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1892
13 February 1892
Industries - The Butter Factory commenced operations in October last, and is considered one of the completest buildings, and the machinery the most improved, in the colonies. It is erected on a most favourable site, 10 acres, purchased from the Government in the centre of the common, which is 40 square miles in extent. It is well watered and grassed, and provides water for the public at 3d per cask. The demand, however, is small, unless in an exceptionally dry season, as there is a bountiful supply in the whole of the surroundings. Recreation grounds comprise a racecourse, Victoria Park, a people's park, and agricultural show grounds. There is also a courthouse, police camp and lock-up, post and telegraph office, savings' bank, and money-order office. The population is about 1600, as taken last census.
In the vicinity, farming operations are carried on to a large extent. The land, with its fine chocolate soil, is considered second to none for wheat-growing. Fruits of all descriptions will grow in abundance, and it is beyond question that all the land around Gulgong only wants tickling with the hoe to produce almost any crop. In regard to the mining industry, Mr. F. Fletcher is pushing on the work most vigorously at all three of the English companies' properties already referred to. At the Lagoon Paddock Company's freehold property, the Government diamond drill was boring 15 months, at a cost to the company of over £1250 for boring alone. In all, eight bores were bottomed, the average depth being 155ft., and from three of the bores payable wash was obtained. A main shaft, 10ft. by 3ft. 6in., is now being sunk. The rock is intensely hard, but with the compressed air drills the sinking is proceeding at a rate that exceeds expectations. Seventy feet of the rock has been penetrated out of 110ft., the supposed thickness. At Rouse's Guntawang Paddock, a lease of 500 acres to another English company, a shaft has been sunk to a depth of 125ft, and a drive advanced 125ft. in a direction to intersect the Bismarck lead, from which the last washing yielded 1oz. 8dwt. to the load. A little wash is in sight carrying colours of gold, and 20ft. more driving will reach the main body of wash. A complete and efficient plant is on the property in readiness for erection should prospects justify the same. At the Black Lead, which embraces No. 44 old shaft, where good washings were obtained in the early days (200 acres G. leases from the Government), a main shaft is being sunk 10ft. x 3ft. 6in., and is now down and in the hard basalt rock 7½ft. To assist in sinking this shaft the sum of £400 has been granted from the prospecting vote. Other mines comprise: - Hutton and party, Standard Lead, raising wash. Star of the West Company, 25-acre lease, timbering a shaft from the water level 150ft.; have 10 horse-power engine and poppet-heads erected. Four leases of 25 acres each, between Lagoon Paddock and the Star of the West, are idle pending a decision of the Mines Department, the ground being in dispute. Newcastle Company Woolshed Paddock, are driving in wash 2ft. thick, recently cut. A Lithgow syndicate is prospecting for a reef for the old Three mile, half-a-mile distant from Welcome Reef. The Sunbeam Company, Old Gulgong Reef, are sinking for the reef. The Happy Valley Syndicate, Standard Lead, are driving on the reef recently found. The Times Syndicate, adjoining the North, are sinking for the reef. Dr. Bennett's Syndicate is sinking for a reef on No. 7 Black Lead, Buckley's Reef, six miles distant: the party are stoping stone to send to Clyde Works; the latest assay was 13oz. 12dwt. per ton; the reef is 18in. thick, 150ft. deep. At Cope's Creek, six miles distant, where several mining leases have been applied for recently, silver ore has been found assaying 55oz. silver per ton. Quartz, gossan, great ironstone lodes, manganese, and large bodies of limestone abound in the neighbourhood. Coal and shale of the purest quality exist within a distance of 14 miles. Freestone, slate, and clay, for brickmaking and building purposes, are obtainable at no distance from the town. The Denison Town Silver Mining Company is distant 25 to 28 miles, and the through traffic daily is increasing1
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1895
20 December 1895
The Butter Factory, although one of the most complete plants in the district, has had an unfortunate experience. Somehow the enterprise of the promoters was ahead of that of that of the surrounding residents, and though the splendid opportunity was afforded them of becoming large suppliers, the company could not get enough milk to profitably carry on with. The whole concern is now in the market2
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1897