1864.
VICTORIA.
R.EP(}RTS
OF THE
.M'INI"NG SURVEYOR·S
AND
'" R E- OI S TR A R S ~ .
QUARTER ENDING 31sT MARCH, 1864.
PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT BY HIS EXCELI,ENCY'S COMMAND •
.lOHN FERRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE. No. 35, a. '.
APPROXDIA TE COST OF REP01tTS.
Preparing the Reports for the Printer, a.bout Printing .. . .• .. .. •• Alterations and OOlTooUUIl!I .~--- . TOTAL '£ 67 161 8
\ . I, }
j .I I SUMMARY.-GOLD MINING" STATIs'rICS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 31s'l' MARCH, 1864. ,I
TABLE showlng approximately the NUMBER OF MINERS employed, the MACHlNEIW in use and its Value, on the several Gold Fields' in the Colony of VictOrJ - Compiled from the Mining Surveyors and Registrars' Reports for the Quarter ending 31st March, 1864. '
,Alluylal Miners. Quartz Miners., 1______-,-- ___ '_l>~,-la-c-h-ln__;e-IY-,e-m-P"C'I:...Oy-e-d-i-n-A'-li_u_Vl""U_IlI-+f_inm""',-g_'_-:-___c- __-:- __i __' __ M_il_cl_li_nc_lY_e_m-;p_IO_y_OO""in_Q_UlI_r"'t.z_Mi_'IUng_',_·-'- ___i Approx!" Number I of 1 Price of Gold Total . mate Square 1 DISTRICT, DIVISION, Steam Engines • ~ Steam Engines I Mil•• per oz. ' empl yed\Vlnding f!? ~ ~. ell) I d\\" dl .;..q;, Value ,Qf Alluvial AllD ~ ''; '" ,; Number of l':mping, &c.' '" '" §, §' § a ~ ~ " .; C'r';;;;~ing;n&c~g, ~ I ~ all Ground I actually 10:---'---- 'Vorl,ed 1 npon. ,From I To _,, ____8, .. U .. _B_D_I~V'-I_8_IO"_N_· ___ I __i>'I_~ __ I__ ~__ I __!__ i_"'_~_'''I_M_i_u_er_s_. -'": ~;, II Ii t ; j U ilL j II No. =, LH _!_l j! t = BALLARAT: i! , Ii 1 I £ £ s, d. I £ s, d. No.1 .. .. •• ,. 1,270 28 .. 1,208 63 820 59 \' 10 2 .. •• .. .. i .. I 50...... 36,750 Ii 3 19 6 4 0 3 No.2.. • .. .. •• 175 .500 500.. 1,175 I 12 44 .. .. •• .. ,. •• .. :: :: I IIi 305...... •• .. .. 33,000 I 4 0 0 4 0 6 No.3.. • .. No.4 .. .. :: :: l,g~ ~ii ~~~:: i:m ~~ ~:~' ~~ 2; '2 :: :: :: :: :: :: :: 2~ r~;::·f.:::::: is ~b:g~~ ~t! ~ g ! g~ No.5. Bunlnyong .. •• •• 1,250 350 180.. 1,780 25 430 70 40 .. •• ., I •• •• ...... 14 250.. I...... 55,000' 12t 3 19 0 4 0 0 No, 6, 8mythe.sdale •• •• 3,160 516 60.. 3,736 85 1.443 108 42 •• ...... , .. .. •• .. 8 158.. I" ...... 80.000 40 4 0 0 4 0 0 Creawick ...... •• i,200 900 500 I" 2,650 24 '315 185 48 •• •• •• •• ...... ,.. 25 550.. I .. •• •• •• 111,200 11 3 IS 0 3 19·6 Gordon ...... • •• 40 '.. 53.. 93'1 S 6 •• .. •• .• .. •• •• 3 50.. 2 .. .. •• ., 9,500 21·3 17 6 •• .. 519 200 141.. 860 4 83 .. •• 12 200.. ,2 •• .. .. 2 '''29,000 3 16 3 3 19 0 Steiglitz •• H I'" ...... 8~ Blackwood.. •• •• .. 575 450 220,.. 1,245.. .. '2 :: :: i" .. .. 9 142.. '7 ., 7 .. •• 26,300 17 :3 160 3 166 Blne Mountain, 80utbt •••• 20.. 5O:I'~" 70 .. 2 ='i=...... • .... I.... 800' I~ '3 17 3 3 176 --1-, 1- -::.- -- .. 1-1--' -1-- -- I' Total...... 16,059 247 - 4,016 165 ! 4 .. 2 1_ ' .. '1- 115 2,225 ...... 15 I~~,~I~I" I~ I-'-~_ ,_2..... 1 ~ ---=:!.., , Beec~!~~~WORTH: •• .. 615' 863 24.. 1,'>02 17 Iii 4 8 \ 2 I'.. lSI 21 I' 2,048 •• .. 3 52 5 •• .. 2 I'" .. 21,000 8" ';3 19 0
Bucklandandpartof Omeo .. I, 390 2,300 3bO.. 3,040.. •• •• I •• .. 80' Iii 15 ...... 10 135...... 8 .. .. 37,300 80 a 17 6 ,,186 Jordau, North ...... 225' •• 1,111 •• 1,336...... 2ft .. 10 .. •• ...... 24,000 I 3 13 0 3 19 0 Jamieson'.. •• •. .. 1 215 30 45.. 290.. .. 2.. ," .. I"~ ...... 4 '3 140 Jordall,Soutll.andpartofOmeo§~ 550 250 1,400.. 2,200...... '.:.': .••• .. 70 .. 800 .. .. 1 13 I .. .. 1 .. •• 6,750 '3 ,3140 3 149 Omeo. Central ...... 160' 340 .. .. 500...... 12 .. .. • ...... 240 5 '3 8 0 3150 4 I 0 :::\ine.mtle Creek...... 1 419 279 52.. 750.. .. 34...... :. .. i.: 28 ..:: .. s,oOO 12 4 00 8lJowyC'reeK ...... ~ _~ _,_._._ -=..:.....I __ ~.. .. i~I~- .... _'_'_" ,1_ _j___ _ .. .. --'-'-- ~ Total...... 5,439 6,370 3,081!.. I 14,890 49 549 200 52 1O~ .. 261 260 16 2,840 I~'I .. 21 267 19.. 14.... 145,490 134£ ' SANDHURST: --.- I i- '-...,- I -I --- 1- ,- --, Kangaroo Flat ...... 1,000' 720 950 .. ,2,670' g~, ...... 40 800.. 52 ." ...... 80,000 5 '3 17 3 3176 Eaglehuwk, &c... •• .. 3,200, 550 1,200.. 5,~~? i 37"...... 42 633.... •• •• .. .. 100,000 4~ :33 1174 03 3 17 6 Kihnore ...... 331!.. 40...... v" '.. .. 8 80...... 7,385, lD 3 150 i" ...... 4 I 0 Heathcote and Waranga, SOuth.. 412 482 648.. 1,602 . I 6 51 .. I" ...... I 15 262 2 8 .. .. •• 3 39,000 50 ,3 17 0 Wuranga, North...... 160 I 140 266.. 566...... ::...... 7 86...... 17,000 i 35 3 156 3 17 6 3 18 9 Raywood ...... ~: __32_~..:.:...... 2,622 •. __.~ .....:.:...... ___ .. '.... ~_" '.. '.. .-i-~:II~" .. -=..:.....i~ 4,000 .! :3180 Total ...... 7,703 2,024 ;~,I54 .. 12.881 3 43 ~,_:::"'" .. _:':"-"1,-':':"" _" .. ,..:.:...... :.:.... 112 1,861 2 60 .. _._.__ ...::... _ 247,885 1 109~ I MARYBOROUGH: ------,--- , , -- ; MaIYborough ...... 3,240 1,160 620.. 5,020 5 110 270 60 ...... 10 170.. 37 ...... 45,COO 49 3' 1'1' 9 3 IS 6 Amberst ...... 2,590 530 30u.. 3,420 10 116 285 60 ...... •• .. 5 86.. 8 ...... 20,600 29 3 IS 0 Avoca ...... 1,065 520 20.. 1,601; I 12 85 ...... 30 ...... 4 53...... 5,000 19 ,)) 169 3190 Dunolly'...... 1,700 550 700 10 2,960 4 56 250 8 •• ...... •• 23 372 3 22 .. •• •• •• 48,000 IIg 3. 19 0 4 00 Korong ...... 1,200 300 1,300.. 2,800.. .. 100 6 3 ...... 21 286.. 22 ...... , 26 35,000 29 3 17 0 3186 Redbauk and St. Arnaud, South.. 500 50 250.. 800 ," 16...., ...... 4 54.. -1 .. •• ",:: ' 1,1.50 6 3 17 0 3176 St. Arnaud, North .. .. 849 70 168 1,087 2 21 I~i""':':- ...... ' 11 225.. I""':':'" I":':"""'! ... !_.:.:.... **35,616 --..::. 3 ~5 0 3 17 9-. S 4 cast~~~fu~~:~I~~' :: ':: 1:::::-: ::::: i~~i~ I::::: 2:~ 3:: I I,::: !~~ .: 41 :~-" :: :: :•.•. J~ :19 § 1':16486 2.:. :6>--:-." 1--:-:-.··.. _ii' ,::.:; -(9~ 1~:I"'90::0:~6:14·7:~ 3. 15 6 3 17 3 3 17 6 Frycr'. Creek ...... 1,4601,820 136.. 3,416 S 150 345 8' 30 70 74 '0 .... I 4 : I d ~ 3163 Hepburn ...... 2,287 1.780 786 I 4,S,51' 13 Jl5 191 29 .. i...... 24 345 4 24 ...... 48,770 3 14 0 a 17 0 Taradule ...... 290 750 119.. 1,159 5 41 8 3 ...... -... 1 7 82.. 4 ...... 12,000 10 3176 Blue Mountain, Northt.. •• 600 30 480.. 1,110.. .. 28 3 .. 1.. 11 ...... I 12...... 4,300 8' 3 17 3 3 17 6 Maldon ...... 854 463 522.. 1,849 2 42 76...... II 2 .. .. 5 .. 26 563.. 37 .. •• 5 .. 67,500 10 3 110 3 19 3 3 17 6 81. Andrew's ffiMt and Central .. 560 130 96.., 786.. .. 21.... I, •• ...... i 4 20...... 9,540 14:1; 3 15 0 Metropolitan II ...... , 8 ...... ! iI 14.. .. ,'-,---, .. ," .. .-=_, __._._...... ,--=-:_,...... :.._...... 880 3 2170 3190 1-':""'1-1-1- ,---,- -- , , ------i Total .. ~_26_8 ~_42_4 ....::~ 8 16,315 33 414 961 ~~ __ ~ _1_1_1_,_1_27_ 8 .. .. 5 I 5 _:::..... __1,_6_34_ 26 11 .. .. 5 9 262,890 WI! j ARARAT: Ararat .. .. 600 700 150.... I 1,450' 8 99 30 15 .. .. 200 ...... 5 93 ,...... '.. .. 13,000 21 3 16 9 Pleasant Creek .. .. 351 140 486 977 6 10 4 7 .. .. :35 .. .. 12..! 5 I~ 330 8 26 .. .. I.. 6 60,700 ll~ 3 14 6 3166 Raglan· ... .. I ,~r~ 380 48.. 1,307 23 284' SO 22 2 32 ...... I" 2 11...... i .. 25,100 18 3 18 6 3 190 BarKly ,. .. !~~ 300 .. .. 1,~80 I 12 40 .. " .. 53 .. .• I.. I.. •...... 3,720 13 3 17 0 3 17 9 Total .. .. 13,510 J:;52O ---;; - .. - --;:m-I38" 465 !~64: 44 (} 2 i 320 1---1-'-:-1 13 .. I 6 20 -~ '----g 26 -- .. I~' --6-102,520 ~ \ !--:;::.~I~-- ---I-I~'- ;-- --- 1- 1-' ------GRAIID TOTAL .. .. ," I 45,047 23,396 1 15,08~ 13 83,551 392 5,802 4,069 438 144 113 740 268 16 2,861 5 12 444 I 7,667 58 268 21 5 59 1,448,301 1 71lf. I
'" The Mining Surveyors ~or theRe divisions ha-v-mg fllllcd to fur.tll:sll reports, the information has been taken from their latc.l)t returns. it Tile l\llning Surveyor has omitted to state tlle horse-power of these engine.. 1 t Tbe lHuing H('gis.trar having oUlitted t!'> furnish a return of machinery ~ the information bas been talteu froUl his last report. .;:t ~§ No report having been received from tile Registrar for n portlon 01 this division, the Information'haa been e.sUmuted • § 'l'ue lUning Surveyor's returu of steilm engines being incomplete, the information hilS been ta!"en from his last report. . In this oJIioo.' \ 11 Of the IJ'otal 14, 8)ll'e engaged in gold minIng Rnd 6 in mining lor minerals, &c., other than gold. . , •• The lUning Surveyor having failed to furnish this intormaUOll, it has boon ta~el1 frUlll hiS last report. R. BROUGH SMYTH, Mining Department, Melbourne, 7th April, 1864. Sec~etary ffr Mines. , 1 No. 35, a. 2.
, , MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTR,ARS' REPORTS.
BALL-AaAT MINING DISTRICT.
No.1 DIVISION. Mr. Robert Davidson, Mining Surveyor.
THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:-
Total ror the Europeans. Chinese. Division. Remarks.
Alluvial Miners '" ... 1,270 28 1,298
Quartz Miners ...... '" ... Other Population ...... 9,200 ... 9,200 I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this re- turn. No.1 Division embraces Bqrrum. beet, Learmonth, White Stone Lagoon, Trewalla, and part of the Carngham Dis- trict, which are exclusively agricultural districts. The return, as set down, is taken TOTALS ... 10,470 28 10,498 from the municipal roll of Ballarnt West, ... which does not embmce these districts.
, " THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Frenchman's Lead 90 Inkermann Gully . 55 W oolshed Lead 45 " White Flat .. . 35 Redan Lead ... 115 Sago Hill .. . 120 Golden poil).t Lead 210 Campbell's Gully 50 Inkermann Lead 233 Bunker's Hi,ll. .. 130 Swamp Lead ... r 45 Suburban Lead 65 TOTAL 1,298 Dead Horse Lead 105
THE llUCHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:-
ALLUVIAL MINING. 9UAMZ MINING.
Description of Machines. ., .Aggregate Aggregate At Work. .Idle. At Work. Idle. Horse-)fu~~ of SteamHorse-~;, . as.or Steam . es.
Steam Engines ...... 58 0 5 820 ... 1 50 Puddling Machines ...... 56 3 ...... Whims ...... 8 2 ...... Whips ...... 2 ......
Total value of all mining plant in the division, £36,750. Number of square miles of alluvial" ground which is being or may have been actually worked upon, H. . , ~umber of distinct quartz reefs which have peen actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 5, ' _ ": " The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 19s. 6d. to £4 Os. 3d. ~~ . 4
_ i have the honor to state that during the past three mouths mining enterprise in this division has in no way decreased with respect to its paying qualities, but no new discoveries have been made with respect of new leads. The Albion Company, on the Frenchman's Lead, obtained IOn ozs.3 dmB.5 grs. of gold for the' .past thr~e months, .. !lnd divided £"JO "PElr 72n~ spar!l ill- ,the same ,of time. Thef~emp1f..Ity ha,;,e been w:orking ini.rat~ei' 'poor ~ grouhd~"of late,:; 'Sut w~)l :shoHlyc eftce 6p~#ti6ns1n l.b~li!lr ground which they know wIll pay better. .. . , . , The Grcat Extendcd Company, Redan, obtained 4492 ozs. 3 dwts. of gold during the last three montJ;ts, an.d paid dividendno the amoun~ of. £202.,pll.r .80th:; share. This' company is still engaged blockmg out. .. - , i" The Koh·i-noor Company, Golden Point Lead, have obtained 7862 ozs. 3 dwts. o(gold for th!l past three months, out of·which they have paid -dividends to the amount of £580 per 40th share. Parts of the gutter in this claim are remarkably rich. The company continue blocking out in the gutter and have a reef-drive being constructed at a lower leVel to strike the- deep ground lower down the lead. The Cosmopolitan Company on the same lead have obtained gold to the amount of 2094 ozs. 17 grs. ~uri~g the s.ame spa?? ~f ti~,e ,a~~,p~i4 dividends am~)Unting ~~ £15§JJer. ~2n"d ~h,are. This compa!lY IS still workIng the new~gro~na d~sc?v;ered '!:lY ·them SL~ montll8. bJ;l.ci6" hesI~es,.wo!ki!lg the Golden POInt gutter. As many as eight horses are working constantly underground. besides a small engine used for pumping the water up an incline leading ~9 the de.ep grQund. , The Essex Company, Suburban, have obtained 1424 ozs. 14 dwts. 16 grs. during the past three months, This company have been engaged in cleaning -qp the old drives that were swamped, also blocking out new ground. .' ' • . .The Ballarat ~x~ension Company, De~d H~rse ~ea~, are not yet i~ .proper working order for obtallllllg large quantIties qf~w~~,!,hrt'!I:~;~h!'llr mrun!irive'!~'p.q~'(lo~pJile~~aimto the gutter. Parts of Inkermann Gully are being reworked by small companies of from 4 to 12 men, and to the best of my belief, they are obtaining good average, wages. ' , The owners of claims in t4lsd,ivision engaged in siuking and dri,v:iI!~ operations for the purpose of reaching the auriferous depcisifs;.eoritinue 'theii operations'with:energy, ahd that amount of skill and .pers6verance;.which,has,character.ised ,Ballarat mining.. . .-.', . The neighborhood of Bunker's. Hill, Sago Hill, and Campbell's, Gully are doing but very little at present. The\',aumerous grounq, iii:;:tliAs',;'locality,,,is -:very.'p1ttchy.. , It is quite a common thing for a company to bottom on !l first.ratc!pr?spec~ offrom 4,to 8 dwts. to the tub, but when ~hey come to put drives in they cannot dIscoveta' c '.. 1 \'1'. , I' "No.2 DIVISION.' ';' .. ~.r .." p I Jl '!;r't p't' 1. M" S' ,. ,,~::Jf~/?::.. ". I .j-V.·.,l!'~i Z - . a ?'1tCIti, - 1!n'JIng urveyor... , '-'THE.:POPUL4TION .IS AS FOLl;.OY,YS,:;;:.:;, .",.,; .', . " '''''-- .t. " """,_. 1 Total for the . : ,,-~. J. ,.&:iuro.t'e€Ws~-:. ,.'":~ese. , "f "~Division: ... _~ . ·675 , Quartz Miners 500 ,; ; .Other Population 350 40 \ .390 TOTALS 1,025 .()::r;.2t.~ ...... """.': • .l.~,," ALLUVIAL MINING. QUARTZ Mnmi'G• .- " " Steam Engines employed in pump ing, winding, yuqdling, &c. 12, : Steam Engines employed in pump ing, winding, crushing, &c., &c. , 12 305 Puddling l'rl achines 26 18 ", Whims L' , "W·~L, <'. ['"1''' T~;;al value 'of all ~i~in~ ~laiit in'the divisio~, £33:000:"- - 'J".~":," ", '.""",,1-,':: '!::"l" •.It :M Number ,of sq,uare illiles ?f alluviaL ground. w;hichidsr b'eing ort.mul,y,·have tboon aetuaily: worJred upon, 1. , ,~ _,:,\\'i,Lt ,·r,,':,.--:-.;q. .;,.; .,i. ;N.urnbep', o£dilistincttf.!quj),l'tz,;l'eefs)rw:hich ,ha've"becnu'RctuallY·;pro:vedb1o:.lte Rurifero.us to .the present tinIe, 'I. .' ' The pric~ of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £4 to £4 Os. 6d. per oz. 5 THE FOLLOWING L~FORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. I Average ' Rema.rks relative to the Name of Compa.ny. Quartz was obtained. Quartz crushed. • Total Yield I~_ Yield ofGold of Gold. Depth at which theQuartz parTon. was obtained, &c. ton owt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. 0". dwt. gr.' Black Hill Company ... Black Hill ... 12,041 0 () 0 2 7! 1,395 4 0 Open cutting 65 feet Independent Company Ditto '" ... 3,339 0 0 0 2 4 363 6 0 Open cutting 65 feet, Temperance Company Li ttle Bendigo ... 680 0 0 0 8 151 294 6 0 280 feet deep. Sisters" Company ... Ditto ... 1,155 0 0 0 7 20 453 1 12 234 and 330 ft. deep. '" t; Band of Hope Company Ditto ...... 845 0 0 1 4 16 1,042 4 18 300 feet deep. One and All Company Ditto -.. ... 480 0 0 011 It 265 18 12 260 feet deep. Little Bendigo Company Ditto '" ... 992 0 0 0 8 2~ 443 o 18 40 feet deep. New Monte Christo Co, Ditto ...... 670 0 0 0 6 5 208 o 12 40 feet deep. Clydeside Company.,. Ditto ...... 193 0 0 0 7 41 69 9 12 From surfaceto 30 ft. Pendle Hill Company Ditto '" ... INo return obtainable. Dow imd Company ... Ditto ...... 32 0 0 0 5 18 9' 4 0 To 20 feet. Kirkland and Company Ditto ...... 74 0 0 0 2 19! 10 9 0 60 feet deep. Hero Company (sinking Ditto ... and crushing for hire) Majestic Company ... Black Hill ...... Al1J~dan~~r.r:; the month of Jan\llU'Y- MilO trucks of alluvial and quartz, and obtained l!~:'b~:~";, l~.w':~ oiwater. Two Ton Company ... Ditto ...... Ditto, 4,200 truekll-l42 oz . I dwt. 18 gr•• - TOTAL .. , 20,501 0 0 410i 4,554 4 12 j Numerous quartz claims have been taken up during the quarter, and for the most part with favorable results; but an insufficiency . revents the whole quantity of quartz raised by new companies from being crushed. The t Company report the total expenses of raising, crushing, delivering, and wear and te!U: of . . d mac~nery, at 58. 6d. per ton. The Two Ton Company report the total expense of rrusmg, ebvermg, crushing,' &c., &c., per truck, at about I1ld. The last company crush alluvial and quartz promiscuously. No.3 DIVISION. Mr. Thomas Cowan, Milnilng Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:-· l Total for the EuropeaIll!. Chinese. Division. ltamarks. Alluvial Miners ...... 415 622 1,037 I I Quartz Miners ... '" 180 ... 180 Other Population ...... " .. , TOTALS ... '" 595 622 1,217 I I I THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Bakery Hill ... 13 Canadian 47 Black Hill Flat 77 Sinclair's Hill 74 Brown Hill ... 42 Prince Regent 64 Caledonian 52 Belltopper ... 7 Eureka 111 Sailors' Gull~ .. 36 Long.look'd.for 12 Madman's F t 60 Free Trade ... 20 New Chum 38 Edmonds' Lead 22 Terrible Gully ...... 17 Specimen Gully ... 43 Miners' Rest and Mount Pleasant 14 Pennyweight ... 119 White Flat 43 Golden Point ... 91 Ashe's Lead ". 24 Red Streak 14 Gum Tree Flat 33 Poverty Point 52 Old Post Office Hill 48 TOTAL 1,21~ Dalton's Flat ... 44 No. 35, b. 6 _ QUinTZ MINING. Aggregate I~. I ('.•.• ~Bora.e.-@w~l' of' Steam Engines. 1--- , Steam Engines employed in wind- , mg, crus,hing, &c: .:. :' :; ... ,,' .Ii'o ;', I,:·' "-"3 163 15 5 .. ... ~ ,'" : U'1 ~ ~ '" I ' '. . :;, I '1 , >8:6r'se l'hddlmg M'ichities' ".... - 1;9' " '13 t' : ..."i I .. '1 ; ,- ." t.. .' j. v ··it . steam Puddling Machines ,', ~:.. .13 I~ t," : .. ~ ., " , '11 : .,:. ,; ;'"/~ , .' , ') Whims!' ,11 , .' " . ,- /: {'J, ''1'otaltahie of all'mining plant'in·,the division;' ~57;500. .... ,:.:; ".' ",.' Number of ~quare miles of alluvial' gr6wi.u, 'which is being, or may'have b'eeri iidually worKed upon, ~~~inber of dis~inct quartdeefs which have been aC~rially proved to be au~iferous to,'the'prJ~~ht time, 6. I . " -' .. .. ,. ,v,~.-. The price .. of'gold during the quarter in the division has been from £4 to £4 Os. 6d;''per oil:'" . /iIi;~{:':fd.tUtW~NG: INFORMATIOl'f HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO T~E ~-;,~ QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER. AND THE GOLD OBTkINEb~HEREFROM. ~ ...... , .. ' - ••• '~'- ~» .."''> Itemarks relative to the Name of Company. Where Quartz was IYield Av_~ of ')ld Total Yield of Depth at which theQuartz obtained. 1·--" per Ton ..• Gold. was obtained. ton ewt. qr. oz. d"t.l,'''' oz. dwt. gr. {Endeavour ..... -.t .~ ... .Specimen Gully"": ' ,: 720 0.0 0: 4 '15£ 161 " I) 0, 90 ft. Llanberl'is" .•..• ... ·G,um.'J.~ree' Flat ..•• ' 4.935'.. 0 ,0 0.7 ~o~ ·,347 16.lS, ' 225,,2,10,. 250 ft, ';.' Britannia .•. Specimen Gully ~ ; .' 1,072: ,0 0, , ,01':4 •... 240 ,11 '. 7 ! ~O;,~,O.ft,.\.'. . '...... q! ..10. ''[, 2,407 0~'6 . ,392 19 12 ,,70, 140,.60, 150 'oid Post Office . Old Post Office Hill 0".3 I.6' ~ :Qanish .,' .•. ... Hakery Hill- ' . 1,440, 0 0 ,91 1'00 0' if' ': 160 ft.'" "... . ' ' " g,!~ Good Friday ... 'EureKa' .:: ... 2;900 '0' . .0 16" 102 O· .0 ' "Surface wotking. 'j, Union ...... Golden Point ... '. 333 0 .0 0'1. 2 "9~ 39 '4'1S 200, '190 ft. New Speedwell ... Poverty Point ... 1,:35.0 .0 .0 0 4 6 237 S 11 200 ft. TOTAL ... 1l,151 0 0 0 2 22 1,627 5 IS I 'J ... : I have the honor to"forward the' :quarterly report :01' the "sta:te"~of mining operations in my district, the information and statistical returns for which have been obtained with the greatest care :!'rom personal inspection and minute inquiries made at ,the .vari9us qlaims. 'I.'he Danish Quartz Mining"Company; 'Bakery Hill, llave'been driving for the last three months ·at the same leveI.(sixty• .feet),.but. the'.reef has·of late ,become 'very much broken,uPi·consequently,they are working no definite lode. " " On the . Black Hill Flat, th'ilh;"is' ,very littlo: mining. ,,·,Alifew Chinamen and Europeans are puddling with horse machines and washing the surface. , At the Brown Hill, there are a few Chinamen sluicing in the creek, and one or two parties of Europeans putting down prospecting shafts. , . , .' ~'he Success Gold Mining'Company (late Sir Charles Darling) in the old Eureka Lead, are at present engaged in overhauling and ref airing their machinery, and contemplate reorganizing the company under Pyke's Act, with a capita of £1,000 in fifty shares of £20 each. 'rhe Caledonian Company (late Star of the East), on the Caledonian Lead, have 'also reorganized under Pyke's Act, and are erecting their machinery. On the same lead a party of Chinamen have recently taken up a large claim, on which they have erected a very substantial plant, consisting of an engine of fourteen.horse power, puddling machinery, &c., which ellgine.is .driven by.oneof the party. They have.sunk.a shaft upwll!'~ oLl00 feet in.depth, but have not yet struck the gutter. ~:he Confedel:aj;e Cempany,.on Eu~eka Lead. are working at the.12(}.feet level'and are driving for a new gutter whIch they expect to strIke in a: few days. _. The Nonpareil Company, on the same lead. have let the claim on tribute to a party of elevenl:ll€lR ,for two months, who are making average wages.': . .,' , Lower down this lead the Eureka Cement Oompany are crushing the old surfaee w6rJiings, biit not at present making wages. '. ',) , The Britannia Company. Specimen. Gully, are ,working from three levels with the lode well ,defined. The claim is paying about £4 per week per man, clear of all expenses. The Endeavour Company, Specimen Gully has been crushing from a lode varying from two to five feei, in width. at a cost of about nine shillings per ton. The yield for this lode gives an average return of £4 per man per week. The company's operations have been stopped during the lasLfew days in consequence of repairs being required to the machinery. , The Ballarat East Company, Pennyweight Flat, have finished their air drives, which were deemed necessary for the proper working of the mine, and are now in active operation. They have averaged about thirty ounces per week, with an expenditure of between £50 and £60 per week. 'l'he Victoria Cement Company, Golden Point, are engaged puddling the surface to,a depth of ·30 feet, and washing six machines per week with an average return of one ounce and a half to the machine. 7 i,1 ,1 '.' T4e MazejlPl! 99mpailY;; consistil/g ofl ;tWf.e IpE.l!l',!ncl,l;r~ j;jJ.f;l ;SI;\]1l.f;l, pla!le'are, !US0r1p.I!- No: 4 DIVISION. M't,. M. O'1lfalley, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS :~...... H,_ ; I Total for tho .. ! Europea.nil. ,C'hillese. DivisiOI4 Remarks. , : , 312 " Alluvial Miners '" .. 1,359 1.671 " .. Quartz Miners .., '" 264 ... 264- "Other Population ... , .. ' 2,350 ... 2,350 .. TOTALS 312 4,285 " '" ... 3,.973 , 'THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Sebastopol' .: ~ . 245 Yankee Gully 80 Cobbler's .... ,' , , .. 120 Mount Misery 215 Cambrian Hill and 'Winter's Flat 126 Italian Gully... '" 70 Black Lead and vicinity " 95 Junction, near Paddy's Gully 130 Dogtrap, Napoleon, and Watson's Hill 125 Raglan Gully... '" '14 Staffordshire Reef ...... 220 Pinchgut .,. 30 Bulldog 200 Grassy Gully ... 130 Break o'Dar , .. 40 Little Hard Hills 20 Frenchman s. Gully 50 Spring Oreek ," 25 TOTAL 1,935 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL MDm Description of Machines. " Aggreg~te i At Work. Idle. Horse'1!?wer of I At Work. Idle. SteaJl1. l'Jlgines. --,------1-----1------:------.- .. _-.... _- Steam Engines ...... 20 10 732 ,5, 3 168 Steam Engine (crushing cement) 1 ... ]0 ...... Whims ...... , 2 1 ... 3 3 ... Whips .... '...... 2' ...... 13 ... Horse Puddling 'Machines ... 52 18 ... , ...... I Total value of all mining plnnt in the division, £60,000. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon,4i, , Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 8. The price of gold during the quarter ill the division has been 'from £4 to £4 Os. 6d, per. pz. 8 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELkTIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. , I RClllMks relative to the No.me of Company. Where Quartz was Total Yield of Depth at which the obtained. Quartz crushed. Yi,;fJ';,'fa~ld Gold. . Quartz was obtained for per Ton. , eac!) Month "'l'spectively. ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Staffordshire Reef Co. Staffordshire Reef. .. 7,787 0 0 0 2 9! 929 5 0 15 ft. to 160 ft .• 170 ft., 60 ft. to 150 ft. Comet Co...... Ditto ...... 886 0 0 0 4 7} 191 5 0 160 ft., 140 ft., 30 to 130 ft. Oriental CoL. ... Ditto ...... 1,455 0 0 ,0 3 ll! 254 6 12 115 to 140 ft., 40 to 164 ft., 30 to 140 ft. Great Western Co. ... Garryowen Reef .•. 232 0 0 0 ~ 11~ 110 0 0 Surface. Prince of Wales Co ..•. Cobbler's Reef ... 2,461 0 0 0 7 19! 961 10 0 360 to 400 ft ----- ._------i TOTAL ... 12,821 0 0 0 3 19i l!,446 6 12 ._--- ! ----- Federal ...... Frenchman's Gully, 1,040 0 0 0 2 20! 148 0 0 Cement I I haye the honor to report that during the last three months milling affairs generally throughout my division have been attended with fair average success, although there is nothing very particular or noticeable to mention regarding them. The most promising portion of the division however appears to be about Bulldog, where several large companies are presently engaged sinking for the continuation of the Smythe'S Creek and Springdallah Leads, and with very sanguine hopes of being ultimately well rewarded for the /P'eat and difficult labor undertaken by them. Should this be so, no doubt this portion of the diVIsion will be the scene of a large rush, as many Ballarat old miners are already turning their attention thither and only waiting to see the result of the adventures referred to before making a start. 'fhe Sons of Freedom Company. Napoleon, have lately discovered a new lead within their claim at a depth of about 300 feet, which they have named the "Western Lead," and on which they have taken up a frontage claim 2440 feet in extent for 40 men; their registration howe,er is opposed by the Fortuna Company adjoining, and steps are being taken, I believe, to bring the matter be~ore the Warden for adjudication. '1'he .latter companies have also broken into a gutter and obtained satisfactory prospects within the last few days, while their neighbors, the Caledonia Company, Racecourse, are, I understand, about putting in a lower level in the direction where they now know "deep ground" to be. The Prinee Alfred Company, about a mile further south, are also in expectation of soon getting into the gutter, and should paying ground be struck, the future of this company looks very promising indeed, as they have taken up a large extent of ground all ronnd their shaft, which will not be werked ,out for manv years. The Great Gulf Company are now down 190 feet in the second rock, which is quite dry; hut like their neighbors, the Alston and Weardale Company, they are considerably retarded in their operations by foul air. They are, however, getting on tolerably, .and expect to have reached the required depth (about 350 feet) twelve months hence. The Alston and W cardale Company are now fairly into the gutter, and had it not been for the cause above referred to, would have been ere this in receiJ;>t of satisfactory dividends, as the wash dirt is of excellent quality; but owing to the badness of the mr in their mine, they have not been able to work much more than half time since getting into the gutter. The yield, however, for the last quarter has been 900 OZS., while the yield of, the Scottish and Cornish Company's claim for the same period has been 764 ozs. of the precious metal. The Prince of Wales Company, Cobbler's, obtained 1,466 ozs. from their alluvial, and 961 ozs. from their quartz workings, during the past quarter; and the NelsonOompany, Sebastopol, as much as 1,638 ozs. £)r thc last two months. ' There is nothing special to repo~t of the Working Miners, Defiance, New Frenchman's, or Mexican Companies during the quarter. The jll-st.named being still in very poor ground, the secend in receipt of moderate returns, while the others are still driving for the gutter, The old and shallow workings at Mount Misery, Grassy Gully, Break o'Day, &c., eontinue to yield fair wages, as heretofore, but nothing calling for special notice has occurred during the quarter. I beg to forward the quarterly returns of populatIOn, &c., which I have endeavored to make as correct as possible under the circumstances. BUNINYONG (No.5) DIVISION. Mrr. Robt. M. Harvey, 21fining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- I Total for the I Europeans. Clrinese. Division. Remarks. ... _- --- Alluvial }:Iiners .. , ... 1,250 350 1,600 Quartz Miners ...... ISO ... 180 Other Population ...... 2,600 60 2,660 TOTALS ...... 4,030 I 410 I 4,440 I 9 THE TOTAL NUMBER'IS THUS DISTRIBUTED Bnninyong ...... 1,250 TIurham Lead- and Green Hills 1,270 'Scotchman's and F Leads 820 Black Lead and Hard 426 White Horse and Winter's Flat 300 One Eye and Plank Road ... 375 TOTAL 4,440 THE MAOHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS ALLUVIAL MUlTNG. Description of Machines. ! Aggregate At Work. Idle. Idle. : Horse·power of I Steam Engine.. Steam Engines 24 I , 430 8 6 250 Puddling Machines 45 25 ...... Whims 35 5 ...... I Total value of all mining plant in the division, £55,000. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon, 12f. , . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to bil auriferous to the present time, 12. ' The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 19s. to £4 per ounce. THE FOLLOWING INFOR:i\oIATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ ORUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Average !, Remarks relative to the Name of Compan,. Where Quartz was Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold :: Tota~;t.ld of i Depth at which the obtained. ' per'l'on. " Quartz was obtained. -, ton ewt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. ' Erin-go .Bragh ... Hiscock's Reef ... 165 0 0 0 4 Sir 36 0 0 70 feet. Standard Company ... Ditto ...... 1,954 0 0 0 5 17 557 18 0 40 feet. Imperial Company ... Ditto ...... 1,520 0 0 0 2 5 167 .I 9 4 170 to 200 feet: One and An Company Ditto ...... 2,200 0 0 0 3 13 390 0 0 SO feet. All Nations Company • All Nations Reef ... 550 0 0 0 4 16! 129 0 0 40 to 60 feet. Victoria Company ... White Horse ... 600 0 0 0 1 6§ 38 0 0 Surface. TOTAL ... '6,989 0 0 0 3 lSi 1,31S 12 4 In qnartz mining it will be seen; from the above general ave~age of 3 dwts. 18t grs. to the ton, that the yield is improving, this result is chiefly owing to the improved yields on Hiscock's Reef during the last month in all cases the quartz is looking better, some stone having yielded half an ounce to the ton. At deepest level on this reef, viz., 200 feet, at the Imperial Company's claim, the manager reports that the stone is improving, the last crushing yielding over. 3 dwts. j;o the ton. The Imperial, Standard, and Erin-go-Bragh Oompanies are worked on tribute. The Victoria Quartz Mining Oom pany's works are at a stand still and not likely to be again started, the stuff crushed being too poorQ The Oement Companies on the Hard Hills have not as yet proved successful, and both are at present driving for better ground. In alluvial mining the companies working on the gutter on the Durham, Franl!:lyn, and Scotch man's Leads have,.in nearly all cases, had remunerative dividends during the quarter; owing, however, to the farthest down claim that has yet struck the Durham gutter, the Garibaldi, still continuing in very poor ground, 'there is a general feeling of dulness amongst the COIllpanies below. Operations are, however, generally carried OIl with vigor, all arc still sinking in the basalt, with the exception of the Duke of Oornwall., now sinking in reef to such deptb as they think advisable, and the Chryseis, who are driving for the gutter, and are now in close upon 300 feet, in boring' up they have discovered what they con· sider a branch gutter at a depth of 140 feet, and, have registered a claim for forty men on the same; gold has been seen in the headings, the bottom of the gutter not having yet been reached; this W;ill in all probability p~ove to be a tributary trending from the north-east, and originating at the top of a gully know'!1 as Macaulay'S, where gold was found in small quantities some years since. As the com pany have all the necessary machinery ready for puddling and the gutter will be fairly tested m a very short time. . . The Buninyong Oompany, holding Learmonth's paddock and working the Scotehman's gutter, still continues the best in the division, the dividends averaging £30 per fortnight per original share. The Leviathan, Napoleon, have again got to work. On Distillery Gully, near the head of the Union Jack, the parties prospecting have not as yet struck anythinglayable. , The yield of gold from this division for the quarter just ende has been fully equal to the cor-' responding period in 1863, and, there is little doubt. will continue to improve. No. 85, c. 10 No.6, -oR SMYTHESDALE Di:VISt6'N: Mr.. John,·Lynch,.·MiningBurveyor .." .,,}<"" .. :,~r: , I"~ . .,"'0 1 ' ',,:,. . J'. THE POPULATION IS AS ,FOLLOWS :.....:.: .. Total for the Europeanll. '.- Division. Remarks. .Alluvial MiD~rs t3i 160,i : " 516 ,3;676\ .: .1, '.! Quartz Mjn~r~ ..... _,_6Q~ .• u ...... ' " 60 Other Population 8,380 190 8,570 . ~, ". '" 11,600 .. ,.. 70L .. , ,.12,306 • • ;' f J ~. ." ,., " . ,..... THE ,TOTA;L :NUMBER "OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Smythesdale ... 200 'Bottle Hill ...... '. . ' .. 50 Brown's '" ... 140 Snake Valley, Britannia Reef, &c. 450 Monkey Gully and Lancashire Reef 50 Linton and Hard Hill...... - '.... ' ·250 Long-thought-about and Italian's 106 Happy Valley and Slaughteryard Hill 460 Scarsdale, Black Hill, aild Brownsvale 1,040 . Springdallah Creek ...... ' 'I. '20 Spring •. " ALLll'VIAL'MINING. 1 . "Aggr'egate, . A't Work. Aggregate' • AtWorlL Idle. ,I Y,0rse;l!?w'!" of Idle. Horse-power of mes. Steam-Engines. Steam Engines 66 .' . ~"'~9" ,."- ·".1..···1,443 5 Whims. ',. 3.1 ., 11 Ho~s~.~d~ili~ l'tfachin·es·. ,' .... :~J ~i': Total value of all mining plant in;the ,division, £80,000. I •. , N umbe", ,of squarli!' .miles of, alluvia,l grou,?-d wIDcll, is being,-or maY'have been actnaJJy worKed ~pon, ~uinber of :distant, quartz re~fs which have beenaetually proved ~·.be atiriferous' to the. preseiJ,t tIme, 9.' " , , . The price of gol,d d;uring the ;quarter in the di"ision has heen £4 ,per; o~! THE FOLI,OWING INFORM!A.TION HAS ·BEEN .. OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUAl"'q'TITY OJj' QUARTZ~CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD O;BTAINED THEREFROM. , ! :: A~erage I , Remarks relative to .the :., . *;.;rie of COlnpany. Where Qu:mz was' '" Quart;oruslied. 'Yield of Gold, TotaI Yield 'Depth at which the " •• 1 " • 'obtained. ' of Gold. ' 0 per Ton. Quilrtz was obtained. ~ ____~ ____~~~!~ __~~ ____~~,.~I·~~~""'~~'C __~~~_~~~~~~·'~-~'~"~-~"~~~-- , J c ~. , ton ewt, qr. Oz, dwt. gr. oz: dwt. gr, , lIritannia Cpmpru:)f. ·.;.c· Carngham I, .,; .,' 900 O. 0 "0· 6, lO~i 289 '6 0 At a' deptlf· of"280 J feet; average width is 7·feet. ~e~ul~ Company:' ",' .:. ,Carngham •.J 600, O· 0; ".0 3 22~ -. H8,l ·0 ·,0, '160.feetdeeli'; aver- 11:50:000 ------age width, is,7:·feet.:: ,,:TOTAL ... 'I 0 5 1O'1 '4.()7 ,6'0'. ,'", ," , ~ , ,l J. ~ .• . :I.have the honor to forward the following report of~the min,~s:iIi this :division ''durin'g'' the quarter"from the 4th January last. ' '.,:"...', ~l j:J" ," • !' " ...... (,' " The most remarkable incident in'connection with mining affairs during'the' above '.interv'al'iii'tlie large number of puddling'machines erected for the purpose of puddlin'g~ the shallow 'grbutia:-Wlien'the rainy, s.eason sets i~; .dams and reservoirs are 'const):ucted' ih proper' P?sitioDs for, pud~~ng, 0I>~ratiori~~ and ,WIth a suffiCIent supply' of water I have. no·· doubt· that 'thIS 'branch ,of' ·mmmg will· prove eminently profitable. ,On the ranges and gullies ih 'and 'around the'slweral mining:'lilcalities specified, below there are several acres of auriferous lands which only require a constant supply of water in'order to become remunerative, and give employment to hundreds of,. miners. ",!"", " ", ,,':" 0.1; , . Deep sinking on Smythesdale is not very encourQ-ging '; liersistent' efforts are 'being' 'made' to' explore the northern portion'of this locality, which 'as yet is 'but 'lro'perfectly trled,'bh.t'the quantity of water there is so great that up to this time very little progress has, been made. "Ono' cOinpany, called the: Big Gun,' at, Browns', 'has been giving 'excellent· returns ,for some ·,i'ceks' back ;'. the {gold· is nu~ g\ltty and foulld several feet above the level of the main lead, into which'it is trending. 'Scarsdalc"'ls 11 producing well. The Golden Stream, Wheal Kitty, No~th Grenville; Luck's.A:ll; 'Azihliitli/'AvODClift, 13ute,"alld: Reliance claims are returning'large qu'antities of, gold: weekly. ", .. '" ,,, .•,' TO:;: The Working Miner's Company, at Monkey Gully, have given up. after working out the "greater 'Portion of their.,claim; dl}fects in, ,the bQil~r,prevent them from taking.out,a good block ,near the shaft. The Garibaldi, All Nationa, Independent, and the other claims about Italian's arem' paying ;Wltges. " At"Springdallah, the Golden Horn (a claim on privat,~ property) have" str)lc J>tained !iii excellent" prospect ;', too "great an infiil1: of(watei has previmted them pr6seiitlti " ce, and th~ are altogether engaged in baling. The Scarsdale Extended, still in the rock; Atlas, still in ~9c"k:,; Try Aiain; in the ,Devil's' Kitchen, rath;:r indifferent "for several we~ka,is imprjJ~g; Alpp.a; n,ot Yet into ~hedeep ground;, Gr~nd ,Trunk, doing ,,:ell. The washdirt is very rich, but the drives are not yet properly formed in respect of level, 'besides, the reef is excessively liard.' These causes operate against the returns, but they will be soon removed. The Cape Clear aXe erecting' machinery ; _this ,claim stands in good repute, ,the shaft.is in a very forward state and in every respect the',manage. ment is. being well conducted., " .~;. ::'if'~~~w::lead' struclt-fiii:~he' range~: south of. :Mr.",qlar~'s pre,.~nl.]:)tiyEdight, ~as . every appearance ofi,turmng'out'well. One claIm has struck gold In paymg quan~Itles. The ~e~d IS a well. defined one; several feet of black clay and vegetable mould overhe the washdlrt. The BnhslfCompany, 'at 'Happy Valley, have struck the ,gu~ter, washed 'several I?ac~ine.fuls, ~nd got admirab~"e l?rosJ?,e~t~; .~~\1 Volunteers have also turned out" some excellent machllles; the Robm Hood 'has .greatly Improved; tlie Grand Junction keeps up a, regular yield; the Cleft in the Rock, moderate; the Waverly have bottomed, got a good prospect, but are not yet deep enough; Nonpareil have ,bot1i9med, but are too shallow; Lucky are not yet through the rock. At Linton's there is not much doing. Two c6mpo.mes on the Black Lead, and two or three on the Flagstaff are getting paid, but the Atlas has given up, after three or four years' work. The Edinburgh will have ,worked out in or about another fortnight. Snake Valley, Carngham,' is doing well. Southern Lights, Prince of Wales, Sherwood, 13ritish Columbia, and Magnum .Bonum, are paying well. A large claim has been lately taken up ou the Rock Lead by the Carngham United Company. Itembraees 3,000 feet of the rock lead, and 1,200 feet of a: branch lead adjoining. ", . II The Royal Oak nnd British Queen, on Bottle Hill, are paying. Two or ~hree whim companies are ge:ttin 11 well paid, but besides these there is not much left on Bottle Hill. ~'few Claim's on' Preston s are paying still, but-it,has·greatlyfnllen from what it has been;; the greater portion of the ground there is worked out. . : ~ CRESWICK DIVISION. \. 'I" THE POPULATION' IS AS FOLLOWS ':""':' : " r. ",',,:' • ,:',. " , "If Total for the Europeans. -,-O_hin_' Di_"VIllI_"_'O_"..;:' _::,c:'--:::.'-'-_--'_Remn.r_--'-'ks-,-.____ _ I _-_·_I __ :., Alluvial Miners 1,200 i 900 2;100 Quartz Miners .•• 550 550 ..... I ;1,750' 900 .1 "L' :J'2,650 , 1 1.;1;1 i' 'rRETOTAIJ'NITM13ER"OF' MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBU1'ED:-l Cres:;ick 115 ,Portuguese Flat 130 Sulky Gully 70 Back Creek .. . 150 Bald Hills ... ': .. :":. 150 Mopoke .. . 200 Longpoint and"Graltam E;i;l1 140 Slaty Creek ,; .. . 200 Cobbler's Gully ' ... 30 Humbug HilL 100 Diamond Gully 20 13ullarook ".. 400 New Chum Gully If;'._.' j'., '••• ,''t,,- 25' Clifues 1 • 570 Red Streak 190 Eaglehawk .:.1'1 ,"'Il"~'1 50 TOTA.L Spring Gully ..·., " " 110 I l." THE. MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS,;- , , QUARTZ MINING, Aggregate ,Idle. HQrse-~w~r of Stea.m.l!illgin Total value of all mining plant in the division, £111,200. N umber of square mile's of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been ~{)tually worked; upon,7t· Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be ~uriferous to the present time,11. . The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 ISs. to £3 19s. 6d. per os. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO TIlE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ ORUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Remarks relative to til.. Where QllD.rtz was I Tot.. l Yield of Nanle of Company. I obtained. Yietd~ag~ld Depth f1t which the f Q~~cru'hed. per. Ton., Gold. Quarta WAS obtained. /I ton cwt: qr. oz. dwt'S;i oz. dwt. gr. Port Phillip Company Clunes Reef ... 9,979 0 0 o 8 4,105 15 12 to 300 feet. Victoria Company ... Ditto ...... 4,216 2 0 0 7 9i 1,558 3 1 Clunes United Company Ditto ...... 2,105 0 0 0 6 4 648 10 0 TOTAL ...... 16,300 2 0 0 7 t711 6,312 8 18 CElfEN'C MINING. , Hard Hill Company ... Hard Hills ... 1,600 0 0 0 2 6 180 0 0, t9 70 feet. Enterpr.isc Compa.ny ... Ditto ...... 970 0 0 0 2 0 97 6 0 70 feet. TOTAL ...... 1~;,5iO 0 o i 0 2 3~ 277 6 0 I have the honor' to report that mining in this division for t.he last three months has been dull. no new ground has been opened; the companies, however, at work on the deep ground at the Red Streak, continue their exertions t{) find the leads running in that direction, and with every probability of ultimate success, there can be no doubt that if they succeed it will give a great impetus and stability to the mining prospects of this di vision, At Sulky Gully all the claims continue work as hitherto, except the Express Company, who, after trying for Rome c~nsiderable time and finding nothing payable, has given up work. The return of gold for three months IS as follows'".,. ozs. d wts. grs. Argyle Company, 12 nien 115 0 0 Ben Bolt Company, 8 men...... 59 0 0 All EngJand Elcven Oompany, 4 men ... 55 14 0 At Bald Hills, the Better-Iate-than-never Oompany, has completed about 500 feet of main drives from the shaft, south to the boundary of the Great Eastern Oompany's claim, and having commenced to block ouL, auticipate good dividends for some time; the Great ]~astern Company is greatly troubled with foul air in the drivc3, which retards the work very much; a party of miners have sunk another shaft ill Dwyer's paddock, to a depth of sixty-three feet, and are unable to proceed further in consequence of the influx of water; they have. I believe, completed arrangements for the erection of an engine. The return for the quarter is as follows :- ozs. dwts, grs. Better-late.than-neve~ Company, 10 men l1S 9 6 Great Eastern Company, 11 men .. , 103 0 5 At Graham's Hill thc different parties continue to work as usual. The return for the quarter is as follows:- . 0ZIl., dwt.. grs. Republic Oompany, 12 men '" 107 3 0 Garibaldi Company, 8 men 91 16 0 Schache and ParLy, 5 men 61 0 0 At New Chum Gully, several small parties eontinue to work, and are on the average making good wages. At the Red Streak, the original Red Streak Oompany has put in a rise on the 186 feet level, at a distance of 500 feet from the shaft, in order to try the ground; on the eastern boundary of the claim. adjoiuing the Red Streak and Black Lead Junction Oompany, wash dirt has been struck, but so far 88 it' has yet been tested, it is scarcely of a payable kind, giving a prospect of only two ounces to the machinl~. This company has also driven in a north westerly direction on the lower level and struck deep ground, which has every appearance of being the main gutter; the rush of water was, however. 80 great as for It time to fill the main drive, the miners have now succeeded in getting it down and are clearing up the drive. The Imperial Company is going on with the repairs of the shaft, which is now down 170 fect, and seems to be through the drift. The Sir Charles Darling Company has completed the. arrangements for increasing its capital, and has resumed work, driving for the de~p ground, fro~ whlChthe workmen were swamped out .. The Red Streak and Black Lead JunctlOn Company JB. driving northward, and the appearance of the washdirt improves in that direction; a nugget weighing 13 thirtY-~t'f.o ounces. one, p:~l1.y.weight "was ;taken~ut. bl ·~his~ eO,mpany in ,:M;ro:eI:),): alld,-is the ,largest!. yet found on the Red,Streak." .'Ilhe-.return of geld fel'"the·quarterr.ls,.as.follows :-:. ~''':r' . ,,_, _ .. ,.,,~f <~ ',. \ • - • qt'<.,. • , ozs. d wts.· grB. ;- ')' R~d Stre~k!indcBla'ckLtlatlJ ~D:ction 'Company ::." , . :';';:" 469. 9 ... 0 .. " ",.. 'J! HIt or }I,:11ss CompanY"'12 meri' ,. )" '-":'. \ .. ;: ,:::' "'300' r: ,6 "'19' ,;~ h;1~ '~': ~~ Rose of· Allendale Company, 12 men .... !'.'. .114 O. 14 .,' Last Chance Company, 5 men ' .. ',- ,. .;. '73 "16':: '4 . The Creswick United Leads Company, working in allotment 157, Ascot; has bottomed on the r~f at a' depth of 96 feet, the shaft was, however, sunk in the reef to a depth of 112 feet, at which a drIve was opened out to the north-west, and at a distance of 180 feet from the shaft washdirt was cut in the top of the drive; no trial has yet beerima:dtl to.test its'value. At Lead, the You Know CompanY'is getting a new shaft sunk by contract; the Garibaldi Company let a co~tr!l!l.~\fQrsi~l~~ng anew s~.: ,:The Go~aen,Gll.te Company opened out at a depth of 155 feet and put m a drIve bearlllg N. 75° W., at 140 feet from the shaft a rise of 15 feet was made and witshdirt struck which averages about 2 feet 6 inches in thickness, and a small machine tried from it. yielded 5 ozs.; the company is now putting in a drive to test its dip and width. 'rhe Golden, EmporIUm Company has been: greatly impeded by foul-air, and is engaged in putting in air drives; two ~en ,only are at -preRen,t, at work in thc gutter.. The Jupiter Company has suspended operations, pendmg a general meetmg of the shareholders to decide on future operations. Lennon's Paddock Company has given. up sinking for the present, and is ,engaged in boring for the deep ground; the bore is down 96 feet and n~t yet through the rOCK. The return for the quarter is as follows :-- OZS. . am •. grs. You Know Companv, .16 men ... 403 11 1 Smrnthesdale Compa'ny, 16 men ... 232 11 0 Go den Emporium Company, 24 men 204 0 18 Golden Gate Company ... 5 0 0 At Pinch Gut Gully the Sons of Freedom Company opened out at 109 feet, and is driving east and west; no gold has yet been obtained. , j ..... At Chines, the Port-Phillip Conrpany chished'auting th'e quarter' ending' 31st March;-9;979 fons of quartz raised by the Clunes, Company from various depths, the greatest being 300 feet; the/ield was 4,105 ozs. 15 dwts; '12 grs. of'gold. The new twenty-four stamp head battery has been finishe and is engaged crushing, but in consequence of the present supply of quartz 110t being sufficient to supply all the batteries, nine men have been discharged, and twelve hour shifts (viz., from 6 to 6) are now bei11g worked instead of, as previously, three eight-hour shifts; two 11ew amalgamating barrels have been erected, and a separate engine is employed to drive them; a dam has also been .erected with sluice gates, commanding an opening of 25 feet; the Chilian mills have produced 138 ozs. 16 dwts. of gold from 58! tons ~f roasted concentrated sand, which' had previously passed through the amalgamating barrels. The Clunes Company has .cut down and enlarged the southern shaft, making it 11 feet by 4 feet 6 inches, to the depth of. 250 feet: - The ent:Pne was also taken to pieces, repaired, re-erected, and a new cupola'placed'onth'e boiIer.·-·::A.~Cl'OSS cut IS 'beirrg driven east'and weston the "374c'foot 'level:The Eastern, Western, Welcome, aud l;tobinson's Reefs are' all being driven north and south on the 300 foot level. Three winzes have.been.sunk,ou the Welcome, two on the Eastern, two on Robinson'S, and two on the Western Reefs. Stoping is being done on the 230 foot level in the following. manner :"""N o1'th on'the Welcome reef, north,and south onthe Western and Robinson's Reefs, at prices averaginll from 4sP 6d. to"108. per ton. The receipts· during the quarter were £7,392 9s. Id.; expenaiture, £8,699 9s. 7d.; dividends paid, £297. ·There are now 190-men-employecl on·the mine...... The Clunes United Company crushed 2,105 tons of quartz raised from a variety of depths, the yield from which was 648 oi~. 10 dwts, of gold ; the main shaft has been sunk 392 feet;. and then 'operie.!l out'; after driv.ing 145 feet :R9bins'on's Reef was struck, the lode appears to be very auriferous, and-is bounded by a highly metalliferous'black schist; judging from the stone broken out, the lode is the best yet met with in the elaim, and the shareholders are very sanguine in consequence. The expenditurc for the quarfer (induding' a portiOlrbf the outlay for winter supply) was £2,350 88. lOd. ' . The Victoria Company crushed 4,215 tons 2 cwt. of quartz raised from val'iousdepths, the greatest being 406 feet, the yield was 1,558 ozs. 3 dwts.l gr.; stoping is being continued between No.2 and 3 levels; about 30 feet from the northern shaft a cross cut has been put in 136 feet to the westward, but no lode has yet been met with; on the No. 4 level (4Oq feet deep) the long western eros" cut is ,in. 330 feet, but the Welcome lode has not yet been cut; the I?umping engine shaft is now 441 feet deep; the erection of new winding.engine; poppet head, and a varIety of other surface work is now completed; the stripping down and enlarging the old pumping shaft to 10 feet b[ 4 feet has been let at 25s. per foot, and ~O feet of the work finished; the machinery and batteries are a . actin!~ very satisfactorily. '-'. " The Ncw North Clunes'Conipany'has'sunk the sh'aft 454 feet,and has'accepted a 'contract for the further sinking of it to:61O':feet at.,£5 5s. per- foot;1 the cistern plat has been commenced, and the Cistern 'will shortly be fixed; a multitubular boiler has been purchased and will be ,ereeted along~idc 'of the present one, and eyerything is n.ow ;ready for the reception of tp,e pumps &om Ballarat, when the si!l~i~g will be resumed. - "-,~ ':";Th? Simth' Clunes ,CQmpany has SUJ;lJr the south shaft sufficiently. deep to connect it with ,the old 'Worliiligs,'on',the Eastcrn'lone at tlie .223-foo't . level '; -:i; cross cut i~' tlierefore being driven t'o'iii£ersect the Eastern lode, and when, such ,has been done a drive south will be put in to meet the old workings, and thereby secure good ventilation; in an old 'shaft (on the tal:)le land) south of the main shaft, at about 60 feet in depth, a :vein has been discovered, and although the men have driven 5 feet acrosSc it, the outer wall has not yet been reached ; ·the stone appears very promising, ,and combined with the, late discoverie~ on the lowest ~evel of 't,he Clunes United Company, ha.s ~aterially improved the- prospects of this company. ~:'- ,... , " , . . .' , . , The .Clunes AlluviakQolllpal;tY has completed the erection of the necessary machinery and the, -Silildn:g Of tlie main shaft; ;'dUriilg the dri~ng of the m,ain level (which is' nmv in 100 feet), 'an old. drive of,th,e company that worked 'li. P9r'tioriof the groUlid'D.ve 'years.ago was crossea, and an improvement in rt was im precisely similar in appearance to the'was4dirt from which tl;lC' any used to, thc machine;' there .. be great hopes entertained of'the· wtimate success of. t· _ have already hands at 100 per dmt! preiniun'l~ . '. .•. .. On the creek, Captai avis and party have been engaged stripping and washing' the bimks of the- No. 35,J. 14 creek; an undershot wheel has belm erected, by the agency of which a sha,Jdng table and amalgamating barrel are kept in motion. Matthew Bennett and party are also sluicing tlie creek, the gold is very fine, and were it 'not for the wire guage and blankets, according to Captain Davis's patent, and the amalgamating barrel, the operation could scarcely be successful. The present party of three have succeeded in getting during the quarter 84 ozs. 7 dwts. of bar gold. Jorgensen and party have put up a puddling machine on the creek, and also amalgamating barrels, &c., similar to the above. GORDON DIVISION. Mr. J. H. Ousack, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- : ., Tota.! for the . Europeans. Chin""•• Division . Remarks. ! Alluvial Miners ...... 40 ... 40 Quartz Miners ...... 53 ... 53 Other Population ...... 400 ... 400 -_.. _-- TOTAI.S '" ... 493 ... 493 'rHE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS' IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Gordon's .. . 16 Opossum .. . 10 Mount Egerton ... . 67 TOTAL 93 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIA.L .lll:nm Description of Machines. I ! • 'A.ggregl>te ; Ag~ate I . AtWOrk..J Idle. 'Horse- wer of At Work.. Idle. Hor..,.cot Steam.l THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED ItELATrVE 'TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREF'ROM. • I Where Quartz was TolIIl Yield of I Remarks relative to the Name of Company. obtained. Quartz crushed. .Yi:J~'i'~ld Gold. Depth at which the I per ton. Quartz was obtained. -_... _--. tons dwte. gr •• ozs, Mount Egerton Quartz Big Hill Reef .. , 4,440 2 Ii! 550 From 40 feet to 60 Company feet. , i Gordon.-On the Opossum Reef, a company (North ',Gipperary) which have been for some time idle, are now preparing to resume work, but have not raised any quartz as yet. ' In Parker's' Gully, Gordon. the sinking is from twelve to sixteen feet, the depth of washdirt from twelve to eighteen inches, with a width or from fifteen to twenty-five feet; the average yield is -two and a half pennyweights per load; the ground is dry ,vith a soft sandstone bottom. M:ount Egerton.-The Mount Egerton Quartz Company have crushed 4,440 toils during the ~uarter, from a depth Of forty to sixty feet in the old workings. The average width taken is twenty feet; the reef is not in a solid body throughout, but is broken in many places by seams of sandstone .and clay slute; the average yield is 2! dwts. per ton; the quality of the quartz is improving as the depth increases.· . A party have taken possession of a large pile of quartz tailings situated in Mount's gully, Mount Egerton, which they have commenced to crush again, they are only ten days at work and have not 'Cleaned off yet, 80 that I could not obtain any results; they have a battery of twelve heads, with two tables, each eighteen feet long and covered with blankets; the stuff washed from the blankets is .submitted to the action of a revolving amalgamating. barrel. The Steam Puddling Machine Company had to stop work on the 20th of March, .from the .emauation of the~r water, but they waRhed during ~he quarter 4,200 tons, which averaged f dwt. per ton. , . In All Nations Gully, one party have bottomed at a depth of seventy feet, at which depth they intend opening a drive, but they expect to get the gold at a greater depth, the bottom is white pipec1a,y and blue clay-slate. . > Other alluvial miners are working in the old shallow ground and getting a living. STEIGLITZ DIVISION. ~"'Ir. Thos. Woolgrove, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Tot9.l for the Europeans. I Chinese. Division. Remarks. Alluvial Miners ...... 519 200 719 'Quartz Miners ... '" 141 ... 141 Other Population ...... 851 851 '" .. TOTALS ...... 1,511 I 200 1,711 • THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Morrison's and Teatree 400 Stony Rises .. . 73 Evans's Rush .. . 52 Steiglitz .. . 110, Dolly's. Creek 225 S60 . THE MACHINERY IS AS FOT... LOWS:- ALL1JVlAL Mnmm. I QUARTlI lIIJ:NI.NG. .---~~ ~ Description of Machines. iAggregate Borse-. AtWotk. I Idle. l~ir;rBorse.fSteam At Work. Idle. power of Steam Engin.... • Engines; \, MORRISON'S AND TEATREE CREEK I DIGGINGS. 'Steam Engines engaged in winding, pumping, and crushing .o. S 1 83 ...... STEIGLITZ. . :'SteamEngines engaged in winding, pumping, crushing, and sawing I for mining purposes ... 9 2 ]84 ... , ...... i ... Horse Whims ...... , ...... 2 ...... Horse Whips ...... 2 ...... STONY RISES. 'Steam Engines in the course of erection for C.ruBhing pur.poses ...... '" ... 1 ... 16 .. Total value of all mining plant in the division, £29,000.* Number of square miles of allm·ial ground which is being, or· may have been actually work~d upon, about st, very scattered. f' • Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be aurIferous to the present time, 43. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 168. 3d. to £3 199. per oz. • This informa.tion Ilaving been omitted Ilas boon taken from the. surveyor's last report. 16 'i.THE .FOLLOWING; !INFORMATION' HAS· BEEN OBTAINED REL.A.T,IVE TO THE "",I""~QUANTITY OF" QUNR:TZ CRUSHED DURING' THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD '. OBTAINED THEREFROM. ,. i I I Average :Remarlm relative to the Whe ... Q'lW was obWned. Quartz crwilied. Yield: of Gold Total Yield of Depth at which theQu.a.rtz per TOil; Gold. was obtained. ton ewt. qr. 02. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Mall1kotf eompany ... New Year's Reef, .' 350" 0 0 1 8 '13~ 500 0 0 Obtained from vari Steiglitz ous depths to 180 feet deep. lDayligntieompany" ... : Daylight-Reef, St'eig- ., 22 :'0' 0 0 13·'15:fi 15 8 0 At ah?ut 90ft. depth. litz Barnes's Claim. . .• 'Boxing Reef, Steiglitz ·1-7 0 0 1 5' '0 21 5 0 At 180 feet depth. Sc'otsman's Company ... Scotsman's Reef, 29 0 0 o 14 0 20 6 0 At 95 feet depth. Steiglitz .... Royal Charlie Company Stony Rises diggings 10 0 0 7 0' 0 From surface crop Ditto, di tto ... Ditto, ditto .. , 10 0 0 3 0 0 of vein to about 55 Ditto, ditto .. . Ditto, ditto ... 10 0 0 7 0 0 feet depth. Rose and Thistle Co ... : Royal Charlie Reef, .' 10 ·'0 0 o 14 12 From crop of vein to Stony lUses 35 feet depth. -----.,------' ----- 'fOTAL 458 0 0 1 12 I! 734 4 0 -._------Dreadnought Company Victoria Reef, Steig- 266 0'0 0 2 8~ 31 5 18 Mullock and quartz litz raised from old drives and work ings 120 feet depth. Redan Company- L ... New Chum Reef, 120 0 0 0' 13', 16 82 0 0 Mullock and quartz ... -_ ..... - ... Steiglitz raised from various depths to 150 feet deep. • ; : New Chum Company ... Ditto, ditto ... 52 0 0 1 4 511 63 0 0 Ditto, to 200 ft. deep. .._-- TOTAL 438 0 0 0" 8 It 176 5 18 ... , ALLUVIAL YIELDS. 02. dwt. gr. Teatree Creek Diggings .... 26 0 0 per week. Morrison's Diggings ...... 66 0 0.rer week. Evans's Rush, Morrison's (vide Report) Dolly's Creek Diggings (vide Report) Stony Rises Diggings 13 0 0 per week. Steiglitz alluvial workings 11 0 0 per week, Investment of capital and persevering industry are doing for the western portion of this field what a few years ago.could not have been hoped for. The Lal Lal Water CompanY's races enable the Chinese to turn over with profit every portion of ground about Dolly'S Oreek contain,ing' the most minute particles of gold. The extension of "tliiswater" to the Teatree Diggings and Morrison's Diggings enables the miners there to wash with profit one half more of the material they.remove, which was formerly cast away. This increased remuneration has given a fresh impetus to prospecting, both sides of the l\foorabool River towards ,Wallace's Station have been examined, and extensive alluvial ground discovered, several new claims . '~I!:ve '\Jee;i'taf:en up on this gro~d. On E'I;ans's rush finer pl\qspects have been found than ever before on. M.orrIson B or Tea tree Creek. , .. ' ;, • At . itz Proper more vigor, with encouraging symptoms, are manifested in quartz mining. New Year' f, Victoria Reef, New Chum Reef, Scotsman's Reef, Ironbark Reef, and Sailor's Reef, are all being worked by capital and labor. On Stony Rises, Diggings too, most gratifying results are being obtained from the quartz veins, and give full confidence to the holders of claims to erect good and efficient machinery. . .' The reefs idle, having machinery on them, are the Boxing Reef (Steiglitz Company) and Gibraltar Company, Steiglitz. , The :most gratifying discovery made for some time on Steiglitz .is that. of the Hanover Reef ground, now purchased by a company, and on which powerful machinery .is to be erected. It is not simply a quartz vein, but the whole ground is a metamorphic formation containing gold. Tlie parties who previously worked this" ground re&,arded it as traversed by a series of imperfectly formed quartz veins which,they declared unfit for mimng witl;i profit. A fresh· party a short time ago took it up, sunk a shaft 90 feet deep, took out a trial crushing of 20 tons which yielded 9 dwts. per ton. A more perfect examination shows this ground to be the same throughout the whole mass, broken quartz bound with clay ~d chloride slate, the quartz veins have been shattered to fragments, relaid, and portions of the quartz re-formed with the slate in a laminated position instead of intersecting the strata, the'whole .reunIted with what the miners"term. ~apy. gochiIl; wmch-lies 'hetween the' quartz veins and the strata they intersect. On pulverizing this binding material it yields loose clean gold. This must be regarded 'as the discovery of a new gold-bearing deposit, t):iere are exte,Qsiv,e formations of the like description in this 'division; this formatioll corresponds much with the hydrous-oxide' gold bearing conglomerate deposits"lwhich a:;-e also extensively Bcatte.red o'fer.. thiB. division, Xet has a markeddistillCtive character. .NOlie oHhe quartz or solid pieces in this formation are rounded boulders, it is a laminated rather than .!l.heter~gElne.?u;S fo~m!l,tion,.t~e qu~rtz: veins. all(~ ;t~e •schist ar~ a.hattered. into. B1!lall.pieces.: as lithe gIsI9J),Il~Jon had.been.caused. by. a.vIOlent force.passmg through ,the whole mass WIth a shaking motion, allowing the broken.fragmeats,.to,·settle"in"'R,'hol'izontal: positi@D'f,which,.after 'l'e~conso1idation, is again disturbed and elevated to a, vertical position, throwing the lie of the strata ea.at and west instead of north 17 and south; the strata on which this deposit rests has not yet been reached, nor has time been expended to find its extent, it rests on one of the spurs which protrude from the range into the gully. The proprietors of this ground have commenced a tunnel 6 feet by 4 feet, erossing the deposit in the line of the understrata, 40 feet from the top of the range, they are in n.bout 50 feet and as yet there appears no change in the formation. Numerous prospecting shafts have been sunk in various places, the debris from which everywhere contains gold; from every portion of the tunnel with which they are proceeding ~old can be extracted, which is of a different character from that in the hydrous-oxide formation, which IS cubical and granular, this being ftorial formed, laminated and ftat. This deposit bears a remarkable resemblance to a conglomerate deposit discovered Bome years ago in the Brazils, described by P. Nisser, Esq., in a paper read before the Philosophical Institute, Melbourne, 30th May, 1859. It is not improbable that for the extraction of this gold, as also that in the hydrous-oxide formation, other mechanical and scientific appliances must be adopted other than those at present in use. QUA.RTZ MINING, ,STEIGLITZ. The Malakhoff Company, on New Year's Reef, lUtve obtained first-rate results, from six weeks' crushing 500 ounces of gold; their ground is now well prospected and proved-the vein is eleven feet thick and gold well through it. The claim known as the Forty Feet Claim, south of above, has raised about 100 tons of quartz which are to be crushed shortly; the yield is expected to be a good one; the vein in this claim is five feet thick, and the last yield 3~ ozs. per ton; the claimholders have not as yet arrived at southern golden dip of vein (peculiar to this district) from the M:alakhoff Company. The Ballarat Quartz Mining Company, on the Same reef, are raising some fine quartz, but their difficulties of water have been so great that it is ouly lately they have been able to get at work regularly underground. 