THE Inangahua Times. PUBLIBHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPT. 3, 1880.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 3 September 1880, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLIBHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPT. 3, 1880.

The Aunual Reports of tbe ■Wardens of the Goldfields of the Colocv have just been printed, and laid before tbe House. Taken altogether they indicate a very healthy rate of progress in the mining industry during the past year. In many districts there is shown, however, an appreciable falling off in tbe production of alluvial gold, and the number of Europeans engaged in its search* This may to ome extent be accounted for by departures to Temora, and migrations la rushes on tbe West Coast. Taking the aggregate returns there is shown a small increase in tbe number of men following tbe pursuit of mining. The figures being: 1879,14,297; and for i last year, 14.353. Tbe gold exported during the year reached the value of £1,168,123, being equal to £81 2s as the earnings of each man, which is undoubtedly a very low average. Tbe total value of gold exported from New Zealand since 1857 is thirty seven million sterling. The production for 1879 was the lowest for the preceding eighteen years, but tbe yield for the six months ended June last showed a very marked increase. The great diminution in the gold yield for tbe year 1879 is attributed to the fact that in that year large numbers of miners were attracted from the gold* fields by the high rate of wages offering on the railway works of the Colony Tbe Report shows that during tbe last two years the production of alluvial gold baa been in the propor* tion of three to one of that obtained from quartz and cement. Th« returns from quartz show a falling off in the total of 6000oz as compared with the' previous year, ReeftoD showing a decrease of ftOOOo?, and Coromnndel. 4000 ox 5 at the Thames and Otago | there were increases of 2000oz and 4000oz. Speaking generally, the Report siys: "The Thames goldfield, ! which is much the most important quart z-rainin? district in New Zealand, has rallied very materially during the last few mon'ha from a former state of depression. Tunnels are being extended into new country by means of drills driven by compressed air ; and tbe yield of gold according to the latest return is on the increase. Several of the mining companies conduct cpera ions on a large scale, and their arrangements evince great enterprise, skill, and confidence in the future of the field." Coming to mat* I ters of local concern, Mr Warden Revell in his Report upon the Inangabua, sets our gold yield down, as far as can be ascertained, at 22,6200z for the paafc (statistical) year, of which 45300z is represented as alluvial. The population of the Inangabua is stated at 1,562 ; the total Revenve collected in the Magistrate's and "Warden's f!ourtß during the year is shown at £3,678, which is inclusive of spirit license fees