WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 2941, 23 July 1872, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr Warden Borton (Teviot district) for the quarter ending June 30 : In forwarding my report for the quarter just ended, I have the honor to state that no changes of importance have taken place in the mining or agricultural interests of this district. Ic may be said generally that the past twelve months have beta most trying to all classes. Following close upon the long summer drought, we have experienced the most severe winter which I have ever seen in Otago, after a lengthened residence of nearly twenty years. The majority of the claims have been lying idle for a more or less protracted period in consequence of the severe frosts, though in some cases where work had been possible the results have been highly satisfactory. I know of one party on the Clutha who are averaging L2 per diem, and if they succeed in bottoming, they have good hopes of doing four times as much, I am glad to state that the ground in the neighborhood of Bengerburn and Miller’s Flp,t is; turning out better than it has dope for some years' past, qml that sorqe parties are doing very well in that locality. So far as I have been able to ascertain, the claims in the high-lying parts of the district— Campbell’s, Pohamaka, etc. have been yielding very fairly, though of course the enforced idleness for so lengthened a period has been a heavy drawback on the miners. A perceptibly increa ed deire to settle has been manifested during the quarter, as evidenced by the number of applications for agricultural lea-chokls. If some really good land were thrown opuii, I am of opinion the greater part would at once be taken up. The population is, I think, a little on the increase, and [ would estimate the number at pvvaeut at from 1150 to 1200.

The statistics appended to the report state that the population of the district comprises 490 Europeans, and I(>7 Chinese, alluvial miners. There are 05 sluices and toms ; 19 water-wheels ; 22 pumps ; 1,015 sluice boxes, valued at L 25 980 ; 134 water-races, valued at LU5,(520 ;99 tail-races, valued at L 2.550 ; 78 dams, valued at LJ, 290 ; aud 8 ground sluices, valued at L3SS. Tim number jof siju.are miles actually worked upon is 42 ; and the price reali.fld for gold, L j IGsperoz.