WARDEN'S REPORT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 142, 27 October 1870, Page 7

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Borfcon, writing to the Secretary of Land and Works, from Mount Benger, under date October 11, reports : —

1 have the honor to report that, during the last quarter just ended, mining in this district has been carried on with considerable energy and success. The river, which at one time threatened to put a stop to all operations on its banks, has since fallen sufficiently low to admit of the working of all ordinary claims ; and although from the increasing deposit of tailings in the river bottom, sluicing is year by year becoming a more difficult and less remunerative undertaking ; still the results of some of the washings-up this season have been such as to prove that there are yet rich treasures to reward the toil and perseverance of the miner. One of the principal obstacles to mining is this, as in others districts, the want of capital to test the capabilities of new ground. There are hundreds and even thousands of acres on either bank of the Clutha, which I am confident would amply remunerate any parties able and willing to give them a sufficient trial. In proof of this I may mention that, about two months since, a party of Chinese discovered a rich deposit in the terrace on the we?t bank of the river, about a mile above Boxburgh. This terrace has been yielding from LI to L 3 per day per man to forty or fifty miners, mostly Chinese ; and yet, so small was the expectation of this spot proviug payable, that an excellent stone house had beeu built on the ground.

Since my last report the European population has remained very steady ; but there has been a large influx of Chinese who have gone over the hills and taken up good claims on the Pomahaka and surrounding districts.

I estimate that from 150 to 200 Chinese are now working iv those localities, and doubtless the yield of gold for the next quarter will be favourably affected by this increase of population. The weather during the iirsi part of the quarter was wet and stormy,butforthelast sixweeks we have had no rain at all ; and unless a good downfall occurs shortly, the growing crops, both of.farmS and gardens, will be materially injured..

" ' By a table appended to the report, we learn] that there are 329 European and 312 miners , mr the. district. There are employed 22 sluiceß -and toma; 20 waterwheels, 21 pumps, and 1015' sluice boxes ; representing a money value of L 22,250. The number of square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon is 47 1, and the price of gold 75s per ounce.

An effected singer at a Dublin theatre waa told by a wag in the gallery to " come out from behind his nose and sing his song like other people,"