as a fair account of the difficulties which have had to be encountered during the work of analysis. It will have been noticed, however, that the Directors guard themselves against giving any hint as to the amount of gold they expect to obtain. A statement on this point, they inform us, they hope to having hands early this week. The 13 1/2 per centage of gold refers only to the smaller retort cake, whose weight is not mentioned. There is no reason, therefore, to believe that the final report will not disclose a very payable yield per ton. Those who have any knowledge of the mine will certainly be astonished if the result is otherwise.

analysis.

The Directors hope to have Mr Woodward's full report early next week.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF FRASER'S G. M.  COMPANY.

The retort cake was dark brown and black and purple.  Only the crust was
gold colour, and even that was highly magnetic, like the darker parts.
The smaller cake had the appearance of black lava.  It is quite infusible
before the blow-pipe, even in minute splinters.  It contains about 13 1/2
per cent.  gold, the remainder consisting largely of iron with some
silver, copper, mercury, and other metals and sulphides.  It cannot be
worked in the usual way, for retort gold as a rule contains 98 to 98 1/2
per cent gold.  It will not run down reflexes like metallic callers,
unless a very large amount is used, 10 or 12 times its bulk, consequently
I have roasted all to drive off the sulphur and volatile metals and am now
treating it with acid to dissolve out the iron.  This is a long process,
for even after five days in strong acid all the soluble portions are not
yet out.  Even then it can only be run down in small quantities (about 1/4
lb. into a pot that would take 12 lbs. gold) as it effervesces so much.

The amalgam was in part bright but considerable portion was rust coloured,
and it will require the same treatment as the retorted portion.  I am
making analyses of the minerals in the quartz.  The water contains
aluminium, sodium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, sodium chloride, and
calcium sulphate.

The salts acting on some of the minerals may have caused the mercury to
amalgamate in so extraordinary a manner with the iron, but until the
researches are complete I cannot say positively.
(Signed) BERNARD H. WOODWARD, F.G.S.

Street, from 2 o'clock to-day.  Mr Woodward's report of analyses will be
open for the perusal of shareholders at the Company's office on Thursday
morning.

It is rumoured the yield will be about an ounce and a third per ton, and
it is understood that is only the retorted cakes which have been treated
for this yield, and certain quantity of stuff has not been, and will not
be, retorted for sometime.  This yield, therefore, may be taken as the
minimum.

HUGH FRASER. 11th January, 1890.

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.

tailings, as by a parity of reasoning the 12 tons crushed by their
battery, less a similar allowance for waste, should contain at least three
ounces per ton, or thirty ounces of gold.

Mr Woodward having adopted the figures supplied by the Fraser Gold-mining
Company basis thereon his estimate of the gold contained in the quartz,
viz., four ounces per ton.  This conclusion is arrived at by an assay of
the tailings, which show 2 1/2 ounces per ton; so that the tailings may be
said to contain the bulk of the gold.  No allowance is made for the time
and outlay for special treatment and plant requisite for treating the
same, the credit is taken for the full amount.  Does a bulk crushing ever
realize equal to an assay of a small quantity?  There are said to be
seventy tons of tailings remaining out of seventy-five tons of quartz
crushed.  This shows an unusually small percentage of waste.

Owing to the mesh of the gratings being somewhat large the quartz was not
reduced to as fine a powder as it should have been, some loss being
thereby sustained; but to take credit for a larger amount of gold to be in
the tailings than was obtained from the bulk crushing must be taken cum
grano.  The reef may be fairly estimated as 2oz. stone, but the tailings
from this average are not usually considered to be of very much value over
and above cost of treatment.  To prove this letter the company call for
tenders to purchase at per ton, or in bulk.  Credit is also taken for the
gold said to be contained in twenty-five pounds of amount and and left on
the mine.  Why was this left behind?  Why was it not all forwarded
together?  If it required three weeks to retort the amount it must be an
expensive process, as the shareholders will find out when he counts are
audited.  There is nothing discouraging in the proved yield of, say, two
ounces per ton, with the large body of stone said to be available that
should be well payable by keeping the stampers in constant work and
managing the mine on business principles.-Yours, etc.,
ONE WHO HAS SEEN OTHER GOLD-FIELDS

So many experts or self-styled experts; for it is difficult to say who is or who is not a mining experts now-a-days, have pronounced opinions on Yilgarn that it was felt that nothing less than the crushing of quartz in bulk by the ordinary batteries on claims would dispel existing doubts as to the gold being disseminated in payable quantities in the Yilgarn reefs.  

