Bendigo General History - Department of Planning and Community ...

In Rourke, Henderson, and Company’s claim on Belle Vue Reef, the vein from which the rich stone I
have referred to was taken is, comparatively speaking, small, but what it lacks in size is fully
compensated for in quality, and the fact that, parallel with and running through all the claims on that
line is a distinct reef, a continuation of the well-known New-chum line, which some are eagerly
sinking or driving for, and others working vigorously with satisfactory results. The claimholders on
Garden Gully Reef are also working energetically, as it promises to rival the Hustler’s. Alluvial -
There is no change to report in alluvial mining. Almost the only ground is that occupied principally
by the Caledonia Company and Lehmann and Company, at Pottery Flat; and the Annabella
Company, at Huntly; but the Bagshot Company’s ground, which adjoins the Annabella Company,
has furnished good prospects. 1
June 1870: Scarcely a day has passed without the discovery of good stone in some claim, and the share
market has been in a continual state of excitement, which it is feared will occasion too much
speculation. At Eaglehawk there is a considerable improvement. The South Catherine Company are
exhibiting a magnificent lot of specimens; and the Golden Pyke Company, on the Comet Reef, have,
during the past week, obtained 58 oz of loose gold from two nail cans of rubble... The Argus
Company found a very rich specimen in their claim about two or three weeks since; the gross weight
of it was about 25 lbs, and it was estimated to contain 15lbs weight of gold. As an instance of
perseverance rewarded I may mention that in the Old Chum Company’s mine, on New Chum Reef,
Sandhurst, a short time since, they came on a body of stone at a depth of 450 feet, about 15 feet in
thickness, from which they crushed 300 or more tons, averaging 1 oz to the ton. The claim had been
worked for about fourteen years previously, without ever having yielded any payable quartz. Several
machines have been [erected], and others are in course of erection, but still a considerable addition to
our machinery is required. More quartz is being raised than can be crushed, and a great many claims
now require pumping and winding engines, on account of the depth of the workings. The pumping
engine lately erected by the Sandhurst and Melbourne Company, on the Bird’s Reef, has given quite
an impetus to mining on that line. The supply of firewood for the engines in and about Sandhurst is
causing considerable anxiety. The stock on hand is very much reduced. The consumption has been
so great that they now have to go a great distance for it, and every day they have to travel farther, on
account of so much land having been taken up of late in the vicinity of the mines. The Hustler’s Reef
Company has been burning coke with their wood. The proprietor of another machine that burns
about 100 tons weekly has purchased all the coke the Gas Company has. The price of firewood has
already increased 9d per ton, and it is likely to become dearer. It is expected that before long there
will be a great demand for coal. The Hustler’s Reef Company is having the pyrited separated from
their tailings, by means of troughs, each about 12 feet in length, with an incline of 1/2 inch to the
foot. A stream of water running through carries away the light sand. The tailings are gradually
dropped in with a shovel at the head of the trough, where the water enters. The pyrites separated in
this way were perfectly clean. The manager of this company and Mr Carr, of the Extended Hustler’s
Reef Company, speak very highly of Faull’s ‘patent lubricator’, which they believe effects a saving
in fuel. Within the last few months a considerable number of miners have arrived from other
districts, and the greater part of them have found employment. In alluvial mining there is no change
to report. The Bagshot Company has erected their machinery and has pretty good prospects. The
mines adjoining it at Huntly are doing pretty well. The Caledonia Company’s ground at Pottery Flat
is yielding very good stuff, averaging about 8 dwts per ton. About a month since a nugget was found
at the Whipstick, weighing, with the quartz attached to it, 38 oz. It was estimated to be worth 25 oz
of pure gold. The past three months has been the wettest season ever known in Sandhurst. 2
Sept 1870: There has been great excitement and speculation in the share market, which has subsided
considerably within the last month, in consequence of speculators now having to contribute towards
the expense of opening up new ground, of which more has been taken up for mining purposes than I
have ever known before in the same time. Considerably more quartz has been raised than could be
crushed, partly because we have not sufficient wood. The bad state of the roads has rendered it
impossible for the carters to keep up the supply, as they have now to travel a great distance to procure
timber. Some have fortunately had enough fuel on hand to carry them through the wet season; but it
is generally urged by the proprietors of mines that the scarcity of timber for firewood and
underground workings is becoming a matter for serious consideration, and that a substitute for
firewood must be obtained. The reckless cutting down of saplings is causing great complaint. A
considerable quantity of coke, coal, and gas tar has been used by machine owners for firing, but coal
is far too expensive at the present cost.
1 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, March 1870
2 Mining Surveyors’ Reports, June 1870