1876

I have the honor to inform you, that mining in the District is far from remunerative, the miners making but low wages and capitalists getting no return.

Quartz mining has almost ceased. and alluvial mining has been retarded by the drought that has lasted, I might say, for two years! Most of the alluvial is wor1wd by sluicing, but to gct enough water frequent raill~ at’p necessal’y.

Copper mining is more favuurably looked upon by capitalists, and I have no doubt many good mines will be found in the districts of Tuena, Rockley, and Bathurst.

The Mining Registrar’s report la~t year reHpecting “ opals” eau~ed some search to be made by a party organized for tll(‘ purpo~c, out without any good relmlb:l. Trltnke.lj.-~finillg cannot get mileh lower Ullle8s it ceascs altogether; not more than 100 men have been seeking for guld during the year, and the very dry weather has seriollHly retarded the alluvial miner:;;’ operatio1l8.

The goM obtained prohably does not exceed 1,GSO ozs., being 1,080 OZf’1. alluvial and 600 ozs. fluart7. gold. Tuena.-Like l’runkey it; very dead, only about eighty-four perf’ol1s mining for gold dur~ng lS76.

The quantity of goM obtainell was about D.:JO 07.8. a11m·ial, not o11e quartz reef havmg been worked. – Peel wood copper mine is situated ill thi~ di:.:trict, and it-; probably one cf the richest in the Colony.

The following information has been supplied hy the manager, ~fr. “Tilliams :” During the past year the mille has heel I ~Il])k 120 feet diagonally, makillg a· total depth of ·120 feet from the 8urface; bearing of lode north and south, underlayillg eaHtward at an angle’ of 45°. ‘rhe lode contaiuH copper, siher, lead, and zinc, and variel’! in thicklleH:; from 1 to 20 feet;

throughout the mine there i8 an abundance of lead ore, containing a great deal of silH~l’. which is smelted mixed with the copper ore, thus renderillg the produce in regulus, which contains 40 to 50 per cent. of copper, ao to ·10 of lead, and from 100 to 130 oz~. of 8th-or to the ton.

The mine during 1876 hal5 produced ill regulus find lead 300 to 350 tons.” Oberon.-May be looked upon as an ahandoned gold field; only tWCllty-eight miners’ rights were issued in 1876. One gold leal’\e Will’; worked, but is now abandoned. All th(> miners have left, or sought other occupation.

One copper mille bas been worked. “ Tl\(‘ W,isemau,” which haH given employmclIt to twellty minertl, the proKpects are not very encouragmg. Rockle!J.-Little change has taken place in this gold field; about fifty millers are working alluvial, and obtained in 1876 about 585 oz~. of alluvial gold.

Two copper lllinel’;-the Ap~ley and Smith’s-are in this district; the former yielded 20 ton:; of copper, valued at £1,5001 and . the latter copper valued at £160, during 1876. BatltUrst.-With the exception of ‘Vinter’H leal-ic at )iilu.dl’t-1 Creek little quartz mining is going on. ThiR lease is represented fi.8 being very rich, having produced 6,602 oz~. of gold during 1876.

Minerallcasel-l, representing an area of 720 acres, have been applied for in this district. The Cow :Flat and other copper mines are in this division of Ba,thurst ward, and are> worked with fair prospects. I cannot give any detailed rel’lults, pa.rticulars having been sent to the RegiAtrar at Bathurst.

MINING operations in my district have been about the same as the few preceding years.

I have really nothing to report. If persons of capital were to speculate in the neighbourhood of Ophir I believe the results would be more than I feel disposed to ciompute. Ophir only requires developing. At Cargo the Ironclad looks good and I believe will prove to be a good reef. The other localities are not spoken of.

CARCOAR DIVISION

The numbers of miners has greatly decreased. and few gold mining operations are now carried on upon the Crown lands in my diyision. Hully Kwamp, whieh at the commencement of the year was thought would h:\,\’e turned ont a good reefing locality. l1as been, T may l-ay. a fai1l1l’(‘, the results of several crusbil:~8 having proved iwmfHeient to pay expenses. A t Wood’s l;’lat there arc only one or two al1urial (·laims at work (in which ~()od wage~ are obtained), aud on the ~-\.bercrombie and Hduhula Rin~r8 a few stra;;glillg digger~, who seem to filld the occupation profitahle. , The claims of the .f undion Oold :\finin~ Company, on the Reluhula, which have iain id1e for Home time past, h:tving changed ownel’:’J, arc about to be again worked, and I have no doubt will prove highly remUllerative. ~rbe principal gold minillg operation8 in my di”if’ion are upon Church and School 1ulH]~~ and I ma,y here t:!tate that ill several ra8es in whi(‘h I hare been applied to as ‘Varden to ~ettle dis:putes between c1aimholder~, I have found my~elf unable to ltct, the present minillg laws h:nmg reference only to Crow”1l land.~, anel giring” no power to ‘Vardens to heal’ alld determine disputes arising between pe1’80nS millillg on Clmrclt and School lands. Ou tbet:!E.’ laJid~, at 1’l’unkey Swamp and The Forest, a few alluvial claims arc b(~ing’ worked with very satisfactory resultB to the propl’ietor8, the sinking being to a depth of from 60 to 110 feet; and at }’Iyer’s Creek two or three sluicing parties are I under8tj~nd making as much as £5 to £6 per week per man, but the ~(,Rl’(‘ity of water during the past dry season ha~ greatly retarded their operations. The Prinee of “\V·-~~s claim, at Burnt Yard~, contilllle8 to turn out some very rich Mtone, and if it were ll,–the hauds of a Company who would work it energetically amI systematically, would, I am persunded, prove one of the richest mines in the We~tern Districts. ~”’roDl the Brown ‘8 Creek Gold Mining Company’s claim a.bout 2,500 ozs. were obtained during the year, and but fQr the dry Meason no doubt better results would have been obtained. At the commencement of the year there wa~ a great rUf’lh of miner~ to Mandurama (part of the Coombing E8tate, th(.’ property of :l\fr. Ieply), but after a couple of months trial the piaCl’ W,l~ almo~t de~el’tc(l. a~ the miners could not make wages, although trace~ of g-ol(l \H,We fOlll1l1. iJ~ all directiollR. A~ present there are only a few diggers left Oil thi~ estate, who obtaillCll n lIttle goM at the locaht.v known as “Golden Gully.” The amount of gold forwarded hy e~eort from Car(‘oal~ during til(‘ year IH7n is little 1l10f(, than half of what was sent away in IH7G, but this can be aceounted f(»’ by thc fad of the Junction Reef~ being id.le during that year, and the Brown’s Crcek Compallj: not harillg’ bl’en fully nt work during that period. The aetual quantity f’lt’ut by escort ill UHU was 3 r: i ~ • t {! … (‘ … • 10 “’, … • • “,tC’ 07.8 .• ~-l8 agmll~ , v,:J ,OJ OZS. III <’:’\ :J. \\’hile however the g’ola milling interest liaK I:-Ieemed to 1a.lIgui~h durillg the pa~t H~al’ I alll glad to say coppel’ milling ha:.; been carried 011 with H’ry fa,”ourabl(‘ r(‘:-mlt8, ami the Ill’O~ppd8 of the mille~ opened arc highly HatiHfaetory. ‘ Th .. l\Iilblll’lI (‘J’i.’ek mill(, haH b(\(,ll in ful1 work, anrl ha~ gin’n employment to a lal’gp llUlllUf’1’ of minerx. Three fltrnaee~ han~ been ereeted, and the lar~e quantity of 01’(‘1’ pal’;o;ed thl’Ollgh ha~ yi(>ltle(l a. good return. UII tIl(‘ C’o()mbin~ Estate tllOi’e enteqH’il’ing gentlemen l\f(,~l’rl’. ~all1uel, Lloyd, &. Co. ltaH’ opelwtl out some three or four Ycry promi~ing lode~ of (‘opp(‘r ore, At the t’oomhillglllilll’ t}w,’” harp f’l,(,(,tpd Hmelting ,,”orl;;H, and all their operatiow~ are carried 011 with Yi~our :lllit ~Ul’l’e.’~. I ha,”p 110 (lollbt that thi~ year will prO\’c copper mining in the Carcoar Dif:!triet to bE:’ highly ~ul’l.’ei’t;ful; allli have great hope~ that T shall

