WARDEN'S REPORT.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 172, 25 February 1873, Page 7

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Simpson, under date Clyde, 12th February, furnishes the following statistics of the Dunstan gold-field : Mining Leases. —Six have been granted, expending over 83a. sr. 4p., at a rental of £531 18s. 6d.; and sixty-two agricultural leases, comprising! 3680 a. 3r. 18p., at a rental of £1426 10s. Bd. Water Races, <tx. —The number of water races in the district is seventy, constructed nt a cost of £60,000, and estimated now to be worth £30,000. Their aggregate length is 260 miles, and they supply 250 sluicehevls of water. They are fifty tail-races, which cost £16,000, and are valued at present at £IO,OOO. The number of dams is twenty-two; they cost £l7lO, and are now worth £ISOO. Of ground sluices there are one hundred, the value of which it is difficult to compute. Machinery. —2 steam-engines employed in pumping and winding, with an aggreKace of 8 horse-power; 2 whims and pulleys, 1 whip, 150 slui;es and torus, 5 waterwheels, 70 hydraulic hoses, 10 pumps, 200 sluice-boxes, 12 quicksilver and compound cradles ; 5 steam-engines used in crushing (in the aggregate of 52 horse-power), 10 crushing machines (75 stamp-heads), 5 Wmps. The approximate value of the machinery and plant is £50,000. The number of square mij.es 'of auriferous ground actually worked upon is eight. Escort. —Gold escorted during the quarter: Clyde, 20500z. ; Cromwell, 64230z ; Alexandra, 24570z. ;-—total, 10,9300z. Average price, from £3 15s. to £3 16s. Population, —European: Clvde, 100; Cromwell, 500 ; Alexandra, 200 ; Nevis, 150; total, 950,'engagod in alluvial mining fn Cromwell, 150 Europeans are employed in quartz mining. Chinese: Clvde. 50; Cromwell, 200; Alexandra, 150; Nevis. 200 ;—total. 600, all engaged in alluvial mining. Prices of provisions, etc.: Nearly the same as Dunedin.