MR HAUGHTONS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE GOLDFIELDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 709, 19 November 1875, Page 3

MR HAUGHTONS ANNUAL REPORT ON THE GOLDFIELDS.

What should he a very interesting compilation of facts and figures is now before ns in the shape of Mr C. E. Haughton’s Annual Pessional Deport on (he Goldfields of New Zealand. The report comprises the goldfields statistics for the years 1874 and 1875, the former being only partially while the latter is more fully dealt with. There are also added some few particulars of the amounts of gold exported up to the 30th June last. The report shows a marked decrease as against the past year, both as regards the number of miners employed, as well as the yield of gold. Up to the 31st March, 1874, there were 18,142 persons, including Chinese, engaged in the business of gold mining; while, on the corresponding date of the present year the number was only 10,424, showing a reduction of 1718. It is impossible to prepare any exact comparative statement of the yield of gold with tho average earnings of the miners during these two periods, as the returns for the gold are only made up for fifteen months,. ending 31st March, 1875. The yield for 1873 is shown in a lumpsum ; and the returns of the population for 1874 and 1875 ends respectively on the 3Tst day of March in each year. For the year ending 31st December, 1873, the quantity of gold exported from the Colony was 505,337 ounces for the year 1874, ending same date, the total is 376.388 ounces, showing a falling-off ot 128,049 ounces. To arrive, therefore, at an estimate of the average earnings of the miners for the year ending 31st March, 1875, it is necessary to deduct from the total of 1874, as previously stated, 11,266 ounces, the excess of the yield of gold for the first quarter of 1874 over that of the first quarter of 1875, Phis leaves 365,122 ounces as the produce of the year ending 31st March, 1875, which, if valued at L 3 16s per ounce, amounts to 1d,387,463 12s, and which, if divided amongst a population of 16,424 persons, will give LB4 4s as the annual income per head. This is by no means an unsatisfactory average, when compared with what is the result in Victoria or New South Wa’es. Still, we thoroughly believe the individual earnings of the miners to 1 e greater than this, working for gold being, we think, over estimated in the reports of the several War lens. We should like to have discovered in the report some particulars by which we could anive at reliable data, that would euab’e us to show the yield of gold in each separate mining district, but such particulars wc are unable to find. In tbe matter of dot il we merely, of course, refer to Otago, and in Mr Hanahton’s compilation we can only gather what wc desire to find from the various Wardens’rcpoif s of the districts hen inafter included. The district of the DunMan appears to be most prosperous, the yield being 43.823 ounces, value L12G.527 Bs, giving the-eby T.S6 14s 7d per head. Tnapolra comes next with 000 miners, and a yield of gold of 19,774 ounces, value, 1775,144 4s, leaving 1,83 9s 9d per head Switzers figures third on the list—under this head, however, neither the miners, numbering 100, nr the gold yield of Nokomai; or that of Orcpnka, where ISS men are employed are included, as the gold produce of those places finds its way out by private bands to Invercargill—tho mining popuVion at Switzc's and Wiakaka numbering 430. produce 1 7900 ounces of gold, of the value of L 30.020. which yielded 1,69 16s 3d per head- - The Queenstown division of tho Wakatip district ’ shows the least, with a population of miners, producing 15.207 ounces of gold, of the value of T. 57.786 17s 7d, leaving only 1,60 3s 7d per head. In both of these two latter cases we

foci thoroughly assured that the mining population is considerably over estimated, and something approaching to 40 per cent may he safely struck off, supposing the returns mean the number of miners actually

