48 Mines and Mineral Statistics, 
Mr. AVarden Buchanan reports : — 
In the immediate locality of'Armidale t^yo of the gold-fields, 
TN'hich it was believed would prove remunerative if machinery 
Avas only at hand for crushing, have now been almost abandoned, 
and this after quartz-crushing machinery had been supplied by 
private enterprise. As far as I can learn, the reefs in the localities 
I refer to, namely, Grlen IMorrison and Cameron’s Creek, might 
be payable enough if worked upon a large scale and with increased 
crushing power, but unfortunately the results, as obtnined from 
but moderate appliances, have been so unsatisfactory that, upon 
the 07 ie hand, capitalists have become dispirited, and, on the other, 
the miners have either abandoned the ground or registered it. 
At ])resent I see no immediate prospect of any reaction in the 
working of the reefs, and the alluvial fields are almost left to the 
enterprise of a few shiicing parties, Avho, in most cases, are work- 
ing old ground. 
The cause of the depression is not the actual poverty of the 
gold reefs, but the Avant of some more economical method of 
Avorking them. 
The tin fields, especially at A'egetable Creek and Cope’s 
Creek, continue to yield steady returns, and the industry after 
much fluctuation may be said to be thoroughly established. 
Townships at both of these places are in the most flourishing 
condition, and there seems every prospect of many years elapsing 
before tlie ground actually in process of Avorking will be 
exhausted. 
I estimate the population on the tin fields at 2,000 men, and 
of this number the majority are either tributers or men actually 
employed by private companies. The existence of valuable lodes 
Avas satisfactorily proA'ed some years ago, but as yet nothing has 
been done towards their development. The general opinion is 
that a far more economical method of extracting the ore must be 
discovered than at j)reseut known before the lodes can be worked 
to advantage, and that appliances for smelting on the ground 
must be introduced. Tlie attention, hoAvever, of English capital- 
ists has been drawn to the tin fields of XeAV iSouth AVales, and 
several blocks of laud liave been inspected by accredited English 
agents. Pending tlieir official reports, Avhich are stated to be 
satisfactory, being in the hands of their constituents, nothing 
call be definitely arranged. 1 contemplate, hoAA'eA'er, increased 
activity in the Avorking of the tin mines during the ensuing year, 
and I may state that from my personal inspection and experience, 
I am convinced that a Avide field is open to the labouring classes 
upon them. 
