KUMARA AND WAIMEA GOLD FIELDS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2779, 18 August 1885, Page 3

KUMARA AND WAIMEA GOLD FIELDS.

WARDEN GILES' ANNUAL REPORT. From the annual Report on the Goldfields of New Zealand we extract from Mr Warden Giles' Report to the Under Secretary for Goldfields the following in reference to the Kumara and Waimea goldfields, and also Professor Black's visit. The report is dated 27th April, 1885. KUMARA. There is nothing new to report in connection with mining matters in this district. There has been a good deai of dry weather during the year, which has somewhat obstructed sluicing operations, but the yield of gold for the time darin" which work has been carried on has been good. No new ground has been opened tip during the year. The old-stauding difficulty of the sludge-channel remains, but h project is now or. foot for affording relief by an auxiliary channel which, if it lakes effect, will, it is to he hoped, e.-.ablc work to be carried on with far fewer interruptions than hitherto. The whole subject of the Kumara sludge-channel has formed the subject of such copious correspondence that it. seems superfiuous to say more about it now, especially when, with the exception of a proposal to form a second channel, the whole business stands practically much in the same position as it did at the date of my last report. WAIMEA. The Kelly's Terrace Company continues its operations, which have been somewhat retarded by the character of the "round met with iu making the tunnel. The first section of the tunnel is now completed, and tenders are invited for the second, so that it may be hoped that in a few months this company may be in a position to begin sluicing. There is little else to record in this part of the district. During the past; year the services of a resident clerk of courts has been dispensed with, and the business at Stafford is now done by the resident constable at that place, and at Goldsborough by the clerk of the Kumara courts, who attends there and opens the office one clay in the week. Quite lately the business at Stafford has greatly fallen off, but how far this may be due to temporary and fluctuating causes cannot yet be determined. SCIENTIFIC LECTURES. The miners and other residents in the district have given a warm welcome to Professor Black and Mr Montgomery, who have succeeded in arousin" an enthusiastic interest in the chemistry of metals and of mining. The only drawback attending this little scientific incursion among us is the scantv time at the disposal of the lecturers and the impossibility of novices in chemistry learning in the time onehalf of what Professor Black had to tell them. But Professor Black did all that scientific enthusiasm, thorough knowledge of the subject, and a great power of lucidly setting it forth could accomplish ; and both he and Mr Montgomery really achieved a wonderful success in imparting so much information and exciting so much interest in the limited time at their disposal. At Kumara and other places classes for Study are projected; and it may be hoped that, if Professor Black comes again next year, he may find that some scientific seed has fallen upon, good ground.