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The Following extracts are taken from G. Butler Earp’s The Gold Colonies of Australia, and Gold Seeker’s Manual, Routledge & Co., London, 1853 (The Thirty-Five Thousandth).
pp. 138-144.
“Lewis Ponds. - A chain of water-holes in the county of Bathurst, forming in the rainy season a river, which empties itself into the river Macquarie. The locality is generally known by the name of Lewis Ponds Creek - ‘creek’ being the term usually given to this description of water-holes in the interior of Australia - though they have not, as we understand the term in England, any connection with the sea. Gold is found in Lewis Ponds, all the way to the junction with Frederic’s Valley [Frederick’s Valley] and Summerhill Creeks.
“Summerhill Creek, - Contiguous to the preceding locality, and similar in its character. This was the neighbourhood first pointed out by Mr. Hargraves to the Government, as abounding in gold. Summerhill, from which the locality takes its name, is 144 miles from Sydney, and 30 from Bathurst. Gold also abounds on a creek which joins that of Summerhill below Belarida.
“Frederic’s [Fredericks] Valley Creek. - Is situated 153 miles from Sydney, and eight miles from the preceding locality. This was one of the original gold fields, and here Mr. Hargraves found a lump of gold, weighing 7 lbs., imbedded in the ferruginous rock, which abounds in the neighbourhood, Gold is also found along the whole line of this creek; also on the range between Frederic’s Valley [Fredericks Valley] and Gosling’s Creek, on the estates of Mr. Wentworth, who has a considerable property here, consisting of 6000 acres, all believed to be auriferous. Contrary to the gold fields generally, this spot is highly fertile. The soil, where not black alluvial, consists of red clay intermixed with quartz; basaltic rock is also abundant. Mr. Hargraves found here a lump of gold, weighing 7 lbs., imbedded in ferruginous rock, which abounds in the neighbourhood. The people here have been for some time literally paving their roads with gold, as this rock has been broken up in large quantities for ‘metal’ to mend the roads.
“Emu Swamp. - This locality is also near Lewis Ponds, and yielded a considerable quantity of the precious metal. It had its name from having formerly abounded with the emu, or Australian ostrich, which has, from the encroachments of the settlers, disappeared almost entirely from the district.
Nubrigen Creek. - a branch of the Bell River, in the county of Wellington.
“Cudgegong River. - This river rises on the Coricudgy Mountain, and after dividing the counties of Roxburgh and Wellington from Phillip and Bligh, flows into the Macquarie River at Wellington Valley.
“Meroo Creek, - This is situated in the county of St. Vincent [sic], near Wallinga, and is amongst the most famous of the New South Wales gold fields. The diggings on this creek are termed the ‘World’s End’ diggings.
“Quartz Hills. - A range situated between the Bergen and the Lachlan.
“Marga Hill. - On the river Byrne, in the Wellington district.
“Nangar Hill. - Near the preceding, between the rivers Byrne and Belabula, in the county of Bathurst.
“The Dyke. - Between the River Lachlan and Hurd’s Peak, in the Wellington district, the latter so called by Mr. Oxley, in honour of Captain Hurd, Hydrographer to the Admiralty.
“Kalingalungaguy. - A river in the Wellington district, which empties itself into the Lachlan, near Mount Taratta. The gold here is chiefly found on the ridges.
“Mount Torrens. - A hill in the Wellington district, near the Yammerina River, a tributary of the Lachlan.
“Macquarie Range. - A range of mountains in the Lachlan district, called by the natives Cocaparra.
“Peel’s Range. - Another mountain chain, in the Lachlan district.
“Abercrombie River. - This rises on Mount Werong, and after flowing through the county of Georgiana, falls into the Lachlan. Large quantities of gold have been found in this vicinity.
“Isabella River. - A tributary of the Abercrombie, which runs through the county of Georgiana. The most prolofic of the Abercrombie River diggings are below its junction with the Isabella, though the gold fields of the latter river, before its confluence with the Abercrombie, are highly promising.
“The Tuena River. - The diggings on this river are about sixty miles from Goulburn, the gold being found in very small particles in the river itself, but in great abundance. Nuggets indicative of the matrix are found upon its banks. A single pint pot full of earth has yielded 6 1/2 oz., and another two-quart can 14 oz. Three days’ work, in another spot, gave 26, 24, and 20 oz. respectively.
