LEASES AND REVENUE.

To the present 71 leases, amounting to 684 acres, have been applied for, and two claims and eighteen protection areas are registered and occupied.

Since 1st January last nineteen business licences and 394 mines rights have been issued.

The amount of money revenue for this year (January 1 2 December 1) forwarded to the Hon. the commissioner of Crown Lands, amounted to £1,700 13 s.  6d.  In addition to this amount, fees in connection with this goldfield were received at it has Crown Lands Office, Perth.

MINING.

Alluvial: a few patches of alluvial gold have been found and worked.  At Southern Cross, within 300 yards from the township, about 250 ounces of gold have been obtained during the past two months.  This ground is still being worked and continues to yield gold.  The gold is, for the most part, nuggety, several pieces weighing upwards of an ounce.  Probably there are many patches of this description scattered about the field, but on account of scarcity of water and horse feed, prospecting either for alluvial or reef, will during a short period of the wet season.

Reefs: Until recently the persons employed as managers were, with a few exceptions, inferior man, with but little ability, and no idea of their duties and responsibilities.  Moneys trusted to them for expenditure on their respective mines, were thrown away without result.  Many employed by
these managers, not being supervised, became idle and useless, and although receiving large wages, simply loafed through the day.  Under these circumstances rapid development could not be expected.  Fortunately some managers of experience and ability have now been obtained, and on the mines where these managers have been placed the reefs are now being energetically opened up.

It cannot be expected that all the reefs taken up will turn out payable, but, from present appearances, I consider that more than the general average on goldfields will hear prove payable.

MACHINERY.

To stamp batteries have been erected, on the Central, and one on Fraser's gold mining leases. Crushing has been started at both.  Fraser's machinery has been working satisfactorily and continuously.  The Central machinery, from want of water and other causes, has worked very
intermittently.

Both these leases should give a good average, per ton, of gold and yield a considerable weight of gold before the end of this month.

Several loads of crushing machinery have arrived for Hope's Hill, Uphill's, and Exchange Companies, and preparations have been commenced for erection.

WATER.

During the last six months a party of men, under the direction of Mr Raeside, has constantly worked at the formation of tanks.  Six miles north from Parker's Range the tank has been increased from 50,000 to 200,000 gallons capacity.  Lake Cotton tank, two miles from Southern Cross, has been enlarged, but the water there conserved is only fit for stock.

Coorkardine tank has been increased in capacity from 35,000 to 75,000 gallons.  At Tamarin Rocks, on the road from seventeen mile tank To Parker's Range, small tanks for the use of teams and teamsters have been made, capable of holding about 30,000 gallons.  At Golden Valley the supply of water is, for the present, sufficient.  At Southern Cross and Parker's Range an expenditure of at least £3,000 is imperative to make the supply equal to the demand.

THE KAUFFMAN BORER.

The Kauffman borer is slowly progressing.  A depth of 52 ft, very hard slate was struck, and has continued to the present depth-170 ft.

In spite of hard work and long hours, the sinking four feet cannot be averaged each day.

ACCIDENTS.

Only one accident was reported during the year in connection with mining. This accident was caused by the explosion of dynamite.  Fortunately the accident was not serious.  I am surprised that accidents of explosives have not been much more numerous, from the careless manner in which explosives are stored and handled, and from the want of experience in the users.

When visiting some of the mines I have seen dynamite about the floors of drives and tunnels, left in a most careless manner.  Regulations as to the storage and issues by managers of explosives are required.

POPULATION.

Lately the population of this field amounted to about 250 persons.  This number is now considerably reduced.  Upon a report reaching here that there was a probability that the labour clauses would be suspended for six months, many of the select working miners immediately quitted.  Other man, whose families reside in the towns have also left in order that they may
enjoy Christmas with their families.

HEALTH.

The health of inhabitants of this field has been good.  Several accidents, however, show the desirability that a doctor should reside here.

COMPLETION.

In conclusion I beg to state that from the surface show and appearances, as far as shafts have been sunk, there is every hope that this goldfield will be extensive and valuable.  The scarcity of fresh water will be the most difficult obstacle to overcome.

...

term a reply to mine upon this subject.  He does not appear to have read
my letter carefully, or to have understood it, for he fails altogether to
reply to the real question at issue.

