S.-5
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whetu Creek, to which tramways or shoots could be laid from the various claims, would be the best plan. lam the more confirmed in this as the claims have now extended to both sides of this creek ; this plan would therefore be suitable for both sides. The County Council is at present cutting a road to the mines. This will be suitable for conveyance of provisions, &c.; but it does not appear that it will be of much general use in carriage of quartz, though it will do good in allowing the district to be accessible and properly prospected. A wire tramway is at present being constructed by the Hauraki Company, which may assist a few mines to get their quartz crushed. The old Karangahake battery has been put in a state of repair, new fiuming erected, &c.; it is expected a start may be made about the beginning of June. Waihi District. —This district has been most unfortunate, and has come to a complete stop, through the batteries not working properly, some mistake having been made either in the turbines or in the calculation of the water-power. After running for some time it was found that not as much quartz could be passed through the stampers in a week as ought to go through in a day. New turbines were therefore ordered from America; these have arrived, and one has been fitted, so that a fresh start may be expected shortly. The following is a return of quartz crushed and gold obtained for the year ending 31st March, 1883, in the District of Hauraki South :—
In Hauraki South there has only been one raining accident: by it two men were very severely burned. It was one of those accidents that no amount of supervision or inspection could prevent, being the result of their own carelessness, or rather foolishness, both being experienced miners, and thoroughly understanding blasting and how to handle powder. It appears they had charged two holes, both of which missed fire; they then drew both charges; this they did in a safe and proper manner; but when they came to re-charge the holes they were both standing close together, and, while one was filling out a charge from a flask containing 6 to 8 lb. of powder, the other, thinking the fuse to blame for the previous miss-fire, cut a piece off and lighted it in order to test it; a spark caught, and the flask exploded. I have, &c, James M. McLaren, The Under-Secretary for Gold Melds, Wellington. Mining Inspector.
MARLBOROUGH GOLD FIELDS. No. 5. Mr. Warden Allen to the Undkr-Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Picton, sth April, 1883. My yearly returns have already been forwarded to you, showing a slight improvement in the amount of revenue collected. They require very little comment. I proceed briefly to report as follows ooftcerning the business and prospects of the gold fields under my charge during the past year : — Queen Charlotte Gold-Mining District. — It will be useless to mention any particular work done in this district during the past year, for the reason that gold-mining operations have now entirely ceased. I have mentioned in former reports that I believed fair and honest attempts
Month. Q,nartz Crushed. Tailings Treated. Yield of Gold. A.pril, 1882 May „ June „ July „ August „ September, 1882 . . Dctober „ November ,, December ,, January, 1883 February „ March „ Tons. cwt. qr. lb. 1,943 11 3 0 1,237 0 2 24 2,295 1G 2 25 1,973 11 0 26 2,716 14 2 26 1,996 11 2 26 2,457 3 113 2,562 10 0 13 2,370 2 0 6 ],272 16 0 0 2,864 3 1 16 2,177 0 3 5 Tons. cwt. qr. lb. 1,364 2 0 0 1,775 10 0 0 1,007 10 0 0 767 0 0 0 562 10 0 0 354 5 0 0 357 0 0 0 332 11 1 24 95 1 3 4 198 0 0 0 108 10 0 0 265 10 0 0 Oz. dwt. gv. 3,118 3 12 2,731 3 0 2,535 15 18 2,059 19 0 4,348 15 18 4,001 9 4 3,436 9 0 4,304 16 0 8,026 19 0 1,7^5 1 12 2,059 3 12 4,912 17 0 Hauraki North, 12 months . . 25,867 2,907 2 0 2 0 2 0 7,185 10 1 0 43,310 12 7,576 12 4 1 Totals 28,774 2 2 2 50,887 4 5