The Central crushing did not dispel the doubts existing in the minds of many, for owing to want of fresh water for the boiler, 12 tons only of quartz were crushed, for a yield of over two ounces per ton of quartz.  Naturally many, who have not visited the Central and Fraser's mine and used their eyes and also the mortar and pestle, say oh yes!  it is easy to give a good result from twelve tons of stone, but put through one hundred tons yielding a similar results per ton of stone and our scepticism vanishes.  

Fraser's was felt to be the test crushing, but as if we could not shake off our proverbial bad mining luck in Western Australia, a series of temporary mishaps could have overtaken this promising mine.  First the feed pipes for supplying water to the stampers (I believe now to hand) did not arrive in time, consequently gas pipes had to the requisitioned, and only half the power of the battery utilised, and only half the quantity of quartz crushed in a given time to what was intended.  Secondly, the amalgam and retort cakes, on being forwarded to Perth and placed in the hands of a mineralogist, presented such difficulties to smelting and refining the gold, owing to the presence of certain minerals, that now, after a fortnight's waiting, we yet have not the result.  

It would take too long to explain the difficulties met with by the mineralogist in separating the gold from the different minerals mixed with it, and this, no doubt, Mr Woodward would explain satisfactorily, but the many adverse and unjust rumours current had induced me, in the interests of the mining and speculative public, to state what I know of this mine, and what anyone conversant with mining, and visiting the claim to see for themselves.  

Before entering into particulars I may state that I have not any pecuniary interest in Fraser's mine beyond that interest naturally felt by those who wish our mining interests to be properly known and appreciated, and further I do not claim to be a mining expert. But six months prospecting at Southern Cross and in the vicinity enabled me to see a great deal of the two leading the mines there, Central and Fraser's.  I have been, I may say, a hundred times on Fraser's claim, and have by mortar and pestle tested the stone from different points and levels on the reef.  

In a mining point of view, judging from the large bodies of quartz in view above the 40 feet level with payable gold visible to the naked eye, and by pestle and mortar along the line of reef some 1,200 feet, can lead to no other conclusion that that this mine is a very valuable property, and that any difficulties met with now will only be temporary.  

This knowledge may, I hope, induce shareholders to be careful in yielding to a first panic and sacrificing their shares.  To the educated and practical mining man, difficulties in the gold from its matrix are expected, but it is hard to make the public understand difficulties such as met with in the first cleaning up of Fraser's gold mine, and that such difficulties are only of a temporary nature.  

For that gold exists in payable quantities in the quartz is patent to any one with mining knowledge who has visited the claim.  At present only one reef in Fraser's is being worked, but the claim is traversed by numerous ironstone and quartz reefs and leaders, all carrying quartz as far as tested.  I have heard it expressed by mining men of reputation that these reefs and leaders will probably junction on depth being attained and merge into one large formation.  Only mining men can understand what possibilities arise should this take place.  

My opinion as to the cause of so much iron and other minerals present in the amalgam is that it may be due to the slow flow of water over the tables and retainingof the minerals, which can be rectified at the next crushing with proper piping which is now, I believe, on the claim. This view is strengthened by the fact that no unusual difficulties presented themselves in the amalgam of South Fraser's and Central's, both on the same line of reef.  

Trusting that these few lines may be of interest and service to faint-hearted shareholders,
I am, etc.,
PROSPECTOR.

probability, receive an early invitation of the resultof the first crushing of stone from the Fraser's mine.

Liability:
Perth, Jan.  7th, 1890.

