WARDEN'S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3018, 21 October 1872, Page 2

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Beetham, under date October 1.2, writing from Queenstown, reports as follows : The population has been slightly affected towards the end of the quarter by the rush to Chinese To.wers and the Roper River. I should say about thirty turners have left. 1 have no new' discoveries to report either in quartz or alluvial mining. On the terraces at the Upper hhotover, the workings are extending, and the yield from* those

claims already in working order continues to be satisfactory. The dredge at the Sand Hills is in full work, and although the party may be said to be as yet only prospecting, the returns are, I understand, very good. 1 have no new feature in quartz mining to report. The reefs already opened up continue to yield fa : r returns. At the Big Beach, Arthur’s Point, the ground is now entirely owned by Chinese, who arc working the beaches in a very systematic and complete manner. The whole of the ground is held under mining lease, and is fully represented. la most cases the Chinese have purchased the claims of those miners who have left for Australia : in some instances ground yielding L 4 per week per man has been sold by parties leaving. They will certainly not,find the Chinese so ready to sell as they were to purchase, should the new fields not prove so attractive as they anticipated. The total amount of gold escorted during the quarter is 4933 oz. 18 dwts. 072 acres Ir. 37p. of land have been taken up under the Agricultural Lease Regulations, and 40 granted under mining lease. 59 acres have been granted as extended claims. 134 mining applicatbus have been dealt with, and 40 new water races granted.

The population engaged in mining is estimated as follows Alluvial miners, 700 European. 700 Chinese; quartz miners, 60 European: total, 1461. Machinery; 111 sluices and toras, 3 waterwheels, 30 hydraulic hoses, 20 pumps, 500 sluice boxes, 1 quicksilver and compound crad’e, 4 crushing machines, 97 stamp heads, 3 w dewheels for quartz mining. Tofcat value, 1j24,800. The area of ground mined upon is about 48 square mil s. The approximate value, number, and extent and appliances for storing and utilising water are as follow :—Water races, 252, costing LIUO.OUU, supplying 340 sluice heads of water; tail races, 192, value and cost L 19.200 ; dams, 28, value L2BOO ; reservoirs, 15, value LISOO. These figures, Mr Boetham says, are not reliable, as in order to secured a strictly acturate return, on outlay of Ll5O might be necessary.