COUNCIL PAPER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 112, 12 May 1874, Page 2

COUNCIL PAPER.

The following report by Mr Warden Guinness on the Golden Bay district will j We are sure, be read with interest :—■- To the Provincial Secretary. Sir, — I have the honor to submit for the information of (he Government and Provincial Council the following report upon the condition and prospects of the Golden Bay goldfieldp, including the West Wangaoui goldfields. In consequence of the short time I have had charge of this district, and of the few opportunities I have had of making myself acquainted with the various mining centres of it, I can only furnish a comparatively meagre report at present. That this district contains very great mineral wealth is of course well known to your Honor; and that the resources of this district are comparatively little explored up to the present time is also true; in fact, from the difficult nature of the country, it is almost impossible for a very large portion of the district to be prospected; and, uutil some improvement can be made in the roads and tracks, but little progress can be hoped for. In the district of Takaka I have ascertained that about 38 men are employed in mining, some of whom are also farming small plots of ground, the method used for mining in this district is confined to sluicing; and I believe those engaged in this industry are all doing well, but no advance in the way of improving the mining operations seems probable, although it is said that with a better supply of water much more ground could be profitably token up. I have not been able to hear of any suggestion likely to be practicable for bringing in a large water-race so as to command the auriferous ground at high elevations. In this district (whioh is more of an agricultural and pastoral tban a mining one) tbe want of good roads is much felt. There are two sawmills at work in the Valley, and a good supply of excellent timber is available, but from tbe incomplete state of tbe roads great difficulty must arise during the wet season in getting sawn timber to the port; a contract for railway sleepers is now being executed, and tbe impetus I this work has given to the place is very apparent. I hope it will induce I the Road Board to endeavor to get the roads to the sawwills metalled ere tbe winter sets in, so tbat this industry may not fag, from the increased cost which bad roads would inevitably make to the commodity. I am informed that the present road from the Takaka Valley to Motueka is in a very bad condition, passing, as it does, over a high range of hill., and in a most difficult country; it is said that a very great improvement could be effected in this route by making an alteration in it, so as to avoid some of the worst parts of the range, and carrying it over a lower pass than it at present goes by. I hope that the Government will be able to allocate some portion of the proposed loan to improving this road, which would become a trunk road were it made over a better route. The Collingwood district is, as far as I can judge, much in thejaame condition as when last reported upon; but tbere is some prospect of its iron mines being worked in a large and efficient manner. The Para Para Mining Company wbich is in process of being formed , has a good prospect before it. That iron ore of a superior quality exists in this place is undoubted, and that it can be profitably worked appears very probable. That coal, of a very superior kind, is largely deposited in this district, is proved, and with an ample supply of it the iron mines must prove a source of great wealth, which if onoe brought into operation will cause a great increase to our population and revenue. Many other very valuable mineral deposits exist in this district, which ought to be made known to capitalists as much as possible. Ores of lead (sometimes rich in silver), copper, marble of great beauty, and probably very valuable, kaoline, steatite, and limestone in endless quantity are to be found here in several places, and are well worth being more carefully examined as to their commercial value. A small battery of five head of stampers, which bad been at Bichmond Hill, has been shipped by the owner, Mr Ross, to Anatori, for erection in the prospector's claim in Beaton's Creek, Weßt Wanganui. I trust this machinery may reach its destination safely, and soon be in operation, for I feel convinced that should it prove the reef, which has been struck in that claim, rich, or even payable, there will be a considerable influx of population to this place. As I had lately the honor of reporting a visit which I paid to the reefs at Wanganui, I will only refer to that report. I have every reason to believe that the suggestions which I made in it [are the most practical for ensuring, at a moderate cost, the opening up of this goldfield. I hear that a surveyor accompanied by Mr Gibbs and some others have made a tour of this country, but I have not heard what the nature of their report is. lam told by the surveyor that a good route can be found for cattle over the dividing range, and that a small expense would enable goods to be sent from the Anatori; I have been over this route, but I must venture to disagree with Mr Sinclair, the only method for getting goods by this route, consists in first landing stores at Anatori, a place so dangerous and impracticable, save at spring tides, that the

cost of freight would probably be doubled; next, the goods have to be packed about four miles, then placed in a boat, and canoed for two miles morej then again packed for about two miles — the latter over very difficult country. Ivpw, though the first cost of making this route (it cannot be called a road) might be less than making a pack track, as I have advised, from West Wanganui, still it would prove the dearest in the long run for should the reefs prove rich, the wants of the population could not possibly be met from so so impracticable a harbor as Anatori, and the road which I advise would have to be made, probably at a greater cost than now; it must not be forgotten that the pack (rack which I advocate can when required be widened into a drayroad; and were a small outlay made to drain the swamps, I believe the road would form of itself, as I have seen in swamps of a similar character, where a very small amount of drainage is effected, it has a wonderful effect on the whole, solidifying it iu a most unexpected manner. I trust therefore your Honor, before determining on any line of road to this promising place, will obtain the opinion of the Provincial Engineer on this matter; I recommend this plan, in consoquence of seeing that some private interests are at issue, for the purpose of getting a road to the reefs by one or other of those routes, and I fear the public interests may suffer by what appears to be a sort of scramble. I must now call your Honor's attention to the position I am placed in. I find that the duties of the oflice of the receiver of gold revenue, Clerk to the Bench, Postmaster, who has to administer Money Order, Savings Bank business, Insurance business, are sufficient in themselves, if properly and fully performed, to occupy the whole of my time, consequently when engaged in the duties of Warden, Resident Magistrate, Registration and Returning Officer, or any of the other duties I have to perform, some part ofthe others must fall io arrear, to the' serious loss of the public service. I bave beeD working sometimes till midnight from nine in the morning, and still cannot make up lee way; therefore I trust your Honor will be pleased to allow a clerk to bo appointed to this office; this officer's duties might be performed, at present at least, by a constable, for unless the Government are willing to allow the present most unsatisfactory state of things to contiaue, some change will have to be made; the District Constable here is totally unfit for bis duties, and indeed seems to believe that he is only paid to serve an occasional summons, and possibly attend at the Court if specially ordered to do so, he is useless as a peace-officer, and in fact had turned the lock-up into a private dwelling-house for his married daughter. The district Constable of Takaka is a more efficient officer, but still far from bein'j* what a constable should be. I would therefore recommend that a constable should bo stationed here to aesist in the office and havo charge of the whole district: business could be so arranged that his services would always be available when most needed, nnd by this arrangement I think the efficiency of all the departments would be very much increased at a small expense — one which I think the increase of tbe revenue which might be looked for would compensate. I have, &c , Frank Guinness, Warden , Collingwood, April 16, 1874.