CUSTOMS RETURNS

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 8

CUSTOMS RETURNS

Statement showing the amount of Customs duties collected at the Port of Dunodin, in the Colony of New Zealand (according to the several heads of revenue undermentioned), from the Ist to the SOth day of

Comparative Return showing the net amount of Customs duties collected at the Port of Dunedin, in the Colony of New Zealand (according to the several heada of revenue undermentioned), for the quarters ending respectively 30th September, 1879, and 30tll Se 1878: -

A large blasting operation at the Glen Osmond quarries, near Adelaide, took place on Ihe 15th ult. From the report in the South Australian Advertiser, we learn that 66001b. of powder and 4101b. of dynamite were used as a charge, and that, when the shot was fired, a ••stupendous mass of earth and rock was seen Jo "be tottering, and then rolling down the side rf the momentarily-convulsed mountain like a tremendous cataract, grand in .appearance, but *till terrible to behold. The estimated quantity pf stone and earth to bo shifted was 9777 cubic yards. After the fallen rock and debris lad settled down, an examination was made to see whether the results were equal to what was anticipated, when it was found that the effect cf the nhot was so far satisfactory that about *me-half over the quantity expected had been shifted. The cost of the work has been be *weenL4soand LSOO, and the blast has done three months' labour what would in the way have taken Borne two years."

An Auckland telegram states that the diver engaged to plug the Thames Big JPomp did not succeed in doing k\. Tho stop. page and influx of water will have, a damaging efiect on mining operations.

The Hyde carrespondent of the Palmerstqn .and Waikouaiti Times says :—": — " Mining matters , are now in full swing in Hyde ; several sluicing parties are now busily engaged in seeking the prscious metal. Messrs Laughton Brothers, Mathewson and M'Kay, and Messrs Gill Brofthera, Alacnally and Holly seem to be sending •plenty of gravel down their feuil races;; whether they are getting gold or not I cannot say. On ;she othfrr side of the Taieri, at Fullarton's,. prospecting is beiug vigorously prosecuted. Mr John Holverson, whose name is so well known .as ttiat of a. lucky digger, has again commenced Stripping, and is, I believe, still getting good gold Messrs Brown, Shaw, and another have I>een sinking for some time, but as yet have not ..struck anything of importance. Messrs JBnchanau and Preston have also been working £or some time, but as yet I believe they also -liave met with but little sncceßß. It is to b<» ihoped, however, that something will soon be found, and that those who have been working /So perseveringly for some time past may be .arewwded for their labour.

We take following items from the Dunstan Times : — *' A party has been formed to prospect ,4he outcrop of a quartz reef on the Cairn Mmr Jtapge at the head of Blackman's Gully. Some ;y ear or two back a few tons of stone were taken frpmiihis reef, but , the retarns not being satinSkctory, nothing further was done. The present party, we understand, with the view of testing i the reef, purposes sluicing it away to the great.est possible depth, and if the reef continues clown, to afterwards sink on i£. The walls of ihe reef being soft and of some width, the proposed system is the very best that could be adopted, and we have often wondered that where water is available it is^iot oftener tried. As against sinking and tunnelling and scratching gutters on the Burface along the supposed coarse of the reef, the syatem is incomparable, as not alone is the reef exposed but all the loose .gold is saved, and thereby the wjlae o£ the casing is determined. With the prospecting of this sreef there will now be three in the same locality /being tried, and it ■will be passing strange if at least one of them does not prove payable. Strong indications of lodts of stone are to be found all along the Cairn Muir and Old Man Ranges on the surface, whilst in nearly every gully and watercourse run.aiing from them payable gold has been found There is accordingly erary probability of a reef existing, and it is hoped prospectors will be rewarded for their labour. Mr Hanson, who is connected with the Conroy's Gully reef, is leader of the party. This last .mentioned reef ia still being actively worked, ihe prospects keeping good. A break in the stone has occurred at the end of the tunnel,' but *he back aud foot walls continuing with a strong aearn of casing between them, there is but little ■doubt the stone will make again in a short distanoe One thing in its favour is that the casing carries good gold. Mr Bennet, under whose management ther6ef is being prospected, is sanguine of success, and is pushing ahead most energetically with the works. In alluvial reining there is nothing new, spring having fairly set in, bringing with it a plentiful supply of water, .every alluvial claim is in full work, with Tk fair prospect of keeping so all the summer, mountains and ranges being well covered with snow. There are no new discoveries to chronicle, while at the same time none of the old established claims have been abandoned. The Directors of the Cromwell Quartz-mining Company, Limited, have declared a dividend of 3s 6d per 12,800 th share, payable on and after' the Bfeh instant.