employed instead of the entire male population. The Wardens’ reports are published in extenao, Mr Haughton preferring to let those officers speaks for themselves. In looking over Mr Haughton’s tabulated statements, matters appear equally as un-business-likc, and we are supplied with the most absurd information in matters which no sane person would expect to find, except he did so per force of experience. A poi son desirous of entering into the business of gold mining would naturally expect to learn the prices of mining tools and material, as well as what it would cost bins for house rent, or to build a house, so that he might bo enabled to form some estimate of the amount of capital necessary to make a beginning ; but lie can find nothing of the sort, nr even so much as would lead him correctly to arrive at the value of labor, or any article whatever it may he necessary to purchase. In lieu of this we are supplied with the following puerile information :'The price of beer per hogshead, or brandy by the bottle is stated, the latter being 7s fid per gallon dearer at SwFzers than at the Arrow. Cheese presents the uniform value of Is per lb, except at Mount Ida, where the price is Is 31. Coffee is steady everywhere at 2s, saving Mount Ida, where it is sold for Is 2d, whether on account of an extra admixture of chicory M r Haughton’s report docs not say. Wheat varies con - siderahly, at the Arrow it is 4s per bushel, at Mount Ida. 6s fid. Goats, we are informed, -are unsaleable at the Dunstan, while they are wor th from 5a to 30s each at the Arrow, the same at Queenstown, and from 7s fid to 50s at Mount Ida. As a piece of information, probably designed purposely for the “ Heathen Chinee,” the price of swine is quoted ; pigs at Queenstown are stated to he worth 10s to Ifis per bead ; 25s to 35s at Mount Ida ; 30s to 40s at Dunstan ; 50s at Switzers ; and fid per lb at the Arrow—an adjoining column in the tables describes the retail price of pork at per lb on all the Goldfields. Beef appears to vary in price, ranging from 4d to 9d per lb. Sheen are stated to be worth from 6s to Ss each, at the Arrow ; 12s at Switzers ; Csto Bs, at Dunstan ; 10s to 12s at Mountjlda ; and 10s to Ifis at Queenstown. Milk is quote iat from 4d to Sd per quart, the dearest place being the Dunstan, the cheapest Switzers. Tea is quoted from 3s to 4a fid per lb, the extreme price being paid at the Arrow. Tobacco is 7s per lb at Queenstown ; ss, Cs, and 7s at Mount Ida ; and uniformly is worth only 5s at the Arrow. Wine brings np the return at Mount Ida ; it realizes at from 18s to 24s per gallon ; Queer stowu, 24s ; Dunstan, ISs to 30s ; Switzers, 30s ; and Arrow, 15. The latter, if in the shape of port, is probably the produce of the very best elderberries, or it could not possibly be sold at the price. Timber licenses for the Province of Westland, for the year ending Slat December, 1874, are returned as amounting to L 1,211 5s ; while for the Otago Goldfields the sum is stated to he 17s fid, paid by some person at Mount Benger, and this in the face of t.vo forest ra rgors, cos.ing the Province something like LSOD per annum Tire rates of wages form another amusing feature in Mr Haughton’s Report, and are doubtless equally to be depended upon as his tubulated statement of prices current : General managers at Queenstown are sard to earn L 7 per week, but it is only there where one of these lucky individuals finds employment in Otago Legal managers at Tuapeka receive L2 per week ; and LI at the Dunstan. Mining managers at the Arrow obtain Lfi per week ; at Queenstown, 1.7; Dunstan, L 5 ; Tuapeka, L 4 lOs ; and Mount Ida, L 3 12s. Engineers receive L 5 per wo°k at the Dunstan ; L 4 10s, at Tuapeka ; and 1,3 at Queenstown. Engine drivers at Queenstown and Dunstan receive L 3 respectively. Stokers at Dunstan die same rate ; at Queenstown, 10s per week less. Blacksmith’s wages vary from L 4 10s down to L2 10s, the lowest rate being at Switz rs, the highest at the Dunstan and Arrow. Carpenters receive from L 4 10s to L 3 12s. Mount Ida paying the lowest. Miners’ wages are stated to he L2 10s, L 3, L 3 10s, and L 3 12s, the lowest is paid at Queeust nvn, the highest at Dunstan.

Included with ’sir Haugliton'a report is that of Mr Ulrich, and which must have proved almost a god-send to the Undersecretary for the Goldfields, as, without it, his report is a sorry affair. Mr Haugbton would have done well to copy Mr Uliich’s example in the arrangement of his maiter. We cannot give Mr Hanghton any credit whatever for Ids work ; it displays neither care, skill, or ability, and the only feature in it we can afford any praise for is the admirably compiled statistical tables of Goldfields revenue, and gold exported, furnished by Mr C T Batkin, the ReceiverGeneral, and Mr 11. S. McKellar, of the Customs Department. Mr Hanghton evidently views the industry of gold minni" much after the same fashion as the Wardens. whose reports evidently show they regard the miners as more revenue-produc-ing animals rather than men, engaged in the development of an industry capable of considerable expansion, and of almost inestimable value to the future of the Colony.