have now been for so long continuously obtained from the main reefs in the Emu Creek district, it has naturally been imagined that many of the reefs hitherto disregarded contain hidden stores of gold which require only the stampers of the crushing machine to call into existence.
As a consequence, we have engines now put up in localities where some months ago they would never have been dreamt of.
But withal, and in spite of this increased interest in quartz reefing, the greater part of the machinery employed is not by any means of that superior character that is necessnry, first to crush the quartz as speedily as possible to the requisite oneness, and next to collect all the gold which has been contained within the stone.
Still we are gradually, and it might almost be said, surely, progressing to that end, for already attention is beng called to the fact, that whilst in Victoria as little as seven or eight pennyweights of gold to the ton will give a dividend to the shareholders in a reef, in New South Wales, nothing under an ounce per ton will pay expenses.
However, to pass from this to actual facts, the present position of the Grenfell mines is very clearly and succinctly given in a letter from a’ correspondent of this journal, resident at Grenfell, and long employed upon our gold fields.
He says, in his letter : “ We are drifting here into the quiet routine of an old established gold-field, and our population is not in excess of the number requisite for working the reefs and driving the machines.
Of these there are now ten thundering away from morning till night, and from night again till morning. Most of the outside reefs are barely payable. Those about the Welcome yield from 10 dwts. to an ounce per ton. The reefs flanking the Main Lead above the town still hold good, for about three claims on each reef-and no more !
Beyond that they either disappear or decrease tremendously in value, causing corresponding disappointment, and much loss and suffering. Taking O’Brien’s reef as an example of what I wish to show-there is first, the Prospecting Claim, remarkablv good ; No. 1 North, ditto; No. 2 North, yielded 10”dwts. to the ton; No. 3 North, worked for fifteen months and no reef struck yet. Then No. 1 South, only 90 feet, still good, but shows signs of running out; No. 2 South, yielded 3 dwts. to the ton : ? No. 3 South, no reef yet, though it has been worked for fifteen months. So with the Homeward Bound reef, the Prospecting claim, and No. 1 North and No. 1 South are good, but beyond these, the ‘ claims have either no reef or the stone is of little value.
The Lucknow is about the same, >with three 1 really good claims and no more. On Wilton’s reef ‘ there are but two claims getting payable stone.
The j Britannia has only one good claim at work. This one’ 1b B. Spencer’s, the man who came forward so boldly to fight the battle of the’ diggers against the lawyer ‘ Redman. One share in the claim was bought by , Booth, the storekeeper, for £600 cash, before a crush-, . ing took place.
The yield on crushing wss I-f oz. ‘ per ton ; bo that Redman would have made a good1 ‘ thing if he could have managed to bounce Spencer out of his location. “ All the outside reefs, of which there are a large j number, yield from 3 dwts. to 7 dwts., with the ex | ception of the Welcome Hill stone, of which there is a large quantity. Many claims have been taken upon the line of this reef, and the yield has averaged about 10 dwts., wi’h three exceptions.
In these claims the stone has given an ounce to the ton, and occasionally t something more.” , ‘, , He adds, with reference to the reefing prospects of this district, what may be appli-d to the colony at large, and remarks upon the rude and incomplete character of the gold crushing and gold saving appa- ratus now employed. He says:-”Now, the result of my experience of this district is just this.
In all the country for fifty miles round Emu Creek, there are numerous poor gold-bearing reefs, which will yield, say from 5 dvv ts to 10 dwts. to the ton. When we have learned to extract the gold from such poor stone at a cost less than its value, they will be worked, and not until then ; true, an occasional rich claim may be dropped upon; but this should not be taken into con- sideration in any extensive gold-mining enterprise.
When you are assured that’ from 5 to 10 dwts. per ton will leav e you a margin of profit, then go at it with a certainty of success “ We have auriferous reefs spread like a net work over the face of the country, and all that we require to make them handsomely remunerative is not enter- prise, for of that we have abundance, but complete machinery, that shall work easily, well, and quickly, and that shall save everything of the precious metal which is contained in the stone.
There are now no less than ten crushing machine at work at Grenfell, and three otu era are shortly expected to arrive; and yet these i>re hardly able to keep down the amount of quart/ that is being daily raised from the several reefs.
At Kiandra a machine has been erected and set to work since our last summary left the harbour, but we have as yet no return of the-yield of the stone.
On the Lower Murrumbidgee, near Narandera, a machine is now at work : and at Gulgong, near Mudgee, one machine has been crushing for’the last fortnight, and another is on(the point of completion.
Taking in their order the mines from whien intelli hence has reached us during the past month, we come first to the Araluen Valley. Here there are very general complaints of depression and of a falling off’in the yields from the majority of the claims. Yet, in Bpite of this, the escort maintains its average.
