WESTLAND GOLDFIELDS.

Kumara Times, Issue 3030, 20 July 1886, Page 3

WESTLAND GOLDFIELDS.

WARDENS' REPORTS. Mr Warden Giles to the Under-Se-cretary of Mines. Sir—With the usual goldfields statistics and returns, I have the honour also to report as follows upon the state of this district: — KUMAR A This sub-district presents no new feature requiring particular comment. Work has been steadily continued except when want of water has compelled its cessation ; and the general prosperity of the place has been fully up to or above the average of alluvial goldfields in the colony. The construction of the No. 2 or relief-cbannel to the main tail-race, known as the sludge-channel, is progressing, and the work, when completed, will doubtless prove of sensible advantage to the claims which have so long been overcrowding the main cha'nnel with their tailings. It is worthy of notice, however, that, whatever the deficiencies of the channel may be, there has been of late none of th*at public agitation on the subjedt which used to be so incessant. The miners have probably discovered that agitation will not alter the physical laws of gravitation and hydrostatics, and have found out some tolerable mode of making the best of the existing state of thiDgs. I learn from the newspapers that the Government is making proposals to the local bodies that they should take over the management of the water-races-and channels of the district. This course, so far as regards the Kumara Sludge-channel, was recommended by Mr Gordon and myself some time ago ; and I am glad to see it revived, and hope the proposal may have effect. I think it right to say here that another reason in favour of the transfer of such property to other hands is to be found in the liability of the Government to actions for damages, and the difficulty of finding an impartial tribunal in assessors selected from the locality, who are apt to hold the balance not very evenly between their own friends arfd acquaintances and the public treasury. An instance of this occurred last October, when an action for damages was brought in the Warden's Court at Knmara by Sellars and party against the Government. The complainants had, in my opinion, no case in law against the Government, or, at least, only a case for the value of a few boxes damaged; yet the assessors, in the face of the ruling of the Court, found a verdict for £264 damages—a decision "which had neither law nor justice in its favour. I am sorry to have to refer to this subject, but I feel it to be a duty, in making a general report of this kind, to make a plain aud deliberate statement on the subject. WAIMEA. The diggings about Goldsborough present no marked change of any kind, and demand no special mention. In my last report I mentioned a fallingoff in the Court and office business at Stafford. This was partly caused by dry weather; but the business still remains small, so-far as the number of cases and applications is concerned. But with regard to the magnitude and importance of the mining operations in this sub-district there is marked improvement, and indication of still better prospects in the near future. The Kelly's Terrace Company, after bringing up their drainage-tunnel to their claim, have struck, immediately within their boundary, highly-payable wash, adjoining and 3ft. below the tunnel. The mining-manager states that a load and a half of wash-dirt gave 17£dwt. of gold. The lead is con. sidered to be quite distinct from those which were before known or believed to exist on Kelly's Terrace; and it is the intention of the company to continue driving so as to intercept and examine the different layers. For the present, however, these operations are suspended by reason of the collapse of a portion of the tunnel, which makes a deviation necessary before work can be resumed. Adjoining and below the Kelly s Terrace claim, a special claim of twenty-eight acres has been granted to Murphy and party, who have erected a large water-wheel, and intend to work the ground on an open face, with a turbine and winding-gear. They are sanguine of getting good results in this ground, which has been practically abandoned for years. The ventures above described hold out a good prospect of a considerable expansion of digging operations in this o'd delict, to which it would be rash at present to assign a limit. SCHOOL OF MINES. At Kumara a chemi.s ry c'as-t has bggn keDt 2 U faot » fflwuly by

the efforts of Dr. Duvy, wbo to his professional qualifications adds an unusual acquaintance with natural and physical science, and who has given much time and trouble to the work of not merely lecturing to, but practically teaching, those who have attended his lessons. I have, &c, J. Giles, Warden. Hokitika, 15th April, 1886. GREENSTONE.'., Mr Warden Keddell to the UnderSecretary of Mines. Sir—l have the honour to report as follows on the condition and progress of the mining district of -Greenstone, under my charge : There is no change in this sub-dis-trict worthy of mention. At Duke Terrace two parties have been working some time, and are apparently, satisfied with their earnings, to judge by the determined spirit they urged and resisted litigation in the Warden's Court and Appeal Court over portions of the ground claimed by them. The population is about the same, and the workings as last year. No fresh ground opened. I have forwarded, under audther cover, the statistical returns called for; and the figures shown there evidence no falling-off in the past year compared with the preceding. Jackson Keddell, Warden. Warden's Office, Greymouth, sth May, 1886.

Statement showing the Revenue of the Goldfields collected in the Districts of Kdmara, Stafford, Goldsborouoh, and Greenstone, for the Period from the Ist January to the 31st December, 1885.

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Rights, Privileges, &c. .Kumara. Stafford. Goldsborough. Greenstone. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Miners’ rights ... 403 0 0 174 0 0 173 0 0 154 0 0 Business licenses 78 0 0 ... 3 0 0 Water-races, sluices, &c. 4 12 6 11 0 0 24 15 0 4 10 0 Gold-mining leases, rents, and royalties 43 15 0 12 3 0 ... 11 2 6 Registration 10 2 0 4 4 0 18 1 0 6 11 0 Fees and fines, Warden’s Courts 15 4 0 9 3 0 6 16 0 3 10 0 Miscellaneous 12 12 6 20 16 0 0 10 0 Totals £567 6 0 £231 6 o £223 2 0 £182 13 6