WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3102, 28 January 1873, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr Warden Beetham (Queenstown District) for the month ended December 31st

No new discoveries of any importance have been made during the last quarter ; fresh ground has, however, been opened up on the Upper Shotover branches, and a steady increase of population in that locality is the result. The terraces in the neighborhood of Skipper’s Point still continue to yield good returns, and an endeavor is to be made to throw some of the best claims into joint stock companies. There can be no. doubt that these terraces still contain a vast amount of gold. At Arthur’s Point I umlerstm i that extensive operations are contemplated, with the view of testing the large terraces lying between the old workings and the Chinese holdings at the Big Beach. All attempts to trace the lead from Arthur’s Point into the terrace have hitherto proved fruitless, but as thete attempts have b.cn entirely confined to single miners, or to small parties of men unpossessed of the necessary capital to enable them f.drly to prosecute the search, the ground may be considered as really uuprospectcd. Should the lead be struck, there is every probability that it will prove a very rich one. In the opinion of experienced miners it is likely to extend into the deep ground lying between Arthur’s Point and the Arrow River. The Nugget and Cornish Quartz Mining Company have, during ihe last fortnight, retorted 2700zs of gold. They have abundance of stone of fair quality. Harvesting operations commenced about the new year, being fully a fortnight earlier than usual. The crop is expected to be a very heavy one. A large breadth of barley for malting purposes is iu splendid condition. The yield of gold during the quarter is— October, 2,0320zs I9dwts; November, 1,619 ozs 2dwts ; December, 2,1300z5; making a total of 5,7820zs Idwt. i-ne hundred and seventy-one cases were heard in the Resident Magistrate’s and Warden’s Courts, and 126 mining applications were dealt with. 28 acres 2 roods were granted under the Mining Leose Regulations, and 996 acres 22 perches as agricultural leases ; 70 acres were granted under the Extended Claim Regulations. From the statistical tables attached to the report, we learn that the mining population of the district comprises 701 European and 700 Chinese alluvi.d miners, and 60 European quartz miners. Ihe machinery employed in alluvial mining comprises 111 sluices and toms, 3 water-wheels, 30 hydraulic hoses, 20 pumps, 500. sluice-boxes, and 1 cradle ; in quartz mining, 4 crushing machines of 59 stamps, and 3 water-wheels, the whole machinery being valued at L 24, 00. The number of square miles of ground actually worked upon is 54; and the price of gold iu the district, L 3 15a an ounce.