'I'he Dreadnought Company, from 266 tons of mullock, debris, and quartz, obtained 31 ozs. Ii dwts. 18 grs. of gold, this pays very well as the material (in large quantities) is easy to hand and can be quickly crushed. They are at present engaged in another crushing, but no results can be ascertained as yet. On Daylight Reef a very fair crushing has been obtained from the abandoned grol1nd, from 22 tons 15 ozs. 8 dwts. were obtained; they will have another crushing next week. From Barnes and Company's Claim, Boxing Reef, a crushing of 17 tons gave the good average of 1 oz. 5 dwts. pel' ton; this was ground abandoned by the late Perseverance Company. The Redan Company, fr ALLUVIAL MnnNG. On Morrison's Diggings and the Teatrec Diggings the results have been most steady and satisfactory. On Teatree there are seven largc block claims, which, on the average, have given 3t ozs. per week per claim. On Morrison's there are eighteen large block claims, which, on the average, have given 4! ozs. per week per claim, in no Bingle case has any claim given less than 2 ozs. pel' week. On EVUIls's Rush, Morrison's, no great yields of gold have been obtained beyond prospecting and washing for present requirements of livelihood; difficulties, which arose from scarcity of water, are now being overcome by the construction of races from the Lal Lal Water Company's Reservoirs. The prospects, I am assured by inquiries made, al'e most encouraging, from the fact that none ever found on Morrison's or Teatree equalled them, and from the fact, ill 24 large block claims, averaging 100 feet by 1000 feet, gold has been found, averaging 6 d wts. to the load, in some cases as much as 1 oz. per load. On the same side of the Moorabool H.iveI', OIl its eastern branch, and on Wallace's P.R., a large claim, 1,000 feet by 3,000 feet. has been measured off and registered, a good payable prospect has been obtained, the terms to be paid to the holder of the P.R. 4 per cent. on the total yield; as this claim lies No. 35, e. 18 nearlY'i, ofa mile from the ,nearest of the 24 claims above ,alhfded40,'it''iv:iU'eause'the'whole intervening ~lock to, be ,occupied. ':I'am at,preaenNaking"levels a,n~ 'making ijectiolls ·for' l'aces\' Huming, )'&C,7'tb be conducted there,. also from the Lal Lal Water Company B Dams.. " ,. <," ,', : '. ,.,.,., ',' ,I, 'i' J".1!\e Prince 'of" ,Wales <' Company! on "Table· Land,t:'ha ve·':recomlneneed~ operations' ;. "they, fihave wash,dirt-which ·will pay' 4 dwts., per load,r'but ,situated as ·they werc,' so far from water, and :without the assistance of the' Lal Lal Compml-y's .water, they registered theircll1irhunder priotection, for' a; short tin'U3;'\' T)iet\races now run',close to the claim;;and,tue·coIilpany wash'abotit',6·feet deep,of·wash.dirt,U::.," , ;':" ''Jlhe Golden .. Rivers Junction"Gompany.' have been cOriipelled:by several accidents to,t1leir"shaft 3.Jld .pumps to partially suspend, operations for a short time; it· is pro-posed to .raise .extra capital, and remake and refit, the shaft. I ,Their stoppage under any 'circumstance IS' to be regretted,. as the 'ivhole o£.the,miners,in the locality, have been anxiously awaiting-their'bottoming their:main:shaft and'solving the:;problem whcther the Ballarat deep leads- run through it •. ". ", ' .. ' ",,, ,; .' , " . " '''\ """T~1: 'On Dolly'S Creek,* the, Chinese, as usual. have been paying themselves well by their patient and plodding industry, coupled with their systematic method of working to great profit the old hills, a.bandoned by the Europeans. I was unable in the'statistics of 'gold to furnish you with the returns of thl,lir gold .. .I am, however, informed, on good and reliable authority, that not one of them is averaging less tlien 30s. pel' week. ' " , , On Stony B,ises 'alluvial mining and surfacing have been 'comparatively' abandoned: for tile present .rich expectations and returns from quartz mining before referred to,; but two large companies styled, one :' The Prince of ~ ales CO:nP~DJ;"" and ,the other, '~The A)lstralasian, Gold Mi,J?-ing C?~paI~Y:,:: ha.veoccupwd and been rel5lstered for nearly the whole' of the old ground and w?rkmgs, which It IS intended to operate on both with crushing and ·puddling machinery; 'the latter company" have purchased machinery. and will commence cperations of erectipn, &c" at once. , ," " " " , . 'J.:):!e Vanguard Company, who hold ;t .large, cJail\l west, and outside6f th~ present '~igging8, intend to commence a series of trail'borings througli'th()basalt, to ascertain' the best localitY-for placiilg f their main shaft?n ~he dil;> of t~~ reef, , . ',.1, ," .. ,.'., .,' '" ,. On Stelghtz, alluVlal mlllIDgn;tatters are e:x:cessIvely'dull and arehkely to remam so untIl fresh discoveries.o?cur from }lrospecting;·. the f~w who lite ~ngage:d'in it are.oii·tps·main to;t"~ship. 'credt; and old ~orklDgs, and the YIeld at present IS from'~ !lwt ..per tub do~wards., . • ntACKWOOD DIVISION. Mr. Eugene G. Magn'IMI, Mininig Survey0r..' '" .'. I f ,J ! ~ 'j" 't • ~~. ----" 'l i . TOTALS 795 450 1;245 '1 i ' . .; " ... ; ,';" \ Golden Poi'ni: 32tf Yankee 'Gully 120 Red Hill ... 215 BalIan Flat 30 Simmon's Reef 'I,' 140 :'Gatillaldi' .. , 27 Sebastopol .... " "', 90 Varions scattered habitations 33 Main Creek; below Sebastopol 185 'f . I • ',' "', .• 1., ' :B.arry'8.R~".lf 85' TOTAL J.,245 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- I~~~'~--"'~UVIAL lImINa. Discription'of Machines. I >".,1. ; Aggrega.te' , At Work. Idle. HO-;:~~;;!~ of . At Work, Idle: . ·Ho~~o:w~ of 'J: I J~ J , " . Steam Engines. ' Steam 1 * Niuet.een claims ou this field: , \ 19 ,,' "' ,Total value of ' all mining 'plant in the division, £26,300.' d', ,,;.'. ,.:.""J/. , .,," ,'" ,Numbor'of'square miles of, alluvial ground·which' is being, or may>have· belm actually worked upon, 17: , l'I'v . \ . ,,) "/'I ·Number:· of distinct' quartz reefs which have beeu 'actually':"proved, to be auriferous to the present time, 11. . ", h, •. ....' i..,. '" '. 'rhe price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 168. to £3 16s. 6d. per. oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ":~RUS:8:ED:f)uRYNG'THE' QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM , ' . J Remarks relative to the N ..me of Company. Where Quartz was Quartz crushed. Yl.,tJ'i;t~ld Total' Yield of Depth at which the I obtained. per Ton . Gold. Quartz wa. obtained. . - ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Crown Company ... Simmons's Reef· ...- ... 25,\)' o· 0- :'() S· 5~ 103 0 0 45 feet Williams Brothers & Co. Ditto ...... 150 0 0 0 3 0 22 10 0 20 feet. Cornisb Company ... Ditto ...... 325 0 0 0 2 0, 32 10 0 60 feet. ' . Hobin Hood Company Quick's,Ree'f , .. 60 :0 O. 0\7 0 .. 21 0 0 10 feet. Pioneer Company ,., 'rrewella's Reef ... 32 0 0 o 13 0 20 16 0 45 feet. Pioneer Company , .. Tre\veUa's Heef ... ' 30 0 0 o 14 0 21 0 0 40 feet. Garibaldi Company ... Garibaldi Reef ... .900 0 0, 0 9 0 405 0 0 40 feet. Robin Hood ...... St. George's'Reef;,: "', 32. 0 "0 ' 1 0 0 :12 0 0 6 feet. Falkirk and Norwood Scotchman~s Reef... 52 0 0 P 5 12 14 6 0 70 feet, Falkirk and Norwood St. George's ~~ef.,... I 60 ' 0 '0 o 15 '0 45 0 0 25 feet. ,- " TOTAL "! I 1,891 0 0 9.1.. 1..4 717 2 0 The unusual yield of gold from the Crown CompanY's Claim is!owing to their having clea,ned up their stamper beds for the season. All the water-power machines are 'now at a stand still for want of water, but the claimholders are very busy opening up their mines for future operations. Two aban~ doned reefs have been lately taken up, from which very good prospects are being obtained, and for whielr extensive 'machinery (both'steam' and· -water.powerHs ~eini;' erected; . ·:Matters,in alluvial affairs are looking very bright, though most of our large sluicing compames are idle for want of water. ~I [NoTE.-On the 2nd April, 1864, Mr. Mining Surveyor Magnus forwarded a report to the Ji?llorable the Minister of Mines, stating that a rush' had taken place in the Blackwood Division to a loeality: about one mile ,and three-quarters south-west of Simmons's Reef. The prospectors had two lil:!.aflll down, 20 and 23 feet deep 'respectively. 'rhe average yield was oz. to tlie loa:d;and 5 dwts. to four small buckets bel been-obtained; The'gold was'heavy and shotty, and· the locality had ev.ery ~ppearance of b.e~ng aurife:rous.] ' ...... _! ' BLUE MOUNTAIN, SOUTH SUBDIVISION. Mr. R. H. Horne, Mi1J-ing Registrar. European•• Chinese. Total for the Subdivision.. Alluviai,' ,', ',.1 Ioi .,r.' 20 20 Qua.ftz'" .•. 50 50 Other PopilJatibn .... " 15 ' 15 TOTAL ... 85 85 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Wilson's Gully and Kilkenny Hill 10 Snake Gully .. , ...... 10 'Northern parts of Yankee Reef ... " 10 Union, Reef, No.1, arid all northward claims 40 ~ TOrAL 70 1 , "'The total value of plant is £8'0(5, but a considerab1e addition to this is' in 'rapid' course or pr~paration,:" . " ... , 'The pri6e;of"goid dufing tM quarter Rits;'been from' £3'178'.' Sdi to £S'179; 6&' 'I, ~" ~The_only remark necessary to. make is. that. the good ,pnticipatio!.).s of the companies newly formed on the Union Reef are in a great degree realized already, and several new claims have boon taken up to the northward of Schultz's No.1 Cluim, and, therefore, within the boundaries of the 20 Blue Mountain Division. _ The attention of the -miners, on this side of the range, is at present mainly fixed on the elaims on this reef. The yield is expected to prove of a. permanent kind, as this reef is found to be auriferous both to' the southward (the elaims of which are in ,the Blackw,ood Division) and on the northward, or division of the Blue Mountain. Crushiug, except by way of experiments, is deferred till maehinery can be erected on the ground. BEECHW'ORTH MINING DISTRICT. BEECHWORTH DIVISION. Mr. John U8her, jwn., Mining Survey01'. THE POPULATION IS' AS FOLLOWS:- Total for the I Europeans. Chinese. I Division. Remarks. -~"---.------. Allpvial ;\iiners .. , ... 615 863 1,418 These statistics have been obtained 24 24 from a careful examination of the ,QUl!dtz Mmers ...... '" ... , vlLrious gold workings. TOTALS ...... 639 863 1,502 , THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED :- Pennyweight Flat 30 Napoleon Flat, W oolshed Creek 47 One. mile Creek 25 Eldorado Lead, W oolshed Creek 103 Two·mile Creek 41 :u.furmengee Lead, Bowman's Forest 105 Three·mile Creek 259 ChinlLman's Lead, Bowman's Forest 30 Six.miie Creek 22 Myrtleford Reef 20 Hurdle Creek .. . 16 Buffalo River .. 5 Deep Creek .. . 21 Sheep Station Creek 13 Mopoke Gully 13 B1aeksand Creek 5 Silver Creek '" 35 Magpie Creek 66 :iYIadmall's GuIly 13 W ooragee Flat 75 Spring Creek ... 149 Reid's Creek ... 81 TOTAL 1,502 W odlshed Creek 214 Sebastopol, W oolshed Creek 114 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- . ALLUVIAL lII'tNING. QUAlLTZ lII'tNING. Description of Machines. Aggregate _ Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse·power of Horse-eor Steam Engines At Work. Idle. Steam 'ell . (nominaJ). (nom; ,l. Steam Engines ...... 17 ... 171 3 ... 52 Puddling Machines ...... 4 ...... Whims and Pulleys ...... 8 ...... '" ...... Whips ... ." ... 2 ...... , ... Horse Pumps ...... 2 ...... Sluices and Toms ...... 181 ...... i, ...... Water Wheels ...... "'21 ...... 2 ...... , Hydraulic Hose ... '" 'I ... '" ... .. Sluice B()xes ...... 2.0415 ...... , .. . Crushing Machines ...... 5 .. . -5 I . Total value of all mining plant in the division, £21,000. 'Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to, the present time, 5. ' . The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 19s. to £3 198. 6d. per oz. { 21 THE. -FOLLOWlNG .. INFQRMATION.lIAS j ~EEN... OBTAINJl1DRELA.1.';r;V~ XO THE , .HQU:A.N,TITl1'; QFrQl'J.A;R'l'Z "·CRpSHED ;DURING: l1HE .Q;lJARTER;,AND.JTHE: GOLD OBTAIN-ED-THEREFROM. . " " . ~ ,. " d' Ferso!lal application1:.wllS ,made. .yesterday. toeach,of '·th!l.milloVl'llers, :fo,:l),acc,uratj'l. ~etJlllns, for the quarter ending,.31st::March,.. The accounts had not been ma4e.J!p.. \" (;",_ j" 1 • '. ' "'", ",.,', .- -, . '. YACKANDANDAH DIVISION. Mr. Thoma8 G. Kennan, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Total for the Europeans; Chinese; Division. :Remarks: -- .. Alluvial MinerS' .-,n : 1,800 1,100 -- 2,900 ,...... Quartz, Miner~., ••. ~!...... 50 ... 50 Other Pop,ulation ...... 500 90 590 ~- ...... - TOTALS 2,350 1,190 3,540 ...... " I .. ""-,,,--- THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL MniING. QUA.RTZ lIl'lNL! '. Total value of all mining plant in the division, £3,400. . Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually workeq upon, 9. . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually provedJo be auriferous to the present tnne, 21. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 18 to £3 18s. 6d. per oz. THE 'FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN 'OBTAINED RELATIVE 'TO THE QUA:NTITY.·OFl·QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE· QUARTER, AND THE GO:LD OB'['AINED THEREFROM. . Where Quartz was I Averas:. I Total lWmarks relative to the Name of ;;!omPll.llY. obtained. Qonrlz crushed. : Yield of ld. Yield of Gold Depth at whioh Qle . por Ton. ' per Ton. Quartz was obtained. - ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. :Bangor ...... Clear Creek ... None ... Kangaroo ...... Ditto ...... '" Caledonia ...... Ditto ...... 70 0 0 I 10 0 105 0 0 100 to 120 feet Comasino '" ... Ditto ...... 49 0 0 0 1 12 3 13 12 80 to 50 feet Polar Star ...... Twist's Creek ... None ... '" Scandinavian Ditto 14 0 0 2 7 33 0 0 70 to 80 feet ... ~, ...... 3~ ". .- Danish ... '" Ditto ... 19 0 0 1 5 18 24 9 15 40 to 60 feet Wooragee ... Ditto ... '"... None ... Southern Cross ... 60 0 0 o '4 I2il 13 12 0 50 to 60 feet '.. "I Dit" '" TOTAL ... 212 0 0 o i6 23 179 15 3 . . The above are the names of the reefs at present at work, some, as will be seen, have had no crushmgs, and the Southern Cross has been for the present abandoned. ~'he low yield of this and the Comasino thrqws our average yield back. No. 35,f. 22 1'Itining has been carried on very briskly during the quarter, the season having been very favor able as regards the supply of water. Towards the latter end, particularly during the last month, a number of claims have been registered dry, but in former seasons such would. have occurred about Christmas. There is nothing new to report in alluvial matters. In quartz, we have another reef discovered in a totally new direction, viz., at Belvoir. Only one claim has as yet been taken up, but in case a rush sets in I will make a special report thereon. Gold has been got in the surface stone, but DO sinkings have as yet taken place. The reef is situated about (18) eighteen miles from Yackandandah, and is called the Woodonga Reef. 'I herewith send full pat:tieulars of the yield from our other reefs. I have not been able to separate the population according to instructions received, they being so scattered, bnt will do so in my next report., INDIGO DIVISION. MT. Raben .A TTowsmith, Miming S'lJA'VeyOT. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- ,I EU1'OjJeI1dlB. Chinese. TotaJ for the Divisioll. ,Alluvial Miners ... 965 ' 1,088 2,053 Quartz Miners ...... 49 49 ~~-.... -~- TOTALS 1,014 1,088 2,102 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DIS'.rRIBUTED:- ¥ Europeans.lomnese. Total. Europeans. Chinese. Total. ------. ------NEA.R CHILTERN. NEA.R RUTIIERGLEN. Alluvial. Alluvial. Wahgunyah Lead ... 33 20 53 Indigo Lead ...... 90 300 390 Lanarkshire ...... 10 10 Devonshire ... 10 10 20 R, Burns ...... 80 80 Durham and Caledonian 81 150 181 Garibaldi ...... 80 80 Unexpected ... 8 ... 8 Rose of Sharon .. . 20 40 60 New Hibernian ... 80 22 102 All Et:\gland ... 110 40 150 30 24 24 Skeleton '.~ . ... 10 40 Glencoe ...... Suffolk ...... 48 48 Hibernian ...... 40 10 50 Chiltern. &c ...... 800 160 460 Cly'desdale ...... 180 30 210 Lancashire ...... 1 28 2~ Newcastle ...... 20 10 30 Canadian ...... 1'2 12 Clare ...... 8 8 16 Reej:., Re~ts. Great Eastern ... 8 ... 8 Barrambogie .•. '" 15 ... 15 Rose of Sharon ... 4 ... 4 Attrus ...... -12 ... 12 - .. --~- --_... .Magenta ...... 10 ... 10 TOTALS ... I,QI4 1;088 2,102 .. I THE MACHI~ERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALL11VIAL MINING. I QUARTZ Mn."INQ. D_ription of Machines; I Aggregate Aggrell"'te At Work. I Idle. Horse~power of At Work. Idle. Stoam Engines. It=i=e~: Steam Engines ...... 28 2 368 2 1 38 Steam and horse-power PUddling} Machines ...... 150 10 ...... Horse Whims ...... , 40 ...... Whips ...... 100 ...... Total value of all mining plant in the division, £44,800. Number of' square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon,50. > Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 9. ' The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been frOID; £3 198. 6d. to £4 Os. 6d. per oz. 23 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. WhereQ1ll1J:t2was I Average Total Yield of Bema.rks rela.tiva to the Na.me of Compll':'Y' Quartz crushed. Yieldof\1Wd G<>ld. Depth at which the obtained. per Ton. Qua.rtz was obtained. v ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. ¥agenta Company ... Magenta Reef. ncar 200 0 0 0 4 0 40 0 0 Obtained at various Chiltern depths from sur- face to SO and S5 feet. Magenta Company ... Magenta Reef ... ISO 0 0 0 3 0 27 0 0 From 70 to 130 feet. Rose of Sharon Reef, S 0 0 1· 10 0 12 0 0 Surface reef. near Rutherglen Prospecting Company American Reef, Bar- 300 0 0 0 4 16 70 0 0 From surface to 50 rambogie feet, by a width 0 f 27 feet. Mngenta Company ... Magenta Reef ... 160 0 0 0 4 0 32 0 0 Obtained at depths varying from 100 to 1~0 feet. Prospectors ...... American Reef, Bar- 360 0 0 0 3 0 54 0 0 Obtained at depths rambogic varying from 10 to 40 feet. No.1 North ...... American Reef, Bar. 262 0 0 0 2 0 26 4 0 Obtained from sur- rambogie . face to a depth 0 f 25 feet. TOTAL ... 1,470 0 0 0 3 13i 261 4 0 The returns from quartz recently'orushed at the Barrambogie appears to have dispirited some of the reefers in that locality. The yield, 3 dwts. to the ton, from the prospeoting claim, although much below what was anticipated, must nevertheless be oonsidered payable with a reef upwards of twenty feet in width. The prospectors are of opinion that their perseverance and outlay will be amply repaid. In No.1 the veins are fewer in number and not so well defined as in the prospecting claim. and the yield of only 2 dwt!l. to the ton has had the effect of damping the energy of the shareholders to a considerable extent. The party in No. 2 Claim, who were driving for the reef, have suspended operations, and have commenced sinking in a gully near the reef for alluvial gold. . The abandoned reefs in this division are again attracting attention. A company of twelve men have taken ur Attrey's Reef, situated'between Chiltern and the leased ground on Higgins's Reef; it is intended to smk a shaft to a certain depth, and should the prospects prove satisfactory. a large crushing machine will be erected, sufficient to crush for other reefs expected to be taken up in the locality. West and Pickering's Reef has been registered by a company, and another reef on the same range known as the Victoria Reef has been occupied; and a party is in course of formation to try a reef on the Suffolk Lead. There are several other reefs in the division known to contain payable gold, which only require enterprize and capital to develope. The great deficiency has always been want of machinerY" and no doubt a large crushing mill erected in a convenient locality will effect quite a revolution m quartz mining, in fact, the mere report of a large crushing machine being erected is sufficient to induce parties to occupy abandoned reefs that might otherwise have remained untried for some time. In alluvial mining, matters are much the same as last month, no new discoveries have been made; and. with one exception, no new claims have been taken up. Mining on the Chiltern Lead is unusually dull. The Sons of Freedom Company have commenced blocking out and are realizing high returns, a thirty-second working 'share in this claim is now valued at £360. The Oriental Company are merely making wages. The Union claim, so far as regards the present shaft. may be considered worked out, and it has not yet been determined to sink a new shaft. 'fhe Township' claim is worked out, and the company of twenty shareholders are erecting their machinery on the Lower Indigo. The Alliance Company, after spending several months' labor searching for the Red Streak, have proved that. no separate lead runs parallel to the Chiltern Lead. The prospectors have not received any dividends from their claim for some time. There are now very few Chinese on the upper part of the Chiltern Lead, and not more than about four companies are at work on the Suffolk. . On the New Hibernian t4e claims at work are generally paying tolerable wag-es. The Allied Armies Company (th~ lowes~ claim on the. lead) have entered ,int? final ~rrangements for !he supply of a twen!t.horse pumprng engrne, and an eJght-horse power wllldmg engme, to be el'llcted Immediately; while Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 have amalgamated, and are in treaty for an engine of twelve. horse power. On the Lancashire only one European and about twenty-eight Chinamen are at work. The prospecting party on the Canadian have lost their shaft and commenced a new one. The West Chiltern Mining Com pan proved a failure; the engine and plant have been sold. On the Durham, Caledonian, and I Leads, the Chinese seem satisfied with their earnings. The New Indigo Township Mining Company are busy erecting their machinery, and from their welllmown energy and perseverence, no doubt exists that the ground they have occupied, known to be payable, will be profitably worked; and this claim will probably be the means of. opening up the most promiaing alluvial ground in the division, viz., the flat in which the Indigo, Durham, Caledonian, and Victorian leads are supposed to junction. . , At Rutherglen, there is nothing new to report since my last, no perceptible improvement has taken place, and none of the claims can be said to be realizing much more than ordinary wages. The Havelock Company, on the Clydesdale Lead, are in good ground, but they have not yet commenced blocking out. . 24 J-:.'_.!. The Golden Gate Company are realizing veryp'oor' returns, while the-Black Ball Company's ,cla~l)l.giv:es.indication,of"beconiing permanently profitable; but the Telegraphi}ndlTownship Companies' clauns are very poor. ; . '" ) 'I ;rr "', ., The Glencoe Co:r;npany are making good wages. 'The Indepen~ent Company, on' the All England, 'have got their new engine at work, and expect .aoon:~Ql?e.~in.ll-;:'P.psit~Q!lltQ).'~t.l'~ev~ ~1t,~F.:lO!ls{,s, ,Tb,e. oth"r clail)ls,,"ll:th~~lead are giving but indifferent returns. ,.•. : ' -,.... . __ .__ .~,.9g Jl;i o,C$.!ll!.!'.Q.l!, ,mQl!L2f the Ellropeans. have ahandonQd !heir~~~II).!.on the p'rivate ground, while 'nese population has sensibly diminished during the last month. • -.- - '-'- . '. The ~os~ of Y~ctoria,and White-Star Leads are unoccupied at present. . '. • .The N~w"Ba1,larat Mining,C,ompany, on the vy-ahgunyah Lead. are sinkillg a new shaft, and the prospectors are ..reported to be makmg good wages. The Lanarkshire Lead is worked by about ten Chin'ese; and on the Robert Buins about eighty are at work, " '.' ' ; ' __ A partyof"El,lllopeans and a party of.Chinese-have recently.taken up claims on the Clare Lead. The Perseverance is still unoccupied. " BUCKLAND AND PART OF OM11:O" SUBDIV!SION; . Mr. R. Holden Stone, Mining Surveyor.' , ,. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS,:- wi.. ___-...: "-.\. '"" " ..... ~.. '" • .... - Toml for the Europeans. ,Cbinese. DiviBion. Remarkl. Aliuvial.Miners. .:, ,.:- ,.. ,2,300., , 2,690 0," ,','h ,'.' , Quartz"Miners ;-, ... . 350 ,'.I I!, h ..'fl -'1:"" j' " • r' Other Population 1,040~ 1,160 I, --,- ...... -~ .. ,' ,I-:-:c:-::l,.....:..,,--·!-----I,.-----: 1,;80 .2,420 ', . . '; ,; .,' 'THE TOTAL'NiUMB~R OF MINERS IS THUS'DISTRIBUTED::7 : Buckland,River . ' ." 1950 Lower Ovens River .. , 350 Harrietville .'.:, ,-;I'. • •• 440 .Darga River . . ". 60 Upper Ovens·River· .. ;,,' 200 ·;·Crooked River 220 Growler's Creek ..... 560 Morse's Creek 420 ~ . ~ ".' . 4,200 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :- ,: •.• 1 ~LLUVIAL ML'l'INO. QUARTZ MDiINO. r " 1----,----,.. ---,·,- --;-.-,~" ,~...... -'-c,,"-~,..,---."7' ..", - Description of Machin ••• , ' . , Aggregate AtWOlk. Idle, J!~i:~~~:~~ At Work. Id.le. ------1---, ------1----1---'--'---.. --- Water 'Wheels employed in drain; 90 22 ing )ve~ ,claims HydraulicHos~.· I'" 15 ! Sluices ," .. , '" 'so ' Whims .. .I "1 Steam Engines employed in'crush. 5 ii 136 ing, pumping, and winding Water Wheels employe? in crushing 2 6 '" ' 'l'otal vaJueof all ,lining plant in the division. £37,300.. '1, ' , "!prober of ~ql!a~!'1D,liJ~s qf, alJuv.i~1 g~ou1).,d .:wh!ch is being, or m~y have been actually worke,d upon, ..,0. " Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present tlme,83. ' ... • I, I " ;,.. "(':: - f. ,',' The P:rlce of gold during the quarter.in the division· has been from £3 178 .. 6d. to ,£3 18s. 6d. pe: oz. ,.' .' " • 25 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HA~ BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Total Yield of Remarks relative to tbe Name of Company. Where Quartz was Quartz Crushed. Depth at whicb th& obtained. Gold. Quartz was obtained. ton em. qr, oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. R. B. Wood and Co. . .. Oriental Reef 2,330 0 0 0 i 'n3'0 834 5 0 160 to 200 feet. Gladders and Co., or Oriental Reef 1,240 0 0 0 6 14b 409 0 0 Surface to 240 feet. Australasia Company Gitchell and Co. . Golden Bar 936 0 0 0 7 19t!! 366 3 0 10 1 to 200 feet. Gitchell and Co. Home Reef Pro 658 0 0 I 6 3~ 859 19 0 1('0 to 170 feet. speeting Cillim l1uleman and Co. ... Home Reef, No. I 69 0 0 0 12 0 41 8 0 100 feet. North Nelson and Co. ... Home l{eef, No. 2 I 7 0 0 0 9 0 3 3 0 80 feet. North II 0 Rowe and Co. ... Heap's Reef '" 13 0 0 o 7 3 0 80 feet. Scott and Co. ... Australasia ... 3 0 0 o 15 0 2 5 0 Surface. Stephens and Co. ... Lucknow Reef ... 40 0 0 0 8 O' 16 0 0 Surface. Curtis and Co. ... Eureka neef ... 22 0 0 I 2 0 24 4 0 Surface. Wilkinson Ilnd Co. ... Pri nee of Wales .. . 123 0 0 3 o 23i~ 375 0 0 50 to 60 feet. Shaw and C0. ... Home Reef ... 87 0 0 o 17 2f1r 76 16 0 160 to 180 feet. Gitchell and Co. ... Melld's Reef ... 27 0 0 .0 8 0 10 16 0 80 feet. 10 0 10 0 5 0 0 t;urface. Su tliffe and Co. '" Woolshed ... 0 o 0 0 9 Newton and Co. ... Eureka Reef '" 94 0 9ft i 44 4 0 40 to 80 feet. Lloyd and Co. ... Faulkener's Reef ... 12 0 0 0 1 5 15 a \) 200 feet. G. Butler ...... Butler's Reef ... 4 0 0 I 0 0 4 0 0 100 feet. Finnie and Co. ... Ayrshire Reef ... 2 10 0 I 0 0 2 10 0 Surface. TOTAL ... 5,677 10 0 0 10 21¥ 3,096 16 0 I have the honor to forward the following general remarks respecting the progress and condition of mining operations in the Buckland and portion of the Omeo divisions for the quarter ending the 31st March. 1864. In all portions of the Buckland Division alluvial mining, which is exclusively confined to sluicing operations, has been steadily prosperous, more so than at the corresponding quarter of 1863, as the 'water supply has been constant this season, enabling the hill workers to continue their operations without any delay, which in dry seasons they have been unablE> to do. There have been no alluvial rushes in any portion of the division; but at the same time it is observable that new ground in continuatiou of former workings is constantly being taken up and successfully worked; such new ground, however, not being outside of the general area given in the tables, viz., twenty-eight square miles. The large claims occupied under the Mining Board Bye-laws enable the miner who has' a payable claim to settle permanently in one locality; and it may be observed in all parts of this division, both as regards the quartz and alluvial miners, that they are generally so settled in well constructed dwellings, with well cultivated gardens and other surroundings of a settled life. From a variety of causes there has been a considerable diminution, especially during the last month, in the qnantity of quartz crushed and the yield therefrom. Notwithstanding the large number of reefs proved to be auriferous in this division, and almost all of them payably so, yet a great number of them are now lying either unoccupied or, if nominally occupied, unworked. At the same time, however, the prospects of some of the abandoned reefs are not at present sufficiently encouraging even for those few persons possessed of capital who are engaged in quartz mining in this district. While some of the principal reefs maintain a good yield at the· greatest depths to which they have been worked, others do not at any such depth produce anything' like a payable return; they therefore for the present remain unoccupied. The great diminution in the· quartz return for March is principally caused by some of the pdnClpal mills undergoing repairs, and being stopped a portion of the time for the mill races to be cleaned out. The following information respecting the principal recfs now working will, howevcr, show that· on the whole the quartz mining interest continues prosperous in this division. On the Oriental Reef, R. B. Wood and Co. have a good plj.yable body of quartz from ten to twenty feet in width, and the reef has every appearance of permanency. This company have crushed less than usual, being engaged in·cleaning out their mill race. Adjoining the above claim is' that of the Australasia Company, who are working at a depth of' 240 feet, and who have an average width of eight feet of stone, and they expect an improvement in the. present yield in the de!lper ground, as the gold is dipping to the southward-always a good indication III this locality. On the Golden Bar and Home Reefs the clninls are in full work, with every prospect of continuance; the Golden Bar averaging ten feet wide, and the Home Reef from three to four feet throughout the elaims. The Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock Reef is also continuing very prosperous, but there being a scarcity of water for crushiug there at present, the company are only raising quartz. The Pioneer, Lisbon, Mead's, and several other of the best reefs are now being tunnelled into,. in some instances for more eeonomical working, and in others for prospecting purposes. ! The new company for working the Alta and Nelson Reefs on the Buckland have completed their new water.power machinery, and will commence crushing shortly . .A new company has been lately formed to work Richardson's, Heap'B, and the Durham Reefs, . Growler's Creek, with every prospect of success. They have purchased one of the steam engines whieh has for some months past been reported idle, and the same is now removed to the locality of tl;1.e> intended operatious. No. 35,g. 26 Another new water-power is in course of erection in a favorable situation 'on Growler's Creek, where there is a great deal of quartz to be obtained that will' not pay'for catting'to any'distarlce;' On the Ovens River, Messrs. Mackay are removing their ~t'1a17lJma.chinery:to the Rdiahce Reef, from which the richest stone ever raised in the division was ob.tained, and which is still payable. " . Owing to an injudicious arrangement of machinery, Messrs. Bow and Co. have not yet started ~ei:r, neYWwa.tep:poweI; machine at. the W.oolshed (Upper Ovens),. b.ut exp!,ct. to do so in the cour~e of a'few weeks. . . • .... ' ...