GOLD MINING IN NELSON PROVINCE.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1661, 19 August 1873, Page 3

GOLD MINING IN NELSON PROVINCE.

(hoti iU ftepQrt tfthetfcui Zealand Qoltiftelds, /or 1872.) The following returns are for the mining districts in this Province:— I Ksvapiiß. !• ... -, The following is a comparative return Of revenue derived from the diggings during the years 1871 and 1872, showing inorease or decrease tinder each kead of revenue:—

No revenue was derived from Survey fees, Depasturing licenses and assessments, and Timber and other licenses. , ' '' ' ' '■' ' ■.! ■:. "I GOU) EXPOBT. The following is a return of the quantity of Gold ' exported during last year:— . '

The quantity and value of Gold exported during the

The amount exported previous to the 31st December, j 1872, was 1,208,1680z5., valued at £4,784,996; and the total exported to the 31st March, 1873, was ! 1,240,372pz5., whic!i was valued at £4,913,812. . i PfilOH OS GOCD. i The price of Gold per ounce in the several mining j districts during the year ending 31st Maroh, 1873, was as follows:— ' .

The mean number of Miners- employed in the I several mining districts for the year ending 31st March, 1873, is given as follows:—

Grand total 4879, all Europeans. ' Machinery. The number of Machines employed in Alluvial and Quartz-mining for the year ending 31st March, 1673, waa as follows : — Alluvial Mining. No. Steam engines employed in pumping, &c. ~, S » » aggregate horse-power ... 30 Puddling maohines 7 Whims.,, ~, ... ... ~, ... 2 Sluices, tarns, and boxes ~. ... ... 5,395 Waterwheels ~, ~. ... 51 Hydraulic hose... 286 Stamp heads, orushing oement 250 Quartz Mining. Steam engines employed in crushing, &c. ... 2 »» »» aggregate horse-power ... 40 Crushing maohines ... ... ... ... 14 Stamp heada , ... , 135 Waterwheels ... 12 Whims... ... 1 Approximate value of all mining plant ~.£87,500 ' Miking Lbases. ' The following is a return of the number of Mining Leaies in foroe on the 3lst March, 1873. and the

Agbiouitubal Lbasib. The following is a return of the number of Agricultural Leaaes in foroe on the 31st Maroh, 1873, the extent. of ground leased, and rental per annum :—-

The following is a table showing the number of Goldmining Companies registered under Mining Companies Limited Liability Aot, 1865, and Amending Acts, upon 31st March, 1873 :—

At Charleston there ia one company under the Mining Companies Act, 1872, with a nominal capital of £8160, of which £7140 ia paid-up. Wabdehs' Copbts, The following is a return of Caßes in the Warden's Court, and costs awarded, for the year ending 31st March, 1873 :— Amount Mining Disputes Aggregate Value, of Coats Adjudicated on. Claimed. Becovered. Awarded.

Heads of Eevenue. 1871. 1872. & A £ , £ £ ' £ Miners' rights ... 4,240 4,918 678 — Business licenses ... 3,895 5,206 1.311 — Water races, sluices, &c. ... 255 212 — 43 Gold-mining leases, rente, and royalties ... ... ... 1,996 2,080 84 — Begistration ... ... ... 746 1,031 285 — Fees and fines, "Wardens' Courtg 303 292 — 11 Memorial deposits of companies 5 _ _ 5 Withdrawals of leases ... ... 152 93, — 59 Miscellaneous 156 176 20 — Goldjduty ... ... ... ...13,748 10,035 — 3,713 "■■■■■ ■-• ■ •'■■■■ ~ '■ ' Net Totals ... ... ...25,496 24,043 — 1,453

Oza. Value. Nelson 8,175 ... £ 32,700 Westport 33,550 ... 134,200 Grey mouth ... 39,939 ... 159,756 Totals 81,664 ... 326,656

first quarter of the present year was— Ozb. ; Value. kelson 6,937 ... £23,748 Wentport 13,765 ... 55,060 Sreymouth 12,502 ... 50,008 Totals 32,204 ... 128,816 Corresponding quarter of 1872... 27,908 ... 111,632 Increase ... 4,296 ... 17,184

From To £ b. d. £ b. d. Oollingirood ... 3 13 0 ... rWestport , ... 3 15 6 ... 3 19 0 Iiiangahua ... 3 17 0 ... — Ahaura ... ... 3 17 6 ... — Mranra PopuijItion.

Alluvial Quartz Miners. Miners. Wangapeka ... ... 200 ... — Collingwood ... ... 181 ... 46 Brighton... ... ... 110 ... — Charleston ... ... 600 ... — Inangahua 535 ... 497 Buller ... ... ... 600 ... 10 Ahaura ., 2,200 ... — Totals 4,326 ... 653

extent of grouad leased: — Number. Grots Aoreage. :, A. E. P. Wangapeka 8 ... 72 2 6 Oollingwood ... 21 ... 157 1 4 Westporfc 20 ... 132 0 10 : Charleston 73 ... 330 0 33 Brighton 11 ... 51 0 11 Inangahua ... ... 24 ... 204 0 38 Akaura ... ... 5 ... 27 Q 0

Urosi Kentam Number. Apreage. Annum. A- b. F. £ a. d. Wangapaka 1 20 0 0 2 10 0 Rfestport 18 951 2 32 74 0 0 Charleston ... ... 18 602 1 27 63 12 6 Brighton ... ... 14 112 3 24 14 12 6 AhauraandCobden... 69 2,900 2 31 364 8 9 Coupaxiis.

falsoh ... )ollmgwood nangahua Lhaura ... 2harleaton Nominal Paid-up No. Capital. Capital. £ £ ,., 3 ..... 13,700 ... all. ... 8 ... 24,000 ... 10,044 ... 29 ... 570,780 ... 286,284 ... 1 ... 3,000 ... 180 ... 3 ... 7,400 ... 6,610

Oollingwood... 3 ... 135 ... 120 ... Westport ... \2$ ... 3,973* ... M ... Reefton v ... 102 ... 1,545 ... 353' ... Abaura ... '77 ... '— ... — ... . (Wo Omit shillings and pence.) 205 203