237 
Much of the work accomplished on this field has been done under adverse 
conditions and without outside help. Owing to the geographical position, 
the cost of food, of machinery, and of everything that has to be trans¬ 
ported, is very heavy, and forms a considerable addition to the charges in 
winning the gold. In no way could this district be more generally benefited 
than by improving ,the roads leading to it. The cutting of tracks, also, to 
outlying places where promising reefs are discovered would be a great boon. 
Shaft sinking will probably be more generally resorted to than tunnels 
in future development, and some assistance might perhaps be given towards 
sinking a shaft on one of the lodes to prove the continuance downwards of 
the lode and its value at deeper levels. 
My thanks are due to Mr. Mclnerheney and the members of the Progress 
Association for much assistance and information supplied while examining 
the field. 
ADDENDUM. 
Besides the mines that are directly associated with the tunnel scheme 
there are many others that are well deserving of a test in depth. As a rule 
they are more suitable for small parties of miners than for companies to 
work. Near the top of Mount Wills and in granite country a considerable 
amount of work has been done with profitable results. Other granite areas 
should be tried. 
The Wombat Reef .—This occurs at an altitude of 5,300 feet above sea 
level. The reef is vertical, and strikes N. and S. The quartz is highly 
mineralized and about 4 inches thick, yielding about 5 ozs. per ton. The 
gold is worth ^3 6s. to ^3 10s. per oz. The Whip Shaft is 50 feet deep. 
The reef is very irregular., and consists in places of four or five separate 
fissures in the granite, each with a thin auriferous vein of quartz. Some 
of these small veins are very rich in gold, but a great deal of “ country 
rock ” is sent to the crushing plant with the quartz. The reef dips W., and 
is traceable for more than half-a-mile on the surface. A parallel reef runs 
30 feet to the E. The shoot of gold at the Whip Shaft is 50 feet long and 
pitches N. 
Sunny Heights Mine .—This is 5,350 feet above sea level. The strike 
of the reef is N. and S. ; dip to W. at 70 deg. The country is granite. 
The leef has about 4 inches of quartz, and is worked right through the 
length of the lease, the deepest workings being about 45 feet from the 
surface. 
Mountain Chief Mine .—This is a continuation of the Sunny Heights 
reef northward. It has been worked for 60 feet in length. Another reef 
with strike to N.E., and dip 25 deg. to N.W.,, occurs here. This mine is 
5,600 feet above sea level, and is said to be the highest gold mine in 
Victoria. 
Other reefs have been worked further to the W., but they were not 
visited. Most of these reefs at shallow depths carry sulphides in varying 
quantities and of varying values. The concentrates from these are in many 
cases exceedingly rich in gold, and at present there is no local plant for 
treating them. The heavy transport and other charges tend to drive 
awav the miners. A small cyanide plant is being erected to deal with these 
concentrates. The ores being so complex, an effort should be made to assist 
by having samples from various mines tried, and also by carrying on experi¬ 
ments as to the best way to deal with such intractable ores. 
It is a noticeable feature that pegmatite is very commonly present where 
the reefs are auriferous, both at Sunnyside and at Glen Wills. The rela¬ 
tions have yet to be worked out. 