-' ,. " . '. This mill will also crush' cheaply a lar:ge quantity of quartz from the W oolshed and other reefs on the Ov'eiis River. ---,. ' .. , The Dargo River is now being to a. great extent abandoned for the season, the generality: of the gro1l!ld n?t holding out sufficient lnducement to the min~rs to undergo;the'g~eat expen!'e"and hi'irdship· of wmtenng there. Several have left for the Crooked River. ." . . " I On the Crooked River there are about 200 miners at work, and these workings now uold'out greater ~ndu?cmentstharith9se on the .Dargo, as there' is a grea~erd:tent:ofmore open country; Whic~' has also the Important advantage of bemg accessible'from the GIPps:Jjanq seWements. . , JORDAN NORTH SUBDIVISION. Mr. Alfred B. Ainsworth, Minirng Surveyor. ". THE, P0PULATION IS AS FQLLOWS :-,' ( : •• " 't r'·::: I Chinese. I TotAl Remarks. i for the Division.: ------.-----.. -.. -,--1' ~uro~e=~ ------~I~------i------·· AlI~vial Miners ... 225 225 The increase is cbiefly at Wood's .' . Point, Emerald Hill,and tbe Great Quartz Miners 1,111 . Divide. 9ther Population 1,001 " , TOTALS 2,337 , . .~ Big River (from information only) ...... :':"" : ., ... . • l •• "./ '.280 .'.: .. \;. FloufcBag .Creek and Gaffney's. Creek and tributanes( .' .. . • •• I .255 ,.,.. Rasp berry Creek ." ...... , " . 95. " Right-hand Branch of Goulburn and Waverley .' .. :... " ...... ",150.: . ,. 142. , ~. '1 .' 'iI.' Left hand·Branch ..... j...... ,'/ ,,,' .. ';'. '~.l..l·J Dividing Range .1; .,...• . n I ... ; f, •.•.•. 254 Tracks. ,... ~. ... ·1 : .. 136 'l'owllship of Woed's Point,aud· Morning Star' .• I'.... • , ....., 'I i .; .... ,,915 [ ;,"if Chinese,...... : .. ' . : .. ,'. "'c.• , '. • •• : 15. ). 2,242 Roaming population, 5 per cent. I' •• : . i~. '. .'.','.:.r. ,!10 " \ , .j'),' '" .. ,' '. ., i ... ' ':: THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ,j, .. ,;. " i .• d., I'.:. AL1.UVIAL lIliNINO.· ..!. ,. v DescripMoll of l\lachines~ .1 .1' .• ' .,," '", .·i· ...... F At Work:' .,. 'i,ne. i ~~:~~\eift~~:- At·Woi:k. • '.,,! ,t·., 'h,1 ;,,) 1! '. .;- Engines.; w 'l t :1 '''.J ;, ;;:'.: Hr Water Wheels .-, ,. , , " .~. i " .. / H.m:-1ey an~ S!!ott's/.. . "\ : '. ) . .. l ~ #'1' iI::: ;""11..'0' Mc])ou~all (2) .. , " '. 'I J {' .• ".r:;/r;:j' . Cannon's ! ~.. • ..... l' 'liose of Denm:1.rk Company., ", . . .~. .O,'Conllor.'s . .. .. ',:'1 .. Derilps.ey's . '. " 7 ·5 ;" l)ruDlInond'sShakespeare's... .. 1 ... ,'J. ~ ...... Drysdale and Co.'s Ste!tnl Engines :-;., .r 1. ,'" 'Drysdale and Co.'s it· . ;;:; ilL:l • Lloyd and Co.'s : ~ l ~{, ,I~ I .... ; ).., ~ I • ( 27 Total value of ~l mining plant in the division, £24,000. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may hav.e beell.elictually worKed upon, l. . . NumbeJ: of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to'be 'auriferous to the present time, about 50. , l The:priee of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 .3s. to £3 198. per oz. THE' FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO' THE I -QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED D1!RING THE QUARTER, AND" THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. ; Remarks relati ve NlUUe of Company. Where Quartz was Quartz crushed, Total Yield of to the Depth a.t which too obta.ined. IYi~!~L~ld Gold. • Quartz was ohtained. ~ - .. ~----- ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. o%. dwt. gr. " , . Wood's Point Reefs 2,123 16 0 3 5 0 6;903 4 0 " TOTAL ... \ 2,123 16 0 3 5 0 6,903 '4 0 I . The water -reservoirs are all but exhausted, and the crushing operations confined at present to seven machines, two of IV hich only started on the 30th instant; I have. the honor to report on the present state and prospects of..the Jordan North Subdivision as follows:- The social aspect of the district is rapidly improving, the .signs of permanent prosperity of our mining interests are daily increasing. The mtroduction here of some £25,000 of Melbourne capital in the course of the last two montlis has produced great public confidence, and proved a powerful stimulus to prospectors. The movements of the population appenr more healthy; the immigration induced by exaggerated statements of. the value of labor and the means of employment has been somewhat checked, and emi gration to westward and to the Gipps Land gold fields has bcgun and is likely to increase with the sev.-erity .0f~jjhe.comiJlg winter,. as 'there is still a superabundance of labor, the want of machinery and the difficulties of the country delaying the returns our rich fields promise, and on which alone a healthy increase of population can be based.. > The mhabitants are centering more and more, the tendency being still mainly in the direction of the Ilettlemenrs rapidly forming on the Dividing.Range along the Yarra track, between the heads of the Goulburn and the Jordan. Prospectors are now directing their efforts mainly to the Dividing Range and towards the Goul burn, north of this township.,~.J have nothirig special to report as regards ·these claims. The general features· are almost invariably ,the sume, smaJI auriferous leaders struck near the surface, the value of which can onlv.be ascertained after months of labol'. .1 • The Ori~ntal, at Clark's Point, is an exception to this rule, a large body of quartz which had been· tried some months back being.fonnd slightly auriferous, and re-prospected. Morning Star Claims; crushing opera1Jions throughout the. district have been impeded, by short supplies in the races, due to the unusually fine and dry autumnal weather which has prevailed. After erushing up to the 14th inst. with from fi'-e to eigh~ stampers, according to the water supply:, Messrs. Rurle:v ,and Go. had the misfortune -to .break the shaft of. the water-wheel, too light for its work, owing to the difficulty of packing up heavy pieees of machinery. The new shaft and new centerings have now been some time on the claim,. an d with ,the first rains a new 'start will be made, in the mean time new drives are being opened and everything preparing for winter operations . .,"', -!,[The prpspectors, Messrs. MeDoug\l1 and Co., have a,lso.beenvery short of water; with only four stampers at work they have crushed about thirty tons per week, at a yield of fl'om 3 to 40zs. They are engaged sinklllg a new shaft, and are about fifty feet down and blocking out. Messrs. Cherry, Scott, and Co., Nos. 1 and 2 amalgamated, have crushed in 1VfcDougal's No.2 engine about 200 tons of stone>;since February;- the returns have only been made up to the 19th instant, the stone was'not· up:to the usual average, being only 3 ozs. to the ton of quartz, The gross value of'cr.ushings' obtained· from' this eJ'aim from the :17th December, 1863"to the 19th'instant, has been £H~;604' 14s,·8d: It must be rememhered that this machin'e, haying crushed also for the Hope claims and. MeDel'lllott's·.fl'equently,' fr<3m' want o~.·. 'water, . with only four stamps,. this' amount· by -no means represents the"'actual' 'value of the claim. . During the month· they' have opened· fresh ground and stacked .very:.rich'sur-face,stonerfrqID- '80 to 100 tonB. l'rJ.le great tunnel isl"ill! about 250 feet, and their new shaft is down, nearly 200 feet. . " .' ...... ,,'.,The,Hope Company,have got out about; 110 tons of stone' this ·month; they have now 200 tons ready for crushing; the stone is lookillg'even better than usual, and if there is sufficient water they expect to commence crushing next week. . In the claim known a8 McDermott and Co., about. sixty tons of very rich stone, which they have raised during them'onth, -\)esides driving and blocking out; are ready for the milL . . '" \ "Jl.fessrs. Drysdale ahd 00; have now sunk their 'shaft to a depth of 286 fcet. i.e., ,1,9 feet below their present workings. the bluestone through which they have been sinking is gradually giving way to soft gi'auite, and a small leader has been struck. In the old workings they are driving. blocking out, Stld getting up qu~rtz, of. which they 11a,'e now 170 tons on the surface. Their new machine, complete With the exception of the blanket tables, started crushing this day.' It is a 'great improvement as a ~"-ole 9n :1'l!1ything we have here at prcsent, and aU that capital and engineering skill could .do to over come ·the unusual difficulties the .practical millwright 'has to contend with in these parts, seems to have been accomplished in this instanee with great spirit,' rapidity, arid success;' . 28 The following particulars, for which I am indebted to Mr. Harlow, the constructor, may, though they present no particular novelty in quartz machinery, be interesting as illustrating the great step in advance in the description of machinery erecting in these gold fields. The machine is a 16-horse power engine under 45 Ibs. pressure, in an 11-inch horizontal cylinder with a 24-inch stroke, the fly wheel is 10 feet in diameter, and weighs 2 tons 5 cwt., boiler 17.feet by 5 feet 6 inches in diameter, with flue of 2 feet 8 inohes, carried up in plates and rivetted on the spot. There are two batteries of four revolving stampers cach, four more to be added immediately. Solid head stampers weighing with rod 4~ cwt., the gratings are moveable, and the machine can be cleaned out in. less than half an hour: the boxes are of wrought iron. The tables, at present twenty feet long, with six iron mercury boxes and two ripples. are co;-ered with copper, and it is intended to add two more blanketting tables. The foundation is piled on the rock, and the vibration is hardly perceptible on the bed beam. The engine is provided with governor, &c., and is in every r'espect very complete. A tramway with wire rope, 420 yards long, leads .uP the steep to the claim; it has a double break, a, very necessary precaution, as thc gradient is very great The engine works admirably at present, and the stone now crushing is splendid. , ' ' The United has not yet realized the anticipations of the sliareholders. The shaft is 203 feet down, and seems on the very edge of the granite dyke; there is at pre3ent a great quantity of water. The Sheep Run shaft is now down about 150 feet in slate. The Great Extended are 200 feet in slate and sandstone. The fact of the United not having struok the granite. as expected, has increased the cl;1ances of the Great Extended having the Morning Star dyke in their claim; their shaft, however, has much water, and it will probably become necessary to drive a tunnel. 'Victoria. suspended. ' The Koh-i-noor Company have returned to their old shaft higher up the hill, in consequenoe of the United failing to strike the great dyke in their shaft. 'l'he Rising Sun are preparing to run a tunnel. . No.1 South, Nugent and Company, resumed work on the 14th instant, seventy feet down in slate. The Germans are 104 feet down; they haye struck some small leaders, slate changing to sandstone. Cox and Company, 120 feet slate with quartz leaders. The Rise and Shine, Red Jacket, Hit or Miss, ancl Catherine, continue to drive their tunnels. The first are only just starting, being dri;-en out of their shaft by water; th,e others severally sixty, seventy. and fifty feet into the hill. ' . The Prineess Alexandra is about 150 feet in slate., . The Shamrock Company, further up the spur, struck to-day some quartz leaders of considerable thickness, whether auriferous or not I have not been able to ascertain. WAVERLEY REEF. On Monday last very rich stone was struck in No.3 South; at a depth of seventy-three feet, causing considerable excitement in this township. .• In Nos. 1 and 2 ;:louth, amalgamated, a leader of seven feet in height, and extending between the slate walls which are about fiye feet apart, is being worked; about twenty tons of stone are ready for crushing, anq. a track is being cut to enable them to take it down to Drysdale and Company's tramway for crushing. The deepest shaft on the Waverley is now about 125 feet, and 'the sinking continues though bluestone. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND ALL NATIONS REEFS. The claims on this l[ue, known as Cox and Company and Doualc1son's, continue to get very good stone, which they will be shortly able to crush, as Mr. Lloyd's machine is rapidly approaching eomple- tion, and is expected t9 be crushing next week. ' . . , The All Nations are, if possible, getting richer stone than before. This claim appears likely to retain its place as tl:ltl premier claim in point of richness of stone in this part of the division. REEFS ON THE GREAT DIVIDE. The Prospeetors' claim on the Emerald Reef continues to produee very rieh stone, of which sixty tonsare now on the top ready to'be erushed at Lloyd's machine. , No. H, on the Perseverance line of reef, have struek a rich leader at a depth of about twenty feet from the· surface. The Alhambra prospecting claim struck ye.sterday ten.inch quartz, affording some magnificent speeimens of llnusually pure gold. . GOOLEY'S CRIlER: REEFS. In the Shamrock prospecting claim, near the foot of G~oley's Creek, the prospect~ continue ;-ery good, as much as half an ounce h~ving been washed to a till dIsh from th~ ru~ble or caslllg. , . The Volunteer Reef, croppmg out of the surface at the Bald HIlls, III the prospeetors elal'lll, taken up towards the end oflastmonth, is a flat reef ?ipping at an angle of about ~Oo. The stone is solid, compact highly auriferous, and over four feet thick. A large number of elauns have been taken up round the prospectors, ~)Ut I am not aware from personal observations if any of those elaims have struck. So far however as the claims marked east and west of the prospectors are eoncerned, they may, judgin'g from the lay of the reef and its outcroppings, be expected to strike daily. . . The prospectors of the Evening Star Reef struck their first quartz yesterday, they have now a roof of soft granite'in their tunnel, and their prospects are promising. EDWARD'S REEF. The prospeetors in this reef had_atrial er~shing of mixed stone at the beginning of this month, seven tons produced 8 oz. 13 dwts., and the qualIty of the gold was better than any quartz gold yet seen here with the exception of the All Nations. . "GAFFNEY'S CREEK REEFS. . The machines on Gaffney's Creek ha;-e nearly aI}. been idIe . In Drysdale and· Oompany's' claim (l.ate Baillie's), on the Homeward ,Bound, they are actively getting out stone. ahd preparing to erush~, . . , , ,.' .' pry.sdal~ and C?rripa~y:~ mac~~ne is ,~aid t JORDAN SOUTH' SUBDIVISI9N. Mr. T. H. Duncan, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS :-- Total for the Europea.ns, Chinese, I Division. Rema.rks...... <, ! Alluvial Miners ... 450 . HiO 600 Quartz Miners ...... 500 ... 500 ' I Other Population '" '" 500 ... ,. 500 ,-_._, TOTALS ...... 1,450 150 1,600 , i . ·THE ,TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED;- Jericho and neighborhood ... 160 Aberfeldy and Blackwall 120 Emerald Hill and adjacent reefs 270 Thomson River ...... 100 Loch Fyne ." ' 70 Toorak, Hibernia, and Ahibama .. . '100 B. B. Creek ... 150 Red and, Blue Jacket 130 1,100 THE MAOHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS;- • ALLUVIAL :Ml:NINo, QUARTZ :Ml:NINo. De~cription oflllacllines. r . Aggregate of Aggregate At Work. ~dle. AtW9rk• Idle. Horse-power of i'Steam J;;ngines. Steam Engin... --.~- ---_.. _. ------1: Quartz Crushing Machine, 10 , stampers, worked by water wheel : of 18-horse power •...... , ...... I 18 Steam Machine of 12 stampers and 13·horse power .,' .•. ... '" ... I ... 13 Water Wheels on the alluvial claims 60 10 ...... '" , SluiCe 'Boxes ... .:. ... 700 100 ...... Total value of all mining plant in the division, £6,750 . . Number of square mil !THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS ·BEEN OBTAINED ~--'---'--- --"'--"'-- McDougal an~ Co. ... Loch Fine Pro~pect Now crushing ...... From 40 to 50 feet . Claim The only machine at work (see Report) is McDougal's, on the Loch Fine, and no washing up has taken place. ~ No. 35, h.. 30 The total number of quartz reefs registered in this division is as, of which IS are already proved to be auriferous, and the others have generally. been taken up in localities where good Burfaee specimens were found. These reefs are occupied by about 250 claims, and work is being carried on in a large majority of them, and there are, also, many suspended for want of funds, &c. \ Several reefs have lately been registered on this side of the Dividing Range, chiefly on the spurs on the B. B. Creek. This creck must have received its gold deposits from reefs in its vicinity, and there is therefore ivery reason to believe that some of the prospect parties in its neighborhood will be suceessful. A new reef on the Blue .J acket IS attracting much attention. The prospectors, at a depth of seventy feet, have got what they assume to be a defined reef, which they estimate will produce four ounces to the ton. A one-fourth share in the prospect claim has been sold for £350, and a number of ' {llaims have been taken up in consequence. ' The Alabama Prospect Claim have -130 tons of stone raised, and have eontracted for tIle crushing (and carrying one mile and a half) at the All Nations machine for £2 per ton. Their first shaft is 130 feet in depth, and the reef there is seven feet thick. They are now sinking- a new shaft thirty yards from the old one, and expeet to strike again at 150 feet. In the new shaft at 15 feet a fresh leader twelve inches thick was struck, with a better show of'gold than hitherto obtained in the claim. They estimate their stoue will produce an average of five ounces to' the ton .. A very promising reef, called the Blackwall. is on the main track from Jericho to Sale, about three miles this side of Mount'Useful, on a spur on .the Aberfeldy'Creek. The prospectors have 100 tons on the slJrface, the shaft being only twenty-six feet deep, and ,they expect to obtalll tour ounces to the ton. Nos. 1,2, and 3 North have good prospects, and No.4 are driving a tunnel, in whieh they expect to strike the reef at 100 feet. - Arrangements have been made between the prospectors and Mr. McMillan for the erection of machinery, whieh it is expected will be at work in about three months. A part of _the maehine ia already on the ground. . Seott and Company's machine has been idle and..cannot work till the rains set in. In the mean· time they continue sinking their new shaft, but have not yet struck their reef. They are seventy-five . feet down. ~. . , . The most important event during the quarter is the completion of McDougal and Company's machine'*' on the Lock Fine; they made a start on the 23rd March with a small quantity of stone from the prospect claim. The prospectors have a large quantity of stone, but their shoot not being [N oTE.-On 26th March, IS64, Mr. Mining Surveyor Duncan forwarded a report to the Honorable the Minister of' lfines, stating that a small rush had taken place on a creek entering the B.B. Creek ,two miles above the Jericho t,ownship; nearly thc whole of the creek had been taken up ill 20 claims. The sinking, though not deep, was rendered very difficult from the quantity of water below, aDd several of the claims had suspended operations until they could obtain surface water for sluicing. The creek was formerly known as the" One Speck Creek," but is now called the "Garibaldi." The prospectors {)btained :j.bout 5 dwts. of coarse gold, scarcely water-worn, from about a shovelful of gravel, when the influx of water was so great ,that they were obliged to desist from work.] • Crushing at this machine, 308. per ton. 31 OMEO CENTRAL SUBDIVISION. Mr. William Phipps, Mining Registrar. THE POPUIJATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Total for the Europeans. Chinese. I Division. I, Relll.lU'ks. I Alluvial Miners '" ... 160 340 500 Quartz Miners ... m ...... '" Other Population ...... 230 25 255 TOTALS ...... 390 365 755 I THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Livingstone Creek ...... 350 Cobungara Junction to head of Mitta-mitta River 5 Swift's Creek and River Tambo 45 Wombat Creek ... ', .. 25 .Mitta.mitta River, from Cobungara Junction to Wombat Creek 75 TOTAL 500 THE l\UCHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :- ALLUVIAL MINING. QUAnTZ Mu.'tNG. Description of Machines. Aggregate Aggregate At Work. Idle. IHorse-Il:; of At Work. Idle. Horse-cor Steam . os. Steam . es. 0 - .. Californian Pumps and Wheels ... 12 ...... , Total value of all mining plant in the division, £240. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon,5. . Number of distinct quartz reefs whibh have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 1. The price o~ gold during the quarter ill the division has been from £3 88. to £3 15s. per oz. , About fifty Chinese have shifted from Livingstone Creek to the Mitta Mitta River, below Hinno Mungee. and have purchased one claim and taken up five others. some on the right and some on the left bank. The Chinese population is still on the increase; the European is nearly stationary. Six new claims have been registered by Europeans and eight by Chinese during the current month. SNOWY CREEK SUBDIVISION. Mr. Andrew Trench, Mining Registrar. THE POPULATION IS AS l!'OLLOWS:- i Europeans. Chinese. Tota.! for the Subdivis!on. ------.. ·------i Alluvial Miners I ... I 100 120 220 Quartz Miners TMi. :: I 100 '" 220 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Junction ... 10 Granite Flat 150 Right-hand Branch 25 Mitta·mitta River 35 220 The above does not include other than mining population, which amounts to about llO. 32 NINE-MILE 'CREEK SUBDlVJSON. lI{r.~~iJdhn Scttrlett, 'Mining' RJgistliur. '''''' ". ""'THE.POPULATION IS AS :FOLLOWS:- ..... ~ , " , .', Total for the '. Europeans.' - Chinese. Division. Remarks. ~,-.- I .-~~.--~-- .. Alluvial Miners ...... 419 279 698 Quartz Miners ...... 52 ... 52 Other Popula.tion ...... 942 140 1,0112 ,~':: c,'" "' ,'- TOT:.uS '.'" ...... 1,41:i 419 1.832 THE TOTAL POPULATION IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:...." Upper Nine.mile ' 724 Back Oreek ..... 183 Frenchman's Creek 18 Lower Nine-mile...... 305 Rocky Point ... - ... 138 N uggetty and Europa ·Gullies 131 lIu,rdle Flat .:." ... ·224 Milkman's Flat 78 'Deep Creek 31 . . ,,~.. , .. ~.,,~--- r;S32 ,I., ":.,, .. THE lMAOHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLuVIAL MINING. QUAltTZ MINING. Description of Machlnes. .,l;, ,. \ • ~( I I 'At 'Work. ,,!. 141e • A~-\yol'k. ~.I .Idle .. , Puddling Mills 30 4 ,i ':1 Quartz Mills 28 ••'" ,I. ··.l~;.. 1:' ... : . ,~', . 'Total Vrutie.~6f all mining plant in the divisiOJ:l; £8,000.* 1 Number of square miles of alluvial groimd which is being, or may have be~n actually worked upon, 12. ' ", ., . . Num1?er of-distinct quartz reefs which have actually pro.ed to be auriferous to the present tlme,11. '. The price of gold durillg' th~\~a;,.t~r· i~ -the ~ divi~i~n h~s 1:l~im from £4 to £4 Is. per oz. • '.1' • ~,.t".'\I~ "','~ •• L44'~, "*. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTI'l'Y OF QUA~TZjCR1JSHED.DURING- THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD .. OmnAINED"THEREFROM.· " I Average Remarks Il \~ .. :. iJ, I~ • • -!, ""I !i ,\';.. ~r~·, :~; .~ ~ '. ' Little progress has been made durin~ the last thre~ months. The two companies'at Stanley are ~till driving their respective tunnels, but WIll not be up to thc'expected reefs for some weeks yet. The sluicers are now on short :time, some having only three days' .water in. the week. The puddling mills, where water can be had, are fully employed. A considerable number of tank claims have had to suspend their workings on account of the short supply of water. *The mo~ey invested in races is'not less than £40;000. 33 SANDHURST MINING DISTRICT. KANGAROO FLAT SUBDIVISION. Mr. H. O. Ocvmpooll, Mmmu Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Totel for the Europeans. Cbinese. Division . Remarks. . - Alluvial Miners ...... 1,000 720 1,720 Quartz Miners .•• ...... 950 ... 950 Other Population ...... 9,040 240 9,280 TOTALS ...... 10,990 960 11,950 THE TOTAL NUMBER IS THUS DISTRIBUTED: Bendigo Flat and Sandhurst .. 4,520 Ironbark and Long Gully .. 2,475 Kangaroo Flat and Crusoe Gully ~,025 Golden Gully and Kangaroo Gully 1,230 Back Creek and Spring Gully 1,000 Milkmaid's Flat and Axe Creek 700 TOTAL 11,950 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:":'" I ALLUVIAL lIfiNl:NO. QUARTZ lIfiNl:No. ~ De=iption of Machines. Aggre~te Aggregate At WorlL Idle. Borse-power of I At Work. Idle. Steam Engines. ft='~:e~~ ... --.-- Horse Puddling Machines ... 320 200 ...... Whims ...... '" ... '" ... 40 12 .. . Steam Engines ...... '" 35 5 800 Total value of all mining plant in the division, £80,000. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon, 5 miles. • Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time,53. ,. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. 3d to £3 178. 6d. per oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURL.~G THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Where Machllle is Total Yield of Remarks relative to the Name of Company. Qua.rtz crushed. Yi.tJ~ld Depth at which ~ua.rtlI situated. porTon. Gold.. woo obt.alne . ton em. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Lawrence Reef Co. ... Lawrence Reef, 330 0 0 1 I 5 350 0 0 Spring Gully n Great Eastern Co. ... Axe Creek ... 1,950 0 0 0 2 22t 286 0 0 Tyson's Reef Co. ... Tyson's Reef ... 1,000 0 0 0 2 0 100 0 0 200 feet. Hustler's Reef Co. ... Hustler's Reef ... 721 0 0 2 4 8~ 1,598 17 18 Glasgow Reef Co. ... Glasgow Reef ... 1,775 0 0 8 lOt 748 0 0 Caledonian Reef Co. ... Caledonian Reef ... 805 0 °0 0 4 17~ 190 12 0 Australasian Co. ... Golden Square ... 181 0 0 0 5 5~ 47 9 0 New Chum Co. ... New Chum Reef ... 1,639 0 0 0 2 5~ 183 11 12 Perseverance Co. ... Long Gully ... 950 0 0 0 7 lIH 356 0 0 Bal1erstedt and Son ... New Chum Reef ... 1,000 0 0 0 3 0 150 0 Surface. Wybrandt ...... Victoria ...... 185 0 0 0 2 I";]7 19 0 °0 35 feet. Agamemnon Co. ... Cape Clear ... 1,004 0 0 0 2 7 115 0 0 60 feet. Great Western Co. ... Ditto ... 40 0 0 2 16 0 112 0 0 60 feet. Midway Co. ... Victoria Heef ... 1,100 0 0 0 6 0 330 0 0 Hustler's Reef Co. ... Hustler's Reef ... 93 0 0 4 0 6b 373 3 18 220 feet . Ditto ...... Ditto ...... 113 0 0 3 3 6t~ 357 11 0 220 feet. Latham and Watson ...... 200 0 0 2 17 9~ 574 0 0 100 feet. TOTAL ... 13.086 0 0 0 9 On 5,891 5 01 No. 85, t. Since my last report there has been a decided improvePlent in quartz mining in this division, the yields of gold being generally greater, and a greater ,quantity of stone raised. I maY' mention the Hustler's Reef as the richest, the yield varying from t\'j'o to four'tmnces to the ton; the latter yield is found at a depth of 220 feet from the surface, and tho quartz appears to get richer in gold the deeper it goes; the upper portions of the reef were eomparatively poor, nor.is this the only reef that presents a similar result. On this gold field there is no, law apRarept as to, the disseqtinatiOIl o,fgolc1 in quartz; it is found , irregularly distributed, occasion"al rich patches being found 'at various depth~. I find great difficulty in getting returns of the quantity of stone crushed and the yield, many persons objecting to give the information, while many of the mills that crush for the pu1,:ilic occasionally let for a time a battery of stamps, and in this case no account is kept of the quantity crushed nor of the yield. The return I send I can depend on, but much more has been crusheCl in this division of which I can get no account. At this season the scarcity of water'materially interferes'with aUuvial mining, and until the wet weather sets in no improvement is to be looked for in this branch of mining. The quantity of quartz crushed that I give in my return has been given to me by various public companies who crush for the publ,ic as well as for themseh·es. EAGLEHAWK SUBDIVISION. Mr. G. W: Hart, Mining Surveyo'l·. THE POPULA.TION IS AS EOLLOWS:- - Europeans, • i Total for the Chinese, Subdivision. Remarks. Alluvial Miners. '" ... S,200 650 .3,850 •Quartz 2\-Iillers ...... 1,200 ... 1,200 .Other Popu\a.tion ... '180 " 4;330 , " , -" ' .. ., ,'. h' ; ~~ TOTALS ... 8,,1 5,0 . 830' I 9;586 , I,- - ' THE TOTAJ~ NUMBER IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- 1 ' .' ~ , I . Eaglehawk aild Myer's Flat 3,200 California Gnlly and Jackass Flat, ... 2,110· White Hills 1,0'20 Epsom and Huntly ... '2,500 Whips tick. 750 TOTAL ... 9,580 THE MACHINERY IS As FOLLOWS:- I I ALLUVIAL ::I-IINL'lG. QUAllTZ JlII.'I'ING. ! ~-~7'~',~,~--~~~,,~.------~------ , l'i'o' Aggregate Horse· At Work. Idle, At Work, power of Steam , Engines. Crushing ..• , '" ...• 35 507 Pumping and Crushing ... I 18 P~~mp}ng, Crushing, and Winding: 1 ' : 45 Wmdmg ... .•. . .. ' I 10 Pumping ...... 37 Pumping and Winding .•• 2 1- 53 Horse Puddling .",'" .•• 380 150 .1, ------~----~------To~al'value of all mining iplant in th? subdivision, £100,000. - . '.\ Number of square miles Jf alluvial ground which i~ ~eing, or may ha;ve been actua~ly"'\'fi~¥e~ upon, 4~. i . N umber of distinct quart'z reefs which ha.ve been actually proved to be aurifer!;ms to the present time, 50, .: rhe price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. 3d. to £3 17s. 6d. -; I ' 35 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO TRE QUANTITY· OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Where Quartz. was Total Yield of Rema.rks relative to the Name of Company. Quartz crushed. G<>ld. Depth at which the obtained. !Yitd~r~Jdper Quartz was obtaine(l. ~----.-. ton owt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. Oz. <1wt. gr. Esler and Company ... Wetherall Reef ... 1,822 0 0 o 11 ~l 1,081 14 0 Peg Leg Company ...... 90 0 0 1 o l0i 92 0 0 l'rince of Wales Co. ... Prince of Wales ... 1,209 0 0 o lOll! 633 10 21 Star Reef Company '" ...... 1,004 0 0 .., 603 J7 0 Pease and Company ...... 700 0 0 o 18 0 630 0 0 Nelson Hcef Company ... ~ ... 1,810 0 0 o 12 9-& 1,121 10 0 Sommerfield and Co: .. : Wethcrall Reef ... 26 0 0 o 17 0 22 2 0 150 feet Cook and Company Star Beef '" 74 0 0 o 15 16~ 58 0 0 160 to 200 feet 41 Coate and Company ... Ditto ...... 50 0 0 0 7 5 18 0 0 200 feet Graham and Company Moon Reef ... 116 0 0 o 13 2~ 76 0 0 135 feet Gold Finding Company Specimen Hill, Sai- 30 0 0 o 16 0 24 0 0 Surface lors' Gully Lady Barkly Company St, Mungo Reef 72 0 0 3 18 8 282 0 0 100 feet Watson and Company Devonshire Recf ... 65 0 0 o 10 18-& 35 0 0 135fcet· Alexander Company ... Ditto ...... 6 0 0 o 10 0 3 0 0 40 feet West of ]~ngland Co .... Johnson's Reef ... 116 0 0 o 18 0 104 9 0 325 feet Ditto ...... Ditto .. ... ll6 0 0 o 15 2ft 87 10 0 225 feet Cinderella Company ... Windmill Hill ... 21 0 0 0 6 22 7 5 6 335 feet Anglo-German ... Ditto ... 1 1 20¥ 168 .5 0 240 feet "'j 154 0 0 ._---- TOTAL ... 7,481 0 0 0 11 19! 