WARDENS' REPORTS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1956, 12 August 1869, Page 2

WARDENS' REPORTS.

The following reports have been handed to us for publication. Mr Warden Pyke (Dunstan district), writing under date the 7th inst., says ~,. “I have the honor to report that new ground has been opened up in the Alexandra division of the Dunstau district. 1 he exact locality is on a large flat on the south bank of the Manuherikia, and midway between the Manorbnrn cross ng of the Manuherikia Paver and Galloway station—Messrs Campbell and Lowe’s. “ Two claims—those of Daly and party and M ‘Donnell and party had been fairly opened out when I vi-ited the giound on Wednesday Inst; water had been laid on, tad races cut, and washing operations were being vigorou.-ly carried on. In these claims tb sinking is Irom two to three feet, r|.rough course gravel and water-worn boulders. ° The auriferous wadi is a coarse pebbly sand, freely intermixed with black sand. The gold itself (judging from thgt observable in on- of the sluice-boxes) if .sinewhat coarser and rougher th*n tne Mplyneu< gold. Fragments of quartz and jasper and masses of ironstone are distributed through the graved The bottom varies in character, consisting partly of a stiff, greasy, yellow clay, and partly of laic sand—the gold-bearing drift being found on a generally uniform level, whether of clay or sand. The clay is without doubt Hie true hot om, but the deposition of gold has evidently occurred in such still water as to prevent any disturbance of the sand lying m intervening hollows. Daly's claim is on a higher level, a shallow terrace, above McDonnell s claim, w. ich is nearer the river bnk. , , “In both these claims the men are obtaining what may be termed ‘ payable gold, or, as they put it themselves, they are ‘making fair waxes.’ I do nob anticipate any heavy liuds, but it would not at all auiprise me if the whole of the Hat (evidently the site of an ancient lake), together with the adjacent terraces (or lake borders) were to prove equally auriferous with the ground already opened up ; in which case the ground would support a mining population for a considerable period. I estimate, roughly, the area thus indicated to comprise from 1,500 to 1,800 acres. “ Two other claims had just bottomed when I was on tin; ground, and the owners voluntarily informed me that they bad struck gold. Since then more ground has been opened up. It is my intention to visit the Flat again at an early date, when I will be able to report more positively as to the value and extent of what is locally known as ‘ the new rush,’ ” Mr Warden Robinson (Mount Ida district) reports as follows : “Very hard frosts have prevailed throughout the month, and mining operations have in consequence been in nmst parts of the district partially i' not entirely suspended. The enforced idleness of the miners affords a ready explanation of the smallness of the last escort from Naaebv There, have been several falls of snow du ing the month, the heaviest being on the 21st, when a very thick lay a- was deposited. .Still as a rule the weather during the day has been pleasant, and the nights clear, although cold. “ There is but little of interest to bo recorded in the way of mining. The most in teresting matter to the Naseby people has b en the sale by auction of a claim well known as Andy Brown’s. This claim has for some considerable time been lying idle. When in full work last season as many as fojrty men were frequently employed upon it

a time, and it is hoped that the ne.w owners will shortly be able to get it into working trim, and employ labour upon it. At Rough Ridge the Ida Valley Company’s works are still suspended but the new owners have sent up a manager, and i' is expected that the mine will be worked on tribute. In the Great Fastem claim in the same locality a good body of quartz is now opened, and the miners have good In pes of doing well This appears to be a well defined reef, and some trial crushings have it is said given very good returns.”