Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 553
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CHARACTERISTIC OF GUIRA GOLD FIELD CAMERONS CREEK NEW ENGLAND
The operations of the gold diggers at this field have been principally confined to the alluvial deposits on the banks and bed of the Guira river few shafts have been sunk ------- to a greater depth than twelve feet ----------------- On the surface of a conical hill situated in a ridge -----------the miners found numerous thin red tiles similar to Potters tiles these appeared well burnt and assumed various shapes as if fashioned by the hand of man. They --- sunk a shaft into this hill to the depth of twenty four or twenty five feet without reaching the bed rock or finding gold. In sinking they -------------first came a strata of Yellow clay with water worn quartz, then upon a lava of burnt ironstone with chrystalized (crystallised) quartz and then worn quartz, then upon burnt granite ----Their next sinking was through pipe clay mixed with quartz and drift ---- They then passed through burnt trap rock, the action of fire had been So intense upon this rock that it appeared as if burnt into a substance similar to chalk, through which they could pass from four to five feet in a day. In this rock [?] [vein?] of quartz were found. The miners consider that this field would prove remunerative provided supplies were to be had at the mines, at present their time is much taken up in procuring supplies & in disposing of their gold at a distance from their operations.
PRODUCTION OF STONEY CREEK GOLD FIELD
The quantity of gold obtained from this gold field in three months from the 1st July when these diggings commenced to the 1st of October is stated as a known quantity at Eleven thousand Seven hundred ounces. Gold is purchased at Stoney Creek at £3.15/- per ounce.
CHARACTERISTIC OF STONEY CREEK GOLD FIELD NUGGETS OF GOLD FOUND.
Nuggets of gold weighing seven, nine fifteen, &
eighteen ounces are picked up in four feet sinking. A nugget of gold weighing twelve pounds five ounces has been obtained at these diggings. Rich patches are come upon by parties where washing is not required. One of the most successful diggers at this field picked out of different claims in four feet sinkings at Surface hill and Bareface Gully seventy five ounces of gold in one week.
The universal distribution of gold on the Wellington road is very remarkable there being acres of ground in which small quantities of gold can be obtained on the surface, and in which, were it not for the scarcity of water, could be made to pay handsomely by Systematic & skilful working. Regarding the deep sinking, it is very much to be doubted whether the real bottom has ever been struck. In the opinion of men who have much experience on the gold mines it has not, and looking at the indications, there seems every probability of rich leads being struck, if the rock jutting out on the surface were gone through & another bottom sunk for. This experiment has been tried both in this colony & in Victoria with most satisfactory results, & there is every reason to believe that deep-sinking at Stoney Creek will be found of a very remunerative character. At Boundary Creek two men have bottomed a hole of 20 feet 7 realised 24 ounces of gold for one [?]
work, This may induce others to sink.
ESCORT FOR GOLD FROM THE NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES
In September 1856 The Government established the security for the conveyance of gold from the
northern gold fields the two termini are Armadale & Sydney. the first escort left Armadale and Thursday 18th Sept with upward of 2580 ounces of gold rates charged 8d. per ounce for gold & one per sent for cash.