WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3359, 25 November 1873, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Robinson (Mount Ida district). writing under date September 30, reports as follows : There have been no new discoveries during the past three months, but I think I may fairly say that the general aspect of affairs throughout the district has shown a tendency to improvement, fully justifying the anticipations upon which I ventured on the last occasion that I had the honor to report to you. The season, although not without its drawbacks, has been more favorable than usual for mining. Periods of fine weather nave broken the severity of winter, and afforded occasional abundant supplies of water, of which the miners have taken the full benefit. The winter, although broken, has been protracted, and the latter half of this month has been marked by unusually heavy falls of snow- upon the mountains, giving promise of a sufficiency of water far into the summer months. Should this promise be realised, w r e may expect such a season for sluicing as we have not had for the last three or four years. The Naseby sludge channel has made great progress since the date of my last report, in spite of the difficulties interposed by the winter season. It is reasonable to expect that in the season upon which we are now entering a still more rapid advancement will be made. The coikstruction of the water-race from the Manuherikia has been much delayed by frost and snow, and as one of the contractors has thrown np his contract a further delay may be exacted. But, fortunately, the Mount Ida diggings, however much they may be benefited by the public works, are not at present dependent upon them ; and with the good supplies of water which the old races will command, the Naseby miners can look forward to a good eesson’s work. This will be a great boon to the trading community, who must have suffered severely during the late years of scarcity of water. It is surprising that they have stood it out so well. The mountain gold workings of Clarke’s, Serpentine, and Rock and Pillar have, of course, been at a stand-still during the winter. The OKrke’s men are expecting a very good summer. The workings of Clarke’s (or Mount Burster) are peculiarly situate. Perched in the saddle between the Mount Ida range and Mount Kyeburn, these,diggings are not easily supplied with water for sluicing. No streams of any consequence are available, and the miners have to bring races from a number of small sources, all of which are mainly dependent upon the winter snows for their existence. Thus, while in winter the frost and snow effectually close the Mount Burster diggings against the miner, the summer season is apt to be equally tantalising with its drought. There is every reason to hope that there will be water enough this year to make up for some past deficiencies. The Maorewhcnua division of the district is slowly but surely assuming the importance it is entitled to. Experienced miners from the older goldfields have had their attention drawn to the Maerewhenua as a field for investment, and several instances have come to my knowledge of such persons buying into mining concerns at prices which even twelve moirths ago would have been looked upon as fabulous; and this, I feel convinced, is only the beginning of the good time so long looked for. The fact is the district is difficult to develop, and those who first made the attempt lacked experience as well as capital. Atfairs at St Bathans continue much as usual. The large raee of Hulley and party is still making satisfactory progress, but a good deal remains to be done before it can be completed. There has been some little excitement among the business people at St. Bathans about the survey of the township and the expected sale of sections, to which some opposition is likely to be offered by a mining company.