I sought to show that the true discoverer of the goldfield was Mr Anstey,
and not Mr Colreavy.  I did not claim for Mr Anstey "the honour of
discovering the first gold in the eastern districts," as Mr Huggins put
it.  I will not deny that gold was reported to have been discovered out
eastward by Mr Glass some months prior to either Mr Anstey's or Mr
Colreavy's expedition, but the locality of that discovery was many miles
distant from the present goldfield, and from all accounts the country
thereabouts cannot be said to be auriferous.  Mr Anstey, and I believe Mr
Colreavy also, after carefully prospecting there came to that conclusion.

I can see, and I presume everybody else does too, a great distinction
between the discovery of gold, and the discovery of a gold field.  Gold
enough to swear by, such as Mr Glass's find, has been discovered in many
places in the Darling Range and elsewhere, take, for instance, Cardup,
Bindoon, Kendenup, and the Wellington District; but who would dare assert
that a gold field exists in any of those localities.  I do not profess to
know as much about mining matters as Mr Huggins does, but common sense
tells me, and I hope my friend will agree, that a goldfield means a
considerable auriferous country containing payable gold.  Mr Anstey's find
was in auriferous country, and is part of the belt which has been traced
to below Parker's find.  Mr Anstey not only reported the discovery of
gold, but also the existence of a large extent of auriferous country.

Mr Huggins does not, nor can he, deny that Mr Anstey's find was prior to
Mr Colreavy's and that both were within the limits of the goldfield.  It
would be interesting to know if Mr Colreavy would have gone out again had
Mr Anstey not made his discovery.  Mr Colreavy and Mr Huggins were not the
only prospectors who set out on the strength of Mr Anstey's report.  What
induced Mr Riseley and his party to prospect still further South then
Golden Valley?  I think I am right in saying that they set out for
Southern Cross before Mr Colreavy's find became known, and if so they are
entitled equally with Mr Colreavy to claim the credit of being the
discoverers of the goldfield.  I do not deny that both Mr Colreavy and Mr
Riseley — and later on Mr Parker — have earned great distinction in
respect of their discoveries and the good work they have done in
developing the goldfield.  A simple test for anyone to apply in this
matter is to ask himself what would have been the result had Mr Anstey
reported, as Mr Colreavy did, that the country he visited was not
auriferous.  I do not hesitate to answer that this important goldfield
would have remained hidden for many years to come.  That country then
offered no attractions to any but explorers, and I well remember how
sceptical people were when the two first expeditions were started.  They
were regarded, or any rate Mr Anstey's party were, rather as enterprising
enthusiasts upon a wild goose chase, and reckless in the expenditure of
their money.

That Mr Colreavy's find is more valuable than Mr Anstey's is beyond doubt;
but I cannot admit that it was the primary cause of subsequent
discoveries.  Mr Anstey appears, unfortunately, to have played the role of
the unsuccessful pioneer, the advantage of whose discovery has been reaped
by others.

I see no reason to modify the remarks made in my previous letter, and
still claim for Mr Anstey and his party the distinction of being the
discoverers of the Yilgarn goldfield.
Yours, &c.,
GEORGE LEAKE.
7th September, 1889....

calculated the distance at not far short of 350 miles.  On the road he
passed several teams, loaded with provisions, proceeding to the field,
and, when within a short distance of the find, he met about a dozen
disappointed diggers returning.  After having stopped on the field two or
three days, he returned home across the Hamersley Range.  He estimates the
distance by this route at about 240 miles, which distance he accomplished
in nine days.  The day after his arrival about forty diggers assembled at
the Court House to hear his report.  Mr Hare, in addressing them, said
that good gold had been found in one gully, but up to his departure no
other find had been made.  He calculated that about 2000 ounces had been
obtained, including one fifty ounce nugget, that had been unearthed a few
days before his arrival.  It was reported on the fields that colours had
been obtained on the road up from Onslow.  Provisions were scarce, but
teams were on the road up from Roebourne.  His advice to diggers was to
wait quiet till there was  news of another find, because the already
discovered ground was more than occupied.  He calculated, at the lowest
estimate, that three hundred men were on the field.

There are now only about two dozen men left at Nyullagine, the chief spot
being Grant's Gully.  It is reported that they are doing well, and that
some of them are obtaining over an ounce a day.

Roebourne, June 16.

CALLS.

