Mining.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 1004, 25 February 1871, Page 10

Mining.

WARDEN'S REPORT.

Mr Warden Beetham reports, to the Secretary for Land and Works, regarding the state of mining matters in the Wakatip distriot during the quarter ending on the 31st December last, as follows : — '

In the Queenstown division, the increase in the Chinese population has been very marked : there are at the present time about 1050 Chinese in the distriot. I have nothing new to report in mining matters. The character of the workings throughout the district remains the same as formerly ; a much larger extent of ground being operated upon, which has resulted in increased Escorts —month by month. At the Upper Shotover, the Nugget Qaartz Mining Company are now in fall work, and the prospects are stated to be very good. At Skippers Creek, the Phoenix Company, under the management of Mr Evans, have struck the reef at a much lower level than it has hitherto been worked, proving the continuity of the reef in a moßt remarkable manner.

At the head of the Lake, W. Ralph and Co. have had a mining lease granted to them as a quartz reef ; they are now engaged in prospecting it. Little at present is known as to its paving qualities. The ground is said to be taken up for a London company, who are prepared to expend a large sum of money in testing the reef.

In the Arrow division no new ground has been opened up, but the Escorts from the division show a large increase. Parties are working on the flats near the embouchure of the Arrow into the Kawarau River, and are finding payable ground in that locality. Water is generally very scarce over the whole district. This, no doubt, will largely affeot the autumn Escorts. On the whole, mining operations throughout the distriot are in a highly satisfactory condition.

The total weight of gold exported from this distriot during the three months ending 31st Deoember, 1870, was 11,5630z Bdwt, as against 52200z 6dwt exported during the corresponding three months of the preceding year, showing an increase of 62530z 2dwt

The crops of wheat, oats, and barley are in excellent condition, and will give splendid yields. There is some doubt as to the yield of potatoes and other root orops. About 2000 bushels of barley have been grown for malting purposes. Building is progressing in both Queenstown and Arrowtown, and the reduction in the price of [timber following the establishment of a second saw mill, baa tended to push it forward. Several brickfields are at work, and bricks of a first-rate quality are produced. The price list last mentioned will shew that this district is probably the dearest to live in In the province, some articles— butter for instance— being 200 per cent, dearer than Donedin prices.

There were heard in (the various Resident Magistrates' Courts of the distriot during the three months ending 31st December, 1870, 125 cases ; in the Wardens' Courts, 22 cases ; 280 mining applications were dealt with : 61 •ores were taken up under the Mining Land Regulations ; 234 acres were registered under the Extended Claim Regulations ; and 343 acres wtre granted Agricultural Lease. The following return shews the average prices of provisions and live stock in the district during the quarter : — Beer, L 9 per hhd ; brandy, LI 7s 6d per gallon ; bread (wheaten),.'3d .per lb ; butter (fresh), 2s 8d per lb ; do (salt), 2s per lb ; cheese. Is 6d per lb ; coffee, 2s per ib j flour, LI 12s per 196 lbs ; grain (wheat), 4s 9d per Imperial bushel ; live stock (cattle, horned), LlO to Lls ; horses, LlO to L4O per head ; sheep, 3s to 15s per head ; swine, weight ; meat (beef), 4d to 8d per lb ; mutton, 4d to 5d per lb ; pork, 8d to 9d per lb ; milk, 9d per quart ; rice, 6d per lb ; salt, 4d per lb ; sugar, 7d per lb ; tea, 3s 6d per lb ; tobacco, 6s per lb ; wine, LI 5s per gallon ; rate of wages, L 3 per week, and found ; farm labourers ditto, LI ss.

From another return appended to the report we learn that there are 1850 miners in the district, of whom 760 Europeans and 1050 Chinese are engaged in alluvial mining, and 40 Europeans in quartz mining. The alluvial miners employ 225 sluices and toms, 7 wafer-wheels, 64 hydraulic hoses, 50 pumps, 1100 sluice-boxes, and 1 quicksilver and compound cradle. The quartz miners employ 4 crushing machines, 59 stamp heads, and 3 water-wheels. The approximate value of all the mining plant in the distriot is L 46.037 number of square miles of auriferous ground actually worked upon is 96. The price of gold is L 3 15s per ounce.