WARDENS' REPORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 658, 9 July 1864, Page 11

WARDENS' REPORTS.

The Gold Fields Wardens have forwarded reports from various gold fields to the 25th June, as iollow* : —

_ Nevis, Nokomai, 18th June. —Some of the river and tunnel claims are giving good dividends. At Stewart's Gully sluicing ia highly remunerative. .-. few miner 3 who left this held for the Pelorus have returned during the week, and have occupied ground at the upper terrace. Estim Ued population, 280.

Wakatipu, 25th June. — Weather during the week has been very severe. Mining news much as_ per my last report. Tfforts are at present being made to prospect the terraces in the immediate neighborhood of Queenstown. Barringfon and his mutes aie in the Hospital recruiting, and fully intend -when the season permits to return to their discovered country, when I think it likely they will be followed by large numbers. During a recent visit to Moke Creek Mr Mining Surveyor Wright procured a very fine piece of natiye copper, and further informed me that lie has no doubt of the existence of a large number of good reefs (quartz) in that vicinity. We shall endeavor to forward good specimens of the copper ore to the Exhibition. Estimated population, 3400.

Mount Ida. 25th June.— The hard frost experienced during 'trie greater part of this week hat nearly suspended mining operations by freezing the races. As an ex-uuple of the confidence felt by miners in this district, I may mention that on the hearing of an application for a puddling machine at Biaclcstone Hill - which, as it interfered with the present limited supply of water there, I was compelled to postpone—the applicant stated that it was chiefly as a precautionary measure againetl being forestalled by other intending applicants that he had siught registration so early, and averted his intention to press his request as soon as the large race now being constructed there (Dodd and party's) was completed. Estimated population, about 1950.

Wokomai, 25th June.— A severe frost during the greater part of the week caused the small creeks and watercourses leading from the mountains to cease flowing:, and consequently suspended sluieiDg operations. lam told by the old residents here, that such intense cold a-< we have experienced for some time past, was unequalled during last winter. To-day a thaw has set in with rain, and the snow that has covered the Fat for several weeks, is melting rapidly; although this will injure river claims fir a few days it will generally throughout the field be accepted as a boon. Estimated population, unchanged s-ince last report : Miners, 235 : traders, 45 ; total, 280.

h i'per Shotoyer, 25th June. - The severe frosty weather that lias prevailed during the past week has caused the river to fall considerably, thereby enabling the miners to remain at work. Numbers of parties are turning their attention to making water-rases, and bringing in water to Siuicj the terraces and the sides of the hilla, the previous fortunate holders of water privileges Having proved th^t the yield from the terraces for steady remuneration surpasses the occasional lar c finds in the bed of the stream. Estimated population, about 1200. Gabriel's, 25th June.— A party of twenty men are about to work the Molyneux along its western banlc for a distance of nine hundred feet, at a point about wfst from Lawrence, taking advantage of an island about, one third across the river; they propose forming dams of framed timber, filled in with sand-bags from the upper and lower _ pjiuts of their claim to the Wand, thus exposing a considerable surface ot the bed of the river. There are three dredging machines at work on th« Molyneux as it passes through this district. I understand the men employed earn wages at the rate of four pounds steiling per week per man. River beach claims are still unworkable. Estimated population, about 2300.

Arrow River, Ssth June.— Since mv last report several miners have returned from the Picton rush, preferring the certainty of a fair income on the Arrow, to the somewhat doubtful chance of a " pile" on the Wakamarina. The supply of waterat the Twelve Mile is rather limited ; but this difficulty is, to a trreat extent obviated by holders of claims working both night and daj, so that those miners who cannot get water ior sluicing purposes by day, can nevertheless do bo at nififht ; and lam happy to state that a system of mutual assistance prevails, highly creditable to the hardworking and very orderly residents in that portion of the Arrow d'i^trict. At the Eight Mile, success is rewarding those who have courted her by months of honest industry, whilst at the Big Beach, Cnrdrona, and throughout the district generally, miners are continuing to prosper, and every day briugs to my knowledge new instances of signal fortune. Mr Mining Surveyor Millett has just been over the whole of the district, and his Keport is highly satisfactory. Estimated population, 1345.

Switzbr's (Nokomai), 25th June.— WeatLer during the week has been very broken, though, on the whole, not unfavorable for sluicing, of which description most of the workings in this district consist ; and sluicers are now everywhere actively engaged pulling up for time lost at the iatter end of summer and autumn, o wing to the long continued drought of that period. Campbell's is now, and has been for some time past, inaccessible from this side of the Range, from the qnantity of snow fallen. Estimated population,