Name   No. Amt. Date
Caledonian GM Co …. 9th 1d July 9

THE ROAD FROM YORK TO YILGARN.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, — The road from York to the Yilgarn goldfields is in a bad state,
owing to the teams being driven singly, together with the wagon wheels
having narrow tires, and bearing overloaded burdens, which have cut up the
road, in the forest land, into deep ruts, rendering it in many parts
almost impassable; consequently the poor horses are some cases made to
suffer, through being poorly fed, and being badly driven over this muddy
and heavy road.  When travelling to the fields a short time since, I
passed to dead horses, and another left to die.  Some persons who are not
acquainted with the condition of the road, are apt, regardless of the
strength of their team, to overload their wagons, and the result is either
a break down, or the loss of one or two horses.  The road in many parts
require to be opened wider.  Where it passes through forest and dense
thickets, it does not afford room for the driver to walk by the side of
his team.  It will require about £500 to widen the narrow parts, and fill
in the ruts, to render it fit for horses being driven double, and in some
cases it is necessary to drive three horses abreast, when large boilers
have to be taken to the field.  But this road cannot be kept in a good
travelling condition, until the ruts are filled in, and the narrow places
made wider, when all teams should be compelled by law to be driven double.
 Another very important matter should also be enforced, and that is, that
no heavy laden wagon be allowed upon the road with wheels having less than
four inch tires, and a … have not less than six inch tires. [Note: this
sentence is incomplete.  It is comprised of a newspaper article that has
been torn along a fold, thereby making an entire line of the sentence
indecipherable.] Waggons [sic]would have run lighter by not cutting into
the ground, and it would be much easier for the horses.  A large waggon
[sic], with a six inch tire, drawn by three horses abreast and four in
length, would take any reasonable load, not exceeding 7 or 8 tons, without
damaging the road, if the horses were well fed and properly driven.  Some
teams are sent to work upon this road, which are not supplied with corn
enough to keep up their strength, consequently they become thin and boney
[sic] and their shoulders become sore.  I have seen some poor animals with
half the length of their shoulders in a dreadful raw state, and these poor
things are tied to a tree, exposed to the cold stormy blast of a long
winter night without any covering.  Horse rugs are only made use of for
the teamster’s bedding, while the poor horses are left shivering in the
cold, which renders them unfit for the next day's work.  These are the
evils from which troubles come, when we often hear of goods being left on
the road through the poor horses being unable to pull the load any further
— the result of bad management and a bad road.
Yours etc.,
W. M. PARKER.

THE NORTH-WEST GOLDFIELDS.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, — In the WESTERN MAIL, June 14th, is a long article on the above
subject, from information apparently supplied by Mr A. Argles, from which
appears that Mr Argle’s own claim on the Mallina field "consists of 25
acres of land, being 12,000 feet long, by 500 feet wide" or 240 acres of
ground.  Now as the Goldfields Regulations expressly state that one man's
ground on a quartz reefing field, shall consist of "50 feet on the line of
reef, by 400 feet in width," and that such ground may be worked half-
handed until declared payable, one is naturally inclined to ask, has Mr
Argle’s claim, since he took it up, being continuously worked by 120 men,
and as the crushing is stated to have reached so high as 5 oz. to the ton,
which one may conclude to be payable (mines on the Queensland and
Victorian goldfields pay regular dividends on a yield of less than 1/2 oz
to the ton) is it now being worked by 240 men as by law required, and, if
not, why not?  If the requisite number of hands are not being employed on
it, at the present time, a large portion of the claim is "jumpable" and
should, in common fairness, be granted to the first applicants, instead of
being, as it probably will be, floated off in a succession of "Pups" for
the benefit of Sydney, and other speculators on the other side.  The
miners in this colony generally, and at the Nor'-West in particular, would
much like to know under what exceptional circumstances Mr A. Argles has
been favoured with such an enormous slice of what, by his own showing, is
the richest quartz reef in all West Australia, and which at the present
time, as the Egina, Pilbarra, and Nullagine fields are abandoned, and the
Ashburton declared a failure, would prove a great boon to numbers of
miners and others, who must otherwise become the unemployed of that
district.  Perhaps the Administrator, the Minister for Lands, or the
Warden of the Pilbarra goldfields, will kindly afford the public a little
information on this subject.
Yours, &c.,
A MINER.
York, June 17....

had the opportunity of reading, in the WEST AUSTRALIAN, the report by the
hon. gentleman.  Now, from what I saw myself, after visiting most of the
claims, I should esteem it a favour, if he would allow me space to draw
attention to the facts of the case.  The Commissioner says: — "From my own
observations I have no hesitation in saying that we have a gold field at
Yilgarn, and I feel confident that having regard to the large area of gold
bearing country in the early future, this field will be largely developed,
and it behoves the Government to encourage and assist by every means in
its power this development."

