VICTORIA.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 821, 15 March 1871, Page 2

VICTORIA.

STOCKYARD CREEK GOLD FIELD. The following report on this gold field has been received by the Mining department : — Stockyard Creek Division, Gipps Land South, 16th February, 1871. The Hon. the Minister of Mines.

Sir, -I have the honor to make the following report on the Stockyard Creek gold field, the materials for which I have been collecting since my arrival here on the 12th current.

The number of people here, who are all engaged in mining, with the exception of a few storekeepers, I have found by enumeration to be 229. However, on account of the dense nature of the scrub and forest in this locality, it is possible I may have omitted some few. The number might equal 250, which will perhaps be nearer the truth.

The workings here are chiefly alluvial, four distinct runs of gold having been discovered. The first of importance is that on the west bank of Stockyard Creek, to which creek the lead runs parallel, at a distance of about 30 yards from it. The sinking on this varies from 37ft to 53ft, through clay and sand, which contain a deal of water. There is a quartz gravel wash more or less waterworn, on a slate bottom. Three claims on this run have obtained first-rate prospects, and are expected to pay well ; but as yet very little dirt has been washed, which is the case with most of the workings here. One party on this lead washed l^oz of gold from three dishes of dirt yesterday, from a depth of 53ft ; and an adjoining claim, which is obtaining payable gold, discovered a quartz specimen to-day containing about loz of gold. Numerous small nuggets and specimens have been discovered here and in the other rims of gold, some of which weigh about lOdwt. The water in most of the claims on Stockyard Creek proper is a great obstacle, and in some cases is too great to be kept down by manual labor. A whip is employed at one claim.

Another run of gold ia being worked on the east bank of Stockyard Creek, two claims on which are obtaining payable gold. The sinking is about 40ft deep, through 20ft of clay (some of which would make good bricks), 10ft of sandy clay, and 10ft of loose sand. Several other parties are sinking on the same run, who have not yet obtained gold. The wash ia chiefly composed of coarse angular quartz gravel. In one shaft three quartz leaders, averaging Gin in thickness, have been discovered, which contain gold in considerable. The leaders underlie to the west about twenty-five degrees from perpendicular.

The Cement Hill Lead is situate about a quarter of a mile to the east of the workings on Stockyard Creek proper. The track from the landing place crosses the lead, on which three claims are obtaining gold in paying quantities. The direction of the lead is about south, and the wash ia chiefly composed of rounded quartz gravel, which varies in size from stones two or three inches in diameter down to

coarse sand, and in which a good deal of charcoal and charred wood occurs, giving the wash quite a black appearance. The depth at which gold ia found in paying quantities varies from nothing on the northern face of the hill to about 28ft on the top. The sinking is chiefly through rounded quartz gravel, the whole of which is supposed to contain payable gold if sluiced ; however, sluicing is impracticable, unless by running the stuff to the creeks by tramway, which requires some outlay. The stuff in which payable gold is obtained by the ordinary means of washing is in some places 2ft and 3ft thick.

The New Zealand Hill lead is situated a quarter of a mile no*th of Cement Hill, from which it is separated by a valley which seems to have washed away the intervening part of the lead ; however, though numerous holes have been sunk in the valley, little or no gold has yet been discovered. The New Zealand lead is composed of rounded quartz gravel, similar to most of the leads about here. Gold has been found in several places, but payable in one place only as yet. The sinking where the run is worked at present does not exceed 6ft A party to the north are constructing a tramway to the Benison Creek on the east, where they intend washing. The African party on CafFre Hill have a horse puddling-machine at work, the only one here, to which thjy run their stuff by tramway from a short distance. They are washing the whole of the ground to a depth of sft, which is supposed to be giving a good return ; but at present the party dislike giving information as to the yield. The same party have also sunk two shafts on a quartz leader of about one foot in thickness on the CafFre Hill. They have raised some stone, which looks sufficiently well to encourage the party to put up a machine, which they intend doing as soon as possible. They have lately applied for a lease of the hill. The leader in question underlies to the west about forty degrees from perpendicular, and is running about north. It has been traced down for 120 ft.

In conclusion, I must say that the greatest obstacle to the proper prospecting of this part of the country is the dense nature of the scrub, through which it is impossible to pass in many places without cutting a, way, and from this cause the whole of the miners here, with the exception of perhaps eight or ten, are crowded together within a radius of half a milo. Having consulted a great m?.ny persons who are well acquainted with the country, I am of opinion that the Government would confer a great benefit on the neighborhood by clearing a track in a northerly direction, which would pass through the centre of the gold-bearing formation, and which might eventually connect the place with Rosedale, &c. Should a dray track be thought too expensive an undertaking, a track sufficient for pack horses would serve the same purpose to a great extent, and I think the prospects of the diggings here, so far as they have been discovered, would quite justify the openiug up of the country here for at least a few miles. The communication between this place and Port Albert is very*good. There is a very good track from here to the* landing place on Stockyard Creek during the summer, the distance being about four miles. The gold here is of a rough nature, very little water- worn, which fact, together with the number of quartz specimens that are found, would lead to the inference that there are rich quartz reefs in the vicinity. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, E. W. Turner, Mining Surveyor and Registrar.