from
quartz-mines in Queensland was about equal to Mr. Brough Smyth's
average specimens in the Wynaad. The average yield in New South Wales
for the same year was I oz. 5 dwts. 7 grains per ton. There is no lack
of rich "specimens" in Australia as in the Wynaad, but experience has
taught the Australian miners not to attach too much importance to
specimens. The average yield of a mine, over a period of time, is a far
more certain indication of the value of land in the neighbourhood for
mining purposes. With the above figures before us, we may well ask
ourselves what there is to justify the high prices that have been paid
for mining lands in Southern India ? This is a matter, however, that
chiefly concerns speculators in England ; if they are satisfied it is
not for Indian landholders to complain.
The
reports before us contain some useful hints for the managers of the
companies that are commencing operations in our midst. The importance
of having improved machinery is strongly insisted on. Though the
gold-saving appliances in Queensland are acknowledged to be " the most
modern and proved obtainable in Australia," yet, we are told, it has
been demonstrated by practical assay that as yet, "only about 50 per
cent of the gold contained in quartz is obtainable by our appliances.
In some few reefs, where the mundic is largely impregnated with
sulphides, especially zinc and lead, and nothing like 50 per cent of
the gold can be obtained, even when the reverberating furnace is used."
Indeed the importance of the proper treatment of tailings, and matter
which has passed through the quartz-crushing mills, is becoming
universally recognised. The Queensland report avers that one-seventh of
the yield of gold in one district had come from the " pyrites works, "
the owners of which are supposed to have made large profits. It is
worthy of remark that the total value of quartz-crushing machinery in
Queensland, is put down at ,£270,000 only, a small sum in comparison
with this capital that has already been raised for mining in India.
Bui with this machinery, the yield of quartz-gold in the colony in 1879
was about 190,000 ozs , worth at £3-lo<s, per oz., about
.£650,000. The yield from alluvial mines (chiefly worked by Chinese) in
the same year, was 98,815 ozs. The total yield of gold for the year was
288, 556 ozs., valued at £ 1,009,946, the number of miners
being 3,191 Europeans, and 5,621 Chinese; and the average earnings of
each individual miner was ^" 114. For the year 187S, the earnings were
as low as £74.
From
the same official documents, we gather the interesting fact, that the
total Australian gold supply from 1851 to 1878 was £240,000,000. And
yet gold-mining flags in Australia, though any quantity of auriferous
land may be had for £1 an acre. " The want of means to carry on
prospecting operations for the discovery of the new gold-fields, and
the gradual exhaustion of those easily worked deposits of our known
gold-fields, have been the main causes of the decrease in the number of
our gold-miners, and until new fields be opened, or the necessary
capital and skill for working the deeper or more difficult deposits of
our older gold-fields be forthcoming, an increase of our gold-yield can
scarcely be expected." Such is the opinion of Mr. llarrie Wood, the
experienced Under-Secretary for Mines at Sydney. It is some consolation
to reflect that gold-mining in India will not languish for want of
capital,
GOLD IN CEYLON.
(From the Cry Ion Observer, April 7th, 1SS1.} The following is Sir Samuel Baker's reference to the first discovery of gold in Ceylon :—
It
has hitherto been the opinion of most writers on Ceylon that the
precious metals do not exist in the island; and ^r. Davy in his work
makes an unqualified assertion to that effect. But from the discoveries
recently made, I am of opinion that it exists in very large quantities in the mountainous districts of the island. It is amusing to see the positive assertions of a clever man upset I it a few uneducated sailors. A few men of the latter class, who