After coming to this conclusion, let us look at what the hon. gentleman
advises.  First the water supply as of the greatest importance, as at the
present all the fields have to depend upon is three small tanks and a few
mud holes.  What they require is to large tanks, say, of 50,000 yard each,
one at Parker's Range and one at the Cross, placed at convenient distances
from the town, not eight miles away as at present.  The cost of putting
down two such tanks by contract would be about £12,000.  This would settle
the water question once and for all.  What the hon. gentleman suggests is,
to spend £500 at Parker's, which would give them another mud hole of no
use in a dry season, and at the Cross condenser at a cost of about £1000,
which would be another folly equal to the borer, as the mining companies
experience with the salt water goes to prove, that condensing is anything
but profitable employment; and it is planned in working order and continue
the output of 3000 gallons, would tax even Mr Raeside's ingenuity, when it
has been proved that one third of the total bulk is saline matter and the
other two-thirds water.  In fact, anyone would infer from Mr Forrest's
report that the Government's first care is to provide easy and lucrative
employment for Mr Raeside, and secondly to provide a water supply for the
fields.  With respect to the present water supply, leaving out Sayer's
Tank, the others are little better than pig holes, and to think that so
many people are depending upon this miserable provision, is not very
creditable to any one concerned.  At Strawbery Rocks we find a large
natural basin in the rock.  When discovered it was full of soil; now in
the middle of this a circular tank has been dug and carefully stoned up,
when by removing the whole of the soil and dispensing with the stone,
double the capacity at far less cost would have been attained.  At the
Fourteen Mile Rocks this work is again to be seen in exactly the same
form.  Let all future work be done by contract under the supervision of
the Warden.  Of the cost of the present work we know very little, but by
the look of things I should say it was something considerable.  It would
be interesting to know the present cost per yard.  There are men now in
the colony who would be glad of such work at from 2s 3d to 2s 6d per yard.

With regard to the main road, that is urgently wanted.  The telegraph
could be very well dispensed with for the present.  It may benefit a few
scrip dealers in Perth, who have been already a curse to the field.  There
is nothing to warrant this expenditure when the fields are languishing for
want of capital, and starving for water, and every road in the district is
next to impassable.  As for the land, is it not very extraordinary that Mr
Forrest should think it would grow hay, when he can see it a foot high on
any camping ground.  I must say the land is the best Western Australia can
show, but private enterprise must stand by until the Commissioner sets
apart a special area, as the Land Regulations shut the whole thing up.
The rainfall is quite as good as that in any part of the south east, where
we grow hay and corn.  In most seasons, if I could get a block on
reasonable terms, I should be very glad to save the Government the trouble
of leading the way.  Of the result I should have no fear.  I think it a
great pity that even Mr Forrest, should throw doubt and discredit upon our
much abused land.  Throw the land open for selection on easy terms, and
the Government need not trouble themselves further about the matter.  Why
should it be a special area?  We are not short of land around the field.
In fact, what the field wants is a fair show to produce their own fodder,
a permanent water supply, good roads, and the public crusher at Parker's
Range, and last but not least, the repeal of the No-Liability Act, which
is no more than a direct license to swindle, suitable only for exchange
mining.  Capital seems to have lost all confidence in our mines, and to
restore that confidence should be the aim of the Government.  A public
crusher would do more towards developing Parker's Range than anything
else, and would pay for its own upkeep and a good percentage on the
capital; besides the cost of the plant would not exceed £5,000 including
water.  I am sure the vote of the fields would be more for a crusher
rather than a telegraph line, and the bars of gold going into Perth would
pay for more than a waggon [sic] load of telegrams.
Yours &c.
A VISITOR
August 20....

more accommodation for travellers than the other roads.  It is also well
watered, the last rains having given a supply sufficient for the remainder
of the summer.  I met fourteen teams loaded for the fields.

Mr Brook's with the Uphill Company's boiler, was making good progress, and
he should now be close to Parker's range.

I was 50 miles from the field when the rain fell in torrents, coming from
the Eastward.  If the rain has fallen at the Cross, as it fell where I
was, the tanks there must be full.  Messrs.  Reen, Park, and Cameron of
Southern Cross, sent out a party of men 20 miles, to open a soak, and the
report came in that there was abundance of water there, so the Cross has
nothing to fear. [We hear since the soak discovered by the Messrs.  Reen &
Co., immediately dried up on being opened.-ED.]  The tanks were all dry
when I was on the field.

Fraser's started on the 29th.  The battery seems to work well.  The
Central's start in a week's time.

