THE FOOT PATHS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 576, 2 May 1873, Page 3

THE FOOT PATHS.

— o — the editor of the dunstan times) Sir, —The thanks of the community are due to that praiseworthy individual, who ■set the good example of repairing the footpath in front of his place of business in Sun-■derland-street after the late rain, ft is to he hoped that it will be followed, and that at the next meeting of the Town Council, the subject of repairing the whole of the footpaths within the Municipality will be brought forward, and the work commenced forthwith. I am, &c., RATEPAYER, Clyde, April 30, 1873.]

•■WARDEN’S REPORT. — o — following is the report of Mr. Warden Simpson for the quarter ending March 31 sI have the honor to hand you the statistical returns for the quarter ended Slat March, 1873.—The comparison of those with the previous quarter is not f.vorable, the gold escorted, the great criterion of the actual prosperity of a mining district, being little more than half that of the previous quarter. The chief reason is the continued dry weather. During the past four months there has not been fortyeight hours’s “rain. The frosts are now setting in, and 1 fear the effects will bo still more prejudicial, not only to the mining but the pastoral interest also. Already stock, particularly on the commons, begin to fall off; this is partly, perhaps, to be attributed to the want of proper regulations—first, as to those who should run stock ; and second, the quantity each person entitled ought to run. The only part of this district that has benefited from the dry season is the Nevis, and from it the yield of gold has been greater than for many previous years. Its altitude is the explanation of that. In the alluvial workings, which consist almost entirely of ground sluicing water as the main agent cannot be dispensed with, although mechanical means might be more resorted to for raising it from permanent sources ; but I am astonished that in a dry district like this steam is not more used in the quartz and other workings. Many of the reefs are undoubtedly payable, both at Carrick and Bendigo; but it requires to be, a very rich and extensive reef that will admit to be suspended from work for six months out of the twelve. I have nodoubt that, evenatßeudigo, wherefuelisnotso very convenient, steam would pay, particularly in the case of the Bendigo Company. There is one notable instance of a coal mine, which has been at a stand-still for the last nine months for want of water-powor, where steam might be used with threefold advantage. Indeed it is the question of every stranger: w'hy is not steam used to pump the mine out, and an unlimited supply of water secured for the town of Clyde-? Failing the erection of a reservoir in Wai Keri Keri Gorge, I think that the Municipality might make arrangements with the owner of the mine for a steamengine, One good sign of the district is the fact that the unfavorable season has not sensibly diminished the population, notwithstanding the absence of that great adjunct to a mining district, water. Nor have the miners lost their energy, as witness the efforts that are being made to overcome the want of a natural water supply, in bringing in to the Cromwell district the Carrick water racej into the Clyde district the Chatto Creek, and into that of Alexandra the Gorge race, at an outlay in the total of not less than 20,0001. All arc considered good speculations, particularly the two first mentioned. The river Molyneux having fallen to a very low level, attention is- being directed to dreOginsr, and in particular to the best mode of overcoming the never-ceasing llow of tailings in that great tail race. The pneumatic tube system kas now been fairly tried, and I think may be said to be the best, 'enabling the miner to descend and make occular examination of the bed of the river. The company who have introduced -this system have only been moderately successful, owing principally to the small scale of their dredge, and to the want of some sort of iron fender across the bows of their punt to divert the stream of tailings. So satisfied, however, are minors with the system, that HastinundCo., owners of a river claim that proved very remunerative with the old spoon dredge, have given orders for a tubular dredge that will cost about 2,000/. The tubes are to be niue feet in diameter, so that if sufficient means are provided for the quick,elevation of washdirt and diversion of tailings, it ought to he a success. Steam is to be the motive power, as it is in that of the other company. Two other dredging companies have been got up—one to use the steam harbor dredge, the other the submarine boat. The following statistical information is appended to the report:—7o water-races, valued at 30,000/. ; HO tail-races, at 10,000/. 22 dams, at 1,500/. ; and 200 to 250 ground sluices. Total population of district: 930 European and 500 Chinese alluvial miners, and 150 European quartz miners. There are ICO mining companies in the district, and these employ machinery of 50,000/. The registered companies in the district number 15, whoso aggregate nominal capital is 108,100/, and paid up 41.700/. The Carrick Water Supply Company’s application for a Government subsidy has boon approved, but the Company has not yet received a subsidy.

The following particulars of a labor saving machine, taken from an English paper will, no doubt, be interesting to miners, and road and railway contractors ; in the cutting of water races, or cuttings for roads or railways we should think it would be just the thing, and wo hope that some of our enterprising men will introduce the invention into the province. - “An improvedjexcavatorhas been introduced in lowa, by Mr. Bradley, in the working of which two plough-like shovels are propelled through the earth, from 2in. to Gin. below the surface, as regulated by the foot of the driver ; a huge revolving hoe comes down and and takes the earth behind, up an inclined plane, upon a long revolving apron or elevator, which carries it backward and upward, over the main wheels, till it is nearly 20 feet above the ground behinn ; and there is another transverse apron, adjustable to a rise or faE of any distance, which takes the dirt to waggons, or dumps it outside the track. The whole is draw’n by six or eight horses, cutting a trench three feet wide at each advance ; and if working at the full capacity designed, it will remove from three to four cubic yards of earth per minute, equivalent to ninety men. But if it attains to only one or two yards per minute it will be a great thing,”