WARDEN'S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3177, 26 April 1873, Page 3

WARDEN'S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr Warden SimpKon (Dunstan district) for the quarter ended March 31: —

I have the honor to hand you the statistical returns for the quarter ended Hist March, 1873. T he comparison of those with the previous quarter is not favorable, the gold escorted, the great criterion of the actual prosperity of a mining district, being little more than half that of the previous quarter. The chief reason is the continued dry weather, During the past four months there has not been 48 hours’ rain. The frosts are noyr sitting in, and I fear the effects will be still more prejudicial, not pnly to the mining but the pastoral interest also. Already particularly on the commons, begin to fall off; this is partly, perhaps, to be attributed to the want of proper regulations—first, as te those vrho should run stock ; and second, the quantity each person entitled ought to run. The enly part cf this district that has benefited from the dry season is the Nevis, and from it the yield of gold has been greater than for many previous years. Its altitude is the explanation of that. In the alluvial workings, which consist almost entirely of ground sluicing water as the main agent cannot he dispensed with, although {nechonical means mijjkt ne jnore resorted to

for raising it from permanent sources ; but I am astonished that in a dry district like this, steam is not more used in the quartz and other workings. Many of the reefs are undoubtedly payable, both at Garrick and Bendigo ; but it requires to be a very rich and extensive reef that will admit to be suspended from work for six month* out of the twelve. I have no doubt that, even at Bcndig->, where fuel is not so very convenient, steam would pay, particularly in the ease of the Bendigo Company. There is oue notable instance of a coalmine which has been at a standstill for the last nine months for want of waterpower, where steam might be used with a three-fold advantage. Indeed, it is the question of every stranger—why is not steam used to pump the mine out, and an unMmited supply of water procured for the town of Clyde ? Falling the erection of a reservoir in Wai-keri-keri gorge, I think the Municipality nrght make arrangements with the owner of the mine for a steam engine. One good sign of the district is the fact that the unfavorable season has not sensibly diminished the population, notwithstanding the absence of that great adjunct to a mining district, agriculture JSor have the minora lost their energy, as witness the efforts that are being made to overcome the natural want of water supply, in bringing into the Cromwell district the Garrick water race, into the Clyde district the Chatto creek, and into that of Alexandra the Gorge race, at an outlay in the total of not less than L2OJKH), All are considered good speculations, particularly the two first mentioned.

The river Molyncux having fallen to a very low level, attention is being directed to dredging, and in particular to the best mode of overcoming the never ceasing flow of tailings in that great tail-race. The pneumatic tube system has now been fairly tried, and I think may bo said to bo the beat, enabling the miner to descend and make ocular examinations of the river bed. The company who have introduced this system have only been moderately successful, owing principally to the small scale of their dredge, and to the want of some sort of iron fender across the bows of t'm ir punt to divert the stream of tailings. So satisfied, however, are minors with the system, that Hnstie and Co., owners of a river claim which proved very remunerative with the old spoon dredge, have given orders for a tubular dredge that will cost about 1.2,000. The tubes are to be nine feet in diameter; so that if sufficient means are provided for the quick elevation of wash-dirt and diversion of tailings, it ought to be a success. Steam is to be the motive power, as it is iu that of the other company. Two other d r edging companies have been got up —one to use the steam harbor dredge, the other the submarine boat.

The following statistical information is appended to the report : —7O watc-races, valued at L 30.000 ; 50 tail-races, at 1.10,000 ; 22 dams, at L 1,500 ; and 200 to 250 ground sluices. Total population of district :* 050 European and 500 Chinese alluvial miners, and 150 European quartz miners. There arc 1.600 mining companies iu the district, and these employ machinery of the value of 1 50,000. The registered companies in the district number 10, whose aggregate nominal capital is LIOS. 100, and paid up 1.11,700. The Garrick Water Supply Company's application for a Covcnmunt subsidy lias been approved, but the Company has not yet. received a subsidy.