The manager of Fraser's has adopted the plan of blowing out his boiler
every three hours, and cooling down every six days, and washing out.  By
this means he expects to overcome the difficulty arising from the use of
salt water.  He has also solved the difficulty of the amalgam, and can now
treat it on the field.  [It is reported that Fraser's has again ceased
working.-ED.]

There has been some alluvial found at Parker's Range.  The miners are all
waiting for rain and then there may be some good finds made.  So far only
surface fossicking has been done, and the gold appears very patchy.  No
deep ground has been struck, but the general opinion is that there is a
large alluvial field in store for Western Australia.

All the miners are in good health, and are well satisfied.

A permanent water supply is all that is required to make the goldfield a
success.

I return to the field on Wednesday next, and I hope to give you a good
account on my return.

THE RAIN AT YILGARN.

Private intelligence received in Perth yesterday, throws still more doubt
on the question whether the rain reached Yilgarn, the beginning of last
week.  One of the departures from the field reached Newcastle on Saturday,
and he stated that the rain, so far as could be seen, after travelling
from the Nor' West to the South-East had veered round again in an exactly
the opposite direction, and that this took place before it could possibly
have got to Yilgarn.  However, yesterday, the sky in that direction looked
very thundery, and it is hoped that it ended in a fall of rain.

Yesterday, our York correspondent telegraphed as follows:-The Carrying
Company's coach has arrived.  It left several days after Mr Riseley, and
the driver reports that the rain had not reached Southern Cross up to the
time he left, but had only fallen on the road about thirty miles from there.

The following telegram, dated the 9th inst., has been received in Perth
from York: "No rain and Southern Cross up to the 4th inst.  Soak found by
Reen run dry.  Fraser's machinery had to stop work; could not work with
salt water.  The Warden is filling up a 100 gallon tank at the Government
engine to condense the water.  All quiet on fields."

the report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands upon his late visit to the
Yilgarn goldfield, containing his suggestions and recommendations.  We
understand that the report was kept back for a short time in order that
the Executive and the Finance Committee might in the first instance
discuss it.  The following is the report in full: —

I have the honour to report for the information of His Excellency the
Administrator, that I have visited the Yilgarn Goldfields, and have
carried out instructions conveyed to me by His Excellency in writing and
verbally before my departure.

I left Perth on the 23rd June, and proceeded to Southern Cross via York,
Youndegin, Mooranoppin, Totadging and Yorkrakine.  I then visited Parker's
Range and returned to Southern Cross.  I then proceeded to Golden Valley
and returned to Northam via Mangowine, Yarragin, and Goomalling.  I
reached Northam on 10th July, and Perth on 12th.

I will, for the sake of convenience and easy reference, divide my report
into eight separate subjects, and deal with each separately.  The headings
will be,

1.  Main road and branch roads.
2. Telegraph line.
3.  Water supply for Southern Cross, Parker's Range and Golden Valley.
4.  Miscellaneous requirements.
5.  Land.
6.  Kauffman Borer.
7.  The Warden.
8.  Prospects of the Yilgarn Goldfields.

1.  MAIN ROAD.

I am of opinion that the main road should start from York and proceed to
Youndegin, a distance of about 35 miles, where it can be met by a road
from Northam and Newcastle and from Beverley.  Youndegin is situated
From York about 35 miles.
From Northam about 43 miles
From Newcastle about 61 miles
From Beverley about 35 miles
Youndegin is a suitable place for the roads from Northam, Newcastle and
Beverley to join the main trunk road.  A Government Reserve with permanent
water exists there.  From Youndegin the main road will pass Tammin,
Mooranoppin, and Doodlekine along or near to the present track, but from
Doodlekine it will go straight to Merredin, as shown on map enclosed
herewith.  From Merredin it will go to Boorancoppin, and then straight to
the granite rocks within 14 miles of Southern Cross, and then straight to
Southern Cross.  From York to Southern Cross will be about 162 miles, and
the distances from the townships in the Avon Valley will therefore be:
From Newcastle to Southern Cross 188 miles.
From Northam to Southern Cross 170 miles.
From York to Southern Cross 162 miles.
From Beverley to Southern Cross 162 miles.

The road to Parker's range will turn off at the granite rocks 14 miles
westward of Southern Cross, and proceed straight to Strawberry granite
rocks, and thence to Tamarin tank and Parker's range.  The distances to
Parker's range will then be:

From Newcastle to Parker's range 212 miles.
From Northam to Parker's range 194 miles.
From York to Parker's range 186 miles.
From Beverley to Parker's range 186 miles.

