232

Average of Reef...
2'-6" in thickness.
Estimated quantity
broken out ... 600 cubic yards.
Yield ... 700 ounces gold.

Cost—

Plant, including
permanent
works, Main
Shaft and Main
Drive ... £1,500 0 0
Dam ... 1,097 0 0

£2,597 0 0

Aqueducts—

Beale & Co., 12-mile, length, 300 ft. girder.
Clark & Co., 12-mile, length, 500

These are the only aqueducts I recollect in the Arrow district; they are of no particular note as to construction, being simply sluice boxes placed on longitudinal poles, supported by vertical ones and diagonal braces.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. MILLETT,
Assistant Surveyor.

The Chief Surveyor, Dunedin.

REPORT OF H. C. BATE, ASSISTANT SURVEYOR.
Survey Office, Clyde,
27th July, 1867.

Sir,—In compliance with the request contained in your circular letter of 18th instant, No. 41, I have the honor to furnish you with the following information for embodiment in your annual report.

I must premise, however, that each item must be taken as nothing better than approximate.

Water Races.
The numbers under the head “Capacity” represent the quantity of water in sluice heads.

The above list comprises only the most important water-races. In addition to them, there are a great number of shorter races with less carrying capacity.

Of tunnels, there are none of any importance now being worked in this portion of the district.

The quartz works are situated at almost the north-eastern extremity of the Rough Ridge. Here there is a machine-house, erected by the Ida Valley Quartz Mining Company, containing a machine of ten (10) stampers, worked by water power and a turbine wheel. No actual work has yet been done by this machine on account of the hitherto meagre supply of water in the Company’s race; but by experiment it has been found that about four (4) sluice heads of water would be a sufficient power to work the ten (10) stampers, with the escapement of the turbine wheel considerably lessened. If there were a sufficient supply of water, a much greater number of stampers could be set in motion, but in that case the escapement would have to be enlarged to its original dimensions.

The prospecting of reefs here and at other places is also carried on by means of windlasses and the ordinary appliances of the miner.

The principal aqueducts, or, as they are called in mining parlance, flumes, are those of the Golden Gate and Walsh’s race, over the Manuherikia River at Black’s; the Blackstone Hill race, over the saddle, near Hill’s Creek; and a second one of Walsh’s, near the head of the race at Devonshire Gully. The two first-named only of these are suspension flumes, the others being supported throughout by staying, struts, &c.

The following is a statistical review of them—

Those named as suspension-flumes consist of iron pipes, the others are the ordinary timber boxes.

I may mention in addition to the foregoing, that as a proof of the success which has attended dredging operations, another machine is now being built at Clyde.

I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
H. C. BATE,
Assistant Surveyor.

The Chief Surveyor,
Survey Office, Dunedin.

REPORT OF A. D. WILSON, ASSISTANT SURVEYOR.
Survey Department,
Woolshed, July 23, 1867.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Circular Letter No. 41, and beg to forward you the following information as required.

Head Races.—In this district there are only three Head Races of any consequence, averaging in length about fifteen miles, constructed at a cost of about £60 per mile, and which, on the average, do not carry more than two sluice-heads of water—the average fall is about 18 feet per mile. One of the races is brought under ground for a distance of about 120 yards. There are three or four others which may be valued at £100 each.

Cradles and Water-wheels.—There are not more than four parties using Cradles, the value of which I estimate at £2 each cradle. Twelve Water-wheels are in use, the value of which is about £12 each wheel.

Reservoirs.—The total number of Reservoirs constructed in this District does not exceed ten, the total cost of which may be estimated at about £1000.

Tunnels.—Five tunnels are in use in Waitahuna Gully. The main drive in each instance is not less than 400 feet; in one claim the tunnel is over 600 feet in length, the timber for which alone cost over £200.

Quartz Reefs.—Quartz mining operations are at present limited to the Canada Reef. The crushing machine has ten stamp heads, and I believe is equal to 40 horse-power. The yield of gold at the two last washings-up was, respectively, 6dwts. and 8dwts. to the ton. I have great hopes that the reef, though at present under a cloud, will ultimately prove remunerative. The whole works connected with it are of a very superior description, the wheel being of a very large size (40 feet in diameter). I am sorry I cannot give fuller information regarding this, as my visit was made before the works were finished.

Flumes.—There is, I believe, one Girdered Flume, extending across a gully for a distance of about three chains, the height above creek being about 40 feet. This work I have not personally inspected.

Miners.—The total number of miners in Waitahuna Gully does not exceed 150, but on the outlying gullies there are about 50 more, which will make the total number about 200.

Woolshed.—The number of miners in this district I do not think will at present exceed 40; the uncertainty attaching (I mean in regard to being allowed to work) to mining on private property having hitherto deterred numbers from setting in to work. As, however, this will in a great measure be removed, I trust I shall be able to give a more favorable report hereafter.

Waipori.—Not having visited this district during the last two years, I am unable to report further than that.