At a meeting of the Carrick Range Water Company, held at Cromwell, a letter was read jfrom the County Council in the matter of the proposed agreement under which the race property should be taken over, and the draft of agreement finally decided upon by the Council at ics meeting on Thursday was submitted. It was re&olved that the terms proposed by the •County Council be accepted, and that the draft !db at once forwarded to Dunedin for approval of the town directors. The legal manager was also directed to write the town directors authorising •them, in the event of the draft being approved, to draw up a prospectus, and take other steps jnecessary to dispose of the new issue of shares, so that work may be proceeded with as early as possible. The draft provided that the Company should keep and maintain in dood repair and condition all the dams, water races, and 'Other words appertaining to the Company ; and trill also provide all labour necessary to prosecute and provide the supply of water therein with a view to bringing the Carrick Water Race onto perfect and efficient working order, and that if the Company on the expiry of two years shall have brought the works and water-supply into perfect and efficient working order to the satisfaction of the Vincent County Council, then the County Council shall transfer to the Company all interest in the race and property ; .all costs to be paid by the Company, and the Council undertaking whilst the works are being satisfactorily prosecuted not to avail themselves iof any of the powers as to foreclosure, or otheriwise, containedin the mortgage within the aforesaid term of two years.

Our Arrowtown correspondent writes :— Beinvigorating spring has even extended to Macetown, and the various mining companies have either commenced work, or entered upon wigorous prosecution of preliminaries. A small cake of 132- oz. of gold, the proceeds of seven tons of quartz from the Vanity Fair Company, reached Arrowtown the other week, and it is likely that the coming season will be productive •of more gold than any preceding one.

Spirits, 12s per gallon .. £6,916 15 4 Do (distilled in Now Zealand), 6s per gallon „ .. .. 122 810 Cigars and snuff, fia per 1b .. 430 10 0 Tobacco, 2a 6d per lb .. .. 3,4?4 10 9 Wine, 6s per gallon .. .. 622 11 7 Ale and beer, &c. (In bottle), Is 3 J per gallon . . . . 207 5 0 Do (in wood), Is per gallon . . 112 14 0 Tea. 4dperlb.. .. .. 1,392 6 2 Coffee, cocoa, chicory, and chocolate, 3d per lb .. .. 214 11 9 Sugar (raw, refined, and molasses), Jd per lb .. .. 1,366 111 Opium 20s per lb - .. 288 0 0 Goods by weight .. .. 1,678 11 7 Ad valorem, 10 per cent. . . 9,693 17 0 Other duties not specified Above 1,808 0 O Total .. .. £28,193 311 Gold duty .. •• .. £163 0 8

opinsa .. .. ..*Z2,3U»ia ! Pu, dMillod in New Zealand 426 18 i Cigars and sivuff .. .. 1,176 12 I Tobacco .. .. .. 9,344 6 I Wine .. .. .. 1,764 16 1 Ale, beer, &c. (in bottle) ' .. 1,077 1 i Do do (in wood) .. 220 4 I Tea •• .. .. .. 4,224 8 : Coffee, cocoa, &c. ... .. 676 19 I Sugar and roolasseß .. .. 4,696 10 11 Opium .. .. .. 717 0 < Goods by weight .. .. 6.393 12 1 Ad valorem .. .. .. 34,066 12 I Other dutieß .. .. .. 6.027 11 i Total .. „£92,011 6 i Amount for correipondtng quarter in 1878 „ Amm 61