WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2263, 8 August 1870, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Beetham, writing froth Queenstown under date July 27, says : During the latter portion of the quarter ending June 30, mining operations have received the slight check always consequent upon severe weather. We have not as yet experienced % snow or severe frost. The winter has been characterised by a very heavy rainfall, producing during the month of June one of the heaviest floods ever known in the district. A large amount of mining property was destroyed, and temporary depression was the natural result; probably the greatest damage was sustained by Messrs Ashford and Co., the pioneers of dredging iu the district; their new dredge, built at a cost exceeding L7OO, was carried down the Shotover- and smashed to pieces, not however before it had been proved to the spirited proprietors that dredging pays well on the Shotover. The same party are now engaged in placing another dredge in the same position occupied by the old one. This requires no comment, except the statement that there is room for a vast number of dredges upon the river. 3he Chinese company at the Arrow who were engaged in working the Arrow Fiver, have alike sustained serious loss. The whole of their valuable plant has been swept away, and their claims silted up. The mining interest throughout the district is in a very satisfactory condition. The yield of gdd for the quarter ending 30th June, 1870 e coeds that of the same quarter in the preceding vear by 40990zs 18dwts., being an increase of L 12,999 3s 9d on the quarter, or more than LIOOO per week. The total gold exported from this goldfield during the quarters ending 30th June, 1809 and 1870, is shewn in the following table:—

Queenstown Arrowtcwn 1869: oz dwls oz dwts April ■ 1054 0 493 0 May - 766 10 500 0 June ’- 786 8 500 0 2606 18 1493 0 1870: 1 April - 1386 11 762 2 May : 1842 17 621 2 June . 2119 18 833 17 5349 6 2217 1 Showing 7,5660z5. 7dwts. against 4,0990z?. 18dwts. in the quarter of the preceding year. These facts speak for themselves as to the progress and condition of the district, as regards its mining interest. During the quarter, 1,118 acres 2 roods 35 perches have been taken up under the Agricultural Land - Regulations, and 57 acres 1 rood 7 perches have been leased for mining purposes. In the. Resident Magistrates’ and Wardens’ Courts of the district, held at Queenstown, Arrow Town, Cardrona, and Maori Point, 114 cases have been heard, and 286 mining applications dealt with, exclusive of agricultural and mining lease applications. The district is suffering greatly from the tremendous rates of cartage charged in consequence of tho dreadful state of the roads ; indeed we arc frequently cut off from all communication, postal and otherwise. This is a terrible drawback to our progress. It acts in two directions—first as regards the greatly increased price of. all important articles ; and secondly as regards the Jabqr market, shutting us out from all participation in it except at a great disadvantage. It increases also the rate of wages. During the quarter ending 31st March, there were in the district 1,343 miners, of whom 668 Europeans and 635 Chinese were engaged in alluvial mining, and 40 Europeans in quartz mining. The machinery consisted of 225 sluices and tins, 7 water wheels, 64 hydraulic hoses, 50 pumps, 1,100 sluice boxes, 1 quicksilver and compound cradle, 4 crushing machines, 59 stamp heads, and 3 water -wheels. The approximate value is L 46.037. Ninety-six square miles were actually worked upon. Price of gold, L 3 15s per ounce. During the quarter ending 30th June, there were—miners, 1,488, of whom 40 Europeans were engaged in quartz mining ; 663 Europeans and 733 Chinese in alluvial mining. Tho machinery and price of gold remained unaltered.