In relation to the most important part of’ my district – Hawkins Hill – I believe it will be admitted by all that the greatest drawback to their development is the small size of the leases held by eaeh separate company.

All the rich veins underlying to the east in the proporticn of about a. foot ill two, the consequellce is that these veins leave what are known as the rich claims at a depth of from;) to 600 feet.

This of course is known to the holders of them, and therefore they are not seeking (with one exception) for a second shot of gold at a depth over 700 feet, as by so doing they would only be expending money for the benefit of those parties who hold the leases into which these easterly viens in all probability underlie.

It seems to ne that this oversight could have been remedied (as has been done by the Star of Peace Company who have taken up adjoining ground to the east).

For instance if Carroll and Beards, Krohmanns and Beyers and Holtermanns leases were amalgamated with the Great Extended lease and the Golden Crown which are on their eastern boundary, the winding machinery belonging to the first mentioned of these companies is of sufficient power and is so erected that the mine could be worked thoroughly to a great depth. Thesame course could be adopted with other mines.

It has frequently been predicted that were the whole of Hawkins Hill mines amalgamate d with all the leases on their eastern boundary and formed into three or four separate companies it would ere long regain its lost prestige and rise to its former prosperity.

As in my report of last year, I described fully each gold-field in my district, it is scarcely neccessary for me now to do more than describe the progress of mining where it is actually being carried on.

Commencing from Chambers’ Creek, the long line of leases (many of which have been cancelled), extending from that place to the southern extremity of Hawkins’ Hill, are entirely unoccupied; that this is the case is much to be regretted, as this locality has not been prospected, except in a very Cursory and superficial manner.

Many of these reefs! have been proved payable, and would be worked, especially between the Turon and Macquarie Rivers if a crushing machine were within a reasonable distance.

A plant has been partly erected on what is known as the Oriental Lease, at the Itoot Hog, about midway between Bragg’s on the 1.. . owe1’ Turon and Chambers’ Creek.

If this crushing machine were completed, and in the hands of an enterprising and liberal ~wn(‘r, I have little doubt but that work on many of these leases would be resumed.

On South Hawkins’ Hill, coming towards Hill End, the first lease at work is that called Brand and Fletcher’s, which has been idle for some time, but has now resumed work j next is the lease known as the Lady. Belmore, which was cancelled some time since, and retaken by a party of working miners (it was formerly in the hands of a company), who have been mining Home ten weeks, and latelv crushed with a yield of 3 ounces to the ton.

This line of reef is known as Eisenstadter’s. W W N ext is the Royal Standard, a leMe which is being worked by tributer!’! who have eyery reason I am informed to be satisfied with the results of their labors.

Coming north we reach the lease known as Armstrong’s; this is also on tribute, the tributers have only lately commenced work j the same may be said of the Rose of England and Rapp’s, which have beelJ idle for some time past.

The next lease on the main line is Carroll and Beard’s, which has the deepest Ahaft in the district; the straight shaft in thi8 mine has attained a depth of’ 500 feet, with a winze 198 feet deep, sunk from a cross-cut at about 140 feet east from the perpendicular shaft, making a total depth of 69S feet.

At the present time the company to whom this celebrated lease belongs are driving north on the vein known as the Star of Peace vein, towards Krohmann’s, with which mine a temporary amalgamation has been effected. The object in driving through from Carroll and Beard’s to Krohmann’s is to. ascertain if there are any shoots of payable stone between thc two mines.

