Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
37 
Eroin Kicliardsoii’s Lead, tliree parties, eacli at one washing, 
have had a return; the first of 90, the second of 75, and the 
third of SO ozs. of gold. 
Erom claim-holders on M‘Gruiggan’s, one establishment alone 
informs me that they have purchased about 9,000 ozs. of gold 
during the last six months, the whole of which is alluvial. 
These facts will prove the value of the Billabong as an alluvial 
Gold Eield. 
Having described the alluvial gold workings on the north side 
of the Goobang Creek, the next in order of discovery are those 
on the south side of the same stream, in the centre of the area 
reserved from conditional ])urchase on the 22nd of June last, and 
upon which three-fifths of the mining population of the Gold 
Eield is now located, either as the occupants of payable claims, or 
as prospectors. 
The first lead in the order of priority of occupation is 
M‘Guiggan’s south, extending towards Eorbes, one and a half 
miles. This lead on a north aitd south line was occupied under 
the frontage system early in June last. At that period the miners 
sought exclusively for the deepest ground, and being unacquainted 
with the former ^position in descending order of the auriferous 
formations on the high lands, or with their thickness, or the 
period of their disintegration, were still more ignorant of the 
place occupied by the debris of those formations in the alluvium 
of the plains and valleys, or at what level it was deposited. 
Shaft after shaft Avas sunk and the result was ever the same, — 
Avash in abundance, and gold, but not payable. The miners 
burrowed through the deep ground until their means and energies 
Avere alike exhausted, and many had abandoned their areas Avhen 
the holders of a claim on the line a mile from the creek, at a 
depth of 157 feet, bottomed upon good wash in a well defined 
channel containing coarse gold ; a subsequent Avashing produced 
18 dwts. per load. Thus stimulated, the miners on the lead 
made further efforts in the deep ground, but still the payable 
claim stood alone. At last a shaft, sunk at random 100 yards to 
the east of the old line, bottomed at a less depth by about 15 
feet on the eastern side of a reef or ridge, and struck the long- 
sought lead ; and now all the abandoned claims are reoccupied, 
and the red flag flutters over nearly every shaft for u])Avards of 
half a mile along the line, and others still further in advance. 
The depth of the original line of shafts is from 120 to 157 feet, 
deepening as it recedes from the present channel ot drainage. 
The course of the lead is parallel to that line, hut not so deep 
by from 15 to 20 feet. 
The shaft 157 feet deep is supposed to be on a distinct lead, as 
both the wash and gold differs from that of M'Guiggan’s south.^ 
In an easterly direction, three miles distant from M‘Guiggan’s 
south, is the head of the Tichbourne Lead, having au east and 
