PART TWO OF A TRANSCRIPTION OF PRESS REPORT OF TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO GOLD MINING, TARNAGULLA 14 MARCH 1890 This second posting contains the testimony of E. Rosman. I hope that others on the list will have a look at it and give their opinion as to whether the E. Rosman is Edgar or Edward. I am inclined to think that it is probably Edward Rosman who is buried in the Tarnagulla cemetery. If I am right, then he was the brother-in-law of Henry Charles Bristol who was the first witness before the Royal Commission. (See first posting.) Trevor Williams, 11th October 2005 From 'The Tarnagulla and Llanelly Courier', March 22, 1890 THE GOLD MINING COMMISSION (Continued) E. Rosman, Esq. said, am an accountant and was for several years a legal manager of several companies about this district. Have heard the evidence of last witness and agree with him and therefore will not repeat it. Have the statistics of several of the best reefs which I produce. From the several claims on the Sandstone Reef £80,000 was raised; Corfu Reef gave £14,400 53 tons giving 1075 oz. of gold; Garibaldi and Last Chance £2500; Woolshed £1300; Working miners £8,000; Kangaroo £20,000; Young Australia about £3000; Stony Reef £4000; Sabbath reef £3000; London £6000. The Poverty line of reef was the richest but the returns are not complete, as there is no records of gold from some of the richest claims. It is estimated that the yield from the Prince of Wales claim (80ft.) was £200,000, from three small claims 24,860 tons gave a return of 59,527oz. There is no record of the gold taken from King's prospecting claim, one block of stone gave 6oz. to the ton, taking the reef 20 ft. wide. Estimate the yield from this reef at £1,025,000; the Greeks Hill reef yielded £80,000; Ironbark £10,000; Needful Reef £8000; Great Western £7000; Goshen Reef £13,000; Jim Crow £8000, Rise and Shine and Phantom now Tappitt Hen £15,100; Specimen £6000; Yorkshire £80,000; Cambrian £500,000, and paid £79,000 dividends in 18 months. This mine was very expensive to work, one sink of 50ft. cost £2560, water was very heavy. There are several other reefs which have yielded fair returns when opened. Estimate the value of gold taken from reefs here at £1,620,000. Have no record of returns from the alluvial workings. Believe that a diamond drill would be useful in the Greeks Hill, the reefs being mostly flat. Think that shepherding leases are a loss of the mining interest, ground is locked up which should be open for prospecting. Think that the present mode of distributing the prospecting vote is equitable. Do not believe that granting large amount, say £2,000 or £5,000 to one company would do more good. Think that by distributing that amount among several lots would increase the chance of success. Believe that the mining boards should never have existed. There is plenty of timber in the district for mining purposes. Think that the old gold workings should be leased for orchard purposes. To be continued.. ____________________________________________________________________________ The third instalment comprises the testimony of Mr H. Joyce. It will be posted shortly.