WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Issue 3784, 10 April 1875, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

Mr Warden Stratford, writing from Arrowtown under date 31st March, reports as follows

Having been absent for nearly nine months, I have been unable to watch closely the progress of the district. My report, therefore, will not be as full as I would wish. With reference to the old digging localities. At Cardrona there are about seventy-five (75) European miners, one hundred and fifty (150) Chinese, and twenty (20) other European adults. At the upper part of the Cardrona Creek there have been for years past about fifty (50) miners employed, and they will have in the same locality work for many years yet. From the township down the creek, towards the Wanaka, the difficulties of mining increases owing to the leads being deeper and containing more water. In recognition of these obstacles special claims, averaging from seven (7) to ten (10) acres, have been granted to men who have expended already on each of their claims nearly two thousand (L 2,000) pounds. Pumps are continually kept going on all the claims that are being worked below the township. At Branch ■ reek, six (61 miles below the Oardrona, being a mining gully of eight (8) years’ standing, there are about twenty (20) miners, who, having large water rights, are doing well. These men evidently anticipate permanent employment, as they have built comfortable houses and fenced in gardens for themselves. I have no doubt there would be a greater population in this place If more water could be brought to bear upon the auriferous ground. At Macetown there are about fifty (50) Europeans and fifty (50) Chinese engaged in mining : the method being both by tunnelling, sluicing, and diversion of the Arrow River. There are some rich tunnelling claims between Macetown and Eight-mile, some of the parties making as much as from eight pounds (L 8) to ten pounds (JLIO) per week per man. The Government during the past year has spent some considerable sums of money in cutting tracks between Macetown and other uumng localities. These outlets have been of immense advantage to the storekeepers, and have given increased facilities for prospecting in the outer gullies during the summer months. I attribute the discovery of, two valuable quartz reefs in the mountain ranges between Macetown and tho head of the Shotover River, very much to the opening up of the country at the expense of the Government. On the banks of the Kawarua, in the neighborhood of Gibbston, there are nine (9) or ten (10) parties of miners sluicing the terraoes into the river, which is so rockbound that the format! ni and extension of the tail races is quite a formidable undertaking. The average returns I believe to be about two pounds ten shillings (L2 10s) per we-k a man. The Cambria waterrace works, which cost nearly six thousand pounds (L 6.000), are at a standstill; the shareholders having exhausted all their means, are raising funds by working In other places before expending more money in cutting up extensive tail races to work the Cambrian grounds. The Gentle Annie Creek is beginning to gain attraction as an auriferous locality, solely through the exertions of an enterprising Welshman, who has succeeded, at a cost of six hundred pounds (L 600) in bringing in a water-race around some very rough and precipitous country. A special claim of ten (10) acres has been granted to him as a reward for his enterprise, which he nchly deserves, as he will give employment to ten (10) or twelve (12) men for yeare hence upon ground which is now proved to be payable for sluicing purposes. The Victoria Bridge, which has been erected across theK awarau River, since my last report has proved a great boon, not only to the settlers but also to the traveling public, and has given fresh impetus to mining in its neighborhood. 1 he merit of the building of this bridge belongs solely to Mr M'Cormiok, the proprietor, who projected and carried the work out to its fipn.l issue. It is a suspension bridge, hung on fourteen (11) four-inch wires on each side of it' and is an ornamental as well as a useful structure.

A company styled the Sons of Fortune is forming a drainage tunnel under the Arrow River at a cost of probably two thousand

potmds (L 9,000), to work some well known rich ground above the Arrow falls. The construction of the tunnel will probably occupy eighteen (18) months, bat this is believed to Ira the only method of draining the ground. Nearly the whole of the Wakatipu district is supplied with coals from a coal pit on the Kawarau Flat, and this alone would be a snffi. cient reason for the erection of another bridge hke the Victoria across the Kawarau at Morven Ferry.

News has just reached rae that a quartz reef has been discovered at Deep Creek, Kawarau. ihe specimen that I have seen it is estimated would produce at the rate of six (6) ounces to the ton.

UP the Arrow River no rich finds have been discovered daring the past year with the exception of one claim, which has paid as much as twenty pounds (L2O) a-week per man for some time past. On the subject of fanning. This interest has suffered much on account of the diminution of population, owing to exhaustion of many alluvial workings and prices having ruled low. The harvest of 1875 has been a good one, although late. Wheat is selling at three sbillings (3s), and oa*s at two shillings and sixpence (2s fid) per bushel I anticipate a great change for the better in this industry, for the following reasons:—The farmers are purchasing their lands from the Government, and as freeholders find it wor.h their while to erect more substantial fences, and expend money in cultivation. They appear also to be introducing a proper system of faming, and instead of continual cropping with cereals are adopting a rotation of crops, and combining with this employment the rearing of stock. Another inducement for the farmers is the new outlet for surplus produce by the Wintou and Kingston railway.