This work is of great importance as it will prove the Star of Peave vein to a depth of nearly 700 feet. Having finished the work they are at prsent engaged in, in the event of the vein justmentioned proving payabble, the company will test thier mine at a greater depth. I may mention that Krohmanns mine is alos at work, irrespective of the amalgamation with Carroll and Beards….
At the Hed Hill, Ileal’ Tambnroora, there are a few claims at work, and somo of t::em are payable, but I am ~Ol’ry to say that there i::l little doing ill this lleighbolll’hood in ual’tz mining. At the Pyramul, exeq)t a little alluvial, there it:; IlO milling being e:tl’l’ieu Oil; aIHl r0gret to lla\’e to repOl’t that the reef:-; at the Crudine are abandoned, alld the (‘I’IlHhillg plallt removed, whieh waH ereded to work them. Pullev’/:I Hill or Ulmarruh, Hituated w(‘~t of Hill End and di~tant from it about 8 mi!e:.; by the~nearel;t traek, iH olle of a Heri(·!o\ of hm;alt hills extplldillg for mallY lIlileR down tllp ~tacquarie, on both “idef-l of the river. ThiH hill ha::; been prol:’pp(‘fed by vari,)lls I-lmall partie~ of minerR for many yearA past, hut 110t with payable results; pl’rhapH becauHc of the defel’tive methodf-l employed~ll tl’eatill~ the auriferom~ earth. TUllncl8 have bee1l dl’i,’en into it, in :.;ome instances to (‘onf-lid(‘I’ahI{~ distances, and shafts ElUllk, bu1 lIot 10 . any great depth. ‘r:teHe workingH were ho\\’en’1’ all abuudolled, and after a time PuJIey Hill, or the greater portion of it, was leaHed by two separate private compaui(‘~, who have crected (‘ru~hillg machines for treating the auriferous earth, Great expensc has been incurred in the tl’am~- port of thi::; nmchinerv, as a l’()(ui had to be ma(le for a considerable di~ta,l\ec over a country but ill adapted for the carriage of heavy materialH. One of the~e companieH ha~ conHtructet n, tramway from the top of the hill to the river, a (liHt:mee of alJOut GUO Yj\l’(ls, where one of the crushln~ plant8 haK been eJ’ected. It i8 thoug-ht that theI’e iH slIfIieient cement and washdirt or drift to keep the machinery, two cru8hill~ battel’le::-:, comlbmtly employed, and that ,vith ceoBolllieal mallag(~l1leJ1t and improved mdhodH for Haying the gold, which iH very light ano. filiP, the yenture will be :t Kuecessful one. ‘L1he want of machinery 8eemi’! to have been the dl’awback with the individual min£’l’H who formerly had claims on Pulley’:-; Hill, a,nd whol;e only mode of ~aving the gold WlL~ by sluicing. ]f the eOlOpallieH fiud the a.llm-ial payable it if{ their intentioll to el’ect more extensire machinery with improved appliances lor ~a’\”illg the gold. It is illlpos:;ible at tho presont time to givc ct dccid(‘(l opinion a~ to the futuro of thi~ pla(‘e, a~ llothing but IH’o::;pectillg lla~ a~ yct been (lone, an(i nothing hut IH’oKpecting will he done fOJ’ some i ime to eome. ;\ctive opcratiolls are bClllg eaJ’l’icd on at tlte prescnt timc, lItHl a gootl deal of lahOlLL’ employed. The Kuec:;:; of the YI’lltUI’C ill whieh the~e 1\yo pri\:d(\ eOll1pallies (Ire l’lIga:;pd j:-; of (~()ll~id(‘rahlc lllQll1ent to thi~ district, :tIlt! it i::; to Le hope(1 that they ,,-illlllcd with a tittillg rewal’d for the etlterpril’5e fhpj’ hare di~pby(·(l. ~h()lIld PlI!le)”:-; 1I ill prn,-e pay;thle, p\’Obahly 1\Ulll.\’ ()thel’~ of it ~illlilar formation on e;teh ISillo of the ri\l\I’, :\.IIl()I1~ “hidl 1 may mention FiJl(‘h’~, Bajli lIill, :\1\(1 the Horse, Bald Hill, will l’eceiH~ 11101’0 attention fl’UlIl min(‘r~ thall has hitherto been gi\cll to them. I am illrorlllc.t that ~lIlall pitrtie~ of miller:.; ha\c becn wOL’killg K01\W of tli(‘t’c cement. hill!.; for years past with n:ry ::o:atiKfadol’Y ]’e~ults. If thi~ i:; the eaKl’, with J’oug-It lllethodK employed to extract the gold fI’om the alluvial, llllJeh 1:LJ’gm’ profitH nlCty lw l’xpeetcd with illlpl’o\’ed maehinel’Y. ‘l’hc TuroB Uiv(‘l.’ G 0111 Field (“ompri:-:eR \Vattle Flat. ‘]111(‘ ri \’el’ TuroJl and its llUmOrOUf’l tributal’ie~ from Sofala IIp\\’j\l’d~ to ~Jew~’ CI’cek, alld (loWIl\\’:u,(b to its jUlldion with the )Iaequlll’ie Ri\,(~l’. At ,rattle Flat, which emoraee-.: a eOll:–idel’ahlc jHH’tioll of t11i:-; gold fielU, a few leaHcH al’e at work, and 1. oeliere OIle 01’ two of tll(,111 may he cOB~i(h_’J’ed payable. I may here meution that the fir~t a,ttcmpt in thi:-; (,oloJl)’ at. hydranEe mining i8 now being made at Circus Point, which il-l 8ituat-ed a fcw mileR below Sohla on the Turon River. A prirah:> :Ell~li:o;h Company hare takell up for gold-mining purpo~oR it con~idera,ble are:1 of ground at thi~ place, and 4\,}’e at the prC~cllt time aetirely engaged ill taking the’preliminary :-;tepl-’ towHT(l:-; attaining their ob.i(·et. 1 am infol’me(1 by the lll:l.Jlager of the company that he propnl-’ci4 to condud tIre water to be u:-;ed by ditch, flUIlH’, and pipe, from :t point. about 7 miles a.bo\”e ~ofal~l to Circus Point. The dista.nce of line of conduits will bc about 18 mileR, and at their teJ’miuation there’will be a, fall (If 150 feet, which, with a little giant Bazzle 2} inche~ in diameter will remore about 100 tOllS of carth per diem. The tail races will be comltructed on a new and improyed system cnsuring a much grcater l’3a”ing of gold. The drift on Circw~ Point has three di~tinct and scpurate rUBS, yaryillg ill width from 2 to 4 chains and in dcpth from 12 to :10 fc(‘t, the whole of which contain::.; gold. to a certain amount. It is impossible at the pre~ent time to I’3peak with any certainty on the pr08pcct~ of the Circus Point Hydrau-lic Sll11cing Compa,ny, but they a.re RufRcicntly satisfactory to induce a, large expenditure of capital. At the Box Ridge 110 work of any consequenee is bcing carried on; some rrospectin~ i~ being done but with UoR yet lllHmtisfactory results; the 8ame may be said of the quartz ridge. ~rlw alluvial workings ill this district are a~ ill all the older gold fie1as somewhat exhausted, although there are still scattered along the Turon and }\Iacquarie Rivers and up their vuriou8 1l’ilJUtarie~ parties of Chinese who obtain considcrable quantitie;;; of gold, and Europea,ns who by farming at one season of the year and mining at another, manage to make a comfortable livelihood. At Il’onbarks and Stony Cl’eek qual’tz-nii:ling seems to have improved greatly in the laRt six months, and the yield of gold for the past yea,r 18 considerably larger t.han it was jn IH75. The mineR in this division of the Tambaroora, and ‘1’uron l\fining District that may be eom~idercd payable are Grimley and Reid’s, a lease on the Poor 1\1an’s Reef, fro111 which the last crll~hing yielded about 1 ounce pel’ ton for 100 tOllS. ‘l’his reef is large ano. easily worked. Smith and Graham’s claim at Stony Creek :I,ud that known as _Fitzsimons and party: This rcpf varieR from 8 to 11 feet wide and yields from 6 to 7 pennyweights per ,ton, The JI[‘illt’P \\~il1ialll: III thi~ mille about a2 OUllceH \\’(‘1’(‘ obiaillcd by four men ill fivc wceb. but as the gl’ca,ter part of thiH gold was obtained by hr<>akillg Hp rich ~pecimen:-; the m’erage pel’ ton eallllOt be arrived at. .. In the .Pel’~eVerall(‘e Reef, which il.’\ let on tribute, the tributer~ arc raiHing’ goo(l HtOJ1(“ ral’iomdy p:-;tilllaled at from 2 to 😉 OUllces. It is 1 am illformed intended to remove the cru~hing- plal{t nt ~tolly Crerk. This \yill be a great hindrance to the dt’Yelopment of the reefs ill 1hi:-: locali1v. J II ~’ollclusion 1 believe T may venture to aHs(‘rt that mining in thiH district is jJl a ~norc pr()~pel’ou~ conditioll than it was ,,-hCll my last repOl’t was written’; and as a plain proof of thi~ I would draw attention to the annexed schedule, showing the quantity of gold (as llPlll’1y :1S (‘an be asc(‘rtained) W011 in the Tambaroora and Tur011 l\1ining DiHtrict durillg the ycal’ 1~7(), t’I’om which it appearH that there is an increase of 2,22D ounces la pCllllyweightH and l!l gJ’ail1~ (lH’T’ the returns for 1875. III t he Hill End di\’is10n there is an increase of 245 ouneCH 1.~ pellllyweightl” and .f. g-rall1s. . In the Sofala, a decrease of 957 ounces 2 pellllJweighh; amI 1.1 graiw; whil’h maJ bp :lecount-ed for by thc fad that almoHt all the gold obtaille(I ill thi~ divi;.;ioll i~ alluvial: ill tltp (Jthel’ diri:-;iom-l the (‘hid yield ii’ from quartz. At ~ofala too it:. i~ H’ry diffirlll1, if not illlpo~A1ble. to get a correct estimate·of the gold WOll during the past year, heeau:-(~ most of it i:-: obtained by the Chille~e, who dispose of it in variou!o< ‘way;.;; and J am i11fOl’1I1e(1 that a (,01l~1derable portion of it i~ ~e))t to HathurAt inAtead of Hofala for tranHit. hi 1 he I ronbarks divisiollthe increal’le amountf:l to 2,940 Ollllce~ 6 penny”,pightK and :!O gJ’HIIIK. Anothf’I’ ~igll of improvement iR that there are at the pr(‘Kent tilllP a cOll~id(,I’abl(‘ 1I11mber of miJl(‘H Oil Ha\vkins’ Hill, from the Lady Belmore on the !o()uth to t 11(‘ (‘01’11(‘1ian 011 111p IlOl’tlt, that may he said to be in a prosperous c~)llditiOlI amI to be daily illlproving, alltl1his ehallge haH taken place only lately. I may here remark that there are at the pre:-cnt time ollly about Hix milles Oil HawkillH’ Hill worked by public companie~, and of thm’e about two al’p paying- expcllseH ana olle m.ty be considered to be in a, fairly proR>erou:-! condition. l\’fo:’-lt of thc other mincs formerly in the hallds of public companicH are now let OIl tt’ihuh’, :t!ll the f’hange Heems to be for the better aH mOHt of them are paying handsomely. It: 1Il1.1,’~’ hOWeH’J’, he ob~erved that ill a good many iW’ltallces the tributerH are not doing any 110\\ work-not prospecting-they are merely engaged in what is called in milling phraHeolog,v “1’1l11l1illg :-;tul1K.” That 1H, aH I have already explained, reworking the J’efuse left as wOl,thJCHK whell rich Htonp was bcillg takcn from the mincs. This employment can110t laRt- more than a y(,~l1’ or two at the longcHt, and then prospecting mURt be gone on with 01’ the mine abandoned. A ~ the trihlltel’H are mostly working’ millers it is probable the money wi1l he (·xpcnd(·(l ill t hc :–allle way as it waH won, that iR ill gold milling.

The great drawback to this division of the Tambaroora and Turon mining District is that we are entirely dependent on the mining industry for support, and consequently the fluctuations in our prosperity are more apparent than in places where there is a large extent of agricultural country in the neighbourhood on which the working miner can fall back when his mining work fails.

In the Sofala and Ironbarks divisions of this district and in a small portion of the Hill End, many of the miners are small farmers, and make a comfortable livelihood for themselves and famiies by farming and digging according as the season is favourable to the one pursuit or the other.

In relation to the most important part of’ my district – hawkins Hill – I believe it will be admitted by all that the greatest drawback to their development is the small size of the leases held by eaeh separate company. All the rich veins underlying to the east in the proporticn of about a. foot ill two, the consequellce is that these veins leave what are known as the rich claims at a depth of from;) to 600 feet. This of course is known to the holders of them, and therefore they are not seeking (with one exception) for a second shot of gold at a depth over 700 feet, as by so doing they would only be expending money for the benefit of those parties who hold the leases into which these easterly viens in all probability underlie. It seems to ne that this oversight could have been remedied (as has been done by the Star of Peace Company who have taken up adjoining ground to the east). For instance if Carroll and Beards, Krohmanns and Beyers and Holtermanns leases were amalgamated with the Great Extended lease and the Golden Crown which are on their eastern boundary, the winding machinery belonging to the first mentioned of these companies is of sufficient power and is so erected that the mine could be worked thoroughly to a great depth. Thesame course could be adopted with other mines. It has frequently been predicted that were the whole of Hawkins Hill mines amalgamate d with all the leases on their eastern boundary and formed into three or four separate companies it would ere long regain its lost prestige and rise to its former prosperity.

I will vellture to a~~ert that ulltil f.:uch amalgamati011 takeR place or f;Ollle Hew payable veills are di:-tt’oYe1’(‘d in the westel’n cross-cuts of Paxton’s and other mines, 110 marked improvement will appeal’ ill the quantity of gold IJroduced from Hawkins’ Hill. T may here observe that many of’ the leases lately cancelled ill this locality are now l’(‘takCll with a view of properly working them and not with the i1ltclltion of’ ~elling or “floating.” TIle tribute systel!1, aR I l1:1\’e before remarked, has been adopted ill many of’ the mines on Hawkim;’ Hill, and I believe is found to work satisfactorily.” The great (h wger under this HYHtPIn is that the trihuteJ’s in their anxiety to make the mine which they hold OIl tribute profitable as quickly and chcaply at.; possible, will not pay ~uHicjellt attention to the working aml timbering of It, ana in consequence of this neglect the mille is seriously a.nd perhaps PC’I’ll1:tlH’lItly damaged as regards its future development. This, however, cannot occur on Hawkills’ Hill as the minerH are under the Hupervision of an able and experienced officer lately appointed. I refer to the 1tfining Inspector. 11here is 110 lllillillg being carried 011 at the p,’esen! time ill this distriet for mineralt’ oj hpl’ thal1 gohl, hllt it eoilHiderable alllount of work ha::; bE’ell done on a lease at what is called , . .Razol’back,” 011 11w r PPC1’ Turoll, near Palmer’H Oakey, from which a cOllHiderable quantity oj’ antimollY ha~ beell 1’:1 j::;ed. I regret to havo to Htate that thi~ lease is at preRent idle in c01l8equellee of lit igatioll betwecll the partiet! intere~tcd in it. At the Crlldine, a few milet’ fl’OJll :-Iofala, a leaHe” of “:to acret-; has latel)’ been taken up fot’ t he ~all1e mineral; some large hlocb or almost plll’e antimony wel’e found and a t’oll~iderahle amount of prospecting haG h(,l’ll (lone, but HH Jet without findillg the lode.

I regret that I am unable to point to any marked or successful development of mining enterprise in the NMUdgee District.

