PART FIVE OF A TRANSCRIPTION OF PRESS REPORT OF TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO GOLD MINING, TARNAGULLA 14 MARCH 1890 This fifth and final posting contains the testimonies of S. Nicholls, farmer, of Murphy's Flat, Mr Denby, miner, and Joseph Willan. This is the FINAL posting of the Tarngulla and Llanelly Courier report of the Royal Commission's visit to the town. I hope it has been of interest and of use. Trevor Williams 12th October 2005 From The Tarnagulla and Llanelly Courier March 22, 1890 THE GOLD MINING COMMISSION (Continued) S. Nicholls, Esq. farmer residing on Murphy's Flat, said he was for many years connected with quartz mining and believed that with a judicious expenditure of capital, the reefs in this district would again prove payable. He worked the Sabbath Reef to a depth of 150ft. when it became poor, and being able to make more money elsewhere abandoned it, crushing at the time being very dear. Have paid as much as £4 per ton for crushing quartz. The facilities for crushing now are fairly good, 7s per ton being charged. There are two crushing batteries in the place. Think that it would not be advisable to lease old worked out land for garden purposes. Have known of gold being found in a well in Newbridge. Also some good leads from the shallow reefs in the same neighborhood. The land is all private property. Believe atiffin augur would develop some payable alluvial gold at Newbridge, also at Murphy's Creek. The land is mostly private property but believe that owners would consent to boring being done on their land without any charge. The sinking at Murphy's Creek would be mostly shallow, but pretty hard. Mr Denby, miner, resided here since 1854, have been engaged in mining during that time. Am now working old lead, was the dirt by means of trough and cradle. The present depression in mining is caused by want of capital to further develop the reefs. Those who had benefited by the former such [sic] yields have left the district and many are dead, some have left the country. Joseph Willan said, have been here 30 years, have been engaged in alluvial mining during that time, mostly in the vicinity of the hard-hills. And now engaged in prospecting at the 70ft hill near Arnold's bridge. And receiving pay from the prospecting vote, got wages for self and mates. Have received about £60. Applied for the grant for self and party. Have sunk 5 shafts from 50 to 60 ft. each, and drove about (?) 500 ft. Have got some gold. It would be payable if the ground was not so hard to drive. No one overlooks our work, report sometimes to the member of the prospecing [sic] Board and once a month to the secretary for mines. Send in sworn declaration, with wages sheet once a month, believe it would be better to have closer local supervision in some cases. The board sat until 1 p.m., when the meeting closed, and, after partaking of lunch at the Victoria Hotel, the members proceeded by rail to Dunolly. ________________________ End of Report _____________________________