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Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 287, 12 May 1875, Page 5

Warden’s Report—Dunstan District. The following extracts are from the Warden’s report on the Dunstan district of the Otago goldfields, for the year ended March 31 : - In speaking generally of the district, I would remark that the European population appears to me to have undergone very little change A slight increase has taken place in the Cromwell division. In the Chinese population a greater change is observable, some 200 additional Chinese having come into the district, chiefly from the Lakes. Blacks Flat, and along the Mannherikia River to Alexandra, have been the localities chosen for settlement by them. Notwithstanding the almost imperceptible change in the population during the year in the Cromwell division, there has been a decline in the mur'ng industry, evidenced by the return of gold yielded, the total of which amounts to 43,8230z,, as against 48,3310z. for last year, showing a decrease of 45080z. ALLUVIAL MININO. The decrease of gold has taken place in the alluvial mining; for in Cromwell, the only quartz-reefing division, there has been an increase of 216fioz. in the yield for the year ; and there, while there is little change observable in the alluvial mines, consideiable progress .has been made in the reefs. This falling-off in the yield of the alluvial mines, in a miner degrje, is

attributable to the very high love] iho rivov Molyneux has maintained throughout the year, rendering dredging in most oases impossible, a#d ■ almost suspending iliiictn, along its'bdiilts, except at the higher levels, which a.e fir has pay. able. THE BASJNOPKUDftN TERRACES. , This place is miothor evidence of the error of too great an undertaking having been gone ,inio with a too small capital. On these terraces there is said to he some of 4he best sluioi ;g ground in the district; and considering the large .population it so long maintained tunnelling, etc., I think it cannot be doubted. It, is rcadlv n tiable.to see so much of that ground waiting the completion of the Garrick Range water-rnco, a work which should not merely have been as. sisted by the Government, but entirely conatructed. I fear the race cannot be completed this season before the snow comes down, even although there are only -14 miles to finish, 13 having been constructed out of 174 miles, the entire length. These delays have a vpiry bad effect, not only tiring men out from the ground, but encouraging the bid practice of taking up claims for mere purposes of speculation.by sale. Had it not been for the Raunnckbnrn ami. All Nations Companies’ small supply of water, together with the tunnelling stdl carried on, the most of this ground would have been deserted by the bona fide miner, and fallen into the hands of the speculator. When * sufficient supply of water is brought in, there is a work that olight to receive Government aid, and that is, the formation of a public channel up Pipeclay gully. .. ALEXANDRA. Mining matters here have been very dull, until within the last two months, when the Chinese found some very good prospects on the Manuherikia Elver, between Low’s old homestead and the Chatto Creek, most of it untried ground ; and now. between Robertson’s Ferry and the Chatto there ate about 200 Chinese seG tied, which has given an impetus to business. NEVIS. This place, one of the best places for alluvial workings in the summer months, has been the victim of floods' this season, and so has not shown up so well in its yield of gold, which may be put down at SOOOoz.; the greater part of this went to swell the Cromwell escorts. QUARTZ-REEF (NO. This branch of minim?, which is confined to the Cromwell division of the district, has made a considerable stride during the twelve months, particularly at Bendigo. Here I have granted some six new leases, and have as many more under application, besides a number of claims. Four of the new leases are on what is supposed to be a new line of reef, which, so far as developed, shows Sighs of being yery'rioh, particularly in Jones and Co.’s claim., This reef runs, oris supposed to run, parallel with, and at no great distance from, the celebrated’Cromwell reef on its southern boundary. The yield is put down at snz. to the ton ; but as no trial crushing has yet been made, that can only be a guess. On the Cromwell Company’s,line of reef a good many new claims have been taken up. In one part there is now a continuous length of a mile taken up, and, after a break of two miles, more claims have been marked out on what seems to be an out crop of the same reef. There is one company that has been started • which ought greatlv to aid in prospeoting the Bendigo reefs, viz . the Deep Level Company. This company, which has a capital of £IO,OOO in 40,000 share* of os., a'l of which shares were taken up the first day of issue in the locality, has got soma 56 ac-es of ground in a special claim, and - has started to drive a tunnel at the lowest possible level from Bendigo Creek, with the view of trying to cut the Lucknow, Aurora, and Cromwell Companies’ reefs, and several known payable leaders, snob as the Guano. The Cromwell Company have been raising stone during the who’e year, and their good fortune has been continuous. I think lam safe to say that by far the greater portion of 14,000 ozs. returned as the year’s viehl from quartz has come from this company’s ground. The prosnects of Bendigo look, at present, verv bright, and if the companies and claimholders will only persevere great results may be expected. The greaiest want that will be experienced at Bendigo will be power to drive machinery. The water supply is very limited, am l coal for raisin? steam no nearer than Cromwell, a distance of 15 miles. None of the prosDoctors for coal on the Lindis have been successful. They still persevere.

OVREICK R\NOT?,the other reefing portion of the Cromwell division, h*s a 1 so advanced during the year. One of the principal discoveries there was by Watson and Co., of the reef known as the Crown and Cross, the crushing? of which have averaged about 1 ok. to the ton. The most of the old cnmmnies have continued steahly at work dnr. in? the year raising stone ; others, and particularly the Heart of Oak, C.ale lonian, and Elizabeth. have been engaged tunnelling at low levels. 4 great amount of work has been done both by the nublio and the private companies, but no j yields that can be considered more than payable reported. Of the private companies it is a matter of great difficulty to obtain information. On the Carr.ek, there seems to be a general determination to test, the permanancy of the reefs, which, up to this time, have been so provoking l ? broken and irregular, and a large company has been formed to undertake a work similar to that undertaken by the Deep Level Company at Bendigo. RRTFHVS. From the returns attached to Mr Warden Simnson’s report, .we Darn that the approximate value of mining p'ant in the r) unstan district is mOOn ; that, in add!Hon, there are 200 wat r races, (iOO miles in length, carrying (100 beads ->f water, of the arvoroximate cost, of €IOO,OOO. 'l'be number of mining leases in force on 81st Tvlarch wis 1(5, cohering 102 acres, and paving an annual rental of £489. Of agricultural leases there are 200, covering 15.759 acres, the rmi'al per .annum being £1,098 Hs 61. During the year 2,287 acres held under agricultural leases have been purchased by the lessees. The number of miuen employe 1 during the year was : r, huopauns, 1,210, of whom 150 were quartz-miners ; and Chinese, 710, The approximate yv-M of goM fo* the year is thus given: Alluvia l , 92.8°30* : quartz. Md'OOoz; 43, Signs', th-^taV* of about 1 -