The Argus at KellyGang 31/8/1861 (2)
Upper Goulburn gold field - Jamieson
At Jamieson, Drummond's Point, on Gaffney's Creek, and at nearly all the workings, the habitations of the miners are constructed of logs, and roofed either with bark or calico, which gives an air of comfort and permanency beyond the usual appearance of other new gold-fields. The road from the Jamieson to the Upper Goulburn is over a succession of mountains, rivers, and creeks - sometimes passing up and down the backs of the mountains, in other places it becomes a mere sideling on the mountains, in many places not a foot in width. In, many instances even those difficult paths were made at great risk, labour, and expense, by, the determined pioneers of those mountain mines. There are instances of miners actually devoting months, and employing labour, to cut tracks along there otherwise impassable steeps.
I have been requested to bring one man under the notice of the Government-Mr William Smith - who has been foremost in the good work.
I have, in a report upon the Emerald Gold-fields - a country similar to this - recommended to cut roads or tracks round the various chains of mountains in that district leading to Gipps Land , which would afford facilities to our miners to traverse and prospect a district known to be auriferous.
I would, therefore, respectfully suggest that if, instead of a grant in aid of prospecting parties, a sum of money were placed on the Estimates for the purpose of cutting roads or tracks through the region under consideration, and in similar districts. I have no doubt that the results would be more beneficial both to individuals and to the community. Should this suggestion receive consideration, I would recommend that tenders be called for in the neighbourhood of the Goulburn and Buckland gold fields, us the miners in those localities, from their knowledge of the work required, gained in cutting water courses some of them twenty miles in length-would perform the work better, quicker, and much cheaper than others. A miner on the Goulburn can cut from twelve to fifteen yards of a water-course, two feet wide and two feet deep, per day; and I am informed that a track or road, say twelve feet wide, could be cut at the rate of sixteen or seventeen yards a day per man, which, including rough bridges where required, could be done at the rate of about £1,000 per mile.
GOLD WORKINGS
The whole of the working in this district are in the, beds and on the t banks of the various creeks and rivers. The claims on the Upper Goulburn are very difficult of access, and there are no tracks down to the workings, except down the narrow foot-tracks of the miners, and which in many places cannot be distinguished by a stranger. Here and there may be observed these small patches, like cattle tracks, leading to water, and which in this locality are the miners' tracks, leading down to their claims in the creek, or on its banks. In some places one track leads to two or three claims, but more often, especially in the Upper Goulburn , a track only leads to a single claim. The reason of this is, that the richest claims are found at the points or elbows of creeks and streams, and such points are generally so steep, running up into the mountains, that to arrive at the next claim on the same creek the mountain has to be partly ascended and descended to reach, in many instances, a claim not a hundred yards distant.
The miners generally seem to be doing well; and I have conversed with many miners, store keepers, and others, both at the Jamieson and at Drummond's Point, as also with two miners from the Western Gold-fields, sent by their mates to report upon the Upper Goulburn Gold-fields, and, they all concurred that those who will work can make from £3 10s to £5 and £6 per man per week. Many, I am informed, are making a great deal more, and very few, if any, less than an ounce per week.
Many parties are profitably employed in cutting races, many of which have six or seven heads of water. Nearly the whole extent of Gaffney's Creek is either worked out or in the course of working; but many of the claims are only partially worked out, and will probably be again taken up.
QUARTZ
There are three or four quartz reefs, but there is only one in full working order, and thus is worked by water-power or race, 500 yards long. The wheel is 18ft. in diameter and 3ft. in width.
The crushing is by eight stampers, and the depth of the shaft is at present only 22½ft. The best paying stone is found running at an angle of about 45 degrees west. As an illustration of the richness of the reefs of this comparatively unknown auriferous region. I beg to quote the following yields of gold :-23 buckets of quartz, weighing 7cwt, gave 153oz. of gold; 8 tons gave 370oz.; and the average yield since has been at the rate of 15oz. to the ton. I have obtained the above information from a reliable source and there is no reason to doubt its accuracy. I could quote a still richer yield than the above, but the proprietor of the claim gave me the information in confidence.
POPULATION
The population, from all I can learn, of the Jamieson, Drummond's Point, and the Upper Goulburn gold-fields, is about 3,000,- and every day increasing; and, from what I have been informed, there will be an increase this summer of 10,000 or 12,000 to the Upper Goulburn gold- fields. A stranger, or a person unacquainted with the country, would not credit the amount of the population, or the extent of the workings, as only here and there can you form an estimate of one or the other, as you are enabled from the mountain track or path to obtain a view of the river and creeks.
POLICE MAGISTRATE AND WARDEN
I was called upon, during my sojourn, to settle five disputes, four of which were seemingly settled to the satisfaction of all parties, and one was appealed against.
I had some difficulty in reconciling or bringing the disputes within the bye laws of the Beechworth rules, Buckland division.
I understand that claims on the Upper Goulburn for parties of four are in some instances 300 and 400 yards, and none less than 200 yards by the creek, and 160 by the side. One miner, from the Upper Goulburn , consulted me as to a dispute, but when I informed him that I should settle it in accordance with the Beechworth bye-law, he declined my interference.
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |
