LACHLAN DIGGINGS.
FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
No. 5.
-- Our escort leaves to-day with 730 ounces 6 dwts. 8 grains, and £1869 10s. Considering
the large finds that have been reported on these fields, the above quantity appears small;
but it must be remembered that there is little or no washing at the present time, and the
above must be considered only the result of the rich patches that the miners come across
and wash out in a tub or dish. When the washing becomes general our escorts will
doubtless increase, but not to that extent some are inclined to believe. The generality of
the gold found here is nuggetty, and a good proportion can be picked out without washing.
During the last week several good sized nuggets have been found, varying from one to
twenty ounces, and this class of gold, it is needless to add, is never stacked with the wash.
On all gold-fields, as a general rule, where the dirt is stacked until the claim is worked
out, the yield is invariably estimated far above the produce, and I can see no reason why
this place should prove an exception.
Towards the end of the block claims on the northern lead, a shaft struck gold a few days
ago, and a rush took place, but at present they have not succeeded in extending it. Many
are still sanguine of being able to trace it. At the southern, on the frontage, at present they
have not succeeded in striking payable gold. On the so-called Victorian lead little work is
being done, for out of the many shafts that have been sunk, only two or three can be
considered payable, and in these there is nothing to indicate its being a lead.
Every day we have rumours of rushes, some two miles, others twenty miles distant from
this place. First, it is reported surface is found, then shallow sinking, then that they have
struck gold in the river. At present none of these reports have turned out correct, but,
from the numbers prospecting in the neighbourhood, gold may be struck and a bona fide
rush take place any day.
Many are still arriving, and many leaving, the bulk of whom are making for Lambing Flat,
from which place very good accounts ore received here. Whatever may be the result of
this field, I am prepared to see assembled in a short time on Lambing Flat a far greater
mining population than it ever possessed, and producing more gold than any other field in
the colony.
In my last I called attention to the size of claims that have been granted upon this field,
and I now wish to direct attention to the way in which the frontage system has been
adopted. Whatever arguments may be introduced for or against this system, I have no
hesitation in saying that its introduction here will retard the development of this field
more than any system that could be introduced; for, in the first place, it is questionable if
it is a lead -- and, secondly, for the well working of the frontage system it is absolutely
necessary that the commissioners should be fully acquainted with it. And without wishing
to cast any reflection on their abilities, I must say that at present they are not; nor could
they reasonably be expected to be, considering that the system was never introduced or
worked upon any field in Now South Wales; -- and my own opinion is that a very great
error has been committed in adopting it. The frontage system under some circumstances
is the only one that can be adopted, both for the protection of the bulk of the miners, and
the working of the ground. Where the sinking is difficult -- the ground wet, and
machinery required to work the ground -- where it takes months instead of days to sink a
shaft, -- if it was not for the frontage system this kind of ground would never be worked.
But on a field -- on this -- where four men can sink and slab a shaft, and test the ground,
in fourteen days (a few shafts on the southern end excepted), it ought never to have been
introduced -- the only expense being a set of slabs; this expense once incurred, the same
slabs will do for as many shafts as a party may be disposed to sink.
As I have previously stated, had the block claims been adhered to three times the amount
of ground would have been opened and worked; prospecting would have been more
general, and our escort at the present time very different to the one that leaves to-day.
Even those advocates of the frontage system cannot uphold the way it is attempted to be
worked here -- for, on the same line of lead, there are block and frontage claims, and of
different sizes for the same number of men. At the southern end the frontage system
commences -- four men are allowed forty feet on the supposed load, with a protection
that no other can sink on either side of them; then follows the block claims eighty by
eighty feet, where the gold was first struck, and the only part of this field at present that
gold is being produced in any quantity. Passing those claims the frontage again
commences on what is called the north end; this part was completely deserted some week
or so since, but since gold was struck in a block claim near the north end they are again
taken up. At a distance from this of about half a mile on the same line some parties are
sinking a shaft, they are at present about 120 feet deep, with an excellent water-worn
wash and not bottomed. As a matter of course, many have marked out claims and are
shepherding them, until those parties test the ground. All the claims marked are on the
block system, 80 x 80 foot for four men. Some objected and wanted the frontage. The
commissioner, Mr. Commissioner M'Lean, explained to the miners present that there was
no wish on his part to extend the frontage system if it was opposed to their general
interests. When the gold was first struck, the general opinion was that a lead had been
found, and at that time the majority of the minors were in favour of the frontage system;
at their request more than his own it had been adopted. The system was now and it was
impossible to perfect rules and regulations that would satisfy all; but, in a short time, with
a little patience and experience, he saw no reason why the frontage system could not be
worked well, if it was their wish. Considerable difference of opinion was expressed; at
last it was decided that those who had already marked out block claims were to hold them,
but, in future, all claims were to be marked on the frontage system -- and in the event of
its turning out no lead -- they were to be put on the block system. Priority of claims to
have the choice of ground. This, in theory, sounds well, but in practice would be found
very difficult to adopt, and would lead to endless disputes and confusion. At present, on
the frontage, four men can take forty feet along the line. When they strike gold they are to
be allowed fourteen days to try their ground, and then they are obliged to block off their
claim 40 x 80 feet; then another party of four men can mark off a block claim, 60 x 80
feet, so that should the gold struck extend or spread, the parties finding the gold have just
half the claim of those who come after them. The commissioners see the injustice of this
and, in future, I believe frontage claims are to be allowed 80 feet on the lead, and 80 x 80
when they block off, so that those in the possession of frontage claims now will hold just
half the ground of any that may in future be marked out. With such a system, or rather the
want of it, this field cannot possibly be developed, whatever it capabilities as a gold-
producing field may be.