This seeming paradox may perhaps be best explained by the following remarks from a correspondent of the Bl aidmod Dispatch, who, writing from Araluen, says : -” Our monthly escort left here on Tuesday morning vvith3131o¿ 13 dwt. 13 grs. of gold. By far the larger proportion of tr.is amount of gold is the produce of between three and four claims, whose fortunate shareholders are getting good dividends.
The ‘ remainder of the claims are some of them washing just about sufficient to cover expense», while others are, from the extreme poorness of the ground, sustaining weekly losses ; while several, as I s-ated before, have I for the present suspended operations.
There is still in the Valley a large extent of ground to be, worked , -payable ground if more economy was used in wash- ing.1 On the 13th instant, application was made to the Moruya District Court lo wind up the Bergalia Mineral Reefs Company.
At the Gulph, or Nerri-¡ !’ gundah, also in the Moruya district, mining has got to a very low ebb. The small patches of auriferous ground that have given work to the miners are now exhausted ; and in order to keep the population on the giound, parties have been fitted out and main- tained by subscription, in order to- prospect the district, more especially in the vicinity of the Bel lembla Creek.
( Alluvial mining is at a complete standstill ,at Kiandra, in so far as the European population,is con- cerned ; though the Chinesei are still hard at work upon’the old ground, and appear to be satisfied with the result of their labour. The weather is getting very severe, and alluvial mining will soon be at an end for the season.
The European miners have their attention almost entirely engrossed by the reefs which have been opened on this neld ; and as a crushing machine has been erected and set to work, the value of the labour upon which the miners have been en- gaged will soon be discovered. F
rom the Tumut the mini»; news is still reported to be satisfactory. Some new ground has been opened since our last summary, about thirty miles trom the Tumut, on the Little River, and near the old track to Kiandra. No definite intelligence has yet been received from the locality, the gundagai paper merely stating that the newe continues good.
The prospector, however, was said to have obtained a prospect of half a pennyweight to the dish of dirt from the bottom of the shaft.
At Adelong things are more promising than they have been for some time past. Payable quarU has been Strunk on the Gap reef, and a’ large quantity of stone fr,om Brooker and Co.’s claim on the Gibraltar reef has given three ounces to the ton. No new ground has been opened at, Grenfell, and parties seem to have given up all hopes of striking any.
Alluvial mining has all but ceased, throughout the diggings, for water is bo scarce tl»at little or no ,wa9hing csn be done.
Reefs have been opened at Cowra and at Canow- indra, though we have as yet rio accounts of the yield of the atone, if any had been tested.
Further on again towards Carcoar, other reefs have been worked, one of which, the Burnt Yards reef, has given the fine yield of 46 oz. of gold for Gi tons of stone. There was a reported discovery of a new lead at Forbes in the beginning of the month, and a ruah was the conseqnence.
After a large number of un- profitable shafts had been sunk, the ahepherds gave up their claims, though the prospectors are still sanguine ot succesB. By last news, an attempt was being made to strike a branch of the old South Lead by sinking on the slope of the Hospital Hill. The ground has been taken up and marked out, and there has already been speculation in shares, although us yet there have been no indications struck to warrant the hopes of success which are entertained.
The extensive and valuable Wentworth property, known as the Lucknow gold-field, has been” pur- chased by a Melbourne company, and it is proposed to work the auriferous ground by means of a joint stock company.
The shareB have been some time in the market, and the Orange paper says it is expected that operations will be commenced at an early day. New reefs have been opened and worked on the Turon River, near its junction with the Abercrombie, and on the fall of the land
from Tambaroora-being, os íb supposed, a continuation of the reefs hitherto worked on the eastern 6ide of the Bald Hills. A great rush has taken place in consequence of the reported richness of the stone raised from these reefs. Already hundreds of tons of stone have been raised ; whilst a crushing machine has been moved to the spot, and is well on towards completion.
The Two-mile Flat, in the neighbourhood ef Mudgee, has recently received a large accession of population in the shape of returned miners from New Zealand and Queensland. Water, however, has become very scarce, and the absence of it mili- tates much againBt the success of the diggers.
The first crushing by the newly-erected machine at the Gulgong reef has not turned out so well as had been expected, the result being only 17 dvvts. to the , ton ; 150 tons of stone having returned 120 oz. of gold. It is thought, however, that the stone will be lichcr as the reef is more opened out. A second , crushing mill has been erected, and it íb no doubt at ?woik by this time.
23rd July 1868
“The Grenfell reefs, are spreading the benefits of their practical knowledge and their capital over a very extensive area.
“The new mining districts of Cowra and Canowindra, of Murrumburrah and the Lovells, owe their development to the Grenfell reefs, while capital from this place has been drawn freely for the proper trial of the reefs near Young, as well as for those of Junee, Chambers’s Creek, the Burnt Yards, and several other places.”