The road to Golden Valley will turn off about 120 miles from York, and
proceed by Yorkrakine, Keokranie, and the police tanks, to Golden Valley.
The distances will be: —

From Newcastle to Golden Valley, 186 miles.
From Northam to Golden Valley about 168 miles.
From York to Golden Valley about 160 miles.
From Beverley to Golden Valley about 160 miles.

It will be clearly seen from an inspection of the accompanying map that
the road, as now proposed, is the most direct that can be adopted, the
straight distance from York to Southern Cross being 157 miles, and it will
satisfactorily meet the requirements of all the towns in the Avon Valley,
and the acceptable to the people living on the goldfields.

It is highly desirable that this road should be cleared at once to a width
of 40 ft at least, and the best way of doing there is to instruct Mr
Raeside, who is now working for the Public Works Department, and has
[unclear] the appliances at hand, to begin at Southern Cross without
delay, and clear the line now being survey by Mr Surveyor King as far as
Doodlekine, a distance of about 90 miles; [sic] The remainder of the road
could be cleared by contract as soon as it has been surveyed, and I
recommend that another surveyor be employed in surveying the road from
Doodlekine to Youndegin and on to York, and also the branch road to Northam.

The cost of clearing will not, I think, exceed £15 per mile, so that the
whole cost of clearing the 162 miles will amount to £2430, and this amount
would probably cover the cost of well-sinking and dams in the few places
where they will be required in addition to those now existing.

I hope no time will be lost in instructing Mr Raeside, who is just
finishing the tank-making he has in hand, to begin this work from the
Southern Cross end.

The road from the 14-mile granite rocks to Parker's Range should also be
surveyed and cleared half a chain wide — the cost would be about £525.  A
road, also, from the main road to Yorkrakine, should be cleared half a
chain wide, and cost of about £150.

The total cost of clearing the roads would, therefore, amount to about
£3105, and, I think, this expenditure is most urgent and necessary, and is
justified in the best interests of the colony.

2.  — TELEGRAPH.

I think it is imperatively necessary that a Telegraph line should be
erected at once.  The interests involved warrant the expenditure, and not
a moment should be lost in carrying out this work.

Poles of gimlet wood can be obtained, and placed in positions along the
road at a cost of about 4 s. each.  This timber is fairly good, and will
last a good time, provided the poles are of a diameter of not less than 7
inches at the butt.

I strongly recommend that this work be proceeded with.

3.  WATER SUPPLY FOR SOUTHERN CROSS, PARKER'S RANGE AND GOLDEN VALLEY.

Good work has been done by Mr Raeside for the Public Works Department in
building tanks.  The situations selected have been excellent, and the work
has been substantially performed.  The two tanks nearest to Southern Cross
are "Koorkoordine Tank," which holds 120,000 gallons, situated 5 miles
away, and "Sayers Tank," which will hold 750,000 gallons, when full,
situated about 7 miles away. Koorkoordine Tank is full, but Sayers Tank
was only just being completed, and had not any water in it, when I saw it;
but, it is in a good situation, and will soon fill, when next there is a
heavy downpour of rain.

There are also tanks at Lake Cotton, which were full, but the water was
muddy.

In order to provide a water supply for Southern Cross, I am of opinion
that a condenser should at once the obtained.  Mr Raeside informs me that
all that is required is a common shell boiler, 30 feet long by 4 1/2 feet
diameter, and a 2 inch Tangye steam pump and fittings, and a number of
tanks to hold the fresh water.  He suggests that 600 feet of the casing
tubes belonging to the Kauffman borer should be used for the condenser.

With these appliances, Mr Raeside estimates that he could turn out 3000
gallons of water every 24 hours, and that the total cost of placing the
whole thing in positions would not exceed £1000.  The machinery would be
worked and supervised by three shifts of one man each shift.  It is stated
that 2d. a gallon would gladly be paid for water, and it seems to me, that
an expenditure of say £1000 is the easiest and most certain way of
remedying the water difficulty.  It is, I think, highly improbable, that
fresh water will be obtained by sinking in the gold bearing area, within a
reasonable depth, and it is, therefore, cheaper and better to adopt a
certain means, rather than prospect further for what is uncertain.

At Parker's Range the present necessities would be met by constructing a
large tank and a cost of say £500.  A very suitable site exists, and Mr
Raeside could also superintend its construction.

At Golden Valley the present tank should be enlarged and stoned up, and
the faces and bottom cemented, as at present the tank is useless and
unfinished.  I should say £5 [unclear] will be required for this work
also, and [unclear] would, when completed, meet all present requirements.

