MINING IN QUEENSLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1324, 14 April 1877, Page 4

MINING IN QUEENSLAND.

THE HODGKINSOIf.

The Hodgkinson Mining News of the 24th February reports as follows : — During the week we visited most of the principal lines of reef within a radius of two or three miles, and, considering we are in the midst of the wet season, mining matters appear to be in as great a state of activity as can be reasonably expested. In some of the claims the surface water has been a great drawback, as, in consequence of the open nature of the r«ck, the water drain 3 through very rapidly, and as it is as important here as on most of the northern golduelds to raise a crushing quickly, the surface stone is naturally the first operated upon. On some of the lines, notably the Tasmania, Hope of the North, Homeward Bound, Laird o' the Hills, and others, there are large heaps of quartz grassed, which, J when the weather allows, will be carted to the mill, and we have no doubt that when that time arrives, a great impetus will be given to mining matters generally. As the principal portion of the gold on this field is obtained from alluvial workj ings, the back claims are now benefited by the abundance of water. The Chinese are therefore generally busily employed, although it is to be feared that their prosperity will not prove enduring, and a collapse of a more or less serious nature is not unlikely to take place during the coming winter or dry season, when the process of exhaustion going on in the alluvial workings threatens to make itself painfully apparent. THE PALMER. The annual report of Mr Warden Selheiin, just received in Brisbane, enables us to form a pretty good idea of the progress of mining on the Palmer during the past year, and of the present condition of that goldfield. The discovery of the new goldfield on the Hodgkinson, which took place about the beginning of April, had a marked effect on the Palmer, and caused a total abandonment by Europeans of the old alluvial workings on Sandy Creek waters. This particular portion of the goldfield had hitherto given remunerative employment to about 2000 men ; but, as a consequence of this rush, Oakey, Stony, and Sandy Creeks, which had > been forbidden ground to the Chinese, at

once fell into their possession, and has practically remained so ever since, the Europeans (mostly sluicers) barely numbering 200, as against 6000 Chinese. There has been a falling off in the yield of alluvial gold, in comparison with that of previous years, although the population has greatly increased, and the average earnings per .man are therefore reduced considerably. The principal depositories of alluvial gold, such as the main waterways and the gutters of gullies, are of necessity nearly worked out. On the whole, it may be said that, for Europeans, the Palmer has ceased to be remunerative as an alluvial field.

The bright prospects with which the year opened of reefing on thi3 goldfield have not been realised. Owing to the diversion of miners to the Hodgkinson, reefing on the Palmer received a check, and only one crushing plant was at work during the year.