“Araluen. - A remarkably deep gully, in the county of St. Vincent, near the Shoalhaven River. Gold abounds in the numberless creeks in this vicinity.
“Jellore Mountain. - A mountain near the source of the Nattai River, which flows into the Wollondilly at Burragorang. It lies to the north-west of Mittagong, in the county of Camden, seventy miles from Sydney. The mountain is of a conical form, and is visible from Sydney lighthouse. The gold is found about the base of the mountain, thus indicating a matrix higher up.
“Lake George. - Gold is found at the Big Creek. Lake George is situated between the counties of Argyle and Murray. It is 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, and is sixteen miles long by seven broad. The western shore has a steep ridge of hills rising from the water’s edge; but the country to the eastward and southward of the lake, consists of open plains. A succession of fine open plains also extends northwards from the northern part of the lake. It is in the plains that the precious metal, washed down from the hills, is found.
“Carraway Flat, near Lake George. - The diggings here, though at one time considered of little value, have turned out very rich, as have those also at Black Swamp, in the vicinity.
“Dividing Range of Argyle. - This mountain chain extends from Burra Burra to Lake George, including the three Breadalbane Plains. The greater portion of this district forms an immense gold field, many parts of which are being worked to great advantage.
Meringo Range. - Bordering a lagoon of the same name, in the county of St. Vincent, about 149 miles from Sydney.
“Pigeon House Creek. - [Boyne and Flat Rock Creeks] In the county of St. Vincent, at the base of the Pigeon House Mountain. This creek or river flows into the Clyde, which rises in the above-named mountain, and flows into the Macleay River [Buckenbowra River] at Bateman’s Bay.
Burril Creek. - Is situated in the county of St. Vincent, about three miles to the southward of the town of Ulladulla, 139 miles from Sydney.
“Nammoi [Namoi], or Peel River. - In the Liverpool Plains district. The chief locality for gold in this district is at Eneierguendi Hill. The Nammoi flows into the Darling at Pockataroo.
“Maneroo [Monaro]. - This district abounds with gold; and some new diggings have been discovered in the vicinity of the Snowy River. There are indications that this will become one of the most valuable localities in the colony. The Manerro [Monaro] Plains form one of the finest districts in New South Wales. They consist of a series of gentle undulations, the soil being in the highest degree fertile, very unlike the barren wastes of California. The level of the plains forms an elevated table land parallel with the coast, from which spring majestically the Snowy Mountains, the Australian Alps, and the great Warrangong Chain; all, doubtless, pregnant with gold. The plains form a square of about 100 miles in extent, and irrespective of their mineral wealth, forms in point of climate, scenery and fertility, one of the most desirable residences for man on the face of the earth.
“Winburndale Creek. - In the county of Roxburgh, flows into the Macquarie. Gold is here found in considerable quantities, and gives every prospect of permanence. It is chiefly imbedded in quartz. There is also here a never-failing supply of water.
“Oakey Creek. - Is situated to the westward of Summerhill Creek. Large quantities of gold have been found at this place, and the miners are positive as to its permanence. It is found here high up the banks as well as in the bed of the creek. This geological feature, as well here as elsewhere, we shall afterwards have to consider.
“Macquarie River. - This river is formed by the junction of the Fish and Campbell rivers after they issue from the Blue Mountains, near the counties of Bathurst and Westmoreland. It is, like the Darling River, one of those large inland streams which have their origin in the torrents which descend from the western ridges of the dividing range. Gold is here found at the junction of several small creeks westward of Bosh’s Creek, and from the junction of Bosh’s Creek to Killinbutta, especially at Walqumbulla. Also at the junction of the Turon and Macquarie rivers.
“The Turon. - Gold abounds on this river all along the various bars from Choenarang Creek to its junction with the Macquarie. This is the principal gold field as yet discovered in New South Wales, and is believed to be inexhaustible. The gold district is, however, subject to heavy floods, which render mining impracticable, except upon the banks, during a considerable portion of the year. As we shall have occasion hereafter to allude to the Turon mines at considerable length, we shall not further notice them in this place.
“Tarshish is the name given to a spot on the Abercrombie River, twenty miles south-east from Carcoar, seventeen miles from Mulgunnie, fifty from Bathurst, and seventy from Goulburn.
