WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2501, 21 February 1871, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr "Warden Bectliam (Queenstown, district) : In the Queenstown division, the increase in the Chinese population has been verymarked. There are at the present time about one thousand and fifty Chinese in the district. There is nothing now to report in mining matters. The character of the workings throughout the district remain the same as formerly, a much larger extent of ground being operated upon, which has resulted in increased escorts month by mouth. At the Sliotover, the Nugget Quartz Mining Company are now in full work, and the prospects are stated to be very good. At Skipper’s Creek, the Phnmix Company, under the management of Mr Evans, have struck the reef at a much lower level than it has hitherto been worked, proving the continuity of the reef in a most remarkable manner. At the bead of the Lake, Mr Rcelffc and Co. have had a mining lease granted to them as a quartz reef; they are now engaged in prospecting it ; little is at present known at to its paying qualities. Tiie ground is said to be taken up for a London Conrpany, who are prepared to expend a large sum of money in testing the reef In the Arrow division no new ground has been opened up, but the escorts from the division shew a large increase, Parties arc

working on the flits near the embouchure of the Arrow into the Kawarau River, and are finding payable ground in that locality. Water is generally very scarce over the whole district, this, no doubt, will largely affect the autumn escorts. On the whole, mining operations throughout the district are in a highly satisfactory condition. The total weight of gold exported from this district during the three months ending 3lst December, 1870, was 115030z5. Sdwts., as against 52200z5. Gdwt., exported during the corresponding three months of the proceeding year, shewing an increase of 62S3ozs. 2 Iwts.

Tiie crops of wheat, oats, and barley arc in excellent condition, and will give splendid yields. There is some doubt as*to the yield of potatoes, and other root crops. About 2000 bushels of barley have been grown for malting purposes. Building is progressing in both Queenstown and Arrowtowu, and the reductions in the price of timber following, the establishment of a second saw mill lias tended to push it forward. Several brickfields are at work, aud bricks of a first-rate quality are produced. ‘ The price list just mentioned, will shew that this district is probably the dearest to live in in the Province ; some articles, butter for instance, being 200 per cent, dearer than Dunedin prices. The total number of miners in the district is 1850. The machinery employed in alluvial mining, consists of 225 sluices and toms, 7 waterwheels, 64 hydraulic hoses, 50 pumps, 1100 sluice boxes, and 1 quicksilver cradle, aud in quartz mining 4 machines, 159 stampheads, and 3 waterwheels, of the aggregate value of L4G.037.