WARDEN'S REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2559, 20 April 1870, Page 3

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Borton, writing from Mount Benger under date the 10th inst.; reports as follows :— Mining operations on the Clutha have remained very quiet, as is always the case during this season of the year; the river being at too high a level to admit of its being profitably worked. The bulk of the miners here may be considered as essentially migratory—the first warm days of summer scatter them over the hills in search of treasures, which till then are securely locked up by the icy hand of winter. I fear the present season will not prove very remunerative to this portion of the population, as their time hitherto has been almost entirely taken up in repairing the serious damages caused by the floods ; and now that the claims are | again in working order, ah early and severe winter seems to be setting in, as already there are three or four feet of snow on the hills. There is an increasing confidence in the richness of the ground about Campbells and Pomahaka; and I think it likely that many will be induced to brave the severity of the weather in those arctic regions during the coming winter, so as to take advantage of the first thaw of the returning spring. At present quartz mining is a thing unknown in the district, but I look forward with confidence to its development ere long. Already I hear from several miners that they have good indications of reefs in their claims, an one or two parties have actually discovered small leaders, impregnated with gold, which seem to widen out the farther they are traced. The gold too from these claims is so rough and not water-worn as to leave no doubt on my mind that a rich reef exists somewhere in their immediate vicinity. : There is a strong desire manifested by the miners and others to settle themselves on the land, and it cannot but be a matter of regret that there is so small a portion of good agricultural land, fit for settlement, in the district. Those persons who have taken up leases under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations, have, in almost eve>y instance, proceeded at once to fence in and cultivate the land co leased ; and the farming operations whioh meet the eye of the traveller between the Beaumont and ATexandra, contrast very pleasantly with the dreary and lifeless aspect of the country twelve months ago. In the statistical return whicb. accompanies, this report, no columns have been left for filling in the value of races, flames, dredges, dams, and other mining property, and it will therefore be as well to add that the above class of property in this district is, I think, worth at least LIO.OOO. The weather during the quarter has been very broken and stormy, and we have jast experienced one of the heaviest rains with which the Teviot has ever been visited. The rate of wages in the district is 12s per diem.