WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2369, 4 November 1870, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Simpson, •writing from Lawrence, under date October 29th, reports for the quarter ending September 30th, as follows : A comparison of these returns with thof 6 of last quarter shows an increase in the Chinese population of about 150, chiefly in the Waipori district, and a slight increase and redistribution of the Europeans, particularly in Table Hill. The increase of quartz miners has been caused by work having been resumed on Waipori reef. In the gold escorted from the district there has been an increase of ISOOozs. over that escorted the previous quarter. None of the other matters in these returns call for any remark unless the water races, of which a considerable number have been applied for during the quarter. The principal of these have been in the Table Hill district, to bring a greater supply of water on to the spurs above Manuka Creek, consequent on the reported success of Mr Coomb. Were the water supply commanding these spurs greater, a very large area of ground would be taken up, ;;s it is, 20 acres have now been taken up in claims of different sizes. One party of miners from the Blue Spur, attracted by the appearance of the ground at Manuka Creek applied to bring in 43 sluice heads, from the Waipori River, but the miners and residents on that river, considering that such a diversion from that stream would seriously affect the interests on it,, entered strong protests against the application, and it was withdrawn. The Table Hill Quartz Mining Company, however, have applied to extend their race to the spurs behind Glenore, which arc similar to those on the Manuka. It is very much to be regretted that there is such a limited supply of water commanding the spurs referred to in the Table Hill district, and within the reach of a moderate amount of capital. A race of considerable importance has been applied for in the Beaumont istrict, to divert water from the Beaumont River, and ca ry it across the River Motyneux to work the terraces on that river’s west bank, where ground yielding LI a day to each miner has been opened up. In anticipation of this water supply, claims embracing an area of 12 acres have been taken up opposite Lancaster’s farm, and to the south of his homestead a Htt'c. Referring to the remarks made by me in my last report on the subject of a machine for crushing cement, purposed to be erected by Mr Coomb, I am glad to have to report that the matter has also been taken up by the miners at the Blue Spur, and that Morrison and Company have already given instructions to a Mr Lawson for the construction of such a machine, to be placed in their tail-race ; and should it prove a success, they purpos ; erecting another to c r n-b the tailings already posited 1 may mention that work has again been resumed in a place known as May’s diggings, situate at the head of the Waipori River, which were opened in 1865, and almost since then been deserted. Some 20 men are now at work in the gully. From some tables appended to the Eepoit, we obtain the following information : The total number of miners in the several divisions of the Tuapeka district is 1522, of wlnm 1032 are Europeans, and 430 Chinese. 1030 of the Europeans and all the Chinese are engaged in .alluvial mining, and the remaining 32 Europeans in quartz mining. The alluvial minors employ 20 water-wheels, Vi hydraulic hqscs, 100 purqps, 2600 sluice,boxes 50 quicksilver and compound cradles, and 1 turbiqo wheel and pumping apparatus. The quartz miners use 1 steam engine of 6 horse power, 2 crushing machines (bo hj in full work) with 18 stamp heads, 2 waterwheel*, and 1 whim. The total va u& of all the mining plant in the district is estimated at L4GOO. There arc also 205 water-races, valued at L 25,200 ; 154 reservoirs, valued at L7OOO ; and 420 tail-races, or ground sluices, valued at L 16,800. About live square miles of auriferous ground are actually being worked upon, but fpom 12 to 14 square miles have been mined over. The pres ;nt price of gold is L 3 15s per ounce, and there have been “escorted" by the Banks during the quarter 91G4 ounces as follows Lawrence, 52780z5. ; Waipori, ISllozs. ; Waitahuna, 1234 >zs. ; and Tokomairiro, Sllozs. The average weekly rate of wages for miners in (he district is L 3.