23rd July 1868
EMU CREEK -The Mining Record, of Saturday last states that since last report the following lots of quartz have been completed at the machines –
At Mathison’s, 190 tons, from O’Brien’s leased ground, 12 dwts per ton.
At Campbell’s (lower machine), 72 tons of alluvial stone, for Shaw and party, 15 dwts per ton. Vaughan will finish 150 tons for No 2 South Welcome on Monday, and Campbell (upper machine), 80 tons for No 3-4 North Welcome, today.
The Brundah, Parker and Co, Kirkpatrick, and Wellington, are executing large contracts for No 1 South O’Brien’s, No 1 North Homsward Bound, prospecting claim, O’Brien’s; and prospecting claim, Golden Point, respectively.
Parker and Co successfully started their two new batteries m the early part of last wcok, tho engine being sufficiently povv erful to dnvo a still greator number when required lhe United Miners’ Machino is nearly completed, and will bo ready to eommonco operations on tho am val of a now fly-wheel shaft from Sydney, to icplace ono unfortun- ately broken
The proprietors of tho Victorian machino hav o nt last determined on a sito on which to re-orcot it, being at the head of tho One-Milo Gully, and in tho imme- diate vicinity of tho Welcome, tho Lucknow, Homoward Bound, and other first-class reefs, from somo of the claims on which tramways will bo laid down at once, thereby reducing tho cost of freight from 2s Gd or 3s. per ton to less than Gd
Thoboilei of tho machino arrived on tho ground on Tuesday last, ond tho remainder is on tho road lhe removal of this machine from tho 1 y igong will inereaso the cost of working tho reefs in that part of tho district, Mr Kirkpatnck’s being now the nearest machino, and that some five or six miles distant, but in the ovent of anv of the at present almsst abandoned roofs “ tm nmg out ‘ w eil-v\ hich many behev e they will do-tho want of crushing powei would soon be supplied Quartz-reofors who hav o acquired increased means, and an extended experience by then connection with the Grenfell reefs, are spreading the benefits of their practical knowledge and their capital over a very extensive area.
The new mining districts of Cowra and Canowindra, of Murrumburrah and the Lovels, owe their development to the Grenfell reefs, while capital from this place has been drawn freely for tho proper trial of the reefs near Young, as well as for those of Junee, Chambers’s Creek, the Burnt Yards, and several other places
Tho latcBt news from Canowindra is very fav om able Three reefs are being worked theie, meloso pioximity to each other, on each of which aro fiom three to five claims, and somo rich specimens have boen obtained this week from the prospecting claim in which Messrs Bevan and Alsop, of this place, are tho principal share- holders Wo last week noticed the salo ot a shaio in No 1 Noith O’Brien’s Reef, by Mr M’Lennan, for £1500 cash It should havo been £1700. Tho sum of £1800 has Leen since offered for the same share, and rofused.
12th August 1868
Nor were the newer fields around Grenfell the only locales to excite attention as reef mining transformed the mining landscapes of NSW. Even the old warhorse Ophir was still capable of generating attention.
“Sydney has been startled by one or two announcements of rich finds on the old Ophir Diggings. About six weeks ago came the intelligence that 40 lbs. weight of gold had been sold by three miners, obtained by them out of the rich vein of a quartz reef.”
12th August 1868
Within the last month mining matters have become much more promising than they have been for the last three years.
In the South, as in the North, the gold-fields have been enlivened by a heavy fall of rain, which, lasting during several days, has filled the dams and waterholes, and set the alluvial miners merrily io work.
At Emu Creek this is especially the case, and tho report from tho Lower Seven-mile Rush Blutes that :- . “ Thero aro about 250 minors at work, and thirty-two claims aro on gold.
Thero aro two runs of wash-dirt in many of the clainiB-one termed tho “ red run, anil tho rthcr tho “ white run.” They vary greatly m their width, tho widest pint yet worked being littlo less than fifty foot much of that width, however, not being payable. Ino nvcrngo thickness of tho wash is about a foot, and tho highest return from any of tbo washings since tho Into ram is reported to bo 11 dwts. to tho load, ‘tho prosont workings aro at least threo milos from tbo commencement of tho “ lead,” tho depth of sinking varying but twolvo feet for tho whole of tbo distance, starting at oighty foot and deepening to ninety-two feet.
Thero is every proba- bility ol’ its extending much further than it has yot boon token up, although not likely to provo rich. T
ho best claims now being worked will no doubt pay good wages, but the majority much less.” >
As regaids tho reefs, tho crushing muchmea oro nil buM’ly at work, having their dams now full up. Tho last weekly report upon this field is thus given in the Mining Record (Grenfell paper) : “
Every machine at work sinco our lnst report has been cnibhing good payable stone, with tho exception of a lot from tho Oriental prospecting claim, and two trial lots from Juneo nnd tho 17-Mile. Tho following are tho various quantities crushed, with the result of tho crushings, sinco our list re- port :-At Kirkpnfrick’s machine-440 tons from tho pros- pecting claim Golden Point, tho exuet roturas from which «ero not ascertained in time for lnst week-yiold 330 oz.
