72 
THE OAKLANDS SHAFT, NEAR BAIRNSDALE. 
By E. J. Dunn, F.G.S., Director, Geological Survey. 
“ Oaklands,” the property of Mr. j. S. Wilson, is in the parish of 
Moormung, 7 miles distant from Bairnsdale, in a south-west direction, 
and 4 miles from Hillside Railway Station. Here, right in the heart of 
the Tertiaries, a shaft has been sunk to a depth of 170 feet. At the 
surface is loose sand and this continues for about 40 feet in depth. Then 
mottled red and purple sandy clay was sunk through for 35 feet. In this a 
seam of gravel occurred with small well-rounded quartz pebbles. Below 
75 feet coarse yellow sand was sunk through and then coarse grey sand 
composed principally of granitic material which continues to the bottom of 
the shaft. Thin layers of quartz gravel occurred and in them some fine 
colours of gold were obtained, so Mr. Wilson informed me. To the present 
depth the shaft has been dry, but in such a site artesian water may be 
expected, and to continue the shaft might involve risk. It is not at all 
likely that the shaft is nearly deep enough to strike bedrock. The occur¬ 
rence of colours of gold in the layers of wash might be expected, but that 
any defined lead or gutter in which the gold would be concentrated suffici¬ 
ently to be worth working should be found is very unlikely. If further 
work is to be done at this shaft it should be by boring with hand rods from 
the bottom of the shaft, and in doing this precaution should be taken in case 
an impervious layer should be drilled through and strong artesian water 
struck. Means for the escape for men and of recovering the tools should 
oe provided. The site of the shaft is where an old sawmill stood on the 
edge of a lagoon. 
[Report sent in 12.3.07.] 
REEFS AT BENDOC AND BONANG. 
By E. J. Dunn, F.G.S., Director, Geological Survey. 
The Homeward Bound Reef, Bendoc. 
The Homeward Bound reef is situate about half a mile south of 
Bendoc. Its strike is about N. 20 deg. W. The shaft is about 90 feet deep, 
and the stone is said to have yielded well. From it an alluvial working 
called Chinaman’s Gully trends in an easterly direction. Loch’s Gully, 
which is also auriferous, begins from the same line of reef. It is a little 
further south than Chinaman’s Gully. 
The Bendoc United Mine. 
About a quarter of a mile north of Bendoc a tunnel has been driven in 
to cut a reef worked profitably at the surface and down a shaft. The 
quartz vein was narrow but rich. The tunnel was not driven sufficiently 
far to cut the reef. 
The Morning Star Reef. 
This reef is about half a mile to the west of Bendoc. The shaft is 
210 feet deep. It was worked for about 350 feet in length. The reef is 
about 8 inches thick. The country rock consists of yellow and grey sand¬ 
stone and slate. The quartz is said to have yielded about 2 ozs. of gold 
per ton on an average, and the gold is worth 16s. 2d. per oz. The 
dip is W. 
