OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5798, 18 September 1880, Page 2 (Supplement)

OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

We take the following extracts from the Wardens'reports : — NASEBY. The seasons hiwe on (ho whole been favourable for mining, foralthough the winter was long and Bevere, the quautity of snow accumulated n the mount;;ina gave a supply of water which was very acceptable in the spaing. There haa been more than the ordinary average rainfall during spring and summer; thus the supplies of water for sluicing have been maintained with unusual regularity. The miners have not failed to avail themaelves of these advantages, and the season, no doubt, has been a profitable one to all those who had claims opened out. This has especially been the cuee at Mount Burster, where some very good washings-up are known to have been obtained. The principal item of interest in mining »ff:iirs haa beenitho continued development of the rich ground at "Viuegar Hill and Shepherd's-but Flat, near Cambrian, where a new goldfield equal to the famed Welshman's Gully may be said to be proved to exist. A considerable number of claims have been taken up, and several leases applied for, and a large water-race is being brought in from the Dunstan Creek, in addition to the numerous small races in the vicinity, most of which have been extended so as to reach the new ground. This discovery cornea in very opportunely at a time when the Welshman's Gaily, which has been continuously worked for the last sixteen years, may be reasonably expected to have yielded up the best of its treasures. Already some very good waahinga-up have been obtained in the new ground, although but few claims are really opened out. In other parts of the district sluicing has gone on as usual, the only difference being that a more constant and abundant supply of water has enabled the miners to work more continuously and to realise better returns than usual. The settlement of the country by the takingup of land on agricultural leases and deferred payment has continued to go on, although not quite so rapidly as last year, when there was a general rush for land. The area taken up during the year has been, on agricultural leases, 2301 acres and 25 perchea; and on deferred payment, 49G5 acres 3 roods. There are at present in the district, held under agricultural lease, 25,448 acres 2 roods 15 perches ; and on deferred payment, 19,522 acres 2 roods 29 perches—making a grand total of 44,971 acres 1 rood 4 perches held under the two systems. During the year 866 acres 1 rood 9 perches, previously held under agricultural leases, have been converted into freehold ; and devexal agricultural leases, for a total area cf 810 acres 3 roods 23 perches, hare been exchanged for deferred-payment licenses. CLYDE.

The yield of gold, as obtained from the sales made to the various banks, has, to the agreeable surprise of many, exceeded that of last year, amounting to, in round number?, 40,0000z, against 32,000cz. This increase is attributable in a great measure to the handsome returns made by the Cromwell Company's quartz-reef, ai.d the yield of the Mountain Race Gold-mining Company's sluicing claim at Tinkers ; but the effect on mining enterprise— more especially on those claims worked on the river banks —of the disastrous fljod of 1878, reported by my predecessor in the last annual report, is still noticeable. Mining in this district has principally been confined to alluvial workings—chiefly sluicing. I am glad to report, however, that in more than one direction attention has been given to prospecting quartz veins, of which there are many indications, and I believe will be followed successfully. The mine of the Cromwell Company is the only advanced claim of this class in this district, and its yield this year has been very satisfactory. For the last two or three months, however, the prospects of the Company have received a check—of a temporary character, as I believe. This appears to be owing to * very common fault in the management of quartz-mines— i.c , not proceeding with the preliminary or " dead work " in other portions ot the mine whilst getting out payable stone at •Bother. They are dow sinking, and have reasonable hopes of having Eoon in view as good ■tone as that which has yielded the dividends of last year. [Since realised.] WAKATIPU. Alluvial Mining.—There are about 1075 goldminers in my district, and of these 700 to 800 are engaged in this industry—up the Scotover, ground-sluicing; at Macetown and in the Arrow Valley, sluicing aid tunnelling; and by the latter mode principally at Cardrona. On reference to the escort returns, you will find tbat the average yield of gold is about 13jz, or equal to LSO per annum a man. As a rule the alluvial miners are " hatters," or masters, and •re coneequently satisfied with much less returns than the wages man, who demands L 3 a week for having to obey orders as well as work.

