Mines and Mineral Statistics. 
The population on the G-olcl Pield durin*^ the pn.st yeai’ has 
fluctuated between 8,000 and 10,000 persons of all ages. These 
reside chiefly at Parkes and flve small towns that have sprung 
up near the most important leads. 
There are six steam ({uartz-crasliing plants, containing all the 
most modern appliances for saving gold; in the aggregate 122 
horse power drives 72 stam])ci’s. But one of these machines has 
been employed in the extraction of gold, one is used as a saw- 
mill, and four are idle. There arc also 47 puddling machines, 115 
whips and four whims. 
Sixteen reservoirs of a temporary construction are held in con- 
nection with machinery, and seven others for general purposes ; 
nearly all of these no shallow, 48 water rights are lield by 
machine owners and IG catch races convey storm water to as 
many small reservoiz’s for mining purposes. 
The Forbes Grold Field has been imperfectly prospected and 
inefficiently worked, and I am of oj^iziiou tliat if the lead recently 
reported at the Bald Hill pi'oves to be valuable the whole of the 
ahaudoued leads round Forbes, and extending from the hanks of 
the Lachlan Fiver, both on the ziorthern and sontheru hank, for 
many zniles Avill be re-ocenpied and re-worked with profit. 
The unusual richness of the leads in the immediate vicinity of 
Foi'bes caused the miuez's of that day to view with contempt or 
iudifierenco any auriferous deposits that were merely remunera- 
tive, consequently many leads were abandoned then that will be 
eventually thoroughly worked. 
There is one quartz-crushing plant upon this field Avhich has 
not been in operation during the year, there are also four puddling 
machines — they have been unemployed. 
The Mining Eegistrar at Cargo reports : — ■ 
The most prominent feature of the Cargo Grold Field is the 
Ironclad Kange, which is of considerable lieight, about GOO feet, 
aud runs neazfiy south south-east and north ziorth-Avest. This 
range seems to have been the feeder of the Gold Field, as on it 
all the principal reefs are situated, and in nearly all the ravines 
leading therefrom gold in payable quantities has been found. 
The gullies on the eastern side which have been worked with 
good results are as follows : — First, Long Gully, which was the 
first place rushed on this field, and Avhich supported a miniug 
population of from 100 to 500 miners for nearly two years. The 
next on the same side of the range is Township Gully, which was 
opened about the same time as Long Gully; it was also highly remu- 
nerative, one of the leads running doAvn the centre of Cargo-street. 
The next was Graveyard Gully, which paid well for working. 
On the western side of the range are : — First, Scz’ape Rock 
and Tin-dish Gullies. Tliese gullies Avere very shalloAV, and Avere 
