WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1979, 8 September 1869, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr Warden Pyke (Dunstan District) for the year ending the 31st ult. : “Sin,—ldo myself the honor to forward the following Report on the condition of the Dunstan District. “ 2. The generally ’ow level of the Clutha River has facilitated the vigorous prosecution of mining ouerations on the banks wherever water could be brought to bear. Unfortunately, the supply is limited ; and not only so, but the frosts chain up the streams just at the very season when their waters could be most advantageously used With such a volume of water as is contained in the Clutha itself cpasclessly rolling past, it is greatly tq he regretted that mechanical appliances fqr its economisation and application to mining pur? suits are not brought info play. The gain to the Di-ti ict, and to the country at large, would be incalculable; the beneficial results to the miners equally so; wdiilst Ihe incessant cry and demand for more water renders it certain that capitalists who should venture on sup? plying tips great want of the District would be amply rewarded. Indeed, nothing but ‘ more water ’ is needed to properly develope the almost inexhaustible resources of the District. It lias been demonstrated beyond the possibility of cavil, that the whole of the Dunstan Plains, extending from Clyde to Alexandra, are payablv auriferous. The same is true of the Cromwell plains, from the Township to Kawan Gorge, and also of the small flats and terraces between Clyde and i romwoll, and between Kawam Gorge and Roaring Meg—the Kirtle Bum of the maps. “3. The river beaches have also been accessible during the winter months; and Chinese miners, quitting colder regiqns, have migrated in large numbers to the Dqnstaq District ; so that for many miles along the river there is scarcely a nook or any ‘ coign of vantage ’ without its occupant industriously engaged in collecting the gold yet remaining in the sands after seven years’ constant working. But, in fact, the beaches, though not, so prolific as of yore, ere the accumula? tions of untold centuries had beep gqtherefl, are practically inexhaustible, for their stores of wealth arc perennially renewed by riverine action.

“ 4. The past winter has been so unusually mild that the Clutha has not fallen to its customary level this year, and within the last fortnight, warm rains combined with northerly winds have caused a considerable rise, iu consequence of which the famous ‘ Frenchman’s Claim ’ the adjoining claim of the * Hit, or Miss Company ’ and others have b en swamped out fully two months earlier than in preceding years. Spring and warm weather have already returned to us, and nature is rapidly assuming her vernal garb. “5. Clyde Division. —In this division of my district, mining operations are chiefly confined to sluicing, beach workings, and dredging. The fomicr class of operations are being carried on with energy and success in the claims between the Camp and the Hospital on the east bank of the river, and from Clyde Ferry to Sandy Hook on the west bank Between the same limits there are now five gold-dredges at work, and all are on gold. These are named respectively ‘Galatea,’ ‘Clyde,’ ‘Alabama,’ ‘Garibaldi,’ and ‘Salamander.’ Between the points indicated there is evidently a Jperrr.ancnt and profitable gold field, hi ith on land and in the water

“6. Alexandra Division.—River bank sluic; ing and Beach workings are the most pronfl? nent mining features of this division. In addition, Conroy’s and Butcher’s Gullies, with their many branches, continue to yield remunerative returns to the miners therein located. Above the township, but within the town boundary, a company of miners have set in to test the ground abutting on the Manuherikia River, After passing through a layer of Manuherikia ‘ wash,’ they have come upon the Molyneux ‘ wash,’ proving incontesinly that the latter River, or a Lake in connection with it, once covered the whole of the Dunstan Plains. I may explain that the ‘ wash’ of the two rivers presents marked differences: that of the Manuherikia containing more it on-stone and less quartz than that of the Moljn-ux (Clutha). The company have erected a fine pumping gear, and have struck

