COUNCIL PAPERS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1127, 8 March 1872, Page 2

COUNCIL PAPERS.

WARDENS' REPORTS— GREY DISTRICT. v

The following is Mr Warden Kevell's report on the Grey District (Westland side) for the bix month's ending 31st December, 1871 :— • .To the County Chairman, Hokitika. Sib— j have the honor to forward, for your information, my report for the Grey district for. the past six months. There have been no fresh discoveries or new rushes calling for particular notice. The prevalence of wet weather during the summer has added materially to the supply of water for mining purposes, whereby mining; operations have mide fair progress throughout the district, 1 as will be seen by the yield of gold, which is slightly in excess of the former halfyear, and although the returns show a slight decrease in the population, still their general appearance is that of health and: comfortable circumstances, with few exceptions, and the absence of crime speaks well for' all connected therewith. The outlying districts, Arnold and Clifton, maintain a steady population, and sittings of -the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts have been held every three weeks at each place. The horse track from Maori Gully to Italian. Gully ".Is being- -puahocl— on, -and will be a great. boon to that part of the district. In the Clifton district the large waterrace (nine miles) of O'Connor and party has been constructed for a considerable distance, and the owners hope to have it completed to the Limestone Ranges in about six months. The Railway Reserve, from the Teretnakau to Greymouth, is situated more or less upon a well-known and defined lead, but, inconsequence of being a reserve, the miners are unable to obtain the necessary protection for claims and other rights to work the ground. I should, therefore, recommend that some steps should beadopted by the County Council "that miners may be enabled to secure the ground for mining purposes only. I have to draw your special attentipn.to the inefficient ' accommodation at 1 Maori Gully for conducting the business of- the Courts. The present building, 14. f tby lQf t, has to supply accommodation for the Sergeant of Police and his family, the sittings of Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts, and often as a lock-up for prisoners. . I attach herewith return of the population, cases heard in the different Courts, the revenue of- the various departments, and the number of miners' rights, licenses, leases,, &c, issued ; the quantity of gold j exported, and current prices of various articles of consumption at the different centres throughout the distrist. The population "of the district is estimated vat 4380 souls, and are located as follows ;— Greymouth, 2200 ; Paroa and South Beach. 430 ; Rntherglen and Welshman's, 3.20 ; Te'remakau, 66 ; Clifton and Cockabulla, 300;' Maori " Creek, -New River, 300 ; Mawden and Neraona, 150 ; Maori Gully, Arnold, 250; Waimea and Still water, 172; German Gully, 250; Rielly's and Italian's, 120 ; Liverpool's, 32. Total, 4380. .; Number of cases heard in the Resident Magistrate's; and Warden's Courts, at Grey, Arnold, and Clifton :— Criminal : Greymouth, 192 ; Arnold, 21 ; Clifton, 8. Total, 221. Civil: Greympntb, 497; Arnold, 48; Clifton, 6.2.. total, 6,07. Warden's : Greymoutb, 34; Arnold, 2.5; Clifton, I§. Total, 74.' tfdtal number of cases, 902. r ' Revenue : v — Warden's Department, L 1729 193 6d ; Resident Magistrate's Department, L 642 17s ; Publicans' Licenses paid to Treasurer, L 360-; Gold Duty, L 2288 15s lOd. Total, L5021 12s 4d. The following number of miner's rights, business licenses, registration leases, exte.nde,d claims, and Jicenses, have been issued, vija. :--Miner!s rights, 507. Business licenses -yearly, 21; half-yearly, 48; quarterly, 26. Registrations— A l ss, 153; at 2s 6d, 39 ; at Is, 542. Mining leases, 3 ; agricultural leases, 3 ; special claims, 3 ; extended claims, 1 ; retail licenses, 3; conditional licenses, 5 ; half-yearly do, 20; wholesale licenses, 2 ; bottle do, 2; retail licenses by J.P., 12. ' The Customs returns show that 18,6100z 6dwt JOgrpassed to the credit of the County of Westland, and 25,8430 a 6dwt 12gr to that of Nelson. , , r ; I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. H. Revjbli, Wardem Warden's Office, Greymouth, January, 1872. , > ; .