WARDEN'S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2357, 21 October 1870, Page 2

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Beetham, writing to the Secretary of Land and Works, from Queenstown, under date October 10, reports : I have the honor herewith to forward my report upon the condition of the district under .my charge for the quarter ending September 3'J, 1870. As regards mining operations there is little new to report upon. The winter quarter just concluded is one during which very slight progress can be made, so far as the commencement of new work is concerned. A great quantity of snow has fallen in the direction of the Upper Shotover and . Crown Ranges, which will ensure a good water supply during the next summer; the weather has in consequence been rough ai.d boisterous. Notwithstanding this the yield of gold for the quarter was 6,263 >zs. 14dwts., representing a value of L23,48S 17s fid. On the 9th of September a new dredge wrs launched at the gorge above the Big Beach, and another is now in course of construction, intended for work higher up the river. The population, both Chinese and European, is greatly on the increase in the direction of the Moke Creek and its tributaries, where a considerable breadth of new ground has been opened. In other localities the miners are doing well, taking into consideration broken work .consequent upoa the winter months. A large acreage of new ground has been fenced and broken up during the winter. Land is eargerly sought after for agricultural purpose?, and inferior land is readily taken up. At a recent land sale held at Queenstown of town sections, the sum of LB9O wrs The townships ef Queenstown and Arrowtown are rapidly extending themselves in every direction. The population of both towns is on the increase. The district is generally in a most he ilthy and satisfactory condition. Dur.ng the quarter 1,603 acres 12 roods 4 perches of land have been granted for agricultural purposes. By a table appended to the report we leain that there are 718 European alluvial miners, 735 Chinese do, and 40 European quarlz miners in the dis’rict. There are employed in alluvial mining 111 sluice toms, 7 waterwheels, 64 hydraulic hose?, 50 pumps, 1,100 sluice boxes ; and in quartz mining, 4 crushing machines, with 59 heads of si a ups and 3 water-wheels, representing a total money value of L 46.037. The number of square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon is 96 ; and the price of gold in the district L 3 15s per ounce.