WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3264, 6 August 1873, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Robinson, writing from Naseby under date July 1, reports as fol-

lows

The weather during the greater part of the period has been singularly wild and open for the season of the year, and has so far been favorable for mining ; but water has not been always so plentiful as could be wished. No really severe weather has been experienced until the last few days; but on the 25th and 26th of June the winter fairly came upon us with a heavy fall of snow, which still whitens the country, making travelling dangerous, and completely interrupting all work. The progress of the public works (head race and sludge channel), is already, although as yet in but a slight degree, beneficially affecting Naseby. The effect is principally to be noticed in the increased confidence among holders of town property, and in the anxiety of miners to get hold of claims in localities which not long ago were not thought workable. Doubtless, as the works advance nearer to completion, the beneficial effect will be more decidedly notice. able. . Since Naseby has been erected into a Municipality it has in every direction shown signs of improvement. The latest instance has been the opening of a very substantial and commodious church for the Presbyterian denomination, at a cost of about L6OO. Hamilton, although in other respects about as usual, has suffered a calamity in the bursting of a large dam (known as the Leviathan), which was made by closing the outlets of the old workings. The bursting of the embankment let down a terrible flood of water, which completely obliterated all the works of Messrs, Shannon and Smith, who had for a long time past been engaged in bringing up a taihrace from the Taieri, to work a special claim in Main Gully. The matter is likely to become the subject of an action for damages. Mining affairs at Hyde have been rather dull. There is seldom much to record in connection with mining at that place, as the sluicing is on so large a scale. The claims are in comparatively few hands, and the work goes on year after year, in almost exactly fashion, varied only by the plentifulness or scarcity of water. It is understood that one company (known as the Suburban party) have sold their race to a party of Hamilton miners ; but whether the purchasers intend to use the water at Hyde or Hamilton I am unable to state.

Macraes Flat continues to keep a considerable mining population. The workings of this part ot the goldfield are for the most part conducted on a smaller scale, and in a more primitive fashion, than in other portions of the Mount Ida district. Of sluicing on a large scale there is none : water for sluicing purposes is scarce, and “fall” is also not easy to be got. I'hus it happens that at Macraes Flat paddocking is still the order of the day. There was, some time ago, talk of the formation of a company to drive in a deep tunnel from Deep Dell Ureek which would effectually drain the flat, and give fall for sluicing away many acres of rich ground that can be only partially wrought by the present wasteful process

of paddocking. But I hare heard nothing of it lately, and I fear the company has not yet got beyond the talking ptage. At Clarke’s (Mount Burster) and Serpentine, in. consequence of the mild season, work was continued much farther into the winter months than usual. Since the snowfall, however, both these mining districts have been closed up, and claims there are now under protection. In quartz-reefing there is hut little to notice. At the Shag Valley reefs the Perseverance Company and the Shag Valley Freehold Company are both at work ; but I am not aware that any of the other companies are doing ranch at present. At Hough Bidge the Energetic Company have got on with the erection of their machinery in spite of some unavoidable delays ; but I believe it is not their intention to sta 1 1 crushing until the worst of the winter is over.

Since my last report I have again been ca'led upon to take charge of St. Bathan’s. Here, as at Hyde, the large scale upon which sluicing is carried on precludes any sudden changes, but I am happy to be able to note that at least one enterprise of magnitude is in progress. I allude to the large water-race from the Manuherikia river, now in course of construction by Halley and Co. This party are displaying great energy and perseverance. Their race, when completed, will bring in a fine stream of water, but it cannot be finished under twelve or eighteen months more. Another important work, projected but not yet begun, is the construction of a large sludge channel in Muddy Creek, which is the outlet for the working of a large extent of auriferous ground. The Maerewhenua is slowly but surely developing into a really important goldfield. The difficulties Of the construction of the water-races, without which nothing could he done, have been greater by far than was anticipated by the projectors. But these difficulties are gradually being overcome. It is not long since the Mosquito Race was finished. T! is race, which, with its branches, is about twenty-eight miles long, hastenst about L 3.000, and is estimated to carry from eight to ten heads of water. Quite recently the Golden Hill water-race has been opened. This race, almost fourteen miles long, is estimated to carry ten heads of water, and it is estimated to have cost L 3,000, including three large dams, capable of storing three days’ supply of water. Both these races owe their completion mainly to the energy and enterprise of Mr G. R Taylor, of Oamaru. Another important race, that of M'Cann and party, is understood to be now nearly finished. As it will draw its supplies from the Maerewhenua Eiver itself, it will command an unfailing stream, and will no doubt yield a handsome return to the men who for so long have stuck manfully to the work of its construction, As each race gets finished, another permanent source of profit is added The ground is there, with the gold in it, only awaiting the water to wash it out.