MINING INDUSTRY. 



227 



hi close proximity to our older mining districts. Highly puyuMe 

 crusliings have lately taken place from the Cobar gold-mines, such as 

 the Occidental^ Albion, Young Australian, Chesucy, and (»thers. 



Gold was also discovered about 20 miles westerly of Cobar on places 

 known as the Billygoe and Mount ])rysdale, which only iHccntlv turned 

 out some enormously rich yields. There are now five (lifTcrent crushing 

 and gold-saving plants, consisting of stampers and Huntingdon miifs 

 within 8 miles of Cobar. Huntingdon mills have also been erected in 

 the Mount Drysdale district. 



Peak Hill, a gold-field situated about 42 miles from Dubbo, and about 

 30 miles from Parkes, was discovered in 1 8*.>0. Thereare to be found b(jth 

 quartz and alluvial deposits, some of which turned out very rich. In 

 May, 1881, a shaft was bottomed in dry alluvial at a depth of loO feet ; 

 the size of shaft being only 5 feet long by 2 feet wide, thickness of wash 

 feet from which 74 oz. of gold were picked by hand as the auriferous 

 wash was brought to the surface. In consequence of this a large 

 rush set in, and within a fortnight the population increased from 1,500 

 to 12,000. But as only a few claims obtained payable gold, the popu- 

 lation decreased, and is now about 1,500 to 2,000. tSomc rich di'^- 

 coveries have only very lately been made in the district. 



The Parkes district has for many years supported a large miniiig 

 population. The gold deposits consist of alluvial and quartz. The 

 alluvial has been very extensive, shalloAv and dry, and the quartz reefs 

 have proved to be permanent and rich. Some of these f[uartz mines 

 have yielded, and are now yielding, thousands of pounds sterling to 

 the fortunate shareholders. There are several quartz crushing plants 

 Avith the latest improved gold-saving appliances on the field. About 

 60 miles west of Parkes are the recently discovered Burra, Fifield, 

 and Platiua gold workings. 



At Forbes, about 22 miles from Parkes, where enormously rich 

 alluvial gold deposits have been worked in shallow as well as deep and 

 wet leads for the last thirty-five years, mining has lately received a 

 fresh impetus through the discovery of rich quartz veins in the vicinity 

 of Grassett's Lead. 



In the Wellington district, at a place known as Mitchell's Creek 

 (Daviesville), quartz reefs which had been abandoned years ago were 

 reopened with satisfactory results. These reefs prove at a depth of GOO 

 feet to be well defined ; average about 20 inches in thickness, and have 

 yielded during the year 15 dwts. 14 grs. of gold per ton; no free gold 

 can be seen in the quartz, the latter being heavily charged with ])yntes 

 The machinery consists of a 15-stamp crushing battery; the crushed 

 stuff runs over copper plates and mercury wells, then through wooden 

 shoots about 400 feet in length on to the Vauners, after winch the 

 concentrates are treated by the process of chlorination. 



The Mudgee district is also very extensive, both for alluvial and 

 quartz; of the latter Hargraves and Clarke's Creek are the prmcii)al. 

 Some satisfactory returns are still obtained from capital and labour. In 



