26 H. C. RUSSELL. 
is important, and platinum has also been found about ten miles 
from Broken Hill in a lode formation, mixed with silver, copper, 
and other minerals. These facts are of importance, not only 
commercially, but also in their bearing on electrical development. 
Diamonds.—At Tingha and Inverell some 1,200 carats of 
diamonds have been won this year. 
Emeralds.—The Emerald Proprietary Company have sunk two 
shafts in their mine at Vegetable Creek, and about 25,000 carats 
have been raised during the year, which when cut and polished are 
worth from four to forty shillings per carat. Professor David in~ 
his report on this mine says ‘as far as I know this is the first 
well authenticated occurrence of the true emerald in New South 
Wales, its occurrence has frequently been reported in various 
places as recorded by Prof. Liversidge in his work on the Minerals 
and Gems of New South Wales, though as he justly remarks with 
regard to these reported occurrences, in some cases the beryl is 
probably meant.” Professor David goes on to express the opinion 
that other deposits of emeralds will be found in that district; the 
report is exhaustive and deals not only with the quantity and 
value of the gems, but also with the geological features of the 
place, which induce Professor David to anticipate the finding of 
other deposits in the same neighbourhood. 
A. valuable deposit of chrome ore found at Gordonbrook, about 
thirty miles north-west from Grafton, was examined by Professor 
David, who found that 3,000 tons of chrome ore, are practically 
in sight—valued if delivered in England at about £5 per ton. The 
deposit had not been prospected fully, and there seems reason to 
anticipate that the yield might amount to 20,000 tons, whilst 
analyses show that the quality is satisfactory. 
Diamond Drills and Water Augers.—The total depth bored 
with diamond drills during the year was 7,797 feet 9 inches, and 
the average cost of the work, exclusive of stores, wages, rent, and 
travelling expenses of the Superintendent of Drills, was 12s. 74d. 
_ per foot, or 9d. per foot in excess of the cost of similar work in 
