In this fourth and final instalment of the "Express" report of the Royal Commission's visit to Dunolly, we hear from a number of prominent mining men. Mr M'Phee leads off, followed by Mr M'Leod, Mr H. Walmsley, and Mr W.H. Langler. There are some interesting descriptions of mining companies and of the reefs found in the area: Spread Eagle Reef, the Burnt Creek Company, Bet Bet Reef, Sydenham Reef, Brilliant Reef, Albion Reef, Quaker's Reef, Hinchcliffe Reef, North Birthday, Queen's Birthday and Golden Crown companies are all mentioned. The report ends abruptly. Towards the end, the reporter resorts to verbatim reports of the questions asked and answers given, rather than writing in the lengthier narrative style used to this point. In addition, the latter witnesses give very much briefer evidence than previous witnesses. All of this suggests that either the Commission sitting at Dunolly was running out of time (which it probably was) to take evidence, or that the reporter was running up against a deadline (also which he probably was!). Or both. I hope that this series of transcriptions for the List has been useful. At least the material is now in the archives and can be consulted by future members. Trevor Williams 17 October 2005 Mr R. M'Phee, President of the local branch of the A.M.A., opposed the present constitution of the Mining Boards, and suggested the election of members of a board to take the place of the Mining and Prospecting Boards as a substitute, electors to be provided with elector's rights for the purpose of electing members. He also pointed out the necessity for an engine on Gooseberry Flat, to efficiently drain it, so that miners could work the ground which has been proved to be very rich; also an engine on the Spread Eagle Reef for purposes of drainage, which had yielded payable stone down to water level. He advocated boring in advance of the lease of the Burnt Creek Company, and the granting of larger sums to struggling companies. Mr M'Leod, a prominent member of the A.M.A., spoke of the heavy water in the Burnt Creek Company's mine, and urged the granting of larger amounts, which should be available continuously to mining companies, as the present system led to delays and additional expense. Mr H. Walmsley, mining director, stepped forward to remark that it was worthy of consideration whether the growth of timber in these shallow gullies was not of equal value to the community as the cultivation of orchards and fruit gardens would be, the young timber growing from the stumps being exactly what was required for mining. Personally he objected to the auriferous grounds being thrown open for gardens, &c. Mr. W.H. Langler, J.P., legal manager, Dunolly, who had already forwarded his evidence in chief, furnished the following additional evidence: - Q. - The extent to which the Bet Bet and Sydenham reefs have been developed? A. - The Bet Bet reef was opened in April, 1855, when small claims of 24ft. only were allowed, and as much as 12oz. per ton was obtained from some of them near the surface. Cost of crushing and carting £9 per ton. About a dozen claims remained in work after three months, most of the men having left for more readily gotten gold. In '57 a flood swamped the claims, an the reef was deserted. In 1860 a co-operative party took up the ground and erected a crushing plant, and worked the reef for about 800ft. in length by a depth of say 40ft. at the north end and 100ft. at the south end, the yields varying from 5dwt. to 6oz. per ton the whole length. At the south end from about 60ft. to 100ft. of depth, the reef averaged about 10ft. in width, the greatest width being 20ft. This stone yielded 1½oz. per ton. At the end of 1865 the water becoming very troublesome, and no pumping or winding engine on the mine, work was suspended till in the following year a party of tributors (16) was formed, and they obtained over 1300oz. of gold for 10 months work, when the term of tribute having expired work again ceased. A year later a shaft was sunk to a depth of 198ft., carrying stone down at one end of the shaft for the last 18ft., which yielded 1oz. per ton. Full width of reef never proved. Sometime after this a flood again swamped the workings and new shaft, and no work has been done on the main lode since. A short distance west of the above are many flat spurs overlaying each other and dipping towards the main lode, which have been worked for about 600ft. in length and to about 50ft. in depth. The Brilliant Reef, 80ft. or 100ft. west of the Bet Bet lode, not worked below water level, gave from 1oz. to 3oz. per ton from a 3ft. reef; has been idle 12 or 13 years. The Albion Reef, about 150ft. east of the Bet Bet, with from 1ft. to 2ft. of stone, gave over 1oz. per ton; not worked below water level. The Sydenham Reef has a main shaft sunk 510ft., and a winze 83ft. below that depth. Levels have been driven along the reef at 200ft., 300ft., 400ft., and 500ft.; the 200ft. level being driven about 250ft. south and 700ft. north, at which point a crosscut was driven east to cut the Quaker's Reef, which runs parallel at a distance of about 130ft., and along which the level has been extended north about 1000ft. Crosscuts have also been driven at 300ft. and 400ft. from the Sydenham reef to the Quaker's, and levels extended; also a crosscut at 500ft. On the western side of the shaft a crosscut at the 300ft. level has been driven a distance of 553ft., intersecting in its course the golden spur, Hinchcliffe Reef, from which 6oz., 7oz., and 9oz. per ton were obtained; this was 200ft. from the shaft. At 176ft. further west a body of quartz 6ft. thick was met with, 100 tons of which yielded 30oz. 6dwt. smelted gold. (This stone underlay rapidly eastward, and if it continued the same should junction with the Hinchcliffe at 150ft. deeper.) Thirty feet further in advance another reef was passed through, which yielded 11dwt. per ton. Nothing further was met with till at a distance of 553ft. from the shaft the work was discontinued for want of funds. The face is in good slate country, and likely looking for quartz reefs. This crosscut extended should reach the Albion reef in about 150ft., and the Bet Bet a similar distance beyond, beside the probability of other stone close at hand. The portion of the Bet Bet reef described in the first part of this report is about three-quarters of a mile south of the Sydenham shaft. There is also another lot of workings about one-third of a mile still further south worked to water level, which I take to be on the Bet Bet line. There are a large number of outcrops of gold-bearing quartz running in parallel lines extending across about a mile of country from a little east of the Sydenham Company's ground westward. Q. - What is the distance between the two lines? A. - The distance between the Sydenham and Bet Bet reefs will be, say, 900ft. to 1000ft., the Bet Bet being 300ft. from face of crosscut at 300ft. level or thereabout. Q. - Have they been connected at any point by crosscuts? A. - The Sydenham and Bet Bet reefs have not been connected at any point, the nearest being, as above stated, 300ft. distant. Q. - Is there any noteworthy feature in connection with the working of the Queen's Birthday, North Birthday, Golden Crown, or Sydenham companies? A. - I do not know of anything specially noteworthy in connection with the working of the companies in this locality. Q. - .. [damaged & unreadable].. you any information to give us concerning. [ damaged & unreadable] . where? A. - The deep alluvial ground worked by the Burnt Creek Company is very heavy, and there being no other mine at work on the lead, the draining of the ground is a serious item to have to contend with. There are no other deep or wet mines working here at present, although payable ground is believed to exist in the immediate locality. Q.- Is the shallow alluvial ground worked out here? A.- A large amount of shallow and dry ground is lying idle in this district, and being only occasionally fossicked, but which, with a good supply of water and proper gold-saving machinery, and thorough systematic working, would, I believe, prove highly remunerative. Very little of this ground is sufficiently exhausted to be handed over to gardeners, &c. It should first be stripped. Capital and labor will have to combine to accomplish that which the individual miner cannot do - either by a system of tribute for the supply of machinery, &c., or the apportionment of working and sleeping shares according to the nature of the enterprise. I attach a rough sketch of the belt of country referred to in the foregoing report showing approximately (without actual survey or measurement) a cross section of the locality immediately in the vicinity of the Sydenham Company's shaft, with a view to more fully explain the details supplied in relation thereto.