Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 - 1864), Friday 15 March 1850, page 2


Assist.-Surv.-Gregory's Report.

The following report from Mr Gregory to the Surveyor General, detailing his recent operations

and discoveries in the neighborhood of the Ge-raldine mine, has been kindly placed in our hands for publication:

Perth, March 11, 1850.

SIR,—I have to inform you of my return from Champion Bay, in accordance with your instructions of the 8th of Feb.

Since my last report of the progress of the surveys in that district, I have marked out 40 half acre allotments in the townsite of Geraldton, and placed marks for the reserves required for public purposes. Having completed this sur-vey as far as circumstances would admit, I proceeded to the section purchased by the Geraldine Mining Company, on the Murchison River, and marked the boundaries. On making a farther search on tho spot where specimens of lead ore were found 2½ miles lower down the river, many fine specimens of Galena were dug up, some of the pieces ex-ceeding 5lbs in weight, no vein was discovered though there are indications of one existing in the vicinity.

After an unsuccessful search for further surface specimens of copper at the place where I had previously found the fragment of copper ore transmitted to you in Dec., Mr. Burges kindly furnished me with proper mining tools, and men acquainted with their use, which enabled me to exca-vate the ground with a favorable result. At little more than one foot from the surface several small pieces were found, and at three feet the solid rock being reached a vein of ore about 8 inches in width was exposed, specimens of which I forwarded to you by my brother, the direction of this vein is about N. 42 deg. E. mag. the adjacent rock being a par-tially decomposed Gneiss, which is the prevailing rock in the district. 400 yards S. by W. from this spot I also found a piece of Galena (sulphuret of lead) and in tho copper vein a fragment of grey carbonate of lead.

The copper ore is principally the green and blue carbo-nates with considerable admixture of quartz.

The relative position of the copper vein with reference to the other minerals discovered in this district is N. 208 deg. E mag. 3¼ miles from the centre of the Geraldine mining section and about 2¼ miles S.E. by S. from the lead indica-

tions lower down the river.

In returning from Champion Bay to Gingin I pursued a more direct route than that previously traversed, and found it better suited for a line of communication as regards water, grass, and a freedom from rocky ground or dense scrubs than any of my former routes.

I have the honor to be, &c.

A. C. GREGORY, Assistant Surveyor.

The Tender for carting clay for the permanent roadway along Barrack-street, from the Commis-sariat Store to Murray-street, has been taken by Mr. Haysom for the sum of £19 15s. This desi-rable improvement is to be commenced immedi-ately, and after its completion three other cross streets will be proceeded with.

To CORRESPONDENTS.—A Voice from the South

shall receive attention in our next.