360 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



Up to the close of the past year, 1720 mining claims had been applied for, 

 and of these, 1576 within the last three years. The large majority of these 

 represent 80 acres of land for each claim, and when the claim is taken up, 

 a rent of ten shillings per acre is paid to the Government under the pre- 

 sent regulations ; the leases being for 14 years, and renewable at the end 

 of the term on payment of a fine. But, although so many claims have 

 been applied for, the number of mines actually worked is very small in 

 proportion, the explanation of which is, that every claim does not repre- 

 sent a separate lode or discovery of mineral, but that when a discovery is 

 made by one party, others take out claims all round in the hope of finding 

 something, and often without any knowledge of the locality at all on the 

 part of such speculators. 



Where speculations are so ready, it will create no surprise that as soon 

 as the least surface-indications can be shown, the spot is termed a mine, 

 and some assumed or honorary " captain " writes a glowing report of the 

 wonderful discovery, which of course, it is asserted, will pay from the very 

 first day that a pick is struck into the ground. The experience of South 

 Australian mining does not warrant a belief in these confident assurances, 

 and it does not follow that even rich superficial indications will result in 

 the development of a valuable mine ; and Mr. Austen suggests the pro- 

 priety, in cases of mineral property intended to be sold, of sinking one or 

 two shafts or cross-cuts to prove the existence at least of an ore-bearing 

 lode going down to the depth of a few fathoms. It is certainly fair for all 

 parties that some amount of work should be done to prove a mine before 

 it is sold, for if one of great worth might be sold by a poor or ignorant 

 man for a very small sum, so might a higher price be given for a worthless 

 mine. Concise and instructive, and, as far as a stranger to the country can 

 judge, correct and fair accounts are given of all the mines in actual work. 

 These are the Kapunda, Karkulto, Burra-Burra, Princess Royal, Bon 

 Accord, Broughton, Mount Hemarkable, Spring Creek, Great Gladstone, 

 Kanyaka, Mount Craig, Wirrawilka, Kirwan, Napoleon, Wheal Blinmany, 

 Davison's Claims, Wheal Butler, Mount Huro, Mount Hose, Apex Hill, 

 Yadanamutana, Wheal Austen, Yelda, Pindilpena, Welcome, Oorooldana, 

 Parabarana, Sir Dominutt, Daly, Wheal Frost, Mount Lyndhurst. Wheal 

 Besley, Mochatoona, Wirryoota, Mount Stuart, Nuccaleena, The Tno 

 Brothers, Oratunga, Mooroo, Mount Chambers, Vesey's Claim, Mallee 

 Hut Claim, Aroona, Welpena Pound, M'Conville's, Malone's Bremer, 

 Preamimma, Kanmantoo, West Kanmantoo, Wheal Ellen, Monster Lode, 

 Strathalbyn Montacute, Glen Osmond. Scott's Creek, Burritt, Gorge, 

 Yattagolinga, Campbell's Creek, Falisker, North Rhine, Wallaroo. New 

 Cornwall, Matta Matta, Kurilla, Duryea, Yelta, Moonta, Karkarilla, 

 Wheal Stuart, Wheal Humby. After the accounts of the mines are 

 descriptions of the smelting-works, mineral regulations, railways, and 

 prices of labour and provisions are given. Altogether this must be a most 

 useful book in the colony and out of it, and it would be well if the mines 

 of our own country were noticed as fairly, in a similarly concise manner, 

 by some of our able mineralogists. 



