3 ^ 
Mines and Minei'ol Statistics, 
Porbes and Parbes, Murray and ]iarty hoisted their flag and 
reported payable gold, when the Ticlibouriie Lead ^yas declared 
a mile east, and a mile west of the prospecting area. Subse- 
quently the claims or ai'eas on the eastern lino were proved not 
to bo of the depth required, when the frontage system on that 
portion of the lead was annulled. This lead appears to have its 
source in the hill referred to. 
Tlie red flag next waved over M‘Guiggan’s South, then over 
the A7apping Butcher, a rich lead from the same source as the 
Tichbourne, but haAung a northerly course, it subsequently flut- 
tered over the Pairy Lead, and now proclaims the Pulton to be 
payable. These flve leads are to the southward of the Goobang 
Creek, and situated Avithin the area reserved from conditional 
purchase ; they seem to be tributary to a maiu channel as yet 
undiscovered. 
Prospecting parties to the northward of Parkes have not been 
successful. 
Notwithstanding the persevering industry of numerous jmrties 
of prospectors, the labour of a very large number has produced 
no return ; much of this may be attributed to their want of a 
IvuoAvledge of the district, and more to a deficiency of scientific 
information. As a rule, miners are guided almost entirely by 
practical experience, and as a sequence, when they get into a 
new country and amongst formations to Avhich they have been 
unaccustomed they have everything to learn, often at the cost of 
an enormous waste of labour. 
About ouc-fourth of the labour of the entire working popula- 
lation during the past year has been Avasted in Avalking to and 
returning from distant undeclared leads, by those who are more 
disposed to trust to the labour and skill of others than their oAvn. 
As the shepherding system is now abolished, it is unnecessary to 
do more than record the fact. 
During the year 1874 the population fluctuated betAveen 
8,000 and 10,000. As discoveries Avere made to the south-Avest 
a large^ proportion mOA'cd in that direction, new villages sprang 
up as if by magic and others as quickly disappeared, the old 
Avorkings were also to some considerable extent deserted ; they 
will still, however, for a long period afford employment to those 
AA'ho are satisfied Avith a sustenance and cannot do better else- 
where. 
The alluvial leads discovered and Avorked up to the close of 
1873 are nearly exhausted; their total yield was about 50,000 
ounces of gold. Their present state is as folloAvs : — 
The Pushman s Lead, Avith its numerous tributaries, bas 
been partially re-ocenpied as abandoned ground throughout its 
entire length by parties who are blocking out poor patches left 
unworked by the original occupants ; a few of these realize 
