In Australia, able to be workedat a profit: that which is likely to pay; not only, as inEngland, due for payment.
1884. R. L. A. Davies, `Poems and Literary Remains,' p. 38:
«We . . . expect to strike a payable lead on a hill near . . .A shaft is bottomed there, and driving is commenced to find thebottom of the dip.»
1890. `Goldfields of Victoria,' p. 15:
«Good payable stone has been struck.»
1894. `The Argus,' March 28, p. 5, col. 5:
«Good payable reefs have been found and abandoned throughignorance of the methods necessary to obtain proper results.»