74 
Apart from the foregoing considerations, the question whether mining 
at deeper levels will furnish payable results is affected by— 
(1) Increased cost of mining, due to the harder nature of the reef and 
country below the zone of surface decomposition, and increased 
expenses for haulage, pumping, and maintenance of workings. 
(2) Increased cost of milling, owing to the presence of antimony and 
other minerals which will require special treatment for the 
extraction of portion, at least, of the gold contained in the reef. 
From all points of view, the problem is one to be solved by experiment 
only, and a broad consideration of all the circumstances leads me to the 
opinion that the scheme possesses reasonable chances of success, and that 
sinking the proposed shaft would be just such assistance to the mining 
industry as was contemplated by Parliament under section 19 of the Mining 
Development Act. 
Results may or may not prove deeper mining payable, but in either case 
the experiment will have had its value. 
Office of Mines, Melbourne, 2/5/00. 
