Rouse's Paddock Mine, 1895
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 4 Oct 1884 Page 28
See also:
- Rouse's Paddock, Three Mile
- Rouse's Paddock, Perseverance Lane
Rouse's Paddock, between Gulgong and Beryl
Rouse's Paddock
NEWS ITEMS
1870 - [EARLY RUSH]
About a fortnight ago a rush took place to some surfacing between Gulgong and Guntawang; but up to the present time no gold is being obtained by any person except the prospectors. Another rush took place a few days ago to Talewang, about two miles off the Cobbora road. The prospects are very good. Two other holes besides the prospectors are on gold. The sinking at present is about twenty feet, and a great number of holes are in course of sinking, so that next week fuller information will be obtainable.
1871________________________
In Rouse's paddock, several parties are now working in payable gold; the depth of sinking is about 60 ft., the pro-spects vary from a 1/4 to 1 dwt. to the dish. The arrangements between the miner and the proprietor is that the latter receives 1/5th of the net proceeds of the gold ex-tracted. The proprietor declines to admit the miners gener-ally. He limits the number, and before a claim is granted re-quires references, which is very natural considering the nature of the agreement. Few washings have taken place during the week, but the claims that did wash up, yielded up to the average. One block claim yielded 41 ozs. for 47 loads, another 38 ozs. for 35 loads and another 39 ozs. for 49 loads.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 7, April 1, 1871
Rouse's paddock is the point of attraction for many unemployed miners. We fancy the owner must be tired of the preserving attempts daily made to induce him to throw the ground open in a more general manner.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 8, April 8, 1871
Rouse's Paddock mining matters are healthy, the population slowly but steadily increasing. Yield is about 1 oz. to the load with the depth of washed dirt varying from 9 inches to 2 ft. averaging about one foot. Shares have been sold for a good price, considering the royalty that has to be paid to the proprietor of the ground.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 9, April 15, 1871
On Wednesday last, a large rush took place to a very promising gully on the eastern side of Rouse's paddock near the Old Sheep Station, the gully runs up towards the old Gulgong reef, and is therefore likely to turn out correct. The sinking is 45 ft. with the prospect varying from 3 to 8 grains to the dish. A large number of claims are taken up and at least 100 holes are being sunk, so next week will tell a tale. The activity displayed at this rush is a striking contrast to what the scene would have been if the 'The Frontage System' prevailed. On Thursday morning at least 900 men were on the ground. The locality is a likely one for an extensive working, and if payable, all our floating population will be profitably absorbed, and hope again reign supreme.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 10, April 22, 1871
RUSH OH! Has been the cry almost every day during the past week and from all appearances there is every likely hood of there being golden grounds for cry. Rushes are in shallow ground and proceeding to Rouse’s paddock. The occurrence of these rushes, and their value is not known, but it has created a wonderful change in the temperament of our business people.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 10, April 22, 1871
At the shallow rush near Rouse's paddock, a number of duffers have been sunk, as also several golden holes one being about 1/2 mile higher up the gully than the prospectors, and encouraging indication that a re-munerative workings for some hundreds of men may be naturally looked for.
From Rouse's Paddock, encouraging reports are made of the yield obtained by the limited number of miners who are granted claims in it. The prospectors have for the present declined to admit any more miners to the paddock.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 11, April 29, 1871
On the whole, prospects of Gulgong look decidedly im-proved with payable gold finds on the ‘Coming Event’, ‘Happy Valley’ leads and in shallow ground near Rouse’s paddock, people look and feel more confident, and trader do not look quite so serious, or so prone to discuss the future of Gulgong with anyone willing to listen.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 11, April 29, 1871
Tenders ARE required at once for the erection of a PUDDLING MACHINE with elevators, in Rouse’s Paddock. Full particulars on application to R. ROUSE, Guntawang.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 13, May 13, 1871
At the 'Block' rush near Rouse's paddock the prospects are very satisfactory, and a small population with stores, &c., are now located on the ground. As the depth of the ground has increased, as the gold has been traced upwards, being now about 93 feet, an application has been made to lay down a base line so as to occupy it on the frontage, and as the Commissioner has no discretion in the matter, the present pernicious frontage system must of necessity be extended. Rich ground has been found in Rouse's paddock in continuation of these workings which promises to be extensive, but being in private property it is of little interest to the miners what its value is.There has been no extensive washings completed this week, the few small ones that have finished have varied in yield from 4 dwts to one about 17½ dwts, principally from Black Lead block claims.
The population has been increased during the week by arrivals from Queensland, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, those from the latter island assert that the rash there was a "sell", beyond doubt. So it is pretty conclusive that the fame of Gulgong has spread extensively. We have had inquiries from Melbourne this week for copies of the Mining Regulations, and also of the Mining Partnership and Goldfields Act. We sent them, but with a profused apology as we do not think that in them any encouragement is held out for the investment of capital in an economical way.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 13, May 13, 1871
New leads opened last week Victoria and Sunbeam have been the principal attractions during the week for miners on the lookout for a claim, the latter being the favourite owing to their being a greater certainty about it, from the fact that it is a continuation of the run of gold steadily traced from Rouse's Paddock upwards and eastward in the long gully now generally known as the Three Mile Rush. This rush is an important addition to the workings of the goldfield and has not reached its greatest development. There are about 400 men located here, and as many more shepherd and work at the rush, but do not camp on it. No. 1-E on the Sunbeam has hoisted the red flag, and in shallow ground in the southern wing of the frontage claims on this lead, a shaft has bottomed on Monday at 49 ft. with the yield of 2 dwts. to the dish.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 15, May 27, 1871
The red flag was hoisted by the prospectors on the Great Western Lead, other than that there is nothing to report. The discovery of this payable gold on this lead is an important addition to the resources of the goldfield but here again private property bars the way as the prospecting claim adjoins 1100 acre block owned by Mr. Rouse. From the formation of the locality there is a probability that the lead will run a long distance, and is now shepherded over a mile long.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 16, June 3, 1871
Rouse's Paddock has a shifting reputation being rich and poor alternatively. There is doubtless a large area of payable ground in it; but we think no pile claims.
