WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 2880, 13 May 1872, Page 3

WARDEN’S REPORT.

The following is Warden Bectham’s report (Queenstown district) for the past year In forwarding my report for the year ending 3lst March, 1872, I have the honor in the first place to point out the large increase of gold produced as against the year ending, 31st March, 1871, amounting to 5,637 oes,

8 dwts. 12 grs. It will be useful for comparison to give the yield of the Wakatipu goldfield for the past three years, which is as follows :

1870—22,203 ozs, value L 56.036 12s 6d 1871 - 35.074 ozs, “ LI 31,529 18s 9d 1g72 -40,712 ozs, “ L 152.670 5s 6d These figures shew that a steady increase in the produce of gold is taking place, the total number of ozs. escorted during 1872 nearly doubling the yield of 1870. Moreover, the produce has been seriously interfered with during the past four mouths by the unprecedented dryness of the, season, which has, even iu this district, materially affected the water supply. The decrease in the amount of gold, raised in the quarter ending, 31st Maxell, 1872, as against the quarter ending, 31st December 1872 being 10,947 ozs. against 11,809 ozs. 3 dwts, 13 grs., is mainly attributable to this casue.

The district under my charge has probably suffered less from want of water than any ether, in consequence of the great height of the mountains surrounding the workings, and the number of small mountain creeks fro u which the water supply is derived. The nature of the workings has no doubt also greatly influenced the steady character of the yield—the terrace workings by means of tunnelling being altogether, or for the most part, independent of the necessity for a large supply of water. The same remark will also apply to the numerous creek workings, the beds • f these creeks being indeed more easily worked iu the absence of an abundant stream of water. The development of the various workings has been principally in the direction of tunnel workings and the systematic clearing up of the beds of creeks in all portions of the district. Some very rich terrace ground is being worked by means of sluicing in the vicity of the Arrow township. The supply of water to this ocality has continued to be very fair, even throughout the dry season. The quarts lodes are being steadily worked iu the neighborhood of Skipper’s Point, in which locality probably the richest terraces yet discovered in the district a r c to he found, A new reef, said to be of very fair promise, has been taken in hand at Sawyer’s Gully. A trial crushing has resulted in a very good yield. The Shotover River still to a great extent defies all efforts to work it iu a systematic and efficient manner, in consequence of the large body of water it at all times contains, and the depth of the accumulation of tailings iu its bed. Many parts of the river known to be enormously rich have remained almost wholly untouched. The population of the district is already on the increase, more especially as regards the European portion of it. I am unable to repot t favorably of the state of the tracks to the outlying portions of the district. In the event of a severe winter, many of these tracks will be impassable except at great risk. This will doubtless materially affect the price of provisions and necessaries.

A large breadth of laud is placed under plough for the next season’s crops, and the fanners generally are turning their attention to sowing down land in grass paddocks. About 636 acres have been taken up under the Agricultural Lease Regulations during the past quarter. The amount of gold escorted during the quarter is : —Queenstown, 6,237 ozs., Arrowtown, 4,510 ozs. From the accompanying statistical tables we learn that there are 1201 European and 1200 Chinese alluvial miners, and 60 European quartz miners. The machinery employed iu alluvial mining comprises 211 sluices and toms, 5 water wheels, 50 hydraulic hoses, 45 pumps, aud 900 sluice-boxes ; and the quartz-crushing machinery—4 crushingmachines of 59 stamp-heads, besides 3 waterwheels, the whole being valued at L 36.000.