At M’Connell nnd Co.’s tho prospectors Homeward Bound cleaned up tho piocccds of 225 tons-yiold 291 oz. At Wellington’s-nuout 300 tonK from tho prospecting claim O’Brien’s (second quality stono), has boon put through, which, by tho tables, indicates ii yield of ^ oí. per ton. Bevan and Co. commenced on stono from tbo prospecting claim Oriental last week, nnd crushed 70 tons, wbou it was found to bo not payable-tho totnl yield boing only 4 oz. lrdwts.
Campbell finished 61 tons of alluvial pebbles from (lie main lead, for Stevens and party, on Tucs’day last, which yielded 57 oz. 7 dwts. ; also 11 tons from tho new reef, near George Field’s, Billibong-yiold 63i oz. ; a iiiul lot of 4 tons, for Newman and party, from n reef at tho 17-Mile-yield 23 dwts. ; and anotbor trial lot of 5 tons from Scotton’s lease at Junee – yiold, 1 oz. 10 dwts.”
From this it will bo seen that tho stono sont as samplo crushings from tho Juneo icefs gave very far below the pay- able yield; and that tho bamplofrom the Billibong reef gave’not very far off the haiidsomo return of nearly G o¿. of gold per ton. ‘
Tho Wood’s Flat Diggings, within a short distance or Cowra, eecrn to retain their population in spite of tho counter attractions of other localities, whilst tho diggers aro moro than usually sanguino as to tho ultimate suc- cess which is to crown their labours.
A correspondent writing heneo gives a very clear and comprehensive account of what has been dono and what is now doing on this field. Ho says : “ Our population is, I judge, slightly on tho increase, thero being from 800 to 1000 persons now sottlod down. Stores, Bhnntics, and public-houses aro abundant, but » post-office is yet wanting. With respect to mining, I shall givo Bomo particulars of clainiB, and then your readers can judge for themselves as to tho position of this now gold- field. In tho alluvial ground, No. 1 East are on payable gold ; but 1 f anoy that they are working in a very rough, way, and wasting a deal of labour. No. 2 aro on splen- did gold ; prospects, from 5 to lo grs. to the dish ; thick- ness of wash, eighteen inches.
This party aro eight feet in tho run, and tho dirt is looking better as they go on. Nos. 3 and 4 not on gold, and 5 and 6 on payablo dirt. On tho western sido, Nos. 1, 5, 16, and l8 on payable gold ;. tho others hnve not struck it ns yet. Thus much about our alluvial ground. Mcssib. Clayburn’s machino started ob Wednesday, the 22nd, and will soon test our roofs. Wo httvo nbundanco of water in the dam-enough for many months, but the machine is much too small for the wants of the district, should the reefs moko anything of a show. No. 2 South Kirkmnn’s and No. 2 South Lucknow aro each tracing from Ne. 1, adjoining, and they both expect to get the reef soon.” Mr. Frost, tho owner of tho Wentworth estate and mines (Lucknow), has finally disposed of his interest in it to tho ?Wentworth Estate Mining Company, who took possession on Saturday, tho 25th July, ana are now making preparations for commencing operations.
The Great Britain Mining Company, tdso in tho same district, and under tho management of Mr. Spicer, a woll-known and experienced gold miner, is also reported to bo doing well. Sydney bos been startled by one or two announcements of rich linds on the old Ophir Diggings, at Summerhill Creek, whero gold was first discovered in Now South Walos by Mr. E. H. Hargraves.
About six weeks ago came tho intelligence that 40 lbs. weight of gold had boon sold by three miners, obtained by them out of the rich vein of a quartz reef. This was at first discredited, but was after- wards partially verified.
About a fortnight ago, however, we received by telegram tho announcement that tho samo pnrty of men, Christopherson nnd his matea, who bad obtained the 40 lbs. of gold, had got two bucketsful of gold out of the same reef.
This was after- wards shown to bo the case, for though the gold, ns taken from tho reef, was naturally mixed with quartz, the pre- cious metal so predominated as to justify the statemont that it was all gold. Of coursc,whon tho intelligence was trans- mitted through the colonv by the telegraph wires, a rush set in to the spot, everyone hoping to get on to a piece of the precioUB vein, which opened out so hnndsomoly and bled so splendidly.
Tho following is from the reporter of tho Western Examiner, who recently visited the spot :-” Up to the present time no gold of any conséquence has been teken from any claim than tho prospectors, indications denoto that tho parties aro not far from a realisation of thoir hopes. In the prospectors’ claim tho precious metal is being unearthed in immenso quantities, tho leader being so rich ns to excite surprise, oven umongst the experienced, and forco them to declare thoy never saw anything like it.