With the tanks already made, a condenser at Southern Cross, a tank at
Parker's Range, and another at Golden Valley, at an aggregate cost of
£2000, all present requirements would be met, and the water supply placed
on a satisfactory basis, and are strongly recommend that these works be
executed.

4.  — MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS.

The establishment of a Local Court at Southern Cross, the establishment of
the Post Office Money Order system, the sale of Revenue Stamps, the
appointment of a medical officer, the residents being willing to guarantee
half his salary, the appointment of a Commissioner to revise the goldfield
regulations, a weekly mail to Parker's range, and the formation of a gold
escort, were all brought to my notice at a meeting of residents of
Southern Cross.

I beg most strongly to recommend all these subjects for favourable
consideration, as being absolutely necessary for the well-being and
progress of the goldfields.

5.  LAND.

From York and Northam to the goldfields a considerable area of good land
is passed, heavily timbered with salmon gum, gimlet wood and morrel, and
on this land nothing whatever grows at present, owing to the timber which
appears to prevent any green from growing.  If, however, this timber is
ringbarked and killed, the land being good will grow good grass, and, I
believe, if cultivated will grow good hay, if not corn.  The only obstacle
is the uncertainty of the rainfall.  I propose to mark out a small special
area near Southern Cross in order to give facilities for cultivation, and
I should like the Government to lead the way, by clearing and cultivating
say 100 acres, and thereby ascertain whether hay and corn can be grown.
When it is remembered that hay is never less than £24 a ton, the great
importance of testing the land is apparent, and I hope something may be
done in proving the matter.  I the believe experiment will be successful
in most years.

6.  THE KAUFFMAN BORER.

This very expensive machine has been dismantled, and is safely stacked and
packed away, and I think it had better remain where it is for the present.
 Some of the casing tubes can be used for the condenser, as before
suggested, and the remainder can be used for the borer, when it is next
required.

The portable engine is in good order and well protected, and will be very
useful to the Government for any work that requires steam power,
especially could it be utilised for working a circular saw, and in cutting
timber for public purposes.  Being on the spot, and likely to be useful, I
would recommend that it remain where it is for the present.  The whole
machinery being in Mr Raeside's charge, will be looked after properly, and
will always be available when required.

7.  THE WARDEN.

Mr Finnerty appears to exercise his authority with care and discretion,
and appears to be highly respected.  It is time, I think, that more
suitable quarters should be provided, and seeing that forage is so very
expensive, some extra allowance should be made on that account.

8.  PROSPECTS OF THE GOLDFIELDS.

From my own observation I have no hesitation in saying that we have a
goldfield at Yilgarn, and I felt confident that, having regard to the
large area of gold-bearing country, in the early future this field will be
largely developed.  It behoves the Government to encourage and assist by
every means in its power this development, and if a good straight road is
made, a telegraph line erected, and a permanent water supply assured, it
will encourage those who have embarked their fortunes in developing these
fields, to persevere.

It is not to be expected that much more than this can be done at the
present time, seeing the transition stage in which the Government is
situated, but I feel sure a great deal more will be expected from those
who have the charge of public affairs under the new Constitution.

I believe that there are many more reefs known even now, and not even
reported, owing to the impossibility of floating any more companies, until
the success of those now working has satisfied the public of the
permanency and richness of the fields.

SOUTHERN CROSS.

The Central mine and Fraser's mine are constantly work with a 10 stamper
battery at each mine, and, I believe, both these mines are being worked
systematically, and will both proved successful mines.  A Huntingdon Mill
is also at work at the Exchange mine, and was working very smoothly and
well.  It had crushed all the stone already raised in the Exchange mine,
and was about to begin crushing for other companies, thereby supplying a
great want.  It will probably prove very remunerative work crushing for
others, and its services are likely to be largely availed of to the great
advantage of the goldfields generally.

At Hope's Hill, the machinery was being erected.  At Fraser's South a
large amount of good work had been done, and everything made ready for
machinery, and both these mines look promising ones.

At Central Extended, shafts have been sunk and stone raised, but no
machinery was erected.

Many other places had been worked to some extent.

Alluvial gold has been and is being successfully worked at Southern Cross,
but was uncertain results.  All those working, however, obtain some gold,
and in some cases rich fines have been made.  I believe alluvial gold
exists and will be found over a large area, they present experience points
to its being very patchy.  The absence of a fresh water supply, moreover,
adds to the difficulty of working the alluvial.

PARKER'S RANGE.

