WARDEN'S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3401, 15 January 1874, Page 3

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden . Beetham (Queenstown) re-' ports-for the quarter ended,-December 31, as follows ; . “No fresh discoveries h a .v« been made during the quarter, bpt dp the Sth inat, a prospecting qlaim of Sda feet " was granted to Neilsori and' Company on a quartz 1 reef; situated about fifteen , miles east-of the; township of Glenorchy, at the head of Lake Wakatipu. The quality, of the stohfe is favorably spoken of. The. population of the district remains about the same as during the last quarter, Avith the exception of'the Chinese portion of it, a considerable number haying left for Nokomai and Switzers.,'lt is at all times difficult to estimate the population, and I imagine that-at the next census the estimate I have given will be:‘found rather over than under . the : mark. The amount of gold escorted during the quarter ending December 31 exceeds that of ,tho previous quarter, by 623pzs. 4dwts., being 4,1780z. 14dwts., as,, against 3,5550z5. lOdwts.,, There.is also a considerable amount bf gold withheld in consequence of the de- ' erdase in price, given for it. The yield of gold during the next quarter will probably be above the average, as plenty of water is available for sluicing purposes. 2,746. acres 2 roods and 6 perches have been taken up under the, agricultural lease rogulationa.; 21. acres and 1 xood und,er mining, lease, and 60.: acres.have hePB granted as extended claims. 28.heads of water haye been applied for.” ! From the tables accompanying the report we learn, that the population of the district is estimated at 1,260 miners—7oo-Eiiropean and 500 Chinese alluvial miners, and 60 European quartz miners. The machinery employed in alluvial mining comprises 111, sluices and toms ; 5 water-wheels, l 6o- hy*. ! draulic hoses, and 5.0 pumps ; that employed in quartz mining, 3 machines, of 59 stampers 1 ;* and 3 waterwheels. The approximate value of all mining plant is L 25.000 ; the number, of square miles of ground actually worked upon 9.6; and the price of gold L 3 15s an ounce.