On Monday nnd Tuesday in the present week, a largo quantity of stone, literally a mass ot gold, was taken from this claim, and on Thursday the same good fortune con- tinued. We witnessed tho operations on tho day last-named, and, without hazarding any opinion as to tho eiuantity, obtained can testify to extraordinary quantity and quality of the yield.
It was calculated by thoso oxporioncetl in such matters that 6 lbs. weight of puro gold would bo the result of the morning’s work.
Tho stoao is taken^ from tho claim in buckets, hence has arisen tho assertion that gold is being got in bucketfuls. True, bucketfuls of very rich stono, but not of gold. Our desire is to give every publicity to this rich discovery, but wo cor tainly must disclaim any attempts against ¡my attompt at exnggerntion, ns most prejudicial, it is understood then that only in the prospectors’ claim is gold being obtained at present. Other clainiB certainly look well, and wo imagina tbey must strike, especially those North and South of the prospectors.
No. 1 North, next the prospectors’, havo indications of tho leader, and havo seen the colour, but nothing to speak of. No. 3 North, and No. 3 South havo both tho leader clearly defined. In tho former jfour Icadora have been discovered, two being gold-bearing.
The wall in th¡B claim is precisely similar to that in tho prospectors*. In other claims, North nnd South, operations uro progress- ing with spirit. On the lower level near the crook, matters appear successful. Lnmont’s purty in No. 1 struck the gold on Wednosday in fair quantity. Considering that operations havo been carried on so short a time, tho result must bo conceded most encouraging, and clearlv demon- strative of tho fact that only population is required to make this a most prosperous gola-fiold.
Some idea of tie esti- mation in which the golden claim is hold may bo had from the fact that £2500 is asked for ono shore. £40 has been asked for a half-sharo in No. 3 South. Population is increasing, many trying their luck at alluvial digging.”
A very rich gold-bearing reef has also been discovered on Wattlo Flat, a locality only a few miles distant from the Turon, ono of tho earliest of our gold-fiolds. About a month back our correspondent at Wattle Flat wrote to inform us of this discovery, and tho following additional information is contained in a subséquent lotter, dated 21st ultimo : “Tho new reof that was discovered by Holmes and Moylo on Old Surfaco Hill, and which I mentioned in my last letter, still continues to turn out very rich.
I havo been informed, upon what I consider to bo good authority, that this party havo taken out over £1000 worth of gold .within tho ievv wcekB sinco thoy havo discovered tho reof. Whether that bo the enso or not, I mysolf saw thom wash out 15 oz. from a tub of stuff. When this beenmo known thero was a regular rush to peg out tho ground noxt to it.
The whole length of the reot bns been taken up by friends of the discovcr’cis of tbo reef. Thero havo also boon now alluvial , diggings discovered about nine miles from Sofala witliin tho last, day or two. It bus caused it Minali kind of rush, and about thirty men havo left hoi o for tho now ground. I huvo received a letter from ono ef tho parties working there. Ho tells mo that from what ho lina seen he con- siders tho diggings to bo as good as any that havo yot been worked upon tho Turon.”
27th October 1868
And indeed, the diversity of mining activity across the south west at this time was something to behold after so many lean years leading up to the quartz mining revival.
New ground was being worked and reported on and shares were trading hands in the process.
27th October 1868
BUCKINBAH REEF. – The Obley correspondent of the Dubbo Dispatch writes:- Crushing was commenced at the Buckinbah Reef, but has been discontinued, owing to the want of water. The river being dry where they are work- ing, the prospectors have been obliged to sink a well, which did not supply sufficient water ; so that, after crushing a small quantity of stone, they had to suspend operations.
They are busy sinking the well deeper, and expect to get sufficient water to enable to crush at least twenty or thirty tons of stone, which will be a test of the richness of the reef. Should rain fall in sufficient quantity to cause the river to run, the crushing will be vigorously proceeded with.
TUMBLETON CREEK.- Although there is not much now : ground opening at this field says the BUrrngong Argus, I still a groat deal that is now being worked is turning out ? : remarkably well. Wc understand that some parties who ; arc working nearly opposito Mr. Conn’s store, last week ; obtained thirty ounces from ilfteen loads of dirt, and that , several parties about the snino locality are washing two ounces to tho load.
On Wednesday ono party obtained niuo ounces from three loads, and lower down the crook near Mrs. Dickson’s storo, tho dirt averaged 1 oz. 7 dwts. to tho load. Two parties of Italians, who have amalgamated their claims, havo been at much expenso and labour in trying to drain, their ground of water, having cut a raco J three hundred ¡yards long and ton feet deep. T
hoy havo : not yet bottomed their oluim, hilt expect to do so this week, when we hope they will bowell paid for their .time and j money, oxpended in their work. – Some ground that proved i unworkable, on account of tho quantity of water, is now i being worked with favourable results.
