GULGONG.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1125, 6 March 1872, Page 4

GULGONG.

[SYDNEY TOWN AND COUNTRY JOURNAL, FEBRUARY 10.] Tho usual fortnightly escort left Gnlgong, says the Guardian, on Thursday last, conveying 581 8oz of gold as the produce of the field for that period. This very creditable amount of gold is wholly the result of the few hours heavy rain that fell on last Saturday, filling many of the daina erected on favorable sites, and partially filling some of the larger dams in the vicinity of the several leads. If the water now in the dams will hold out for another fortnight it is almost certain that the next escort will reach five figures. But tho intense heat is causing a very rapid evaporation in these shallow dams, creating a fear that unless a similar pluvial visitation occurs, a few weeks will see tho dams all dry again. As the dried up dams were an eyescore for more than three months, it is to be hoped that the same scene will not bo repeated. The benefit of having an artificial supply of water is now apparent to everybody. If the proposed race from Cnappell's machine on Cooyal Creek had been out when it was first projected, and a suitable reservoir erected on one of tho many admirable sitea to b 9 found all over the goldfield for the storage of water, the benefit that would have been thus conferred is now readily admitted. But the race was not cut, bo dullness reigned" supreme. Though the escort is large, there is not a coriesponding improvement in the auriferous prospects of tha gold field. Hope, though a very desirable ingredient in the miner, is yet liable to wear away through repeated disappointments. Hope has led many to shepherd patiently for many months — '•^sustaining lifo on the very plainest fare — with the prospect of getting a golden hple, and who now find that they must still hope on. During the week there has been no new finds of any note, despite the large amount of prospecting that is being carried on In almost every direction. The Black Lead still continues to be the busiest arid more attractive spot. Claims are rigidly shepherded and worked. Shares therein are bought and sold freely at high figures. Litigation is as rampant as ever, with but little sign of a lull. But though this particular lead is so lively, the same cannot be said of many other leads. The Moonlight and Caledonian leads are improving in character, owing to No. 6 north on the latter having hoisted the ' flag ' during the week ; but the nnnsually heavy deposit of basalt that has to be slowly blasted through will render progress on these leads very slow indeed. The Brown Snake lead, of which high hopes have been so long entertained, has not come up to expectations, and as a result many of the shepherds have ' jacked np' and left for Currajong. The supply of water to the Canadian lead and its vicinity has caused a great change for tho better. Much of the dirt that has been so long waiting in the paddocks to bo washed is disappearing, and there is a .bnsknesa m trade very noticeable from the past dullness. In Rouse paddock mining matters also look lively. The difiiculties encountered in perforating the basalt are being steadily surmounted, and golden holes are becoming more numerous. As the dams in the paddock are well filled, all who can are busy washing up. The difference in the cartage between the paddock dams and the river will be sufficient in several claims to pay working expenses. In quartz mining there is nothing Q3w to report, the prevailing hot weather

being almost prohibitory to prospecting. The Red Hill still continues to beateadiJv worked. An effort was made last wetk by several Victoimi mining capitalists to come to terms with the various claimholders for the purchase of all the claims on the hill, except the Golden Hill Co.'b the negotiations did not end in a bargain, but though suspended, are not broken off. The various crushing machines are buoy on large lots of quartz and washdirt. The O. K. machine has not yet finished the 600 ton lot from No. 2 North Black lead, which is yielding fairly. A considerable number have cleared out for Currajong, the reports from there being considered favorable. Doubtless the difficulty of tracing the lead* on Gulgong makes the steady yield from this rush an attraction. Notwithstanding this reduction in the population, there is still enough left to develop the vast resources of this promising gold field.