98 



Tlie enormous wealtli realized from a few of the Beurligo saddle reefs may be estimated from the following figures: — 

 The Carlisle Company (now amalgamated with North Garden (iuUy, Carlisle, 



and Pass By) has produced over 350,000 oz. , value ... ... ... 1 1 ,4(X),0()() 



(iardenOuIly United, 346.000 o?.., vahie ... ... ... ... 1.3S4,0(K) 



Johnson's Reef, 281,000 oz., value ... ... ... ... ... 1,124,000 



Oreat Extended Hustler's, 235,000 oz., value ... ... ... ... 940,000 



Catherine Reef (on New Chum line, Eagleliawk), IG'2,000 oz., value ... 648,000 



Although the reefs in the central area of Bendigo occur in the form of saddles, yet to the north-w-est, as at Marong ; 

 north, at Seliastiau, Raywood, &c. ; or south, at Mandurang, they assume ditferent forms. At Marong, wliere gold 

 occurs in the slates near the surface, slightly inclined or even vertical veins occur in places forming irregular seams of 

 quartz in a band of sandstone. At Mandurang. towards the Crusoe reservoir, flat veins occur ; and where such veins 



MINERS' HUT. 



intersect a particular band of strata wliicli contains a tliin, ahnost parallel band or seam, of slightly different mineral 

 composition to the enclosing strata, tlie richest gold is found. I have no hesitation in affirming that there is work for 

 centuries to come, not only in exploiting tlie saddle formations down to as great a depth as 4,TtOO feet, but in tracing 

 the auriferous belt to the nortli and south, or developing such parallel belts as Ellesmere to Axedale on the east, or 

 Marong to Lockwood on the west. It is estimated tliat, making due allowance for the increased cost of haulage and 

 deep sinking, quartz containing 5 dwts. of gold to the ton can be made to pay in the deep levels at Bendigo. 



Bai.i>abat. 



At Ballarat there are at least four well-defined lines of reef, such as the Ouiding .Star, .Star of the East or 

 Consols, the Indicator on the Llanberris and .Speedwell line, and the Fire Brigade line. It is believed that the Indicator 

 belt of country on the eastern side of the fiehl will be found to extend past Creswick and Allendale towards the 

 MfKjlort Plains. Some idea of tlie enormf>us value of the gol<l mines within a limited are<a in the Ballarat district may 

 be gleaned when it is stated tliat tlie yield of gold up to the present has been £71,886,080. One mine alone, the Star 

 of tlie East, carried to a depth of •J,(KH) feet, has yielded over £520,000 worth of gold, declaring cliviilends of about 

 .C'2'20,000 ; while the Baml and .-Mliion, with Mhich is now incorporated several smaller mines, has produced £2,078,325, 

 and declarcil t!MIO,(MMI in dividend.s. The Silurian slates and saniLstoncs of the Ballarat field differ slightly in 

 <'om))osition from those at Hcmligo, and are intruded upon by granitic and felsitic dykes in places. Here several 

 alluvial lead systems trend southerly, westerly, and 'north-westerly, noted for their richness and for the occasional 

 discovery of large n\iggets in such tributary leads as Little Bendigo, Canadian, and Hiscock's — such nuggets as the 

 Welcome, found at Bakery Hill, which realized £0,325; the La<ly Hotham, at Canadian (iully, £3,000: the Nil 

 Desperandum, £1,0.50 ; and another at ('anadian Cully of ,£5,5.32. During 185.5-6 such leads as Inkeiman, Red Streak, 

 yrenchman, Esmonds, Malakoff, Milkmaiils. and Redan were opened out and proved very rich. It is estimated that 

 as nuich as 1,637 oz, of gold was obtained from one da_>"s washing at the Hand of Hope. My colleague, Mr. Lidgey, 

 who has made a d<'tailed survey of the ficlil, estimates that from twenty iriincs £5,902,05(1 has been won ; that 

 dividends to the extent of ,£2, .500,000 have been paid : the total amount of calls only reaching £594,914. The tracing 

 out of the Ballarat leail systems to the west, north-west, and south-west still offers a field for mining development. 



