WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 2805, 13 February 1872, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Carew (Blacks) writes as follows I have the honor to report that during the past quarter water has been exceedingly scarce from want of rainfall, and, in consequence of this, sluicing has been carried on under most unfavorable conditions, for not alone was the supply small for removing the ground, but the absence of the usual freshes and floods has causpd the creeks and gullies to become chocked fyith tailings, and impeding the flow from the outlet oftailraces. In the St, Bathans division attention is being directed to land in the neighborhood of Muddy Creek, and some forty acres have been applied for under the Mining Lease Regulations. It is proposed to bring in two water-races from the Manuherikia to work this ground, which has been long known to bo auriferous, and is now likely to be worked in a systematic manner. The expected result would lead to an increase of population in the neighbourhood. * Ajb the workings o; Messrs Greenback and Co., atDpyhp6d c V Spicing is carried on upon a more advanced' system' than % sny other part of the Province, Their water-rape is brought in at an elevation of some eighty feet perpendicular height above their claims, and water is conducted from the race to the working face in iron pipes, which gives great pressure, and enables them to wash away, in a given space of time, a much larger quantity of ground, apd ]yith Wick less men, than under the usual'mode. The piping wfts manufactured at a Dunedin foupdry, is of sheet iron (11 to H gauge), ip lengths of twenty feet, and is rivettedlike boilerplates, The diameter of the piping varies from seven to eleven inches, and it is, I understand, guaranteed to sustain a pressure occasioned by two hundred feet perpendicular drop. A brass nozzle, with a two inch bore, is attached to the iron piping by means of a length of gutta percha tubing, five inches in diameter and half an inch thick. About two hundred feetof iron piping weighs a ton, and it costs, delivered on the ground, not over seven shillings and sixpence per running foot. Messrs Greenbank and Co. use about fire thousand feet in working their three claims. The advantages of this mode of mining over that of the capyas hose and open race, are so great that there cap be po doubt that so soon as it becomes known it will come into general use wherever water can be made available at sufficient elevation to allow of its adoption. One of the advantages to be gained is, that the fores of water from the

nozzle is sufficient to bore away under, and fall any ordinary ground without the use of picksipr the ilecessity for the workmen approaching the face of the worked ground within danger from earth-falls : thus doing away with a fruitful cause of fatal mining accidents. The Ida Valley Deep Lead Company has been unsuccessful in the attempt to develop a payable deep lead at Ida Valley, and work has ceased at their mine. I attribute this failure as probably due more to the great difficulty and cost attending the prospecting of deep wet ground, than from the absence of gold. The main shaft was bottomed in rich ground, but dipped away suddenly, and the lowest level has not been reached. The quantity of gold forwarded during the quarter was : from St. Bathaus, 16200z. ; and from Blacks, 36800z. The statistical tables show there are 410 European and 118 Chinese alluvial miners, besides two European quartz miners in the district. The machinery employed comprises a puddling machine, 2 whims, 105 sluices, and 83 hydraulic hoses, of the value of L 2,180. The number of square miles of ground worked upon, is 10, There are 55 water-races, of the value of L 34,000; 145 tail-races, of the value of LB,SOO, and 46 dams, valued at L 4,000.