Rapp's Gully about a mile beyond the Three Mile has again been rushed, a payable prospect being reported.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 17, June 10, 1871
Trespass - Jacob Keller, a baker, residing in Queen Street, appeared summoned with having trespass in Rouse’s paddock. The defendant was in the habit of supplying the miners working in Rouse’s paddock with bread, and in order to do so, he left his cart outside and carried the bread himself to his various customers. Mr. Rouse objected to him doing so and twice called at the defendant’s shop to caution him not to enter the paddock without permission, but he persevered in doing so. The defence was that he was compelled to go into the paddock to try and obtain payment of several accounts due to him. Mr. Rouse stated that he did not desire a heavy punishment, but one sufficient to convince that defendant that he was breaking the law. The P.M. said that the defendant had no more right to go into the paddock without permission, than into Mr. Rouse’s parlour. Fined 10/ - and cost of court, in default levy and distress.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 20, July 1, 1871
The returns from the several alluvial claims which have crushed the cemented washdirt and quartz which is found in patches, are of a payable kind. One lot of 9½ tons from a claim in Rouse's Paddock yielded 121 ozs and 11 dwts at the OK machine.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 20, July 1, 1871
1872________________________
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald 15 Apr 1872
Judging from appearances, and from "information received" we think that the Home Rule will be a large and permanent rush. On Monday a shallow rush took place, outside Rouse's 2,000 acre paddock; a run of gold in 50 feet sinking having been struck heading out of the paddock. The prospect was over an ounce to the load, and appeared as if it would junction with the Home Rule gold, in a short distance. Much prospecting is being done in the surrounding country, and if the whole is allowed to be worked on the block, we venture to say that a new era of prospecting is in store for Gulgong.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 88, June 19, 1872
Opposite, about the corner of Mr Rouse's 2,000 acre paddock the lead bends to the north east, away from Cooyal Creek, parallel to which it runs after it leaves Lowe’s paddock. Near the lead a tributary run has been found outside Rouse's fence, and is being sunk for by a number of block claims. So far the prospect is not more than 15 dwts to the load, which in dry ground, free from basalt, is such as will be eagerly worked. No definite opinion of the future of the rush can be as yet given with any certainty of being correct. In another month, when the course of the gold has been more accurately defined, and the tributaries to the main run discovered, an opinion can then safely be given. At present it is the liveliest spot on the gold-field.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 89, June 22, 1872
There is a probability of a payable run of gold being found to come out of Rouse's 2,000 acre paddock, and junction with the Home Rule. Payable but not rich prospects are being obtained outside the pad-dock fence but as working has been stopped pending the hearing of a dispute, a junction cannot yet be traced. About a mile north of the prospectors, another prospecting party is at work with a fair chance of suc-cess. They have called their locality the "Sir James Martin" lead, and they are closely shepherded on all sides. On the whole the prospects of the Home Rule look most promising for a prosperous field.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 91, June 29, 1872
Unexpected Event - On last Saturday morning considerable ‘town talk’ was occasioned by the report that Mr. Rouse’s 2,000 acre paddock, at the Home Rule, had been rushed, and some hundreds of claims pegged off in it, by about 500 miners. It appears that the cause of this novel rush was that, during the hearing of a case of trespass on Friday in the Police Court, in which Mr. Rouse was complainant and some miners working in the bed of Cooyal Creek were the defendants, that Mr. Rouse stated he could not produce the original deed of grant of land of his grandfather, it having been mislaid, but produced a certificate copy from the Registrar-General’s office. Through some misapprehension of the nature of an objection raised by Mr. Cory, the advocate for the defendants, a number of miners who were in court left in a hurry and spread the ...paddock, and was in fact ‘up a tree.’ Three coach loads of enterprising miners were soon en route for the paddock; but somehow the news had reached the Home Rule before them, and a stream of miners, peg in hand, were seen doing the acrobatic over the fence preparatory to pegging off ‘on the block.’ On Saturday morning Mr. Rouse, accompanied by his legal adviser and also him for the defendants, visited the paddock, but found it deserted, though outside there were a number of men waiting to see how things would go. The morning was cold, and none of the miners outside, upon being asked, would not claim any of the pegs, the two advocates and the deedless owner promoted their circulation by pulling up the pegs, leaving not a mark behind them – and this ended the latest rush on Gulgong!
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 96, July 17, 1872
Police Court – Who is the Owner – Rouse v Cotter/Cotton - Frederick May, pointed out the pegs to surveyor. W. R. Donaldson. sworn, knew the witness, Cotter had made a survey, taking a line down the creek, the defendants were on Mr. Rouse’s side of the creek, without a doubt. Mr. Cory, Robert Reid, James Milner all gave evidence. Cases withdrawn.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 96, July 17, 1872
The Home Rule country still continues the centre of attraction, and from appearances is likely to be so for some time to come, as the original lead or run is extending and tributaries are being found yielding payable gold in reasonable quantity. The most promising of those tributaries is the "Lily May" which was first found, immediately outside Rouse's 2,000 acre paddock, and has since been steadily traced towards a junction with the Home Rule lead.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 96, July 17, 1872
