Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
39 
There are several well-organized parties of prospectors now 
scattered over that portion of the Gold Tield situated between 
Porbes and Parkcs ; they all report having obtained gold, but 
not as yet in payable quantities. The formation is everywhere 
the same as regards its general character. 
During the past ^cuv 120,200 loads of auriferous drift have 
been passed through the puddling machines, at an average of 
Ss. 3d. per load, or a total cost of £20,507 10s. The average 
yield was 7 dwts. 11 grains per load, and the total produce of the 
alluvial mines, 47,8G8 ozs. 2 dwts. 22 grs. ; the increase being con- 
siderably in excess of 100 per centum on the ]iroduction of 1873. 
Alluvial mining operations within the Billabong Gold Pield 
liave been extended over 110 square miles of country, exclusive 
of prospecting areas occupied beyond those limits. Although it 
is probable that each of the alluvial leads will be exhausted 
Avitliin two years of their discovery, the auriferous formations of 
this portion of the district cover sucli an extensive area, that I 
anticipate the opening of a succession of leads as the miners 
acquire a inoi’e perfect knowledge of the rocks of the locality, 
the conditions under which they are filled with mineral veins, 
disintegrated and decomposed, of the original channels of drain- 
age and how they have been silted up, and the manner in which 
the ancient ])lains and valleys have been buried beneath an 
alluvial deposit from 50 to 150 feet in depth. The plains of the 
Lachlan are alluvial Gold Pields wherever gold-heanng reefs or 
veins arc found, however poor, in their vicinity to occupy elevated 
positions, and where on those high lauds, rocks of the Silurian or 
Devonian era exhibit traces of transmutation or disturbance by 
eruptive trappean products. Long ranges and ridges of such 
country flank all the great plains of the Lachlan, more particu- 
larly to the north-west. 
Quartz reefs and veins. — But six claims or holdings upon 
■quartz reefs or veinstones have been worked by the occiipaiits 
during the year, one continuously, and live for short and irregular 
periods ; of these latter but one party proved the val ue of the stone 
by crushing 100 tons, whicli yielded 1 oz. 7 dwts. per ton. The 
alluvial mining that has been prosecuted with so much energy has 
proved the existence of many auriferous reefs or veins, the exact 
position of which has not been ascertained. Many of the quartz 
reefs of the district might be profitably worked by co-operative 
-companies. 
Of the eight mining companies formed upon this Gold Field, 
whose properties at no distant period represented in the aggregate 
£283,000, six have been inactive during the entire year. Two 
have disposed of tlieir plant, and one of their entire property 
on the Gold Field. 
The Dayspring Gold Mining Company, under the judicious 
management of Mr. Philip Davis, have alone earned on their 