“Mookerra, a creek in the county of Wellington, which flows into the Macquarie, - that is, when it has any water in it, which is seldom. It is sometimes necessary to cart the earth for two miles at these diggings.
“Bungonia, a creek in the county of Argyle, about 125 miles from Sydney. The diggings in this vicinity are usually known as the Shoalhaven diggings, from their vicinity to that river.
“Braidwood. - Here are situated some of the most productive gold fields of the colony. The diggings are on a creek called Araluen Creek, one of the tributaries of the Duah [Deua] and the Broulee Mounyas. This spot is sixteen miles from Braidwood, a town in the county of St. Vincent, 164 miles from Sydney, and seventy-two from Goulburn, in Argyle. The banks are black soil to the depth of six inches, with substrata of clay and sand, intermixed with particles of quartz. Mount Ebrington [Elrington], six miles from Araluen, is also productive of gold, which is found in small nuggets.
Moruya. - These diggings are on the banks of a river of the same name, which divides the county of St. Vincent from the Maneroo [Monaro] district. They are situated 100 miles from Sydney, and twenty-eight from Bateman’s Bay.
“Louisa Creek. - These diggings are a day’s journey from the World’s End ones, and thirty miles from Mudgee. The gold is found in nuggets of all shapes and sizes, and the auriferous soil is nine inches beneath the surface. The country is an elevated flat table land, somewhat marshy on the surface, and thickly sprinkled with quartz, boulders, and pebbles.
Bell’s Point, on a river of the same name, which borders the western portion of the county of Wellington, and falls into the Macquarie at Wellington Valley.
“Major’s Creek. - These diggings are in the Shoalhaven district, and are abundant in produce. At their first discovery a boy got half an ounce of gold with his tin dish in a space no larger than a post hole.
“It would be easy to extend the enumeration of particular points on the gold fields to an indefinite extent. Nothing would be gained by this. The preceding, and some spots before alluded to, are the principal discoveries hitherto made, and every mail brings intelligence of new ones.
“Gold has also been found in New England, at Swamp Oak Creek, the Macdonald River, the Cockburn River, on the eastern side of the range, near Walcha, and in many other places. It is useless to particularise more than we have done, as there is abundant evidence that the whole mountain country is one mass of wealth inexhaustible by any number of people that could be placed on the gold fields.
“Gold has also been discovered on the Brisbane, in the direction of Wide Bay, in the Moreton Bay district. The spot is about fifty miles from Brisbane, and is a basin surrounded by high hills, with a plentiful stream of water running through the valley. The geological formation is mica and chlorite schist, intersected by dykes of quartz. It is in the detritus of the quartz that the gold has been found, and wherever this is, gold may be expected to be discovered. In the schistose formation the most valuable deposit is found on the surface of the rock, or rather in the hollows.
“Having given this retrospect of the discovery and progress of Australian gold-mining, we will now introduce the miners themselves, as the best evidence of what is, in reality, occurring in the respective districts. Some of their information is conveyed by letters, and some in communications to the Australian newspapers. Both may be relied on.”
pp. 147-158.
“TURON.- The following particulars of the operations of a party at the Turon, and their extraordinary success, will be read with considerable interest. The facts were communicated to us by Mr. William Harvie, of Dapto, who has just returned from the Turon. Mr. Harvie and his party commenced operations at the Turon river on the 30th of June. During the first week they only obtained 3 oz. 16 dwt. 15 grains of gold. Their daily gains for the next week are represented to have been as follow :
Monday, July 7th.................. 8 dwt. 12 gr.
Tuesday, “ 8th..................8 “ 16 “
Wednesday, “ 9th..................5 “ 0 “
Thursday, “ 10th.................6 “ 0 “
Friday, “ 11th.................3 “ 15 “
Tuesday, “ 15th.................1 “ 20 “
“The party now took possession of new ground, which had been vacated by othert diggers who were dissatisfied with it; and the results of their labours for the next three days are thus stated : -
Thursday, July 17th................24 oz. 12 dwt.
