A VISIT TO THE WESTERN GOLDFIELDS.
RICHARDSON'S POINT
BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER
No. 13.
-- I hasten to forward an addenda to my
communication of yesterday, to say that most favourable accounts have been received
from the prospecting party now out between the Louisa and Burrandong Hill. As they
advance to the westward, the prospects improve, and the payable ground becomes more
extensive. Yesterday, two brothers, named Turner, from the Hunter River District, while
sinking a hole on the Louisa Flat, a little to the south-west of the Great Nugget Quartz
Vein, near the workings of the late company, came upon a splendid nugget, weighing 198
ounces. There is a proportion of quartz intermixed with the gold, and the specimen is
valued by the gold-buyers at about £400 or £450. Its true worth will be ascertained by the
officers of the Mint, into whose hands it will fall within a few days. This piece of good
fortune has given a fresh impetus to the exertions of the Louisa miners, and demonstrates
that steady labour and perseverance is the secret of success, even on the gold-fields.
I have been informed by a party recently from the Turon, that there has been a
considerable addition to the number of diggers on that river within the last few weeks.
The majority are doing well, and the various races are advancing rapidly towards
completion. A strong party have undertaken to cut through Lucky Point, who are said to
be well provided with capital, and lack neither the skill nor energy requisite to carry out
such an important operation. At Palmer's Oakey an auriferous reef has been discovered,
and the miners there are doing well also.
Quartz mining at Clear Creek is progressing most favourably. There is a large body of
men employed on and about the reef, and all appear to be satisfied with the progress they
are making. If the attention of those who have sufficient means at their disposal to enable
them to enter into quartz mining operations could be directed to the country on the south
bank of the Turon it is certain that many valuable reefs would be discovered. Quartz
prospecting is neither the labour of an hour nor of a day, and requires great practical
experience, and the exercise of patience and perseverance m an eminent degree; but the
discovery of a payable reef would amply compensate a prospecting party for twelve
months' labour, if the weather would only prove favourable for the next three or four
months. The Turon district must resume its old position at the head of our Western
gold-fields certainly for the ensuing year, if not permanently.
--
There is a considerable rush to Merinda, on the Meroo where the miners have gone
through the trap rocks and struck a second bottom. The yield from, the lower deposit is
said to be much richer than the upper has been, which is very generally worked out. The
first sinkings were to a depth of twenty feet on trap rock, the latter sinkings have been to
a depth of sixty feet through the trap to gravel and cement resting upon slate.
GUNTAWANG continues to yield a fair amount of gold in return for the number of men
employed, and nuggets are frequently brought into Mudgee by the miners. A fine nugget,
weighing twenty-six ounces, was recently exhibited by a digger as a part of the proceeds
of last week's work. The weather has changed, and an intense heat succeeds the late
thunderstorms.