On the contrary, a decadence has taken place both as to the yield of gold and the number of resident miners. In the neighbourhood of Gulgong, still the most important mining centre but 749 miners rights have been taken out during the past year as against 1721 in 1875 wile the gold sent down from the same locality has not exceeded 18,446 oz as against 24,799 oz in 1875.

These facts in the judgement of many point to the belief that the alluvial deposits in the district are generally exhausted.

A gainHt this opinion the occasional discovery of rich dcpositA even in loealitins held to be thoroughly prospected s(‘ems to militate. In the l\fitgpie Gully, le~s than 5 miles south of Gulgong, a place daily traversed and examined for years, claims are now at work with flS good reHultH as pel’hapR ever obtained at Gulgong. I am informed that one party washed !!SO loads of wash.uirt last week, yiel.ling half an ounee to the load, while an adjoining e1aim lIas 300 loads awaiting 111e machine, estimated at an Olll1re or more. The sinking is but ~o feet. The alluvial Hinking in the valley of the Canadian and its tributat,y, Nil DeApC’ran. dum, has always b(‘en amongHt the most permanent and remllnerative of’ the many millor gold fields surrounding Gulgong. It yet laYH elaim to the same charactel’. In the oldeHt daim of the neighbourhood, the proFlpectors of the Canadian lead, a JlUgget of 6-1l ozs. weight was found in N m”ember lUflt. The UllUR1Wl depth of wash-dirt in this lend in fI(lvcral inRtanreEl exceeding 40 fcet, ha:-: lea to :111 Opillioll that a ::;(‘l’ond bottOlll will be c\’entllally fOUlHl. But the extraordinary d(‘pth of aurifcrouH drift would appcar to ha\”e been caul-ied by’; l’l’era:-;::;(‘i’;’ OJ’ ih:~ure~ ill t he Jilll(‘~,do]1e which forms the prc~ellt be(l ro.’k, into ,,”hidl, by aq ueOlHl or other adioll, the auriferou:-< drift halS heen cau8(‘d to pOllr. Tl}(~ whole of thcl-ie illllneu::;e ag-gregatiolll) of wa~h-dirt are f0l111d to he llniformJ~r penaded by the pr(‘ciou::5 met al. X ear a1l1 bOlleat h the illllllcn:-:e lime~tolle bOlllderl’> whidl the miller is ullable to rai:::e to the surface have bcen foulld the t’IIOJ’Ill(“lll~ rOt’~il hOllc-fl’aglllcllts of a gigantie ll1:n’~’lIpia1. At 11 oll1e Hull’ alld Cooyal it ~cel1li” to he (‘oneeded that 11uthillg can be dOlle wit h()ut the aitl of power’flll pumping g’cal’, worked by l-itcam machinery, fo;() persi::;tent and cxtcn~in’ it) the b()d~’ of wah’I’l’IH’Oun1cl’ed aft(‘1’ a. eel’tain depth. The t:-haft of the IhYitl Buchanan lead, at :WO fect, hm;; bC(,ll IOllg abandolled to the encroaching watcr, although cxtraordinary effort::; ,n’l’e lI!ade for a while to keep it 11lldE’l’, al\(l an amount of loeal (·apital expclla!’(l, iw’redihle to 1 hose who hare not abHcrred the millcr:-;’ extraordinary tCllaeity of pUl’po~e when he :-;cent., gold. It 1H Htill uclieycd that a sub~idy from any fund provided h.y Govcrnment for the purl)() l’le of aidin!; legitimate pl’oHpeeting might here be expended with a ~trong probability of public aclnmtal{e. The ~ingtd:ll’ly rich and jllcxpen~iyely worked gold field known a~ Lowp’s paddock, upon the prinlte pl’opcrt) of CharleH 1.0we, }~~q., of Gool’ce, is di::;tant from Home Rule about it mile and. a-half in a ~olltherly dircction. A party of expcrienced mincrs are now tcsting an opinion that a eontinuatioll of the lead, Ho~e of ~\ustralia and Rose of England, once ~howillg twenty red Hag!’) in a. row (the gold emigl), may yet be struck on the ea::;terll hauk of Cooyal Crcek. ‘Vater iH the grea.t ohl-ltaele to mining enterprise here. _\11other promising gold field ill thiH locality is t’ituated upon the property of “~illiam Henry I.owc, Esq., of Elll’nrdel’ce. :11l cRtate lying betwee11 Home Hule and the town of l’Iudgce. It i::; popularly known a~ “The Log Paddock,” and COl1taillt’l a well defined loaf1 upon whil”h the half dozen” lIpprl’ ll11lllbC’r:;.:” nre on good gold. Tn the progrc::;:-;iYe o1n,”ard dir(‘ction of this lead the grf’at elH’my \\’:1t(‘1’ again bp(‘ollH’R l)()w(>rfuJ. ‘Vithollt co-operatirc (‘apitnl and maehinery it is lIot thollght that tIl(‘ .·\ailll l’IO l’ituated (‘un he protitabl,v worked. Tlwl’P i:-: a probability of tIl(‘ l.og Paddo(‘k lead lwillg t ,’ae(‘d illto Crown law!, a l’il’cUln~t:UJ(‘e \rhit’h would lead to a tu’gc aeecR:-.:ioll to om’ }ll’C’St’llt population. 1 lIIC’lJ1ioll this mining locality, whieh perhap::o: ISh-idly l’lH>aking .locs not cOllie within lily prorillcP aR \Varden, prillt’ipnlly to eOllYcy an idea of the highly a.ur’ifC’rollR dei’’I’iption (If the IUl’alit,Y gpJl(‘rally. ‘L’II(‘ .Moonlight, t ‘aletlolliun, J’raRl’I”R, P(,l’Flen’r’:lllC’l’, nlld ot 1IC’I’ IC’:ll~ onee yieldillg fairly arc ah:l1Idolled for the mOfo;t part. The.’” hare be(,1l ob:~erred to trelld ill a wefo;tel’1y directioll toward:-; the mll(‘.vJ of the (‘wIn’ehOt””O):II-O-”,. Al ‘(~r lliwh” fl’om tllC h( I”(‘olo•l.. .l., “ical data that the oYerltJv ilw~ hasa1tic 1lla~~, in HOll1P iIlHtall(‘e~ lllore than a llllll(h’cd fcet ill depth, has hifurcated neal’ the Cndgegollg l{in’l” whil’h it (‘I’()~F\(>fo; at no gl’eat. !li~1:IIH’e frolll 1)1’0\”011 payable groUlHL it 8e(,1ll~ probablp thnt pro~pedil\g lIIay y’t be ril’hly l’Cmll’lled ill thi~ HubJi\”i:;:ioll. BehH’l’n Adall1t4’~ LC’ad, the ()IJl’~t all(lllot the WOJ’~t paying of the carly discoverieR at Gulgong, and the Hlaek L(‘nd, liet4 a large tl’ad of hitherto go1ti-burren country. A greenHtone dyke lta~ been lately diseoYcl’cd to tra verHe it, running in a ‘H.’Hterl}’ direction from the Red Hill. Jt i~ rare that the decline from such a fOl’nuttioll i~ found to be without golJ, and sC”cral rc:t::!ollable findH have lately been sceHl’cd at no great di:-;talll’e, between Adams’H Lead and a pro:’lpeet:ing e}aim ill decp gl’Ound, known al’> the StUI’ of the ‘Vc~t. ‘rhis claim has becn again taken up for the purposc of tCRting the 810pe towards the }\Ioonlight Lcad. At ‘l’allnwnng. lying 7 mileR WCRt of Gulgong, a ~mall mnount of l’c-working, the abandoncd alluvial still procC’edR. The c(‘nlcnt deposits which were 011ce believed to be likely 10 provide cmploymcnt for large numbers of miners nre at present llllworlrcd. . ‘Vith respect to qual’t;’, rcC’fs I have ml1eh plC’Hsnre in stating that the ,,\Y cleome mine, at Three-mile, the most promising quart7. reef ever worked in the vieinity of n nlgollg proper, is ahout to r(,l’eive a £:1ir trial.. In view of reuurillg the ‘1ery cOllsidera.1.Jle cost and inconY(‘ nienee oerasioncd by the carting of tl1(‘ stone 1 a a diRtance ii)r the purpose of crushing, the slmrC’holders have arrangcd for the crection of a. battery of fiftpen head of Rtampers at the ela.lm. “Tater i;~ here scrm’cd by a. (lam across the yalley of the ‘l’hr(‘e-mile, and in dpspit(‘ of tIl(‘ present nntowfu’d :-:ca:-,:ol1! a sufficient r.;upply hafl bee11 storcd with ,riJieh to trE’at tll(\ ;”)00 tons of ~tone already at ~r:l~~. A (‘ollhaet for 1,000 ions of ~iunl’ ha~ h(,Cll tak(‘I1, aml the raisin~ i~ being prol’(‘e«h’d wit h. The l’CPt’, which Ii’ 7 f(‘et in width, ha~ hC(,1l lakly :;;t rllck at 170 ft\(‘t ill depth alHl 1~ b(\illg work(‘(l hy It winze toward:-; the so feet kn~l. Thf’ fil’~t cru:-:hing will COmml’IH’(‘ ,Oil tIl(‘ 1~t11 iw..:t:IIlf;, all(l it:-; :..:ati~.d’ad()l’y 1’(,:,,\l1t (lI’ othcnri:..:(‘ will dOll~tless affect quartz mining OIl thi:..: go}d li(‘l«l to a lllark(‘ll (‘\.tellt. In the localitie:..: of Jla,l’gravcK and )Icrillda th(, red:..: an’ at pl’(‘K(mt e1lieil,v UlmOl’j;:cd, In the former gold fieM :Ill attempt to WIll’];: a 1’(‘Pt’, long li:”:lli’(\(l (Ill ael’Otlllt of w:lfer, b:l~ re:-:ulted ullstl(~eei’:-:fully. The golfl field:..: of r p»el’ M(‘I’OO, \Villd(\n~I” A vi:..:foJ’(l. Cia I’\.:.(:i’, alHl CHmpbelr~ Creek arp ex”(‘ptionally clllll. Thp branch of mining allJlo:-:t exelll~in>ly puri’lI(‘(l in thel:le neighboul’lwo(h;–tlH’ :..:lnil’ill~ of fOI’llH’rly worked arca:-;–n(‘(·p:-;:..:itating- :III alll~lldant sUlJply of water, the pre:-c’llt dl’oll,~llt ha;~ (‘aused all ahlloi’1 tobl (‘ol1ap:..:(‘. A f(‘w min ‘J’S ~till ad lCl’e to the riH’l’ clailll~, bllt lIIlleh 1cmpoJ’al’,Y «h’:-:el’tioll ha:-; taken pla(T, Thc !al’go :-llIil’ill~ companies at ]\ferillCla, who:-;(‘ dams alld 1’,H’l’S haH~ ab:-:orbp(l the (‘\ IH’1ll1i111I’(-’ of a large amount of l’H,pital, share the g’clleral inconn’ni’nre allll depl’cs:..:ioll, At l\Jitdwll’:-; (‘I’(‘ek, llClll’ l,illcoln, situated about 12 mileH frolll “-ellingtoll,1”lip (‘xt(,l1:..:i\(‘ JUIl(, of gol(l :md l’opper JIlIll,! .. d(‘(i known al’; “Fitt{,’i’ mine, 11:1:-: b(‘(‘11 at \\”()J’k with I’ayill~ I’(‘~!llts for :-:eycl’nl lIlollthH, All alteratioll of plate~ in the ,’C1’,Y pxtell~iY(‘ l’l’Ui’hill~’ plant ha:-: (‘ftu:-:et! a temporal’Y S\li’]JClli’io!1 of wOl’l{, whieh will, I alll infol’1ll8d, bp slw!’!I’y 1’(‘:o;t1I1l(,11. The ‘1llal’tz I’cd knowlI a:-: tllP Mitl’hell’:-> Creek Compally’s mine klH be(11) st:\adily worked dlll’ilig t}l(‘ -,’{‘:II’ 11l1(l{,I’ thp tl’ihlltC f;y:–telll. It is under:..:tood to pay a hi,~h per-(‘clltag(‘. allcl a lib(‘l’nl l’n.1c fOl’ l’I’Il~hin~ to t1Jp propl’ietol’H, as also to l’eJlllllH’ratp the Co-op()l’atiY(I worlml(‘11. The allurial fidel, fOl’lI1c[‘h- kllOWII as Ja\\hoIlP, is Ft ill w()J’kcll hy :t ft’w lIlil1(‘n~, Tlw gold from the~e localltie~ i:-: tran~lIlitte(1 to \V dlillgtOll, f,’olll which tOWII a Ap(‘eial (,8l’or~, \Va:-; provided at my I’ecommendatioll l..:onw lIlonthl..: :-:iJl{‘e fot’ the H’I’y lIlll(,h ill(‘I’pan’(l 1llOI\t-hly yield. III th(‘ dose ri(‘illity of Lillcoln :”:0111(‘ H\I’.Y Pl’Ollli:-:illg qllartz r·(\(‘r~ ha\”(~ lately b,{,1t di:..;eovel’e(l, and J look to it a:..: til’ 1Il0~t promi~ing locality at pl’cHel1! kllowlI ill tlH’ diKt,I’iet, \Vithout laying mYHelfopell to the cll:u’ge of o\’(~r sanguine (‘xp(‘ehltion,l clo 1101 f~ (ll’ to state my Opillion that the (lay of llIillillg pro:-:pel’it,v fOl’ till’ Mllclgl”~ (livisioll «If the ‘Ve:;tprll Gold Ficlcls haK by IIIl ll1(,Hn:..: pa~~(‘cl away fol’ e\er. A varipty of l’Ollelll’lTlli cau~,(‘:-; have douhtle:-:H produee(l a ecdain ,1pfieicll(‘Y of .yield-”il t(llI1pora.ry staglla! jim ill minillg cnterpri:-;c, but lookillg to the prof’ll:..:e alld clil..:tilll’t in(licati()lI:-; of milll’ral wealth ~·.:(‘att(‘r(‘d over an area of not; leHi’ thall a thommnd :..:qual’e mill’~, it l’all1lot be withill a, R(‘or(· of y(‘ar~, to come thai aHY dogmatic a~~erti(}ll of the exh:lll~tive pl’o:..:pel’tillg of this va!”t region, :tl’\ h:tving taken placc, Hhall rel.’cive com;iclcrati(ln, _\ gmH’ratioll, :Ii’ ha!” h(,(,11 pro\’cd ill the n(,jghhouring Colony of Victoria, iH a KhOl’t pf’riocl in the hilo(tory of a gol(l-fi(‘ld. :\1111 though hoth time a.nd capital lIlay he needed fOl’ 1 he flill (l(‘relojlul(>llt or the minillg wealth of the distr;et, the long delayed holtr of sncee:..:s lJIust (‘vcntllally arrive, To a:..::..:o(‘iail’d (‘lltcrpl’iHe, fed by lln~parillg capital, and aid{·d by HI(‘ Illo: .. d powcrful and (‘ompl(,t(, lIludel’ll m:tl’llillery, the future of the great gold-rlelJ of the Muclgee dilo(tl’ict will douutl(\HS be (‘onfilie(l. The most experienced miller:-; (the men of’ practice), the mo:..:t-. deeply ren(l geologi~b~ (the men of theory), are of one aeror(l in a cOllyietioll, that ill the lIoighbourhoodH of G-ulgong, Home Rule, and rrallawang IlO ::linking ha~ I’eache(l :-;uflieicnt depth adequately to teHt their true richness, In these particular localitie;-;, which ha.,·c produced ill Ki x yeal’s golcl to the amount of a, million and a half sterling, there a.re known to be a dozen lead:-: and deposits, i’~~)bviously at the inter8cction of the ancient IOllg-buriefl watel’COlll’Se whieh have nevel’ been adequately prospected-fully and demonstrably teHted according to mining law and experiellee. If ill a future Heason of abundant ca.pital and far-seeing enterpt’i~e attenti011 be direch’d to our disused HhaftH and driveR, it may be that some one of the pre!’;(‘llt (hn,llet’s ill or around Gulgong may behold the realization of an oft-rcppat.ed prophel’y, Looking to the magnificent resuItf-; of per~(weralw(, ill the Colony or Yidol’ia, Oil goldfields long aSRert~d to be worked out and exhaw’ltf’d, it f.\{,pmH no1 too mUl’h to l’ontend that with a rmstained foIearch for reefs, and the lower depOl”itA of alluvial, at depth~ (louhle awl treble thol:!e reached on any gold-field in the lVludgec disb’iet, a new ern of proHlwrity may be inaugurated,lmfficielltly solid to recoup lm~t fortune, if not lO!-3t yearl’:l, to the minil1g cOllllllunity,