Grown Terrace.—The opening of this terrace hai proved a great success, and I am glad to report the land has fallen into the bands of most industrious and able men. Ploughing, fencing, and cultivating have been carried on vigorously and, I have reason to hope, profit *bly, judging from the healthy appearance of the crops. The yield, when it is considered that the terrace is about 2000 feet above the level of the sea, and walled off from the east by » mountain 5700 feet in height, is remarkably good—oats averaging 45 bushels to the acre and wheat nearly 40. This land has been taken up at L 3 an acre hitherto, but, by virtue of " The Land Act, 1879," I believe the balance of 2000 acres will be selected shortly at 30a and 20s an Acre, according to its position. MAOETOWK. The crushing-power now on the field consists of five batteries, with 34 heads of stamper*. With the exception of four heads of the All Nations Company's, they are all fully employed, and 10 additional heads are in course of erection at the Home ward-Bound and Maryborough batteries. Crushing operations will probably, be suspended from June to September, during the severity of winter; but it is intended to prosecute underground work iv several mines throughout the year; and this conns would become general if the road already ■poken of was constructed. It will be needless to recapitulate the names of the many mining -companies in operation; it will suffica to mention that nearly all those enumerated in my last report have been steadily prosecuting wtrk. There have been no abandonments, and, so far *s I can learn, no fresh discoveries; bat, if the energies of the miners are properly directed to those already.in hand, there is, in all probabilility, sufficient work to engage the attention of the present generation. EIVBETON. In the Orepnki and Longwood gold-mining is in a prosperous state. At Orepuki the claims at work are making, good returns. Bound Hill, which is the favourite field for Chinese labour, ' is turning out well, fully justifying John's par. tiality; and the Celestial population steadily increases. I should say the returns might ba fairly stated at from L 2 to L 8 per week. It seems a- most extraordinary thing why this place, which ia one of the best average poor • man's diggings in the district, has not been za?re patronised by Europeans. Ie ia true tnat water is scarce there ; but the Chinese manage, by renting a few inches of water from the holders of racjs, to obtain the above good results. The water ia held entiraly by Europeans, and it stands to reason that they would have naturally given the preference to their own countrymen had they shown a disposition to set in to work there. LAWRENCE. Daring the year on which I now'rep6rt a considerabla amount of prospecting, and. that of a costly character, has benn carried on with the view of thoroughly testing the aurlferou-i- ---. cement basins in the Wetherstones and VVaita huna districts. The remit has not shown such euccesa as was anticipated. The prospector's "claim at Wethertones and two claims at Waita buna are all that up to the present time have been proved to be payable. Prospecting deep cement workiogs is both tedious and expensive, and consequently the ground will take a long time to develop; but with the improvements going on to economise labour a considerable area will eventually be brought into profitable work. To illustrate what a small proportion of gold can be made to yield a profit by systematic mining, I give the following particulars showing the result from the Wethemtones Cementmining Company's claim for three months of this year:— Working Tons days, "crushed. Yield of Gold. January .. 23 1094 IG3 oz 15 dwt. February .. 23 2127 130 „10 „ March.. .. 20 1760 114 „ 12 „ The cement was all cruahed with a 10-stamp battery driven by water-power, and, although the yield averaged under a pennyweight and ••half to the ton, there w»e a net profit for the three months of LSOO. The yield of gold from the Blue Spur has been very large, although for some portion of the year there was a great scarcity of water, and crushing was consequently suspended, The greater portion of the gold forwarded from this district is the yield of this wonderful little hill, which has now been continuously worked for the last 16 years. The Gabriel's Gully Company, holding an extensive special claim ia Gabriel's Gully, are engaged in preliminary operations necessary to get their land into work. The system proposed to be followed in working the ground—principally old tailings from the Bine Spur—is quite new ia New Zealand, and it is said that the small yield of a grain of gold to a ton of earth will pay the working expenses, and all over that yield will be profit,

The half-yearly far sales held in London In March were the largest that have ever token place. The furs sold amounted to over £700,000. Natural caverns of enormous sfza—one being 600 feet long—have been discovered in the neighbourhood of West Harptree, near Wells, ia Somerset. The Irish Convention, fche object of which is declared to be the liberation of the Irish people, has been organised permanently under the title of the " United Irishmen of America." The sooiety has adopted a constitution which declares that every known means must ba uiied to secure Ireland's Jreedom,