At Arrowtown there have been great improvements going on since the date of my last report. Roads have been made under the supervison of a municipality which has been formed during the past year; and six new buildings have been erected at a cost exceedin - three thousand pounds (L 3,600). which has greatly enhanced the value of town property. The_district Has not suffered much owing to the diminution of population caused by the Palmer tush, as the proprietors of races ami claims have left representatives to protect then property, and themselves intend to return to a country having so many attractions, especially that of a healthy and bracing climate. The commonage rights and privileges about which there have been so many discussions have at last been partially settled by the sale of leases of about two-thirds of the waste lauds in small runs, each for a term of seven years; the balance of the land comprising about ninety thousand (90,00)) acres is used by the settlers for depasturing purposes, and a ranger has been appointed to keep the boundaries, and act as License Inspector. The vexed question between the rights of agriculturalists and miners is becoming more harassing each year. Undoubtedly it is very difficult to decide what laud is auriferous and what not. At the same time vast tracts of country are lying useless which could afford employment to thousands of men to their own advantage and to that of the treasury chest. The difficulty would be obviated by a short Amendment (Goldfields) Act abolishing the arbitration system, and providing that leases shall be granted, with the.right to the soil to a given depth for cultivation only; and that clauses be inserted iu the leases, providing that when gold is traced within the boundaries of any area on satisfactory proof thereof, portions of the same in blocks of not less than five (5) acres at a time shall be yielded up to the gold-mining applicant on payment to the lessee of a sum not exceeding three pounds ,(L3) an acre, on refund of rent that the agriculturalist his paid to the Crown; the exact sura to be paid as compensation to be decided by the Warden and four (4) assessors. It having been decided by the District Court that the agriculturist has a right to the land to the centre of the earth downwards, and the cumbersome machinery of arbitration having caused so much delay and expense, has aroused the miners to oppose agricultural settlement wherever there is a possibility of gold being found. The consequence is the Lave no fixed booio on whiok to decide, and it becomes safer to refuse the leases until legislation provides that the agriculturalists shall have no control over the minerals, and that an uniform price shall be paid, if required, for mining purposes. Then the agriculturist will be able to calculate whether it is worth his while to fence in and cultivate the land, and opposition will cease. In all decisions he should have aright to remove all improvements, and time be given, if the land is under crops, for them to mature. 1 am of opinion that in this district the introduction of such a law would cause the almost immediate occupation of about five thousand (5,000) acres under the Agncultuial Lease Regulations. The advantage both to the Government and the people by revenue and settlement would be very great. During the present month quartz reefs have been discovered near Macetown, at the head of Cardrona Creek, and at Deep Creek, Kawarau Flat, being three (3) district localities. The crushing of specimens from the Macetown reef produced at the rate of two and a half (2£) ounces to the ton. From the reports concerning these reefs, and the liberal offer from the Government recently made to subsidise a pound for every pound raised to prospect the district, I confidently anticipate the working of quartz reefs as soon as the winter is over, and judging from the finds that have been made with little risk and to great advantage. The goldfields revenue during the past year has amounted to two thousand six hundred and thirty-two pounds, fifteen shillings and nmepence (L 2,632 15s 9j), Miners’ wages average three pounds (L 3) a week ; laborers, two pounds(L2), and' at harvest time three pounds (L 3). Firewood is becoming more scarce, and consequently dearer, as that from Wakatipu has increased in price during the year past from two pounds five shillings (L2 ss) to two pounds'fifteen shillings (L2 15s) per cord, but we are in hopes that the construction of railways will so far reduce the price of Newcastle and Greymouth coal, that the scarcity of firewood and its high price will not be felt Amount of yield of gold in the Arrow district during the year ending theSlst of March, 1875, has been 11,5700z 7dwts ISgrs.

P.S.—I observe I have neglected to mention what a great advantage it would be to the district to open the Crown Terrace in an agricultural lease block, and through it continue the dray road now being constructed by Messrs Tohn and M‘Kay to Robert M‘Bengali's coal pit, which is situated about seven miles from Arrowton on the_ line of the proposed road te Cardrona. The lignite sent down recently from that pit is very good, and the continuation of even a bridle track from Arrowtown to Gardrona, via the coal pit, would confer a great boon upon the district and prove remunerative. Also, a threefold advantage wool i be gained. Ist By a much easier gradient over the Crown Range for the traffic to Cardrona. 2nd. Coals at a cheaper rate than they can be obtained from the present only working coal pit in the district, which is situate at Beep Creek, Kawarau Flat. And 3rd. Connecting the auriferous localities, more especially the quartz reef recently discovered at the head of Cardrona Greek.