A TRIP TO HILL END.
FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER
XI.
Oakey Creek is a place the name of which has lately become as familiar as "household words"
to rhe readers of mining news, and many will naturally be desirous of knowing something about
the locality und the operations which are being carried on there. This creek flows (that is in
rainy weather) on the western side of Hawkins Hill, and, like all the mountain gorges which run
down to the Turon,is very precipitous and rocky towards its source. The most broken parts of the
coastline near Port Jackson would give only a very inadequate idea cf the wild precipices which
occur at the head of these gullies. Looked at from a short distance, however, the trees upon the
hill sides tone down the roughness, and give a fluted appearance to the high lands which wall in
the valleys. Any attempt to scale some of these mountain heights, except by very circuitous paths,
is both difficult and dangerous. The herds of wild goats which have fled to the mountains manage
to hang on some-how, and pick up a scanty subsistence from the thin and miserable herbage which
grows among the rocks; and there is generally a congregation of crows croaking among the topmost
branches of the trees. But for these things, and the presence of the miners, the place would be
solitary and desolate. The bed of Oakey Creek is broad and covered with large masses of rock and
waterworn pebbles. In former times the Creek was a rich alluvial diggings, and many years ago gold
was got out of the surface of a reef which crosses the creek at its junction with the Turon. The
creek has been "worked out" two or three times; and in several places there are large wells of smooth
pebbles piled up by the Chinese (a few of whom are still working there) in order to direct the course
of what little comes down, and to enable them to get at and wash the soil which lies in the bed of
the stream. Across the head of Oakey Creek, Marshall's line of reefs runs from Hill End to the Turon.
On the slopes of the lower part of the creek shafts are being sunk, and from the level of the
waterway tunnels are being driven to cut the goldbearing reefs known, or supposed, to exist all
along its course. Many of the claims which lie on the western side, or on Hawkins Hill, have already
been mentioned. Others are registered for the formation of a company; and in regard to some of these
I may observe that the shareholders in posse or in esse may already count on a plentiful supply of
water in the bottom of the shafts. The drives, as a rule, are not sufficiently far advanced to test
the validity of the expectations formed by the promoters; but with respect to several of the claims
near the crown of the eastern slope of the creek there is good reason to believe they are already
removed beyond the region of experiment. The Star of Hope's shaft has passed through two or three
good veins, and the bluish stone they are now raising is considered to be of the Hawkins Hill type.
There seems to be no reason to doubt that a few months more work in the different claims on Oakey
Creek will determine the course of most of the veins already named after their prospectors on the
Hill. It would, probably, be too great a stroke of good fortune to expect that all the mines at
Oakey Creek will prove profitable; for that is a result which is certainly not likely to be realized
even in respect to many which have all the prestige which the public has attached to ventures,
wherever placed, on Hawkins Hill. I will now give such information as I have been able to collect
respecting the different mines at which men were working:
About quarter of a mile above the junction of Oakey Creek ond Nuggetty Gully. Just commenced to
drive tunnel south-west. In 30 feet.
Breaking ground to drive south on a vein which crops out on the surface.
Five-acre lease; tunnel driven 96 feet west, cut seven veins, last they suppose to be Star of Hope's.
Ten-acre lease; driving north upon a reef at surface in which specks of gold are visible. Tunnel
in 52 feet; reef 3 feet wide; quatity of stone ready for crushing.
five-acre lease on opposite side of the gully. Have sunk on the reef about l5 feet.
Five-acre lease. Commencing tunnel, which is to foUow course of the reef.
Driven tunnel about 40 feet easterly. Expect to hit the reef at 100 feet.
Driving in similar direction. Tunnel in about 160 feet.
Two men's ground; driving south-west; tunnel in 43 feet.
Five-acre lease; driving south-west; tunnel in 160 feet.
On west side; contractors just commenced to drive 100 feet east.
Have driven west 50 feet, and cut a few small veins.
