WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2264, 9 August 1870, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Wood (Switzer’s district) makes the following quarterly report : Since ray last report the prospects of this division of the Otago goldfield district have rather improved, and I expect the escorts during the present quarter will show a still larger quantity, as the population of the Nokomai and Waikaia to the north of the Waikaia Bush, have increased the track through the bush having induced several parties to prospect the gullies in the neighborhood of the White Comb Creek. Good ground has been opened in the locality of Acton’s ■ Flat, Winding Creek, which will cause a number of claims fto be opened up, and on the Muddy Creek terraces to the west of (agricultural) block 1, Wendon district; the latter giving prospects as high as 4dwts to the dish. Some claims in these localities have been protected _iu consequence of the difficulties in working the back claims, but the prospects are such that I have given notice that the protections will not bo renewed, and the - ground will be worked by other parties should the present holders not be inclined to speculate iu working them. During the last quarter the Steeple Creek 11 ace Company have had their first washing-up on Scrubby terraces, situate between the Dome Creek and Waikaia, opposite the Waikaia Township, with a fair result, they are now taking advantage of a good supply of water, and working two faces. The wet open season has been favorable to the miners on the Nokomai, and good payable ground Las been opened high up on spurs which were considered as worked out some years a,r o . The Waikaka is yet iu its infancy as neither of the race parties has yet completed their race to the Waikaka Creek, though the Great Waikaka Race Company Registered (late Green and party) have tributaries that are enabling them to Work ground kut not- to let. mate of, the populatiou as giyeu iivulmtas men working ouLogaii’s and M’Nab's ' runt which are outside the gold field, 'i. < •' f '■./ ’ • }' J, •’ J■ ■

tfot having statistical forma for the information required by your letter of 13th April last, I forward the following mformaThe total quantity of gold sent per escort, 21150z3, is a fair average for the time of year, and as near as I can ascertain about 200oz of it came from Nokoraai; lOOoz from Waikaka; and the balance, say ISlooz, from Switzer's, Dome and White Comb Creek, perhaps 50ozs from the latter. There are 69 water races, about 278 miles in length, supposed to be capable of carrying say 246 heads of water, which have cost say L 25.000, present value say LIO,OOO. The quantity of water actually in use say 150 sluice heads. The dams and tailraces cannot be taken from the books, as they are not renewable, and the weather and roads so bad that it has been almost impossible to get about to obtain the information.