TO THE DIRECTORS FRASER'S G.M. COY.,:
DEAR SIRS,-The second retort cake and the amalgam containing more iron
etc., than the first, require a longer digesture in acid, and so it will
be some few days longer before I can hand you all the gold.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) BERNARD H. WOODWARD, F.G.S.

Perth, Jan 7th, 1890.
TO THE DIRECTORS FRASER'S G.M. COY.,:
On assay the blanketings give 1 oz.  7 dwts. 18 grs., and the tailings 2
oz.  12 dwts. 6 grs. gold to the ton.
(Signed) BERNARD H. WOODWARD, F.G.S.

REPORT FROM THE MINING MANAGER.
The following report has been received from Mr E. L. Rosman, the mining
Manager of the Company:-

During the past fortnight, the following work has been done on the mine:-

The North or Fraser's shaft: Have extended the west cross-cut a further
distance of 29 feet, and timbered the same, making it 60 feet from the
shaft.

The last 23 feet driven have gone through a series of spurs, varying in
thickness from 2 to 12 inches, the whole of which carrying payable gold.
From appearances we are just between two makes or formations of stone, as
they are invariably larger in the bottom of cross-cut, than in the back of
the same.

We commenced to sink a winze down from Mr Fraser's old workings, but since
stopping the south or water shaft the water has risen and thrown back upon
the line of lode; therefore we had to stop sinking the same, and shall,
during the coming fortnight, make and erect our horsewhips to enable us to
pull up the water and stuff with greater speed, when we shall put up a
rise and hole through to them to unwater the same and open out.  Through
the water also being in Simpsons's shaft, we have not sunk it any deeper,
but have close timbered it 25 feet.

We are working the engine eight hours every day condensing water,
consuming 1 1/2 cords of wood per week which gives us sufficient water for
our own consumption and to supply the South Fraser's Company with 50
gallons per week at 3d.  per gallon, which will nearly pay one half of the
cost of the firewood.

We have fixed the large water supply pipes to the battery and are ready
for work at any time.  We are also using some of the shaft water in the
boilers mixed with the dam, but find no ill effects from the same.

In consequence of the holidays crushing was not resumed until Jan 2nd,
1890 when the machinery was started again.
(Signed) EDGAR L. ROSMAN,
Mining Manager....

During the past fortnight the following work has been done in your mine.
North or the Fraser's shaft: The cross-cut West has been extended 10 feet,
making it a total of 70 feet from shaft, still spurrey country, the last
one passed through being 4 inches thick and carrying gold; in fact, the
whole of the spurs passed through, over 30 feet in width, all carry gold.
To find the water getting heavy for windlass with I decided upon erecting
the horsewhips.  We have, therefore, made the whip appliance and erected
the same, timbered and lined the shaft, made and puts down ladders from
the brace to bottom, laid down tramway in crosscut, made trolley for
working upon it, also cut water drains from the Shaft to the machine.

We have just commenced to rise from the cross-cut to Fraser's old workings
for ventilation and opening up this portion of the mine.  I believe that
the cross-cut should be extended further west, to cut the Central Extended
load, and also a cross-cut put out east from the shaft, to endeavour to
strike the Central load, which we should do in about 40 feet if it
continues.

Simpson's shaft has been sunk 7 feet, making it 45 feet from surface, and
50 feet from windlass brace, just coming upon stone, making water; shall
therefore discontinue sinking until it is drained from Fraser's shaft.
Have made horse-whips and appliances and erected them over the water
shaft, so that when it is required we can commence work and prove that
portion of the property.  We resumed crushing on Thursday afternoon the
2nd inst., but with only one battery, through not being able to get the
water back to slime or tailing pits which were very leaky and therefore
could not keep up the supply of water for both batteries until Saturday
afternoon, when we put them both on and worked until the accident on
Monday, since which we have cleaned up and got about 5lbs.  of amalgam
from 16 tons of quartz.  I cannot do anything with the amalgam until
getting information from you.  I am only keeping on the men who are
required for opening out the mine, and the two engine drivers for cutting
out the injured plates from the boiler and getting things in readiness to
put the new ones in....