Transcription Page 1

Buninyong
September 22nd.
1851.

Sir,
According to your in:
:structions of the 26th. Augt. I
have the honor to forward you
the following report.

On Friday 20th. Inst. I arrived
at the “Ballarat Diggings” accompanied
by Captn. Dana and Mr. Armstrong.
We inspected the washing of the
Gold in different parts of the
”Diggings” and in nearly every
case the men seemed satisfied
with their profits.

With regard to the number of men
whom I found at work, it
would be very [crossed out: a] difficult to give an
exact return, but judging from
the parties I have seen at work,
and the number that I hear
are working in the ranges, there
cannot be much less a number
than eight hundred.

The Honble.
Colonial Secretary
Melbourne.

[Annotation: top]

51/418
23 Sepr 1851
The Commissioner of Crown Land for the
District of Buninyong and Loddon to the
Colonial Secretary Transmitting report &c.
respecting the Gold Diggins at Buninnyong -

[Annotations: left margin]

[stamp] Land Victoria

Ack 23 Sepr

[Annotation: bottom left margin]

800

Transcription Page 2

On the following morning I
again proceeded to the ground
accompanied by Captn. Dana
and Mr. Armstrong for the
purpose of issuing licenses-.
At first we met with some
opposition, but in a short time
they came forward, and I
issued Eighty Eight licenses,
being the entire number I had
brought with me, I am however
getting a number of forms
copied, and trust to have
one hundred and fifty or two
hundred ready for issue tomorrow.
I have made a special requisition
for a supply to be sent up
immediately from Melbourne,
and should the drays containing
the baggage not be detained
by the floods: I may expect
a number a [sic] forms, that are
packed with it.

In consequence of my not having
arrived on the 1st. Inst. and
the men having only lately
discovered the rich mines