Friday, “ 18th................16 “ 17 “
Saturday, “ 19th.................3 “ 6 “
“At this state of their progress, the river rose in consequence of the rains, which caused some interruption to their operations. On the Monday morning, by felling the swamp oaks, they formed a bridge over the water, which enabled them to reach their claim; but this preliminary business occupied nearly the whole of the forenoon. Notwithstanding this hindrance, their success during the remainder of the day was quite outstanding. The following are the amounts procured during that and the next five days : -
Monday, July 21st..........77 oz. 10 dwt. 22 gr.
Tuesday, “ 22nd.........52 “ 6 “ 21 “
Wednesday, “ 23rd...........5 “ 5 “ 0 “
Thursday, “ 24th.........14 “ 10 “ 0 “
Friday, “ 25th..........3 “ 0 “ 0 “
Saturday, “ 26th..........3 “ 8 “ 12 “
“Thus it will be seen that Mr. Harvie’s party obtained an amount of gold over 200 ounces within the surprisingly short period of ten days. The spot where the larger quantities were found is described as being twenty-five feet above the bed of the river, on the side of a steep mass of rocks. The claim had been offered for dale by the first purchaser to five or six different parties, all of whom rejected it as valueless. An old Californian miner gave it as his opinion that it was one of the last places where experienced men would think of looking for gold. Mr. Harvie says that the nuggets were mostly found in crevices of the rocks, jammed in, as it were, by some force of the elements which had acted upon them, perhaps some thousands of years ago.
“BUNGONIA. - You must have heard that a rich and extensive gold field has just been discovered in the Shoalhaven river, near this township; a sample of the gold sent to Goulburn to be tested has been pronounced by Mr. Dibdin, the chemist, to be a first-rate sample of pure gold. Mr. Wallis, the young man who discovered it, stops with me; he is now down in the gullies with one of my boys. I was at the river myself three days last week, and saw the gold in every washing. I gave a sample to Mr. Samuel Davis, of Goulburn [Davis was apparently buying gold], who was down with me, and sent a few grains of it to Mr. Cooper, of Bubjong [Budjong, near Windellama], father to the Messrs. Cooper, Waterloo-warehouse. Several persons who have returned from Bathurst say that they were there for several days without seeing any gold, but we have it in every washing. It is found in minute particles as yet, but every person thinks that as soon as the parties can get down any distance, the result will be highly satisfactory; for my part, I really believe that the Shoalhaven river, with its mountains and gullies, is as rich in minerals as any part of the colony, plenty of the best fire-wood, and in the season plenty of the finest fish; besides, the climate down there is much warmer than here, being about fifteen hundred feet below us. Mining in the summer must pay at all events, for then the water will be low, and the miners can get at the bed of the river in several places, and still have plenty of water to wash at all times, which will give it a superiority over all the other gold fields.
“Gold has been discovered in the Shoalhaven river, near Bungonia. myself and a party from this township would have started this week for the Bathurst site, but we were resolved to give the Shoalhaven a trial before our departure. Accordingly, a party went down on the 1st instant, amongst which was one of my boys, and Mr. Wallis, who was a long time at Lake Bathurst, and had just returned from Summerhill Creek. The first panful of earth taken off the surface was washed, and gold with emery remained at the bottom, the gold in small particles. On Monday week, they took a sample (about a quarter of an ounce) to Goulburn, had it tested by Mr. Dibdin, the chemist, who pronounced it to be a first-rate sample of pure gold. I was at the river myself three days last week, and saw that every washing left more or less in the pan, sometimes as many as thirty specks or particles, but most of them very minute; I gave a sample to Mr. Samuel Davis, of Goulburn, who was down with me, and I sent a few grains to _____, who was anxious to know whether the reports in circulation were true.
“OUR GOLD DISTRICT [GOULBURN]. - THE ADVANTAGES OF MACHINERY. - One of the most important facts connected with the gold discoveries in our police district [of Goulburn] has manifested itself to us within the last few days. We have been kindly favoured by Mr. Dibdin, analytical chemist, with the result of an experiment effected by him on a small quantity of sand and emery, forwarded to him from the Crookwell River. It appears from that gentleman’s statement, that the earth amounted to one hundred and thirty-five grains, and by the amalgamating action of mercury, on the most simple principle, he obtained four grains of pure gold. This product is in the ratio of sixty-six pounds six ounces (nearly) avoirdupois, of pure gold to every ton of earth ! From the above fact, added to the indisputable knowledge we possess that gold is abundant in our district, but in the division of minute grains, we may justly account ourselves (calling in the aid of machinery) equal, if not superior, to the Bathurst district. Gold has been undeniably proved to exist in the Shoalhaven gullies, the Abercrombie, the Dead Man’s Creek, and the Narawa; and although as yet no pieces of large size have been obtained, we still may congratulate ourselves on the prospect of not only becoming a lucrative gold district, but (what will prove of more importance) a useful and industrial one.
