The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 225, 25 September 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1877.

The periodical reports on the goldfields of New Zealand from the Wardens in the various districts have been printed and laid before Parliament, and the extracts which we propose to make from those which relate to the western portion of the Provincial District of Nelson will, we believe, surprise many of our readers, who at present have little idea of the number of men employed and the amount of gold extracted from the soil and rock in that part of the colony. In the course of a brief report upon the Tadmor diggings Mr L. Broad says:—" The Tadmor Hill has been prospected, and from reliable reports I believe would pay remarkably well for sluicing. A water race could be constructed at an expense of about £6000, and it is possible some steps may be taken ere long by a private company to make this work." As the result of conversations we have had with practical miners who possess a thorough acquaintance with the district we can fully endorse the Warden's opinion as to the probable remunerative character of the work. The whole of the hill side is knowu to contain gold, which is easily obtainable with tlic assistance of water, but as this would have to be brought for fifteen miles it is beyond the means of any one party of miners, and would have to be carried out by a company. Mr C. Broad explains that the district under his charge embraces the Karamea settlement, und extends thence to the Devil's Grip, a distance of some 100 miles, and includes the following districts :— Westport, Mokihinui, Hampden, Maruia, Matakitaki! Mangles, Lyell, Charleston, and Brighton! The number of miners actually engaged over this extent of country is 3,400, and the amount of gold exported from Westport during the year 1876-77 was valued at £93,000. Although the uew discoveries have been few and unimportant, there is sufficient evidence to show that large tracts of auriferous ground remain undisturbed, and only await population to bring to light the hidden treasures they undoubtedly possess. " The mining operations at Charleston, Brigtou, Lyell, and Addison's Flat have assumed fie aspect of permanent workings; although no longer sustaining the large floating population they did some years ago, yet in its place has been left a settled population with homesteads aud carefully kept gardens many of the miners married, with families growiug up around them, and not at all likely to form a portion of thafc nomadic class who are likely to be led away hy the mere rumor of a new rush." Quite a settlement of Shctlanders has sprung up betweeu Westport and Charleston. Some years ago the total number was six, hut since th n it has increased to 100 by the addition of their fellow countrymen with wives and families specially sent home for. Mr Broad concludes by stating that after ten years observation of the district he has perfect confidence in its becoming, at no distant period, an important centre of population. With regard to the Inangahua district we caunot do better than give a description of the results of the past year's workings in the Warden's own words. Mr Shaw says with reference to the reefs: — "A review of the operations upon the principal lines of reefs during the past year shows that twenty claims havo been more or less actively worked. Of these, those in the Boatman's District have shown by far the most marked advance* where four claims have yielded 9,5740zs of retorted gold from 4,508 tons of ,

stone crushed, giving an average of 2ozs 2Jdwts of gold per ton, represented by dividends of £21,767 10s. From the synopsis of the total yield of gold with amount of stone crushed throughput the Inangahua district for fche past year, as appended, ifc will be observed that 33,969 tons have been crushed, with a yield of 30,6280z5, and dividends of £50,612 10s have been declared. Last year, from about the same amount of stone, 24,2780zs of gold were obtained, paying £27,513 in dividends. During the year ending March 31st, 1875, the dividends declared amounted to the sum of £13,000. The rate of increase averages therefore nearly 100 per cent, and, as no surer test of the prosperity of the district could be afforded than by a comparison of the divisible profits of successive years, this fact is one full of encouragement to all interested iv the working and developement of the Inangahua reefs. From an examination of Victoaian statistics, I observe that the average output of gold for each quartz-miner is 43 oz. 2 dwts. per annum. Here, where labor-saving appliances are much more primitive and limited, the average per man is 54 oz. 16 dwts. This difference is no doubt attributable to a great extent to the fact that here only the richer reefs are considered payable— no company having beeu able to declare a dividend from stone having less thau 10 dwts. per tou, whereas in Victoria one-third of that amount is made highly profitable; but this explanation augurs well for the future of this enormous field when worked more extensively and economically. Notwithstanding all that has been said and done, I have still to deplore a want of proper communication with the coasfc. After a few hours' rain all traffic is suspended, and ruinous rates for carriage are consequently charged. The small population of this town and vicinity, in all some 1,500 souls, is paying a sur-tax of some £20,000 per annum for freight over aud above the cost of goods supplied. A 20---head stampery battery with engine boiler, sold in Melbourne for £2000, would cost erected upon (say) Potter's line of reef £40(10. Is it nofc astonishing therefore to find the development of this district to b 8 but gradual and slow." Mr Guinness' report from Collingwood is we regret to say, nofc so encouraging, indeed the writer appears to have penued it in a moment of despondency which we cau only hope is nofc justified 'by the actual state of affairs, although we are compelled to admit that of this Mr Guinness is the best judge. He says:—" I have to report fchafc this district has made no progress duriug the year. Some of the old hands hays leffc, and more are about to do so. I attribute the falling off of the population to the want 0 better communication both by means of road and telegraph, and until some improvements in these matters are made I see bufc little hope of any advancement takiug place in the district. I believe thafc its resources as far as regards gold-mining, are quite equal to any in New Zealand, and require nothing save some assistance for improving the means of communication with other parts of New Zealand. A considerable number of agricultural leases have been taken up in fche Aorore Valley, and it may be hoped these efforts afc settlement will prove successful." It does appear strange that the Collingwood district which is known to be a perfect museum of minerals should be so backward as compared with other mining districts of the colony. We can but hope with Mr Guinness that as communication improves its known resources will be brought to light. It is a fact beyond all dispute that gold, silver, iron, and coal are there in abundauce, and yet Collingwood remains as it has been for years past. Surely some improvement must be in store for this richbut uufortuuate part of the country.