The most encouraging feature in the events of gold mining in this division during the présent quarter is the discovery of’ gold in new ground, like the tracing of branch’s ut tho M’Guigan’s Lead, the Terrence’s Gully, mid Rmdall s Lead, all of which seem to be in favour, and ato in process of development.

As to general results and their beneficial results it will be seen, that if total amount of gold from tho puddled dirt-that is, 9105 oz. l’i c^-’s. 12 gr*., by 22.111 loids-bo divided, the avirago yield will appear to”he 8 dwts. 3} grs. to tho load, un increase on thu previous quarter of about .”j dwt. to tho loud. And if the amount ,¿.”¡3 083 Ms. tho value of tho total produce of tho sold during tho present quarter-be divided by the number of actual miners,] pudilors, carters, and so on, at wjrk, productivo or unpro- ductive, say 12(10, a vory decided ro-ult is produced, giving an.average cainn;* per quarter £27 Us. Ucl., or per week £2 2s. -l-jd. lo tho miner-a marked advance on tho pro ceedh.tr quarter. “

In consequence of wha’ I porcm’vnd on my lalo vi«it to and trip through tho various localities, I aili induced re- gretfully to point out. ibo wholesale alienation of land in tlu-so districts, either bv conditional pinchas”, or under (ho provisions of the Lamis Alienation Ant referring to gohl iiildo.

On Randall’s lend a soled ii n already causes trouble to miners. At the Groat, Northern Lead,’l’. W. Kelly’s selection, within tho last three months, blocks up what, is known to ho . golden ground,’ but for the tiepth and great quantities of waler could net yet be thoroughly tested. Such M’leetion seems not locimimendable, at any rate, at pios’iut, and ought to bo dirnllowod.

Then, al o. small blocks of I iivo ac. i a or so aro takenup in all directions, und applied for j through ibo clerk of I’ tty Sessions of l’arl.os, and though on n gold-liold lind under, seomingly, thc piovis’ons for gold-tic-ld*, persons so applying ¡ire not required, I nm credibly informed, to producé or possess a miner’s right or husmessliccme.

This.-ys’om, so unfnvniir ub’o to the revenue, will provo very dangerous, and thus greatly injurious to tho development mid working of this ¡¡dd, if persisted in,-in fact, if persisted in, will otiectu- 1 ally exe mle all mining t perations iu future oxcept us on private ground. “

A lew days after my last report was forwarded to you, the pvrty prospect in ^ ut Tereonce’s Gully came on gold at. the brad of that lead, near tho «dd workings at a depth of about 2ö feel, and obtained from a half bucket of din about 40 oz., of which a 30 oz. iincg t wns part.

Sine? then tho party obtain rd ano’her nurg-t of S oz. The dirt averages ii bunt 8 dwts. to tho load. About n q tarter urie south- wards, lui thor down tl o gully at tho fco: of Paddy’s Kl it, Hie sime lead ls traced, but at a depth of over 80 feet. Divine and party have two runs in their claim, Paddy’s Flat and Terrence’s. The stuff wa^h d from this chilli yielded l-l dwt-;.

to tho load, of raddy’s Flat mu, and (j dwt«. to the load Tr-rranat’s run. There me scvotal c’aims working, but only four claims’ on gold. Some few small nuggets were picked up there too. “ Opposite tho New Welcome, fiom tho southern bank of tho Goobang Crek, Pulton’s Lead was traced at a depth of ot feet, in April Inst, hy sev, ral parilla.

A few hundred loads of dirt wero obtained, ami about ll nuggets, in weight from 1 to 3 oz., were pickod out. The had is now deserted again. “ Tho Wupping Butcher Lend and Ibo Tichborne Load prose ut a very singular phenomenon.

