I herewith placed before you my report for the week ending 20th March.
After clearing the paddocks of mud and sand, pending the clearing of the
water, I put the men on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, clearing, burning,
stripping and gathering waste dirt, for future washing.  Thursday, Friday,
cleaned all the tin.  I am now drying and bagging as fast as the drying
will permit, and will send two tons to Bunbury next week, and as soon as
the dray comes back, I shall have another two tons drying and bagged ready
to sand.

TWO BARS OF GOLD FROM THE CENTRAL MINE.

At the Stock Exchange of Perth this morning Mr Park had on view that two
bars of gold he brought down from the Central mine, both of which have
been taken from the battery under his personal supervision, under the
direction of the Company's manager, Mr Ryan.  The two blocks measure about
nine inches in length, three inches wide and an inch in thickness, one
being of the weight of 64 1/2 ounces and the other 75 ounces — making a
total of 139 1/2 ounces in all.  This was obtained from the crushing of
about 115 tons of stone, of which quite twenty tons were more or less
rubbish, the crushing being the result of 11 day's work with a five-head
stamper.  In the work of separating the gold from the amalgam no
difficulty whatever was experienced, and it is also gratifying to be able
to state that salt water was used in the boiler without any perplexing or
unsatisfactory effects.

A SPECULATIVE OFFER FOR CENTRALS.

This morning and offer of £50 cash was made for the right to purchase 3000
Centrals at 45s. per share within twenty-four hours.  After the time of
our going to press the offer had not been taken advantage of.

THE STOCK EXCHANGE QUOTATIONS.

On' Change this morning Centrals were wanted at 28s. with sellers at 34s.
For Fraser's 1s. 9p. was offered, with sellers at 3s. In tin Bunbury (pro)
were wanted at 5s. 6p., with sellers at 8s., a shilling being offered for
contributing.  For Floyds (pro) 1s. was offered, with sellers at 3s.,
Spring Gully (pro) being offered at 1s. 6p. without buyers.

NEWS FROM SOUTHERN CROSS.

A correspondent at Southern Cross, writing under date of March 21,
reports: — By Mr Park, who accompanies this letter to Perth, the Central
gold is being sent down, the result of a crushing of almost a hundred tons
of stone.  The quality of the precious metal obtained in the satisfactory
working of the machinery is considered to be very favourable by every one
on the fields.  Personally I did not know what the result will show per
ton of stone, but if it goes anything over 25 or 30 dwts. it will be very
well, as they have put everything through that came out of the shafts and
drives.  The mullock had never been separated from the quartz.  They have
had some trouble with their gear wheels and had to stop for two days to
put in two teeth.  They started again yesterday and the stampers are going
ahead while I write.  The condenser boiler is fixed, but not in use as
they are short of the fittings.  The big boiler is not any the worse for
wear in using the water, as they condense and return nearly half the
steam.  It is now found that the shaft water is not nearly so salt as
Fraser's.  If the condenser works right so that the ten stamps can be kept
going there ought to be even a better return very certain from this
splendid mining property.  There has been no rain yet, and the water on
the road is all but done.  We cannot expect any more teams until rain
comes.  We are now existing on condensed water.  The alluvial workings are
gradually getting nearer the pub.  Those engaged thereon have a hard
struggle to get tucker by dry blowing, but they better be doing that than
nothing, as there can be no work on the mines while this letter lasts.

THE CENTRAL GOLD MINING COMPANY — RESULT OF THE CRUSHING.

The annexed memorandum has been handed to us by the chairman of Directors
— The result of the Central crushing is for 11 days with 5 head, 139 ozs.
4 dwts., from 115 tons of stone, or equal to 1 oz. 4 dwts, 5 grs, per ton.