SCO 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
Up to the close oftlie 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 of^ten 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, ill 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 E,oyal, Bon 
Accord, Broughton, Mount Eemarkabie, Spring Creek, Great Gladstone, 
Kan5'aka, ]\lount Craig, "Wirrawilka, Kirwan, Is apoleon, 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, uccaleena, The Two 
Brothers, Oratunga, Mooroo, Mount Chambers, Yesey's Claim, Mallee 
Hut Claim, Aroona, AVelpena 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, ^orth Ehine, Wallaroo, !Xew 
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. 