gold—the bed-rock dipping, as was anticipated, towards the present bed of the Clntba. “7. The ‘ new rush’ at Galloway Flat, on the Manuheribia, is progressing slowly but steadily, and, therefore, satisfactorily. Several new claims of extended areas have been taken up. and water is easily brought on the ground from the river itself, which has sufficient fall for the purpose. “8. Cromwell Division—This portion of ray District is in au exceedingly prosperous condition, one very remarkable evidence of which is to be found in the circumstance that there are very few cases on the civil side of the Magistrates Court ; than which there could scarcely bo a better criterion. Extensive sluicing operations are being carried on aloiur the Kawarau, from the outskirts of the township to the boundaries of the district, and considerable breaches have already been effected in the hanks on either side of that river. Ihe Bannockburn continues to yield fair returns; and along the Fisa range, from the Low-burn to the Liegcnte, claims are being wrought, and th e breast of the mountain is furrowed with

water-races. “9. But the great attraction of the Cromwell division is the quartz reef, or reefs (it is yet uncertain which), at Bendigo Gully. The Company’s claim continues to yield very good quartz. A new shaft, or rather excavation opened from the surface to a depth of about 30 feet, and situated between the original shaft and the upper workings, confirms the opinion previously expressed by me—viz., that this is a true lode, the ‘ wall ’ evidencing that the auriferous stone has formed in a welldefined ‘ dyke’ of uniform ‘ dip' and strike. At the upper workings a singular geological feature presents itself. In the centre of the excavation, from the surface downwards, u considerable curve, extending about 30 feet, occurs in the overlying rock-forma'ion, and on either side of this curve the lode dwindles to an infinitesimal point —widening as it recedes therefrom. (I enclose a c;ingr»m atmg the description.) Where this curve apnenrs the true ‘ wall ’ is lost, and is replaced by u loose, flakv, day, slate format ion, which crumbles and splits (rora exposure, and would, doubtlessly cave in but Cor the strong crossbeams bv which it is upheld. This curve is at the very highest point of the lode, which just there crosses the crown of the spur at an altitude of 1,973 feet abo-e sea-level ; and from that point the lode may be said to commence in either direction. I have not formed any theory touching this peculiarity, but I make a present of the fact, to geologists « IQ. The greatest depth yet attained in the Company’s ground is in the original shaft which Ims been sunk to about 80 feet from the surface. The lode varies in width from one to three feet. The later workings are conducted in open trenches, till sufficient has been cleared away to cnabkrthese to be roofed in. Besides the main lode, several leaders pass through the ground. Some of these (as stated in my former Depot t) have a north and south bearing ; but others vim m-m-h- parallel with ihc main lone I am of opinion, howeye-, that they are not distinct ‘ veins,’ hut will be found to unite witb the main at greatei or less depth. Should this prove to t>e so. very rich stone may be expected at (he junction. , . “11. Westward of the Company s ground, Enuteson’s party are busily engaged opening out a continuation of the reef. Between tinCompany’s leases a spare bit of laud has been taken up by some employes of the Company, and (having been compelled to woik (Inground under penalty of forfeiture) they have struck good stone close to the sur-ace. Beyond, in an easterly direction, the spur jams out, and other spurs of lesser elevation run down from tfie maju yangc with interyelling rocky gullies —each with its streamlet soon to be economised for (he_ extraction ol the precious metal from the adjacent reef, for on each sptir a party of reefers have set in, and the gold-bearing lode hag been struck. The most easterly is the claim of Barnes and party (three-quarters of a mile from the Company's ground), to whom protection for a prospecting claim was grunted about two months since. They have sunk several shaft;-, one to a depth of 60 feet, following the lode from the surfaceand have otherwise opened out the reef at various parts of theii claim There is a fair quantity of stone now ‘at grass,’ of much the same character as that in the Company’s ground, and bearing gold, visible (o the naked eye. But at the button) pf the fiO-feet sliijft, the stone loses its ferruginous appearance, and becomes of a clear, white, semi-crystalline character. «12. That those mostly concerned ban faith iii tht value and permanency of thendiscoveries is apparent. The Bendigo Company are about to erect a second battery of 5 hampers, making 10 heads in all. And the\ jiaye recently set up an amalgamating b.ti rel, by which a’considerable percentage of gold saved from the refuse tailings. Barnes’ partyare busily employed in the excavation of apiti for machircry, they having bought the plant of the late Criterion Company of the Arrow “13. This lode then has now been traced for upwards of a mile, anil there are now five parties at work, besides the Company 'Jh - future results promise to swell the escort returns of the Cromwell division to a very a - preciable extent. Ail that is required to hasten the development of this branch of mining industry is capital for the erection of powerful machinery. But I trust it will be fon» before any specnl tive compa ies obtain a foothold on the Bendigo Be.-f ; for 1 feel assured that their formation would retard and not assist the development of the resources of that locality. “ 14. In my former report I stated that the general direction of this lode was nearly east and we-1. from observations taken byMr Surveyor Howden, when making a survey of the Company’s leases, I learn that the exact direction of the lode is only about 4i<leg. south of geographical east and west ; the true beaa- ing being 109 dog. 26min., or geographically 94deg. 21min. 32sec. Assuming the lode to be continuous across the Island, it would pass through Queensberry Hill, by the head of the Twelve-mile o i the Arrow River, by the head of M- onlight, under Mr Gilbert on theShotover, and thence through Me Larkin’s, ■ to Stoueyburn, to Lake Wakatipu in an easterly direction, and westerly by the head of Drybvead and Welshman’s, through Blackstone Hill by ritquartz reefs there, under the Mount Ida range and Kyeburu hill, by the headwaters of Hie Eweburn, the Hogburn, and the Kyeburn ; then passing not far from the pass, it would strike the northern branch of the Marewhcnua, crossing somewhere near the junction of the southern branch. “15. Prospecting paities are now out in the Pisa ranges, seeking a continuation of the Bendigo'reef, which will probably be struck somewhere near the head of Annisfield burn. An application for protection for a prospecting claim lias been lodged by Barry and party, who report the discovery