The prospect from \ ono claim was about \ dwt. to tho dish, and ft is oxpected j that a good deal of ground will be shortly worked which, ¡ on account of the water, could not be at tho commencement I of the rush.
There aro four claims on gold at tho back of j Mr. Alting’s store, thc average washings.being, about half ¡ an ounce to,tho load. ‘ It ÍB thought that tho gold from this . placo will bo traced through a large hill, «nd soyeral parties . aro sinking nt tho side and top of tho same. From tho shallow gullies thero is nothing new to report, the avorago washings still being from ö dwts. to $ oz. to tho load.
DEMONDRILLE.-Tho correspondent of the Burrangong Argus states :-” Tho machine during the past fortnight has been ata standstill, with the exception of crushiug twelve tons from tho prospecting claim, Garibaldi Gully . (Stoney Creek), and eight tons (nil ever raised) from Wo. 1 south, Australian. The Garibaldi gave 5 dwts. nor ten, and tho Australian 9 dwts. Messrs. Pcarco and party, whom I mentioned «s .opening out in tho Demondrille privato ground, have now abandoned it, having gono twelve feet without getting gold.
Neithor do I soo tho partios who took up claims on the Crown land adjoining, at work during tho last fow days.’ Indeed, thero is an impression abroad that tho engino is about to be removed from here, consequently it is useless to movo in tho matter of trying fresh reefs, or raising stone from the old ones.
What tho conditions, of the prospectors are, is unknown to me; but this I know, that, by not moving, wc certainly contribute to bring about tho end wo wish to avert. No one can keep valuable property in- active longer than a demand arises for its omplomont else- where.
The prospecting claim (privato ground), on which bangs tho reefing district of Demondrille, is now amalga- mated with No. 1, or. Armstrong’s party. Two of tho shareholders (Johnson and Thomas) Bold out a fow days ago, to persons named Marshall and Cooper.
Thoy dis- continued Binking.in their claim on touching tho water at thirty-six feet, and aro now employed driving and “ stop- ping’’ out tho reef ; and, as they work day and night, a crushing of some fifty tons will bo got in about a fortnight. The appearance of the st- nc is about tho sanio as that last crushed-16 dwts. to thc ton.
A party is also raising stono from tho old Louisa ; and there is soma talk of again giving the Murrumburrah a trial. And Mr. Minter, 1 see, invites tenders to raise fifty tons from tho Australian. Instead of raising fifty tons, I would suggest to Mr. Minter that it bo to sink (ifty. feet from tho lowest level now obtained viz., fifty-ono feet, in order to provo tho reef-with- out reference to quantity-at a depth of ono hundrod foot.
The Australian is the only north and south roof yet opened in this district ; and it has a quality of quartz distinct from tho rest of the reofs. Depth is tho only test of this reef, and as yet its shell only is broken.
CARGO DIGGINGS.-
tho Western Examiner of Saturday says-Lacking a fall of rain,.ibero is nothing now to bo re- ported from the80 diggings. That gold oxists in payable quantities, and over an area capable of i-ustaining a largo population, thero can bo no doubt, but without tho moans of washing but n wiall quantity is realised ;
nor havo wo heard of any measures being adopted to secure a supply of water when’tho ruin does como. Notwithstanding tue re- ports of correspondents to Sydney journals, wo aro assured ‘
by those who havo been on thc spot from tho first that tho population is rathor decreasing than otherwise.
A rush 1 took placo during tho week to a spot on tho Cave Creek, reports from which differ, but we believo some time ago o ] shaft wasjsunk in tho neighbourhood, and gold found all tho ! way down in a conglomerate of burnt quartz.
Should any- ! thing turn up at thiB spot, tho drawbaok of want of water. will.not bo experienced. , , 1 ! .
TUMUT.-Ino Tumut correspondent of the Gundagai\ Times writes:-A report’has reached town that a shep herd in tho employ of Mr, John Hay, ut Gocup, has dis covered an aorifcrous roofr\in that locality, about elovonl ‘iii¡lrBÍiomTumút..^
My,íñformant «tato» that>tho shep-’J herd showed bim’tho contenta of a handkerchief ^hioh’no.^ carried, and which proved to bo somo spctímbnslbfj quártz’. thickly studded with gold,’ and ovidontly surface utono,1 as i ‘ tho mets and dirt wero-adhering in Hovoral -places.
‘-Tho . mun expressed his intcntibu of keeping the precise locality ii secret till ho had given up “tho flock ho is shepherding,’ when bo purposes with others to opon n prospecting dui tu.