“TURON. - The news from the gold district is fully confirmatory of the previous reports as to the richness of the Turon diggings. There can be no doubt that fortunes are being made by some, that a very large proportion of the entire population are earning highly remunerative wages, and that there are very few who are not doing well. Our correspondent and the local press agree upon this point.
“The Government escort, yesterday, only brought down 483 ounces for Messrs. L. and S. Samuel. A large quantity, however, came down through the mail; 250 ounces to Mr. Dreutler, about 200 ounces to the Commercial Bank, and smaller parcels to Messrs. Smith, Campbell and Co., and Mr. R. Campbell, sen.; Mr. Daniel, of the firm of Thacker and Co., who was a passenger, brought down 780 ounces. Some other arrangements will have to be made as to the escort, for there is nothing to prevent parties from coming down on the the days the mail is escorted, and bringing gold with their luggage, or they can send it on those days through the mail, and thus have the benefit of the escort without paying anything for it.
“NEWCASTLE NEWS FRON THE DIGGINGS. - Messrs. Hannah, Tighe, White, and Knox, who went up to the Turon in a party at rather an early period, have severally written letters to their friends, which bear ‘golden tidings’; but in perusing extracts from their letters the public are cautioned that, from information received through an authentic source, their lot appeared to be cast with the most fortunate.
“However, the first writes - ‘James, I suppose, is waiting anxiously to hear the truth about the diggings. I have about thirty ounces of gold, which is worth about 100l.; this I consider is not bad. I did expect be [sic] before this, but the fact is our claim lasted longer than we at first anticipated. You can tell S_____ that as I expect to be home soon, he had better wait till I come down. We can then come up together, as I intend to return. Mr. Welham and party worked out their claim, and started for home yesterday, and I hear they have done very well. Mr. Simpson is here, and I believe is doing well. - W.H.’
“The second party writes - ‘The last five weeks has been as good as 160l. to me. I am doing well. - A.T.’
“The third sends his wife a ten pound note, as ‘proof undeniable’ of good success, and states he has plenty in store.
“The fourth, and last writes - ‘Last week we earned each about 38l. I will come down about the end of next month, if our ground is worked out by that time. For the present I do not like to leave the means of earning from 1l. 10s. to perhaps 15l. per day for I may not get the chance of so good a claim again. I have placed a quantity of gold in the hands of the commissioner, for conveyance for me to Sydney, which I believe will be forwarded next week. This is the most safe way of sending it down, as there have been several robberies committed on the road of late. - S.N.’
“Since the receipt of the letters from which the above extracts have been taken, intelligence has reached Newcastle that Messrs. Welham, son, and party, have arrived in Sydney with considerable quantities of gold. This is confirmed by the list of gold-dust published in the Herald, as brought down by the Government conveyance, in which Mr. Hollingshead’s name appeared as sending the gold-dust down. Mr. H. is one of Mr. Welham’s party.
“BELL’S CREEK. - The following letter from Mr. J. Byrnes, of Spring Valley, addressed to Mr. Fitzpatrick, of this town, has been kindly handed to us for publication : -
“ ‘MY DEAR SIR, - According to your request, I write to inform you of the present state of the diggings. I would have written much sooner, but was prevented in consequence of the bad state of the weather. Our party, consisting of four besides myself, arrived here on Thursday afternoon. We worked on Friday for a few hours, and about three hours on Saturday, and were fortunate enough to get 1 lb. 1 oz. of gold. In my opinion, from what I can glean, every person is doing well; there are many of them (three in a party) complaining if they only get 4 oz. in the day. I have no doubt that all would do well by persevering; but many think they can pick up gold on the surface of the ground without manual labour. If you should come up, you had better provide yourself with tools suitable - a crowbar is very useful. A party of three, on the day of our arrival, procured 23 oz., and many others from 7 to 13 oz. If you wish, you can make this public.’
