WARDEN'S REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 7

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Roblnson s writing from Mount Ida, under date June 30kh, states as follows : — " The snow now lies thick and solid on the mountains. About the middle of the month this district was visited by violent storms of snow and sleet, and it seemed as if the winter was to bo as severe as that of last year. Since then, however, there has been an interval of fine winterweather, with bright daya and frosty nights. The Bnow has almost entirely disappeared from the flat country. This season, in fact, is singularly favourable for mining operations. On the 24th, a smart shock of earthquake was felt, but no damage has been reported. At Naae^y, the greatest interest is directed to the new ground being opened up at Surface Hill. Surface Hill is situated on the east side of the Hogburn Valley, a little above the township of Naseby. As the workings are on the crown of the spur, the fall for sluicing is very good. This is a matter of some consequence, as the wash is heavy. Excellent oluicing prospocta have been obtained. One of the large races is now brought on to the hill to supply the moans of working the claims, and the other water companies are making branch-races with the same object. It sooms not improbable that the same run of gold may be traced further down the spur. The subject of a main channel for the discharge of tailings has lately engaged a good deal of attontion at Naseby. but no practical schomo for carrying out such a work has yet been put forth. The principal difficulties in the way seem to bo the vestod rights of the two "dead 'level" companies, and tho steep fall with which some of tho tail races dfoohargo into tho main gully. At St Bathans, tho channels work admirably, thanks to tho earoful supervision of thoso chargod with thoir management Tho branch for Payman's Gully, so long delayed, is now being constructed in a very ofnoiont manner by the Last Push Company, who have, by purohrwo,|«cquired the rights and undertaken tho responsibilities, so far m P&yman's Gully is concorned, of the old St. Bathans Gold Sluicing Company. Welshman'! Gully still continues to yiold welL Two new louos have boon applied fo? te tip* locality, Th« works

of the "Ida "TaUeyTQuiirtz Wining "Conip'any (registered), ' Have ' been' stopped. It is under'a'to'dd ihat the "reef was lately lost, b' tit the general impreßsion; : in' the (district. seemß tob^thattho^mine wpl yetiprove a valuable^ne. Another lease' of 'alluvial ground has been applied'for at Hyde, in the main gully' below the ground applied | for by Weiss and Co., as noticed in my last report. Number of miners :-f-Euro- j peans, 850 j Chinese, 250 ; others, 1050 j total, 2150. ;