WARDEN'S REPORT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 259, 16 January 1873, Page 5

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Robinson, writing frdm Naaeby, under date December 31st, reports as follows : — 1 have the honor to report npon the district under my charge, for the past quarter, as follows : — The season has, on the -whole, been particularly unfavorable for sluicing work. The weather has been singularly dry, hardly any rain has fallen, and hot parching winds have prevailed. In consequence, the small supplies of water have grown less and less, until at length mining has been brought to a stand for want of it. This drought has been most severely felt about Mount Ida. There have been some heavy showers in some other parts of the district, but at Naseby hardly a drop of rain has fallen for nearly three months. The wonder is that there has not been a general departure of miners to other fields. There is scarcely anything to report in connection with mining matters for the quarter, with the exception of a small rush to the Ro.k and Pillar Range, near Hyde, where some few parties have been doing very well. The goM is mostly heavy, and in this respect resembles the generality of gold got from high up in the ranges. It is not unlikely that many other good gullies may be found in the same range of mountains. In quartz mining the interest in the Shag Valley remains unabated; but beyond the erection of machinery there is nothing of public interest to report. At Rough Ridge, Robert's company has got machinery on the ground, with a view of more thoroughly testing the qualitiei of the stone in the reef known as the Great fas tern, which was opened some years back but abandoned by the prospectors, and the lease cancelled. In spite of hard times, Naseby continues to improve in appearance ; new buildings are still being erected. The latest is a Presbyterian Ghurch, of which the foundation was laid with some ceremony only a few weeks ago. It is understood that before long there will be a Church of England likewise. The erection of Naseby into a municipality can hardly fail to promote its prosperity. It has been a subject of wonder to many that this movement should have been so long delayed, seeing that Kaseby is far more populous than most of the up-country towns to which municipal powers have been conceded. The wise prospects of the carrying out ef the scheme for a main channel at Naseby, in conjunction with the bringing in of a large race from the Mannherikia diver, lias doubtless had much te do with keeping up the courage of miners and business people during the late period of drought and consequent stagnation. A really large race, from a permanent source of supply, would be a wonderful stay to the fortunes of this place, the Maerewhenua the excitement about the sale of land to the Hon. Robert Campbell, has to some extent diverted people's minds from the trouble of want of water, but that want has been very severely felt. It seems probable that another source of anxiety to those interested in the progress of the Maerewhenua diggings will be found in the opposition of millowners and others to the diversion of the *vaters of the Kakanui river. This is a difficulty that has but newly cropped up, but it promises to give some trouble. Since my last report was written, Mr Warden Carew has resumed charge of the St. Batbans division. 1 therefore refrain from making any reference to St Bathans in the tabular statements which are appended to this report. The statistics appended to the report are these : — Population : European — iNaseby, 300; Kyebnrnand Clark's, 120; Hamilton, Sowburn, and Rock and Pillar, 130 ; Hyde and Fullerton's, 90 ; Macrae's, North Taieri, and Shag Valley, 140, and 80 quartz miners; Serpentine, 80;" Maerewhenua, 150; nthe* localities. 80 : total, 1170. Chinese — Naseby, 50 ; Kyeburn and Clark's, 30 ; Hyde and Fulierton's, 10 ; Macrae's, 100 ; Serpentine, 40 ; other localities, 20 : total, 250. Machinery : 110 hydraulic hoses, 235 sluice boxes, 4 steam-engines of 4$ nominal horse power, 5 cruhing machines, 35 stamp heads, 1 water wheel. The approximate value of all' the mining plant is set down at L9IOO, and the number of square miles actually worked upon is estimated at 24. Ihe present price of gold is L 3 I6a per ounce. Prices current — Bread, 3.1 per lb : fresh butter, Is 3d ; salt, Is ; cheese. 9d ; flou-, 40a per 1961b5 ; wheat, 7s per bushel ; beef, 6d per lb ; mutton, 4|d ; pork, 6d to 9d ; milk, 8d per quart ; rice, 6d per lb ; sugar, 7d ; tea, 3s ; tobacco, 6s. Rate of wages. — For miners, 10s per day. Escort. — During the quarter the gold sent down by escort was as follows :— Naseby, 50700z3. ; Macraes, 4580z5. lldwts. ; Palnurston, 2480z. lldwts. ; total, 57770z5. 2.lwts. On the field there are 208 waterraces, of 797 sluice-heads, the construction of which cost L 79.000, and the present value of which is estimated at L 52 000; 214 tailraces, which cost L 20.550, and are now valued at L 16.30 0; and 117 dams, which cost LI 1,350, the present value being L 10,900.