“BELL’S GULLY. - During the past week, a great many of the diggers here have been doing first-rate. Moore’s party procured 85 1/2 oz. in four and a half days; Greenwood and Barratt 15 oz. in five days. many others are doing equally well. I have just heard that two men from Sydney got 100 oz. in a fortnight. This place continues to be very quiet; there are about 300 people at work, and all those who give themselves up to labour are getting good wages; some are making fortunes.
MAJOR’S CREEK. - The miners are still doing first-rate: amny of them as much as 2 and 3 oz. a day per man. A party from Broulee, consisting of five, got 18 oz. in a day. I saw a little boy get 3/4 oz. 1 dwt. 6 grs. in a tine dish, from a place no larger than a post-hole. The party who arranged to drain the water-hole have gibbed at the work; it is therefore given over for the present. Some of the knowing ones think there is plenty of gold there yet. New diggings have been found in a gully adjacent to this place. Some are doing first-rate to-day. I may safely say that nearly all the gullies and creeks about here have plenty of gold in them. Richardson washed a small quantity of soil in his scale in a new place known only to a few, and got thirteen specks of gold in the first washing. The soil was taken from the side of the bank with his hands.
“ARRALUEN [ARALUEN]. - At Arraluen [Araluen], a party of three, viz., Appleby’s, got in four and a half days, thirty-four ounces, but we believe this has already been noticed, and as we do not wish to raise undue excitement, we think it as well to say so. Another party, Wisby and Lloyd, in about eight days, got 160l. worth; other parties of two, three, or four, are getting two, three, four, five, and six ounces a cradle per day. Another place has been found, called the Major Creek, situated in the direction of Mr. Badgery’s, to which place a number has gone.
“OPHIR. - The tide is once more turning in Ophir’s favour, and not only is gold in large quantities being turned up by those who work systematically, but we have arrivals of small portions every now and then from other reputed first-rate diggings, such as Dirt Hole and Turon’s Oakey Creek, who intend, during the remainder of the dry months, to turn the Summerhill Creek topsy-turvy. A very good example has been set diggers generally at Ophir by the grand operations of the party belonging to Messrs. Samuels and M’Intosh, under the highly creditable superintendence of Mr. Benjamin White. That gentleman has, with his assistants, so directed the labouring portion of the party, that now the hole, which so very lately was an extensive basin of water, is nearly dry, and only for the underground filtration, the small body of water in the pump well could easily be thrown up in less than half an hour. But the successful drainage of this first waterhole is not the only matter of reference to this undertaking I have briefly to dwell upon. It must now be called the ‘golden basin’ of Ophir, for its yield of the precious metal, I, as well as those upon the spot, anticipate will be more than the proprietors of this claim anticipated a week ago. The working of the ground, after prospecting for the purpose of striking into a promising vein, was commenced in earnest on Monday last, with the full strength of the company, by clearing off, collecting the soil and carrying it to cradles, and the final washing in the pans. The result of the three days, ending at 6 P.M. this evening, is as follows : -
Oz. dwts. grs.
Monday..............................................5 4 18
Tuesday.............................................9 6 0
Wednesday........................................48 7 0
--------------------------
62 17 18
“Add to this the quantity procured during the two or three days’ prospecting referred to above, amounting to 3 oz. 8 dwts. 2 grs., you will have the full amount collected since the hole has been brought into working trim, viz., 66 oz. 6 dwts. 6 grs. It appears that the vein now open has yielded up to the present time an average of a little more than an ounce a foot. These are indisputable facts, and I write them in view, but by moonlight, of the scene of operations. The gold taken I have also seen, and saw it weighed. The sample consists principally of nuggets, varying in size from about five ounces downwards, with very little quartz attached. The prospect is a glowing one to Messrs. Samuels and M’Intosh, and I am glad to admit, that up to the present time more nuggets of the value of 1l. have been taken out of the hole, than there have been fish since May last.
“BRAIDWOOD. - A NEW GOLD FIELD. - Information has reached us through several sources, that successful diggings have been commenced on the Little River [Mongarlowe River], about twelve miles from Braidwood. The gold procured here is described as nuggety, and is often found imbedded in the schist rocks. Several pieces weighing from one to two and a half pennyweights [dwt] had been found, as well as a nugget which weighed upwards of 3 3/4 oz. The deposit is described as being irregular in quantity, but all who work the cradle get more or less. On Friday eighty licenses were issued. At the present time, our information about this locality is very meagre, but we hope to be able to afford our readers some further particulars by our next publication. The field is described as extensive, being fifteen miles in one direction.
