DUNSTAN AND ARROW GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 15

DUNSTAN AND ARROW GOLDFIELDS.

From the Goldfielda Annual Eeporfc we extract, the following interesting communication b^&ajof 'Eeddell, warden :— Warden's Office, Clyde, 6th June, 1881. Sir,— l have the honour to submit the following general report of the progress and condition of mining affair's in the district of which I am in charge :— With respect to the first sfx months of the yearly period to which the report refers, i.c , to tho end of September, 1880, ,*my duties were confined to the charge' b'tthe'Dujastan district, but since that time, on Mr Stre^rd's removal to Greymouth, I have assumed roe supervision of .both districts.

DUNSTAN DISTRICT.

In this division ,of the combined districts there has been' little to' call' for special notice ; the number of miners has not diminished, and the return of gold will be found to bear favourable comparison with that of last year! ' At Roxburgh the sluicing claims on the banks 'of the' Molyrieux' have been steadily worked, and the yield of gold from that portion of tha district (though ,1 have not shown the items separately) contribute a very large • proportion in the , aggregate amount stated. The mining in the Mount Benger portion of the district 1 is exclusively alluvial sluicing claims, both on the Molyneuxand at WaikaiaandPomahaka; but public attention both here and higher up the river above Alexandra has lately been attracted by the success attending some of the dredjr-ing-machines, and in the last-named locality two large areas, of the river bed have been applied for by parties who'show^their "ftona fides in the large outlay of money, invented in' their respective plants; each are constructing powerful steam-dredges on new principles,,and r they anticipate good results ; if as succeslul as, they' expect, I believe it will lead to many others being introduced. There have been two applications for mining leases over land containing quartz reefs, bufcas yet they have shown no yield. One at Conroy's Gully, .has .languished through want of local support ; it was attempted to, be worked, as is usual, from Dunedin, but J the' lack of interest taken by those residing' in the immediate ■neighbourhood has tended to retard progress, and I regret it inasmuch as from the early prospects of the undertaking it was well worth a trial, and I am in hopes it will not yet be allowed to fall through. . , ' '" ' ' ' ' ARROW DIVISION. Alluvial mining in this portion of the district has been allowed to flag until very i ecently, when it appeared .io recover Blightly, the attention of many beirig" called 'to' the prospecting of the quartz reefs of Ma/:et6wn, which place is about central of this division. ■ ' ■ Quartz-mining.— This branch of mining industry has . been more energetically followed in the Arrow division, 1 " and *• chiefly at Macetown. Many of theso j claims have shown good prospects, and were looked on very favourably by the public outside the goldfields as well as by the mining population of the district, Their early history and promise have been the subject of former reports; but I regret to state this year has not been .marked with any great success. There are many drawbacks to working these mines, which are.'situated at a considerable elevation, to which all timber and mining requisites have to be packed, over indifferent roods unsuitable for wheeled traffic From the prospects ' I have seen I have good hopes of their ultimate Buccess. When the working expenses-- are so heavy.it is difficult to keep alive • the interest ' among distant shareholders. The discovery of a quartz reef at the head of Lake Wakatipu, referred to in my predecessor's last report, has more than' realised its first promise, and the proprietors have imported a plant of crushing machinery. The prospects are very good, and I look forward to a favourable mention in next year's report of this Claim. ■ l '< u^' ' Gold Returns. -The yield of gold in the respective divisions- of jiny district, according, to bank returns which have been supplied me by the different bank agents, is as follows :— Dunstan, 30,4840z ; Wakatipu, , ll,204oz ; total,-41,6880z. Agriculture 1 and Settlement.— l'have to report very satisfactory progress under this very important head. The past harvest was most satisfactory, and vigorous preparations for next year have been made. Many of the agricultural leases having' matured, have passed into the lessees' hands as freeholds, and many more are likely soon to undergo the same change. There is a growing demand for land, which, in the immediate neighbourhood 1 of the centres, is difficult to find, and the mining reserves are frequently the subject of application for settlement.