WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2718, 2 November 1871, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Robinson (Naseby district) reports for the quarter ending September 30, as follows :

In the early part of the quarter hard frost pr«-vailed, and caused considerable interrup ivn to mining. Not only was the ground iV-'Zen, but it was dry also. Hardly ail) snow was to be seen on the ranges, and the mount ins to ail appearance were as easy to traverse as in summer. It teas only when one ventured to ascend them that it became apparent that they were frozen solid, and that, iii fact, fine might as well attempt to climb up a looking-glass, This afforded but a poor prospect to the miners, who look to the winter snows to afford them supplies of water for sluicing in spring and summer. People were beginning to say that there was to be no proper winter, when at length, at the latter cud of August, there came a copious fall of snow, which covered low land as well as mountain with a deep layer. For many clays the plains kept their white appearance, and the mountains are not even yvt clear of the snow, which lies thick in tbe deep gullies. The fall Wfts one of the heaviest that has been kuowu io these parts,

and all fears of scarcity of water may be fairly said to be at an end for this season. In the neighborhood of Nateby the miners are now all actively engaged, and the place never presented a mure prosperous appearance. It is satisfactory to notice that the miners are gradually, but steadily, extending the sphere of their labors. New ground is being opened, and the diggings are spreading in all directions, but especially to the westward. One miner (Mr A. Brown) who has recently been granted a special claim of ten acres has opened a large block of entirely new ground, near the road to the race course, and the consequence of his success is that other miners are abont taking up ground in the same locality, but further away from Naaeby. A proof of the confidence of the inhabitants in the future progress of mining in this part of the goldfield is to be found in the fact that the town of Nasehy is being greatly improved, both by the erection of new buildings and the renovation of old ones.

At the outlying districts of Hamilton, Hyde, Macrae’s, and Kyeburn, there is but little to note, except, indeed, that the township of Macrae’s is showing some of the same signs of progress as are observable at Naseby. At the Serpentine, work has until qui'e recently been at a standstill in consequence of the severity of the season. The late snow storm was felt there with peculiar intensity, It is said that the snow was many feet deep. It is known that the postal communication was for a considerable time interrupted. Now, however, the snow is for the most part away, and work goes on with vigor. At the Marewhenua things have been extremely dull. The failure of ~ the great water-race companies and of the Otekaiki Quartz Mining Company, cast a gloom over the minds even of those who were the most fully convinced of the ultimate success of mining there. Quite recently there have been some pretty good washings up among the less ambitious mining parties, and confidence has thus been to a great extent restored. The properties of the All Na'ions and the Ben Lomond water race companies have passed into private hands, and it is fully expected there will be a change for the better iu every respect. Tbe works at tbe Otekaike reefs are for the present abandoned, but the machinery .remains intact, and it is understood that any party of miners desiring to further test the reef could make very favorable arrangements with the present owner of the engine. Several new enterprises in race cutting are spoken of as likely soon to be launched. While at the Oukaike quartz mining has, for the time at hast, come to an end, a new venture in the same same line is just started in another and far distant part of the district ; a company has been registered with a nominal capital of nearly five thousand pounds to work a reef near the Sutton stream (Strath Taieri) to which the name of the “ Ricasoli Reef ” has been given. The discovery of this reef caused a great excitement some time since, but nothing has been heard of it lately. The break np of the winter season has afforded the opportunity for the Clarke’s miners to proceed once more to the inhospitable region in which they carry on their industry. A good summer’s campaign is looked forward to.

The mining population of the district is 1500, the whole, with the exception of twenty, being alluvial miners. The value of the mining plant is estimated at L 6200 ; of water-races, L 52,730 ; of tail-races, L 16,800 and of dams, L 8350. The number of square miles actually worked is 32, aud the price of gold L 3 15s per oz. The quantity of gold escorted from the district during the quartet was 3581 ozs.

The following is Mr Warden Simpson’s (Tuapeka district) report:— A considerable influx of Chinese took place during the quarter, particularly to the Waipori district, where now they are in the majority. They have scattered themselves over the ranges in all directions, and are opening up gullies that were never thought of before. One large party of Chinese have started to turn the Waipori river for the distance of about a mile—quite as great a length of that river as ever any European party attempted. During the quarter the Chinese had found their way to Adam's Flat, where about luO of them are now located, ajid reported to'be doijig well; it is very suitable ground for them,' Of the new works that have been under? taken during the quarter I may mention a large race from the Beaumont river to carry a supply of water to work the spurs on the west side of the Tuapeka river. The race will be some 40 miles in length and capable of carrying 20 or 30 sluice heads of water. It is one of the races that was suggested to the Commissioner on Water Supply as a very desirable undertaking for Government assistance, and I think the fact that it is now beixig carried out by private individuals bears out the testimony gjvcp to the Commissioner. Another of the races recommended to the Commissioner for Govern? ment assistance has also been undertaken by private individuals, viz. one from the Waipori river to sluice the spurs on the sou;h side of the Waipori flat. This undertaking begins, however, to present so many difficulties that I fear unless Government aid is obtained it will fall through. The only other water-races of magnitude that are being constructed at present are those of Eddie and party and Spooner and party, to the hills on Manuka creek, and Coghill and party tq Haverloc.k hill, all of which are tending towards completion. The only discovery, if such It can bo called, was at Table bill, by the miners who were working Ihe Table Hill Quartz Mining Company’s ground, on tribute, that ground having ceased to pay. sunk a shaft on what was known some years ago as the Ocean View Claim, and struck stone which, according to trial crushing, will go at least half-au-ounce to the ton. This discovery has given a great impetus to prospecting on the reefs in that neighbourhood, aud a number of claims have been taki n up, in some of which prospects equally good to that in the Ocean View have been found. Consider*? ble excitement baa in consequence been caused among the Tokomairiro people. Throughout the district mining undertakings may be said to be generally prosperous, although the yield of gold this quarter is not uito equal to the previous quarter nor to the corresponding quarter of last year.

The total mining population of the district is 2080, of whom 100 European and 100 Chinese alluvial miners, and 100 European

quartz miners are located at Table bill. Tbe approximate value of the mining plant is L 5570 ; of the water-races L 27000, of the dams, LBOOO, and of ground-sluices, LID,OOO About six miles of alluvial ground is bring worked. The present price of go'd throughout the district is L 3 Iss per ounce; at Waipori the price is L 3 14s 6d. There has been escorted by the banks during the quarter : Ozs. Dwts From Lawrence 5171 10 ~ Waipori 1850 0 ~ Waitahuua... ... 1028 20 ~ Tokomairiro and Woolshed ... ... 446 4 8496 14