“BUDAWANG. - A correspondent on whose on whose information we can rely, sends the following: - ‘I have just returned from a visit to the new diggings at The Mongarlo River [Mongarlowe River], commonly called the Budawang diggings, near Braidwood, where I met with our active commissioner, Mr. King. I found a large number of persons already collected, scattered up and down the river for a distance of ten or twelve miles. They seemed satisfied with their prospects, so much so, indeed, that in the course of the day the commissioner issued about 100 licenses; and I believe above fifty were taken out a few days before. Some parties were making from four to eight ounces per day, and the gold was much coarser than the Major’s Creek gold. Some nuggets I saw were nearly an ounce in weight, and were found more or less wherever they dug for them. These diggings do not require much labour, and are likely to prove attractive. I should not be surprised if the fields were found to be as extensive as those in the Bathurst district; indeed, this was the opinion of a number of the Turon diggers, many of the most successful of whom I saw already at work here. The gold is of the same bright character as at Major’s and Bell’s Creeks, only coarser. A commissioner and stores will soon be required. There will be tqo or three hundred persons in a few days.’
“HANGING ROCK DIGGINGS. - NEW GOLD FINDS. - We are happy to learn, from a gentleman just come down from Murrurundi, that the accounts from the Hanging Rock continued highly favourable. This gentleman had seen several small samples of the gold brought back by prospectors, and from one young man he bought, for 5l. an ounce and three quarters of gold, obtained by the young man and a companion with tin dishes in just three days. From this young man, just come over from the Turon, and from other parties well known to him, some of whom had also been at the Turon, our informant learned that the prospectors at the Hanging Rock, both on the creek and on the ridge or bank, had every reason to be satisfied with their success. In fact so satisfied were all the parties who had been there that they only returned to obtain cradles and other tools to set to digging in good earnest. According to their belief, from 150 to 200 persons were on the ground, mostly prospecting about with tin dishes, &c. Great numbers of cradles, &c., were being made in Murrurundi and the other townships about there, and numbers of persons were on their way to the Hanging Rock.
“From the best information we have yet obtained, the diggings are now progressing on a small creek below the precipitous part of the Liverpool Range, known as the Hanging Rock. This creek, it is believed, flows into Dungowan Creek, and that into the Peel. The country about the Hanging Rock is well watered and grassed, numerous small creeks rising in the range, and finding their way into the Peel.
“The distance from Maitland to the Hanging Rock by the nearest good dray route yet pointed out is about 150 miles. Thus, from Maitland to Murrurundi is ninety-nine miles; from Murrurundi, crossing the Liverpool Range by the usual road, to Terry’s Inn, is ten miles; a mile beyond Terry’s turn off to the right, making for Colly Creek, Mr. Loder’s station, which is about four miles from Terry’s; from the Colly Creek to Messrs. Martyn and Coombee’s station is ten miles; from thence to Loder’s Old Stockyard, on the Postman’s Track, six miles; from the Old Stockyard make for a station of the A.A. Company’s, which our informant believes is named Britton, passing three or four miles to the right of Locke’s station, this distance being five or six miles; from Britton make by the most direct track, to the Hanging Rock, distant some twelve or fifteen miles. The distances are only given as approximate.
“GILMANDYKE. - We paid a visit to the new diggings on the Gilmandyke Creek a few days ago, and found some fifty or sixty miners at work, consisting principally of the neighbours, and a few Bathurst people. Little was doing at the time, the floods having so thoroughly soaked the soil that a spadeful of dirt was scarcely removed before the cavity thus made became a water-hole. Of the correctness of every thing which has been published respecting the Gilmandyke diggings we are perfectly satisfied; but, until the place has been further proved, should hesitate giving an opinion. Although quartz and schistose rocks are most abundant within a mile of the diggings, and are to be found in the immediate vicinity, the land upon the creek differs from any gold country with which we are acquainted. Rich alluvial flats, bearing thick grass to the water’s edge, bound the creek on both sides, and the neighbouring ridges rise only to a very slight elevation. As an agricultural country it yields in fertility, perhaps, to none in the colony. The climate, grass, timber, and soil, are something like, but superior to the forest country about King’s Plains, and the neighbourhood of Frederick’s Valley. The diggers did not appear very sanguine of success, and complained of their ill luck since the floods. There are many deserted holes on the creek which have been dug to the depth of four to six feet, and abandoned on account of their poverty. As yet, no trial has been made of the banks or higher land for dry diggings, but as the richness or poverty of these amy be estimated by the bed of the creek, there exists no reason so far for believing them to be very prolific of gold.
“GOULBURN. - NEW GOLD DISCOVERY. - Mr. M’Donald, of the Buchanan Inn (on the Inveralochy estate), about sixteen miles from Goulburn, sent in a specimen of gold obtained from a quartz range, about half a mile from the inn; the specimen sent in is different from any obtained at the other places; it is of a long narrow form, like fine wire, cut about an eighth or a quarter of an inch, long and flattened; it is also found adhering to irregular-shaped stones as well as in quartz. A number of our townsmen, diggers, and others, and two gentlemen belonging to Kiama, went out yesterday forenoon to try the spot, and obtained about fifty specks, having carted the debris from the range about half a mile to the river, where it was cradled; some of the specks were of the elongated form as already noticed, one piece had several of these conjoined; several small pieces had been obtained by the people living about the inn before the party went out, and which were given to Dr. Waugh. We have visited several of the places where gold was said to have been obtained in this locale, and without wishing as yet to attach an undue degree of importance to this discovery, we cannot but think that those who are engaged in seeking for a gold field in Argyle, never had a better scent than the above discovery presents, and we hope that it will turn out a gold field capable of being worked to advantage. There are no hills of any size near the place where it has been found, and the public road to Braidwood runs over the range near where the earth was dug from which the gold was obtained, and which road shows that quartz exists in considerable quantities; several of the people living in that neighbourhood have quartz in their possession, which, having been broken, shows specks of the precious metal. We understand that the prospecting party, under the direction of the committee lately appointed in this town, are to be sent forthwith to the above place to give it a fair trial, the result of which we not fail to communicate to the public. We understand that a new place was recently discovered, where gold was obtained in sufficient quantities to pay for the working, on the banks of a tributary stream to the Little River [Mongarlowe River], near Braidwood. A number of parties have had claims measured off.
“HUNTER’S POINT. - The diggings on this point are progressing fats; the majority of the diggers here are doing a fair thing towards making money. Messrs. Rush and Webber, of the Nammoi [Namoi], are doing very well; their claim is turning out on an average about six ounces per day. Mr. Rush, who is a first-rate prospector, has some beautiful specimens of different minerals and precious stones; enclosed is a piece of metal which he obtained out of a piece of granite rock, twelve feet under the earth. He has got two very nice diamonds, one of them being about the size of a pea, the other about the size of a radish-seed. He has also a very nice piece of gold, about a penny-weight, resembling a man’s features; some gold beads, octagon-shaped, which he got on Married man’s Creek: the beads are very pretty things, they appear just as if they had been made by hand. He has also got some gold in crystallised quartz, and two fine specimens of platina, one in quartz, the other solid, weighing about a quarter of an ounce - with many other different metals and precious stones, of which we cannot obtain the names up here.
“REPORTED GOLD DISCOVERY NEAR SYDNEY. - A letter has been received from Mr. W.G. Moore, the auctioneer, respecting a discovery of gold within eight miles of Sydney. It was stated that, when washing out a tea-kettle, a man named Smith found a few specks of gold. He then went to the bank of the creek, and washed a few tins of earth, from which he procured about two dwts. of gold. A number of persons were busilly engaged in sinking a hole, hoping to come to the slaty rock, and cradles will be taken out from Sydney, so that it will soon be determined whether or not a new gold-field has been discovered. The land belongs to Mr. Badgery (the owner of Major’s Creek), and is under lease to Mr. Borton. The creek, which is a tributary of George’s River, contains plenty of water. The letter of Mr. Moore caused some excitement in town, and numbers of persons went out to the spot where the gold was said to have been found. They found none, nor any indications of it. We heard that four young men had brought in a small quantity of gold, which they said was found in the neighbourhood; but our present impression is, that a hoax has been practised by somebody.”
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