At Uphill's machinery was erected, but was delayed for starting owing to
the non-arrival of a steam pump.  It is proposed, I understand, to work
this machinery as a public crusher for the present.  With the exception of
Uphill's machinery, there is no machinery at Parker's range.  A good deal
of prospecting is being done and a considerable quantity of stone has been
raised, and is ready to be crushed.  The stone at Parker's Range appears
to be rich.  At one mine, a primitive crusher had been erected, worked by
hand, and the manager showed me a small bottle fall of gold he had
extracted, and said he hoped to be able to pay wages by this means.  Some
very excellent specimens were given to me by Mr Wm. Parker, obtained from
his mine, and I observed myself that the stone being raised was very
promising.  No great depth had, however, been reached, but the quantity of
stone visible seemed considerable.  A large amount of work had been done
at MacIntosh's; shafts had been sunk and an excellent tank built, which
was well filled with water.  The stone raised seemed of a promising
description.

GOLDEN VALLEY.

A great deal of work has been done here and many shafts and drives made.
The stone raised at Waterhall's, and from the Kathleen, Marion, and other
shafts, looked very promising, and when crushed should yield good results.
 This place is almost abandoned, for what reason it is hard to say.  I was
informed that if a means of getting the stone crushed were available
plenty of good stone could easily be procured.  There are several hundreds
of tons of good-looking stone ready for crushing.

Having now gone through the principal workings on the Yilgarn Goldfields,
I may add a few words as to their probable future.  The want of capital is
the great difficulty.  It must always be borne in mind that up to the
present time it has only proved to be a quartz reefing field.  This being
so, a great expenditure is necessary, and long delay occurs before any
return can be obtained.  Added to this, that mines have been placed on the
market by speculators and others, before any substantial work has been
done to prove the reefs or even to prospect the ground.  The natural
result has been many persons have invested in mines which have scarcely
any reef, while others have become tired of paying calls, were no return
was probable at an early date.  If to this is added that the mining
investors are but a few number, one can readily understand the many causes
which have operated to embarrass gold mining on [unclear] the Yilgarn
goldfields.  That the industry will, in the end, surmount all
difficulties, I have no doubt, but if substantial assistance is not
rendered by the Government the progress may be slow and unnecessarily
delayed, unless the success of Central's and Fraser's gives new hope to
investors.

In conclusion I may be committed to record my thanks to the Warden, Mr
Finnerty, to Mr Raeside, and to the managers and others resident on the
goldfields, for the courtesy they extended to me, and for the assistance
they so willingly rendered to me.  I believe the Yilgarn goldfields will
prove to be of great value to the Colony.
JOHN FORREST,
Commissioner of Crown Lands
and Surveyor General.
July 6th, 1890.

With regard to this report we understand that the Administrator has kept
before him the resolution of the Legislature of 12 August last, and the
reply of His Excellency the Governor of the 13th same month, relative to
the construction of a telegraph from the Eastern districts to the Yilgarn
goldfield.  It may be remembered that His Excellency, when in York, some
months ago, stated it was his opinion the road should be made by the
Government as a trunk line to goldfield from some point on the Eastern
Railway, having regard to the fact that the great necessity was to have
good and easy communication from the capital and chief port of the colony
to this promising field.  Accordingly we have been given to understand
that the subject was made one for the consideration of the Executive
Council, who agreed that Mr Forrest should be delegated by the Government
to proceed to the goldfield himself and, after a thorough examination,
report on the best line or route for a trunk road, and also on many other
matters connected with the goldfield, which demanded consideration at the
hands of the Government.  We believe it is now the intention of the
Government to proceed forthwith with the clearing of the road from York to
Southern Cross has recommended in the report, and probably the
construction of a telegraph.  This last will then be a very easy and
inexpensive work, as the party clearing the road will be instructed, as
far as practicable, to cut and stack along the line the poles necessary to
carry the telegraph on.  Whether the other works enumerated in the report,
including the purchase of the materials for the telegraph, will be carried
out before the Legislature meets, we have been given to understand is not
yet determined on.  The work of clearing the main road for 162 miles,
though for the most part, through light forest and thicket, is one which
will occupy some three months, even though the system in the report is
followed.  There is a great advantage to be gained by opening up a quick
means of transit for mails and passengers, as we believe the intention is
to get the mails taken through at the rate of 5 miles an hour, travelling
night and day, which will thus only occupy 32 hours on the journey.  The
reason why the Government may shrink from the cost of the telegraph at
this date is perhaps the cost of upkeep, which a report from the
Postmaster General, printed in the proceedings of the Legislative Council
1889, estimates that over £850 a year.  We shall recur to this matter a
greater length later on....