WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2136, 11 March 1870, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr Warden Beetham (Queenstown district) for the month of February ; “ The mining interest is steadily improving mouth by month, both as regards the population engaged in that pursuit, and as regards the yield of gold also. The population at the Upper Shotover is steadily on the increase, and good wages are being made by both Europeans and Chinese. At Skipper’s Point, the claims of N. J. Finney and party, and Aspinall and party are proving to be of almost fabulous richness, the yield being about LISOO per month per man. These are probably the richest alluvial claims ever opened in Otago, excepting, perhaps, the Frenchman’s claim at Alexandra, and the old river bed claim at Maori Point. Those in the Nuggett and Cornish Reefs at Upper Shotover have changed hands, at L9OO for one-eighth share. The company are now engaged in placing machinery upon the ground. In the other outlying portion of my district matters are equally satisfactory. At Moke Creek, the Twelve-mile, Arrow, Cardrona, Fews Creek, and Seventyfive mile, Lake Wakatipu, parties engaged in mining are earning lirst-rate wages as a rule, there being of course instances of marked success. At the Arrow River, the Chinese are engaged ip testing the gorge which has been repeatedly tried and abandoned in consequence of the great difficulty of reaching bottom. I consider that the Chinese population are a great benefit to the district. They exhibit an amount of energy and perseverance most creditable to themselves and beneficial to the community of which thcy'form a portion. Their business

transactions as a rule appear to bs upright and straightforward, while they are most orderly and sober in their general habits. ‘ 1 As regards the agricultural progress of the district, this interest is becoming so very extensive and of so much importance, that it is impossible to report upon it except in very general terms. The whole of the crop has been housed in good condition, and the yield is highly satisfactory. A large breadth of land is under plough for the ensuing season. The erection of a second flour mill at Arrowtown will enable the farmers to clear off all their grain, and is a clear evidence of the progress of the district so far as its agricultural resources are concerned. “ In conclusion, I would remark that labor is scarce, both as regards miners, farm laborers, and domestic servants, and that high rates rule in all classes of labor. Agricultural land still continues to be taken up freely in all directions —those who were laborers last year becoming land owner's this in consequence of the facility of acquiring land, and the certainty of a competence to follow its acquisition. Numerous applications for mining leases and extended claims have been received and dealt with during the past month. “ The district has but one requirement that nature has not freely bestowed upon it, and that is population.”