4,418 3 3 In quartz mining a decided improvement has, of late, taken place, many of the principal reefs giving yields which have not hitherto been surpassed. The Catherine Reef, the Prince of Wales, and the St. Mungo Companies have been especinlly fortunate, and not\vithstanding the inereasing depths to which the reefs are sunk, the quartz continues equally rich. The success of the Clarence, the Lady Barkly, and of several private companies on the .Windmill Hill line, has given increased confidence to . minin~ shareholders, a greater tendency to prospect exists, and the opening up of the Dead Horse Reef" and of the Leicester, lately discovered, both ,profitable ventures, shows that many payable lines of auriferous stone await but the energy aad enterprise of the prospector to convert them lllto profitable sources of employment to a large number of our mining population. In Sailors' Gully and in the vicinity of .Job's Gully payable reefs have been opened; the former is being worked vigorously, and along the latter chiims are mai'ked out for a considll-i-iible distance. The Johnson's Reef and the Nelson's Reef Companies, though not just at presen!; as fortunate as many of the above, have improved, and their prospects are more encouraging than at the date of my 'last report. In many claims previously abandolled work has been resumed, und, so far as quartz mining is concerned, never was prosperity more widely and generally felt, a fact which is made patent by a very considerable inerease in the number of quartz miners in this division. In allm-ial mining a great number of puddlers and others have' been idle in eonsequence of the water in many of the gullies being insufficient for mining purposes, consequently there has been a marked falling off in the returns of gold hitherto obtained from this class, until the winter rains fill the dams, and until then but little prospect exists of their working to any advantage. In HUlltly and Epsom, where the sinking is deep, the extelfded areas granted to miners have produced a marked impt'ovement in the system of mining, steam power being introduced, and the claims are worked in a more efficient manner than formerly. . Subjoilled is a tabular statement of the quan~ity of quartz crushed !lnd the returns therefrom, hut this statement, so far as gold is concerned, is merely approximate. The companies crushing for the public in many instances merely retort the gold for their customers, and consequently are wholly unacqurrinted with its weight, l}nd further, it has of late not unfrequently become the practice to let out the batteries at so much per week which renders it impossible for the mill owners to return an estimate of the quartz crushed or the gold therefrom obtained. All the owners of crushing machines, however, have promised me, as far as their customers are willing to give them the information, to furnish me with accurate returns in future, by keeping a record expressly for my report, so that the figures in my next report may be relied upon as being compiled with greater a'lcuracy than it is possible to do in this, bat in no case will any statement of the true return of gold from quartz be really known . KILl\fORE DIVISION. Mr. Martin Meagher, Mining Surveyo1'. THE POPULATION IS' AS FOLLOWS:- .. I Total for the Europeans. Chinese. Division. I Remn.rks. I Ir - - . . , . , ; Alluvial Miners ... ~ .. ' 331 '. . 331 I find no Chinamen in this di yision . .Quartz Miners , .~- ... 40 ', ... 40 Other Population ...... 3,910 ... 3,910 .. , , _. __ . -~-.-- - . TOT.AL ... no 4,281 ...... 4,281 36 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Reedy Oreek 315 Snobb's Creek 26 Boundary Oreek, Yea 5 Teatree 5 Flat Lead ... 5 Yea, Providence Reef 10 Rilmore 5 371 THE MAOHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL Mnmw. QUARTZ 111nmm. Description of Machines. ; I \ Aggregate I I Aggregate . At Work. Idle. Horse~~er of I At Work. Idle. Horse.~er of I Steam ines. Steam glnes. --~.~~--~---~.~~-~ ---'- . Puddling Machines on Reedy .,. 8* ...... Creek Puddling Machine on Teatree ... 1 . ... '" ...... Creek Steam Engines ...... 4 4 80 I Total value of all mining plant in the division, £7,~85. Number of square miles of ground whlch is being, or may have' been actually worked upon 15 (alluvial G, quartz 9). , Number of distinct quartz reefs whlch have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 30 good ones and many others. The price of gold during the quarter in the d!vision has been from £3 148. to £3 1'5s. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE' QUANTITY OF QUARTZ ORUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Average I . Remarka relative to the .Name of (iompany. Where Quartz was Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold 'fotal Y,eld of Depth at which tho obtained. per Ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained. ----- ~---- , ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Flat Lead Reefs (reefs On Miller's Run, 30 0 0 1 3 14! 35 8 0 Three shafts, 40 ft, fl'om 2 to f\ ft. thick) near Yea , Providence Reef ... Muddy Creek, Yea 22 0 0 1 2 4 24 7 16 100 to 140 feet. Welcome Reef ". Head of Teatree 30 '0 0 3 0 0 90 0 0 Shaft 170 feet. Tun- Creek neldriven up under shaft 240 feet. Kllmore Gold Mining Kilmore ...... ~ 20 0 0 o 15 0 15 0 0 Company, Kilmore old diggin!:s Albert Reefing Company Reedy Creek ... 10 0 0 4 0 0 40 0 0 Shafts 100 to 230 ft. Captain's Reef Company Reedy CrE'ek .. , S 0 0 4 0 0 32 0 0 Shafts from 98 to lIO feet. --.- .~ ------.~~~ 120 0 0 1 19 llf,; 236 15 16 I --.-~.-- CE~rENT :- Welcome Reefing Co. Head of Teatree 60 0 0 1 0 0 60 0 0 Shaft 1 iO feet deep, Creek Tunnel driven up under shaft 240 '" feet. Gold Mining Company Reedy Creek ... 182 0 0 0 7 22~ 72 4 0 Shafts 170 to 180 ft. Kllmore old diggings ... Kilmore ...... 40 0 0 o II 12 23 0 0 Welcome Reef Company Teatree ... 100 0 0 1 0 0 100 0 0 Shaft 135 feet deep. ,. ---~-~---- TOTAL ... 382 0 0 o 13 9 255 4 0 - This is the slackest time in the year for alluvial workings, on account of the want of water. While many of the reefs are in the hands of poor people, much good cannot be expected. The reefs at tho Teatree. Flat Lead, Yea, King Parrot, and Reedy Creek, would be all working now only for the reports from the Wood's Point district. But I am confident those reefs I have named will be' Boon taken. up and worked again with as much benefit to the occupiers as many of the reefs above, so much talked of. . I have the honor to send you my report respecting the state of gold mining in the division. . • Genezally one-hone power. • Alluvial mining in the creeks referred to was satisfactorily remunerative until the want of water for_ground.sluicing on.. sucl'ace diggings caused many of the miners togo elsewhere, and return when .they expec~ed. wate~ .. ,~'he reefs in gen~r~l I haye a. good'. opi~ion of, havi~~ obtained their general character from partles' llltercsted, and dlsmterestcd, 1Il their dIfferent locahties. The quartz I have also seen, and the produce from crushing, to enable me to make this assertion, in reference to the reefs ~t Teatree, Flat Lead, Yea,. King Parrot, Reedy Creek, and Kilmore. At Teatree there are twelve prospecting claims, 'and many others that paid well when in work, all abandoned now; only one, called the Welcomc Reef, taken up by Soraghan and 00., from which they have taken more than 250 ozs. within the last three months, being more than half that time employed in driving in a tunnel, and sinking their shaft. Those claims are said to have produced three or f6ur ounces per ton. l'hey were taken up by men without eapital ; * . * * * * * * * ;~ * and when the workings were obstructed by water, they had not means to procure pumping apparatus; under those circumstances the claims became abandoned. * * * * * * They will again be taken up ere long, I should think, and will pay just as well as m:tny of the upper ones with which I am well acquainted, when the Jordan rush is over. The same may be said of the Flat Lead, Yea, and King Parrot. The reefs at King Parrot, until lately, were considered highly remunerative, but were abandoned for the reason assigned. On the Triangle line of reef were ten good claims, and an antimony reef adjoining. I am informed, Mr. Snodgrass would have given Hanagan, for a quarter share in each of his two elaims, £1000: This sum was refused, being thought under the value. The y,laims are now abandoned, . .' The Reedy Oreek Reefs, were considered ·of great importance until the Wood's Point Reefs w!ire discovered., There a:re only three claims taken up here now, from two of which (the AI bert and the Oaptain's) I have seen the returns, showing an average of four ounces to the ton. They can raise but little, being prevented by water in their shafts; a whim or pumping apparatus is required. The third claim, called the Reedy Oreek Gold Mining Oompany, applied for fifteen :tcres on gold mining lease. There are three established lines of reef on this ground, known as Langridge's, Doyle's, and the Saddle Reef. A company is in course of formation, and the shareholders are sanguine of suecess. 'They have a capital steam· crushing mill of eighteen heads of revolving stampers, capable of great execution. ~'here are four very good claims adjoining, now abandoned, and beyond the limitations allowed, namely:- The Victoria shaft 200 feet deep. Ma!{enta " 130 LeVIathan " 100 Wallaby, " 130 " The two first'of those, crushed from three to twelve ounces to the ton; the third, four ounces to the ton; and the fourth, from three to: foUr.teen ounces to the ton. Abandoned for want of machinery. The next and last is 'on the Old Diggings, .at Kilmore, now known as the Kilmore Gold Mining Company,'who have applied for twelve acres on gold mining lease, and three acres to erect a steam crushing mill on. One of the steam quartz-erushing mills at King Parrot has been lately bought and brought here. . '* '* '* *' * * * *' *' '* * * * HEATHCOTE AJI;'"]) W ARANGA SOUTH SUBDIVISION. Mr. Blayney W. Walshe, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- " . " Tota.l for the Europeans. Chinese. Division. :Remarks. --_.. -." Alluvial Miners ...... 472 482 954 Quartz Miners ...... 648 ... 648 Other Population ...... 1,906 ... 1,906 TOTALS ...... 3.026 482 3,508 THE TOTAL NUMBER IS THUS, DISTRIBUTED :- Heathcote .. , 1,806 Redcastle 485 Costcrfield 658 Wild Duck 124 Haye's' Gully 69 Spring Creek ... 19 Campaspe and Coliban 347 3,508 No. 35, k. 38 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL JlIININa. QUAl!.TZ JlIININa. Description of 1Ifaclrlnes. Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse-I'!'wer of At Work. Idle. Steam J>ngines. Steam Puddling Machines Horse Puddling Machines 44 13 Steam Engines ..• 10 5 262 Ditto .1 6 Chllian Wheels 2 Horse Whims ••. 7 Horse Whips 2 ·Total value of all mining plant in .the division, £39,000. Numh,ur of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, 01' may have been actually worked upon, 50. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved' to be auriferous to the present time, 87. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. to £4 Is. per oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CR:USHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED ·THEREFROM. . Remarks relative to the Name of ComPany. Where Quartz was Quartz crushed. Yictd~:r~ld 'rotal Yield of Depth at whioh the obtained. per TOll. Gold. Quartz was obtained. HEATHCOTE. ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. McIvor Caledonia Co.... Caledonia Gully 407 0 0 . 0 ui 20! 220 13 12 250 to 300 feet. Simms and Co. ... Venture Once More 300 2 13 8 8 0 0 30 feet. " Reef, Argyle Gully Frenchman's Reef Co.... Old Hacecourse ... 122 0 0 o 5 01 30 11 6 Surface. Potter and Co. ••. Phoonix Reef, Cale 10 0 0 o 14 0 7 0 0 Surface. donia Gully COSTEIU'IELD. Coster and Field ••• Antimony Reef, 008- 160 0 0 o 10 16 85 6 16 120 feet. terfield REDCASTLE. J. Collins...... Leviathan Reef 28 0 0 054 7 5 0 40 feet. J. Collins... . •. Antimony Heef 300 o 10 22} 1 12 20 30 feet. . O'Toole and Co. . .. Perthshire Reef ~.: 300 100 3 0 0 20 teet. Mitchell, McDonald, Ditto ... 400 1 10 0 6 0 0 50 feet. and Co. Hit or Miss Co. ... Sc1avonian Reef ... .9 0 0 578 48 6 0 230 feet. Campbell and Co. 700 1 11 0 10 17 0 50 feet. Blundell and Co. ... Gocksey's Reef ... 500 o 18 0 4 10 0 60 feet. Spero and Party ... Beautiful Venice 800 o 14 12 5 16 0 20 feet. Reef, Staffordshire Flat Perrv and Co. ... Staffordshire Flat ... 3S 0 '0 1 G 9. 50 2 0 50 feet. Whierling and Co. ... Curly Dog Gully _.. I O. 0 130 1 3 0 70 feet. ])itto ...... Staffordshire Flat ... 700 077 2 11 0 20 teet. WILD DUCK CREEK. ~ Wild Duck Reef Co. ... Wild Duck Reef, 320 0 0 o 4 2~i 78 Ie 0 130 feet. Wild Duck Creek HEA'l:HCOTE. McIvor Caledonia Co. Caledonia Gully ... 60 0 0 I 10 17~ 92 4 0 Between 200 and 300 feet. Divers parties ...... 113 0 0 o 13 109 76 0 0 Frenchman's Reef Co. Old Racecourse 63 0 0 029 7 10 0 Surface. Wildcock and Go. ... .Argyle Reef 10 0 0 o 10 0 500 Phoonix Co.... ~ ... Caledonia G.ully ... 16 0 0 ,. 100 16 0 0 70 feet. COSTERFIELD. Turner and Party ... Lower Costerfiehl ... . 34 0 0 o 4 7H 7 7 0 From 40 to 66 feet. Kelburn Heef Co. ... Ditto...... 38 0 0 1 18 22~ 74 0 0 160 feet. Ditto ...... Ditto...... 43 0 0 060 12 18 0 Coster and Field ... Upper Costcrfield ... :lOO 0 0 1 1 17! :.! 17 5 0 120 feet. Miller and Co .. . •. ' l'ark :Farm (Mount 23 0 0 o 15 6 17 11 0 Surfaee. Mormbool) 39 INFORMATION RELATIVE TO QUARTZ CRUSHED-continued. Where Quartz WlIS Average \ Total Yield of Remarkll relative to the I Quartz crushed. Yield of GQld I Depth at which the Name of COlnpany. obtained. per Ton. I GQld. Quartz wa.s obtained. ______------I~·~~~··~-I,-,------I----~~-I------ Rl'DCASTLE. ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Welcome Claim .•• Sclavonian Reef .,. 20 0 0 13 16 191 276 16 0 230 feet. Hit-or-Miss Co. ••. Ditto ... .,. 14 0 0 5 13 0 79 2 0 240 feet. Clarke ... •.. Mary Ann Reef ... 31 0 0 o 17 10 26 14 0 Perry and Co. •.. Staffordshire :Flat '" 45 0 0 o II 4;1- 25 3 0 50 feet. German party .•. L~ng Gully .•. 7 10 0 o 13 111 5 1 0 20 feet. Hutchinson and Co. '" DItto ...... ·1 10 0 o 18 16 1 8 0 40 feet. Brindara and Co. ... Beautiful V enke Reef 2 0 0 130 2 6 0 40 feet. Cam'pbell and Co. •.. Redcastle ... 500 165 6 11 0 70 feet. Hawkins and Co •.• Ditto... .• I 15 0 I 8 0 2 9 0 90 feet. Spero and Party '" Curly Dog Gully ... 2 10 0 340 a 0 0 90 feet. HEATHCOTE. I McIvor Cal~donm ••. Caledonia Gully ... 159 0 O· 1 8 11i 226 9 o From 240 to 300 ft. Long Gully Co. . •• Long Gully 38 0 0 3 13 2 138 17 o 160 feet. Miller and Co. •.. Old Racecourse 70 0 0 o 3 li~ 12 4 o Surface. Ditto .•. . .. Current Reef 59 10 0 o 18 9£. 54 15 o From 50 to 100 feet. Kirby and Co. ••• Caledonia Gully ... 500 o 12 9i 3 2 o 30 feet. Frenchman's Reef Co. Old Hacecourse 156 0 0 o 3 15i'll 28 10 o Surface. Simms and Co. •.. Argyle Gully 13 0 0 o 10 9 6 15 o 40 feet. Phrenix Reef Co. Caledonia Gully ... 20 0 0 o 19 0 19 0 o 30 feet. Manchester Reef Co, ... Caledonia Gully 10 0 0 080 4 0 o 50 feet. Balmoral Reef Co. . .. Long Gully 500 050 1 5 o 60 feet. COSTERFIELD. Coster, Field and Co.... Antimony Reef 578 0 0 J 0 16~ 597 17 12 From 90 to 220feet. Morris and Co. ... Kelburn Reef 60 0 0 I 15 16 107 0 0 130 feet. SPRING CREEIl:. Shepherd and Co. ." Spring Creek 22 0 0 o 15 22 17 10 0 15 feet. COST~RFIELD. Turner and Co. '" Simms & Sone's Reef 103 0 0 o 4 10~ 22 18 6 From 60 to 70 feet. REDCABTLE. 33 0 0 10 18 0 359 14 0 From 240 to 251 ft. Clarke ...... ScI avonian Reef '" Collins and Co. ... Antimony Reef ... 17 0 0 o 12 6~ 10 8 11 40 feet. 43 0 0 0 6 21;1 14 17 0 50 feet. "'Ditto ...... Leviathan Reef '" McDonald and Co. ... Perthshire Reef ... 17 10 0 I 4 13~ 21 10 0 50 feet. -- Balmoral Reef ... !j 0 0 1 13 5 8 6 0 20 feet. Hit or-Miss Co. .. Sclavonian Reef ... 32 0 0 6 13 6ij 213 4 12 250 feet. Burgess and Co. ... Welcome Reef 106 10 0 o 17 0 90 3 0 40 feet. Spero and Co. ... Beautiful Venic{'jReef 13 10 0 1 a 2~ 18 19 12 20 feet. Blundell and Co. ... Long Gulfy ... 5 0 0 o 12 17 3 3 13 60 feet. German Co ...... ,Long Gully ... 16 0 0 o 11 I9! 9 9 0 20 feet. Campbell and Co. ... Antimony Line ... 16 0 0 1 6 1~ 21 3 0 70 fcet. Hawkins and Co...... 12 0 0 o 12 13 7 10 12 70 feet. 1110 0 o 14 8 4 0 Trial crushing ...... '" .. 6i- WILD DUCK. Wild, Duck Reef Co. ... Wild Duck Reef ... 1,046 0 0 0 4 20 252 7 18 120 to 140 feet. TOTAL ... 4,537 15 0 o 16 19 3,810 0 6 .. - Mullock, &-c.- :McIvo; Caledonia Co. Caledonia Gully ... 72 0 0 0 1 17 6 2 18 Mullock. Morris and Co. . .. Kelburn Reef ... 20 0 0 o 12 18 12 15 0 Surface refuse. Ditto ...... Ditto ...... 35 0 0 0 7 0 12 5 0 Pyrites. TOTAL 127 0 0 o 4 21§i 31 2 18 HEATHCOTE. A.lluviaL-A small rush has' taken place to the old ground in Caledonia Gully, and also to Argyle Gully, but both have been attended with poor results. Some few men are paddocking out in Long Gully, near the Hibernia Hotel. )fcIvor Creek. A few Chinese are washing old dirt with tub and cradle. One party is sinking in High street. opposite the Oriental Bank. Several holes have been sunk near the Church of England, without success. The puddlers are idle from want of water. Quark-There is little doing in quartz mining in Heathcote Proper. Eight prospecting claims ha ve been registered within the three months, some of which have turned 'out wen, others failures. 'l'~e McIvor Caledonia Company are doing but little, the last crushing paid but bare wages to the tnbutors. 40 l\{r. J. T. Stephenson is working the Long Guny Reef' on tribute; he is. doing pretty wen, but his expenses are'heavy, the water being great and the reef thin. ne is erecting a twel,e;horse l)ower engiI\e and barttery of eigllt heads. " ' , '·'.I,,:.;:~T1iereE;fers on the Old Rac~colHse'are doing very well. 4. good deill of surface stone is being cruslied, ,which pays, as the ouly.expenses are filling, carting, and crushing. . .. - - The' Morning Star Reef is' again' 1laken up and bcing worked; it has hitherto been a good paying reef. . "'" , ,,' COSTERFIELD. Messrs. Coster, Field, and Co. are still engaged in the erection of the;'; engine; they have sunk their shaft to i70 feet, and expect to strike the lode at 300 feet. The reef has widened to 12 feet at the north end. , The Minerva Company have sunk their shaft 189 feet, at 180 feet they opened out, drove twenty feet , east, struck the reef rather thin; turned soutli, ahd drove fi"e feet; the reef opened to twenty ·one inches, . \ with every appearance of increasing in thic1,uess. At the north end the reef where struck was nine inches thick, and widening. Gold is to be seen in the stone, with every indication of the lode turning out well. They have bought Mr. Acotfs engine of twelve stamps, which they have removed and are erecting near their shaft. The Company have already spent £4,000 on the mine, and are working with judgment and economy. :From this claim to that of Messrs. Morris and Co., on the Kelburn Reef, Lower Coster- field, nothing is doing. ' , - MessrH. Morris and Co. are not doing so well as hitherto; they require to sink tlteir shaft deeper. They have of late been crushing mostly surface refuse' and tailings. From the pyrites, with which these lodes ,are so highly charged, they obtained some cheering results; they'roasted seven hundred weight, and after passing it through a llerdanbasin got 12 ozs. 5 dwts., or at the rate of 35 ozs. to the ton. " , Some Bendigo' miners have taken two ofNIessrs. McDougall and Coo's leases on tribute. ~'hey altered the copper, plates, put down blanket tables, and find that their speculation will pay them very wen. It appears that the machinery was very imperfect before, and much gold was lost; no other claims' are w,5rking here.' ' , ' REDCASTLE. ',:il'l "The 'alliJ:vial workings in this -part of the division iu-e very small, being merely Long Gully and a portion Of Staffordshire Flat. 'l'he yields are very trifling. • In quartz a new reef has heen struck, called the Welshman's; it is situated lJ.t St,affordshire Flat, but ,no sto?e has yet ,beep. c,rushed from it. The 'Y elcome ~laim and the Hit·or~Miss Compa?y on the Sclay-oman are still paymg well, and show an mcrease mstead of a decrease of wealth mth increased depth. . -., ' ,The two antimony lodes, viz" the J\{ary Ann, and the Antimony line, are merely worked for the 'gold: No use is Illade of the ore, although 'upon analysis it was found fully as valuable as that of Costerfield. , . , ,,' Great inconvenience is felt from want of water, Messrs. Collins and Watson's mills having been for the last'month idle. ' '" , ." . .', 111 The large quartz lode discovered in the private Jlroperty of a 111'1'. Blake, near lfount Camel, is again to be tried; it is thirty feet in thickness and has yielded an average of 8 dwts. to the ton; it is greatly charged with pyritJs; and the 'stone presents ' strange combinations of brilliant colors. Thqr~"is nqt th~t amo11Ijt of work g0ing ~~ here that there, was some eighteen or twenty months ago. ' .• Two prospecting ,claims ~ave been registered within the quarter. , . SPRING CREEK. Buqittle i~ do~n.g in. this ge~luded l~cality .. N? ,stone is b,eing. crushed, t~e fe'Y,.min;r1!. b~ing employed III merely rUlslllg and stacklllg. 'Oll Saunders s pre-emptIve rIght quartz IS bemg raIsed; the reef is thick, and' there is, neither trouble nor expense attendant on raising it; it yields at tlie rate of 17 dwt. 10 grs. to the ton. , ' WILD DUCK CREEK. Alluvial.-Two small gutters have been'struck in"this locality, one at Clarke's Gully among the old workings, and one abou.t)ive ~1Ie.~ dist;an~.,at,}Yild, Dog Gulfy, ,rhey. have led to no result of importance. In the former case some SIX clmms were taken up and all'pUld, In the latter no gold was got, except out of the prospecting claim; , The. grog.nd ,in thi~ neighbo,rhoO(l, is excee!'l,ingly patchy, but a .large extent of country is auriferous. :' " , The, only quartz workings are at the Wild P!lck Reef. The tri.butors have raised' upwards of 1,000 tons at an average yield of 4 dwts. 20 grs. . Tlie mine is a good one; the lode being now' twelve-feet thick, increasing every foot in depth, the lV'ound is soft and easily w.orked, the depth not more than 140 feet; it should certainly pay very well. . ~~ere are several indications of the presence of copper in this locality, and prospecting is wanted. :N, . " , There are twenty-four Ohinese employed in washing the bed of the creek, and I understand are' doing well. .. _ CA?rl:PA:SPE 'J.ND. COLJDAN. ' - , :. -"'" The Chin~se are. stip wprking on'thes~ rjvers"with, ): believe, good prosp~cts. There is great 'difficulty in' getting"them' to understand th6~different bye.laws; most of them, having come from "G:u,ildfqril tct Castleml!-~n!l,Jancy that they, ~.re stiI}. undertltc bye;laws of that, distri!lt, and they will not 'adopt ours." '.' " " , , .,' " Generally mining operations are at a very low ~?b . • , 'f 41 W ARANGA NORTH SUBDIVISION. Mrr. Herilry Boyns Nioholas, Mitning Surveyorr. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- ,Total for tho I Europeans.,I Chinese. Division. Remarks. ______)_ -~- I-----~----i------~----- All:~;~:_~S ...... 160 I 140 300 Quartz :Miners 266 ... 266 Other Population 560 5 565 TOTALS THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- QUARTZ MmING. .~--.~- Aggregate Description of Machines. At Work. Idle. Horse-power of Steam Engin.... ----. -~-- Steam Engines ...... 7 ... 86 Total value of all mining plant in the division, £17,000. . Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon, 35. Number of quartz reefs whioh have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 63. The price of gold during the quarter has been from £3 148. 9d. to £3 178. 6d. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTI'l'Y OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. , Total Yleld of Remarks to the Name of Company. Whru;b~~ J8's Quartz crushed. YieldAve~ of d I I rclativ~ I per Ton. Gold :!s :=.::e ~---.- = ton cwt. qrs. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Bailey and Brown ... Curr's Reef, Whroo. 15 0 0 2 2 16 32 0 0 80 feet deep. Bailey and Brown ... Ditto ... ., . lO 0 0 0 9 0 4 10 0 80 feet deep. Thompson and Band .•. Ditto ...... 7 0 0 3 8 J4 24 0 0 50 feet to 60 feet. Crocker and Co. ... Chinaman's Hill, 2 0 0 1 7 12 2 15 0 40 feet. Rushworth Crooker and Co. ... Ditto ...... 6 0 0 o J7 0 5 2 0 40 feet. Bell and Co ...... Specimen Hill, Rush- 15 0 0 0 5 19 4 7 0 80.feet. worth Harrison and Co. ... Nuggetty Hill, Rush- 50 0 () J o 21 52 4 0 90 feet. worth Mallock and Co. ... Jack-o'-day Reef, 3 t,o 1 7 4, 4 1 12 30 feet. Whroo Long and Co. ... N uggetty Hill, Rush- J9 0 0 1 12 6 30 13 0 70 feet to 80 feet. worth Westerman and Co. ... Scrub Reef, Rush- 10 0 0 0 8 15~ ·1 6 12 20 feet to 30:feet. worth Regan and Co. ... Nuggetty Hill, Rush- 6 0 0 6 3 20 37 3 0 140 feet. worth Boss and Brideson ... Nuggetty Hill, Hush- '20 0 0 1 I 15 21 12 18 I 60 feet to 70 feet. worth Peep-o'-day, Whroo I 0 0 I 4 0 I 4 0 140 feet. Arthur and Law ... White Hills, WhroD 16 0 0 0 7 5 5 15 12 40 feet. Darby and Co. ... Union H€ef ... 42 0 0 I o JO 0 21 0 0 45 feet deep. Esmond and Co. ... Crocker's Reef 11 0 0 J 6 0 14 6 0 100 feet deep. Darb)' nnd Co. ... UnioD Reef "'1 1 0 0 9'16 0 9 16 0 15 feet deep. MoDermott and Co. '" Happy-go-lucky ... 5 0 0 1 14 0 810 0 60 feet deep. JODes and Francis ... Albert Reef ... lO 0 0 . 0 J9 19 '9 18 '0 80 feet deep. Marshall and Co. o.. Nuggetty Reef ... 20 0 0 o 19 23 19 1~ 0 110 feet'deep. Wilson and Co. '" Peep-o'-day ... 3 0 0 3 9 16 )0 9 0 40 feet deep. Darrock and"Law ... White fIills ... J4 0 0 o 10 7 7 4 35 feet d '0 . Giilespie and' Co. Victoria Reef 23 .0 0 o 15 6 11 II ole0 40 feet. P' Axton and Co. Nuggetty Reef 18. 0 0 I o 10 121 9 9 0 130 feet. No. 35,1. 42 INFORMATION. ~EL.A.'!:~:YE T9 .QUARTZ ,Q"ll.US.HED,::-Continued. , ~ l,., <, I I ~ Average Total field of Remarks relative to the Name of Company. Where Qua.rtz 'was I Quartz crushed. Yield of G<>ldi Depth at which the obtaineu. per Ton. ' Gold. Quartz w... obtained. " ,. t<>u ewt. qr. ,. Oz~ dwt. gr. "oz. dwt. gr. 0 i, ...... Axton and Co. " ... , Nuggetty Reef, , ' .. ... ,20· 0 0- ,-, 1 2 14 --22 12> 0- '130 feet. Lloyd and Co. ... Haippy-go·Lucky .... 11 0 0 2 1 19 23, 1 0 90 feet. Band and Co...... Albert Heef .. . i3 "0 ' 0 1 ' 1 0 13 13.0 80 f(let. Regan and Co. ... Nuggetty Heef ... 25.. O.. 0 I 2 15 28 10 0 120 feet. Sullivan and Co. ... Speeimen Hill ... 10 0 0 I 414 12 6 0 105 feet. " Darby and Co. ... Belfast Reef ... 8 O. 0 2 10' 19 20 6 12 80 feet. . Fisher and Co. ... Mousey~s Heef ... 40 0 0 0 4 2 8 4 12 'Surface: . .. Band and Co. ... Carr's Reef ... 35 0 0 - 1 3 18 41 11 12 90 feet. Anderson and Co. ... Nuggetty Reef ... 46 0 0 2 8 17 112 0 0 80 feet. Bailey and Co. ." Carr's Reef ... 12 0 0 1 2 12 1:3 10 0 60 feet to 70 feet. Long and Co. ... Nuggetty Hee! ... 10 0 0, o 12 21 6 9 0 i 85 feet. Band and Co. ... Johnson's Reef ... 25 0 0 1 o 14 25 15 0 60 feet. h.' I Q TOTAL ... 582 .0 , O. ,1 313! 685 14 8 .. Quartz, Tailing8, Cement, &,c. ,. ·'1' William Olvens .... Specimen Hill ... 134 0 0 0 ;4 0 26 16 0 Quartz tailings, Ditto ... Ditto, ...... -'''I'~~ 0 0 0 '4 0 14 0 0 Ditto. '0 Fisher .and Co. ... Ditto ' .. '" 40 o 0 :4 0 8 0 0 Ditto. H:irrisOIi'and Co. Nuggetty Gully ... 47 0 0 0 '2 12 5p 12 Rubbish. Fisher and Co. .,-. Specimen Hill ... 'jOO 0 0 0 '4 () 20 0 0 Quartz taiiings, Baker and Co. .... Nuggetty Gully ... 32 0 0 0 5 4~ 8 6 0 Cement. Schofield and Co. ... Nuggetty Gully ... 10 0·0 0 '5 12 2 15 0 . Ditto. , TOT'AL 433 0 0 0'333 S5 14 12 ... ' . I i " 'Ie f. , ' . MEMo.-About 500 tons of quartz tailings, also recrushed, averages nearly 4 dwts. per ton: The noteworthy feature in mining for the past month, is a general improvement in the produce of the quartz reefs, the proportion of quartz gold to alluvial by the two last eseorts, being· about seven to five. The most Dlarked improvement i.s.at Nuggetty~Reef,~Rushworth, ·and at'.Carr~s:fteef, Whroo. The antimony lode at the Stockyard is increasing in size, and I antieipate will continue to do so. On the. 3rd instant, l\fessrs. Stewart and Smith started their pUIDJling. engine on South N uggetty Reef;, it works very satisfactorily, an:dwill soon drain"this valuable reef. In alluvial.mining,I Jiave,nathing'new to report upon.,.) ," '-., -RAY,WOPD SUBDIVISIq.f, ( ; Mr.. Edward'Nucella Emmett, :bfining Registrar. THE POPULA.TION IS A.S FOLLOWS:- Total for the 'Europeans. Chin... , Subdivision, --,-,---'------.. -~.-~ 1--.. --.. --..2.'---I------l~-----_,_ .Alluvial Miners" i 2,540 32 2,572 Quartll .]\;liners 1. 50 50, , j'" I··· Other Population 2,510 2,510 ---~--I'---'------'- --,~.~--- 5,100 32 , 5,132, I THE TOTAL NUMBER IS TH,US DISTRIBQTEP: Coulter's, Welbourne, and Pioneer neer' .. , 50 Opmol'oka ... ." ." ... 40 Inglewood Hm Lead . 656 Shepherding, 'fossicliing, constructing dams, Raywood Lead 570 . carthlg washdirt and water...... 450 Sailors' Gully Lead 350 ,Raywo9,<'!.', ... . .',\ ... '.. .'," ,;,2.. ;tg9 Sebastian, 150 Elysian Flat Proper TOTAL 5,132 Elysian: Flat Rush .~~g /' Total value of all mining plant ill :the subdivision, £4,000. ' . , Number of squar~ miles· of .alluvial gr,ound which iisbeing. C!J: ma'y'~ave been J~~UaIiy ~!=lr~~~ upon,.i!-. . , Num~er ~f distinct quartz reefs which hav~ been actu,ally proved to be. ay,riferous'tothe present' ~L . The price of gold during the quarter in the subdivision has been from £3 18s. to .£3 18s. 9d per oz. - •. • 1 -, 43 I have the honor to enclose my report for'the quarter ending this day, submitting therein for your information the total amonnt of populatIOn for this portion of the mining division. . ·In consequence of the almost total absence of water for washing, the auriferous wash dirt has been for some time past, and is still largely stacked awaiting the coming of rain. The expense of carting the wash dirt to the only water now to be obtained, the Yarraberb Station, preclu(ies any but the holders of rich claims from doing so, and therefore prospecting in the absence of water contiguous to the large extent of.auriferous country here is almost fruitless. I, however, have no doubt that when the winter rains set in, many leads of gold will be found in this very auriferous portion of the division. Indeed. the eontinuation of the Raywood Lead, hitherto by some considered run out, is now found at a considerable distance (over a mile from the beginning of the lead) atseventy.two feet sinking, very rich. 'rhe prospectors ofa new find on this lead have, this morning announced to me the fact of nearly two ounces to the load. While Elysian Flat is again receiving population, caused by new finds to the east of Raywood, Sebastian opening again for gold to the south; Comoroka, about ten miles to the north.cast, and the Raywood lead rich to the west towards the plains, I cannot refrain from submitting to you my opinion, which is borne out by many intelligent miners, that this portion of the Jivision will, this winter, support a large. population. . In remarkin& upon the coarse chal'l;tcter of the gold from this field, which varies considerably in appearance, the auriferous strata being of a most diversified nature, I may state, that the leading feature of the. gold here is nuggetty, and' found in shallow sinking. Nuggets have been constantly found varying from 2 ozs. to 110 ozs., and although the deep leads promise favorably, I am of opinion that a plentiful sUp'ply of water will o-pen up a large amount of surface diggings, in fact, nuggets have been found in Sailors' Gully 45 ozs. III weight, only six inches from the surface, over sinking of eight feet. On the Inglewood Hill and lead the gold is found in a hard cemented white sand, requiring blasting to remove, the gold being very bright and pure without alloy or admixture of earth or clays. The wash i~ of heavy white quartz, in most instances embedded in cement. Sailors' Gully comprises a run of auriferous all1.lvium in a westerly course, apparently originated in the same source which supplied the Raywood leads. The Inglewot;)d Lead trends nearly east, and the source of supply alluded to is· supposed to be an auriferous lode in the low dividing range, running ne~ly north. and .. south from the upper point of J,\ay;wood Gully, about the Christmas Reef. The characteristics ,of ,this lead are very similar to Ingle\yood Hill lead. the wash however is not so heavy and defined, and many of the nuggets found in its course, including some of the largest obtained on Raywood have been found embedded four and five feet deep in,cement. 