of a new reef in the Garrick ranges, at the head of Pipeclay Gully—a tributary of the Bannockburn. The stone exhibit- dby the prospectors is a hard, compact, crystal-me white quartz, blended with blue slat--, and but slightly ferruginous, showing fine gold in thin seams where the quartz unites with the slate. Another party is busy prospecting a reef on the hill above Hawkburn station, but I have n >t yet received any application from that quarter. “ 16. B'ack’s division still maintains its position. ‘ The prom's d grant of 1 10 Ohas stim lat»'d the Drainage Channel Committee to renewed exertions and the question, long agitated, as to the auriferous deposits believed to be lying in the deep basin at the rear of the Township, will now, I presume, be determined. “ 17. Nevis division.—The past winter has been so exceedingly mi ! d, that the usual suspension of mini ig pursuits has not occurred this year. Two parties have commenced sinking in a terraced flat, and the water proving h'-avy, they have temporarily amalgamated for the purpose of testing the ground, which is very deep. As the snow is n>w well off the Carrcks, I purpose visiting the Nevis during the present month, when I shall endeavor to obtain all possib'e information respecting this and other matters affecting the division. “ In the month of August 3,939 ounces of gold have been sent down by the escort from the Dunstan district during the present year, (aperiodof eight months), have taken from the District gold as under :—Cromwell, 9,439 oz. 14dwfs ; Clyde, 6,4690z 4dwts ; Alexandra, 6,5080z 12dwta ; Blacks, 4,5650z IGdwts.—Total, Dunstan—26,9B6oz (jdwts. “19. Population. —I estimate the population as consisting of 2,500 souls, of whom 1,500 are working min-rs, the remainder being traders, agriculturalists, women, and children. Of the miners, about 300 are Chinese.

“P.S. Since closing my report, a piece of quartz anpar- ntly surface stone —thickly impregnated with coarse heavy gold, has been shown to me, as having been obtaine 1 from a new re- fin the vicinity of Cly-'e. I have nev.-r b- fore se-.n such rich stone in *tago, and its appea a nee warrants the conclusion that it is a genuin ■ l->culdiscovery.”