VICTORIAN MINING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2002, 4 June 1875, Page 2

VICTORIAN MINING.

A late number of the Australasian contains the reports of the mining surveyors and registrars for the quarter ended 31st December, 1874, for the colony of Victoria. The details furnished are very interesting, as showing the relative importance pf the several goldmining districts, the extent of labor employed in each, the value of mining plant, and area of ground. Information is also afforded regarding the deepest workings in the colony, which will be of most interest to Thames readers, the question of deep sinking in this district being a subject which at the present epoch claims great attention. ■

In the quarter ended Dec. 31st, the number of miners employed is estimated at 45,151, " of whom 30,678 were engaged in alluvial mining, and 14,473 in" quartzmining," the number, of Chinese included in the total being 12,180, all of whom, except 124, were engaged in alluvial mining; which discloses the astonishing fact that the great percentage of Victorian miners are Chinamen. The approximate value of mining plant in the colony is estimated at £2;078,936; the number of square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon is 1,063; the number of distinct quartz reefs actually proved to be auriferous is 3,398. The estimated yield of gold and quantity of gold exported, based upon information obtained *rom gold buyers and others by the mining surveyors and registrars, is given as follows:—The total quantities of gold got'from alluviums and quartz reefs for the quarter ending 31st December, 1874 —alluvial, 112,2870zs Bdwts : quartz, 171,621bzs 14dwts; total, 283,9090zs 2dwts. '■" ;-■ ■■:.■■. ;.. ;;

Then follow statistics in tabular form, showing, the relative importance of the mining* districts. Ballarat employs the largest number of miners, namely 10,057 ; Gipps Land the least, 2,517 ; while with respect to the average yield of gold per ton of quartz, the positions of the two districts—which occupy the two extremes in the table —are entirely reversed. Ballarat averages 8 dwts. 0.36 grs. to the ton; Gipps Land, 1 oz. 2 dwts. 10.87 grs. The most impoitant districts are Sandhurst and Ballarat. The total yield from Sandhurst for the quarter was 59,670 ozs., from quartz and wash dirt j Ballarat from the same sources, 32,869 ozs.; the latter district, however, produces gold of a much finer quality, and receives a higher price than is obtained by any other district. With respect to . the value of mining plant, Sandhurst also holds the premier position, the value being £500,585; while Ballarat is the next in importance, with plant valued at £422,448. . Thefollowing paragraph gives the names of those mines working at the deepest levels, as well as the highest average yield of gold per ton:—"The deepest workings in the colony are at Stawell. The shaft of the Magdala mine is down to a depth of 1,524 ft., and still sinking; the Newington and Pleasant Creek 1,420 ft.; The South Scotchman's, 1,260 ft.; the Crowrt Cross United, 1,045 ft.; the Prince Patrick,. 1,026 ft. At Chines, the '.New North Chines is down to a depth of I,oosft..and 1,012 ft. The deepest levels are in the South Scotchman's, Stawell, 1,250 ft., and' the Few North Clunes 1,005 ft. The greatest depth at which auriferous quartz is obtained is 1,005ffc., in the New North Clunes. The.largest average yield of gold per ton is obtained from the Eaglehawk Union, 3oz, 13dwt. 21gr.; the .Extended Cross 'Beef, Stawell, 3 oz. 9dwt. 2gr.; and the No. 1 South, Tar win subdivision, Gipps Land, 2 ozs. 10 dwt." I

It will be observed that the shaft of the Magdala, which is the deepest in the colony, is still sinking. When we consider that the deepest Thames level is i that'of the Pumping Association, which I has only reached a distance of a little over 500 feet, it may be assumed at least that-the Thames has something to look forward to in the hope of discovering a new strata of payable country.. There are different opinions as to the chances of such a desirable . consummation— some excellent raining authorities maintaining that deep sinking on this portion of the Peninsula will not pay; while other, and equally good authoritiesfare of a contrary opinion, tip to the present, as before stated, the Thames goldfield.has had no experience in deep sinking, but so far as some of our best mines are concerned there appears to be no falling off in the quality of the reefs in their downward course. • It has been remarked very frequently that in mines where a heavy shot of gold has been discovered, the reef has been characterised by poverty on the shot running out. In some'of our richest mines, such as Hunt's and the Caledonian, such was undoubtedly the -case ; but that should not be an argumdntagainst active prospecting at deeper levels. "Victorian Mining is an evidence of this. There, prospecting is followed u"p *on a liberal j scale, with, in many splendid results. At the same time hundreds of feet have been sunk without any adequate return for the outlay, and very often with no return whatever ; yet this has not discouraged the miners^ of Victoria, But large capital is required to prosecute prospecting on such a^ scale as our cousins of Victoria work, and it unfortunately .happens on the Thames that capital is wanting. Therefore it is that the Pumping Association is now engaged in a great work—irrespective of the benefit derived from it as a means of draining the field—a work upon which may hang the future of the Thames Goldfield. And it is highly desirable that the institution should receive the support required to carry on the work, which, in point of fact, is little more than commenced.