1'he Raywood Gully odead presents entirely.different characteristics to the foregoing, although separated at the source by some few hundred yards only. Its direction is nearly west, and almost parallel to Sailors' Gully. The gold during the whole course of this lead is found in intimate con nerion with ironstone, and is of a very dark color. The original prospecting claim is situate in this gully, in six feet sin.king, . . In the lower part of the lead, strata of cement with ironstone embedded prevail on and near the bottom, some portions of which have proved very rich. . . Notwithstanding the absence of water, the Banks now buy over 1,000 ozs. per week, this is exclu~ive of a eon~iderable amount taken away by miners to sell at j1ther plac'!s. ". MARYBOROUGH MINING DISTRICT. MARYBOROUGH DIVISION. 111r. D. O!Leary,. Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS :- Europea.n.s. Chinese. Total for the :Remarks. . i Division. Alluvial Miners 3,240 1,160 4,400 ...... ~ Quartz Miners ...... 620 ... 1\20 TOTALS ...... 3,860 1,160 5,020 '.' .. ." THE TOTALNTJlI1BER.. OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIB1!TED:-. 'Maryborough 1,200 ]\fajorca . 1,550 Chinaman's ... 700 Mosquito, &c. '550 Adelaide Lead 200 Havelock . 160 Alma and Balaclava 160 Different gUllies' 600 ' 5,020 44 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- 1____ A~LJWVlAL lI1ININo. QUARTZ llInmlG. Description or Moohines. I I I Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse-power of ______~~:ork.. Idle. I,I=~i~e~: Steam Engines. Machinery employed in pumping, winding, &c...... 5 ... 110 ...... Whims ...... , . 60 ...... ". ... Puddling Machines ... 120 150 ...... -. Machinery, employed in pumping, '" winding, crushing, &c. ... '" ...... 7 3 170 Whims...... '" 30 7 I ... I ) '''1· I I . Total value of all mining plant in the division, £45,600. N umber of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have. been actually worked upon, 49. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous t() the present time, 115. . The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been £3 18s. 6d. per oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUAR1'Z CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAT2S'ED THEREFROM. . < Where QUD.rtz was Average Total Yield Remarks relati va ta Name of Company. obtained. Qu.utz crushed. Yield of Gold of Gold. the Depth at which the per Ton. Quartz was obtained. ------/------.------·---1------ten cm. (lr. oz.dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Haughton and Williams Leviathan, Bluchers, 1,500 0 O' o 11 0 825 0 0 From 100 to 240 &c. feet. Ballarat Co .... Leviathan, North 2,340 0 0 o 5 0 585 0 0 From 120 to ,130 British, &c. feet .. Watkins and Co. I,eriathan, Treble· 564 0 0 o 11 0 310 4 0 About 80 feet. cock. &c. Hanson and Co. Different reefs "'1,600 0 0 0 17 0, 1,360 0 0' I Greenaway and W nllace Sydney, Welcome 1,150 0 0 1:3 0 11,322 10 0 From 50 to 200 feet nnd Prllssian Johnston and Sons Whitehorse, Iron- 150 0 0 I' 0 0 150 0 0 1 From 90 to 120. stone CloseReefCo., Mariners' Mariners'...... t260 0 0, 0 6 0 78 0 0 From 100 feet. TOTAL ... 1---7,564 0 0 1------10 12 6 4,630 14 0 Quartz Tailings, Cement, , I-==----~·---,I~==:====, ~c. I Greenaway and Wallace "'1 . 1,050 0 0 o 15 0 787 10 0 Cement; about 90ft. o 10 0 65 0 0 Cement. J ;hnston and Sons { ... . 130 0 0 "'1 __17~_0_ 080 68 0 0 TOTAL "'1 1,350 0 0 0 13 15 920 10 0 I have the honor to report that though there have been no imp9rtant fresh discoveries during the last j,hree months, yet the ol~ ~old workings generally seem to have given satisfacwry and almost constant employment to those Wllhng to work; but however favorable prospects may haTe been in the old workings, no inducement can prevent the unsettled portion of the miners from rushing off to new rushes. Thc mining population, III consequence, is decreased considerably . . In many of the old alluvial workings several nltggets have been found, varying from 10 to 192 ounces, the latter being the weight of one found in shallow sinking of 8 feet in an old gully near Graham's store, White Hills. . MAJORCA. • A new valuable discovery has been made in one of the claims on this gold field. At a depth of 80 feet, a reef has been found and a trial crushing of one ton of the stone therefrom realized 21 ounces. The result of the next crushing, which will be in a few days, will, however, better prove the character of this reet'. Notwithstanding 'the combined efforts of the numerous whims on the north and south ends of the Majorca workings, the water is found to be too troublesome. Some of the miners have therefore amalgainitted their claims and enlarged them to the area of three acres, with a view of inviting the co operation of some of the capitalists here to secure steam machinery; arrangements of this nature have been completed, and doubtless, a few months hence Majorca will present a more'jJrosperOU8 a~pearanee than it.does at present. 'l'wo good pumping engines on each end would drain the ground, which would also enable many of the poor miners to work adjoining claims. OHINAMAN'S FLAT. Chinaman's Flat continues in favor with those connected with the blocks already leasod. An. applico,tion for another lease of twenty acres has been made, extending northerly to near the boundary of Coxtown; the Hit.or-Miss, United, and Magnum Bonum Companies report nothing fresh; the two former realize their usual weekly returns of from £3 w £5 per man. . ' Two months crushing; under repair in J8Il1lill'Y. t Two weeks crushing; machine j"Bt erected• I 45 HAYELOCK. An'e~tended claim of three acres has been secured on this flat by the rc-organized Nelson Com pany; pumping engine alreadv erected; but until the shaft is bottomed and the ground opened out properly, nothing definite can 'be reported. ALMA. To give the portion of the Alma Flat (where the old workings reach the deep and wet ground) a fair trial has been for a long time in contemplation. Applications for two leases, thirty acres each, of this ground have been made, and from the well-known energy of the applicants it is believed no expense will be saved in trxing to discover the lost Alma lead. On the different old workings the puddlers have not had a sufficient supply of water, which accounts for many of this class leaving on the slightest encouragement from elsewhere. QUARTZ MINING. Two new reefs have been discovered between Mosquito Flat and Carisbrook, on the surface; the first trial crushing from one brought a return of 4J; ozs. to the ton, but as surface returns are not proofs of the permanency of the yield, no sure conclusion can be arrived at until the reefs are traced deeper and are better defined. On the east side of the Leviathan Reef, Chinaman's Flat, at a distance of about sixty feet, a new reef, has been discovered, running parallel to the old one. It is found to be more regular and better defined than the Leviathan; fifteen feet thick in some of the claims; first crushing 84 tons, 8 dwts. per ton. Many of the old reefs have been yielding satisfactory returns.' The following will give an instance;- Blucher's Reef, at a depth of 240 feet, reef 4 feet thick, 18 dwt. per ton. Sydney do. do. 120 feet, 2 feet do. 1 oz. 10 dwt. per ton. AMHERST DIVISION. Mr. Oharles Oole, Mining SUT1Jeyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:-. Total for the I Europea.ns. Chinese. Division. Remarkll. I Alluvial Miners ...... 2,590 530 3,120 Quartz Miners ...... 300 ... 300 Other PopUlation ...... 3,660 '" 3,66Q TOTALS ...... 6,550 530 I 7,080 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED;- Rocky Flat ... 410 Mount Greenock ...... 350 Gibraltar (South) and MoCallum's Creek ... 560 Cockatoo and Blacksmith's Gullies 590 Mia-mia and Amherst Flats 560 Kangaroo Flat and tributaries 600 Adelaide Lead (south end) 350 TOTAL 3,4..20 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL MINING. QU-U!.TZ Mnmm. Description or Machin... I Aggregate Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horse·power of At Work. Idle. Horse~power of Steam Engines. Steam Engines. Steam Engines employed in Pump- ing, Winding, Crushing, &c. ... 4 6 ll6 3 2 86 Puddling Machines ...... 230 55 ...... Horse Whims ...... 46 14 ... 3 5 ... Total value of all mining plant in the division, £20,600. N umber of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may.have been actually worked upon, 29. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 41. The price of gold during the quarter ill the division has been from £3 176. 9d. to £3 18s. pel' oz. No. 35, m. 46 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QU.ANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. , Average . IRemarks relative to tho Name of . Company. Whara Quartz was Quartz orushed. Yield of Gold TotaJ YIeld of Depth at which the obtained. . parTon. Gold. Quartz was obtained. ----~-~- ton em. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Werner and Party ... North Western Reef. 24 0 0 o 15 16~ 18 16 12 40 to 60 feet. Dixon and Party ... Finche's Reef ... 90 0 0 0 8 10j 38 0 0 100 to 120fcet. Manganell and Party ... Ditto ...... 49 0 0 o 14 lOi 35 7 12 SO to 90 feet. All Nations Co ... Ditto ...... 21 0 0 010 0 10 10 0 85 to 100 feet. Pattison and Co. ... Ditto ... '" 30 0 0 1 5 0 37 10 0 150 feet. Lee and Co ...... Ditto ...... 80 0 0 o 15 0 60 0 0 Surface to 30 feet. Jones and Co. ... l'russian Reef ~"., 45 0 0 o 15 0 33 15 0 Snrface to 12 feet. Jones and Co. '" Ditto ...... 3 0 0 I 2 0 3 6' 0 Surface. Fisher and Co. '" Ditto ...... 50 0 0 1 2 12 56 5 0 Surface to 20 feet. I Strattan and Co. Church Hill Reef '" 1,5 0 0 1 16 16 5 0 Surface to 15 feet. Fox and Co .... ."... North 'Western Reef 35 0 0 0 8 23 15 13 8 40 to 50 feet. Crabb and Co. ... White Star Reef ... 20 0 0 0 8 12 8 10· 0 50 to 60 feet. Buchanan and Co. ... Alexandra Reef ... 140 0 0 0 2 0 14 0 0 30 feet. Cosstick and Co. ... Laura Reef ... : 1,250 0 0 0 2 6 140 12 12 60 to 70 feet • TOTAL ..·1~52 0 0 -'-I-'~-o 5 6j 488 10 20 . Mr. Bartlemore crushed during the quarter 584 tons of cement, which yielded 1840zs., or . \ 6 dwts. 7 gJ'S. per ton. Price per ton for crushing quartz, from 12s. to 15s. Price per ton for crushing cement, from 9s. to 12s. In submitting my quarterly report for the consideration of the Honorable the :\t[inister of Mines, I have the honor to state, that although nothing of an exciting nature has occurred in mining matters, the prospects of the miners, taken as a whole, are highly satisfactory. The temperature of the present , summer has been very favorable to the puddlers; the evaporation being small, in comparison to previous years, caused their supply. of water' to last much longer than it would otherwise have done, and consequently enabled them to wash a much larger quantity of earth than they were able to do for some years back. . On Rocky Flat Lead mining matters have considerably improved within the last month; several companies, particularly near McCullogh's Paddock, are doing well. 'I.'he Prince Alfred Company have completely mastered the water, and their ground is now yielding handsome 'returns. rfhe British Standard Company are realizing from £5 to £7 per man per week, and have been doing this, and at times far better, for the' last six months. 'I.'he Lancashire Lass Company, adjoining the British Standard, are making fair wages; their dividends would give, on an average, about £4 lOs. per !)lan weekly, although some weeks as high as £10 per man is obtained. The Irish Lass Company, having finished the principal of their main levels, have been engaged in blocking out for the last month, and their dividends have ranged from £3 lOs. to £6 per man per week. The Rocky Flat Paddock Gold Mining Company are working ground that will pay well, but as their present machinery is inadequate to thoroughly drain it, they are about to procure more powerful steam machinery to effect that purpose. They likewise intend, so BOOn as the machinery, is erected, to employ an additional number of miners to enable them to work the ground with dispat!,h and to greater advant.age. Within the last month Stockton and Party have discovered what is considered by the miners to be a branch lead or tributary of Rocky Flat Lead, trending from the southern boundary of McCullogh's Paddock in the direction of Mount Greenock. 'I.'heir claim is situated about 150 yards to the south of the paddock, and is worked quite dry. Th~ yield gives auout £4 per man per week. The gold is of a different sample to that of Rocky Flat, being coarse and nuggetty. Three block claims, of two acres and a half each, have been oecuPIed during the past month for the purpose Qf testing the continuation of the new lead. . , :&:fount Greenock Lead.-To judge from present appearances this lead promises to be one of the most important ever opened in the Maryborough district. Every day the miners are becoming more confident of its permanency. A small township is rapidly being formed at the nOI·thern base of the Mount, and comfortable cottages, instead of canvass tents, are daily being erected by the miners. The workings. being of a very difficult and expensive nature causes the development of the lead to be necessarily slow. . The All Nations Company are busily engaged in bloeking out their ground, and although they endeavor to keep t.heir yields secret, it is known that their ground is yielding well. The Vietoria shareholders inform me that they obtained 3 ozs. 5 dwts. 3 grs. of gold off the bottom, one piece weighing three ounces. This prospect has caused two more leases to be applied for, namely, Nos. 7 Rnd 8 fro.niage claims, and a block of 5 acres to the west of the Oriental Company. The Black Ball Oompany are still making good wages. From t,"e time this claim first began to pay (eighteen months ago) the shareholders have realised, clear of all expenses, about £5 per week per man. The Talbot Gold Mining Company bottomed their shaft about three weeks ago, and obtained a prospect that willlie!d from one ounce and a half to two ounces to the load. They have commenced to block out, an will soon have their first washing. The Per~everance Company (engine) are building a new brick chimney, and are likewise replacing their old boiler with It new one of 16·horse power. The tunnel companies to the east of the Mount have been retarded of late in their operations on account of foul air, to remedy which they are now connecting each of the tunncls by cross levels. The Princess Alexandra, Prince of W'ales, and Exploring Gold Mining Companies are in, respectively, a distance of 1,200,1,250,. and 1,300 feet, and as neither of them have yet struck the auriferous earth they anticipate to have at least a further 500 feet each to tunnel. The prospectors south of the Mount were unable to reach the bed rock with a windlass on account of the influx of water, and the ground is, therefore, for the time being abandoned. QUARTZ MINING. No new discoveries in this branch of mining have occurred during the quarter. The Prussian Reef, McOullum's Oreek, is yielding well; the last crushing from the prospectors' claim of fifty tons averaged 1 oz. 2 dwts. 12 grs. per ton; the stone was taken from the surface to a depth of twenty feet. About six weeks since. Jones and party. from the surface of the same reef, had a trial crushing of three tons which averaged 1. oz. 2 dwts. per ton. 'l'he other day they had a further crUshing of forty.five tons, taken from surface to twelve feet deep, which averaged 15 dwts. per ton; this pays well, as the lode is from three to feur feet thick. On Kangaroo Flat a party of twenty Ballarat miners have secured an extended area of ground for the purpose of prospecting for a quartz reef, supposed to be a eontinuation of the Staffordshire Reef. AVOCA DIVISION. Mr. Richard English, j[ilning Surveyor. TilE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:-- I Europea.na. Ohinese. Totals for the Division. Alluvial Miners ...... 1,065 520 1,585 Quartz Miners ...... ·H 20 .. . 20 _. TOTALS ...... 1,085 520 1,605 . I THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Avoca 650 Lamplough 160 Homebnsh 200 No. 1 Creek 45 Mountain Hut 185 Fiddler's Creek 30 Amphitheatre 285 Green Hill Creek 50 1,605 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- 1 ALLUVIAL 11I'IINUIG. QUARTZ MINnIG. Description of lIIachine17. I Aggregate I Aggregate at Work. Idle. Horse.~of Idle. I ,Steam . es. At Work. I r~:lj,f~:': 1--'-' Steam Engines ... H' i ... 12 3 1 53 Puddling Machines ...... 50 35 ...... , ... Crushing Machines ...... 3 1 53 Winding, Pumping, &c. ... 1 ... 12 ...... Toms ...... 20 10 ...... I Total value of all mining plant in this division, £5000. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon,19. . N umber of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time. 7. The price of gold during the quarter has been from £3 16s. 9d. to £3 19s. per oz. 48 T:jIE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED l~,EIJATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ, CEMENT, AND TAILINGS CRUSHED DURING TH~ QUARTER, .~ND THE GOLD. OBTAINED THEREFROi\f. . Average Total Yield of ~ Whether from Q:artz, Name of Oompany. mere obtained. Quantity crushed. Yield of Gold Gole!. Cement, or Tailings; if per 'ron. Quartz, at what depth. ---·-·----'------·---I----------~I------I------I ton cwt. qr. oz. ,lwt. gr. I oz. dwt. gr. Harri~on and Company London Reef, Amphi. 40 0 0 o 7-0 14 0 0 Quartz, depth not theatre, and Red- known. bank I--~-'-- !--~=----l!--'-"~'-'" TOTAL '" 40 0 0 0 7 0 i 14 0 0 Ditto ... Tucker Bank, Avoca 1,000 0 0 o 4 0 I 200 0 0 Cement. Lead Ditto ..• ... Avoca Lead .. . 1,500 0 0 o 1 12 112 10 0 Tailings. Harris and Company ... Lamplough Creek .. . 2,400 0 0 o 1 12 180 0 0 Tailings. Bosanko and Company Ayoca Lead .. . • 400 0 0 o 2 -0 40 0 0 Cement .• Ditto Ayoca Riyer 100 0 0 030 15 0 0 Tailings. TOTAL 5,400 0 0 o 2 O~ 547 10 0 In quartz miping I have no good news to report since the unsatisfactory results were known of a orushing of 30 tons from the London' Reef, Amphitheatre, which gave on the average 5 dwts. to the ton, instead of at least 1 oz., which the party C}qJccted, and with the exception of one party of twelve men giving notice to prospeet a reef at Fiddler's Creek, otherwise this class of mining IS again falling into disrepute, and very few are engaged therein., - - In alluvial mining I am glad to state that there is considerable improvement, although I have nothing of interest to communicate in any other portion of the division, except Avoca Proper, where appearances somewhat indicate that the long-abandoned working in the wet portion of the ground, which is of'large extent, will shortly become the scene of extensiv,e, and, from prospects already obtained, remunerative mining operatioris ; within the last few days quite a new impetus has been given to those who have secured ground on the wet portion of the lead (most of which is oomparatively speaking unworked ground) by a party of twelve men, called "Hocking's Company," who have succeeded, after five months' labor, day and night, with a twelve.horae-power engine to pump their shaft dry, and obtained a prospect of 5 dwts. to the bucket of dirt; this )J!lrty took up four acres of ground under the mining bye.laws, and are now applying for a lease of ten acres, which will include the, whole of any portion of ground vacant within,a vory considerable distance of .the vVet'Lead. Lambert and Company (leased ground) have already sunk their shaft 60 feet, and expect their machinery, (37-horse po~'er) to be at work in six weeks'time. Pascoe's machinery is now partially on the ground, but the party have not yet commenced their shaft. ' KORONG DIVISION. Mr;. Jno. S. ~obert8on, Minimg Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOW8:- I Total for the I I Europeans, ~Chinese. DiviSion. Remark•• Alluvial Miners ,-"" ... 1,200 300 1,500 Quartz Miners ... 1,300 ... 1,300 . " Other Population ...... 5.450 ... 5,450 TOTALS ...... 7,950 300 1-8,2;;--- _0 THE TOTAL NUMBER IS'THUS DISTRIBUTED, New Inglewood 4,500, . Olil Inglewood 150 ' Korong 1,500 Jericho 250 Kingower 750 McIntyre's 300 Sinnott's 100, Burke's Flat 100 Loddon 600 TOTAL 8,250 • 49 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLllVIAL M:r:Nma. - ~~puonof~~ Aggregate .Aggregate At Work. Idle. At Work. Idle. Horse-power or I r=~'l:;ca. St.ea.m Engineo. - , Steam Pumping Machines ...... 2 ... 22 Steam Crushing Machines ...... 16 3 264 Whims ...... 6 ...... 22 ...... Whips ...... 3 ...... 24 l! ." Puddling Machines ...... 70 30 ...... I I Total value of all mining plant it;! the division, :£35,~OO •. Number of square miles of alluvIal ground whlCh IS bemg, or may have been actually worked upon,29. 1 b'" h . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actual y proved to e aurllerous to t e present time, 139...... 7 d The price of gold durmg the quarter m the dmslOn has been from £3 1 s. to £3 18s. 6 • THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, .AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM:- Remarkll relative to the Where Quartz WIIB Quartz crushed. Total Yield of Name of Company. obtaioed. IYi:d~}"&;Jd I Depth at which the i per Ton.. G<>ld. Quartz was obtaioed. - -~~--- ton ewi. qr. oz. dwi. gr. 0 .. dwt. gr. Maxwell's Reef ... 7860 0 o 15 13 610 15 0 March Reef ... 1,642 0 0 1 o lOt 1,719 12 0 May Reef...... 7 0 0 o 11 lot 4 0 0 Rising Sun Reef ... 84 0 0 0 5 17 24 19 0 Daly Reef ... 29 0 0 0 311 5 10 0 Poverty Reef ... 17 0 0 o 11 13 9 16 0 Vulcan Reef '" 464 0 0 o 13 18 319 3 0 Great Western Reef 57 0 0 0 2 23 8 8 (j City of Bath Reef ... 50 0 0 0 8 0 20 2 0 Inglewood Machine 1,054 0 0 o 16 10; 865 16 0 Eureka Reef ... 4 0 0 2 3 0 8 12 0 Goodwin Reef ... 114 0 0 o 13 7l 75 18 0 Zeldham Reef ... 31 0 0 0 7 3 12 4 0 Nairnshire Reef ... 8 0 0 0 4 12 I 16 0 Blackman's Reef ... 10 0 0 0 7 0 3 10 0 Peter's Reef ... 8 0 0 0 7 0 2 16 0 Reality Reef ... 103 0 0 1 14 2! 176 0 () . Leicester Reef ... 140 0 0 0 1 15 60 6 0 Jersey Reef ... 182 0 0 o 15 3i 137 15 u Polka Reef ... 50 0 0 0 6 61 15 14 0 Great Eastern Reef 13 0 0 0 7 0 4 12 0 Duke of Cornwall 146 0 0 0 2 17 19 17 0 Machine - LadyDarlingMaehine 228 0 0 1 3 20! 272 2 0 Victoria Machine ... 204 0 0 011 0 112 4 0 Evening Star Reef... , 2 0 0 1 6 0 2 12 0 TOTAL 5,433 i 0 · .. 1 0 0 , 16 13 4,493 19 0 Although more activity prevails amongst the quartz miners in Inglewood since my last report, in consequence of the alluvial gold obtained at Raywood, enabling miners to support their mates working our quartz reefs, sufficient time has not elapsed yet to develop the new claims taken up. The yield of gold from the claims working has not been so good during the last month, although the average for the quar~er ending March, 1864, is very satisfactory. Thi' March Reef, Inglewood, is in my opinion likely to contInue payable for some time to come. This reef is now very nearly half. a mile in length, and the Reality Prospect Claim, which has returned a handsome dividend to the shareholders, is a continuation of it. This reef is running paranel to the course of the old alluvial rich lead which caused the first great rush to .Ingl~woo~.. ..;. . . . Very httle IS domg m alluvlal smkmg III Inglewood, and several 'puddhng machmes which were' at work last month are idle this, . . At Korong neither the quartz reefs nor alluvial mines have obtained any gold worthy of notice. Kingower quartz reefs are also at a stand still, although the alluvial sinking at Glenalbyn seems to prove highly satisfactory to those who have "struck" it. There are at present twelve payable golden holes at work, but it is almost impossible to get any true returns. These holes are all outside the private property. One party of men informed me that about four days ago they found thrt'e nuggets, weighing respectively 21. 27, and 24. 028. llndyeBterday one of 28028. The miners inside of Mr. Hall's fence have not been so fortunate, for although several nuggets have been found, I have not heard of any over 1 oz. weight. No. 3l1, n. . 50 Jericho is still very dull, none of the shafts having as yet been repaired since the great land slip previously'ment-ioriea. ' " -. " -0, " .... " ' • ,," , , , Burke~s,fiat;'which is about [) miles from·J erichoj'seems to be steadily though slowly progressing, ' and several new claims have been taken up in that locality. McINTYRE'S. . ." J ,:,:'~ ,~a.ve ~d. two apP?cations from thi,s pl~ce for grant~ for 'Pudd~ing m~chine~, and although there are not many mmers at,this place, those tharare here seem'content WIth theIr earmngs. The alluvial Gigging which I mentioned as having been foundoabout 4 miles south of Inglewood, and on the ,~oad from Kingower to N ~wbridge, has, af~~r several ~rial&, b~en abandoned, the poorness of the "stuff not compensating the mmer for the distance he has to cart It to water. , , [N oTE.-On the 26th January, 1864, Mr. Mining Surveyor Robertson forwarded to the Honorable the Minister of Mines a repo~t, stating that a rush had taken place to a spot near Glenalbyn. TJ?,ere' were between 600 and 700 mmers on the ground. The prospectors shaft was about 46 feet deep and was sunk through.sandstone and.pipe.clay" and.the"washdirt,,(about 1 foot in .thickness) was found on a stratum, of decomposed granite. Two nuggets were obtained from the bottom of the prospector's shaft, one weighing 4 ozs., and the other 3 ozs. Glenalbyn is situated about two miles north of Kingower, and the ground in that neighborhood is patchy.]. 'R~DBANK ,AND ST~ ARNAUD SOUTH DIVISION• .', I • -.:,:. '''''''''''''.,,'-,' \,·dfr.' William Byrne, 'MiningBuTVeyo~\, , I ~ - ~HE J?OPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS ::.:::.-'- , Total for the i Euxopea.nJ!. Obinese. Division. i Renn:rks. -,~-- --"---'~------.~~-~ Alluvial Miners ...... 500 50 550 Quartz Miners ...... 250 ... 250 , Other Population '1,200 I 1,200" ...... ,j 1 TOTALS ...... 1,950 50 ' 2,000 : , " , THE TOTAL NUJ\~BER 'OF"MIN£RS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:-. · Redbank SOO Hines' ... 70 , Donk,ey, Hill . " 60 Moonambel ..,; 100, · Emerald Flat. .. , 50 Victoria Gully ... 140 Stuart Mill ... i· ... ; .... 80 · '. TOTAL , •• I ~. !THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS :-,.. •.... ~'"'' .... ALLUVIAL Mn'1l1G• . ~!1ddling Machip.es'j ,·,10,. - . - " . '" ~ 'Whi!ps . ... ; 4 .. Steam Engines employed in pump 3 1 .' '.: ,54' ing and crushing , , . I '. 'I • - . 'TotaI'v'alueof:a:irmlIDng plltiit'hi tlie division, ;£1;190 ... "." 'II " • :'" I: ::":' ",. ,.. .' ~¥mberof, ,squll;re P,li~eB, of al).uviaJ ground whichis beirig~ Qr~ay.have been' a~tually; -:worked upon 6. " ,', ,,' " '.. ' " ", ' ' 'ti ,,' 2'N1 u~ber. .1 '. .. 51 THE.FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS-B1!!ll)N O!lTAINE:D REliA.TIV~L·TO 1.'JiE';QU:A'NTiTY"· OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER; AND'· THE·GOPU::.pBT,MJSED THEREFROM. .. Whe;'" Qu· ... z • - Average 1\ T"'-' Yi Id f RemarkB relative to the ,1'; .'. • v ""~..;~;; Quartz cruBhed. Yield of G 332 '10 0 !} 11 13i 192 7 0 A considerable diminution has taken place in the population of this division for the past quarter; this may be attributed, in a great measure, to the good accounts which have been received from Cochranes' Diggings, in the adjoining division of Dunolly, in the neighborhood of Victoria and adjoining gullies, the alluvial mining having been at a standstill for want of water, but large quantities of washdirt a.re being stacked for washing when the rain sets in. Quartz mining is dull, but I have to report two new reefs, from which payable stone is being raised, one in the neighborhood of Stuut Mill, and the other at Donkey Hill; in both cases the vein is narrow, but is getting wider as the depth increases. ST. ARNAUD NORTH SUBDIVISION. Mr. John PhiUips, 'Mining 8urveiJO'r. · .THE POPULATION IS 1\S FOLLOWS:- ~ 'l ,> .. i , Total for the Eurokean. I Chinese. Division. RemarkB. i . -I , 849 919 Alluvial Miners .. · ... ~ 70 This does not agree with late re- ports, but it is as nearly correct Quartz Miners - ...... - 16f3 ... ". 168' > • - as circumstances allow me 'to make it. ' ,,' -<;-~, . . ... , , ., " -_. 1,m'i 70 1,087 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED;- Rostron's.. ... " ... ' .. . 35 Peter's, Dogbury and vicinity .. . 830 New Bendigo ...... 70 Greenock Reef 25 \,-rc".'M" .... St. Arnaud (Proper) ' . .. " 127·' I M', ::-".-,_(., I, 1,087 .·:'t.r ' I , THE-M-ABH-I-N.ERY-IS- AS·FOLLOWS:-· ALLUVIAL lIrn;'Um. 'J Description of Machines. Aimregate ~ I, Horse-power of Idle. Horse-power or Steam Engines. , Steam Engines. Steam Engines _ ,.' 8 "j ':3 , • ' '~ .' 1 ~. ; ·to: " . " Number of distinct qu~rt'z'reefs'which have ceeil actually p;oved to be auriferous to the present tune,40. . 52 THE FOLLOWHm INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE- TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND 'l'H;Jl'J GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. :Remarks relative to the Quartz crushed. Yi!d';)''t~~Jd Total Yield of Depth at which the per Ton. G The alluvial slopes of this division are beginning to attract sluicers from other sluicing localities. Some of the smaller parties of reefers and tributers have good prospects, and it is fair to presume the yields will at once improve. • " " Some of the deeper portions of the reefs pursued, promise well. CASTLEMAINE DISTRICT. \ CASTLEMAINE DIVISION. Mr. T. L. Brown, Milnimn Surveyor. -'-~r''.' THE MINING POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- European •. Chinese. ToWa. " ", I. ------. Alluvial Miners ...... 1,199 1,,451 2,650 Quartz Miners ...... 473 2 475 t -,---_._- TOTAL ...... I 1,672 1,453 3,125 THE TOTA.L NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Forest Creek 1,467 Campbell's Creek 1,251 Barker's Creek 407 TOTAL 3,125 . THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- .Aggregate . I· .A.tWork. Idle. Horse-I!!'we.r of Steam .tOngines. Steam Engines employed crushing, pumping, &c .... 26 2 496 Horse Puddling Machines 265 27 Ditto; Pumps ... , 28 13 Stamp Heads 320 Number of Crushing Machines .•. 27 Total value of all mining plant'in the division, £68,000. . ~ umber of square ~ miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually worked upon,25. ' , Number of district quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 89. The price .of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 15s. 6d. to £3178. 3d. per oz. _I 14 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE . '. ·.QV~~p:;iY..3iF.:~U~RTZ_.6Rl!~.HEp,D1nq~G THE QUARTEI,t, AND THE GO~D. 0Brt'MNED THEREFROM . . ,. .- '. . , , ... . . - " . • Where Quartz WlW! Tot~l Yield Name of Company. '. ~zcrllllhed. Yi;;fJ';;~~ld Remarks. I . obta.ined. ' I porToll. of Gold .. I ._. ~.r .. ~ • ..~ ." ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. . Oz. dwt. gr• ·Ajax.Mine.... . Bolhtia.Roof .' ...... 1,050,. 0,' o· 1 410 1,282 I 0 120 to 160 deep." Moscup and Co. ... Ditto.,.' .. , , .. 94 0 0 o 19 6 90 10 0 120 deep. .Nuggetty; Co. ... Nuggetty Reef ...• 992 0 0 0 2 8~ 116 17 5 90 to 100 deep. Ditto ... ,;Ditto. , , .. ... 84 0 .. 0 o 14 0 58 16 0 60 feet east side, . Moore arid others ,. ... Ditto ... 34l 0 0 0 9 17 . 165 Iv 0 McIntosh ,_.4 'Vineyard Reef ... 254 0 0 I 0 5i 256 17 0 Tullock ...... ·Ditto ..:.. ' .. . 87 0 0 o 18 12 80 10 0 'Faubairn and others ... 'Ditto ' ...... 102 0 0 OIl lOi 58 6 0 Logan and Russel ... Argus Hill ... 302' 0 0 0 623ti 105, 12 18 , . Faubairn .,. ... Wattle Gully ... 357 0 0 '0 6 16! 119 8 O. . WaIker ...... Mancl}ester .. , 450 0 0 0 4, _ 3£ 93 .10 0 Williams ...... Nimrod ...... 18 0 0 8 13 8 156 0 0 120 0 0 I 11 22 191 10 14 Lewis .. , ... Ditto. ' .. ~ ... Jones and Bowan ... Ditto ... .., 301 0 0 o 13 9~ 201 12 0 Jeffery's ...... Fiddler~s ...... 1I5 10 0 1 14 lSi . 200 17 . 0 Streade ...... Ditto ...... liS 0 0 o 15 4 89 8 0 I 101 New reef. Trevorah ...... Welcome . .~ . 95 10 0 I 5ij 8 0 Williams ...... Ditto...... 56 10 0 0 5 12 . 15 10 18; Ditto. Currie .. , ... Nortliumberbnd .... 127 0 0 0 8 12 53 IS 12 Ditto. Henry and Comp:my'... Log .. , ... 40 0 0 0 3 lOt 6 18 0 Rosser ...... Prince of Wales ." 57 0 0 0 5 ll~ 15 12 12 Lucas ...... Ca.Jifornia ... 37 0 0 0 7 0 12 19 0 Lewis ...... Sebastopol ... 250 0 0 0 5 16b 7I 0 0 Irwin ...... Ditto ...... 71 0 0 010 I~ 37 2 0 50 0 0 1 89 8 0 New reef. Symes ...... Cranky Ned's '" 15 18t West ...... Ditto ...... 46 0 0 0,10 8 23 15 0 Ditto. Martin ...... Ditto ...... 20 0 0 o 9 11 9 I 0 Ditto, 42 9 12 New leader. Turnbull ... -.. Turnbull's ... 23 0 0 o 15 j 17 68 0 0 o il 39 12 0 Opie ... '" Old Post Office ... 15~ Keethe ...... No name ..• "J .... 103 U"O I 9 1 149 12 0 9l! Small and others ... Hard Hill ... 59 O. 0 o 12 4 36 12 0 Musgrove and others ... Ten several reefs ... 86 15 0 0, 12 2{)~ 55 15 16 Prospects, &c. Harris and others ... Eureka ...... 432 0 0 o 16 18 352 14 0 TOTAL ... 6,407 5 0 o 13 14k 4,355 13 11 CEl[ENT. ~--~ Williams and others ... Montgomery and 246 0 0 ,0 5 19l 71 9 22 White Hills HEADINGS AND HEFUSE. Perseverance Company Forty-foot Hill ... 1,500 0 0 0 1 lOt 108 10 0 • In submitting my report of mining operations within this division for the past quarter, I have the honor to state C that the statistics are as accurate as can be made; every portion of my division having been personally visited by me, the population approximately numbered, all mechanical appliances registered, and the returns of YIeld from quartz reefs, cement, &0., copied by me from the books of the crushing companies, all of whom purpose keeping full and correc~ returns for future reports. Mining operations during the past quarter have been impeded, first by numerous holidays, then, in alluvial working, by a scarcity of water; sluice washing having been entirely suspended and puddlers and cement-workers only partially employed. Quartz mining, in addition to the above canses, has been hindered by repairs and improve'!llents to machinery, which have kept our local founders and engineers extremely busy, and has very materially enhanced our prospects of future success. I may note the re-borillg of cylinder and thorough repmr of machinery at the N uggetty Reef; the erection and working of the White Hill Mining Company's twenty-horse-l?ower engine and twelve stamps, improved ripple boards 21 feet long by 4 feet 6 inches wide, and havmg a fall of It inch to the foot, Streade and Co.'s maohine; new battery and appliances at . Powell and CO.'8; the sale and transfer of plant from the Victorilt Company to Opie and Co., who have taken u~ 800 feet upon the Old Post Office Hill; the removal of the Sebastopol drainage engine to the Lady Barkly Reef, where it is being erecced with two batteries of stamps; the purchase by Vivian and Co. of the Old Quartz Hill powerful machinery, including a fifty-horse-power ellgine and twenty-four stamps; also the Gold Mining Leases 80 long un• . worked. As being let on tribute, the Phronix, formerly the Eureka Company's ground and machinerv ; - also the Bolivia Company's lease and plant; the Cumberland Reef is now under offer. " New machinery in progress of erection. A splendid ellgine for erushing cement is being placed in Donkey Gully by Mr, Hayes; an engine and appliances for the purpose of re-crushing the quartz tailings from the .Ajax Mine by Roberts and Co., some of the late tribucers ; and at the Ajax Mine. probably the most extensive and complete machinery ill the colony, including what are considered the latest improvements; the present engine, thirty.five-horse power, is being removed to its new site near the engine shaft, and fixed upon a solid bed of granite, some of which blocks weigh from 4 to 5 tons; the motive power will be supplied by two boilers, 31 x 6 feet each; the bedding for the sLamp~ und all the machinery and frames is of a more than ordinary substantial diaraeter. The new features in this machinery are, that the quartz will be first submitted to the action of one of Chamber's stonehrcakers, which is being placed 34 feet above the engine shaft, and in line with a uew tllnnel, which is being driven so as to cut the reef about 80 feeb froUl surface; thi,s stonebreaker will be worked by hydraulic No. 35, o. pressure and is calculated to break 150 tons a day; from it the broken quartz will pass through a shoot into tramwaggons to supply the batteries, which are self· feeding and contaiu five stampers in each box, working upon: false bottoms; the stampheads are circular, lifted by a cam.dis(l and screw and fitted with ahoes of white metal easily replaced. For abstracting the gold, long ripple.boards with mercury wells and blanket tables will be used; the process being finished with a revolving barrel amalgamator. This mine and machinery will well repay a visit and inspection and with the many other im. provements in mining applianc.es augurs 'an increase of prosperity for this division. . NEW WORKINGS. In alluvial mining no new ground has been ol:?ened, except in private property, some of which, near Guildford, has yielded very well; and on roadslde claims, many of which pay well, blocks of solid ground often occur reminding one of the. former richness of this gold field. . , In quartz mining several new reefs or leaders have been added to our numerous list; in Barker's Creek,Cranky Ned's Reef has been taken up for a long distance and has yielded 122 ozs. 4 dwts. from 116 tons. In the same locality Turnbull's Reef has yielded nearly 1 oz. per ton and much richer' IiItone is now being obtained. Near Nicholson's Gully, the W elcomeReefhas been opened, the prospector obtaining 101 ois. 8 dwts. from 95t tons,'and the next claim 15iozs. from 56 tons, also in the same locality the Northumberland Reef has yielded 54 ozs. from 127 tons. A new reef has been opened by Chinese o on the Diamond Hill, Campbell's Creek, and another, named tlie Royal, is being opened at Forest Creek. The annexed returns of qnartz crnshed and gold obtained therefrom include all that I could reliably ascertain (some few machinists not having kept regular accounts); for the correctness of these I can vouch. 'rhe quartz was obtained from thirty reefs, the total quantities are- 6,407! tons of quartz yielding...... 4,3550zs. 13 {[wts. 11 grs. 1,500 tons of tailings and headings 108 " 10" 0" - 246 tons cement . ... •.. ... 71" 9" 22" The ascertained yield of gold from crushing machinery 4,355 ozs. 13 dwts. 11 grs. which taking the return lately m~de by the Banks and gold.buyers as a~eragi!1&, 17bout one·fifth quartz gold to four.fifths alluvial, . would gIve the return 'of gold for the Castlemamc DlvlslOn for the past quarter as about 21,780 ozs. FRYER'S CREEK SUBDIVISION. Mr. R. L. M. Kitto, Mining Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOI.LOWS:- "" . I Europea.n.s. i Chinese. Total for the I Remarks. , I Division~ ~------~-- .- .Alluvial Miners n. ... 1.460 1,82.0 3,280 Quartz Miners ... n. ... 136 ... 136 Other Population ...... 4,200 310 4,510 TOT.ALS .. - n • 5,796 2,130 7,926 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS .THUS DISTRIBUTED :- Fryerstown and Golden Gully 550 Spring Gully ...... 325 Church Flat and Chapel Hill 210 Belle Vue... 190 Vaughau and New Year's Flat ... 950 'l'arilta ...... 290 Strathloddon and Loddon Valley 260 Guildford (Proper) ... . 120 Pickpocket and Loddon 420 Glenluce and Upper Loddon 101 TOTAL THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL JlMING. I' QUA.I!.TZ MIllING Description of Jlfachines. At Work. Idle. H:~~;:; of I-=~~ork. ~--I:e~-- ~~!~~ o~- Steam Engines. ' Steam Engmes. ----~ ---~ Steam Engines, pumping, washing, 6 2 .150 ...... and crushing cement Horse Puddling Machines 290 55 ...... ' .. Whims .. , ... 6 2 ...... Whips ... . •. 20 10 ...... Horse Pumps ... '" 64 6 ...... '" .. , 72 2 Sluices and Toms ...... # ...... Water Wheels ...... 5 I ...... Steam Engines (crushing) ...... 5 4 164 Whims ...... 4 2 ... .Whips ...... 7 :2 ... , • 2 55 Total value of all mining plant in the division, £51,900. . N umber of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon,14k. . Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be ailrlferous to the present time, 25. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 168. 3d. to £3 17s. 6d. per oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE '1)0 THE QUANTITY OF QU:ARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOJJD OBTAINED THEREFROM. ll.emarJm relative to the HalMof Company. Where Quartz was Quartz crushed. \ YietJ~T~"old Total Depth at which the obtained. per Ton. Yield of Gold. Quartz was obtained. -.~~---- ton ewt. qr. oz. dwt.gr. oz. dwt. gr. Ferron's Reef Co. ... Ferron's Reef ... 266 O· 0 0 6 156' 88 10 0 60 feet Ditto ... Ditto ... 150 0 0 '0 3 0 22 10 0 60 feet Rowe and Co. ... Cattle's Reef ... 20 0 0 0 8 0 8 0 0 74 feet Ditto ... Ditto ... 126 0 0 o 12 0 75 12 0 74 feet Kitto and Co. ... Ditto ... 23 0 0 0 3 12 4 o 12 30 feet Rowe and Co. ... Clark's Reef ... 25 0 0 0 3 12 4 7 12 30 feet Ditto ... Ditto ... 10 0 0 0 3 0 1 to 0 30 feet Meyer and Co. ... Bullock's Reef ... 325 0 0 o 10 7-& 16i 10 0 135 feet 'Baker and Co. ... Ditto ... 14 0 0 2 0 0 28 0 0 i5 feet Ditto ... Ditto ... 26 0 0 0 8 6~ 10 15 0 75 feet S. Scotson ...... l\lopoke ... 900 0 0 0 4 0 180 0 0 35 feet C. Pilcher ...... Pennyweight ... 390 0 0 0 5 0 97 10 0 45 feet Vincent ...... Irish Reef ... 6 0 0 o 12 0 3 12 0 74 feet Eldorado Co. ... Specimen Hill ... 2,329 0 0 0 1 3 131 0 3 Various depths Welsh Co. '" ... Welshman's Reef ... 12 0 0 0 6 16 4 0 0 60 feet Ditto ...... Ditto ... 55 0 0 o 10 22 30 0 0 60 feet Rees and Morgan ... Ditto ... 11 0 0 2 14 13 30 0 0 54 feet Cattle and Co. ... Cattle's Reef ... 113 0 0 o 10 22k 61 16 0 40 feet Martin ...... Cemetery Reef ... 19 0 0 0 8 3~ 7 15 0 40 feet Ditto ...... Ditto ,"- 9 0 0 0 3 12 1 1l 12 40 feet Ditto ...... Ditto 2 0 Oi 0 4 12 0 9 0 20 feet . '" TOTAL ... 4,831 0 0 0 323! 958 8 15 Applications during the quarter have been made for 237 acres of abandoned alluvial workings, as also for 10,340 lineal feet of quartz. Of these applications, 151 acres have been surveyed and permanently registered; 3,240 feet of quartz reef have been surveyed and laid off, and 3,880 feet perma nently registered. Protective registration has been granted to the holders of ten quartz claims and of nine alluvial claims. . The utmost regularity has characterised the operations of the miners during the quarter. A slight impetus was given to ~uartz mining during the latter end of last year. The fact is, the individual miner, without the assIstance of capital, is utterly unable to prospect quartz reefs, or in other words, develop the quartz resources of a district like thlS. In many parts of the country, quartz veins have b.een exceedingly rich near the surface; such, however, is not the case here; hence the inability of persons without capital to thoroughly explore even those reefs which give undoubted signs ot wealth, but require proper development. In alluvial mining very little has occurred worthy of special notice. One fact I may mention as indicative of the probable revival of a briskness in alluvial mining. I refer to an application for a "fron~ge" for twenty men under bye.law 6, sec. 1, at Holcombe, immediately opposite "Parker's Pre-emptive Right." _ It appears that some of the Daylesford leads are trending towards this part of my division, in fact gold has been obtained in the paddock immediately to the south of Holcombe Pre-emptive Right, and it may, therefore, be supposed, that in all probabillty the pre-emptive right is auriferous. Eighty acres of the. property referred to have been leased to be worked in connection with the frontage claim applied for. A company is being formed with a proposed eapital of £2,500 in order to endeavour to work it thoroughly. . I am of opinion that auriferous deposits exist throughout the whole ilistance from Holcombe to }\1:iddleton's Creek. The mining companies are doing little worth recording. The Eldorado Company crushed, 2,329 tons of stone, giving a return of 1 dwt. 3 gre. to the ton. It may be worth recording that such a small yield (being little over 48. per ton) pays all expenses and gives a fair dividend; such an extraordinary fact would hardly have been credited a few years since. The low produce referred to has reduced the average yield of gold from quartz to something under 4 dwts. to the ton. Only 958 ozs. 8 dwts. 15 grs. being obtained from 4,831 tons of stone. The Hand of Friendship Company on' the Emu Reef would have had' their machinery in full operation before this, had not a delay been caused in the casting of the axle for the stamping machinery. The Alexandra Company on Welshman's Reef crushed only 67 tons of quartz, when the water was exhausted. .' Mr. Scotson has crushed immense quantities of quartz, which have not yielded as liberally as heretoforc; but he has cleared expenses and made a good dividend. The Chinese are obtaining good returns for their labor on the Loddon again this season, especially at Vaughan, ",·here they have successfully, mined a portion of the bed of the river to the bed. rock, and secured splendid returns. Great numbers of Chinese are working 'in Mr. Slee's paddock, below Guilford, but I have been unable to ascertain exactly the result of their op"lrations. 56 . I ~ j Mr. Ambrose Johnson, Mining Surveyor. ' THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS :- , ------~--~--~------~~----~-----.. :E;uropeans. Total for the :Qivillion. . ~ "'"" ' .. ', '" ~:,<.Alhl:"'ialrl\1iiner8· .. ",: .. - 2,287 4,067 t' " l:' . . J.'< ,,', " .. ; .. Quarti Miners 788 789 3,075 1;7.81 , 4,856 , TH;E . TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBD'TED:- " Pick~ocke't :, Blanket Flat-continue£l. ickpocket 166 Switzerland, New Adams,' French7, Chance Reef " 19 man's, and New French Reefs' .,." 73 Clements and Chri~tmas R;~f 26' .. ! German and Biggam's Gully .~.r 22 Petticoat and Scotchman's Gully 24 Wombat:- Yandoit and Forty-foot:- Burnt Swamp, Feehan's Gully, Lanky Smcers: Gully and Flat 38 Gully, Stony Creek, and "The Ridge" 196 , Old N uggettv Gulla; 7 ' Blind Creek, Cameron's Gully, and New N uggetty Gu y ... 10 Melvino Reef' , 88 Yandoit Creek and Bald Hills 45 ' Specimen Hill and Wombat Creek 256 Jim Crow Creek, below Shepherd's Ff~t 243 Italian Hill '.: .. 152 King William an~ Cocker's Gully' ", 26 I Smith's Creek 36 Forty -foot Gully .. , 88 Daylfisford 613 German Gully ... 16 GlenIyon 74 Boots:- Sailors' Creek 453 Green and Weleome Gullies 40 Spring Cre:ok!- Boots an.d Smeers' Gullies .. , 106 Spring Creek and Old Racecourse 376 Butterfly and Porter Gullies " Doctor and Oobbler's Gully· - 147 ~ 20 , Y or1!:ey a!ld :f!:u:qlphries' Gullies 86 Kidd's Gully ... 43 Splitters' Flat ... ." 70 W elshmari's Gully 77 Bald Hill,Creek and Italian Gully .. , 80 Woman's Gully 13 Ba,ld Hill, .Don't.wake- 'urn, Sulky, and Elevated Plains 33 Keep-'um-Dark GUllies ...... 148 Dry Diggings :- Adelaide Reef :., , 10 ' . Dry Diggings 201 Blanket Flat :- Middleton Creek 33 Old Brandl, Hot ...... 27 Sawpit Gully' ...... 31 .New lk!\n y Hot ... •.. 115 . Fryingpan, and Shepherd's Flat '0 '" 60 ,DeeR Creek and Italian Gully 144 Glengower 23 Blanket Flat 162 Whiskey and Ohampagne 48 4,856 BI~ek J,ack's and Emeu 56 Old Tom Gully 36 , The proseeution of deep alluvial sinking in and about Daylesford, and the prospecting generally• . with In'omising results, of the large. comparatively new tract of ground between Daylesford and the , L6ddoll• have caused a steady increase to our mining population that is not likely to fall oft' for some 'time, while owing to the frequent showers during last summer, allowing creek sluicing to be prosecuted with little or no stoppagc, a considerable addition to our Ohinese popl1.11ttion has been attracted hither. The above retum is from actual inquiry at all the'localities specified, and is, I believe, as correct as. Clrcumstances would permit. , THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL, QUAltTZ, ._-_._. Description of Machinery, I Aggregate Aggregate At Work. I Idle, HorsoMpower. At Work, I(ll•• Horse-power. - ----_._--- Steam Engines employed in pump- 11 2 115 ...... '" ing, winding, puddling Steam Engines ,employed in pump- ...... 22 2 345 ing, winding, crushing Crushing Machines worked by ...... I 4 .,. water power Whims ...... 29 ...... 22 2 i ... Horse Pnddling Machines ... 163 I 28 ...... I .. , ... I I I J I Ii 57 Total value of all mining plant in the division, £4f3,770. - Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked- upon,67. h Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to t e present time, 79. Price of gold during the quarter, £3 14s. 9d. to £3. 17s. Od. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBT.AlNED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. Name of Company. Where obtained. Quantity. Yield per Ton. I Tot&! Yield. I Remarks. ~~-~~~-- -- ton cwt. qr. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Fearnot United Co • ... Camp street, Dayles- 1,600 0 0 0 7 0 560 0 0 ford Cornish and York Co. Stanbridge street, 1,600 0 0 1 0 6 1,620 0 () Private property. Daylesford Wilson's Machine Various localities ... 1,300 0 0 1 o 12 1,332 10 () For hire. Havelock Co. ... ·Wombat Hill ... 1,040 0 0 o II 12 591> 0 0 Cornish Co...... Various localities .,. 3,000 () 0 1 3 10 3,512 10 0 For hire. 18 7 1,975 10. 0 Ditto ... '" Wombat Reef ... 2,160 0 0 o Daylesford Co. ... Collier's Reef ... 1,800 0 0 0 7 0 630 0 0 ~ecimen Co. ... Specimen Reef ... 1,510 0 0 o 10 0 755 0 0 onderful Co. ... Wonderful Reef ... 1,340 0 0 o 10 0 670 0 0 Victoria -Machine ... Various localities ... 2,374 0 0 010 0 2,374 0 0 Empress Eugenie Co .... Eugenie Reef ... i60 0 0 I 0 0 380 0 0 Cornwall Machine ... Pitcher's .Eeef . " . 800 0 0 0 8 0 320 0 0 Lecini's Machine ... Doctor's Reef ... 900 0 0 011 0 495 0 0 Chance Co ...... , Chance Reef ... 360 0 0 0 6 0 108 0 0 Clement's Reef Co. ... Clement's Reef ... 321 0 0 o 10 0 160 10 0 Prince of Wales Co. . .. Glamorganshire .., 371 0 0 0 5 0 92 15 0 Prince Llewellyn Co .... Parker's Specimen 600 0 0 0 6 12 195 0 Reef Sportsman's Co. ... Sportsman's Reef ... 480 0 0 010 0 240 0 Bendigo ...... Parker's Specimen 500 0 0 0 5 12 137 10 ;1 Reef O' 0 TOTAL '" 22,816 o 14 4 16,156 5 0 It should here, however. be remarked, that It very considerable amount of cement and wash dirt, obtained from the principal claims in Daylesford, and the yield of which probably has exceeded 1 o~. per ton, is included in the quantities crushed at public machint}s, and I shall endel',vor to obtain sufficient· information for my next report, so as to give a distinct return of quartz and alluvial stuff crushed, Quartz mining has, during the past quarter, occupied a fair share of public attention and the generaf"prospects allover the district are in every way cheering. There have been no extraordinary rich crushings, but while most of the dividend· paying claims have fully kept up to the average, decided im· provements in the quality of stone have taken IJlace in others, and from several reefs, either newly dis. covered or lately taken up, trial crushings have been very encouraging, and in several instances arrange ments are on foot for the erection of batteries in connection with the claims. Reefs that for years have, off and on, been prospected and abandoned as unpayable, even with machinery on the ground, are now fonnd to give fair promises of being remuUflrative; and this result is principally owing to the better knowledge of the nature of our reefs, consequent ufon the systematic working of a large number of claims, and the opportunities offered to the individua miner of getting work for wages. A necessary precaution to be taken before expensive machinery is procured is, of course, to ascertain that the quantity, as much as the quality, of the stone may be depended upon for a length of time, and while the distance from machinery and high cartage, in many instances necessitating the picking of the stone to be crushed, operated against the forming a fair estimate of the average quality of the reef, the system of prospecting in the claim itself was frequently very defective. Now, however, it is generally observed as a rule in prospecting, that the reefs, or at least the gold. bearing stone, have It westerly underlie and a sharp southern dip from the outcrop, and acting upon this principle necessarily saves a great amount oflabor, and the chances of failure proportionately decrease. On Adams New Reef, the owners of claims No. {} and 6 South, after having in vain prospected the reef at the greatest depth attainable with a whim, tried at higher levels, and at last succeeded in striking stone similar to that which once made this reef so famous. A small quantity of this best st{)ne was crushed together with that obtained at other levels, and the whole averaged about l! oz. per ton. In consequence of this discovery, the Princess Alexandra Company have also opened out at a higher level than was originally intended, and as far as can yet be judged, the company will shortly be in a position to realise a reward for their perseverance. From Switzerland Reef the news is not of any public interest. The company has been re.organized and a number of prospecting shafts have been sunk in search of a more defined reef than the vein originally discovered; a number of gold-bearing veins have been found and a main shaft is .now sinking west of the original workings. _ On Nil Desperandum Reef, Whiskey Lead, matters look very satisfactory. First-rate stone was being raised in No.1 and No.2 south and fully as good prospects are being obtained in No.3, as much as 4 to 5 ozs. being washed, not crushed, from a bucketful of stone. The only stone crushed from this reef was sent to Oreswick, some 14 or 16 miles, but it is to be hoped that the prospects may continue such as to warrant the erection of a machine in the immediate vicinity. No. 35,p. 58 Scandinavian Reef and United European Reef.a:e both yielding payable stone",an~ 'o,n,~delaide Reef a small battery has been erected by the DanJl,eVlIke Company, but no crushing has as yet taken place., " .,;, '; ,~ At the head of Brandy Hot a reef, cal!ed Sailors' Reef,Jormel'ly,prospected, has .rQc~lJ.tIy been ta.ken up a,nd the prospects are very encouragmg. ' , " On Melvin's Reef, five cl~ims are 1:lt work, ,!:nd th~ International Company and No.2 North'are gettmg payable stone. The dIStance from machmery IS, however, severely felt, and the two above· .named companies propose erecting their own batteries on the ground. ' . . , :' " Sp~~imen ,R~ef , eonti~ueB yielding a fair' i'~tllrn ,in the 'originaf company\i claim; bu~ iii ,tl.j.e 'ad. JOillmg clalms nothmg defimte has as' yet been arrlved at. . I, ,',. '," I , : ' , , ., ' " The Daylesford Quartz Mining Company, Smith's Creek, having, ever since, their starting, been oppressed by all ~anners of difficul~es, h~ve,during the last couple of weeks, strnck SOl;ne very rwh stone and obtained from two days crushing about 65 ozs. of gold. As a consequence, shares rose immediately some 700 or 800 per cent., ,,' , .. The Cornish, Havelock, Fearnot,United CornIsh and York, and the Ajax Conipanies, as well as Mr. Trimble's Reef in ,Queensberry street, have undergone no material change, all of them paying hand. some dividends. ' , The.~ ~getty' Uee'[ qoinpaliy ar(;l now calling fortende~s for the remov~ and erection of an engi~~, and the ad]OIll1llg block of'ground, formerly held by Wm. Wlllard under lease, has been taken up agam. At Dry Diggings, matters'have for a long ti~e been exceedingly qruet; I learn that the Sports. man's Company have lately struck some very good stone, but whether it is likely to prove anything permanent cannot be said at pres~nt. , .:, :' " Very good stone has also, been raised on the National Reef, Sailors' Creek; Welshman's Reef, some three or four miles farthcr up the creek; the Rose.of Denmark Reef, at Stony; and the Perse:verance Reef, at Don't·waRe'·urn Gully; and in all, cases companies are forming for 'the erection of machinery ... , The Summerside Reef, Keep.it.Dark, is also producing some, splendid stone in the origimtJ pio. speeting claim, but the nature of the reef has hitherto proved rather pntchy.,· Boot's Reef, in ,the :same loca:lity, is also bcing prospected; and a trial crushing averaged 16 dwts. per ton. This reefha~now, for the last six years, been repeatedly oecupied, and gold has been found to a d~pth of more-tliall 8Q fe~~, and fot a distance of from 200 to 300 feet on the surface. The present prospecfors appear to be in earnest to give the reef a fair trial. ' , . In Yandoit, the Chance, Clement's, and Glamorganshirc Reefs continuo at work with average · success, and operations are being resumed on the Pioneer Reef. " :' Puddlin,g and sluicing have iu most cases been.in full operation, although of course sluicing has been confined to creek beds and low·lying ground. I have·heard of no extraordinary good yields, but judging from th~ fact, that hardly any ~hanl{e is observable in the principal puddling localities, at lea~t as far as the reSidents are concerned, I Ima"gme that wages somewhere from '£2 to £3 are the average, aud hired labor is, therefore, not'much in demand for these branches of mining. From the number"Of claims being taken up for sluicing purposes about Uon't-wake·'um and Boot's, consequent upou Messrs. COI>pock and Co. extending their race thither, I anticipate a busy season in those localities. Messrs, Croker and Co.'s race is now carried to'Boot's, Bald Rill, and the party are now levelling the course to Yandoit. " ' .. • Tunnelling does not offer anything of public interest. InSeQastop()~ Hill, Deep Creek, the ,Ballarat tunnel, 3,200 feet long, is now in fair working 'ord~r, and the party f~irly landed i~ th9 gutter; 'but from the e~orm.ous outlay it will take a long time,:,e,v¢u ~it)1g~od ~ver,~!Se '9t\U:ff;befo~e t~~ ,pa~~'c~ expect to be rmmbul'sed;-the more s~ as they are .laliormg under the disadvantage of hav;mg toratse.t!ie stuff by an incline, the tunnel being 'too high. Christensen, farther' up the creek, is engaging froiD. twelve to eighteen men and earning a fair remuneration. His newly invented.machine appears to fulfil ~ll his expeetations, and will probably soon be in use on ot.he~: daims: F,or by saving of time and labor it IS well worth the outlay. ' , . ' In Italian Rill most of the old tunnels 'are' yet, ill work, and apparently' yielding handsome 'returns, and most Of them will probably have suffici~nt ground for years 'to come j • and the same mily,be 'siLld of Elevated Plains. ',,', " "" . At Yimdoit, the Golden Gate Company is reported to)lav:e struck a fust.ratetgtitter'inBald Rill, near Machine Flat, and a large area of ground, including Yandoit Hill; has been secured, in conseq1wnce. Deep alluvial sinking contirlii~s in 'a most pliosperotis condition; especially in and about Daylesford. "', , , Theprincipaldividend.paying'claims are' held by the 'WhiteSlar; Defiance, Uoyal Oak, Wombat , Hill, Haphazaru, Homeward Bound, .and Union Companies, and the :lhal'eholders in -the Hand of Friend· · ship, Hope, and Dannebrog Compani'es anticipate'.soon to be added to the'list.. ,Be's~ae8 'thes,e~ 'a:-larg~ numoer of parties have for some time 'been sinking cast of Ditylesford, and the existence of deep ground has beeu,ascertained iJfnui11ero~s instances, and every'thing'promises a prosperous'fu£ure for' the d'ivision. I A number of comp!1nies 'have also been formEjd for the working of'private propertie's about Glenlyoir, and. 'several are already sinking.' , n, .. On 'Sailors' and on Stony Creek Ridge, prospects'liave been obtained' in the"'prince'r..lewell.fn ,-and the Roh Hoy Companies shafts, and everything commences to assume a healthy aspect in these )localities. , ",. ' ":': ._ , " . " . .,.:" Pr?nl,Brandy H?~ th~ reports are "also: ve~y satlsf~?tory, ~nd ~ost. of ,the .fartlCs'expect to '?e ]Jl'ofitably employed f~r a yea~ or more. , \ "'''' ,','.. ,,' '''d,' ,. .,.,: : .- Blanket Flat still remalllS 'a, m:r,s~ery; some alterll;tions m the p)l~p~ ..and gear have been eff~c~~d · l!l the latt~l' part of the quarter, andl'\; 18 to 'be hoped tha~ ,t~e ,undertakmg may soon be brought to'a , successful1s3ue. ' " d ld' d' 'f: . 1 , 'In Yandoit the Excelsior Oompany h~v:e s~ru~k so~~. very. g,~o, go "an, are n~,w ,g~tt~ng aU' y · to work in. the ~1itter, ~robably the, contmuatl,?n. of ~~ng Wl1ha~.8 ,~lly a~~ S~lCers, Lead .. ,~ll available ground m the neighborhood, and at YandOlt Plaps, has ~een taken, up m ?onseguence, ... 1. " At Glengower, a party have taken up a large block of grour~d ou the plam, and have co:nmenced to drive a tunnel to test the. ground, and from the })rospec!~ o~tamed aloJ?g;,th~ fa~e 8f ,lfe hlll, when ,originally worked, the company are favorably looked upon. , .' :"., . 'Shallow alluvial sinking is, just at present" in a more ~ealth:y condltl~m than for ~ome' time ~as 'been the case; several small patches of ground about Boot s .and Bald H;~l yreek havm~ been fouJ?-d · hiO'lily payable; yet not of sufficient extent to avert, although It may for a tIme arres~, the,gr,ad~al ,~s. appearance of this description of mining from our gold fields. ' I 59 TARADALE SunDIVISION. Mr. Thomas Turner, Mining SU1'1Jeyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Europeana. Ohlnese. Total for the SubdiVision. Alluvial Miners 290 i50 1,040 Quartz Miners .... 119 119 i ::> TOTAL 409 750 1,159 I THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- TaraJ}ale vicinity': , Malmsbury Vioinity-continued. Park Lead ' 96 . Coliban and Jeffecson's Reefs " 18 ,Scorpion Lead 32 Kangaroo Reef ... 12 Achilles Rcef 12 Frenchman's Reef 6 Hanover Reef ••. 8 Star Lead, at Lauriston 38 Ironstone Hill arid vicinity ... 40 Chinese and 'others, scattered 500 Yankee Point and vicinity ". 80 Barfold Ranges-Reefs 27 Malmsbury vioinity: Redesdale North ••. 260 Burra Burra Reef ... 8 Orr's Reef 22 1,159 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL Mll><'lli'G. QUARTZ Mrm:N'G. I Aggregate I Aggreggate At Work. Idle. Horse-power of ' At Work. Idle. , J1 orne·power of Steam Engines. i Steam Engines. , Steam Engines for crushing ... 2 ... 11' 1 2 30 Ditto, crushing and pumping4 ...... 4 .. . 52 Ditto, pu pumping 3 ... 30 ...... Water Mill for ... 1 ... 6 ...... Horse Puddling Machines ... 5 3 ...... Horse Whims and Whips ... S ...... 4 ...... Dams aud reservolrS, 7, occupYlIlg about 6 acres. Races, 4, extendmg about 3,058 yarill!. Total vlllue of'all mining plant in the division, £12,000. , Number of square miles of alluvial ground whieh is being, or may have been actually worked upon, 10. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 22 • .Theprice of gold during the quarter of this subdi,:ision has been from£3 .17s, to £3 178. 6d. p~r. Oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION .HAS :)3EEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ C~USHED DUR,ING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. . . , . .. I .. . I Namcs of Oompanies or Total Yield of Remarb relative to the Where Quirtz was obtained. I Yietl~mOld Dopth ..t which the Claim•• QuA~ ~shCd. per Ton. Gold. Quartz was obtained. tOIl cwt. qT. oz. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. '. Malmsbury vicinity. Claim No.1 ... Coliban Reef ... 30 0 0 1 4 16 37 0 0 120 feet paiz.u No.2, squth ... , Ditto ... '" 35 0 0 o 14 7 25 0 0 100 feet ClaIm No.1 ... Frenchman's Reef ... 80, 0 0 o )0 O· 40 0 0 100 feet *Ditto ... Ditto ... 100 0 0 o 10 0 50 0 0 100 feet Claim No.1 '" Orr's Reef ...... 75 0 0 6 13 8 500 0 0 40 feet Ditto ...... Ditto ...... 120 0 0 3 1 16 370 0 0 30 feet No.3, north ... Ditto ...... 7 0 0 1 16 3 12 13 0 40 feet No.4, north ... Ditto ...... 23 :0 0 1 13 1 38 0 O' 40 feet No.2, south ... Ditto ...... ,30 0 0 1 15 8 53 0 0 45 feet Claim No.1 ... Jefferson's Reef ... 55 0 0 o 12 0 33 0 0 Surface Claim No.1 , , .... Burra Burra Reef ... 66· 0 0 1 11 5 103 0 0 120 feet .. ~ ~ , ,. Barfold.Rangcs" . ,-Claim No.~, ,L,o ..... 'Middleton:sRe"f ... 33' 15 O· . 0 9 17 '16 7 12 40 feet ,Claim No.1 ... Hit-or-Miss Reef' ... 450 0 1 7 10 61 15'0 240 feet ' . 't" • (1,-. , ; 'TOTAL '699 15 0 1 18 7 1,339 15 12 -' 'I' .. ... ,,' Rgll8c Stuff. '. Taradale vicinity. " . Achilles' Co;, .. '" ' ... Hughes' ·Reef ... ,,' 70 ,0... 0 . " 0 2 17 9 10 0 ·Ditto ...... Ditto, ...... 'lOa o. 0 0 6 0 30 0 0 Ditto' ... ; ...... Ditto ...... 447 0, 0 0 I 4 26 0 0 , ' , .~ " ',,'"'' , , " ; ," , . !~ ~ ,TOTAL ., ...... 617. '0 0 0 2 3 I 65 10 ·9 * These rel!ults are but approximatWns. 60 The most remarkable occurrence 01' the last quarter has been the movements of the Chinese. They have been leaving continually since Christmas the river workings at North Redesdale, and flocking to the old worked grounds on the Coliban river at Lauriston, where are now eongregated about 450 of them. At North Redesdale there remain about 250. . The Chinese have been greatly disappointed in the result of their summer workings in the beds of the Coliban and Campaspe rivers at North Redesdale, partieulnrly with respect to the latter locality. However, some parties have done well on the Coliban river. A party of four Halians, who havc been for several months tunnelling on the west bank of the Campaspe river, near its junction with the Coliban, have lately struck a.n extensive deposit of auriferous drift, at a point 600 feet from the river; but the value of the diseovery is not yet proved. With the exception of the Chinese, the miners are much seattered throughout the.division. S~~eral p~ies II;re out vrospeeting; but no good discovery has been ,made of late. although expectatIOn was raIsed ill two mstanecs as I reported lately, yet.tbe sequels have been but disappoint. ments. , . The established deep leads of the Parle, at Taradale, of the Seorpion Hill, and of the Star Lead at Lauriston, afford every encouragement, although tlley have been but slowly developed. A company is being organized to prospect for the deep lead, at that point where, unitedly, the Park, the Scorpion, and the Belltopper Leads are supposed to cross beneath the Coliban River, between Taradale and Malmsbury. p This will be an expensive undertaking, but I entertain great expectations of its richness. . If the enterprise be successful, it will prove that a large extent of available auriferous country exists, which will benefit both thc entire district, and the colony. The workings on the various quartz reefs are all very encouraging. The tabular statement of quartz erushed annexed hereto shows a good average yield where other than refuse stuff has been crushed; and in two instances the yields have been remarkably rich. BLUE MOUNTAIN NORTH SUBDrv1:SION. lYIr. R. H. Horne, Mining, Registrar. THE POPULATION IS 'AS FOLLOWS:- Europca!lll. Chinese. I Total for the Division. _. J Alluvial Miners ... .? 600 30 630 ... '" I Quartz Miners ...... " 480 ... 480 Other Pop1.!lation ...... 370 .. . 370 , TOTAL ...... 1,450 . 30 1,480 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Newbury (Main Flat, Rocky Lead, Stony Creek, &c.)... 150 Trentham j .. , ...... 50 Kirk's, Garlick's, and Glue Pot 480 Alma Reef 300 Emilien Reef 45 Nil Desperandum Reef .. , .. , ... 15 Doctor's Hill, and Canadian Bill and Gully ... 20 Works with no name to the locality 50 TOTAL ... 1,110 Total value of all mining plant in the subdivision, £4,300. The price of gold during the quarter has been from £3 178. 3d. to £3 17s. 6d. per oz. As the mill on the Alma Reef hassuspended.operations during the month, to undergo repairs I believe, and also because the quartz raised has not been rich enough to make the case urgent, very little has been crushed, but the quantity of gold (chiefly if not almost entirely. alluvial) purchased by ,the bankers and agents during the month has amounted to between 600 and 700 ozs., and, of coursc, there has bcen much more obtained and perhaps sold, of which I have no knowledge. The population, as you will have perceived by my figures, is steadily moving away from Newbury to the quartz reefs, and to the ~eep sinkings and tunn~lling claims !1t. ~irk's and Garlick's ;. but as. ~he new claims taken up on the Mam Reef (the Ballarat SIde of the DlVldm!~ Range) are showmg POSitIve proofs of richness and signs of permanency, Newbury must still for a time be regar~ed as a.central , position, with reference to the eastcrn and north.eastern as well as the western workmgs and, to the northern workings, and the general p'opulation (chiefly agricultural at present) of Trentham. The chief points of attraction, however, at this 'time are Kirk's, and Garlick's, and the Glue Pot, in consequence of the gold obtained from the Irishman's Claim, the Boundary Lead Gold Mining Company's Claim, and indeed from many other alluvial claims in this locality. .. I 61 MALDON JJJ,VISION. Mr. Rci!J.t .. p a'"(Lkiv~l;l,~f inJ,ing Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Chineae. Total for the Division. Eu:ropeans. I Alluvial Miners' 864 463 I 1,327 Quartz Miners TOTAL ~:~. ~~~-I,-:-::---I----~-'~-3--I---l-':-:-:--- THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS T:ij:US DISTRIBUTED;- Pickpocket and Strangways 78 Peg Leg Gully .. . 148 Newstead 113 Porcupine F'lat .. . ll5 Muekleford .•• 137 Eaglehawk 182 Frenchman's' Guily 51 Bradford 45, Mia Mia and Gardner's Gully 119 Nuggetty Flat ... 126 Sandy Creek 413 Growler's Gully 177 TOTALS ... 1,849 Long Gully 1:45 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVLU MINING. DeSCription of Macllines. Aggregate At Work. Idle. Horoo-power of At Work. ~dle. , Stea.m Engines. i Steam Engines employed in pump- 2 42 19 7 563 ing, winding, and crushing Whims •.• ... 33 4 Derricks 2 3 4 I Puddling Machines 69 1 Toms ... 9 2 Water Wheels ... 2 Total value of all mining plant in the di vision, £67,500. Number of square miles of alluvial ground whieh is being, or may have been, aetuany worked upon,lO. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the llresent time, 53. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. to £3 19s. 3il. per oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DURING THE QUARTER, AND THE GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM. " Average Remarks relative to the Name of Company. ! Quartz crushed. Total Yield of Where Quartz was obtained. I Yield of !MId Gold. Depth at which the I I per Ton. Quartz was obtained. I - ton cwt. qr. 0.. dwt. gr. oz. dwt. gr. Beehive ... Beehive Reef ... 1,608 0 0 o ]4 ot 1,127 10 12 220 feet. ,Eaglehawk Union ... Eaglehawk Reef ... 220 0 0 0 6 1 66 10 6 Surface. Linscott's ...... Nuggetty, Eaglehawk, 884 0 0 1 5 6 1,116 4 0 60 feet to 240 feet. Gardner's, and Wil- son's Reefs Oswald ...... Nuggetty, and Mount 1,025 0 0 2 4 5! 2,266 7 0 120 feet to 250 feet. Reefs Phronix ...... Nuggetty, Butter's,Wil- ],128 0, 0 o 14 16! 827 16 0 From 100 feet to son's, Tiverton, Vic- 300 feet. toria, EagJehawk, Beehive, German, Armstrong's, Cum- 1ierland, and Lin- scott's Reefs . Great Western ... Beehive Reef . .... 459 0 0 o 13 6! 304 13 12 210 feet. Otago Reef Co. ... Otago Reef ...... 213 0 0 o 6 18 71 17 0 90 feet. Chrystal and Co. ... Nuggetty Reef ... 487 0 0 6 14 21! 3,284 11 0 200 feet. Rrittingham and Co. Thornhill's Reef .. , 146 0 0 1 10 7* 221 6 0 310 feet. Duras and Co. ... Thornhill's and Union 30 0 0 1 o 19! 31 4 8 50 feet. Reefs Union ...... Thornhill's Reef ... 396 0 0 o 10 14! 209 18 0 300 feet. Alpha ...... Beehive Reef '" 133 0 0 1 92It 198 16 12 180 feet. Salter ...... Nuggetty Reef ... 625 0 0 5 1 21 3,183 14 0 200 feet. ------TOl'AL ...... 7,354 0 0 I 15 2§ 12,910 8 2 .Quartz Tailings and • Cement. ------Bibby and Co...... 447 0 0 0 4 Ilk 99 16 0 Quartz tailin gs. Prince of Wales ...... '" .. , 1 2,012 0 0 0 1 16! 170 15 6 Cement. Surface. ------TOl'AL ...... i 2,459 0 0 0 2 4S 270 11 6 The return from the Eaglehawk could not be obtairied in time. No. 35, q. 62 ST. ANDREW'S EAST AND CENTRAL SUBDIVISIONS. Mr. R. BraziU, MVnimg Surveyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Europeans. I Chinese. Total for the I ll.ema.rka. i I, Subilivisioll. , Alluvial Miners '" 560 130 690 Quartz Miners ••• 96 96 The "other" population stated are those Q.CtuaUy resident upon the Other Population 730 gold fields...... ! .. 730 TOTAL 1,386 130 1,516 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF l'dINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Darling Reefs 2S Yow Yow Creek 20 Walshe's Creek 45 Diamond Creek ... 24 Cumberland .. . 8 The River, A.nderson's Creek 12 McMahon's .. . 4 Smythe's Gully 8 Warburton .. . 130 Salter's Rush 8 RoddIe's Creek 8S Queenstown Reef 8 W oori Yallook 16 Oram's 28 Moonlight Reef .. . 8 Frenchman's 16 Murray's-Yow Yow .. . 8 Ston:y Creek 12 Old Caledonia 2 Ford's ... 4 Anderson's Creek 12 Ferntree ... 40 Long GUlly ... 70 Near One Tree 34 Old Watery Gully 8 McNab's SO Diamond Reef 10 O'Brien's 2 Research Gully, Eltham 8 N ear Queenstown (Chinese) 60 Yow Yow Gully .... 12 TOTA.L 786 Long Gully, Queenstown SS THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- ALLUVIAL ML>;ING. QUAlI.TZ MmING. Description of :Ma -.~---. I Quartz Crushing Machines ...... 2 2 20 Puddling Machines :- ,i Ordinary Horse Machines ... 21 ...... I ... J Total value of all m,ining plant in the division, £9,540. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon,l4t. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 52. . The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from. £S 15s. to £3 17s. ad. per oz. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED RELATIVE TO THE QUANTITY OF QUARTZ CRUSHED ·DURING THE' QUARTER, AND THF: GOLD OBTAINED THEREFROM:- From various reefs, held by small parties of miners, and brought to Queenstown to be crushed- (excepting the Diamond Reef, described below):- Quartz crushed ... 1,067 tons Average yield of gold per ton ·2ozs. 14 dwts. 22~ grs. Total yield of gold 2,933 ozs. Machinery of a portable description is being packed' up to the Upper Yarra reefs, where much activity now prevails. Near Eltham, on the Diamond Reef (private property) 716 tons of qUartz produced 734 ozs. 19 dwts. of gold, included in the ·above return. 63 ~ETROPOLITAN SUBDIVISION. Mr. George Franais, Mining SUT'lJeyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- I I TotaJ. for the Europeans. I Chinese. Subdivision. RemB.rks. - ~~~--- Alluvial Miners ...... 8 ... Kaolin Ditto ...... 1 14 Not including Melbourne or ." .} the suburba.n municipalities. Coal Ditto ... .. , ... 5 ... Other Popuia.tion ...... 26,904 i 34 2'p,938 TOTALS ... 26,918 34 26,952 '" I Total value of all mining plant in the division, £880. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 3. The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £2 17s. to £3 19s. per oz. I have the honor to forward herewith returns of the past quarter for the above subdivision, and to report, in reference to gold mining, that, excepting on the south-east side of Mount Martha, no opera tions are being carried on that I am cognizant of within the present limits of the subdivision. The alluvial 'miners there continue with varying success. ~ For coaJs--the new Griffiths Pomt Company only are operating. , For kaolin-operations have ceased altogether for the present. ARARAT MINING DISTRICT. AR.ARAT DIVISION. Mr. Henry Grimes, Minilng SUT'lJeyor. THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Total for the Europea.lll!. Chinese.. Division • RemB.rks. Alluvia.i Miners ...... 600 700 1,300 'Qua.rtz Miners ...... l50 .. . 150 Other Population ...... 2,550 100 2,650 TOTAJ:,S ...... 3,300 800 4,100 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Moyston 200 Rocky Point 200 Ararat ... 500 Opossum Gully 300 armstrong's 250 TOTAL ... 1,450 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- I, ALLUVIAL Mil Total value of all mining plant in the division, ,£~3,OOO. '. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been actually w9rked upon, 21., '. . • . Number of 'distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be au.nferous·t6 the present time, 14. 4 D The price of gold during the quarter in ,the division has been from £3 16s. 9d. per oz. TE(ifFoL:E'CnVING' INFORMATION HAS BEEN' OB'I'AINED RELATIVE TO THE 'QUANTITY . OF QUARTZ CRUSHED DlJ~I:I'fG THE QUARTER,' AND THE GOLD OBTAINED ., - THERJ;JFROM. ReIDlLl'kil relative to the Where Quartz was Total Yield of Depth at which the ,!.~ ~ '~~o.!{f Compa,ny. , I, obtained, <}.uartz crushed. IYield AV.~ of Id Gold. I I perron. ' Quartz was obtained. .. ! ---- ton em. qr'j oz. dm. gr• oz. dwt. gr. Kangaroo Company ..... Moyston '(Campbell's 223 o 0 2 2 0 468 6 0 250 feet. Reef) JI:forg(tn'~, Company; ... Ditto' .. ; .... 150 0 0 2 2 0 315 0 0 Ditto. - '.0 Phrnnix Company '" Ditto ...... 215 0 o II 23 128 1\ 0 Ditto. HU,tt,on's Company ... Ditto ...... 80 .0 0 1 17 6 149 0 0 Ditto. , .. Kangaroo Company ••• Ditto ...... 276 0 0 1 I 23 303 0 0 Ditto. Three Grqwn Company.· Ditto ." . . ' ..... 137, 0 0 .0 15 22 109 0 . 0 260 feet . , , '" .. " , '.' , " , N. TOTAL . 1,081 o '.0" 1 7 6 1,472 17 .0 .. • '~.t ~ ,~ ~\'" " .. ',' '. . By the accompanying retnJ;ns Qf qu!!-rtz crushed arid the gold obtained therefrom is "shoWll, that out of 1,081 tons crushed 1,472 ozs. were obtained, giving the high average of 1 oz. 7 dwts. 6 gra. per ton. 'l'his has been almost entirely obtained from one reef, viz., Campbell's, at Moyston, and from which, during the whole of last year, only about 2,000 oas. were obtained. The ground of the Phronix Company on this reef, hitherto considered worthless, is now of a payable nature, successive trials at various depths from the surface gave nothing to pay until now, at a depth of 250 feet. There is another thing worthy of notice, that the ThreE! Crown Company in their 260. feet level. have reache.d payable ground farther south than any hitherto worked on the reef. The notIon prevaIled that this claim, the most southern on Campbell's, included within its boundary the tail end of the reef, and that the ground beyond was worthless, but the contrary is now likely to hold true, and this claim, taking into eOllSideration its crient, is likely to prove one of the most valuable in the district. Port Curtis Reef has been entirely abandoned 'for"'the present, after a grea~ deal of lost labor has been eXJ)ended in prosec]1ting the search for that part of the main reef that was payable. In alluvial diggmgs upwards of ten prospect claims have been taken up during the quarter just ended at Rocky Point, Armstrong's, and beyond Opossum Gully, at which various small rushes have taken place. . At Rocky Point, a few of the claims are paying 20s. fer day, while the average of the others barely giveswages-;-" The same may be said of Armstrongs and along the Pleasant Creek Road. The Britannia Claim, from which so much has been expected, has not as yet fulfilled those expectations; it has paid olf an the debts, and for the first time during its exist~nce has paid a dividend of £3 per share ;' it has a large 'area of grouild, and but a small portion of the lead has as yet been taken out, and if the hopes of the lead running through the entire claim be realised, instead. of its ceasing a short distance below or south of the engine shaft, it will, no doubt, pay the shareholders well ~or their outlay. , . BARKLY DIVISION. . M~. John D'Alton; Mimimfj''Su¥Ueyor. j' L - THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- Total for !.he Europeans. Chinese. Division. -'-"-"~----~c'''-''------ Alluvial Miners 1,6~0 300 '{ 1,980 c Quart;>;, Miners '. .... ~,. , ...... '" -," •• " .... <..- Other Population . .' 1,600 ,. '! 1,604 I TOTALS "'1~3,2s0- --304-- , 3,584 'rHE TOTAL. NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Landsborough ...... 860 Malakholf and Glasgow Lead 610 Barkly (including Frenchman's and Blue Mountain) 300 Glenpatrick 210 TOTAL 1,980 I 65 THE MACHINERY IS AS FOLLOWS:- I ALLUVIAL MINING. QUABTZ MINING. Description of MlIchinea. Aggregate .Aggregate At Work. Idl•. Horae-power of At Work. Idle. I SteamHorse'w:,:~:f . • Steam Engiue&. I - Steam Engines ... '" 1 ... 12 ...... Crushing Machine ...... 1 ...... Whims ...... '" Whips ...... 2 3 ... '" ...... Sluices and Toms ...... 35 '18 ...... , Puddling Machines ...... 2S 12 ...... Sluice Boxes .. , ...... 1 ...... Total value of all mining plant in the division, '£3,720. Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have been, actually worked upon, 13. Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be auriferous to the present time, 6. ' . The price of gold during the quarter in the division has been from £3 17s. to £3 17s. 9d. per oz .. QUARTZ. There has not been any quartz mining during the quarter. ALLUVIA.L. Several small rushes have taken place during the iast three months, but as yet none of them have turned out permanent. Within the last few days, however, a very promising one has occurred adjoining the Wet Lead, in deep ground, with from 45 to 66 feet sinking. The want of water has, up to the present time, prevented its development, but prospeets have been obtained from the bottom of every shaft. Its apparent course at present is parallel to the Wet Lead, .in the direction of the Native Youth Patch. • In Barkly, and the other diggings, scarcely anything is doing in consequence of the dronght. Many miners have _gone off to Cochranes and to Raywood, and a number of puddling machines are idle. The Wet Lead, at Landsborough, is the only place where any regular work is being done. The whole division is suffering from the want of water, and in no place is it more felt than in the neighborhood of the Malajilioff, * * * * * there being a very large area of poor ground which will not pay for working otherwise than by sluicing. The mining population is very unsettled. [NoTE.-On the 23rd February, 1864, Mr. Mining Surveyor D'Alton, forwarded a report to the Honorable the Minister of Mines, stating that a rush had taken place to that part of the Landsborough Gold Field situate between the Glasgow Lead and the township of Landsborough. The prospect obtained was 11 dwts. 6 grs. to the load, from about 10 inches thick of washdirt; the sinking being 55 feet and dry, through clay and soft cement, with sandstone bottom; there were about 400 miners on the ground. On the 9th March, Mr. Mining Surveyor D'Alton forwarded a supple~entary report, in which he stated that the rush had not turned out so favorably as was expected, the average yield being from 8 to 12 dwts. to the load, and the washdirt from 10 to 18 inches in thickness.] PLEASANT CREEK DIVISION. (Mr. John D'A.lton, lJfllning Surveyor.) .THE POPULATION IS AS FOLLOWS:- I Europeans. Total for the Chinese. Dil'iaion. :Remarks. Alluvial Miners ...... 351 140 491 Quartz Miners ...... 486 ... 486 Other Population ...... 2,310 5 2,315 TOTALS ...... 8,147 145 3,292 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MINERS IS THUS DISTRIBUTED:- Deep Lead 310 Four Posts 58 Commercial Street ... 27 Cooper's Flat and Church Hill 15 Great Western 80 Quartz Reefs 487 977 No. 35, r. 66 1-----.-----;1------".. ,;-... .".""',,-.. -;.:tt, ~T : .. ", ,1.·.:"t~.. •. • IJ~,!:: r1l) '. .J • • Aggrega.te- . Aggregate AtWork. .'::.j Idle. : ~=~s%e~ AtWork. Idle. r-=c,e~; ~----.,--~-~ __~--' -----1.----1--..,.---1--...,----:- ____ 1_.__ - 1-.__ ._. -.~.---.-..-. Steam Engines .. , 5 70 '12 , Crushing Machines .. 5 8 " Whims I 6 17 9 Whips 2 4 Sluices and Toms 18 ,17 Sluice .Boxes .!, ... , 6 6 Puddling Machines 1 3 ~. _. • f,' ,To~Lvalueof all mining plant in the di'visio~, £60;7<)() .... , .... , .••<. '; ... ""J 'j:', r, ... " .' Number of square miles of alluvial ground which is being, or may have b~en actually worked: upon, ll~, " , ' " .... ' '. , ,Number of distinct quartz reefs which have been actually proved to be au.ri?er(JUs to tli~ pr~Bent time, 15. ' " , , ". The price of gold during the quarter in the division hasbeen from £3 148. 6d. to £3 16s. 6d. per oz. THE, E:Q:t;.LOWING INrORl\:t;ATION HAS BEEN OBTAlNEt> RELATIVE TO ,THE QUANTITY : ,.OF... QUAltTZ C;aUSHED DURING: THE' QUARTER, 'AND THE' GOLD "OBTA~NJ11D . THEREFROM. Name of.Com;pany. .'I" ,Where Quartz was I .,. obtained. ), .' ton ewt. qr. . oz. dwt, gr. oz. dwt. gr. Lamorft 'and Company Cross Reef' ,,";". 571>'" 0'"' 0" I '0' ,5 ~23t I 'J t'):11 0";0· 1·300·feet. '.. Ditto '" Ditto... 679 0 0 0 14 3.47.9 17 10 .From 400to 460 feet. Moonlight Company... Ditto' ..." "bl I.:', ~ I .808 '. 0'. 0:. O' 12 ~2{n 523, 0 .. 0 .360 feet. H." .1.' I - r' , ~ the ton. "~---.::;:;-.-;"""....---c~--, -~--- --~.--~-~ TOTAL 12,372 0 0 o . 8 3 5,027 6' 6 .,. . N early all the crushing. machines have been working. only half :time in: 'consequence of scarcity of water. ' ·QUARTZ.' Tho (Ten.eral p~o;pects of the l)1iners here may be safely considered most encouraging, notwith standing tJi~ many drawbacks from inefficient machinery, the small size of many of the claims, and the p~C8ent scarcity of water for crusJ1ing purposes. . iU 67 _ The, Cross Reef, which in many of the claims had dwindled to a mere ,t}'ack. ~d wassuppos!'d to have been alto~ether lost at its junctIon with the Flat Reef, has a~ain beyn traced in a leader. varying from 6 to 18 mches in thickness, and dipping in the contrary direction; this is evidently one of the breaks or jumps which have been found to occur at certain depths in several'of the' reefs, and which, whenever followed, lead to a new formation of the lode, the above leader is now yielding from 10 dwts. to 2~ ozs. per ton, the depth from the ,surface being about 280 feet: ' , " 'Within the last month, the Main Cross Reef has again been struck i)1 No.5. Claim north, in 'the 460-foot level, having speeks of gold visible in the reef. These are the deepest workings in PleaSant Creek.. . ,', Very .fine retu."'llS have been obtained from Nos, 4 and 5 North Cross Reef, from 35iYfeet below the surface, 700 tons taken just as it came from it reef 5 feet thick, averaged It oz. to the ton. - I estimate that this stone if selected, as was customary in former years; would yield from 8 to 10 ozs. per ton.' : The ,returns from'Sloan's and Mariners' Reefs ha"e fallen off; •the former average was as higli as 3 ozs. to the ton, that, during the past three months, to about 6 dwts. ' , The Scotchman's Reef is nearly altogether unworked, as most of the claims are down to the water, and the,present pumping engine is not placed in a proper posit~on t~ drain th~s reef effieiently. This is to be regretted, as the last stone taken out of the water at abQut 300 feet from the surface, yielded upwards of an ounce per ton. ,-" " The ':,I?erthshire 'Reef is now producing payable stone from .five claims, but here again the machinery used is t9,tally inadequate to its healthy development, so that a reef, 25 feet in thick: ness, returning from 7 to 10 dwts. to the ton, and having no water to eontend with, pays little more than expenses; nor is the Perthshire Oompany's crushing machine sufficiently powerful to meet their requirements. The four claims south of the above have amalgamated and are now endeavoring to get machinery both for winding and crushing. On the Hampshire Reef work has again been commenced in the Prospectors' Claim, after an interv:al of tW9 years. This remarkable reef at one tinie produced as mueh as 30 ozs. per ton, and all the stone raised averaged, from first to last, 9 ozs. per ton, when the lode ran out in like mauner to that in the southeru portio'n of the Cross Reef, but from 'observation 6f the structure (if other reefs in the neighborhood, I am of opinion that this is only one of the usual breaks or faults in the reef, and that !t ~e,wJorma~ion wil1y~~ '\Je str'.l_ck a~ a greater ?epth, p:obably exactly under the .original "make." At present, little can be done liere WIthout machmcry to lieep down the water. " " ' The want of more powerful engines, especially for crushing' pilrpo~cs, is every day more felt, and a'machine working' at least l:1ighty head of stampers, might be ,introduced' with 'great advant~e, and be of much benefit to this portion of the district, as thereby crushing might be reduced from Its present high price, and a large area of payable ,ground, now lying unproductive, would give remunerative r~turns._, ...'. ,,_ ',' .. . , " ',,' " Warne,~ ry the dama:~e done during last season's floods;considerable improvement has been effected in 'tIle construction of the various machine dams. Scarcity otwater is beginning to be felt, and several machines have been obliged to suspend operations du,ring the last week. , The stone cruslitid during the quarter amounts to 12,372 tons, yielding 5,027 ozs. 6 dwts. 6grs.. ,." '" ','j ,,' ., , ALLU:VUL • .: ,Sc.arc~ty otwiihlr has gr:eatly impeded all~vial digglng,'h6wever a little niore:entetprise lias been dispJ~yed, in slui~ill!5, ciper,litio~s,.all(~ ~,litee sl~ic~n~ companies' ha:e now completed.their races a~d d~s, and are tof'start work mth tlie first ram. The prospects 'of ' the Sand HIlls have consIderably improved, an il,'i:iish' was aIiti9ipated: 'there' -during the 'last'tnonth,however; the want 'of water lias brought'it t? a;stti:n1 still., ' :',:.., '.. ': !~., " ;' " ' Some prospecting has Deeii' done a:b·oilt the 'Welcome where'a'lost lead'is supposed to 'exist;, but although in every hole sunk gold was obtained it wa's 'never in payable quantities. " There is apparently a slight increase, in the Chinese population, some having come from Landsborough. RAGLAN DIVISION. l1!r. James StVrlifng, Milnilng SU/i'veyO'l', Sinee the date of my last report very little change has taken place in this divii'lion in mining affairs; in fact, owing to the non-success of the Beaufort Junction Company, in striking payable ground, things are almost stationary. • GA.RIBALDI LEAD. The Alexandria Company have been driving in tolerably rich ground, but they have determined on liquidating the debt contracted through the erection of machinery prior to making dividends. The Garibaldi Company have been employed since Christmas in constructing main (hives, and now begin to be rewarded for their trouble, as from havinf5 two faces open ill bloeking out, they are enabled to wash a much larger quantity of dirt than heretofore, and, as a matter of course, with greatly improved returns. The Olive Branch Company are working steadily in bloeking out the gutter and are making tolerable wages. The Royal Standard Company, although working in a gutter, have not yet struck anything worthy 'of notice. SOUTHERN CROSS LBA.D. On this lead I have to report that the gutter has again been struck by the Southern Cross Com pany from a new shaft, the position of which '1 have previously indieated. They have been working in washdirt about four weeks, and during that time the yields have averaged £4 per man pel' week, in a party of sixteen, I have also ,to_r,e,PQrUhe_fJJ.lat§JlJl.p.ensioll.Q(}y()!.lLQyJ!!~ ~oyal Saxon Company. In the Homeward Boun,(lCompany's, Claim, some, of th,e men, are employed ,raiding washdirt from the 68 gutter, while the remainder are constructing prospecting drives on the reef. Great hopes are enter tained by this company respecting its ultimate richness, and I think not without reason, as in many places ground sufficiently rich to be well worthy of attention has been left standing, while poorer portions of the claim are being worke,d and prospecting operations carried on. But the dry nature of the gutter in this claim is sUfficiently proved to warrant the company leaving this good ground un touched for a future day, as no difficulty can at any time be found in reaching it. In the meantime those of the shareholders who are engaged in working other parts of the gutter, are raising sufficient washdirt to admit of dividends of £3 lOs. to £4 weekly being declared. On the Main Flat the only eompany at work is the Beaufort Junction Company, who are driving under the gutter for the purpose of commencing their gutter workings from the Eastern Reef, that being the side on which they expect to find the larger auriferous deposits. A great delav has been caused to them by the large amount of water with which they have had to contend, but which, although still great, is being slowly r!lduced. A11 the remaining companies on this fiat, which have been at work, have suspended operations, pending the proving of. the gutter by the Beaufort Junction Company. PADDY'S GULLY. The Ilurke and Prince Alfred Companies have been engaged during the last two months in blocking out the gutter in their claims with averagc success. The prospects of the Golden Streams Company are improving to such an extent as to cause shares to rise considerabl.y in the market. Eighty pounds being now looked upon as the value of a twenty-fourth of the drum. The average yield bas been 9 038. to a machine." 0 The Itoyal Mint Company, Shicers' Gully, are working steadily, and are making very good wages. No progress has yet belill made by the Royal Exchange Company. KING CHARLIE'S GULLY. The Daughters of Freedom Company's returns have been very small lately, in fact, barely sufficient to pay the working expenses of the claim. The company are about to employ an extra number of men to test the paying qualities of the ground when worked on a larger scale. SAILORS' GULLY. The Victoria Company have at length struck the gutter at a distance of about 100 feet from their shaft. Up to the present they have had but one washing, the result of which was 2} 03S. to a machine. It. must however be borne in mind, that this was obtained from dirt taken from a main drive, the greater portion of which is in non-auriferous reef, so that the yield specified can hardly be taken as a fair prospect. Respecting the Old Lead I have nothing worthy of notice to report. Messrs. Watkins and party (sluicers) are dO.ing very well at Surface Hill, a share in their claim having been sold, a few days since, for £60. The other parties on the hill are also making very good wages. . . Q,uartz.-The Waterloo Quartz Company, Bushman's Reef, have commenced crushing operations with a very effective battery of eight heads of stamps. The r.eef from which the supply for this machine is taken has been proved to a length of a quarter of a mile, 700 feet of which, by an average depth of 100 feet throughout the whole length of its proved course, is thejroperty of the Waterloo Company. The average thickness of the reef is about eight feet, and the yiel from a late crushing was 6i dwts. to a ton. This, under 'proper management, would be It very excellent return, where wood and other necessaries were scarce; in this instance, where most of the requirements, including the quartz, are so easily obtainable, I consider the speculation a great success, and one that will ultimately prove of immensc advantage to the district. Nor have I any doubt but that there are many equn,lly gold-bearing reefs in this district, which only require the attention of a few enterprising capitalists to render them profitable to themselves, besides giving stability to the district. By Authority: JOHN FERBES, Government :Printer, Melbourne. I