NEWS ITEMS
1871 - [CON THE GREEK]
On the "Star Lead" steady progress is the order of the day. Nothing viable has been struck as yet, but as the prospectors, “Con the Greek and party”, have a reputa-tion as "stickers," the shepherds tenaciously perform their two hours occupation daily.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 1, 18 February 1871
1871 - [CON THE GREEK]
On the All Nations lead, there are three prospecting party’s at work. The lower party are driving a shaft which they bottomed at 180 feet, progress with them is therefore necessarily slow. The middle party is "Con, the Greek," one of the most determined pro-spectors in the Colony, he is now sinking his tenth deep shaft, and is down 120 feet, having just gone through a strata 9 feet thick, strongly resembling lignite. It burns freely and is remarkably light. It is ex-pected that the shaft will go 35 deeper before it is bottomed. The upper party are sinking their third shaft be-ing determined to test the locality thoroughly.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 21, 8 July 1871
1871 - [CON THE GREEK]
Con the Greek and party, who hold a prospecting protection area about 3/4 of a mile to the north bottomed a "duffer" on Tuesday, and intend to drive it easterly, when, if they do not strike gold, they will sink yet another shaft.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 23, 22 July 1871
1871 - [CON THE GREEK]
The prospecting party on the "Red, White, and Blue," are driving their deep shaft, but up to date has not re-ported a payable find. "Con the Greek" and party have bottomed another duffer, but are still hopeful of striking something payable in their locality. There are several prospecting parties working on the Mudgee Road, between the old Gulgong Reef and Williardt's hotel. Many shafts have been sunk in which the colour has been obtained, but though not near payable, have been sufficient to induce the parties to persevere.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 28, 26 August 1871
1871 - [CON THE GREEK]
The principal event of the week has been the alleged discovery of payable gold in a flat separate from the Happy Valley Lead by Homer's free selection. It has been called the "Star" lead by the prospector, the per-severing "Con the Greek," who for the past 12 months has been prospecting the locality without success until the present find. The depth of the prospecting shaft is 125 feet, and the reported yield to the Commissioner was 2 dwts from three dishes. The shepherds having doubts as to the genuineness of the yield, tried a prospect, which yielded half a dwt to the dish. No.1 N, has bottomed at 142ft, not on gold, and are now driv-ing. The locality of this new lead is one of the most "likely" on the goldfield, and it is probable that a pay-able lead will be proved to exist. Its value cannot be accurately determined until the claims now sinking are bottomed.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 42, 2 December 1871
1871 - [CON THE GREEK]
The Star Lead is being thoroughly tested; claims north of the prospectors (Con the Greek and Company) are now sinking. The washdirt in the prospecting claim contains much cement, which necessitates it be-ing put through the crushing machine. It is the general opinion that the northerly extension of this lead will prove equal in richness to any yet found on the gold-field.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 43, 9 December 1871
Sir – As the "Guardian" has been ever ready to expose any defects in the way thee regulations are ad-ministered, I ask room to lay before my fellow miners the diabolical manner in which Mr Commissioner Browne has capsized the Star Lead, or Con the Greek's. The lead has been shepherded for some dis-tance below Con's prospecting claim for some months, and another prospecting claim taken up on the same line, and there are a great number of claims shepherd-ing below the lower prospectors claim. Mr Con the Greek goes to the Commissioner and tells him that he wants to take his claim lower down, because he has proved that the claim below him is better than his own claim. Mr Browne directly comes on to the lead and ousts No. 1 and No. 2 and gives Mr Con the Greek the ground; then up comes the prospectors of the Red, White, and Blue, another lead entirely, and tells Mr Browne that they want a claim because they have been unlucky. He ousts another claim and puts them in. Then comes the grand shifting arrangement. He brings in the Surveyor and lays off a base line, and makes three claims less than the miners did themselves when they laid of a preliminary line, which would make six claims to be shifted the other side of the lower pro-spectors. He tells the shareholders of three of the said claims to take possession of a claim each, on the other side of the lower prospectors; the holders of the other three claims he flatly orders off, after shepherding for some months, and tells them that they have no busi-ness there. What do you call that but an exercise of authority neither warranted by law, facts, or common sense. Some of these men held claims before the lower prospectors took up their claim, and even shifted one claim higher up so as to allow the lower prospectors to take up a double claim, as the ground was all unoccu-pied below at that time, if the Commissioner is justified in ousting these men out of their legal rights, it is time for all the miners to leave the diggings and take to lambing down.
I am, Sir, JUSTICE.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 43, 9 December 1871
A few day ago a case before Mr. Commissioner Browne and two assessors, involving the important question of whether the Commissioner had the power to shift a party out of the ground they have marked off on a frontage lead. The case tried may be summarised as follows, Marshall and party, [Mr. Bellinfante] had a claim on the Star Lead, before the prospectors, ‘Con the Greek and party’ were blocked off. In order to give the prospectors their claim on what they deemed to be golden ground, the Commissioner made their northern boundary the southern one, which compelled the two claims, Nos 1 and 2 N to shift on to the following numbers and so on to the end of the lead. This shifting process was generally objected to and but Mr. Browne quoted his authority the 11th Reg. of Aug 1871 which read as follows:- The Commissioner shall determine all questions as to the priority of occupation on the lead, and may alter the numbers and arrangement of the claims as circumstances may require’ and ordered the claims to shift down. Dr. Belinfante argued that no regulations made under the provisions of any Act could have the force of law, they were inconsistent with such Act. This 11th Reg. was repugnant to the spirit of the 5th Sec. of the Gold Field’s Act, and consequently the Commissioner’s order was bad. Mr. Clarke contended that is was necessary that the Commissioner should have the power to shift claims on the declaration of a lead, otherwise a serious confliction of rights would ensue. The assessors gave their decision in favour of the complainants, thus decreeing that the Commissioner had not the power to order claims to be shifted. With all due deference to the wisdom of the assessors, we most decidedly disagree with their interpretation of the regulations. It has ever been one of the principles of the frontage system that on the declaration of a lead, all previous marks of claims shall be cancelled, and the claims allotted as surveyed. The wisdom of this is, we presume, apparent to the most stupid person. The 11th Reg. carries out this principle, though somewhat obscurely. The argument that the Regulation is contrary to Sec 5th of the Gold Field’s Act is an absurd one. That section simply authorises the holder to mine upon a certain area of land as may be pre-scribed under the regulations and of course, until the claim is allotted. We are of the opinion that the Commissioner has the power to shift the claim under the 11th Reg., and that there is no appeal against his decision, it being a discretionary one.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 48, 13 January 1872
1874 - [CON THE GREEK]
1875 - [CON THE GREEK]
On the other side further to the north and next to the Star, Con the Greek and party have bottomed two shafts, and are now driving for the gutter. Between these claims Robert Spier has applied for a lease. There are about 30 claims in this area.
Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS - November 26, 1874
There are four claims being worked on the Star Lead besides that of Court and party. The sinking is about 60 feet and the ground is about midway between the old Surface Hill and the original prospecting claim of Con the Greek. John Pericles, John Henry [two shares] and John Robertson have applied for a lease of four acres on the Star Lead adjoining the block claim now being worked by Henry and party.
Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS - March 13, 1875
