WARDEN’S REPORT.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2030, 6 November 1869, Page 2

WARDEN’S REPORT.

THE CROMWELL REEFS. Mr Warden Fyke, writing under date the Ist instant, reports as follows ; I have fhe honor to forward my report on the condition of the district of Duns tan, for the monti October, as follows :

Clyde division.—The heavy rains lately experienced have put a stop to all riverine operations for the season. The Clutha is now .at its summer level, and, consequently, dredging operations are temporarily suspended. Snow has covered the ranges at a very lew level even witlim the last few days, but nearly every trace has aLieady disappeared beueath the influence of warm, genial sunny days, and a very important and essential elenunt of mining prosperity has been carried away in the river. In such a district as this, where the want of water is so seriousl/’ felt, it is matter for regret that some action is not taken to economise and utilise the supplies so abundantly bestowed by nature. Were a contour survey of the ranges made, with a view to the construction of reservoirs for the storage of water, the gold-producing power of the district would be incalculably increased. There are many gorges in the Dunstan, Cairnmuir, Knobby, Raggedy, Garrick, and Pisa ranges, where a very trifling expenditure would suffice to conftruct dams capable of storing immense quantities of water. As it is, the bountiful gujply accorded by nature is allowed to flow oui to the sea unused, and miners agriculturists, and runholders alike suffer from tlr burning heat of a dry summer climate. The discovery of graphite alluded to in rry last report, is likely to be profitably timed to .account. I have received from Dr lector an analysis of the specimen sent by jie. He says :—‘‘Your sample is a very good one of graphite, in the state usually found in slate rocks. It contains 44.4 per cent, of pure graphite, 51.1 percent, earthy matter, 5l per cent, of water. This is about the average of the two specimens from Pakawau given at page 418 of the Jurors’ Reports. The remarks made there are all applicable to this specimen. The value will depend on the facility for working.” As the ground is admirably adapted for facile working, with a copious supply of clear, pure water close at hand, I anticipate satisfactory practical results. The discoverers now propose to fully examine the reef to ascertain whether the vein is of sufficient extent and permanency to warrant the necessary outlay for machinery and appliances. The continuous progress and prosperity of the Bendigo reefs have induced the formation of a Prospecting Association at Clyde, the object being to test the southern faces of the Dunstan range for quartz. Alexandra Division.—The only matter requiring notice here is the re-opening of a quartz reef in Butcher’s Gully, and an application for protecti u whilst prospecting the same. The reef in question was first opened by the late E. Jones, and it is undoubtedly auriferous ; but only a very thin vein has yet been struck—posibly a leader, which may yet be traced to a main lode B1 ack’s Division. —The main drainage channel has been commenced at Black’s, No. 1, and sanguine expectations of much gold pervades the minds of the parties engaged therein. lam so far, of the same opinion, because it is well known that mining operations were stopped there by two insurmountable difficulties, namely, the township (which is on valuable auriferous ground) and the influx of water—to remedy which tbe channel is being constructed. _ A very well known Dunedin capitalist—a bona-fide investor—has applied for a mining lease of ten acres of tbe deep ground in Ida Valley, at Black’s, No. 3. Some years’ since, this ground was partially wrought under special regulations adopted at the request of the miners, but the. works were eventually stopped owing to the heavy influx of water. The wash-dirt, which was excessively rich, was reached at a depth of 180 feet from the surfeace, and was found in a kind of gutter running parallel to the Raggedy Range, and near its surface base —the far side of the gutter being an irregular ridge of clay. The valley is of peculiar formation—the Ida-bum and the Pool burn running from opposite dire ctions, uniting in the centre, which is its deepest part. It presents every appearance superficially of its being a valley of erosion, and at the adjacent ranges of Rough Ridge and Raggedy both contain auriferous schists and gold-bearing quartz, there is every reason for anticipating very good returns from the venture now about to he made. Like many other known valuable spots, the Ida valley deep workings have long lain dormant for want of capita!. The present applicant proposes to erect steam machinery for draining the ground, and it is to be hoped that the most perfect success will attend his efforts.