We know il lo bo a fact (bal gold hus frequently boen found in thc neighbourhood of Gocup. ADHI.ONO.-Tho correspondent of tho Gundagai limn says:-I havo nothing now in mining nowa lo ropo rt. Tippett and Co.’s átono wont within a little of 2 oz to tho ton-paying wages’;’ and thc claim, which has wonderfully improved, promises to furnish materials for a good crushing by Christmas.
Other claims aro looking about as usual, with tho except ion of that of tho now company, which ia iraproyod in appearance. They aro how crashing a small lot of some 40 tons, which will pay wages and oxponBca, and according to present appearances tho next crushing will bo remu- nerativo. ‘ Mr. A. D. Sheppard’s olaim ia now steadily at work, and if tho cut continues to go down nt tho present rato, tho first, wash-up will take place shortly. ‘
ing up the immense body of water now lying in tin old .workings of the Victoria reef will bo commenced. If this can be accomplished it will give work to a largo number of miners.
THE CARGO DIGGINGS.-Tho special correspondent of the Western Èiatmner writes:- During tho last few days several rushes have set in to gullies within a couplo of miles of the township, through reports of prospects ob- tained ranging from thnt infinitesimal quantity “n grain,” to as much as five grains ;
but with the exception of the gully heading from the Iron-clad reof, and running parallel with the gully just opened,
every placo has been abandoned within a day or two of its being rushed.
The rush to the last-mentioned locality wns first occasioned by a party . obtaining 15 grs. from six dishes of dirt taken from a bolo bottomed and ubnndoncd, nnd subsequently washing about 9 dwts. from a load.
The prospects of tho gully wero ren- dered brighter on Monday evening by Hawkins and party i washing 5 oz. to the dis’h, the sinking being scarcoly ten i feet, nnd the thickness of wash seven or eight inches.
‘ In tho claim just bottomed, the wash-dirt was twelve inches thick nnd the gutters about Eeven feet wide. )
The effect of Hawkins’s prospect was a rush on j rather an extensive scale, tho wholo of tho , gully being taken up two or three claims abreast up to its junction with the “ Township Gully.” |
The excitement, however, cooled down considerably the i ¿sy or two succeeding, when Hawkins’s prospects dwindled i to a mero colour nnd less, and only n few of the claims bottomed on any gold- bearing wash whatever, and these few boosting of prospects of but half a grain or so.
The charm was broken : and the gully is now only occupied by a fifth part of the number that crowded it in the early part ¡ of the week. This, notwithstanding, is the best rush that has taken place, inasmuch ns it is not yet given up, and “one” claim at least will pay “in small wngos.”
Of the others a few words will suflice. “Dead Horse” gully, | about half a mile beyond No. 1, or Long gully, wns rushed from a prospect of 1J gi’, hnving been obtained at a depth of twelve feet, about half n milo below the sur- facing claims, with two feet of wash. The washing of a . few moro prospects, however, proved tho grain and a half to he but a pntch (shades of Bendigo, Ballarat, nnd the Lachlan, hear this and weep!) and tho bottoming of a few, more holes, occupying altogether a very few hours, being taken to be a full and sufficient trial of, the gully, it was abandoned even by the inspectors.
The deep shaft was also bottomed at 125 eet on a stiff dip, this the prospectors followed for a few feet, when they struck water.
The Bhaf t was too small to slab, one or two of the pnrty wero frightened to work the ground further w ithout slabbing, and funds wero not forthcoming to put down a now woll-timbered shaft ; and although thero were plenty of men ns willing as Mr. Barkis himself, the enterprise was given np for the present.
The deep shaft, intersecting tho lower end of Tin Dish Gully, was bottomed at 92 feot, after going through a very thick stratum of hard, red cemontcd stuff-
BIBO a duffer-and has also been abandoned for the présent. Hero thero is a description of the failuro of all efforts made to find payable ground in the neighbourhood of Cargo, aB gloomy tis the most discontented digger and moBt inveterate denouncer of newspaper reporters could desire. _
There is one fact, however, concerning the gold-field which every reasonable and unreasonable man agrees, which is that “ its extent and richness can never tbe ascertained until thero is plenty of water.” No. 1 on Long Gully is the only part of the diggings that now holds a hugo mining population; and it is stated, on good authority, that many of the claims will pay as much as from £150 to £250 per share for about two months’ work.
These are tho “ crnck “ claims, of course ; many of them who aro holding out wash-dirt which they con- sider of sufficient value to puy the cartago of, scarcely netting 30s. per week. Two or three small veins of httlo value hnvo been found coming into 1he gully during tho week, and a few fresh claims have been taken up at tho , old lead but it has not been traced further down, the im- pression being that payable gold oxists no further than tho ‘ ground has been already worked.
Tin Dish Gully has been ‘ abandoned by all but one party, in consequence of the water being entirely used up. A full of rain, howovcr, will bring back a considerable number of diggers to tho gully, and pi obably the washing out from its nooks and corners of a much greater quantity of gold thnn has yet been taken from it.
