Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
27 
some fe’w months back upon a bank of alhiAnon deposited at the 
foot of one of the spurs coming down from the range wliich forms 
the eastern Avatershed of the creek, and eAudentlj coA^ering an old 
creek bed. There are from G to 8 feet of AA'ash-dirt, some of 
Avhich has gi\mn as much as 2 ozs. to the ton, the aAxragc being 
however something less than 1 oz. to the load. The upper ground 
being pretty tirm, the Avash is driven out, being raised by Avater 
poAver, Avhilst tlie pumping necessary to keep the ground clear of 
Avater is done by steam poAver, there being three portable engines 
employed upon this Avork. The bulk of alluA'ial gold going to 
Sydney from Adelong comes at -jmesent from this locality. There 
are not more than about 200 European miners Avorking in this 
Division of the District, Avith some fifty or sixty Chinese scattered 
about amongst the old Avorkings. 
In the vicinity of Guudagai some few quartz claims are being 
worked, but they Avere not suflicieutly extensive or important to 
induce me to visit them. 
Passing through Gundaroo ou my AA'ay l)ack to Braidwood, I 
found upon inquiry that upon the reefs opened in this District 
work had been discontinued for some months past; and that Avith 
regard to the alluvial ground, although gold in small quantities 
had been found hy a fcAV miners in dilferent spots amongst the 
ranges, yet nothing like a sufficient deposit had hceu struck to 
induce any large intlux of miners. 
Mr. Warden Johnson reports ; — ■ 
I regret that I cannot report as favourably as T could Avish 
•upon the Districts under my cliai’ge, namely, the Bathurst 
Mining District and the Tambaroora and Turon Mining District. 
The alluA'ial and river-bed Avorkings, once so extensh'e and remu- 
nerative, are apparently in a great measure exhausted. Quartz- 
mining is, therefore, the source from which the sxipply of gold must 
in the future be almost entirely expected. This is a branch of 
gold-mining of a nature demanding capital — noAV, onyiccount ofthe 
serious losses during the late mining mania, so difficult to obtain 
for the prosecution of even legitimate operations Avith OA'ery 
prospect of success. The principal mining centre is Hill End, 
A\Eere mining operations arc still being pushed forward on the 
HaAA'kin’a Hill line, Avith an energy and perseverance that deserves, 
if it has not yet commanded success. A system of tribute, 
remunerative both to the oAvner of auriferous proipertica and to 
the trihuter, has been established on this Gold Eicld on several of 
the quartz mines Avhicli had been opened up but could not be 
profitably Avorked by daily labour under expensive supervisioiu 
This is the most hopeful feature of mining in the district. Fair 
and eA'en large yields are still in a feAV instances obtained, but 
the majority of the mines “ floated” at Hill End for large 
