GOLDFIELDS ANNUAL REPORTS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2519, 17 July 1884, Page 2

GOLDFIELDS ANNUAL REPORTS.

The reports of the Wardens of this and the adjoining districts to the Undersecretary for Goldfields appear in the Goldfields Report. We extract the Kumara, Waitnea, and Greenstone reports for the information of our readers:—

KUMARA. There is nothing specially requiring notice in the condition of this part of the district during the past year, except the difficulties which have occurred in connection w.ith the main tail-race, commonly but, as I conceive, erroneously called “ sludge-channel.” These difficulties and their history are so well known to the Government, and have so recently formed the subject of a report by myself in another capacity, that it cannot be necessary to discuss the matter at any length on the present occasion. But, for the purpose of preserving some continuity in the yearly reports on the state of the district, the general state of the question may be briefly sketched. It was very soon found that the sludge-channel was not capable of accommodating the number of claims which had been permitted to open into it. The wooden blocks wore out so rapidly that the work of repairing was almost constant, and the stoppages, owing to this cause as well as tothe frequent choking of the channel, caused much hindrance to work, and much dissatisfaction amongst the miners. In consequence of the rapid wear of the wooden blocks, stone pavin® was afterwards tried, and this, whilst it proved more lasting, at the same time was found to cause more friction, and thus to some extent still further to diminish the carrying power of the channel. An inquiry was held with reference to the management and workmg of the sloage-channel in January last by Mr Gordon and myself, a report of which was made to the Government in due course. Some time prior to this a new set of conditions for the use of the sludge-channel was put forth by the Government, but its operation was suspended until further inquiries could be made, inasmuch as the miners considered some of the conditions unnecessarily restrictive, and were also rather taken by surprise by the proposed mode of dealing with the question between the earlier and later rightholders. A fresh code of conditions has since been framed, and application has been made by the manager of the channel to myself for approval, in compliance with the mining regulations relating to main tail-races. This matter is not yet dealt with, a certain time having been given for claim-holders connected with the channel to make objections 10 any clauses which they may think unfair, but it is probable (hat this part of the business will very shortly be disposed of. It will be seen from the. above outline that the state of things connected with the sludge-chan-nel is not so satisfactory as could be wished, and chut the u-ffieitities are to

a large degree of a physical character, and not likely to be wholly surmounted. Nevertheless the channel is the means of enabling a good deal of work to be done, and it may be hoped that, when once general principles and legal questions have been definitely settled, things will go more smoothly, and difficulties be reduced to th'e minimum that the nature of the case permits. A good deal of fairly satisfactory work may yet be expected if the discharge of tailings Is not hindered by the blocking of the river-bed. Grave fears of this contingency have been felt and expressed, and it seems very desirable that some skilled opinion should be obtained upon this subject, with the view of determining whether any reasonable outlay upon any part of the river bank would have the effect of preserving the tailing site. There are of course many claims on the Kumara diggings not connected with the sludge-channel, but taking water from the Government race, and others are supplied by Mr Holmes’s race. To all those which are supplied with Government water the increase in the supply by the enlargement of the race, and by the formation of a new dam, will prove a valuable acquisition, since it is considered that a month’s supply will now be available, and it is not often that rain fails for a longer period than that, J. Giles. Hokitika, April 22, 1884.

WAIMEA,

The old digging townships of Stafford and Goldsborough and the mining claims scattered around them show no very great change from year to year. In my last report I mentioned the grant of a special claim of fifty acres upon Kelly’s Terrace. The progress of these things is necessarily slow, especially when ample capital is not forthcoming to enable work to be pushed on with vigour. But this undertaking is not abandoned : a company has been formed, a right has been obtained, to a head-race six miles long and carrying twenty heads of water, a dam site has been obtained, and the drainage tunnel is now in course of construction. The success of this enterprise would have a very beneficial effect upon that part of the district. The main road between Stafford and Goldsborough has during the past year been deviated at Tunnel Terrace for about a mile and a quarter. The old road which used to be a great source of trouble to the miners by reason of the necessity they were under of flaming their tail-races and tramways over it, has now been given up to them, and is fast becoming covered with tailings; whilst the new one takes a more elevated course, well oat of the way of the tail-races. J. Giles, Warden. Hokitika, 22nd April, 1884.

GREENSTONE.

The mining population is about 200, nearly half being Chinese. Most of the Chinese are working in the bed of the Greenstone Creek, and, judging from the expensive wing-dams and tailraces they have constructed, I think they will have constant work for many years. The Eriu-go-Bragh Water-race Company have extended their race from Hayes Terrace to Payne’s Gully, and it is probable that some parties may set in to work in that locality, as gold was found there several yeans ago, and some few miners have been working recently and obtaining fair wages. Hitherto the want of water has been a great drawback, bub since the extension of the Erin-go-Bra«h Race they will have a constant supply. Generally minors are doing fairly well in this locality. The parties working in the bed of the Greenstone Creek have great difficulties to contend with in wet weather ; the creek very often rises to such a height as to flood their claims out, and tlie Holders are thereby put to considerable trouble and expense to get them into working order again ; but, with all these obstacles, they appear to be satisfied with their earnings. H. A. Stratford, Warden, Warden’s Office, Greymoutli, Ist May, 1884.