The soi t of prospecting that is now going forvvnrel, is such ns will lead to no perceptibly beneficial results until there is water in plenty, tho plan boing to find, wherever chanco or calculation may lend the prospecfor, a run of auriferous drift, which, when found is loft, in order to get something better if possible; and when facilities tor washing aro forthcoming .to start to work the apparently most profitable spot,”
It may bo -and it is to bo hoped for the sake of the numbers congre- gated here-that a drenching thunderstorm will soon bo Jollowfcd by tho opening up of a much larger urea of pay- able ground than has yet been proved payable.
At any rate, a sufficient rainfall would be an inestimable boon, in , order that this gold-field might have a chance of fair trial. The Reefs.-Although no new reefs havo been opened, tho three veins being worked continue to go down well-rather midway than otherwise-and to turn out better stono ; the I Alpino being near about 14 inches in thickness at 35 feet, i Twfnty tons of stone is BOW being carted from the nros pecting claim of this latter reef to the AVentworth to bo ‘ crushed, which is expected to average 3 oz. to tho ton ; and the Ironclad prospectors aro about to send ten tons to the s8mo machine.
The population is receiving additions every I day from Tumbleton Creek, Grenfell, Queensland, and ‘ other places; and continues to increase notwithstanding I wot a great number have left for the rush to Appletreo I Flat, near Mudgee.
The present population is estimated at I over 1300. InoKKAiuts.-Of this locality tho Western Examiner reports that two miners »ade n lucky hit at Burrandong lately, bringing in 112 ox. of gold.
Tho oxoct locality of the find is not known. The lucky ones went on tho spreo rather heavily on reaching this township-so much so that some of onr publicans expressed an opinion that thoy wero diggers of the right stamp, and reminded them of tho good old timcB. PricBt nnd party washed out 130 loads of wash dirt from Little Ironbarks, yielding about 8 dwts. per load. Wo aro still sadly in want of rain ; tho few showors wo havo had havo not produced any appreciable results.
LITTLE RIVER.-The Braidwood Dispatch understands that an ottempt is being modo to get up a fund for tho furpoEe of assisting in developing tho quartz reefs of tho .Hilo River country.
It is said that there aro a number of reefs scattered about in all directions which would all, moro or loss, bo found payablo if a crushing machino was placed on tho ground. From ono or two of these reefs trial crushing8 of stone, of a very favourablo character, havo been obtained at the Mint.
Bnt amongst those disposed to work theso reefs thcro aro nono with tho necessary capital to introduce a machino, or to raise stone in sufficient quantity to offer a guarantee to others to bring a machino.
It is for this latter purpose that the fund which it is pro- posed to raiso is to bo tfovotcd. Some parties have promised to put a machino on the ground on condition that o certain quontify of payable stone shall be guaranteed to bo ready to commence with.
ARALUEN.-Tho correspondent of tho Braidwood Dis- patch states that some excitement has been caused among tho clnim owners and shareholders by tho sudden reduction on Saturday last of ninepence per ounce on tho price of gold.
Tho gold had been deposited during the week as usual, and when Saturday como and thd gold brought into the market to bo sold, thoy woro told that the price would bo 9d. on ounce ICBS. Tho banks had entered into this combination very quiotly. and the producers woro taken all obock. T
hoso that could afford to carry.on without soiling refused to do so, and intend sending their gold to tho Mint. In the want of any explanation in tho matter it does seem singular thot so grcot o differonco should so suddenly bo mode. Either tho banks must have been great losers for some time pnst by their gold purchases, or thoy intend now to mnko n jolly good thing out of it. Time will show, and tho Mint returns of the gold forwarded by private hands will put us in possession of tho real value of our staple commodity, which at present seems a mystery except to tho banks.
TUMIILETON CREEK, – The Burrangong Argus of Saturday observes :-Everything looks dull at this place, owing to a great many of the poyablo claims being worked out, and the departure of a portion of tho inhabitants to Cargo, although some just returned givo anything but o favourablo account of that place. One party, who left Tumbleton on Wednesday, had averaged during tho post nine weeks £9 per mon per week> which in these times is anything but bad wages.
Several parties aro oponing out the ground on tho lower rush down the creek, and intend giving ÍB o thorough trial. Prospecting is being energeti- cally pursued by several parties about two milos up the creek, but the results oro not yet known. Tho two shallow gullies aro being worked with much about the samo results as thot reported in our last issue. Tho population is slightly decreasing. TAM JURO ORA.-A correspondent of ihn Bathurst Times writes:-But little news to relato this week. Mining matters will soon bo ot a standstill unless wo hnve a good supply of rain, and that speedily. This state of affairs could not possibly havo happened at a worse time of tho year, as there is always a rush to tho crushing machines towards Christmas ; all who con do so being anxious to crush up before the end of the year.