Tho doup ground, over 10.1 fort, running at the foot of tho ridges, is truced a: the tichborne Load, containing considerable qutntilics of wash wirh SJIUO sprinklings of gold, but nothing to pay, whilo on tho high reef, at a depth of ubotir 50 to GO foot, immenso quanti!’cs of wio-h, in sumo 1 laces about ld feet even, with a most hi uvy exposit of tho precious metal is found, which constitutes tho Wupping Butcher Lead-thus, in fact, the two leads run parallol lo each other along the sumo ridge, simply one high, the oilier low, and whet o the Wupping com- mences to show gold, tho Tichborne diminishes in its yield of the precious metal.

Tho Wupping Butcher Lead seems a nest of nuggets-no other gold but nuggets mo produced, the smallest being { oz., the most, weighing 5 to 7 oz., and many as high as 20 oz. Tho yield near tho b «tto;ii is very rich, as high as 2 to G oz. to the loud. Tho higher stuft’ gives a result, of it) to IB dwts., and near tho li’ a’lings from 5 to 8 dwts. to th1 V al. Somo tailings from lhat lead brought as much as 1 o-.. to tho ton. “ The Tichborne Lead, too, sl.o vs before it reaches tho locality, where the Wapping Bulcher Lead overhangs, in somo places great (pinntities of dirt. For iustanco, what is called the Foreigneis’Block produced about 17 feet wash, giving out froiu that small plot of ground over 4000 lo ids.

“ Mo of the ground at tho head of M’Guigan’s Lead, and tho areas on tho southam portion of that, load, aro now occupied by extended claims. ..Tho Scrubby I’lnins have not been proved payable yoi. th«‘ p’-osjiccfors having tried 27 louds with a very indifferent ¡ remit ; and being bloekod in, receiving no help from tho gentle shophcrds of tho block system, abandnuod thoir pearoh in Aoril lust,and of course.the shepherds foUowod suit. If tho frontage system had taken effect, ikoro is no doubt that thousands of people would have found prolit ablo employment on th»-o plains. “ Tho ground west, from M’GHigan’s, about four miles fi om Ibo n rthoru bink of tho tloob ng Greek, called Miller’s Lookout, is dn-erred for tho sara« reasons ns the Scrubby Plains, being too deep for ouo or two parties to prospect. “ Tho Great Not them, south of the Goobang Creok, is at present scarcely worked. “ Besides tho new disco very at Terrance’s Gully, two now Lacs are being openc 1 up during tho last few weeks.

The ‘ M’Grnth,” about tho midd’o of April, was opened by a party of throe minois. If, was first thought to bea bastard lead of M’Guigan’s, and was so looked for during April, but it has no.c pr ? ven to be a distinct branch, run- ning east and west, coming in at Cook and party’s pro- specting claim (third prospector-*) on M’Guigan’s lend. Tha depth of tho sinking is aver ninety a’, thu noiire3Í: to tho old load, becoming shallower towards the. easterly tracing. About four claims are already on gold, tba yield being about six dw;s. to tho lead. The vein is reported vo.y minow’, emly a fow inches. Cairns arc taken up for a oonsielnnibln distune.’. “ Randall’s Lead, near Lunatic Reef, is’ubjut 300 yaroo from tho northern bank of the Goohnng Creek, and about a milo from tito hoad of M’Gniitnu’s Lead easterly. At pre- sent it is thought thal.tho run i- cast, and west, but it is not. I likely to prov« so, though at pioseut,. besides Randall’s J milty, nothing baa bonn proven. Messrs. Randall and party reuot ted to nie on the 2i!rd Juno in>tnnt that thev carno on’payablo dirt on rho 22nd bf tho same month nt 4 7 feet sinking, bottom slato, strata easy gravel, prospects Lom 3 lo G grama to ho dish of dirt after aoveinl trials. ‘J hey have driven 40 foot, and have not roached tho extreme width.

Thor.’ is a groat population on tho ground, and work is «won ‘edid with energetically and expeditiously. At pro-ent. nothing as to extent or ultimate result of this discovory c n b«i determined. *. These uesv discoveries have given quito a now vigour to tho prose, mum i or tito search ol now gold country. j “ The continued and continuing drought, in this district j has greatly interfered with puddling ns well as prospecting. Most of oiír machines are still idle for want of water. Abo our miners are daily reluming from their prospecting j tours, being driven in by the sci rei ty and utter want of water, hoing unable even to procure it even for -usteuance. ?

By rhe roportof th” crushiiig-niach noowner ourtailmga, I e-poohtlly nt the rich leads, mo worth preserving. Tho machii’O aiso prove- that, the cement at tho London, aR well ns Paddy’s Flat, ie oven superior to the general yield of tho wash, and miners will lind it very profitable to work thc.-e claims, from «hieb the puddling’-maohino could procuro no payable resul s. As will be seen by the enclosed tabina tho tailings a hided to brought, a yield a- high us 1 oz. to tho ton. and tue cement 7 dwts. to th” ten; and at tho London mentioned in my preceding report) tho cemont averages above IC dwts. to tho ton. ,

In cone tiding my report I slull take tho opportunity j uga:u to argo tho’ required alterations in Mining- Board ; l-.’gula’ion now in free in reference to the- fi outage system-that i-, the nurong all alluvial ground first on the fr .nmg«, and thc depth Iront igo to cornu.ene* not to emceed 100 fe«t ; also to draw tho attention to the necessity to establish an Inspection of Mines, to prevent tho repeated occurrences of fatal accidents by insufficient timbering and other causes. The instances lately ocur ring here are tho falling in of the boundiuy ground of Carroll and party, and Farrell and party, ou the Wupping Butcher lead, dur ng the time all men wore at Court about I a fortnight ago. Had they beoii there employed, ns usual, , many men would havo been crushed-perhaps semo lives j lost altogether.

Again, at the Welcome, in ground where four years ago a man was killed, on Monday, the 26th in- | etanoj a young wan, named Robert Allen, was crusted, by somo l as of slulï falling upon lum, mid lie ia not expected to live. A.11 these cases sliow Ibo uti ur nogligein o to secure (ho ground from falling in by adequate propping with nquisite timbo ; then t.,o to tia-leaving of shafts of vari- ons do tbs, to even over ITO feel and more, open and un covevtd and to tho removal of timber from ono shaft to another, or to other usages, may abo engage attention.

Tho late openo up ncc ground alfords niajij examples of this bini, mimi’s taking thc timb T ir in old shahs to log : up their owu shall-, IT Having sunk without finding wash I ¡dvilluwiir ur i ff tho run (commonly designa-od n duffer) but nt minter of what, depth, remove the limber (-ogs) from thc. ..nc ¡libar u]i their own new shafts for tho sinking. Tho danger thus o eat ed to life mid limb is obvius. iuiu-r.’UK parties in the zealous prosecution of prospect- ing for gold are .-prend over a ¿nat. extent of country, and it. hoped that it will so’. n lead lo new discoveries of import- ance.