PART FOUR OF A TRANSCRIPTION OF PRESS REPORT OF TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO GOLD MINING, TARNAGULLA 14 MARCH 1890 This fourth posting contains the testimonies of D. J. Duggan, Mayor of Tarnagulla, and Mr Mitten, President of the Bet Bet Shire. Trevor Williams 10th October 2005 From 'The Tarnagulla and Llanelly Courier' March 22, 1890 D.J. Duggan, Esq., Mayor of the Borough, advocated prospecting the Loddon Valley by a series of bores from Newbridge for a distance of four miles east on the Sandhurst road, gold having been found by farmers in several places in the locality in drifts when sinking wells. At Mt Moliagul the largest nugget ever found in Australia was unearthed, viz., the "Welcome". The alluvial ground at the base of the mount had been very prolific in nuggets. Believed that a tunnel through the mount would open up rich quartz lodes. Am opposed to large leases on quartz bodies; should not exceed 12 acres only in exceptional cases. The government should offer a bonus for manufacture of cheap horse power pumps capable of lifting 2000 gallons of water. Thought that deep-sinking quartz mines should be encouraged and liberally supported from the prospecting vote. One shaft should be selected in each mining centre, and by deep sinking and crosscutting be a test shaft, if successful abundance of capital would be found to open up other mines to work. Am decidedly opposed to the abolition of Mining Boards. Would abolish prospecting boards and vest their powers in the Mining Boards whose powers should be enlarged. Do not believe in centralizing the management of all mining in the department in Melbourne. Miners should be allowed to retain local control of their interests. Would not relegate the functions of the mining boards and prospecting boards to municipal councils. Members of the mining boards should be elected by voters having a vote for parliamentary elections. Mr Mitten, President of the Bet Bet Shire, said, am an old quartz miner but am now engaged in business in Llanelly. There are many valuable quartz reefs laying idle here and at Llanelly for want of capital. The Sandstone reef once very rich and payable to a depth of over 400 ft. is a case of this kind, also the Cambrian reef. Thought that the government should assist companies to purchase and erect machinery on such places. If such assistance was granted to the Sandstone Co. no further aid would be required or asked for. Suitable machinery for those places would be expensive as the water is very heavy. A pumping plant on the Sandstone Reef would drain a large area north and south of the line of reef. To secure the government against loss a mortgage could be given over he machinery. There was payable gold left in the Sandstone Reef when abandoned. To be continued.. The fifth and final instalment comprises the testimonies of S. Nicholls, farmer, of Murphy's Flat, Mr Denby, miner, and Joseph Willan. It will be posted within a few hours.