WARDEN'S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3179, 29 April 1873, Page 3

WARDEN'S REPORT.

The following is the report of Mr Warden Beethairi (Dnnstan district) for the quarter entail cflah March' last i Without being able to report any fresh discoveries of importance, I think 1 am justified in saying that the district was never in a more prosperous condition than it is at the present time. The development of its auriferous resources has received a great impetus by the introduction of a considerable amount of capital, which will, no doubt, result in the adoption of a more complete and satisfactory system in working large areas of country. Large and important works have been undertaken in various portions of the district in ground which, although known to be highly auriferous, has hitherto remained almost wholly untouched. Amongst these works I may mention, as perhaps the most important, that known as the New Channel Company, and the contemplated company fomVd with vi«w of totting to grguud

into which the Arthur’s Point lead runs. In other parts of the district, claims, which are known to be very valuable, but which have been only partially worked, have been amalgamated and thrown into companies, with the view of their being more completely worked. In this category may bo placed the leases held by Draco and Eager. There exists in this district an enormous area of ground which can only be profitably worked in this way. Iho quartz lodes at Skipper’s Creek and the Upper Shotovcr are being profitably worked, and I am informed that the stone of the Nugget Reef has averaged about lOdwts. per ton throughout. In consequence of the extreme dryness of the weather during the summer and autumn, the batteries have been working at great disadvantage, and the same remark will apply to all mining operations, in the conduct of which a large amount of .water is required; tunnelling and river workings, of course, have not suffered. The population is steadily on the increase, as is .also the yield of gold. The gold escorted during the year is shown in the following table:—

The population of the district comprises 701 Europeans and 700 Chinese alluvia 1 miners, and GO European qu-rtz miners. The machinery employed in alluvial mining is 111 sluices and toms, 5 water-wheels, 60 hydraulic hoses and 30 pumps ; in quartzmining : 3 machines of 50 stamp-heads, and 3 water - wheels, of the total value of L 25.000. The number of square rai'es of auriferous ground worked upon is 96, and the price of gold L 3 16i an ounce. 450 acres of land have been taken up under the agricultural lease system, and 62 acres have been granted as extended claims. 14 now water-races have been constructed.

oz. dwt. Quarter ending 30th June, 1872 . .. 5,231 0 Do do 30th Sept. „ .. 4,033 18 Do do 31st Dec. ,, .. 5,782 1 Do do 31st March, 1873 . .. 5,799 10