Cromwell Division.—The leased ground held by Messrs Garrett and party still continues to amply remunerate the deservedly fortunate proprietors, I have never hitherto stated the yield of this splendid lode, but 1 am now permitted to do so. The Last cake of amalgam contained 216 ounces of gold, the result of ten days crushing, and this is a fair average return. At present the party crush ten tons of stone per day with one battery of stampers—five heads, so that the yield may be computed at the rate of, say 2| ounces per ton. A new battery of five scwt stamps has been manufactured for the company by Messrs Kincaid and M‘Queen, of Dunedin, and a portion has already arrived on 'he ground, when of course the returns will be doubled.

The Cromwell reef (Garrett and Co. ’s) has now been traced over the range for upwards of a mile and a ha f, and every inch of the ground is occupied by reefers —not shepherding, but at work. In one of the most distant claims a one-sixth share has lately been sold for L2soj and, judging from the rich stone broken out for my inspection, in my presence, I should say that the buyer had purchased a real bargain. Gold has been struck in many *th*r claims.

The Aurora reef has now been proved to be a distinct lode, running parallel to the Cromwell reef, about half a mile distant lower down the range, and towards the north. Barnes and party are busy erecting machinery for crushing. This reef also has been marked out, and is being wrought and tested for more than a mile. Golden stone has been struck in a claim adjacent to that of the prospectors on the western side.

To-day another and a distinct reef has been oepoi te-t by Mr Charles Colclough, who describes it as “ lying about 300 yards to the norsh of the Aurora prospecting claim.” should this prove correct, there will then be three distinct reefs at work on the Dunstan range at Bendigo Gully. Nor is the auriferous wealth of this locality confined to quartz alone. Running northward from the reef, there is a gully among the debris of which there lies scattered numerous fragments of quartz, waterworn in appearance and thickly gold. Specimens can be picked up by the hundred. The upper portion gully has been sluiced in a very rude and imperfect manner down to a certain point whereat the wide gully terminates and two smaller and insignificant watercourses pass around a made hill, eventually falling into Bendigo gully. Hero some Chinamen have made a grand discovery. The made hill covers the old gully bed, now full of auriferous wash. One of the Chinamen recognised me as the sometime warden and Chinese protector at Bendigo, Victoria, and therefore gave me information which otherwise I might not have obtained. For six month’s work the party five in number, have obtained 1,250 ounces of gold, and during a considerable portion of that time they were merely seek ng that which in the end they found. Their shaft, a beautiful model of geometrical exactness, is 30 feet deep. The width of the old gully there is about 12 feet; the wash dirt is from 12 to 18 inches, and they have twelve months work at least before them. At present they are earning from LSO to L6O per week. The gold is but little worn or washed, and evidently came from the reef. Indeed, the ‘ dirt’ is merely quartz sand, interspersed with hut little earthy matter. Above them the entire hill has been taken up. Some are down 70 feet, some 100 feet, and one claim has struck the ‘lead’ at 140 feet, Thera are scores of similar hills about the ranges, and few of these have ever been tried or prospected hitherto. But wherever such hills have been wrought the prospectors have invariably struck gold. Whilst writing this report a messenger has arrived at Clyde from the reef at Bendigo, who brings me the astounding intelligence that the stone in Co.'clough’s new prospecting claim will run 100 ounces of gold to the ton. Specimens taken therefrom are described as being more gold than stone—wonderfully rich. Of course, I cannot vouch for the entire accuracy of this information ; but I am sure my informant believes it, and I have no doubt but that another valuable discovery has been made. All the adjacent ground to Colclough’s was marked out soon after (some of it perhaps before) daylight, and intense excitement pervades all classes of the community.

Nevis Division. Continual snow-storms have hitherto prevented my crossing the Garrick Ranges on the only available days that I could appropriate for that duty. But I hear very good accounts from there, and the Chinese flock there in crowds.

Population is slightly on the increase, both by migration from other districts, and from natural causes.

Gold. —During the month of October, gold as follows has been sent down by Government :—Cromwell Division, 16220z Idwt; Clyde do, 5040z ; Black’s, do, 4540z ; Alexandra do, 3SBoz ISdwts; total, Dunstan district, 29680z 19dwt ; —which amount, added to that formerly reported, makes a total of 33,2970z 12dwts, for the ten months of the present year from this district.