THE MOUNT IDA GOLDFIELD.

Evening Star, Issue 3742, 19 February 1875, Page 2

THE MOUNT IDA GOLDFIELD.

In his annual report for 1874, Mr Warden Robinson reports of the above field ; The past year has not been distinguished by any special successes in mining in this district. No new discoveries have been made. The work of mining Las, however, gone on much the same as it Las done during some years past ; and except that an unusually severe winter caused more than the customary interruption to sluicing by freezing up the races, there has really been very little to notice. The public works (beadrace and sludge channel) for Naseby Lave been gradually proceeding all the year, and now show signs of approaching completion. The usefulness of the head water-race will be greatly enhanced by the construction of the large reservoir for storage of water, which is now being made. It appears to be intended to stop the construction if the sludge channel or main tail-race before i* reaches Naseby. This is to be regretted, as i's advantage will to a great extent be List. If brought right up to Naseby, as ouginally proposed, it would op n for working a large area of very valuable sluicing ground. I he town of Naseby has continued to improve, notwithstanding that the mining population has decreased, owing to the men going away to work at railway making, &o. A large Town Hall has been built, and several new private residences erected. A good deal of ground within the town boundary has been worked away this year, an I Las been re-occupied for residences, after yielding up its gold to the miner. There is a { very general desire on the part of residents . to become the freehold owners of the land

they occupy. Whenever any person buys the piece of ground on whi•:h his house stands, he, as a rule, begins to make improvements. This is noticeable not only at Neseby, but at the other townships in the district at which land has been sold. At St. Bathaas t[ie moat important matters bavo been the construction rf (In (. tago Company’s water race, and the M uddy Creek Channel l?oUi these works do great credit to'ti e. farlits who have takm them in baud. The Muddy Creek : ban acl:s <x • peeled to he one of great service j>. '■'•ika wirkiblo a large extent good sluicing groiin . which without it would have remained undeveloped. Quartz mining has u*t vet tbiiven in this district. Several piomi.ing reefs have from time to time hj o . ••cued and worked for a while, but a ways ;; > ' .ss to the adventurers. I'he reeling opera’ions at Bough Ridge, Macraes, and friiag Valley were on by various companies at great expeuss, but although gold was got it did not pay for the expense of woikiig, and the mines were one after another abandoned. Ihe latest 'instance ia that of the Energetic Company, at Hough Ridge, which ia now being wound up It is encouraging, however, that the machinery has been bought by an enterprising local man, who is busily getting out stone from several rei fs, and apparently finding the work pay, No doubt most of the reefs in the vicinity will get a full testing.