The quantity of stone crushed 75 tons, which is small for 12 days' run. The mine manager was, however, compelled to use to 2in. feed pipes for supplying the battery with water.  The 3in. pipes have now been placed in position.

The quantity of amalgam obtained was very large, amounting to very nearly 1,800 ozs.  Of the amalgam, only the large part was retorted, as it was found that a condition existed which prevented free separation, and it was thought expedient to have the retorted stuff, the amalgam, (except 25lb left on the fields) blanketings tailings and some of the water use in the battery, brought to town for reduction in the analysis.  These analyses have now been completed, and the report of Mr Bernard Woodward, F.G.S., is appended. The report has been very carefully prepared, enters fully into details, and is recommended by the board for the careful consideration of shareholders.

With regard to the tailings, screams of finer mesh are now fitted to the boxes.

The directors wish to impress upon the holders of scrip in the Company that the place for obtaining exact and authentic information, regarding operations on the mine, "is at the Company's office," and the Board cannot accept any responsibility for statements that do not come from the proper official source.
GEO. T. SIMPSON, Chairman. Perth, W. A.,
Jan. 16, 1890.

Perth, 15th January, 1890.
To the Directors of
FRASER'S GOLDMINING CO.
GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to report that I have extracted the gold from the two retort cakes, and the amalgam you handed me on the 23rd December last, and delivered it in six bars of 20 3/4 carat fineness, valued at £3 2d. per oz., to your chairman, Mr G. T. Simpson.

The long delay in giving you a return has arisen from the necessity of making a series of experiments, in order to determine the best method of extracting the gold from the black infusible mass of the retort cake, and from the amalgam.  I retorted a small quantity of this, with a result
similar to that obtained on the field.

These bars weigh 89oz 2dwts., and the button herewith weighs 17dwts. 10.6 grains.

I have retained as requested 1lb. retort cake, which contains 1oz. 15dwts. 9.6grs., and I am informed by Mr Simpson that 25 lbs. of amalgam remain on the field, which I estimate on the lowest grade of the amalgam submitted to me would contain 25 ozs. gold.

                                            oz.   dwts.    grs.
Gold in bars and button     89       9         10.6
Gold in 1lb. retort cake         1     12           9.6
Gold in Amalgam                25       0              0
Total                                   116       1         20.2

This gives 75 tons stone an average of 1oz. 10 dwts. 22.7 grs.  per ton.

I have already reported that the "tailings" contained 2 ozs.  12 dtws. 6 grs.  gold to the ton, and the "blanketings" 1oz. 7dwt. 18grs.  Of the latter, I understand there are only two or three cwt., but of the former 70 tons, consequently the stone crushed contains over 4 oz. to the ton.

The tailings are very course, which account for the large quantity of gold in them and which can be extracted when they are crushed more finely and passed through a proper mesh.

I have analysed the water and various minerals associated with the quartz, and made a number of experiments which lead me to believe that I have satisfactorily solved the question of the amalgamation of iron but shall repeat them on a larger scale on the field, to make sure which will be the best and most economical in practice.

In conclusion I would say that on nearly every goldfield in the world there have been difficulties at first, for there are different, associations in the rocks and minerals, necessitating modifications in the methods of working, and so I do not consider that the state of the amalgam and retort cakes was due to a mismanagement by those responsible at the mine, and you by desiring a full investigation, and facilitating in every way the needful experiments, have shown to your company that you are determined to overcome at once the initial troubles of this productive reef.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
BERNARD H. WOODWARD,
F.G.S.