Fourteen-acres lease; shaft down atout 16 feet; expect to cut one vein at 26 feet, and another
at 40 feet.
Driving south upon reef; in a few feet.
Started tunnel north in a bend of the creek. Drivng on narrow vein in which specks of gold have been seen.
Ascending the eastern slope of the ridge which divides the Oakey from the Turon several shafts are
being sunk.
is down 80 feet; now timbering shaft.
Down about 50 feet.
Down 100 feet.
Four-acre lease; down 20 feet, and sinking prospecting shaft in the reef.
Five-acre lease. Oue shaft down 19 feet, another 12.
Ten-acre lease. Timbering up shaft, which is down 80 feet. Cut one or two veins, and expect to reach
the Star of Hope's vein at 150 feet.
Four men's ground. Shaft down 80 feet, and cut vein at 25 feet. About six tons ready for crushing.
Stone said to improve as shaft gets deeper.
Four men's ground. Shaft down 125 feet, and is to go another hundred. About 15 tons ready for crushing.
Two men's ground. Down 30 feet.
Amalgamated claim; eight men's ground. Shaft down 116 feet. Struck vein at 80 feet, and from that
depth have been working chiefly on the underlay vein, carrying gold all the way; cut a second vein
at 50 feet, and a third at 110 feet. One vein measures about 16 inches, another 7, and the last 4
inches. Owners suppose that all the veins of Hawkins Hill run through their ground southwards. About
40 tons ready for crushing.
Four-acre lease (Old and Young England amalgamated). Struck Star of Hope's vein at eight feet,
carrying gold to 145 feet, which is the present depth of underlay shaft. About eight tons
ready for crushing.
Six men's ground. Shaft down about 100 feet; on the same vein as Old England.
Five-acre lease. Cut vein at 51 feet, and expect to come upon payable gold a few feet lower down.
.Three-acre lease; 15 feet down.
Drive in nearly 100 feet. Struck vein with specs of gold visible in it.
At the back of the Star of Hope's line are several workings known as the South Star line;
and report speaks highly of the prospects obtained in theClan campbell ad some other lease there.
I, however, had not an opportunity of visiting them.
At the back of the spur which forms the westerly bank of Oakey Creek we come upon the Turon. The
banks of the stream are under cultivation by the chinese, who combine gardening and gold digging
operations, and appear to be thriving apace. The twonship, if it may be so styled, is situated on
the bend of the northern bank of the river, and is obviously of very recent growth. Several wattle
and dab houses are being erected; and the number of men busily employed about the place is out of all
proportions to its present dimensions. The presence of the miners and builders, however, does not
incommode the herds of pigs which wallow about in the mud with as much composure as if they were the
sole denizens of the neighbourhood. Flocks of ducks on the river, and pigeons on the house-tops are
about the only other indications of settle life. The oldest reefing claim on the Turon has not been
worked more than twelve months, while the age of most of the others would average not more than six
months. Alluvial work, traces of which are still to be found in the appliances of the Chinese resident
would go back almost to the period of the gold discover.
As for , there are none, and I should imagine that nobdy has the temerity to stir out of his tent
or domicile after dark, There are three public-houses and perhaps as many stores. People are beginning
to agitate for the establishment of a Public school, and no doubt religious and other organisations will
quickly follow. One quartz crushing machine has been erected; and as two others are being put up, that
may be taken as a pretty good indication that there are capitalists who believe in the auriferous character
of the stone which is now being raised on both sides of the river, and which ought to be soon forthcoking
in larger quantity. The reefs which run through the Truon, and indeed right away south as far as Chambers
Creek, are believed to be a continuation of thosse in hawkins Hill. They are in a direct line, and as in that
distance of eight or ten miles many shafts have got down to golden stone, there is nothing to lead one
to suppose that there is any break in the reefs. The tracks run over steep hills and down deep valleys,
and the workings are so numerous that you may hear the sound of drills and the echoes of blasts nearly
all the way. The dip is uniformly east.
The following mines lie on the north bank of the Turon: