THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND (REPORT ON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, H-11

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Sess. 1L—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND (REPORT ON).

Return to an Order of the Bouse of Representatives, dated Zrd August, 1869. " That it is desirable that the Government should cause to be laid upon the table of this House, during eacli session, a report embodying a general account of the present condition of the gold fields of the colony, their advancement or otherwise during the preceding year, and their probable prospects ; together with particulars showing the average price of provisions during the year on each gold field, the rate of wages, estimated population, and such other information as would afford a comprehensive idea of the general condition of the mining interest in the colony; and that His Excellency be requested to forward a copy of such report to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies." — (Mr. W. B. Barrison.)

To the Hon. William Gisborne, Minister of Mines. Secretary for Gold Fields' Office, Sir,— Wellington, 20th August, 1879. I have the honor to forward the annual report on the gold fields. Iv the Appendix will be found the Wardens' reports on the several mining districts, together with statistical information tabulated in the same order as in previous reports. There are also reports in the Appendix from the managers of the Government water-races. I have, &c, James McKereow, Secretary for Gold Fields.

REPORT. The history of the gold fields during the past year reveals encouraging features of progress in several districts; but, generally speaking, there has been a considerable falling off in the average returns for the whole colony. This is most marked in the Customs returns of the quantity of gold exported. They afford the most reliable approximation to the Yield of Gold. In last year's report, 18,000 oz. was taken as the trade estimate of what was used up in the colony for the twelve months: this year the trade estimate is considerably less. Leaving this out of account, and comparing the export returns for similar periods, they arc as follow:—

1877. 1878. Decrease. Increase. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Auckland ... 09,081 £403,627 55,982 £220,454 43,099 £183,173 Marlborougb... 870 3,197 404 1,617 466 1,580 Nelson ... 602 2,300 4,463 17,223 ... ... 3,861 £14,923 West Coast ... 157,963 631,615 144,634 578,508 13,329 53,107 Otago ... 113,169 455,341 105,003 422,277 8,166 33,064 371,685 £1,496,080 310,486 £1,240,079 65,060 £270,924 3,861 £14,923 3,801 14,923 Decrease for 1878 61,19'J £256,001 Comparison of three-months periods ending 31st March, 1878 and 1879 : — 1878. 1879. Decrease. Increase. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Oz. Value. Auckland ... 15,446 £61,246 9,567 £38,108 5,879 £23,138 Marlborough ... 560 2,240 ... ... 560 £2,240 Nelson ... 1,139 4,276 1,193 4,518 ... ... 54 242 West Coast ... 47,361 189,418 41,764 167,035 5,597 22,383 Otago ... 38,684 156,544 21,616 85,592 17,008 70,952 102,630 £411,431 74,700 £297,493 28,544 £116,473 61i £2,183 614. 2,482 Decrease for three months onded 31st March, 1679 ... 27,930 £113,991 1—H. 11.

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Mining Population and its Earnings. Table 9 gives the number of miners on 31st March, 1879, at 14,297. On 31st March, 1878, the number was 15,559 : or a mean for the year ended 31st March, 1879, of 14,928. The value of gold exported for the same period is £1,126,088, or an average of £75 10s. for the year to each miner. The average per man for the preceding twelve months ended 31st March, 1878, was £97 10s. The number of miners has decreased 1,262 —Auckland having 579 less, and Otago 690. On the "West Coast the number remains about stationary, and was, on 31st March last, 7,000, or as near as may be, one-half the miners in the colony. The emigration from the West Coast during the year must therefore be due, not to the departure of miners, but of traders and others from the townships. Of the 14,000 miners in the colony, 3,000 are Chinese, of whom about three-fourths are in Otago. The number of Chinese miners decreased 456 during the year. They are the gleaners of the field, almost always working on ground which has been abandoned by the European miner. Notwithstanding such disadvantageous circumstances, their plodding industry, method, and co-operation come in good stead, achieving results often surprisingly successful. Alluvial Mining. The statistics of this class of mining are, as regards mining plant and water-supply, very nearly the same as for the previous year. Alluvial mining has always been the most prolific in gold; and this year it gives very nearly two-thirds of the whole yield of the colony. There has been some falling-off from the returns of the previous year, but the greatest deficiency is on the returns from quartz-mining. Alluvial mining is likely to maintain its pre-eminence for some years yet; for in the West Coast and Otago, the two great alluvial districts, there are large areas of proved ground still to operate on, and there is room for fresh discoveries. Although the yield is less for this than for the preceding year, it docs not follow that the fields are becoming exhausted or that the falling-off will be progressive. The industry is subject to many vicissitudes, and is essentially fluctuating in its results. On the West Coast, the continued wetness of last season—unusually so, even for that district —was very favourable to mining, as affording a full supply of water for sluicing. In Otago, on the other hand, the unprecedented floods in the spring made such havoc among the water-races and river-bed claims as to stop all the workings for a considerable time. As bearing also on the yield of gold, may be mentioned the effect of the numerous public works in providing the choice of steady employment at a good wage, as against the risk and precarious gains of the miner. Quartz and Cement Mining. The returns from this class of mining for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1879, are, — Tons of Quartz Ounces of crushed. Gold. Auckland — Coromandel .. .. 2,785 9,071 Thames .. .. 41,917 57,206 West Coast— lleefton .. .. 28,070 26,023 Otago— Clyde .. .. 3,373 3,814 Arrow (Macetowii) .. 1,610 1,618 Skippers .. .. 1,250 320 79,005 98,052 from quartz. Lawrence .. .. .. 20,000 estimated from cement. Total .. .. 118,052 from quartz and cement. As already mentioned, the falling-off in gold from quartz-mining has been greater than from alluvial. This has been most marked in the Thames, where the yield is only a little over onehalf the preceding year, and not one-half the average of the preceding ten years. At Reefton the yield for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1878, was 36,691 ounces; for the like period ended 31st March, 1879, it is 26,023 ounces. This decline in the yield at lleefton is attributed by Mr. Shaw to the withdrawal of capital, thereby confining active operations to those mines only which had already been opened out and found payable. That also applies to the Thames, the present time being very unfavourable to finding capital to break new ground. The stoppage of the big pump at the Thames during the latter part of the year has also been a serious drawback, the lower levels of the principal mines having thereby become flooded. The resumption of pumping is a question for the interested associated companies and the local authorities to arrange, and has been under negotiation for some time. The cement crushings at Lawrence have assumed large dimensions, as much as from 700 to 1,000 tons of stuff being put through each day. More batteries are iv course of erection, and it is manifest from Mr. Carew's report that this, the first and most permanent gold field in Otago,

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is to have still further development and extension in the working of the newly-discovered deposits of cement, and in the re-working of the accumulated tailings from the original groundsluicing of the Blue Spur, and in the re-working of ground hurriedly passed over in the early workings of the famous Gabriel's Gully. Experience has shown that, where the auriferous earth is compacted together in a conglomerate or cement, as in the Blue Spur, the crushing by stampers is greatly superior to the system of ground-sluicing as a means of freeing and saving the gold. Country that was too poor or not in position to be sluiced cau be worked profitably by the stampers, a very few pennyweights to the ton paying well. Maintenance of Water-races under the Control of the Gold Fielhs Department. Since last year's report the Mount Ida Water-race has, by the operation of " The Mount Ida Water-race Trust Act, 1878," become vested in the Trust, and a report of their proceedings will be found in the Appendix. In the month of November last Mr. Wakefield visited Grahamstown, and, according to instructions, arranged the necessary conditions, subject to the approval of the Government, for the transfer of the Thames Water-race, in compliance with previous engagements, to the County Council, from the Ist of December, 1878, and it is intended that the transfer shall be formally proclaimed as soon as the survey has been completed, and the plans showing the defined limits are ready. Annual reports by the managers of the Nelson Creek and Waimea-Kumara Water-races are contained in the Appendix; and a statement of the revenue and expenditure on account of these races for the year ending 30th June, 1879, will be found in Return No. 20. Although the balance of accounts shows but a small sum towards the payment of interest on the cost of these works, it is so far satisfactory to note that the Waimea-Kumara Race enables 723 men to prosecute an industry yielding about £120 a year per man, and the Nelson Creek Race enables sixty-seven men, after paying for water, to make the very high average of £239 per man. Government Aids to Prospecting, etc. Several new applications for aid have been received, but the Government subsidy has only been granted in two instances since the date of the last report, one being to a prospecting party at Poverty Bay, and the other to the Hauraki Prospecting Association. The latter appears to have been one of the best organized with which the Government has had to deal, the proposal being to prospect the country extending from Cape Colville to the Thames; but although, from the reports received, much labour appears to have been directed in a systematic way to the search, no really successful results are shown to have been attained. The same remark as to results applies to all the associations referred to in last year's report as subsidized by Government ; and, looking at these facts, it is not recommended that prospecting should continue to be encouraged by a direct Government subsidy to associations. Various prospectors have been at work in the Wellington Provincial District, without asking for Government assistance; and quartz showing gold in the proportion of 12 dwts. to the ton has been found, and some ofthe prospectors are sanguine of further success. But, recognizing the necessity of promoting the search for fresh discoveries, a better plan would be to aid in the construction of roads and tracks through difficult or unfrequented country, leaving the actual prospecting to the unfettered action of the enterprising digger. The ardour and enthusiasm and personal resource which characterize the successful gold-discoverer are not to be bound down by regulation, or the restrictions of Government audit. Those who have made all the important discoveries in the colony did not previously make known their intention to prospect; and they would have disdained coming under any obligation as to reporting their intentions or proceedings. If the couutry is made accessible to the pack-horse, aud the gold is there, private effort will do the rest. Another class of prospecting relates, not to the discovery of new country, but to the further development of country already occupied, such as the proposal referred to in last year's report of driving a tunnel two miles long through the country immediately behind the principal mines at the Thames, with the view of cutting across the known auriferous lodes, should they extend so far inland. And there is the somewhat similar proposal of driving a tunnel at Reefton, with the object of testing the continuance of the lodes at greater depths. These works aud others of a similar general comprehensive nature deserve encouragement, either by concessions secured by legislative enactment, or by subsidy. There are also cases, such as the Alpine Company, at Lyell, and the Welcome Company, at Boatman's, near Reefton, where, either on account of unusual difficulties in opening out the mine, or ofthe necessity of working back country through long drives, a larger area than the usual 16_ acres has to be allowed, so as to warrant the employment of the necessary capital. On the older gold fields, the surface deposits having been pretty well worked out, it requires well-directed efforts, assisted by extensive plant and machinery, to follow up the deposits in the deeper ground. Accordingly, mining is becoming more and more a business in which skill and capital must combine, and the inevitable tendency is towards larger areas being required by the companies which undertake those enterprises.

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Settlement on Gold Fields.

This has not received any very great extension during the year. Recognizing the fact that there has been a gradual diminution of the number of miners during the last few years, it will be interesting to note what provision has been made to enable them to acquire laud and become settlers if so disposed. Ou the Thames Gold Fields, Auckland, there are about 100,000 acres open for selection on agricultural lease; but the land is decidedly inferior, and very little of it is as yet made accessible by dray roads. It is therefore cut off from anything but a very limited local market, and consequently there is little inducement to settle on it. AVith the opening of the Te Aroha alluvial lands, naturally accessible by the branches of a navigable river intersecting the plain, and handy to forest reserves, there arc conditions very favourable to a successful settlement in the vicinity of the gold fields. Twenty thousand acres are surveyed into sections, varying from 100 to 300 acres each, which it is proposed to open for application as soon as several main outfall drains have been cut through the swampy part of the plain. On the AVest Coast Gold Fields, all the land, with the exception of a few reserves, is open for application, either on immediate payment, or on one or other of the settlement clauses of deferred payments or agricultural lease. This extensive region extends in a strip, ten to twenty miles wide, along the coast for three hundred miles. In its dense forest and wet climate the settler has much to contend against, and it is only after great and persevering labour that the clearing is made and the grass sown down. The country is better suited for the rearing of cattle and the produce of the dairy than for the growth of cereals. As these products are not likely to be exported, settlement must necessarily be subordinate to the mining and timber industries, and flourish or languish with them. The Otago Gold Fields are scattered over au area of six or seven million acres of treeless, grassy hills, mountains, and inland plains. Almost the whole of this extensive country is let on pastoral lease, and is not open for purchase or settlement. The only exception is in the Wakatipu and Tuapeka depasturing districts, which together aggregate an area of 500,000 acres. This country is nearly all let on depasturing license, subject, however, to free selection by applicants on agricultural lease; and the same applies to the Cromwell, Dunstan, Benger, and Waikaia commonages, which, taken collectively, make up 50,000 acres; or, altogether, there is an area of 550,000 acres open for application on agricultural lease. But, as these areas have been open for selection for many years, all tbe most desirable pieces have been taken up, and what remains is, from its steepness, height, or other cause, only deemed valuable as natural pasture. The settlement which has taken place on the Otago Gold Fields during the last few years has been mostly on blocks specially selected by Government from the runs, and on which compensation in extinction of grazing right has been paid, according to the acreage taken. During the past year a total area of 180,000 acres, in sixteen different localities, has been set apart for settlement. This is nearly all now surveyed, and ready for selection. Fully one-half is arable, and has been surveyed into sections not exceeding 320 acres each; and the remainder, consisting principally of hill-sides and mountain slopes, into grazing farms of from 1,000 to 4,000 acres each. These figures present large possibilities in the way of settlement. The pastoral lands may be offered on immediate or deferred payments, and the agricultural on cither of these modes of payment or on agricultural lease. Iv the varying circumstances of different localities, all these methods of disposal will have to be availed of. Pre-emption to Homesteads. —There is a provision, under section 66 of the Alines Act, by which any one who may have established a homestead, garden, orchard, or small farm on the gold fields prior to Ist January, 1878, may, after due publicity has been given of the application, and no valid objection been offered to it, be allowed to purchase the freehold up to a limit of 50 acres. Several applications have been made, but only one, for 12i acres, has been granted during the year; one or two others are under consideration. The number of persons who can avail themselves of section 66 are comparatively few, aud, as the miners are very jealous of these applications, and will oppose some of them, no great area will be acquired under this system. In conclusion, I have to state that I am again indebted to Mr. AVakefield for the collection of the AVardcns' and other reports, and for the compilation of the statistical returns contained in the Appendix to this report; also to express my thanks for the very complete tables furnished by the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Gavin, and the Secretary of Customs, Mr. Seed. James McKerrow,

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APPENDIX TO REPORT ON THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND.

WARDENS' REPORTS.

AUCKLAND GOLD FIELDS. No. 1. Mr. Warden Keddell to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Warden's Office, Coromandel, 14th June, 1879. I have the honor to submit the following general report showing the progress and state of milling generally in the northern portion ofthe Hauraki Gold-mining District : — During the past year there havo been no new discoveries, and the yield of gold has been not quite so large as for 1877-78, the total for this year being 9,071 oz., as against 9,545 oz. for the year preceding. As in former reports, the district will be divided, and the principal claims classified, in the following order—namely, the Kapanga group, the Tokatea and adjoining holdings, and the Kauri Block, of which the Union Beach is the principal claim. Kapanga. —During the past twelve months a further distance of 50 feet has been sunk on the reef, which is now tested to a depth of 410 feet from the surface. Several intermediate levels have been extended on the line of reef at various depths, and golden stone found, more or less, throughout. Some good patches of gold were obtained from the bottom levels, while the deadwork and prospecting operations were being carried on. And during the time the mine was being laid open for extensive operations GOO tons of quartz were crushed at the company's battery, yielding over 2 oz. of gold to the ton, realizing over £3,500. The first capital being expended in sinking and opening out at the present depth (410 feet), the company in Loudon are subscribing a now and larger capital for the purpose of sinking the engiiieshaffc a further depth of 300 feet, so as to test the reef at 700 feet from the surface. Pending the subscription of new capital very little work is just now being dove, beyond the pumping operations necessary to keep the mine dry. Corby. —This mine, from which such large quantities of gold were taken last year, has during this not done much more than pay its working expenses. A low level was put in for the purpose of cutting No. 2 reef at a greater depth, but it has not as- yet been intersected. A large quantity of work has been done, and a great deal of quartz crushed at the company's battery, but the results have not come up to anticipations, though the shareholders are still sanguine; and, tho mine paying its working expenses, no calls have been made. Should they succeed in finding No. 2 reef at the lower level there is every reason to believe that the returns will then quite equal their former amount. In the neighbourhood of this and tho Kapanga miues several claims were taken up, of which the Euroka and Clunes and South Kapanga are the most prominent; but, although much labour has been expended in working these and the adjoining mines, nothing to warrant the prosecution of further researches has resulted. This, together with the general depression whicli the whole district at present labours under, and the difficulty of getting in calls resulting therefrom, has caused all mining operations in this locality to languish, and, iv the case of the last-mentioned claims, to csase entirely. Conquering Hero. —This ground was taken up again as reported last year, aud was energetically worked until August last, but with no result commensurate with the outlay. The pumping and winding machinery has been taken down and re-erected on the Premier Company's property, situated on Kauri Block, as it was decidad to abandon tho deep workings until better times. At present a portion of the surface is being worked under the tribute system. Tokatea. —During the current year a parcel of 300 tons was put through the company's mill with good results, and several parties of tributers have had good crushings. A new leader has been opened out ou tiie northern boundary, showing rich gold, and prospecting is being pushed ahead in the lower levels with every probability of success. No progress has been made with No. 7 level, and the rock-drill mentioned in former reports has not yet been put to work, and a heavy call (the first that has been made during the ten years that this mine has been worked) has been necessitated. Pride of Tokatea. —Nothing has been done in this mine by the company proper, but several parties of tributers have been working the upper levels with excellent results. In October last this company surrendered half their large holding, an example which no doubt might be followed with advantage by many other holders of larger areas than they can profitably work. Royal Oak. —-This company has been steadily at work during the entire year, but with very poor results, and has had to make a heavy call. The holders of this company's stock do not yet despair ; and when certain improvements in the matter of transit of quartz, now contemplated by the local governing bodies, are carried out, it is hoped that this company will again take its place among those which pay dividends.

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Harbour View. —This ground has been worked by tributers with average success, but has not yet recovered from the loss caused by the flood of 1878, which washed away a large paddockful of valuable quartz, together with the tramway, in the absence of which it is impossible to get any but small parcels of quartz to the crushing mills. Bismarck. —The underground engine described in last year's report has been found to answer all expectations. The shaft below the engine-bed has been sunk a distance of 85 feet (total depth from surface, 311 feet), and a reef intersected iv a cross-cut north at 30 feet from bottom of shaft. The main reef was cut at a distance of 51 feet; the latter has been driven upon for 200 feet with good results. The block of ground now opened up and ready for stoping will give employment to thirty or forty men for the next two years. The engine works well, though so far below the surface. Operations in this miue were at one time greatly delayed by water, but the mine is now being rapidly drained. Kauri Block. —In this group of claims the Union Beach is the best known: its notoriety when in former hands (the Green Harp Company), together with its rich yields while under its present proprietary, cause it to be remembered. The following is a brief summary ofthe work done during the past year: 584 feet of driving, 03 feet of winzs-sinking; 5 blocks of ground have been stoped out, averaging 51 feet by 40 feet, yielding 277 tous of quartz, which was crushed for a return of 220 oz. of gold. As to the future prospects ofthe mine, it is believed that the different reefs will be found to be as rich as ever at a deeper level; but having been all stoped out to the lowest level iv the present shaft (180 feet), and the reefs being at a great distance from the shaft, it is necessary to sink a new one, which was begun, but, owing to the difficulty of getting in calls, has now been abandoned. At present the surface is being worked by several parties of tributers. It may be remarked here that when this mine was paying large dividends it was well known that a new shaft would be necessary, and a small reduction of each dividend would have sunk the shaft in the proper place and to the necessary depth: had this been dove the shareholders would now have the satisfaction of either receiving dividends as before, or of knowing that the mine was barren at the greater depth which the new shaft would have opened up. Premier. —This ground includes the Palmerston, lona, Harrison's, aud Golconda. Ou the lastmentioned the pumping and winding gear from the Conquering Hero mine has been fixed. The old drives have been cleaned out and retimbered for a distance of 500 feet; a shaft 200 feet deep has been sunk ; aud two winzes, each 100 feet; 270 feet of driving has been done from the 200-feet level, and the battery of ten stampers and four berdans kept constantly going, but, as yet, with a scarcely payable result. No expense has been spared to make this a very complete plant, and when the difficulty which at present exists in saving the gold (ouing to the large quantity of base metals held iv the stone) has been overcome, a payable return will no doubt be insured. Golden Pah. —Since the settlement of the question of disputed boundary between this company and the Union Beach, mentioned iv last year's report, this company has gone to work in earnest. A 30-horse-power pumping and winding engine has been put into position, the shaft sunk to a depth of 80 feet, and a drive put iv under the foreshore a distance of GO feet on a good large leader, showing good gold the whole way. The erection of so large a plant has exhausted the capital of the company, and the directory are now making an elfort to increase it, aud also an alteration in tho rule which limits the calls to one shilling a month, as that sum is found insufficient to keep so large a plaut going until the mine itself makes some return. Goodenough, —No work has been done in this mine for the last three months, as the quantity of water at the present level is too great to be kept under without steam machinery, and the company are not now iv a position to erect a plant sufficiently powerful to keep it down. The Black Reef and Coromandel arc languishing, not so much for want of good prospects, but because the general depression at present existing, not only here but generally over the whole provincial district, stands iv the way of the payment of calls, without which it is impossible to open up most mines, for few are so good as to pay at once, and well enough to save shareholders from paying, at any rate, some calls. Although the anticipations of last year's report have not been fulfilled, still the fact of the district having hold its own is, no doubt, a matter for congratulation; and when the general depression all over the colony is taken into consideration, and as mining operations depend so much upon outside assistance for the necessary funds to start with, aud the money for calls generally has to bo taken from the business capital of the various shareholders, it will be easily understood that commercial depression must react upon an industry needing so much preliminary expenditure as quartz-mining, and from which the returns, though often exceedingly encouraging, are so very uncertain. Ou the whole, there is every reason to believe that the bad times now existing on this field will shortly disappear, and be followed by a period of activity and successful effort, resulting in a return to its former prosperity. The prospects in the Tokatea district, Bismarck, and some other claims have so much improved since the end of the year that there ia every reason to believe that the above prognostications will be realized, especially should the local governing bodies carry out the contemplated improvements in the mode of transit of quartz to the various crushing mills. The statistical returns asked for iv your circular letter have been forwarded to you under a separate cover. I have, &c, Jackson Keddell, Warden. The Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Wellington.

No. 2. Mr. Warden Fuaser to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Thames, 18th June, 1879. I have the honor to forward herewith the report by the Mining Inspector on the Hauraki Gold Mining District (South) for the year ending 31st March, 1879, together with statistical returns for the same period.

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I regret that the report on the general state of the gold field is not more favourable. The amount of gold for the year is the smallest yet obtained for the same length of time during the last ten years. Complaints have lately been made of the dullness of mining and business affairs in this district, and it would be useless to deny that a serious depression exists; but, after a careful consideration of the present position of the field and the causes which have led to it, I am convinced that the depression will prove but temporary in its nature. Occurring during one of those unsuccessful periods to which all gold fields are more or less liable, the stoppage of the works commonly known as the Big Pump has contributed in no small degree to the present unsatisfactory state of things. It will be remembered that the Government handed over to the Thames County Council the securities held by them for the repayment of £50,000 advanced from the public revenue for the prosecution of pumping, sinking, and prospecting works at low levels from the shaft of the United Pumping Association. The Borough and County Councils, by an arrangement made between them, carried on operations until the 31st January this year, when they decided to discontinue further contributions to the cost of maintaining the pumps, and all operations at the shaft consequently ceased. As the question of pumping being resumed is of considerable importance to the field, I enclose herewith a copy of a report by a committee of the County Council on the matter, which will give you concisely the principal facts connected with the working of tho pump since it came into the hands of the County Council, and afford you a fair idea of the present position of this question : — "Tour committee have the honor to submit their final report on the very important matter which has during the past tw*o years been the subject of their attention ; and in doing so are of opinion that a general and cursory review of the various transactions connected therewith is necessary, especially when public attention has latterly been so much directed to the present position of the pump, and the misapprehension of the various facts which exist regarding the relation of this Council to the £50,000 securities. It will be remembered, on or about December, 1876, a meeting of parties interested in the maintenance of pumping operations was held in the Borough Council Chambers, which Mr. Warwick AVeston, who was then acting director of the Association, attended. It was understood that no further advances would be made by the Government; that the Association had expended during the previous two years the whole of £50,000 advanced from the public exchequer, and, unless some practical means were devised, the pumps would stop. Under these circumstances the meeting unanimous!}* affirmed the necessity of securing a transfer of the mortgages to one or other of the local corporate bodies. Proposals were then made to the Government, which the Premier, Major Atkinson, strongly supported in the House, to hand over to the Thames County Council, when constituted, the mortages held by the colony over the works of the United Pumping Association ; and a new clause was, by consent of the House, added to the Public AVorks and Immigration Bill, empowering the Governor to make such transfer, and by the assignment so made these securities became absolutely the property of the Thames County. On the 15th January, 1877, the Eesident Minister iv Auckland despatched three memoranda of agreement which were submitted to a conference of Borough and County Council memhers, who, after interviewing the Ministers, agreed to them as the basis of the agreements which now exist between the Government and the two Councils respectively. The right to sell or mortgage the securities thus assigned was also conferred upon the County Council by ' The Immigration and Public AVorks Appropriation Act, 1877,' and this power was exercised by the Council in June, 1877, and a mortgage taken by the New Zealand Mercantile Loan Agency for £10,000, to be expended on pumping and driving at the 640-feet level of the United Pumping Association shaft. Before the mortgage was finally executed, the whole plant was valued, by direction of the Agency, by Messrs. Price Brothers and G. Black, who made a careful appraisement of the estate, the basis being the probable sum the estate would yield under a forced sale. The valuation is thus given: Caledonian Gold Mining Company battery, £3,550; Imperial Crown battery, £3,540; Tookey winding, pumping, and battery, £2,900 ; Golden Crown battery and winding plant, £2,295 ; Caledonian pumping and winding plant, £3,050 ; United Pumping Association pumping and winding plant, and plant in yard, £10,100 : total, £25,465. Contracts for the extension of the adits at the 640-feet level were taken on the 10th June, 1877, and the work continued without intermission until 30th March, 1878, at a cost to the Council, including interest on money advanced, of £4,134 ls. Many reef's, some of a promising character, were intersected during the progress of the work, which the associated companies and the proprietors of the adjacent mines persistently refused to prospect or test, and the work was necessarily abandoned. There is no doubt these extensions largely increased the duty of the pump and the area of drainage. True to their agreements the Councils maintained pumping operations until the 31st of January, 1879, when the whole works were closed down. The original mortgage deeds for £50,000 terminate in 1881, consequently no demand can legally be made for the payment of the principal until then ; but the deeds also provide for the payment of interest at 6 per cent., and for fixing the dates upon which this demand must be satisfied. Tour committee have appointed the Ist July next for payment of about £8,000 of interest accrued and owing, and if within sixty days, or on or before Ist September, this sum is not forthcoming, the Council can re-enter upon the estate and realize to the extent of their demand. The foregoing statement defines the legal situation of the Council, and your committee have now the honor to submit the financial position of the Council in relation to these securities : To payments on driving account and interest to 31st March, 1579, £4,134 ls.; to payments on pumping account to 22nd February, 1879, £10,495 17s. Id,: total, £14,629 ISs. Id. Balance on December and January statements, £272 18s. 6d.; disconnecting lower balance-bob, and starting pumps, Ist May, 1879, £31 12s. 3d. : total, £14,934 Bs. lOd. Several attempts have beeu made by your committee to amicably adjust this matter with the associated companies, both by correspondence and personal intercourse with the directors; but it is to be regretted the only tangible oiler made to the Council was the sum of £4,000. Acting under instruc-, tions from the Council, your committee appointed Mr. Errington, C.E., of Auckland, as agent for the sale of these securities, and the offer of £5,000, which you are called upon by Councillor Carpenter's notice of motion to consider, is the only offer received through that gentleman. Tour committee

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refrain from expressing an opinion on the situation of this important subject, as they justly consider it is one which should be unreservedly dealt with by the Council.—Alexander Brodie, Chairman of Committee." As pointed out by the Mining Inspector, the water, in consequence of the suspension of pumping operations, has risen in all the adjoining mines, effectually stopping all further mining at low levels. The Kurunui Hill United Company were then prospecting their mine from the 640-feet level of the Pumping Association's shaft, and sufficiently encouraging indications were met with to induce them to continue, had the water not unfortunately obliged them to desist. The question of the existence of gold at deep levels, on which the permanent character of the field will no doubt greatly depend, in the meantime remains undecided. In the month of December, 1878, the pumps of the Waiokaraka Drainage Association stopped, some of the contributing parties having failed to continue their share of the expenses. The Queen of Beauty mine, one of the contributing claims, had just opened out a large and rich leader in their 550-feet level —the greatest depth at which gold in payable quantities has been found at the Thames. This discovery gave every promise of yielding as payable crushings as those which, a year or two ago, rendered this mine famous. The water has now flooded out all tho lower workings, and operations are at present confined to the higher levels, from which the richer part of the quartz has already been removed. This district (AVaiokaraka) now produces little gold compared with what it formerly yielded, aud with what, there is every reason to believe, it may again yield when the drainage works are resumed. The resumption of these works by the Waiokaraka Drainage Association seems to depend to a great extent on the course which may be taken by those having the control of the Big Pump. The stoppage of these two systems of drainage in such important localities has, of course, considerably affected adjoining mines. To add to this difficulty, mines which have been considered the principal gold-producers —one or other of which has generally, during some part of the year, by a rich find materially increased the returns for the whole district—have, during the past twelve montiis, barely paid expenses. The Alburnia is the only one that has paid dividends during that period. The yield of gold from smaller holdings in different parts of the field has not decreased very much, the chief falling-off being, as already stated, in the more prominent mines. There is, however, no reason to believe that in these the richest portions are yet worked out. Further development and more extended workings may at any time bring to light reefs as valuable as any hitherto found. A discovery of this kind in any well-known claim would, I am satisfied, restore in a great measure that confidence which has of late so considerably declined. This again, would induce a further expenditure of capital, not only in developing adjacent mines, but also in reworking abandoned claims in more distant parts of the district. It must also be remembered that as yet a comparatively small portion of the country has even been prospected, and but a very limited area developed. There would apiiear no reason to doubt that eventually other portions of the peninsula will be found to be equally good with those now being worked, and, if so, the future of the field may be considered well assured. As might be expected, the small returns of gold have seriously affected the business people of tho Thames, who, more than the miners, complain of the dull times. The district is dependent almost entirely on the mining industry, and, when the produce of that fails, every description of business must necessarily suffer. Had it at present, as no doubt in time it will have, other resources on which to rely, a depression such as now exists would not be so severely felt. We should then be enabled to tide over our temporary difficulties, and maintain our population until more prosperous days returned. The number of miners engaged in mining at the end of the year was considerably less than at the beginning, but the stoppage of the pumps and the suspension of other works consequent thereon will account in a great measure for the difference. During the year, advantage bas been taken of the subsidies granted by Government in aid of prospecting. Parties also assisted by associations have been out at the Thames and Ohinemuri, but, so far, with no very favourable results. There can, however, be no doubt that many portions of tho peninsula will eventually be found to be highly auriferous. At present, want of roads over a densely wooded and very rugged couutry prevents the district from being thoroughly prospected. As far, however, as my experience extends, paid prospecting parties are, as a rule, not the most successful. Any important discovery made here has been by miners at their own expense, without any assistance from associations or the general public. A reward to be given to a successful prospector on the discovery of gold in payable quantities, either in the form of a bonus, or a grant of au extended area of ground as a claim, secured to him for a stated time with certain immunities and privileges, would, I think, induce more real prospecting than the system of payment by the day at jirescnt adopted. As the resumption of pumpiug from the Association's shaft is of such vital importance to the prosperity of this district, I would suggest that, failing successful negotiations between the associated companies and the Borough and County Councils for effecting this object, a short Bill be introduced during the approaching session of Parliament, constituting the land between the Kauaeranga and Tararu Creeks, as far back as the main range, a prospecting district; that such district be under the control ofa Board, consisting ofthe Warden, the Chairman ofthe Thames County Council, the Mayor of the Borough of Thames, and two members to be elected by tho miners and battery-owners ; that all gold revenue accruing from mines within such district be vested in such Board, and applied to the maintenance of pumping and any further mining operations which it may be deemed advisable to carry on from the shaft. This revenue, together with what would be contributed under the drainage clauses of " The Gold-Mining Districts Act, 1873," by those benefited, would, I thiuk, be sufficient to meet all expenses connected with the above-mentioned works. Agricultural Leases. The number of agricultural leases in force on 31st March was eighty-five, extending over an aggregate area of 4,220 acres 2 roods 37 perches, and yielding a gross rental, at Is. per acre per annum for the first seven years, of £211 Is. In January, 1882, the majority of these holdings will be chargeable with increased rent —viz., Is. Gd. per acre.

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During the past twelve months, nine leases have been forfeited, and the laud has been advertised as open for occupation. Fourteen applications for leases remain to be dealt with. In a few instances substantial progress has been made, but a great part of the land is of inferior quality, requiring much capital and labour to make it productive. The lessees anxiously look forward to obtaining freehold rights. If an industrious population is to be retained in this district, no time should he lost in giving lessees the right of purchase on equitable terms. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. W. Fraser, Warden.

No. 3. Mr. Mining Inspector McLaren to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Thames, 25th May, 1879. I have the honor to forward report with statistics for the year ending 31st March, 1879. A comparison of the returns for this year with those of last shows a considerable falling-off in the yield of gold for the last twelve months; but it will be found that this is not so much the result of a general decrease on the returns of the whole field as a decrease in the yield of gold from a few mines, in which there have not been during the past year any of those rich finds which in former years gave such large returns from comparatively small quantities of quartz. The amount of gold obtained in proportion to the quartz crushed is consequently much smaller, but it has been more equally contributed by all parts of the field than was formerly the case. The principal event during the year has been the stoppage, on the 31st January, of the deep (or 640 feet below sea) level pumping operations ; the expenses of which have been defrayed during the year by the borough and county authorities out of gold duty and gold field revenues. The Thames County Council holds a mortgage over all the plant and ground of the United Pumping Association, which consists of the Imperial Crown, Caledonian, Golden Crown, and Tookey Companies. As the sum required by the County Council for their interest in the property is a large one, the efforts made to raise a company to carry on operations have, I regret to say, been unsuccessful. In the meantime the water is rising, and will, at an early date, drown out the various mines below the sea-level, leaving only the upper or hill workings of the various mines in which mining operations can be carried on. The mines principally affected by the stoppage of the pump are the Kurunui Hill United, Moanataiari, Imperial Crown, Tookey, Caledonian, Cure, Golden Calf, Waiotahi, Prince Imperial, Crown Princess, I'iako, and Queen of Beauty. The Kurunui Hill United Company have carried on extensive operations during the year on the ground bordering the foreshore. Exhaustive prospecting has been carried on at 200, 280, 340, 425, and 640 feet respectively below sea-level, but so far without success. This result in a measure points to the conclusion that the line or shot of gold deposits does not in depth incline seaward. On the other hand, the deep workings further inland in the Caledonian, Golden Calf, Moanataiari, and also in the Kurunui Hill United, show clearly that in this direction the deep ground contains heavy deposits of the precious metal. At 360 feet below sea-level the Golden Calf and Caledonian Companies are employed opening out a strong lode, from which they have already obtained encouraging prospects in their lowest drives. This lode, from its direction and underlie, will pass through and benefit the companies above named, and doubtless in this belt of country other valuable lodes will be discovered at this and deeper levels when those mines have been further developed. It is to be hoped that the question of draining these low levels will soon be satisfactorily arranged, as from the prospects obtained every hope may be entertained of a return of prosperity to the Thames Gold Field. The shallow levels (or from sea-level upward to an average height of 300 feet) of these claims have been generally worked by tributers. Under this system parties of men take different blocks to work at their own risk, giving to the companies a certain proportion of the gold obtained (generally from 10 to 30 per cent.) free of all expenses. Under such a system the numberless small auriferous veins which traverse the ground will give employment for hundreds of men for years to come. The Moanataiari Gold-Mining Company. —The works in connection with this mine have been carried on with considerable energy during the year, giving employment to a large number of men, both under the wages and tribute systems; but the principal object has been the extension of the main tunnel for the purpose of opening out and developing the reefs known to exist in the Point Russell portion of the ground. This has now been effected, and communication made with the surface, by means of sinking and rising, thus insuring good ventilation. The extension of the tunnel has been made by means of the rock-drill driven by compressed air from the battery on the foreshore. A considerable extent of cross-cutting has also been done on both sides of the drive, with the aid ofthe rock-drill. A large amount of " deadwork " has therefore had to be done, in order to open out the inland portions of the mine ; and the company have gone to great expense and shown much energy and perseverance in prosecuting these works. The total length the main tunnel has now been driven inland is 2,810 feet. The Alburnia Mine has been very vigorously worked throughout the year. It is situated around the upper portion ofthe Moanataiari Creek, and is being developed by means of drives from the hillside at various levels. The upper or " Success " level is situated at a height of from 1,100 feet to 1,200 feet above the sea-level. The second or battery level is 100 feet lower than the above. The third or Whau level is G5 feet lower than the battery level. The fourth, known as the " Sons of Freedom " level, is about 300 feet below the Whau level, and is the present lowest level. The length of tuunel at this level is about 1,600 feet. All the levels are connected with the Moanataiari tramway by means of shoots and hoppers at various places on the line. The mine on the Success and battery levels haa 2—H. 11.

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yielded a considerable quautity of gold, and gives profitable employment to a great number of miners working under the tribute system. Over the AVhau level, a large produce of gold has been derived from the reefs, the men employed on this level being principally wages-men ; there are, however, a few blocks let to tributers. The Sons of Freedom drive has been extended about 150 feet, and a rise made to communicate with the upper workings, thus insuring good ventilation. In the portions of the reefs on the lowest level yet worked on, very good prospects have been obtained. The principal gold-bearing lodes in the mine are named tho Sons of Freedom Eeef, Dixon's Eeef, and Specimen Leader. The Sons of Freedom Eeef is the only one yet developed below the Whau level; but, when further work is done, good returns may be expected, as the channel of country in which gold-bearing quartz is found evidently extends to greater depths than the level now reached, and profitable employment for a large number of miners for many years may be calculated on. Dividends to the extent of £6,000 have been paid by the company during the year. Waiotahi Gold-Mining Company. —This company's ground is situated at the foot of the Waiotahi Creek, on rising ground above Grahamstown. Their works were very steadily carried on during the early part of the year. At that time, operations were carried on on the different lodes on No. 2 level, at 150 feet below the sea-level. During the latter portion of the year, while still working on No. 2 level, preparations have been made for opening a new or No. 3 level, at a depth of 80 feet below No. 2, by sinking the shaftand winzes. This work is now being proceeded with, and will take some months to complete, and to secure the necessary ventilation. By proceeding with this work, in the face of the pumping operations having stopped, and the water now steadily rising, the company show great confidence in pumping being again soon resumed. As regards the prospects obtained, so far as they have gone in the new or No. 3 level they are quite equal to those obtained in No. 2 level before being opened out. The company have also gone to a considerable expenditure with their quartzcrushing battery, having made great alterations and improvements, in placing new stamper-boxes, tables, &c, and thoroughly overhauling all the machinery. Waiotahi Creek District. —Along the hills on both sides of this creek the ground occupied is, with few exceptions, held as claims under miners' rights. The most profitably worked reefs arc small, but, in some instances, large bodies of quartz are worked of low-grade yield which are mado to pay by a co-operative agreement between the miners and millowners. As many large reefs crop out containing more or less gold, with easier modes of transit, many of these reefs could be worked profitably. On the upper portion of tho creek holders of ground have worked on small reefs, which have paid handsomely. The expenses of transit from large but low-grade lodes necessitate the miners devoting their attention to the small veins, which are generally much richer in gold. The large lodes have only been tested near the surface; but, from the favourable appearance of the rock, this channel of country, which extends towards the head of the Karaka, may be expected to improve at great depths. Waiokaraka District. —This district, which for some years past has been among the best goldproducing parts of the field, has during the latter half of the year fallen into tho background, owing to the stoppage of the pumps of the Waiokaraka Drainage Association. At the time operations were suspended, the Queen of Beauty Mine had obtained very rich prospects in the low level, but further working had to be discontinued owing to the rising of tho water. At the present time operations are confined to the upper levels only. There is every probability that, should the United Pumping Association recommence work, pumping will be resumed iv this district also. Karaka Greek District. —The ground in this district is, with few exceptions, held as claims. A considerable amount of payable quartz has been crushed from the Una Spur, in which locality the reefs are worked at no great distance from the surface, being from 500 to 900 feet above the sea-level. From indications met with in lower levels there is every probability that this is the same channel of country as has been worked with splendid returns iv the Piako and Queen of Beauty Alines (where deepest payable gold yet found on the field has been obtained), and that the reefs will therefore be found to be payable at much greater depths than any yet developed. The communication from this hill wdth the batteries is by means of shoots and wire tramways. Further up the creek the yield of gold has been obtained from small veins which pass through hard rock casing. The returns from a few claims have paid very handsomely. Collar-bone District. —This is a branch creek, striking from the Karaka Creek northward. The reefs in this district contain gold in unremunerative quantities, in consequence of the expensive transit to the mills, but small veins have been worked profitably by individual miners under miners' rights. Tararu District. —Tho produce of gold from this locality has been very small. A few miners are prospecting in the vicinity of old worked ground near the Alissouri Creek. A small party of prospectors are at present devoting their attention to gold-bearing reefs which were discovered some years ago near the head of the creek about four or five miles inland, and which, though yielding on an average an ounce to the ton, were abandoned, owing to the expense of carriage and crushing. On the Ohio Creek, a branch of Tararu Creek, what may prove a very valuahle discovery has been made of lead ore, containing a large proportion of silver. The various small tests that have been made have j'ielded over 50 per cent, of lead. As the lode has not yet been developed, I am unable to give an opinion either as to its extent or the probability of its continuing to great depths. Tho lower levels yield a larger percentage of silver than the upper ones, and the quantity of silver appears to increase with the depth of the workings. Hape Creek District. —The Te Papa portion of this district has been steadily prospected by several parties, and in some instances good payable returns have been, obtained; but the reefs are generally of a low grade, yielding from 10 dwt. to 15 dwt. to the ton, and will not pay by the present mode of transit. The miners all agree Ihat larger bodies of quartz could be crushed at remunerative rates if the cost of carriage could be cheapened by having a good road made. Tapu or Hastings District.—Thia portion of tho field is situated about twelve miles north of the Thames. Considerable energy was shown in developing some of the mines in this district in the earlier part of the year, and great expectations were formed as to the resr.lts, which were, however, not realized, and the ground was nearly all abandoned. There are, however, some parties still prospecting, and uot without hope of something permanent being found, as there are occasionally some fine specimens obtained.

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Tairua District. —This district is situated in the centre of the peninsula, about half-way between the Thames and the Ohinemuri Gold Field, partly on the eastern and partly on the western side of the main range, about 2,000 feet above the sea-level. It appeared in the early part of the year as if this portion of the field would be totally deserted ; hut some parties have started on the original prospecting claim, and also on the Alma ground, on the eastern side of the range, with every prospect of success. On the western side, ground near the late Brothers' Claim has been occupied under the name of the Phoenix. Crushing has been carried on constantly with a small four-stamper battery with very fair results. Ohinemuei. Waitekauri District. —The principal operations carried on in this district have been in the Waitekauri Company's ground. Owing to the broken character of the reef between the surface and No. 1 level, at a depth of 170 feet, the company let this portion under tribute. The returns received by the tributers have averaged from £4 10s. to £5 per man per week, and doubtless would have been greater had crushing been carried on continuously through the summer. Owing to the exceptionally dry season there was only sufficient water to drive half the battery; frequently not more than ten stampers could be employed, and occasionally crushing was entirely suspended. Under these circumstances only the small and richer portions of the reef were taken out, the body of the reef being left for more favourable opportunity. The company's own operations were carried on with the view of more fully developing the mine at a greater depth. Two drives have been put in at lower levels, the first being 90 feet below the 170-feet level, and known as the 260-feet level. The second is known as the 420-feet level, and is IGO feet lower. The tunnel at the 2GO-feet level has been driven a total distance of 1,170 feet, and the company will in a short time be prepared to open out and develop the reef on this level. A winze has also been sunk on the reef from tho 170-feet to the 2GO-feet level, the prospects in which are quite equal to those found iv the upper workings. The tunnel at the 420-feet level is now being proceeded with. Its present length is about 900 feet, but a further distance of from 500 to GOO feet will yet have to be driven before the main reef is cut. In making this tunnel a new lode has been intersected showing gold, and which from its present appearance will, when opened out, prove payable, and very much enhance the value of the company's property. The quartz is crushed by a forty-stamper battery belonging to the company, situated at the foot of the hill, on a brauch ofthe Waitekauri Creek, and is driven by means of a large over-shot wheel. The quartz is conveyed thither from the hills by a tramway more than a mile long, which is, where practicable, self-acting. With the exception of what is being done by some prospecting parties, the only other mining carried on in this locality is on the Welcome and Young New Zealand Claims, which are situated on the hills about a mile southwards from the Waitekauri Mine, and are connected with the tramway of the latter by means of a tramway a mile and half long, carried round the contour of the country. This gives a total length of two and a half miles of tramway constructed in this district, carried through dense bush and over a very broken and hilly country. These two claims have lately amalgamated under the name of the Welcome Extended, which is being worked by tributers, and is proving remunerative to all concerned. The lodes operated on are small, and have the appearance of being offshoots from a large reef not yet found. The general appearance, and the prospects obtained, bear out the opinion that there are richer deposits of gold in the district than any yet discovered. Owharoa District. —This district is situated near the gorge of the Ohinemuri River, leading from the Waihi Plains. The only mines working are the Smile of Fortune and the Radical, both under tribute. They have paid during the year, but especially during the latter part, discoveries having been made which give a more permanent character to this part of the field. The road leading to Katikati and Tauranga, made by the Thames County Council, passes through this district, and will enable provisions and mining requisites to be carried out at a much less cost. The following returns show the quantity of quartz crushed and tailings treated during the year, and the amount of gold obtained therefrom; and the number of batteries on the field on the 31st March last:—

RETURN of Quartz, &c., crushed, and Gold obtained therefrom, for Year ending 31st March, 1879.

Month. Quartz Crushed. Tailings Treated. Yield of Gold. April, 1878 May, 1878 June, 1878 July, 1878 August, 1878 September, 1S7S October, 1878 November, 1878 December, 1878 January, 1879 February, 1879 March, 1879 Tons 3,903 4,158 3,815 3,193 4,210 3,038 4,271 3,884 3,071 2,473 2,481 2,815 cwt. lb. 7 80 10 84 2 15 5 17 10 0 17 18 3 6 11 60 13 107 5 55 10 91 8 98 Tons 724 1,294 2,110 1,573 1,786 1,599 1,690 1,431 1,389 523 924 1,221 cwt. lb. 2 56 4 48 5 0 6 104 12 51 6 50 16 59 11 18 3 106 0 51 12 51 G 52 Oz. dwt. 5.381 15 4,687 IG 5,515 5 4.437 19 4,765 1 5,825 10 4,769 15 5,254 4 6,062 19 2,179 2 3,541 14 4,785 11 20 1 8 16 20 20 3 0 2 18 14 1 Total 41,917 71 1G,278 80 57,200 17

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Return of Batteries, &c, on 31st March, 1879.

* Twelve pans, two tables. On application made, the Government reserved, for tho purposes of prospecting, an area of ground half a mile wide, extending from the Karaka Creek to tho Tararu Creek. I regret to say no company has yet been formed to carry out the work. It will be unfortunate if this cannot be done, as this is a most promising scheme for developing the inland portion of this part of the district, on which comparatively little work has been done, and that near the surface. This scheme would develop the ground at low levels, from which operations could be carried on very cheaply and expeditiously by driving from both sides with rock-drills worked by compressed air from water-engines or water-wheels, which could be erected on both the Tararu and Karaka Creeks. Gold has been obtained in various parts of the reserve, and, as I mentioned previously in my report on the Waiotahi District, the run of gold-bearing country leading towards the head of the Karaka Creek passes right through it. 1 have, &c, James M. McLaren, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Mining Inspector.

o — _ m o d 7! c I . o d >tive Po 1 'or. Plant used in Name of Machine. Locality, Purpose for which used. §_ _H ■_ | £ c - to a . ;sa. o ___■ _ ti .a *3 a , M ti a - Onehunga Spencer's Waiotahi Pahau Planet Bull's Pyrites Reduction Works Herald Coulabah Fairmile Karaka Grahamstown Waiotahi ... Grahamstown Karaka Karaka Grahamstown Quartz-crushing Specimen do. ... Quartz do. ... Tailings Ditto Quartz-crushing Tailings 6 1 21 1 2 5 15 31 6 2 16 6 12 10 20 4 2 20 10 4 2 16 6 32 20 20 4 16 2 6 32 27 1 20 20 Grahamstown Karaka Shortland ... Quartz-crushing Ditlo Specimens and tailings Quartz-crushing Tailings Quartz-crushing Ditto Ditto Ditto Tailings Quartz-crushing Ditto Ditto Ditto Tailings Quartz-crushing Specimen do.... Quartz do. ... Specimen do.... Quartz do. ... Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto, pumping and winding Pumping and winding Winding Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Winding and pumping 21 6 9 2 4 15 4 2 15 4 2 15 4 2 Hokianga Chlorine Works Halcyon Missouri Kurunui Hape Sunnybank Vickery's Alburnia Moanataiari Caledonian Berdan Tararu Punga Flat Queen of Beauty ... Little Lizzie Bedford Owharoa Wicks's Tairua Alma Stephens's Russell's Imperial Crown Tramway Morning Star Golden Crown Piako Hope Robinson's Phoenix Karangahake _ruited Pumping Association Tookoy's Karaka Tararu Karaka Tararu Grahamstown Hape Tararu Karaka Moanataiari Foreshore ... Grahamstown Tararu Tararu Punga Flat... Grahamstown Karaka Hape Creek... Ohinemuri ... Ohinemuri ... Tairua Tairua Tapu Tararu Grahamstown Grahamstown Moanataiari Grahamstown Grahamstown Tapu Tapu Tairua Ohinemuri... Grahamstown 6 10 15 41 13 22 15 41 52 40 20 9 15 9 12 20 15 31 40 12 12 20 40 4 8 4 16 21 1 4 2 4 10 4 4 4 2 21 17 2 6 1 5 3 2 2 1 5 6 1 6 10 4 2 2 12 30 12 8 21 60 68 1 12 "a 4 4 20 13 40 8 30 12 8 12 10 4 4 20 30 13 52 16 21 60 68 1 42 12 16 12 10 25 20 12 40 50 10 20 70 50 4 10 4 18 360 4 4 20 30 7 16 15 50 50 42 12 16 12 10 25 20 12 40 50 10 12 35 50 4 10 4 18 20 6 52* 6 10 18 1 25 20 12 40 50 10 20 70 50 8 35 1 1 2 10 4 10 4 18 20 340 295 45 Grahamstown 47 47 35 12 Golden Calf Prince Imperial Albion City of London Queen of Beauty Moanataiari Queen of the May ... Caledonian Crown Princess Hape Piako Moanataiari Grahamstown Grahamstown Grahamstown Grahamstown Moanataiari Grahamstown Grahamstown Grahamstown Hape Grahamstown 12 10 40 15 12 15 20 45 10 8 36 12 10 40 15 12 15 20 45 10 8 30 12 10 ■Id 15 12 15 2(1 45 1(1 8 12 24 Total 646 234 | 1,139 326 1,465 657 354 155 299

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MARLBOROUGH GOLD EIELDS. No. 4 Mr. Warden Allen to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Picton, sth May, 1879. I have tho honor to forward herewith the annual returns of the Marlborough Gold Fields, aud a short report for the period ended 31st March, 1879. Ravenscliff and Queen Charlotte Sound Gold Fields. —In these districts there are at present no alluvial diggings ; several leases have recently been issued for quartz claims, but at present only two are worked. The Ravenscliff Gold-Mining Company (himited), hold four quartz claims in the Ravenscliff District, only one of which is at present actually worked. The representative of this company reports as follows concerning tho working of this claim during the past twelve months: " The claim is situated at Cape Jackson, aud is known as the Turner Claim. The drives have been retimbered, and the rails and sleepers of tramways relaid where necessary. The battery has been repaired, building renewed, and battery site and wharf restored in a substantial manner. No crushing has yet taken place under the auspices of this company, for the reason that the battery has not been available. The time has, however, been well employed iv opening up the mine for effectively carrying out subsequent operations, and a very large body of stone of a generally promising character has been rendered available for the stampers. Many works of a minor character have been carried out during the year, amongst which may be named underground driving to the extent of about 631 feet. Crushing is expected to be resumed at an early date." The only other claim requiring notice iv this district is the one situated at Golden Point, the property of the Golden Point Gold-Mining Company. It appears that a great deal of sinking and driving has been done, and preparations made to erect steam pumping gear. The mining manager speaks hopefully of the future prospects of this company. No crushing has yet been done on this claim. Hitherto', this company have adopted the wise policy of endeavouring to open up and develop the resources of the mine before incurring heavy expenses in the shape of machinery. Wairau Gold Fields. —Only one lease for a quartz claim has been issued in this district—viz., for the Picton aud Havelock Gold-Mining Company. This claim was previously kuown as the Sutherland Claim : it is situated on a spur on the Wairau side of a range of hills, dividing between the Wairau and the Wakamarina, and near Bartlett's Creek. The company having only very recently commenced work on this claim, there is very little to report concerning their progress. A contract has been let for driving 250 feet. It is reported that reefs are numerous in this district, and the company expect very soon to be able to test the payable nature of some of these reefs. Onamalutu (Wairau Gold Fields) Alluvial Diggings. —There are a few men at work in this valley, from which a very good show of gold has been formerly obtained. It is presumed that a sufficiently strong inducement must now be found in the shape of payable gold, or these diggings would have been abandoned long ago. Pelorus or Wakamarina Gold Field Alluvial Diggings. —There is little to report concerning this district. The population has not increased since the last annual report by my predecessor on the Ist April, 1878. The long-neglected terraces mentioned in his report as at that time creating a great amount of excitement have not turned out so profitable as the miners expected, and several of the numerous claims then marked out in Arthur's Terrace have been abandoned. The miners in this district complain, and, I believe, not without reason, that they have to work under great disadvantages. This gold field is situated about fifteen or twenty miles from Havelock ; the country is for the most part rough dense bush, and the so-called roads for more than half the year may be described as almost impassable. The miners state that owing to the bad roads their stores when placed on their claims cost them nearly double tho usual market price, and that no poor man can, without the assistance of an occasional rich find, work long under such disadvantages. Rich finds have for a very long period been the exception, not tho rule. One or two companies have been formed for more extensively and systematically- working the ground. One party occupying what is known as the Gorge Claim have for some time been occupied in endeavouring to divert the course of the river Wakamarina for a short distance, in hopes of finding a deposit of gold in the present river-bed. lam informed that a great deal of their work was destroyed by the late flood. Others are amalgamating for the purpose of bringing up water to sluice portions of the terraces ; but at present none of these works are sufficiently far advanced to provide matter for any report. In conclusion, I have to say that, notwithstanding the present unsatisfactory position of mining matters in this district, and although very little progress can be reported for the past year ou the Marlborough Gold Fields, I am of opinion that we possess in this couutry a large tract of valuable mineral land, and that, either by accident or by the judicious employment of that very essential element, "capital," rich discoveries will yet be made. The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. J. Allen, Warden.

NELSON GOLD FIELDS. No. 5. Mr. Warden Guinness to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Warden's Office, Coliingwood, Ist May, 1879. I have the honor to enclose the statistics for the year ending 31st March, 1879. During this period mining transactions have not been of a satisfactory nature. Alluvial mining has remained at about the same standard as it was at the time of my last report, and the attempt made by the Phoenix Company, in Cole's Gully, to work a quartz reef on which they expended a large

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sum of money has turned out very unsuccessful, and the company has gone into liquidation. The very excellent plant they had erected has been removed to the Golden Point, near Picton. This is much to be regretted, as since its removal a reef has been opened up in the same gully which is reported to contain very rich stone ; the specimens that I have seen are exceedingly good. The holders of this claim are about to erect a battery, and I trust their enterprise will prove successful. Should it prove so, I believe that a marked change for the better in the mining industry of this district will bo the result, as I am convinced that very rich deposits of auriferous quartz exist in the vicinity of Colo's Gully, for a long distance both north and south of it. An effort by a few of the inhabitants has been made to open up the coal mine at Ferntown, and they have been obliged to cease working from the scarcity and consequent high price of labour. They have however succeeded in proving that an excellent quality of coal can be obtained, and that with sufficient capital the mine could bo worked to a great advantage, as the market is practically unlimited for so good a bituminous coal. I have been iuformed that this company have placed their mine at the disposal of some gentlemen who are endeavouring to raise large capital to work the rich iron deposits at the Parapara, and their success will, I have no doubt, ere long place Coliingwood iv the position which its vast mineral resources entitle it to. I would venture to urge on the attention of the Government the great importance of erecting a bridge over the Aorere, so as to enable settlers to realize the large area of excellent land in the upper part of the valley. lam informed by some competent judges that at least 25,000 acres of splendid bush, consisting of totara, raatai, rimu, and white-pine, are to be found in the district; but from want of a bridge this valuable district is practically inaccessible, and a large source of revenue thus lies dormant, besides retarding the settlement of a district which could soon afford means for the support of a large and prosperous population, which, should the iron and coal be opened up, would find employment on the spot, and these articles a market. The Takaka District has been fairly prosperous; the few miners who are working there continue to obtain the average yield; but Ido not think that any large auriferous deposits exist in this locality. The timber trade was brisk during the summer, but lately the price of timber has fallen, and some failures in Wellington and elsewhere have crippled the saw-mills to some extent. The residents are endeavouring to get a tramroad made up the valley, which would prove a great boon, as the expense of keeping the roads in repair is beyond the means of the Road Board, and the cost of carting is very great in winter, and is a heavy tax on the timber industry, which is of great importance to the district. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Frank Guinness, AVarden.

No. 6. Mr. AA' arden L. Broad to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Nelson, 12th J^y, 1879. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum, No. 330, of the 2Gth April last. It is out of my power to fill up any of the returns. The diggings are sixty miles distant, and I have not been near them for twelve mouths. I believe only avery few miners are left, scattered over a wide extent of country. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, AVellington. Lowther Broad.

No. 7. Mr. Warden C. Broad to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Westport, 30th May, 1879. I have the honor to forward herewith my annual report upon the district under my charge, together with the usual statistical returns. The district on the seaboard extends from the Razorback to the River Heaphy, a distance of a hundred and twenty miles, and includes the Townships of Brighton, Charleston, Addison's Flat, AVestport, AVaimaugaroa, Mokihinui, and Karamea. Inland the district extends to the River Hope, and includes the Townships of Lyell and Hampden, a distance of a hundred miles. Monthly Courts are held at tho Lyell, distant forty-four miles, and fortnightly Courts at Charleston, distant eighteen miles. Occasional Courts are also held at Hampden, distant seventy miles. Throughout the whole of the district are to be found parties of gold-miners, and the whole district is more or less auriferous. Neu) Discoveries. —l have none to report during the past year, although a very great deal of prospecting has been done. The purchase by the Government of the Argyle Company's water-rights at Charleston has given a fresh impetus to mining matters in that locality, and numerous applications to work ground long since abandoned have been made. In order to insure, however, permanent success to the scheme, I would suggest that the Government should fix the rate per head of water, and call for tenders for the right of occupation of the race. The United Alpine Company having now erected, at their claim at the Lyell, a new battery with ten head of stampers, are busily engaged in crushing, and with every prospect of permanently-payiDg stone for a long time to como.

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Large nuggets still continue to be found in the creeks about the Lyell, presenting the appearance of water-worn gold. Coal. —Westport, with its railway, its coal companies, and its excellent harbour, is now rapidly approaching that state which will no longer be described, as it has been for years, of "great expectations," but when those expectations will be actually realized. The AVestport Colliery Company, with their indefatigable manager, Mr. Burns, have already expended a large amount of outside capital in developing their valuable mine. One novel result of the completion of the railway has beeu the erection of saw-mills by Messrs. Marris on the railway reserve, the logs being brought down by rail, and the sawn timber largely exported. Large exportations of coke from tho Wellington Company's mine have also been made. Roads. —Next to the railway come the roads as a means of communication with the interior, and I am happy to say that, notwithstanding many difficulties, arising from the weather and slips, the past year has shown a most marked improvement in the facilities afforded for traffic. Revenue. —It will be seen from the return appended that, although the publicans' license fees are not now collected through this office, a marked improvement in the revenue has taken place, and is likely to steadily increase. Crime. —I may remark upon almost the total absence of crime in the district. There have been very few cases of drunkenness, and no serious offence of any description; not even one single case of committal for trial to the District Court, which sits every two months. Inspection of Mines. —The inhabitants generally hail with satisfaction the bringing into force of " Tho Regulation of Mines Act, 1874." The workings at the Lyell are of a specially dangerous nature. It is gratifying to me, in leaving a district I have been more or less connected with during the last twelve years, to notice the wonderful strides the district has made in the formation of roads, railways, trams, punts, and other various means of communication. It is also gratifying to notice that there is now a settled population engaged in many other pursuits besides gold-mining, and that large quantities of land have been brought under cultivation, all tending to lay the foundation of permanent prosperity. I append the statistics of the district. I have, &c, Chas. Broad, R.M., The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AY arden.

No. 8. Mr. Warden Shaw to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Reefton, 30th April, 1879. I have the honor, in transmitting to you the usual statistical returns of Inangahuaand Grey A ralley Districts, for the year ending 31st ult., to report generally as follows : — Inangahua District. The sittings of the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts are held twice weekly, and at times are much prolonged. The fusion of the new mining regulations with those previously iv force, and the adjustment of new trigonometrical surveys with original plans, have caused much discussion and labour. The following is a statement of the business transacted in open Court for the twelve months: — Resident Magistrate's Court. —Number of criminal cases, 133; number of civil cases, 353: total, 486. Warden's Court. —Number of cases (before assessors or Judge only), 101; number of applications under rules, 219; number of gold-mining leases applied for, 28 ; number of applications for cancellation of ditto, 3 : total, 351. The revenue collected in this office was as follows :— £ s. d. Gold fields revenue ... ... ... ... 1,560 13 9 Deposits on applications for leases, &c. ... ... ... 650 0 0 Resident Magistrate's Court fees and fines ... ... 462 16 11 Publicans'licenses and fees ... ... ... ... 1,022 3 6 £3,695 14 2 The total revenue for 1877-78 was ... ... ... 4,039 2 9 Decrease for year 1878-79 ... ... ... ... £343 8 7 This decrease is to be attributed to the reduction of rent upon gold-mining leases from £2 10s. aud £2 per acre to £1 per acre, which was not sensibly felt during the first quarter of the year 1878. This revenue does not include rents collected at this office for the AVaste Land Board of Nelson. Since the date of my last report, the Chairman of that Board, Mr. Commissioner Greenfield, has visited the Buller, Inangahua, and Grey Valley Districts upon three occasions, and by personal inspection and investigation has gained a satisfactory insight into the details of various applications which were objected to, or open to objection. The knowledge thus acquired, although at the expense of considerable personal inconvenience and labour, cannot fail to be of great value to the Board, sitting, as it does, 150 miles distant from the bulk of unalienated land under their control, and the public appreciate the privilege of a personal interview with the Commissioner at stated jieriods. The Reefs. —I append a tabular statement of number of tons of quartz crushed, yield of gold, and dividends from Ist April, 1878, to 31st March, 1879.

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Return of Stone crushed, and Ounces of Gold obtained, in the Inangahua District, from Ist April, 1878, to 31st March, 1879.

Its noticeable feature is, I regret to say, the very serious decrease in each total from the work of the years 1876, 1577, and 1878. There was a falling-off of 14,000 tons of stone brought to the mill from quantity noted in my last report. From 28,000 tons crushed, 26,000 oz. of retorted gold were obtained. This is the highest average produced from this gold field, being slightly in excess of 18.V dwt. to the ton, and evidences the careful selection of rich stone in small quantities. The reasons which have led to the limitation of mining operations in this respect I will endeavour to detail hereafter. The twelve months just passed have been charged with commercial anxiety and depression, and perhaps no industry is so sensitive to the fluctuations of money as quartz-mining. Prudent men, recognizing its hazards, do not regard it as a legitimate speculation for trading capital, but as an outside venture for employment of surplus profits, aud discontinue it when bad times necessitate economy of capital. Reefton has thus experienced the withdrawal of what is here called " foreign capital" in contradistinction to stock locally held. In addition, resident shareholders have been peculiarly unfortunate in claims chiefly owned by them — e.g., the Independent, Union, and A rictoria. The recovery of calls, under the Mining Companies Act of 1872, has been rendered tenfold more difficult by the recent decision ofthe Supreme Court in the case of Seaton (appellant) v. Halcyon Company (respondents), and some alteration of the law is urgently required for the protection of solvent and honest shareholders. This difficulty, inter alia, has led the Banks to refuse to accept scrip, or a register of shareholders, as security against advances, as heretofore given, and thus companies are not only called upon to liquidate their corporate liabilities, but the individual shareholders cannot borrow money on their shares to pay their contributions. All these causes combined have militated against Reef ton of late. The ordeal, although exceptionally severe, is not unusual in quartz-mining centres, and must not be regarded as indicative of exhaustion of the mineral wealth of tbe district. All that can be said is that for the moment it has become necessary to suspend all work except that already proved to be payable : hence the extraordinary average yield per ton, and the smallness of the output. Another ingredient in the question is the present high rate of wages. This is fixed at £3 10s. per week, and paid to all indifferently, and, although much of the work is now performed by contract, I am given to understand that contract prices are regulated upon this scale. What seems an excessive wage has hitherto been largely discounted by the high cost of living and difficulty of communication with the seaboard. During the last twelve months the Grey River has been bridged at its junction with the Little Grey, and the latter river at Squaretown, and bridges are in course of construction over tho Ahaura River and Nelson Creek. It is hoped, therefore, that in the course of a few months uninterrupted traffic with Greymouth will lower the present freight charge of £10 per ton. That market, however, is very dear, and Reefton must await railway commuuication with the East Coast for anything like a substantial increase on present prices. One example may illustrate the present drawback : chaff, for horse-feed here, costs £4 to £5 per ton more than the best Adelaide flour delivered in AVellington. Alluvial Mining. —Some new ground has been successfully opened in the neighbourhood of Devil's Creek, on the south side of Inangahua River. It is within four miles of town, and as many arc at present

Company. Crush lings. Dividends. Tons Crushed. Oz. Gold. £ s. d. Wealth of Nations Energetic t_ery Cross rust in Time Welcome ETopef ul Victoria Keep it Dark S"il Desperandum ... nkermann Tolden Fleece Victory Caledonian Pactolus Anderson's Italian Gully ndependent Jnion leather Bell [_ady of the Lake ... Vulcan xolden Arch lolden Point 2,562 5,938 1,263 690 2,740 3,235 513 3,574 1,803 772 720 605 2,089 60 88 64 60 483 600 60 10 40 99 2 1,991 3,656 1,263 828 8,333 3,233 j 1621 1,895 943 217 703 562 1,205 200 436 38 14 135 64 10 3 16 91 25 15,750' 0 0 3,917 5 0 1,000 0 0 600 0 0 1,000 0 0 93 15 0 104 0 0 Totals ... 28,070 £22,465 0 0 Whmana

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unemployed will probably be well prospected. It is too soon at present to speak with any certainly as to the extent or nature of the lead ; but there are indications to show that many men may be profitably employed for years. The prospector, Carton, showed me about 50 oz. of nuggety gold in pieces of from 20oz. to lOdwt., which he was said to have obtained by "fossicking;" and others have been also successful. It will be observed that, at a trial crushing of quartz from the Golden Point Claim, in this vicinity, 25 oz of gold were obtained from two tons of stone. Patches of alluvial ground are still worked between the left-hand branch of Inangahua and Buller, as well as the old claims at Menijigs and Soldier's; but, with the exception of Carton, I have heard of very little alluvial prospecting in this district of late. The country is exceedingly difficult; provisions have to be "swagged ;" and, as good men can nearly always find employment in quartz at high wages, there is not much inducement for prospecting, althongh it has been seldom tried unsuccessfully. In concluding my observations on this district, I have once more to congratulate the community upon the total exemption from serious crime, and the orderly and thrifty habits, of its members. In the town, large and handsome buildings are being erected, and streets laid out and formed. In the country, roads and tracks are being pushed forward as fast as the means of the County Council will admit. In particular, a bridle-track is now being made to connect the Maruia Plains with Reefton, which will enable settlers there to find an outlet for their stock, and may tend to reduce the price of meat in this district. One work is now projected, and soon will be imperatively required. I refer to a deep-level adit-tunnel intersecting the five* defined lines of reef between Black's Point and the AVaituhu River. The work would be doubtless heavy and expensive, involving a drive some two miles in length, and it is one to which the promoters may well ask and expect some Government assistance. It would demonstrate either the life of reefs hundreds of feet below their present ascertained levels, and afford a ready and economical means of working them ; or it would save thousands of pounds spent in useless sinking and driving at higher levels. I am informed that, with the aid of diamond drills and modern appliances, the work could be executed at an approximate cost of £10,000, and if the money is forthcoming 1 cannot conceive how it could be better applied. Grey Valley (comprising Granville, Ahaura, and Nelson Creek Districts). The following is a statement of the business of the Courts, and revenue collected: — Resident Magistrate's Court. —Number of civil cases, 161 ; criminal cases, 33 : total, 194. Warden's Court. —Number of cases before assessors, or Judge only, 23; number of applications, &c, 230: total, 253. Revenue. —Gold fields, £1,351 6s. 3d.; licensing, £1,028; Resident Magistrate's Court fees and fines, £164 17s. 2d.: total, £2,544 3s. sd. Gold-mining in the Grey A 7alley is now principally confined to Orwell and Nelson Creeks. Thero are parties of men working at Noble's and Duffer's Creeks, at Moonlight, Callaghan's, and Red Jack's, and a few at Mossy Creek and Teviot's; but these are places which have been rushed years ago, and now seem comparatively abandoned. At Orwell Creek, on the contrary, new ground is being opened up, principally by tho Napoleon Hill Gold-Mining Company, who, after years of outlay, toil, and disappointment, are now rewarded by monthly dividends. This ground is exceedingly deep, wet, and loose, and requires most skilful treatment. The directors seem to have been most fortunate in the choice of their present manager, Mr. Pitman, who is working the claim, forty acres in extent, systematically and profitably, and in some respects most ingeniously. The Back Creek Company, adjoining, is worked on the co-operative plan, and has paid as much as £18 to £20 per week per man. Other leases on the line are hampered for want of capital; but the success of these companies may bring capitalists to the ground. At Nelson Creek, the Hoehstettcr (Government) AVater-race keeps a large number of men in steady employment. Tho ground commanded by the race is not exceptionally rich, but yields good wages, as an enormous amount of stuff can be put through the boxes. On the flat below Try-again Terrace, several leases have been pegged out ou a supposed deep-lead. Good prospects were obtained on boring, at from 11 feet to 15 feet bottom ; but the ground is very wet, and will require capital to work. An experiment was tried of employing Chinesef labour on one of these leases at tribute ; but the Chinamen quarrelled among themselves, and left the work. I believe another party is to be formed to give the ground a fair trial. I have already had the honor to suggest to your department the desirability of constructing a bridle-track to connect the upper portion of the Grey Valley with the seaboard about Charleston. Could a suitable route be found across the Paparoa Rauge this work would, at a moderate cost, bring a good market for cattle and sheep within a day's drive of the settlers, and at the same time open a largo tract of auriferous couutry now unworkable from the difficulty of obtaining supplies. I sincerely trust that some effort will be made at once to open- communication in this direction, especially as the old Cobdeu and Brighton track via the Razorback Hill is no longer passable, and an overland journey from Greymouth to Charleston must now be made by way of Reefton and AVestport, involving a detour of about seventy miles. In relinquishing my charge of these districts, I wish to express my strong feeling of confidence in their future prosperity and wealth. No part of the colony has struggled more resolutely agaiust the natural disadvantages of bad climate, densely-wooded and difficult country intersected by rivers often unf ordable and always dangerous, and comparative isolation. On no portion of the colony has a more niggardly share of public money been expended, nor the pioneers left so much unaided to their own resources. Nevertheless, the conviction that its practically inexhaustible stores of gold, aud coal, and timber, must be recognized aud developed, has inspired its inhabitants and brought them to bear priva-

* " Anderson's," " Smith's," " Golden Ledge," " Sliiel's," and "Kelly's " lines, t With regard to the Chinese, who are in these districts in tho proportion of one to twelve Europeans, I would sny this much: that, during the past three and a-half years, my experience here, I have never Feen a Chinaman charged with any offence against tho law, however trivial; and in two cases only do I recollect their being summoned on civil actions, in both instances for very small debts. 3—II. 11.

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tions and hardships for the present with a view of ultimate reward. To sustain them in this belief, the only assurance, as far as I know r, they require is, that at the first practicable moment their country will be connected by railway with the East Coast and Nelson, roads and harbours constructed, and opportunity afforded them of obtaining provisions at a reasonable cost, and giving in exchange the natural products of the West Coast. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Edw. Suaw, Warden.

WESTLAND GOLD FIELD. (Including part of Nelson South-West Mining District.) No. 9. Mr. Warden Revell to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Warden's Office, Greymouth, June, 1879. I have the honor to forward herewith the statistical returns, and to make the following report on the district under my charge for the year ending 31st March, 1879 : — I regret to say that there has been a great depression and general stagnation in commercial affairs, while the population shows a further decline during the year, and mining operations have fallen off to an equal extent. The alluvial mining on the South Beach, Paroa, Rutherglen, New River and its tributaries, Maori Creek, Arnold, and Stillwater in the Westland Gold Fields, and the North Beach to Razorback, Jones's Flat, Blackball Creek, in the Nelson South-AVest Gold Fields, is principally maintained by the owners of water-rights in those localities, who have erected comfortable houses and taken up small portions of land for cultivation. Four of the gold-mining leases taken up last year on the South Beach have been abandoned in consequence of tho very wet and dangerous nature of the ground, caused by the side of the hill slipping down bodily and blocking up the tunnel. The works on the New River Water-race are still in abeyance for want of funds. Small quantities of water are being utilized in the upper portion ofthe race, but the demand is very limited. At Notown the population stands about the same as last year. There is a fair average yield of gold from the surrounding gullies. The workings are all alluvial, and in many instances a considerable amount of time and labour has to be spent in the construction of tunnels and other works before any results are obtained. In August last some good prospects in the quartz reefs on the Paparoa Range, near Brunnerton, were found, when a general rush was made, and thirty applications were lodged for gold-mining leases. Sixteen of them are now in force ; the others have been either refused or since abandoned for want of capital, and from the general depression of business on the coast. Two gold-mining leases have also been applied for on the Blackball Range, but they have not been finally dealt with, pending the completion of the surveys. There are about three hundred and fifty Chinese at work in the various creeks and gullies in the district, making fair wages, and giving high prices for water-races wherever available ; they are noted for their quiet and orderly demeanour and general industry. Greenstone Sub-district, —No new ground has been opened up for mining purposes, and mining matters, as a consequence, have been very quiet. The population has decreased since last report, being then estimated at 750, and now the estimate is 550. During the year that is past the Erin-Go-Bragh Company's water-race has been completed, terminating at Hayes' Terrace, adjoining the Teremakau River, the length being seven miles and a half, and cost of construction between £6,000 and £7,000. At Quinn's and Hayes' Terraces a number of claims are now buying the company's water, aud a good many more claims in both places are preparing to use the water. So far, those claims that have been using the company's water for hydraulic sluicing have had satisfactory results, and there is little doubt that the company will dispose of all the water they can command. At Quinn's Terrace there are about fifty-four miners employed, and at Hayes' Terrace and Payne's Gully fifty. These are all said to bo working with average results. At Cape Terrace and Liverpool Terrace about thirty men are at work, and most of them are doing fairly. There is some prospecting going on at Cape Terrace, and it is very probable that there will be more claims taken up there soon. At Duke's Terrace there are ten miners at work, who are doing very well, having extended claims, and a good supply of water of their own for hydraulic sluicing. At Revell's Terrace there are about twenty men mining, but these cannot be said to be doin" much. There are upwards of one hundred Chinese in the district, scattered along the banks ofthe Greenstone Creek principally. They have had poor times of it during the past year. Owing to the unusual quautity of rain that has fallen, and consequent flooded state of the creeks, in the beds of which they chiefly work, their workings have been swamped out time after time, and yet they have gone to work after every successive flood to repair damages, when most Europeans would have abandoned all in disgust. The Chinese in this district are very inoffensive, industrious, and persevering, and during their residence of about six years not a case of theft or other crime has been laid to their charge. On the whole the district may be considered as fairly jnrosperous. The revenue for the past year, exclusive of gold duty, spirit licenses, fees, &c, has been £304 55.; the number of registrations issued, 269 ; AVarden's Court cases, 5; mining applications disposed of, 150.

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A good dray bridge is now in course of construction over the Teremakau River, on the Greenstone and Hokitika Road, which, when opened for traffic, will be a great convenience to the travelling public, and to the inhabitants of this district chiefly. During the year the Grey County Council have constructed about five miles of horse-track, in continuation of Lake Brunner track to the paddock. This enables drovers to bring cattle and sheep here and to Greymouth by this route, thus shortening the journey some twenty miles. Having only taken charge of this district since the transfer of Mr. AVarden Price to Reefton, I am indebted to Mr. McEnnis, tho Receiver of Gold Revenue, for the foregoing information. The statistics I have included in the returns forwarded for the AVestland portion of the Grey County. The statistical returns enclosed herewith show that there are 521 head-races of an aggregate length of 390 miles, with 524 heads of water, valued at £37,254 ; also 201 tail-races, valued at £7,113 ; also 422 dams, valued at £14,410; and 245 ground-sluices, valued at £3,935; which, together with the mining plant, estimated at £4,590, make the total value of mining property in the district £G7,602 sterling. I also append returns showing the population, the cases disposed of, and the number of miners' rights, licenses, and registrations issued during the year at each office. Sittings of the Resident Magistrate's and AVarden's Courts have been held regularly at Greymouth every week, at Notown every fortnight, and at Dunganville and Arnold once a month. Sinco the Ist of February the constables in charge at Notown, Dunganville, and Arnold, as Receivers of Gold Revenue, have been relieved of those duties by the appointment of a travelling officer, who resides at No Town, visiting Dunganville and Arnold weekly. The mining registers are now kept at each office for their respective districts, instead of at Greymouth as heretofore. I have, &c, W. H. Revell, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

Enclosures in No. 9. Return of Cases disposed of in tho Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts during the Tear.

Tue Revenue for the Twelve Months, amounting to £4,728 18s. lid., is mado up as follows: —

Return of Miners' Rights, Licenses, and Registrations issued by the Receivers of Gold Revenue at their respective Offices. _ , _ . , ___ . , . ■

Subdistricts. Civil. Criminal. Warden's. Total. Westland Mining District — Greymouth Dunganville Arnold Greenstone 507 222 4 7 0 2 ' 42 5 22 1 6 5 751 12 14 52 Total 559 236 i 7 17 34 829 relson South-West Gold Fields — No Town 34 58 Total 7 58 17 31

Greymouth. Arnold. Dunganville. Greenstone. No Town. Total. I iVarden's Department tesident Magistrate's Department Ipirit licenses fees, Licensing Court £ s. d. | 1,121 0 ll| 546 16 6 : 1,333 10 0 28 14 0 I £ s. d. 155 18 0 3 7 6 95 0 0 £ s. d. 167 17 6 5 11 6 180 0 0 £ s. d. 304 5 0 23 11 6 142 10 0 2 18 0 £ s. d. 456 3 6 26 15 0 135 0 0 £ a. A. 2,205 4 11 606 2 0 1,886 0 0 31 12 0 Total 3,030 1 51 254 5 6 353 9 0 473 4 6 617 18 6 4,728 18 11

Greymouth. Arnold. Dunganville. Greenstone. No Town. Total. Miners' rights Business licenses, £5 Business licenses, £3 Registrations, 5s ... Registrations, 2s. 6d. Registrations, Is. ... Applications 281 4 4 197 22 1,122 263 134 1 3 5 164 4 2 22 113 230 7 4 12 4 253 150 184 6 20 4 16 231 149 993 18 31 222 44 1,654 821 26 116 Total ... 1,893 315 305 660 G10 3,783

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The Population of tho District is estimated at 5,190 souls.

Number of Gold-mining Leases applied for, in force, and abandoned.

Number of Agricultural Leases applied for, in force, and abandoned.

NO. 10. Mr. Warden Giles to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Hokitika, 10th June, 1879. In reporting upon the mining subdistricts of Waimea, Kanieri, Totara, and Okarito, I am not in a position to make many general remarks in addition to tbe statistical information comprised in the usual forms accompanying this letter. The reason is that I have only just taken charge of the above-named districts, in the place of Mr. Price, who has taken over the Inangahua District. I have consequently had no opportunity to make myself acquainted with any points which would be specially useful or interesting to notice in a report; and I have no reason to believe that there has been any such change in the character or prospects of the diggings as would require any particular mention. There have been, as happens in most years, reports of new finds. Some expectations were entertained that one of these, situated on the beach near Lake Mahinapua, on the south side of the Hokitika River, would have turned out well enough to have furnished subsistence to a large number of miners for some time; but these hopes have not been realized, the ground not proving to be so good as was expected. Another and, so far as present appearances go, more promising locality, which has lately begun to attract attention, is what is called the Back Creek, near AVoodstock, between the Hokitika River and the Ross Road. Some gold has been struck on a terrace in that locality by four or five different parties, and there appears at present to be every probability of a considerable number of claims being marked out there before long. As these claims have to be worked by tunnels, the ground must bo fairly rich to pay for the working; but, when the tunnels are ouce in, this mode of working is perhaps the best of all, as no lifting is required, and the ground is kept well drained. The fact that, after so many years of gold-working in the Kanieri aud AVoodstock Districts, and the large numbers of miners who have found employment there iv former times, this terrace should only now for the first time have been properly prospected, is instructive, and shows that it is easy to be premature in pronouncing a locality to be worked out. In the neighbourhood of Ross there is a good deal of work being done, and, from the number of applications for ground and for mining privileges, I should judge that this locality is far from being yet exhausted. The horse-track is now completed as far as Okarito, and, when proper provision has been made for establishing ferries on the rivers, this road can hardly fail to stimulate both mining and settlement. The track passes through some excellent land, and in the neighbourhood of the AVanganui River steps are now being taken to lay off sections for occupation. The Waimea District still shows much activity in the way of mining. There are now a considerable number of Chinese there, whose presence does not tend to diminish the work of the AVarden's Court, but comes in aid of the complications which would in any case arise from the conflicting interests of parties working iv the immediate vicinity of each other, requiring water from every available source, and using, or desiring to use, the same outfall for their tailings and drainage.

Districts. Europeans. Chinese. Totals. xreymouth Borough 'aroa ... Lrnold... Dunganville J reenstone 2,450 400 152 332 430 50 100 125 120 120 2,500 500 277 452 550 kelson South-West Gold Fields— Cobden No Town ... 520 311 80 520 391

Applied for. In force. Abandoned or refused. 36 20 16

Applied for. In force. Abandoned or lapsed. Nil 19

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With respect to the general prospects of gold-mining in this part of AVestland, whilst there is no striking change to report, the attached memorandum of the export of gold from Hokitika, from the beginning of the year 1877 to the 31st March last, will show that what change there has been is on the side of improvement. Perhaps the incessant wet weather which for so long a period exercised a most injurious influence upon the general welfare of the AVest Coast may have afforded this small compensation, by enabling the miners to keep more steadily at work. Gold exported from Hokitika during the Years 1877 and 1878, and Gold Duty thereon. Gold Exported. Duty. Oz. dwt. gr. £ a. A. 1877 ... ... ... 53,405 5 6 ... 5,340 8 7 1878 ... ... ... 60,766 15 19 ... 6,076 14 4 For the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 187S and 1879, respectively. Oz. dwt. gr. £ s. d. 1877-78 ... ... ... 5G.192 4 7 ... 5,619 4 6 1878-79 ... ... ... 59,218 11 0 ... 5,921 17 1 I have, &c, J. Giles, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, AVellingtou. AA rardeu. P.S.—From a report received from Mr. Macfarlane, at Jackson's Bay, since the above was written, I subjoin the following extracts, giving some account of the present prospects of gold-mining in the southern part of AVestland : — " The men working in this district are earning fair wages; and only for the difficulty of access to the back country, and tho very high price of provisions, contingent upon the absence of pack-tracks or roads, a large milling population would be settled iv this district. This applies more especially to what is known as the Paringa Block, lying bett_3en the Haast and Paringa Rivers; this block, extending along the coast for a distance of thirty miles, is known to be rich not only in gold, but in many other minerals. The diggers, who are at present working about two miles from the shore-line, report having found much better gold further inland; but from the nature ofthe country it is quite impossible to get provisions and tools put on tho ground without a track of some kind. The quantity and kind of gold —coarse nugget gold, with quartz specimens—obtained by the few miners who have been working here for years, give indications of an extensive auriferous country at the back. The Hokitika and Haast Pass track will cut through this block some eight miles from the sea, giving access to a large area of hitherto unexplored country. * * * * The unfinished portion of the track known as the Paringa Track should be pushed on at once, not only that through communication may be established between the East aud AVest Coasts, but on account of the great probability of an extensive gold field being opened. * * * * AVith the projected roads finished, thereby giving facilities to men to obtain supplies, we may reasonably anticipate a large accession to our population during the ensuing summer." J.G.

No. 11. Mr. AVarden Revell to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Warden's Office, Kumara, 2nd June, 1879. Iv forwarding the usual statistical return and report for the District of Kumara for the year ended 31st March, 1879, I have the honor to remark as follows : — The sittings of tho Courts have been regularly held weekly throughout the year, and the business transacted may be summarized thus: — Resident Magistrate's Court. —Criminal cases, 172 ; committed for trial, 5; civil cases, 627; amount sued for, £4,811 Is. Id.; amount recovered, £2,627 12s. sid. Warden's Court, —In this Court 41 cases were tried, exclusive of objections disposed of, the business being about equivalent to that ofthe preceding year. The total revenue, exclusive of gold duty, amounted to £3,313 Os. Gd., and was composed of the following items : — £ s. d. Publicans' licenses and applications ... ... ... 1,590 19 0 Revenue collected by Receiver of Gold Revenue ... ... 1,211 9 6 Resident Magistrate's Court fees and fines ... ... 510 12 0 Total ... ... ... £3,313 0 G Registrations. —Of these, 23.1 have been issued during the year, tho transfers numbering 124 ; 84 rights were renewed. General Remarks. —Although the population has diminished, I am glad to be able to say that the yield of gold, estimated at 37,000 oz., shows a considerable increase for the year, thus indicating increased prosperity for those who remain. During the month of June last the Mignonnette Lead was discovered and opened up, and supported about twenty-five of what may bo termed paying claims, but many of these have since been worked out. lam not aware that any other new ground worthy of note.has been opened up during the year. The Government water-race has proved a great boon to the district, the average quantity of water sold weekly being 90 heads, and the revenue derived from this source was £2,829.

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Several new ground-sluices have been opened up of late; but the preliminary expenses are very heavy, and require a large outlay of capital to carry on tho work. In cases where security is required an absolute transfer of the property has to be registered, the lien clause haviug been expunged from the regulations under " The Alines Act, 1877." The late depression has brought about a more healthy state of things, and this district holds out fair prospects to a large population willing to work for average wages. The population of tho district is estimated as follows—namely, Borough of Kumara, 1,265 ; Dillinan's, 240; Blake's Lead, 115; Dunedin Flat, Shamrock and Shallow Leads, 520; Zigzag Lead, 17G ; Larrikins' Lead, 520 : total, 2,83 G. The statistical returns show that there are sixty-eight head-races, of an average length of 68 miles, with a similar number of heads of water; also, fifty-four tail-races, and twenty-four dams and reservoirs, estimated at £2,225, which, with the mining plant, estimated at £3,500, make the total approximate value of the mining property in the district £5,725. In conclusion, I have to state that, having only lately assumed charge of the district, I am indebted to Mr. Birch, the Receiver of Gold Revenue, for the information herein contained. I have, &c, W. H. Revell, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

OTAGO GOLD EIELDS. No. 12. Mr. Warden Robinson to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Naseby, 31st March, 1879. I have the honor to report for the past year as follows :— 1. The seasons have not on the whole been the most favourable for mining. Long-continued dry weather has caused scarcity of water for sluicing, and an unusually long continuance of frost during tho winter put an absolute stop to almost every description of mining industry for a longer period than has been known for years in this part of the country. Still, sluicing has during all favourable weather been vigorously pushed on, and the general results have probably not been much below the average. 2. The water brought in by the Mount Ida AVater-race has been largely availed of by those miners whose claims were so situated as to be commanded by the race. Most of these have been in comparatively low ground, and the water has been supplied by the flushing race, the main race never having been completed so as to supply water for working the higher deposits. Even this supply has, however, been intermittent, and the Government race has not been independent of the vicissitudes of the seasons. But it is satisfactory to noto that the supply in the Government race held out against both frost and drought much longer than that of the smaller private races; and had the works been completed according to the original designs the full supply could have been kept up almost without interruption. 3. Iv alluvial mining tho only new discovery to note is the opening up of a large flat known as Shepherd's Hut Hat, near Cambrian's (AVelshman's Gully). This flat lies at the foot of Vinegar Hill, which was opened last year, and which has already yielded very largo returns to the fortunate claimholders. Nothing beyond prospecting has yet been done at Shepherd's Hut Flat, but the prospects obtained are very encouraging, and competeut minors seem to be of the opinion that a gold field equal if not superior to AVelshman's Gully is there. Claims have been extensively marked out, and leases applied for. Most of the applicants are old Welshman's Gully miners, who uuderstivnd the work, and whose water-races command the ground. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect that tho ground will be thoroughly developed, and that it will for many years give profitable employment to a number of industrious men, who, by tho exhaustion of their old ground, would otherwise have been compelled to leave the district. Iv the neighbourhood of Naseby some good sluicing ground has been opened, with fall into Coalpit Gully. This ground has to be got at by opening long-tunnelled tail-races, and it is worked by the water from the Government race. Its extent is limited. 4. In quartz-mining there has been some excitement about the reefs at Serpentine. A company, known as the Serpentine Company, was formed last year to work a very promising reef at a place known as German Jack's, in the Serpentine District. In that mountainous region work of most kinds can only be carried on in comparatively warm weather, but despite this drawback the company pushed on their work and succeeded in getting a very handy set of machinery erected. They also opened out their reef to some extent. The good prospects they at first obtained did not, however, continue, and the intrusion ofa largo mass of mullock in the reef greatly battled their efforts, lt is understand that tho results so far obtained have been very disappointing to those who had sanguine hopes of fortune. But it would be premature in the present state of affairs to pass au opinion as to the value of the reef. Other miners have discovered other reefs, and taken prospecting claims at the head of Scandinavian Gully aud Golden Gully, Serpentine, and have been able to show very encouraging prospects, but no crushings have been made as yet. 5. In former reports I have from time to time commented on tho demand for land for settlement in this part of the country, and have felt it my duty to point out that the colony was losing by allowing would-be settlers to take to other hinds the money earned on these gold fields. During the past year there has been a singular instance of the eagerness with which anything like good land is taken up. A block of land at tho Waihemo was thrown open for occupation partly ou deferred payment and partly on agricultural leases. For all the best sections there were many rival applicants, and the result of an auction between them was to run some sections up to almost fabulous prices—£10, £12, and, in two special instances, as much as £15 and £17 per acre. A block at Moonlight Flat, near Macrae's, was also the subject of some pretty keen competition, although the prices realized were nothing like

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those obtained for the Waihemo land. With a not distant prospect ofa railway communication by the Strath Taieri line, as well as the Waihemo branch, the prospects of settlement are becoming more and more encouraging, and there is every probability that the uext block of land to be opened on the Maniototo Plain (on Chapman's run) will be readily taken up by a good class of settlers, especially if most of the sections are to bo lot on agricultural leases. Other lands in tho district are shortly to be opened for application, and will doubtless be largely takcu up. In fact, with the prospect of railway communication, it is probable that the demand for land may be found to continue to increase instead of being satisfied by the opening of comparatively small blocks here and there about the country. 6. The revenue for the past year has been as follows :— £ s. d. Gold revenue, including mining-lease rents... ... ... 1,036 710 Miscellaneous, including premiums on agricultural leases ... 2,018 17 6 AVarden's Court fees and fines ... ... ... ... 3G 15 6 Agricultural-lease rents ... ... ... ... 3,052 5 6 Deferred-payment rents ... ... ... ... 5,018 1 2 Cash received on account of Mount Ida Water-race, for nine months —namely, from Ist April to 31st December, IS7B, after which date the race became vested in the Mount Ida AVater-race Trust 1,128 210 Total ... ... ... ... £12,290 10 4 7. Upon comparing the above statement with that of last year it will be seen that the revenue is nearly doubled, and I may remark that the revenue of that year was nearly twice that of its predecessor. This increase of revenue is mainly due to the opening of lands for settlement. 8. Of the lands held under agricultural leases there have been sold to the lessees during the year 4,534 acres, which were yielding a gross annual rent of £577 2s. Gd. This much of tho revenue is therefore lost to the department, and the same will happen again as the time arrives for the right of purchase to accrue in respect of other lands similarly situated. 9. I forward herewith the usual statistical returns. I have, &c, H. W. Robinson, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, AVelliugton. . Warden.

No. 13. Mr. Warden Strateord to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Warden's Office, Arrow, Ist April, 1879. I have the honor to forward herewith the statistical returns of the Wakatipu District, and to add a general report for the year ending the 31st March, 1879. My preface will be somewhat doleful, but borne out by the Press reports that have appeared from time to time during the last six months —namely, that this district, in common with all others south of Cook Strait, will have to suffer a recovery for several years from the disastrous effects of unprecedented storms and floods —in fact, continuous bad weather —from the 9th of May, 1878, to the beginning of February, 1879, causing an estimated damage to public property amounting to £12,000; to private property, as far as I can ascertain, about £10,000; to loss of live stock, £20,000. The destruction of arable and depasturing grouud and crops is more particularly detailed under its proper heading; but the consequent distress so much to be feared early in this year has been considerably stayed, the Government having promptly come to the rescue with loans to repair damages and rebridge rivers; followed by a sudden burst of prosperity during the last month at our quartz reefs—the proofs of a great and permanent future in this direction —aided by the new settlement of about four thousand acres, just opened on the Crown Terrace (of which six selections have taken up an area of 1,093 acres), and the daily communication from the southern cities and coast by rail and steamers with the interior. QOARTZ-EEEFING. Macelown Reefs. —I stated in my last report that there was very little doubt of the permanency of the Macetown reefs ; but during the past year, owing to adverse and unforeseen circumstances, their progress has not been such as I naturally expected. However, their daily development gives sound proof of their value, and evident lasting nature. The unprecedented floods of last September did incalculable damage to this part of the district. All the roads and most of the water-races, constructed at so much expense and labour, were almost virtually wiped out; but great energy has been displayed by the various mining companies and the County Council, so that communication and transit is being rapidly restored, the roads being now constructed so as to resist, in all human probability, any future floods of whatever magnitude. The Macetown public crushing battery, erected by a company of principally local shareholders, has supplied a great want, and is proving a valuable adjunct to the prosperity of the place. The plant consists of ten 6-cwt. stampers, driven by one of Greenlaw's turbines, with all the latest appliances in the way of amalgamation and gold-saving apparatus. It is under good and experienced management, and should meet with that public support such a meritorious and spirited undertaking deserves. Eighty tons of quartz from tiie Gladstone Mine were crushed at this mill last season, yielding 304 oz. of retorted gold ; and 50 tons from tho Tipperary Company, giving 127 oz. These wero not picked lots, but comprised all the stone then raised in each mine; therefore they may bo taken as a fair test of their future yield aud value. AVinter then closed in, and crushing operations were of course suspended. The floods inopportunely happened, and, the roads being destroyed, no stone could be carted to the mill until January of this year. The Tipperary Company then commenced sending down 600 tons of quartz, which have been crushed, yielding 535 oz., or nearly 1 oz. 8 dwt. per ton, and the company intend to keep the mill fully employed until winter vetoes further operations.

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When my last report was written, the Macetown lodes were classed in three lines of reef. Further explorations of the various mines appear to have definitely fixed their number at four —the All Nations line, on which are situate the following claims, starting east and going west: —The Dan O'Connell, Tipperary, South Tipperary, Geraldine, Caledonian, Dunnolly, Duke of AVellington, Morning Star, All Nations, and Black Angel. The Maryborough line comprises Macetown or Finn's Lease,lnvercargill, Victor Emmanuel, Garibaldi, and Maryborough. The Homeward-Bound line has the Homeward-Bound, Ladye Fayre, Golden Link, Duke of Batlitust, Gladstone, Premier, and others. Lastly, is the main lode on Advance Peak, on which three claims have been taken up. A Dunedin company have two men prospecting this reef on the summit, by sinking and driving cross-cuts. If the difficulty of trausport of the quartz can be overcome, and at a reasonable rate, tbere is little doubt of the main lode, at a future date, making a stir in the mining world. A trial crushing of one ton from the lode was taken to the Carrick Range battery about four years ago, and yielded over 5 oz. The Tipperary seems to be the claim par excellence, at present: the reef in the faces now opened, and being stoped, is from 6 to 14 feet wide, carrying gold throughout. Indeed, the supply of stone at present revealed, to a casual observer, looks practically inexhaustible. The mine is in excellent working order, and, from the natural facilities of its position, the stone is easily taken out and sent down to the paddock. Little has been done beyond prospecting in the Geraldine, Caledonian, Dunnolly, or Morning Star. Probably the want of roads has something to do with this ; but as the tracks gradually ascend, as they arc bound to do, these claims will come in for their share of attention. The All Nations Company have been steadily prosecuting work, and have recommenced crushing, having been unable, until a very recent date, owing to damage from floods, to get their stone to the mill. Fresh, and apparently very rich, discoveries have been made in tho mine duriug the past few months, the value of which will be determined when the present crushing is finished. The last stone crushed before the winter, some 40 tons, yielded over 1_ oz. to the ton. The Black Angel Company, adjoining the above, like too many others on the field, shows little or no signs of vitality ; but really, when the precipitous nature of the country, the total absence of timber or firing, aud other drawbacks, are taken into consideration, there may be found some slight excuse for delay. The same remarks apply to the Macetown and Invercargill Companies. The Victor Emmanuel have let their mine on tribute of 12 _ per cent. The tributers crushed 58 tons, which yielded about 1 oz. to the ton. This return will barely pay, as the reef at present is very thin, and the country hard. The Garibaldi Company have a tunnel driven over 150 feet on the line of reef, but have struck nothing of value on its course, although gold-bearing stone exists over head, at the surface ; further prospecting may, however, meet with a better reward. Tho Maryborough Company have been engaged raising stone and erecting a crushing-mill of five stampers, driven by a 30-feet water-wheel, iv Sawyers' Gully. Hero again the destruction of the roads and other causes have delayed the completion of this necessary work; and it is hardly likely that the battery will get to work this summer. There are nearly 400 tons of quartz broken out and ready for sending down, which are estimated to yield about 1 oz. per ton. The reef is well defined in this claim, and large quantities of stone have proved to exist within the boundaries. Next season we may fairly hope to see this company in full working order. The Homeward Bound Company have been busily engaged for months past erecting a more powerful battery, and constructing a tramway from the mine to the mill. These are now completed, and stampers at work. The stone is expected to yield, as hitherto, 1 oz. to the ton, aud will pay good dividends at that. The Ladye Fayre Company, adjoining to the westward, are prospecting their property by driving a tunnel along the supposed lino of the reef. Excellent prospects have been obtained in places, but nothing of a very permanent nature has yet been met with. I think a deeper level will be necessary to prove this mine thoroughly. The Golden Link, or Mackay's Lease, is in statu quo. The Duke cf Bathurst, after some desultory prospecting, has been allowed to stand over also. The Gladstone Company have driven a level of 160 feet on the reef past the shaft, from whence the crushing before alluded to was taken, and are now stoping out stone, of which there is plenty of apparently excellent quality overhead. They have also laid down a tramway to their paddock in Sawyers' Gully. The Premier is also being prospected by two men ; gold is obtained, but some time will elapse ere the mine is developed and brought into full work. The want of mining-timber is severely felt at Macetown, nearly all that is used being brought from the head of Lake Wakatipu. A capital bush of considerable extent exists in the Matatapu A'alley, distant about eight miles from the reefs. AVere a rough bullock dray-track constructed to this place the greatest boon possible would be bestowed on the district. Seeing the absolute necessity, in furtherance of the prosperity of the mines, for a cheaper aud better supply of mining timber, I beg respectfully to call the special attention of the Government to this memorandum. AVere this want supplied, all other minor difficulties could be overcome or put up with cheerfully. Prices have varied little at the mines since my last report. They are as follow : Mining props, 6to 8 inches diameter, Is. per foot ; laths, 4s. each ; sawn timber, 40s. per 100 feet; firewood, 170s. per cord ; blasting powder, Is. per lb. ; fuse, Is. 3d. per coil; steel, Is. per lb.; candles, Is. 3d. per lb.; coal, 16s. to 20s. per cwt. ; packing from Arrow, 655. per ton; cartage from Arrow, heavy material, 120s. per ton. The number of men has slightly increased, and is being added to daily. There are employed at the mines 52 ; batteries, 14 ; packing, 4 ; carting, 4; 4 drays and 8 horses ; and 15 horses engaged in packing. There are six batteries on the field, of 24 stampers; one of them is not completed, and one is disused. They can reduce 350 tons of quartz per week. Wages rule for mining managers £4 to £5 ; battery managers, £4 to £5 ; miners, £3 ; packers, 50s. per week; mill-feeders, Is. per hour.

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The only tramway of any note constructed during the past'season has been that of the HomewardBound Company ; it is self-acting, worked by drums, and -|-inch steel-wire rope. It is 22 chains in length, with a gradient of 1 feet in 3 feet, and cost about £20 per chain iv labour and material. A good deal of criticism has from time to time appeared in the public papers animadverting on the mismanagement, want of management, or excessive management, of the various companies, how true I am not prepared to say, but some unfortunate hitch appears to be inseparable from the initiation of mining industry in a new direction generally. lam of opinion that the real cause will be found in the small inducements offered to experienced overlookers and competent men as managers, the pay at the reefs being about one-half the salary accorded to efficient overlookers in the neighbouring colonies. Let the companies obtain good leaders at whatever cost, and the state of muddle said to exist will soon pass away, and the Macetown mines take that position in the mining world to which they are preeminently entitled, from all present appearances. In the Cardrona Valley and adjacent gullies the European population numbers about 156, all told, classified thus : Male adults, 63 ; female adults (of whom 22 are married), 23 : total, 86. Children, 70. Grand total, 156. Of the first-named, 35 are mining ; the remainder are engaged in storekeeping, farming, dairying, and as labourers. Of Chinese there are about 85, 80 of whom are mining, the remainder trading. The shock given to the mining interest by the floods of September and October last was so great as to cause, even at this distant date, a great diminution in the gold yield. The weekly yield for the past three months will be from 30 oz. to 40 oz. This decreased yield is due, in a sKght measure, to the withdrawal from mining since the flood-period of several of our miners to repair roads and tracks. Pembroke, situate on the shores of Lake AVanaka (the Loch Lomond of Otago) is slowly but surely gaining in population and importance ; its position, geographically and in connection with the fertile lands and splendid forests of the Wanaka Valley, is such as to insure its steady and enduring progress. Thanks to the educational authorities of the day, a public school is now being added to the institutions of this healthy and picturesque locality. Upper Shotover. —Mining in this portion of my district has been very dull during the past twelve months. The causes are —first, the great floods we had in the spring, destroying water-races, and river and creek claims. Some ofthe water-races have not been repaired since ; also a number of miners were taken to repair damage done to the roads by the floods, and are now still employed on the roads. Alluvial mining is very low, a bare living in most cases ; some of the ground left will never be worked profitably without expensive appliances and capital expended in the shape of rock tunnels. Miners who have been fortunate enough to make a little money betake themselves to farming instead of risking their capital in hazardous speculations. This leaves men on the gold fields who have no money, and who are the least energetic and the most improvident of their class. Chinamen are scarce in this district ; they clean out all the easy gold, and leave prospecting to Europeans. I think there is a bright future in quartz-mining: the whole of the range between the Shotover and Arrow Rivers is intersected with reefs, and prospectors from the Macetown side are gradually pushing their operations from the line of reefs at work to the crown of the range, so that another year will hardly go over before the Shotover side of the same range will get a trial. Wages on the reefs (Skipper's Creek) : Good miners, £3 ; road labourers, £2 14s. to £2 Bs. Provisions: Meat, 6d. per lb.; bread, Is. 3d. the 41b. loaf; flour, 19s. per 1001b.; coffee, 2s. per lb. ; tea, 3s. 6d. per lb.; tinned fish, Is. 3d.; packing, 12s. a horse load of 200 lb. from Queenstown or Arrowtown. The Skipper's Creek Reefs. —Phoenix Company : In the past year 400 feet of new ground have been opened, consisting of drivings on lode 200 feet, sinking on lode GO feet, cross-cuts 140 feet. Crushings in March and June, 364 oz. There have been no returns since, inconsequence of damage done by floods. The present prospects of this company are ofa profitable character, and, with the late improvements in some parts of the machinery, crushing will be continued through the summer. Population at present in Skipper's Creek : Employed in quartz-mining, 24 ; alluvial, 4 ; • women and children, 17 : total, 45. Arrow Valley. —This portion of my district, once one of the busiest and most productive of mineral wealth, is now comparatively speaking almost deserted. The river workings are not of any great permanence —merely cleaning up tail-races, scooped out by the natural action of streams. The terraces abutting on the river aud its tributaries are not extensive nor numerous, but those worked have proved highly payable. Many of the terraces yet remain untouched, owing to the absence of timber and water-power, and uot a little to a prejudice entertained by miners generally against too great altitudes ; they will be allowed to remain in their unproductive state perhaps for some years to come. Though the days when miners flung about their earnings with proverbial lavishness are gone, there are still some who compute their washings by pounds weight. There are a few miners left in the once far- . famed Bracken's Gully, who are making fair wages. In New Chum Gully and Hayes' Creek, near Arrow Falls, some very good patches are unearthed from time to time. The Eight-Mile Creek is giving employment to several parties, tunnelling as well as sluicing. There is a large extent of ground, which would pay very fair wages iv the neighbourhood of this creek if water were brought in to bear upon it: these are spots which will prove useful when wages and provisions are lower, through railways and increased population. Kingston. —Since my last report the railway has been completed to Kingston, and a splendid iron steamer, built by Kincaid, McQueen, and Co., of Duuedin, in about four months, launched into Lake AVakatipu. She is essentially a passenger steamer, fitted with newest improvements in engines and gear, and does great credit to the designers. With a speed of thirteen knots, she fulfils all the requirements of the travelling public, who can proceed from Invercargill to Queenstown (a distance of about 120 miles) in nine hours. Wakatipu Runs. The sheep-farmers have suffered more than any other class in my district this year. In this mountainous country, they generally anticipate greater losses through snow-storms, cold, and that great enemy to the sheep, the kiwi (which is a terrible pest), than those runholders living in flat country; but the losses have beeu unprecedented, and very terrible. Out of 140,000 sheep, on thirty. 4—H, 11.

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one runs, there has been a loss of about 45,000, besides hundreds of cattle dying from starvation, and land torn up and utterly destroyed through violent freshets and floods; agricultural areas covered with silt; and fences, that have cost thousands of pounds, buried for miles. The sheep-farmers, at shearing, had to count their losses, aud, staggering under the blow, have, with one voice, surrendered their licenses to the Government, not with the intention, so far as I can learn, of giving up the land, but to enable them to partly recover, by paying a smaller rent for the runs. The demand is reasonable, aud I hope it will be granted. Agriculture. The farmers have suffered also by the inundation; but prices for land have been maintained—land fenced, and with improvements, selling at from £5 to £7 an acre. AVakatipu wheat has a ready sale in Southland and at Cromwell; and will always find a market, now that carriage is so much cheaper. This year farmers are holding at 4s. for wheat and 3s. for oats. Potatoes are selling at £7 per ton; but the money-market is so dreadfully tight that I am afraid they will have to lower their prices to obtain cash from grain-buyers and speculators at Invercargill and Cromwell. The entire population of the district is about 3,500. Of these there are 2,350 males (including 400 Chinese), and, say, 1,150 females. The amount of gold exported from the district has been as follows : Crushed at Macetown reefs, 1,618 oz. 2 dwt.=£5,663 7s. ; at Skippers, 322 oz. = £1,127: total from reefs, 1,940 oz. 2 dwt.= £6,790 7s. From alluvial diggings, 9,931 oz. = £37,489 10s. Gd. Total quantity of gold found in the district during the year, 11,871 0z.=£44,279 17s. Gd. Quartz gold is sold at £3 10s., and alluvial at £3 15s. Gd. There have been forty-eight mining disputes, 217 civil and 159 criminal cases, heard. I have held 10S Warden's and 104 Resident Magistrate's Courts, and travelled about 2,300 miles, during the year. The total amount of revenue from all sources received through this department is £10,592 ss. 7d., to which may be added £1,189 gold duty paid at Duuedin. Statistical returns are appended. I have, Ac, IL A. Stratford, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

No. 14. Mr. Warden Simpson to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Clyde, 30th June, 1879. I have the honor to hand you the statistical returns of the Dunstan District of the Otago Gold Fields for the year ended 31st March, 1879. Of their value I have not, as I have on previous occasions remarked, a favourable opinion, founded as they necessarily must be from their nature, on unsound data. Of the district generally, I have to report—First, that from a mining point of view, when compared with last year, it has receded. The yield of gold for 1877-78 was 39,084 oz., and for 1878-79 it has been only 32,014 oz., showing a decrease of 7,070 oz. For these figures, I am indebted to the civility of the various bank agents in the district. The decrease shown is for the major part to be attributed to the disastrous floods of September last, suspending as they did a largo proportion of the works, particularly those in the Teviot District, for the balance of the year. In many cases they damaged the water-races so much that mouths were lost in repairs. In one particular case—namely, the Carrick Water-race —the damage caused is beyond the ability of the company, the owners, to repair, and, as a consequence, the works on the Bannockburn have only had one-third of their usual supply since, and that means a corresponding diminution in the yield of gold. But my astonishment is that the decrease in the yield of gold for the year has not been greater. If I compare this year's yield with 1876-77, which was 34,812 oz., the decrease is only 2,800 oz. The chief decrease has been in the alluvial mines, the yield from them being 28,200 oz., showing G,BlB oz. less than last year. From quartz the yield has been 3,814 oz., showing only 246 oz. of a decrease from last year. Looking at the above figures, and the fact that there is no very noticeable diminution in the mining population, I am of opinion that the mining interest in this district cannot be said to be much on the wane yet, and I am very confident that the quartz reefs in the district, and they are numerous, will excite considerable attention at no very distant date. Settlement. —Steady progress has been made in that direction in this district during the year. From 4,000 to 5,000 acres have been leased under the agricultural-lease system by some thirty different lessees ; and nearly an equal area by an equal number of persons has been applied for under that system, but, by reason of pressure of work in the Survey Department, the applications have not been finally dealt with. These applications have been in suspense for about eight months, and such delay is, as a matter of course, very irksome to settlers, and has anything but a good tendency. About 1,500 acres have been taken up under deferred payments during the year, but this system is not in favour generally. Taking, therefore, the totals leased and applied for, the area taken up is about equal to that of last year, which was set down at 11,920 acres, and this is in a district where it is generally said that the land is not fit for settlement. But the fact is, no land is unfit for settlement if people would only study what the soil and climate are best suited to produce profitably both as regards crops and stock. The sale of pastoral lands on deferred payments is about to be introduced into this district, and the surveys have been made with that view. The two dangers to be avoided are the surveying of the land into sections too small to form depasturing farms; and, in the neighbourhood of settled agricultural blocks, &c, making tho sections too large and beyond the means of the settler, with a small neighbouring freehold or leasehold, to acquire grazing ground in lieu of what the often too much decried squatter has in many cases given them on fair terms in times gone by, for without grazing ground these small settlers in the interior cannot make a living. Of course these smaller areas should not be burdened with the residence clause in cases where the person acquiring is already a bond fide settler on the neighbouring land. I have, &c, W. Lawrence Simpson, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden,

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No. 15. Mr. Warden Carew to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Lawrence, 2Gth May, 1879. I have the honor to forward the usual statistical returns with this, the annual report of the progress and condition of the Tuapeka Gold Field, for the year ending 31st March, 1879. Mininy. —There has been considerable excitement during the year iv mining circles, arising from the realization of expectations long held that the Blue Spur was not the only payable auriferous deposit of its kind in the district. For several years past it has been well known to miners that at AVetherstoue's, and at AVaitahuna, there were extensive basin deposits of the peculiar blue cemented drift from which tho now famous Blue Spur derives its name. So early in the history of this gold field as the year 1864, a shaft was sunk iv the Wetherstoue's basin, by a prospecting party in the pay of the Provincial Government, to a depth of about 430 feet. Gold was found iv this shaft at several depths, but at the lowest level attained the prospect was less encouraging thau at higher levels, and, after a tunnel had been driven about 30 feet without greater success, tho shaft was abandoned. From time to time small parties of miners have prospected in the same basin, but with small encouragement, until about twelve months ago Messrs. Gascoigue and Brown obtained promising prospects, and by energetic prospecting commenced to develop the auriferous value of the ground, and up to the present time with marked success and a promising future. The earliest success of this party was the signal for a rush, and within a short period no less than thirty-seven applications for mining leases were lodged for an area of 270 acres, covering the whole basin of cement so far as it is known to extend. The prospectors, Gascoigne andßrovvn,promoted the AVetherstone's Cement Company (Limited), under "The Companies Act, 1872," which has acquired their leasehold, erected a first-class ten-stamp crushing battery, with all the latest improvements, and has already had four crushings, with a result of about 765 oz. of gold. Two other companies have been formed and registered, energetic prospecting has been prosecuted in several claims, and in some cases most satisfactory prospects have been obtained. The Premier and Tuapeka Companies have both arranged for the erection of ten-stamp batteries, and a small battery is to be made that will be easily movable from claim to claim, to test the value of the ground in other leaseholds before expensive permanent machinery is put up. The AVetherstone's discovery is a valuable one, but the extent of its importance cannot yet be estimated ; the Blue Spur claims had been worked for ten or twelve years before any fair estimate was formed of their value, and so it must be with the AVetherstone's claims ; their real value will take a long time to develop, but the experience gained at the Spur will be a valuable guide and assistance, and tend to expedite the work and to realize the maximum of profit. Near to the head of old Waitahuna Gully is a cement deposit, similar to those at the Blue Spur and Wetherstone's, and it has attracted almost as much attention as the last named. Some miners had been sluicing there for some time with paying results, although, from the hard nature of the deposit, sluicing is a very imperfect mode of extracting the gold. A few mouths ago a rush set in to the ground, and twenty-two applications were lodged for mining leases covering an area of 202 acre,s over the basin. Excellent prospects have been obtained, and three batteries of stamps, iv all twenty-five head, are in course of erection, one being now nearly complete. In a few months the old gully, one of the oldest goldworkings in Otago, will again be a busy place, and success seems assured. A company has been organized to rework old Gabriel's Gully, the place where Gabriel Reid discovered the precious metal that has done so much to advance this Island. The gully is now filled up with tailings from the Blue Spur workings, which have raised the bed of the gully at one part 60 to 80 feet above the natural surface. The whole of this immense deposit contains gold, small in quantity per cubic yard ; but it is believed to be sufficient to yield a profit with skilful working, and it is well known that buried under the tailings are large blocks of ground left undisturbed by miners in the early days of the gold field that will now pay handsomely. The company holds a special claim of fifteen acres, and I trust when I next report it will be in full and profitable work, as it will afford employment to a large number of men. The Blue Spur continues to be worked with the usual success. There are nine claims in work —two by sluicing, the other seven by crushing. There are seven batteries employed at crushing—three of twenty, two of fifteen, ono of ten, and one of five stamps, or 105 heads in all. The machinery employed is of the best description for the purpose; it is all driven by water power, is kept going night and day, and each head of stamps is estimated to crush from eight to ten tons per diem. This is five or six times the average for quartz : but this is explained by the fact that the gratings used for quartz must be fine, from 90 to 150 per square inch, while for cement four to eight holes to the inch is sufficient, and consequently as the holes are large the stuff from the boxes can escape rapidly. The yield from the Waipori division of the district has fallen off considerably, and the number of miners there is much reduced. This is principally due to the inclemency of the last winter, which told with great severity in that almost alpine region, and for several months prevented miners there from following their usual occupations. There is known to be a large extent of auriferous land at Waipori, and, although the yield generally is not large, I believe the prospects of that division of my district will again revive. Quartz-mining is not yet a decided success in this district, although some good patches of gold have been occasionally found. The old reef at Waipori is still being worked, but not with much success. A party of Chinese opened a new reef there, and have obtained a mining lease, with the view of working it. A new reef has been lately discovered between Gabriels and AVetherstone's, and is now being prospected, as aj^o is one at Waitahuna. Population. —The average number of European miners employed during the year was 400, and of Chinese 430. This is a small decrease of Europeans from my estimate for the previous year, principally from the AVaipori division ; but the cement workings are now creating a demand for men, and the number will quickly increase. The decrease of Chinese is about 220, but the number now hero is quite sufficient, for much of the old workings, to which they generally confine their attention, is now exhausted

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of gold. The large farming class comfortably settled in hundreds of farms within the Tuapeka County, together with flour-millers, saw-millers, coal-miners, brickmakers, and tradesmen of all kinds, who can live and prosper in a thriving district, swell the total population of the county to over 9,000. AVith gold prospects so favourable, good soil and climate, and the existence of copper, antimony, and cinnabar in the district, waiting to be developed, the tendency must be to further increase. Land. —The area of agricultural land open for application during tho year has been small; but a block of about 7,000 acres in the Waitahuna District is being now surveyed, and, when open, will uo doubt be quickly applied for. Tho following statement will show the transactions for the year :— Agricultural Leases, — No. Acreage. Granted during year ... ... ... 41 ... 5,838 Purchased for cash ... ... ... 71 ... 5,890 Purchased on deferred payments ... ... G ... 340 In force on 31st March, 1879 ... ... ... 237 ... 25,779 Deferred-payment leases and licenses in force on 31st March, 1879 ... ... ... ... 277 ... 29,691 The total area held under leases and licenses is 55,470 acres, the annual rental amounting to £8,558 3s. Gd. The last harvest was a very good one. On several farms oats and wheat averaged 35 and 40 bushels to tho acre, and the yield in some cases was 50 to 60 bushels ; but, unfortunately, the present prices are too low for producers. Gold. —The produce of gold for the year was 26,694 oz., as against 27,260 oz. for the previous year. Considering the decrease of miners, the yield has been very satisfactory, and, when proper allowance is made for the effect of the last winter on the yield at AVaipori, shows there must have been an increased yield in other portions of the district. Revenue. —The revenue collected during the year ending the 31st March last amounted to £9,731 13s. 2d., made up as follows :— £ s. d. Rent on agricultural leases ... ... ... ... 3,632 010 „ deferred-payment leases and licenses ... ... 4,022 111 „ mining leases ... ... ... ... 258 010 Fees and fines in AVarden's Court ... ... ... 18 17 0 Other gold fields revenue ... ... ... ... 1,584 6 4 Resident Magistrate's Court fees and fines ... ... 200 8 9 Licensing Court fees ... ... ... ... 15 17 6 Judicial, —The number of cases and applications dealt with and decided in the Warden's Court during the year was —Cases, 64 ; applications, 301: and in the Resident Magistrate's Court—Cases, criminal, 108 ; civil, 228 ; judgment summonies and applications, 131. In addition to performing my various duties within the Tuapeka Gold Field, I have held weekly sittings of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Tokomairiro and at Balclutha, a monthly sitting at Clinton, and, during the present year, a monthly sitting of the AVarden's Court for Hindon Gold Field, at Dunedin. I have, &c, E. H. Carew, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

No. 16. Mr. Warden Maitland to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Dunedin, 11th June, 1878. I have the honor to forward the attached returns, giving information concerning the Hindon Mining District for the year ending 31st March, 1879. It will be seen from these tables that there has been a falling-off in alluvial mining operations, and that the attention of miners has been to a greater extent directed to quartz-mining. A considerable number of gold-mining leases and claims for quartz in various parts of the district, have been taken up. The New Caledonia Quartz-Mining Company (Limited), operating at Game-Hen Reef, have just completed their machinery and commenced crushing. There has not yet been sufficient time to learn results. Messrs. AY. and A. T. Kenny are also erecting machinery, which it is expected will be ready for crushing in the course of a few weeks. The lease- and claim-holders will then be enabled to obtain trial crushings of the stone, considerable quantities of which have been got out for that purpose. Having visited the district during the year, I may safely express the belief from what I saw that several of the reefs will turn out satisfactorily. There appear to be numerous outcrops of quartz reefs, more or less auriferous, throughout the district; and, as there is now every prospect of these being thoroughly tested at an early date, I shall doubtless be iv a position to afford more definite information in the next annual report. . I have, &c, J. P. Maitland, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

No. 17. Mr. Warden Wood to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields." Sir,— AVarden's Office, Riverton, 17th June, 1879. I have the honor to enclose herewith statistical returns for Switzers, or, as it is now called, " AVaikaia," and Orepuki Gold Fields, and report as follows: —

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Duringthe past year mining in the Switzers District has not improved: indeed, if anything, the yield of gold has fallen off, and no new ground has been opened up. Some of the claims on the Upper Waikaia have turned out well, but the gold is very patchy. At the AVaikaka tho Chinese keep steadily at work, making good wages, but Ido not hear of any very good results. At Orepuki the population has fallen off, but those that remain have as a rule done well. At tho Round Hill the Chinese population has considerably increased of late, doubtless from the fact that those that have been there some time have nearly all done well, which is generally the case where gambling aud opium-smokiug saloons are supported, and the Round Hill boasts of three of these places of amusement. The County Council of Wallace has formed good pack tracks to thege diggings, which has been a great boon to the community. Longwood, where a rich reef was struck about twelve months ago, is being prospected, but the thickly timbered and broken nature ofthe country renders it a slow process. The prospecting claim, though very rich, has not yet been worked, as it was locked up through litigation till Christmas last, when it was sold by order of the AVarden's Court under a suit for a dissolution of partnership, and brought £2,050 cash. The purchasers have been putting in a tunnel at a low level, and expect to strike the reef in the course ofa week or two. This tunnel, it is supposed, will drain the adjoining claim, which is supposed to be equally rich ; but the proprietors have not been able to contend with the water. Three other claims are at work, but the tightness of the money market prevents the owners from pushing on as they otherwise would. Notwithstanding the present state of things, I look forward to the Longwood being a large quartz-mining field. I have, Ac, John Nugent AVood, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

WEST WANGANUI GOLD FIELD. No. 18. Mr. Warden Mackay to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Government Buildings, Nelson, 21st May, 1879. In compliance with your circular, Ko. 330, of 26th April, I return herewith the forms, duly filled iv with the particulars needed, as far as it is possible to supply them. I have nothing noteworthy to record concerning the state of the fields since the date of my last report. I have, Ac, A. Mackay, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

WATER RACES. No. 19. Mr. H. A. Gordon, Manager of the Nelson Creek Water-race, to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Office of Nelson Creek AVater-race, Hatter's Terrace, Ist July, 1879. I have the honor to submit annual report on the transactions connected with tho working and maintenance of the Nelson Creek AVater-race for tho year ending the 30th June, 1879. The average number of persons employed in mining operations, that have used water from the Nelson Creek Water-race during the year, has been sixty-seven, and the amount of gold obtained by tiiem during the same period (as near as can be ascertained) has been about 4,659 oz., which represents the value of £17,820 14s. The value of water sold during the year has been £1,805 12s. 3d., and tho cost of maintenance £1,434 2s. Bd., thus showing a balance of receipts above the expenditure of £371 9s. 7d. After deducting the value of water sold from the value of the gold obtained it leaves £1G,015 Is. 9d., which amounts to £239 os. 4d. per man per annum, or £4 lis. lid. per mau per week for wages and expenses in finding hydraulic plant and materials in working the ground. The sales of water for the six months ending the 30th June, 1879, show an increase of £173 15s 7d. on the receipts for the six months previous. This is due iv some measure to the purchase of Sherman and party's water-rights in Gow's Creek, as it allowed more of the claims to got to work in the vicinity of Owen's Look-out; but the principal claims which are using water at present from the race are situated at No. 1 Terrace, German Gully, and at Try Again Terrace. I have, Ac., Henry A. Gordon, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Manager.

No. 20. Mr. J. Gow, Manager of the Waimea-Kumara Water-race, to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sib,— Public Works Office, Kumara, Bth July, 1879. In reply to your memorandum No. 477, of the 10th of June, I have the honor to forward herewith a general report upon the transactions connected with the working and maintenance of the Waimea-Kumara AVater-race for the year eliding 30th June, 1879.

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On the Kumara, the old method of mining by driving and paddocking is fast giving way to systematic sluicing on a large scale. Probably on no other gold field in New Zealand are there the same facilities for extensive sluicing. The fall and capacity for tailings are very extensive, and equal to many years of what are likely to prove the most extensive sluicing operations in New Zealand. The character of the ground is admirably adapted for sluicing, being a vast shingle-bed, through which the gold is found in thin layers at intervals of a few feet from top to bottom, a depth varying from 25 feet to 75 feet. One of the few sluicing claims on Duuediu Flat, opened out eighteen months ago, has, up to 30th June, yielded 1,735 oz. of gold from a block 22,403 cubic yards, an average of 31 gr. per cubic yard, working a face 35 feet deep from the surface. Sixth shares in this claim sell readily at £400. There is much ground at Kumara known to be equally good, and the miners speak confidently of sluicing ground to be opened when the sludge-tunnel is constructed, that will yield a large average per cubic yard. The proposed sludge-tunnel will open a large extent of payable sluicing ground which is now being worked at different levels, yielding fair returns by the use of windlass and paddock. Ground that is remunerative when worked on different levels in this way will yield handsome returns w*hen sluiced on a large scale. Estimated cost of sludge-tunnel, £4,000. The race is on tolerably level ground throughout, and therefore not liable to slip or break. One branch is nearly on top of a ridge: a level that will command all known sluicing ground on the Kumara ; but the water supply, although sufficient for present requirements, is not likely to be so a year hence. An unlimited supply, however, for all future requirements can be secured by the construction of a dam at the Loopline Road, at a probable cost of £8,000. Only one new lead or run of gold has been opened during the past twelve months, and known as the Mignonnetto Lead. It extended from Larrikin's Terrace south-west a distance of 20 chains, and from 25 to 30 feet deep, yielding fair wages. AVhen prospecting shafts were sunk in the neighbourhood of this lead sufficient gold was obtained in every shaft sunk to enable the miners to class it as sluicing ground, and I have no doubt much of it will be so worked by the aid of the sludge-tunnel. Waimea. —My great trouble here is to supply all applicants with water, aud, although the miners are aware of the limited supply, they continue taking up extended claims in the hope of being supplied in wet weather. There are now more miners in the neighbourhood of the race than there have been since it was constructed, and, when favoured with a steady supply of water for a short time, they make fair wages. The permanence of the district is more apparent now than it was three years ago, and this is chiefly due to the Government race. The risk of injury to eight miles of this race is very great, as large slips cannot be prevented during stormy weather. During January there were some serious slips, one starting some distance above the race, and travelling over a quarter of a mile, carrying everything before it. Another also started on the upper side of the race in a gulch where the race was flumed between two tunnels. In this instance the flume was carried away, leaving about seix feet on in each tunnel. All the care and attention possible cannot prevent these mishaps. During the past six months I have every month estimated the number of men taking water from the race, and the quantity of gold obtained by them. From this I have made an estimate for the year ; but I have reason to believe my estimate of the gold obtained is much below* the actual yield by water from the Government race. My approximate estimate of the collateral advantages derived from the use of the AVaimea-Kumara Water-race for the year ending the 30th June, 3 879, may therefore be stated as follows: Daily average sales of water, £L 4 lis. 9d. ; daily average number of men employed, 723 ; average price per week per head, £2 18s.; approximate quantity of gold obtained, 22,415 oz. The value of water sold during the year amounts to £4,567 os. Bd., and the cost of maintenance during the same period may be stated approximately at £2,000. I have, &c, J. Gow, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, AVellington. Manager.

No. 21.

The Chairman, Mount Ida AVater-Race Trust, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Mount Ida AVater-Race Trust Office, Naseby, Ist August, 1879. TnE Mount Ida Water-Race Trust have the honor, iv accordance with section 25 of "The Mount Ida AVater-Race Trust Act, 1878," to report to the Minister for Public AVorks as follows: — The first meeting of the Trust was held in tho County Council Chambers, Naseby, on Monday, the 20th January, 1879, when Mr. H. W. Robinson was appointed chairman, and it was decided in the meantime to continue the manager and other officials previously in the employment of the Government iv their several offices. Mr. Edward Tobias George was appointed secretary and treasurer, at a salary of £75 per annum. The Trust, on entering upon their duties, were fully impressed with the necessity for a strict economy iv management, and with this view they lost no time in obtaining from the manager a full report upon the then state of the works, the probable expense of maintenance and requirements for extension, as also estimate of probable revenue. This report showed a deficiency of revenue as compared with expenditure of about £500, the estimated revenue being £2,400, and tho expenditure £2,900. The manager also intimated that in the course of another year or so the Trust would be in a still worse position, if certain necessary extensions for the completion of the original design were not made. To carry these out properly would involve an outlay of about £4,400.

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Having no money in hand and no borrowing powers, the Trust found it necessary to make application to the Government for means to meet deficiencies in current expenditure, and the extensions above referred to. This request was not acceded to, but a sum of £250 was granted to meet most pressing immediate requirements, and subsequently a sum of £84 17s. 7d. (said to be unexpended balance of vote of £2,500) was placed to the credit of the Trust. More recently, in consequence of renewed urgent representations, the Government placed a further sum of £1,000 to the credit of the Trust, making a total sum of £1,334 17s. 7d. of Government money received. On taking over the works the Trust found that there was owing for water supplied and channel fees £1,168 17s. 3d. Of this amount there has been received £629 6s. 6d. ; £408 16s. Bd. has been written off as bad debts; leaving a balance of £130 14s. still to be received on that account. The actual business transacted for water sold and channel fees from Ist January to 30th June has been £966 17s. Of this amount £505 7s. 7d. has been collected, £17 os. sd. has been written off as bad, leaving a balance due on this account of £444 9s. The total expenditure of the Trust to 30th June, 1879, has been £2,167 13s. sd. Further details of receipts and expenditure will be found in the treasurer's statement appended to this report. In pursuance of their policy of economy, the Trust found it necessary to make considerable reductions, not only in the number of persons employed, but in the pay of some of those retained. The result of this has been that the expenditure for maintenance during the half-year has been reduced by about £200 below the manager's estimate. Most of this saving has only been effected within the last two months, as the Trust had to carry on with the full staff they found employed on the works for some months before they saw clearly where a saying could be effected. With regard to new works, the Trust (their request for an advance of £5,000 not being granted) were forced to limit themselves to the construction of such portions of the works of extension as could not be done without. In such works they have expended a sum of £850 15s. 2d. A statement of the assets and liabilities of the Trust is appended, from which it will be seen that, although the money due is considerable, the actual cash in hand is but small. The w*inter, so far, has been unusually severe, and even when the weather breaks some time must elapse before the customers of the Trust are in a position to pay, while its heaviest expenditure will be going on —viz., the clearing of races and repair of damages from frost and flood to the earthworks and embankments. Under these circumstances it appears certain that the Trust will have to look to the Government for some further advance to meet the expenses of maintenance and repair that must be incurred before the miners who are indebted to the Trust can be expected to make payment. Probably £500 will be required. I have, &c., H. W. Robinson, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Chairman.

Enclosure in No. 21. Treasurer's Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of the Mount Ida Water-Race Trust from Ist January to 30th June, 1879.

1879. £ s. d. _-b. 5. To Cash received from Government 250 0 0 Jarch 18. „ „ „ 84 17 7 lay 21. „ „ „ 1,000 0 0 Cash received on account of amounts due 1st January, including £32 8s. 9d. collected by Receiver Gold Revenue ... 629 6 6 Cash received for water sold and channel fees by Trust, from 1st January to 30th June ... 505 7 7 Cash received for gold from race ... ... ... 9 11 6 £ s. A. By Extension head race and reservoir ... 850 15 2 Maintenance channel ... ... ... 238 5 0 Maintenance head race... ... ... 760 0 8 General management — Manager's salary, forage, &c. ... ... 192 1 8 Horse, dray, harness, tools, &c. ... 65 19 0 Forage ... ... ... ... 5 13 6 Secretary and treasurer, salary ... 36 10 0 Advertising, printing, stationery, postages, telegrams, &c. ... ... ... 18 8 5 Balance —Cash at bank, £111 9s. 9d.; bills receivable, £200 ... ... ... 311 9 9 Total ... £2,479 3 2 Total ... £2,479 3 2 Assets. £ a. A. 'o Balance, cash at bank ... ... ... Ill 9 9 Bills receivable ... ... ... 200 0 0 Due for water and channel fees, old account 130 14 0 Due for water and channel fees, 1st January to 30th June ... .,. .., 444 9 0 Liabilities. £ a. A, By Livingston, stationery ... ... 13 10 3 Sparrow and Co., valve ... ... 87 10 0 Balance 785 12 6 Total £886 12 9 Total ... ... ... £886 12 9 E. T. George, m ■_____-

h.—li.

No. 1. STATEMENT showing the Revenue of the Gold Fields collected in the several Districts, and the Gold Duty of the Colony of New Zealand, for the period from Ist January to 31st December, 1878. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OP AUCKLAND.

Gold duty received in the provincial district during the year, £7,583 2s. 4d. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OP NELSON.

Gold duty received in tho provincial district during the year, £3,893 ss. lOd. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OP MARLBOROUGH.

32

Havelock ... 111 0 0 17 0 0 5 10 0 85 11 4 13 1 6 2 10 6 234 13 4 Gold dutreceived in the irovincial district during the year, £40 8s. 8d.

Miners' Rights. Business Licenses. Water-races, Sluices, &c. Gold-Mining Leases, Rents, and Royalties. Registration. Fees and Fines, Wardens' Courts. Survey Fees. Depasturing Licenses and Assessments. Timber and other Licenses. Miscellaneous. Totals. Gbahamstown ConOMANDEL OniKEMBUI £ s. d. 728 9 0 234 4 1 41 0 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. 3 0 0 5 0 0 £ a. d. 2,218 14 3 839 12 9 455 16 0 £ s. d. 77 6 0 6 18 6 £ s. d. 45 2 6 21 7 0 £ s. d. ... £ a. d. £ s. d. 5 0 0 £ s. d. 390 0 8 54 3 0 £ b. d. 3,467 12 5 1,161 5 4 496 16 0 ... 1,003 13 1 66 9 6 ! 5,125 13 9 8 0 0 3,514 3 0 84 4 6 ... ... 5 0 0 444 3 8

COLLINGWOOD WESTPOET AND ClTAELESTON ... CoBDEN Ahauea Reefton Wangapeka West Wanganui Lyell No Town ... 112 19 6 472 0 0 39 0 0 327 0 0 229 0 0 50 0 0 15 18 6 184 0 0 169 0 0 8 0 0 1 18 6 11 0 0 18 8 0 110 255 3 0 6 10 0 660 0 0 11 7 6 0 5 0 28" 0 0 22 15 0 97 0 0 3 10 0 85 17 2 939 19 3 18 10 0 167 14 0 1,102 18 9 8 0 0 47 7 0 1 11 6 49 14 6 23 8 6 2 3 0 0 5 0 9 14 6 14 8 0 0 11 0 8 4 0 12 0 9 8 6 75 3 4 62 14 9 6 5 6 0 5 0 11 9 6 12 14 6 32 10 0 280 0 11 1,503 3 9 61 9 6 826 19 6 2,114 12 7 84 18 0 24 3 6 332 15 6 300 10 6 8 0 0 84 1 0 13 2 6 2 8 0 3 10 117 0 0 9 0 : i 5,528 13 9 1,598 18 0 1,059 3 0 65 15 0 2,420 2 8 156 12 0 99 17 10 128 5 3

No. I.— continued. STATEMENT showing the Revenue of the Gold Fields collected in the several Districts, and the Gold Duty of the Colony of New Zealand, for the period from Ist January to 31st December, 1878. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF WESTLAND.

Gold duty received in the provincial district during the year, £8,411 18s. sd. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OP OTAGO.

H.—ll.

33

w Business Licenses. Water-raoes, Sluices, &c. Gold-Mining Leases. D „ . , .. Routs, and Royalties. Kepstration. Fees and Fines, Wardens' I Survey Fees. Courts. Miscellaneous. [ Totals. Miners' Rights. Depasturing Licenses and Assessments. Timber and other Licenses. £ s. d. 46 0 0 232 0 0 370 0 0 187 0 0 189 0 0 30 0 0 232 0 0 158 0 0 177 0 0 759 0 0 5 0 0 262 0 0 £ 8. d. 6 0 0 46 0 0 43 0 0 44 0 0 28 0 0 16 0 0 59 0 0 14 0 0 £ s. d. £ 8. d. £ a. d. £ S. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ 8. d. j £ s. d. £ s. d. 52 0 0 609 8 6 1,011 15 0 639 8 0 310 11 2 47 11 0 322 19 0 178 7 0 178 8 0 2,128 7 0 5 5 0 328 3 0 Hokitika ... Kaniebi Geeymouth Ross Staffobd ... Okaeito Geeenstone Maoei Gully Clifton Kumaba Jackson's Bay Goldsborough 10 18 0 54 19 6 15 5 0 12 12 0 0 5 0 6 15 0 72 14 6 474 17 6 358 7 0 59 6 8 20 4 0 54 7 0 21 9 0 17 4 6 16 0 12 12 6 1 10 0 2 2 0 9 7 0 6 11 0 4 8 0 11 3 0 4 16 0 18 0 22 1 0 - 225 10 0 5 4 0 6 16 0 1 "8 6 0 10 ... ... 552"o 0 2 5 0 25 4 0 0 5 0 31 8 6 767 17 0 ... 3 0 0 25 16 6 5 18 0 ... o" 5 0 2,647 0 0 811 0 0 128 16 0 965 5 8 185 10 6 67 9 0 ... 1,007 1 6 5,812 2 8

Dunedin Naseby Black's and St. Bathan's Manuheeikia Clyde Mount Benger Ceohwell ... Queenstown Aebowtown Laweencb ... switzebs Oeepuki 39 0 0 795 0 0 133 0 0 66 0 0 113 18 6 171 0 0 423 0 0 186 10 6 221 0 0 675 0 0 183 19 6 286 0 0 5 5 0 69 0 0 48 0 0 5 0 0 16 0 0 8 0 0 131 0 0 23 0 0 38 0 0 125 0 0 92 0 0 14 0 0 12 0 21 9 0 5 10 0 4 0 6 5 16 6 5 10 0 7 7 6 10 5 0 17 8 6 16 4 6 11 9 6 14 8 0 90 8 4 395 7 11 3 0 0 212 7 4 266 8 0 651 4 0 228 10 0 201 0 0 5 19 6 38 0 0 15 0 42 1 0 12 2 0 2 0 6 18 0 9 10 6 25 6 0 18 14 6 17 3 6 20 4 6 9 0 6 12 0 0 13 10 6 2 14 6 12 0 6 7 19 0 8 4 0 1 16 0 14 18 0 5 14 0 7 12 0 9 0 0 • 0 18 6 5 19 0 0 3 6 2 8 6 0 2 0 15 0 2 9 0 5 9 0 0 8 1 0 3 0 137 18 10 1,345 7 5 201 10 0 77 1 0 154 12 0 414 8 10 862 10 6 893 19 0 542 9 0 1,043 11 1 310 4 0 373 8 0 170 16 0 19 5 7 6,356 19 8 3,293 8 6 574 5 0 123 11 0 2,092 5 1 83 8 6 Gold duty received in the provincial district during the year, £10,577 19s. lid. James C. Gavin, Receiver- General.

H.—ll.

No. 2. STATEMENT showing the Revenue of the Gold Fields collected in the several Districts, and the Gold Duty of the Colony of New Zealand, for the period from Ist January to 31st March, 1879. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF AUCKLAND.

Gold duty received in the provincial district during the quarter, £794 16s. 7d. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OP MARLBOROUGH.

PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OP NELSON.

34

Miners' Rights. Business Licenses. Water-races, SluiccB, &c. Gold-Mining Leases, Rents, and Royalties. Registration. Fees and Fines, Wardens' Courts. Survey Fees. Depasturing Licenses and Assessments. Timber aud other Licenses. Miscellaneous. Totals. Geaiiamstown Coeomandel Ohinemuei ... £ s. d. 105 0 0 29 0 0 14 0 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ 8. d. 424 0 0 155 13 6 33 15 0 £ s. d. 1C 3 6 0 15 0 £ s. d. £ 8. d. £ 8. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 14 10 0 3 7 0 £ s. d. 553 13 6 188 15 6 47 15 0 148 0 0 618 8 6 10 18 6 17 17 0 790 4 0 ... ... ... ... ... ... Gold duty receivei in the provincial district during the quarter, £1,190 12s. lid.

collingwood Westpoet and Charleston ... COBDEN Ahauea Reefton Wangapeka West Wanganui Lyell No Town ... 24 0 0 85 0 0 3 0 0 0 9 6 4 19 6 13 9 6 70 10 0 2 8 0 19 10 6 ... ... ... ... ... 40 7 0 183 0 0 ... 61 0 0 68 0 0 7 0 0 0 17 6 54 0 0 42 0 0 22"o 0 33 5 0 15 0 1 12 6 0 5 0 28 0 0 143 0 0 12 11 6 38 8 0 0 4 0 ... 124 16 6 285 5 6 7 9 0 21 17 6 124 17 9 59 13 6 ... i"o 0 ... 50 0 16 0 0 61 3 0 ... ll'o 0 3 14 6 0 12 6 5 17 3 6 10 0 3 0 341 17 6 74 5 0 12 18 6 I 1 1 3 0 j 847 6 9 332 2 6 85 0 3 ... ... ... ...

Havelock ... 7 0 0 5 0 0 0 7 6 29 0 0 4 13 0 46 0 6 Gold dut; received in the irovincial district durinj the quarter, £56 Os. 8d.

35

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No. 2— continued. STATEMENT showing the Revenue of the Gold Fields collected in the several Districts, and the Gold Duty of the Colony of New Zealand, for the period from Ist January to 31st March, 1879. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF WESTLAND.

PROVINCIAL DISTRICT OF OTAGO. i———_ . ,— —— —— ■

Miners' Rights. Business Licenses. Water-races, Sluices, &c. Gold-Mining Leases, Rents, and Royalties. Registration. Fees and Fines, Wardens' Courts. Survey Fees. Depasturing Licenses and Assessments. Timber and other Licenses. Miscellaneous. Totals. Hokitika ... Kanieei Geeymouth Ross Staffoed ... Ok AEITO Geeenstone Maoei Gully Clifton Kujiaea Jackson's Bay golesboeough £ s. d. 6 0 0 43 0 0 80 0 0 68 0 0 38 0 0 10 0 0 44 0 0 20 0 0 34 0 0 145 0 0 10 0 58 0 0 £ s. A. 6 0 0 13 0 0 5 0 0 9 0 0 16 0 0 £ 8. d. 0 7 6 10 5 6 0 5 0 0 15 0 0 16 0 7 6 0 10 0 10 0 £ s. d. 6 13 6 17 16 8 70 10 0 33 18 0 £ s. d. 5 10 9 5 0 8 3 0 4 18 0 0 IS 6 4 13 0 2 1 0 1 13 0 5 9 0 "i £ s. d. £ s. d. ... £ e. d. £ 8. d. £ s. d. 2 19 6 0 10 £ s. d. 12 0 0 68 2 0 125 6 8 155 19 0 77 11 0 27 0 0 49 10 6 25 11 0 37 8 0 193 9 0 10 0 68 18 0 0 10 0 3 0 0 015 0 43 0 0 ... ... i io o 9 8 0 ... | ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 547 0 0 95 0 0 15 2 0 I i I 841 15 2 | 128 18 2 51 9 6 ... ... 4 5 fi Gold duty received in the provincii il district during the quarter, £3,499 8s. 3d.

Dunedin Naseby Black's and St. Bathan's Manuheeikia Clyde Mount Bengee Cbomwell ... Queenstown Aeeowtown Laweence ... switzees ... Oeepuki 3 0 0 218 0 0 63 0 0 13 0 0 47 0 0 36 0 0 203 0 0 62 0 0 47 0 0 99 0 0 46 0 0 115 0 0 13 0 0 13 0 0 5 0 0 65 0 0 5 0 0 3 0 0 11 0 0 20 0 0 12 6 9 15 0 1 15 0 0 10 0 2 10 0 2 15 0 3 10 0 3 17 6 3 10 0 3 14 6 13 6 3 17 6 9 18 4 51 1 8 8 10 0 33 15 0 30 0 0 92 14 2 0 5 6 18 5 0 13 6 4 17 0 3 9 0 4 10 10 3 0 3 8 0 4 5 0 16 0 2 17 6 7 16 0 ... ... ... ... ... 14 6 4 310 1 8 78 18 6 18 7 0 57 19 0 42 16 0 290 3 0 108 10 6 87 17 0 207 14 8 70 1 0 142 1 6 o io o 0 2 0 is" 0 0 o'"8 0 952 0 0 135 0 0 38 0 6 I I 10 0 1,428 16 2 240 19 2 61 16 6 ... ... ... Gold duty received in the provincial district during the quarter, £2,164 15s. 7d. James C. Gavin,

H.—ll.

36

No. 3. COMPARATIVE RETURN of Revenue derived from the Gold Fields in the several Districts of New Zealand during the Years 1877 and 1878, showing Increase or Decrease under each Head of Revenue.

Auckland. Nelson. Marlborough. Westland. Otaoo. Heads of Revenue. 1878. i s i I 1877. 1878. a 1 M _> 1 - 1878. | | 6 1873. 2 B 3 6 _) __ __ _> - _-_ _> t 1877. 1877. 187/. 1877. 1878. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Miners' Rights 1,382 1,003 379 j 1,773 1,598 175 58 111 53 3,300 2,647 I j 653 4,294 3,293 1,001 Business Licenses 984 1,059 75 8 17 9 ... 1,426 811 615 781 574 207 Water-races, Sluices, &e. ... 26 8 18 63 65 2 5 5 230 128 102 191 123 68 Gold-mining Leases, Rents, and Royalties ... 2,457 3,514 1,057 591 2,420 1,829 85 85 11 965 I 954 ... 2,789 2,092 i ... 697 Registration 74 84 10 224 156 68 5 13 8 182 186 4 ■ 250 171 79 Fees and Fines, Wardens' Courts ... 74 66 | 8 I 44 100 56 1 1 149 j 67 ... 82 210 84 126 Survey Fees 9 9 j 256 256 28 28 Depasturing Licenses and Assessments 2 2 40 40 70 70 Timber and other Licenses 71 5 66 I . Withdrawals of Leases Miscellaneous 280 444 164 116 1,901 6,287 128 12 4 3 1 15 1,008 993 261 19 242 ... Gold Duty 9,484 7,583 3,893 2,394 40 40 9,510 8,411 1,099 11,316 10,577 ; 739 Totals ... Net 1,152 ,10,378 Net 959 Net 198 I ! Net 628 1 " 13,859 12,707 76 274 14,851 14,223 20,162 16,933 3,229 9,419 James C. Gavin, Receiver-General.

No. 4. COMPARATIVE RETURN of the Total Amounts of Gold Fields Revenue (exclusive of Gold Duty) collected in the several Districts during the Tears 1877 and 1878, and the Quarters ending 31st March, 1878 and 1879, showing the Increase or Decrease in respect of each District.

H.—11.

37

Provincial District. District. 1877. 1878. Increase. Decrease. Auckland Nelson... Maelboeough ... Westland m.. GrahaniBtown Coromandel... Ohinemuri ... Coliingwood... Westport and Charleston Cobden Ahaura Rfeflon Waugapeka ... West Wanganui Lyell No Town Havelock Hokitika Kanieri Greymouth ... Ross Stafford Okarito Greenstone ... Maori Gully Clifton Kumara Jackson's Bay Goldsborough Duuedin Naseby Black's and St. Bathans Manuherikia Clyde Mount Benger Cromwell Queenstown... Arrowtown ... Lawrence Switzers Orepuki Total ... Deduct Decrease Net Increase... £ 2,845 467 1,063 146 865 179 887 1,096 165 36 398 320 76 46 364 431 570 361 74 652 189 237 2.153 5 260 56 1,876 228 127 138 387 973 1,741 1,036 1,333 723 227 £ 3,467 1,161 497 280 1,503 61 827 2,114 85 24 332 301 234 52 609 1,012 639 311 47 323 178 178 , 2,128 5 328 138 1,345 201 77 155 414 863 894 542 1,043 310 373 £ 622 694 134 638 1,018 158 6 245 581 69 £ 566 118 60 80 12 66 19 50 27 329 11 59 25 "68 82 _AGO ... 531 27 50 '"l7 27 110 847 494 290 413 146 22,730 23,051 4,505 4,184 321 4,184 1st ANUART TO 31 ST MARCn, 1878. 1879. .UCKLAND [ELSON... lAELBOEOUGH ... Westland Grahamstown Coromandel ... Ohinoniuri ... Coliingwood West port and Charleston Cobden Ahaura Reefton .Yangapeka ... West Wanganui Lyell No Town Havelock Hokitika Kanieri Grevmouth ... Boss Stafford Okarito Greenstone ... Maori Gully... Clifton Kumara Jackson's Bay Goldsborough Dunedin Naseby Black's and St. Bathans Manuhcrikia Clydo Mount Benger Cromwell Queenstown ... Arrowtown ... Lawrenco Switzers Orepuki Total ... Deduct Increase Net Decrease 501 347 69 87 836 61 197 1,146 16 12 84 84 106 20 78 383 382 60 8 75 49 81 338 553 189 48 40 183 124 286 8 21 125 60 46 12 68 125 160 77 27 49 26 38 193 1 69 14 310 79 18 58 43 290 108 88 208 70 142 52 9 41 "l7 19 158 21 47 653 61 73 860 8 24 60 8 10 258 222 26 23 43 145 111 11 482 40 17 47 265 428 553 245 197 74 128 1 42 It ago ... 3 172 33 1 11 222 138 445 157 11 "l4 4 7,624 3,956 212 3,880 2 _12__ 3,668" James C. Gavin, Receiver-General.

H.—ll

38

No. 5. RETURN of the QUANTITY and VALUE of GOLD ENTERED for DUTY for EXPORTATION from NEW ZEALAND during the YEAR ended 31st DECEMBER, 1878.

No. 6. RETURN of the Quantity and Value of Gold Entered for Duty for Exportation from New Zealand from Ist April, 1857, to 31st March, 1879.

Entered for Duty at Produce of the Gold Fields in the District of Tot. -3. Quantity. Value. Auckland ... Auckland Oz. £ 55,982 220,454 Picton Marlborough 404 1,617 Nelson Nelson 4,463 17,223 Nelson ... West Coast 1,587 6,302 Westport ... ... ,, 15,179 60,758 Greymouth ... ,, 07,069 268,276 Hokitika u fi0,767 243,052 Dunedin jj 32 120 144,634 578,508 Dunedin Invercargill Totals Otago 94,118 10,885 378,507 43,770 105,003 422,277 310,486 1,240,079 Customs Department, ■Wellington, 2nd June, 1S79. William See: Secretary and Inspector < j, if Customs.

Duri: Quarter i March NG THE -NDED 31ST l, 1879. Entered for Exportation to the 31st December, 1878. Total E_ Expoi from New Z] 31st Ma TERED FOR TATION -ALAND TO THE SCH, 1879. Entered for Duty at Produce of the Gold Fields in Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Auckland Auckland Oz. 9,567 £ 38,108 Oz. 1,211,203 ' £ 4,418,620 Oz. 1,220,770 £ 4,451,728 ttYllington Picton ... Wellington Marlborough 500 2,240 4,518 30 45,961 120 178,270 30 46,521 120 180,510 Xelson ... Nelson... 1,193 1,619,594 6,431,285 1,620,787 6,435,803 NV]son ... Westport Slreymouth Hokitika West Coast jj 617 6,138 19,921 15,088 2,453 24,553 79,685 60,314 jj 41,764 167,035 2,280,344 9,028,603 9,028,603 2,322,10S 9,195,638 Dunedin [nvercargill Otago ... 18,639 2,977 73,684 11,908 21,616 3,802,350 14,953,375 I 11,953,375 3,S23,966 15,038,967 85,592 Totals ... 74,700 297,493 8,959,482 I 35,005,273 9,034,182 35,302,766 Customs Department, Wellington, 16th April, 1879. William Seed, Secretary and Inspector of C stoms.

39

11.—11.

RETURN of the Quantity and Value of Gold Entered for Duty for Exportation from New Zealand for the Quarters ended 31st March, 1879, and 31st March, 1878.

No. 8. STATEMENT showing the Price of Gold per Ounce, Price charged per Ton for crushing Quartz or Cement, and Prices charged for AVater per Sluice-head per Week, during the Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

Quarter ended 11st March, 1879. Quarter ended 11st March, 1878. District of Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. . i i Auckland ... Marlborough Nelson West Coast Otago Oz. 9,567 560 1,193 41,764 21,610 £ 38,108 2,240 4,518 167,035 85,592 Oz. 15,446 ... 1,139 47,361 38,684 £ 61,246 ... 4,276 189,418 156,544 Totals 74,700 297,493 102,630 411,484 Customs Department, Wellington, 16th April, 18 Will Secretary am Seed, ' of Customs. :79.

Mining District. Price of Gold per Ounce. Price charged per Ton for crushing Quartz or Cement Price charged for Water per Sluicehead per Week. Remarks. Auckland — North Hauraki... South Hauraki ... r *2 10 0 ] to (316 ? +2 5 0 to (.330 0 6 0 to 0 12 0 0 6 0 to 0 10 0 5 0 7 6 40 in. to sluice-head. Maelboeough— Pelorus Wairau | 3 13 6 10 0 20 in. by 2 in. Nelson — Charleston T , \ alluvial Inangahua ... £ n]elted 3 17 0 . 0 10 0 to 0 15 0 2 0 0 20 in. to sluice-head. 3 16 0 3 17 3 Cobden and No Town 3 16 0 { 1 10 0 3 10 0 to 5 0 0 3 0 0 to 5 0 0 . 40 in. to sluice-head. West Wanganui 3 13 6 40 in. to sluice-head. Grey Valley 3 16 0 40 in. to sluice-head. Coliingwood Westport Lyell 3 13 0 3 16 0 3 15 0 10 0 2 5" 0 Ml Westland — Waimea Totara Greymouth Clifton Arnold Greenstone 3 16 0 3 16 0 3 16 0 3 16 0 3 16 0 3 16 0 1 10 0 4 0 0 40 in. to sluice-head. 40 in. to sluice-head. 40 in. to sluice-head. 3 0 0 40 in. to sluice-head. Kumara 3 16 0 4 10 0 40 in. to sluice-head. Kanieri New River Maori Gully Okarito 3 16 0 2 10 0 40 in. to sluice-head. 3 16 0 1 15 0 40 in. to sluice-head. Otago— Hindon 3 15 6 10 0 Nil 10 0 to 6 0 0 2 0 0 to 3 10 0 ! Tuapeka 3 15 6 Dunstan Longwood Orepuki Waikaiu Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) Mount Ida (■ 3 11 6 ] to (. 3 18 0 3 8 6 3 16 6 3 15 6 3 15 6 3 15 0 40 in. to sluice-head. 0 12 6 10 0 40 in. to sluice-head. 1 0 0 1 10 0 per Hogburn-head of 16 in. by 1 in. * Av. irai £2 16s. Averai », £2 11. 6d.

H.—ll.

No. 9. NUMBER of MINERS EMPLOYED during the YEAR ending 31st MARCH, 1879.

40

Alluvial Miners. QUABTZ MlNISHS. Totals. Grand Mining Distbict. European. Chinese. European. Chinese. European. Chinese. 'OTALS. Auckland— North Hauraki South Hauraki Maelboeough— Pelorus ... Wairau ... Queen Charlotte Sound Nelson— Coliingwood Takaka ... Inangahua Ahaura ... Nelson Creek Half-Ounce... Moonlight Little Grey and Noble's Blackwatcr Orwell Creek Callaghan's Creek Sullivan's Waipuna Cobden ... No Town ... Charleston Westport Lyell West Wanganui Westland — Waimea ... Totara Kanieri .... Woodstock Blue Spur and Arahura Kanieri River Hauhau and Big Paddock Kumara ... Greymouth... Greenstone New River Maori Gully, Arnold Okarito ... Jackson's Bay and Big Bay Clifton ... Otaoo— Hindon ... Tuapeka ... Clyde ... Cromwell Alexandra Nevis Teviot ... Black's ... Switzers, Dome Creek, Gow's, and Upper Waikaia Nokomai... Waikaka... Orepuki, Longwood, Round Hill Wakatipu Gold FieldArrow ... ... ~) Macetown Cardrona Kawarau Bracken's Motatap u Naseby ... Kyeburn and Clarke's Hamilton's, Sowburn, &c. Hyde and Fullarton's Macrae's, Strath Taieri, and Shag Valley... Serpentine Maerewhenua St. Bathan'* and Ida Valley Other localities 87 12 120 18 149 300 50 20 55 30 120 25 10 106 147 250 1,180 250 539 281 314 1,350 233 193 107 15 20 15 "5 37 10 20 169 63 64 48 110 325 950 4 28 379 60 10 325 950 87 16 28 120 18 528 300 50 20 55 30 120 25 10 106 147 250 1,180 310 10 539 281 314 1,350 233 193 107 15 20 15 5 "37 "io 20 169 63 64 48 110 32 0 95 87 16 28 120 18 635 315 5020 75 45 120 30 10 106184 250 1,190 330 10 708 344 378 1,350 281 303 89 76 45 "89 76 "45 134 76 134 30 134 30 164 30 390 50 300 100 90 180 200 40 425 40 150 80 100 150 130 20 10 5 50 400 50 370 110 90 180 200 40 430 40 150 80 100 150 130 90 83090 520 190 190 330 330 "70 10 80 13 20 100 100 50 130 150 37 80 13 20 137 100 50 130 150 180 63 150 287 450 300 300 25 750 325 1,075 290 80 70 50 100 130 30 : 20 290 80 70 50 100 130 30 20 390 210 100 70 120 50 30 110 20 120 20 20 120 70 30 125 20 120 20 240 90 30 145 45 20 25 15 20 25 SUMMARY. lUCKLAND ... Iaelboeougu .ELSON Vestland ... ITAGO 99 2,830 3,209 2,823 229 529 2,310 1,275 32 449 1,275 131 3,279 3,209 3,305 229 529 2,340 1,275 131 3,508 3,738 5,645 482 30 Totals 14,297 8,961 3,068 2,238 so 11,199 3,098

41

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No. 10. RETURN showing the Average Prices of Provisions and Live Stock for the Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

Live Stock. Meat. r Mixisei District. _* I P. u to _ _. p. +_ CO p. CO _> <_? A o ■3 o _ •Sfc _r a 2 6_ 00 o O ■ B o M _ ■ 6 «_ o 3 li 03 o at u 0) H P. P. ;« I _ _ 0OS I i 1 I I Per hhd. Per Gallon. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per 1001b. Per Imp. Bushel. Per Head. Per Head. Per Head. Per Head. Per Head. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per Quart. Per lb. Perlb. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per Gallon. AtTCKIAND — North Hauraki ... South Hauraki ... Mablbobofgh — Qn. Charlotte Sd. Pelorus Neison — Takaka Coliingwood 6 5 24/ 22/6 d. 2 4" 1/9 1/3-1/8 i/2 1/4 1/4/4 1/ 1/2 /"io 1/2 1/ 2/ 1/8-2/ 2/ 2/ 20/ 14/-16/ 17/ 20/ 6/6 6/ 8-10 8 8-10 12/ 5/ 10/ £ 2-60 20 20/ 15/ 3Jd.p.lb. 40/ d. 8 4 6 5 d. 6 *i 6 4 d. 7 5 6 6 d. 6 6 6 d. 4 4 6 4 d. 2 1 li 2 d. 5 5-6 7 5-7 I 3/ 2/-3/ 3/6 3/4 5/6 5/ 6/6 6/ 20/ 20/ o"ii 24/6 3 1/2 1/ i/ i/'io [to 2/2 2/ 1/9 19 2/ 14/ [to 16/ 36/ 16/6 24/ 34/ 25/ per 1001b. 15 12 14 10 10-40 15/-18/ 30/ per 100 lb. 4/-5/10 80/ 20/-80/ 30/ per 1001b. 20/-100/ 50/ 60/-100/ 6 "(S 6 6 5 i _. 6 I j 3/-3/6 5/-6/ 15/-20; Inangahua Cobden No Town Lyell 7 10/ 510/ 7 8 2/ 30/ 21/ 24/ 26/ 3i 2* 3 4i 2/6 2/ 2/ 2/ 2 1/6 2/ 1/ 1/ 12/ 5/6 10/ 16/ 40/ 20/ 20/-40/ 60/ 50 10-60 I 20 20/ 20/ 20/ 9 7 6 8 8 6 6 7 1/ 8 1/ 1/ 1/ 6 1/ 1/ 6 4 5 6 4 li 4 6 8 6 6 8 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 6/ 5/6 5/6 7/ 21/ 15/-20/ 14/6 20/ Westport Charleston Orey Valloy 5 4 10/ 6 10/ 22/6 25/ 24/-27/ 3 3 3-4 1/6 1/6 2/-2/6 1/6-1/9 1/2 1/9-2/6 1/ 1/ 1/3 I 2/-2/6 1 1/9 1/9-2/6 18/ 20/ 2S/-35/ 6/ 6/6 9/-10/ 8-10 15 10-20 10/-30/ 20/ 20/-30/ 5-20 25 15-45 20/ 20/ 15/-25/ 8-9 8 7-9 8-9 7-9 8-9 9 8 6 6 8-9 6 5 5-6 3 2 4 5-6 6 6-9 3/-8/ 3/6 3/6-4/6 5/-8 6/ 61-81 18/ 15/ 22/6 to35j 15/ West Wanganui... Westland — Waimea Okarito Totara Kanieri Kumara Greymouth, New River ... M'ori G-'lly-Arnold Greenstone Jackson's Bay ... Clifton Otago — Hindon .,, Tuapeka Cromwell ") Clyde Alexandra Black'* Toriot Nevis ( Orepuki-Longwood Waikaia Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) ... Mount Ida 10 28/ 1/3 1/3 1/ 2/ 6 16/ ... 5 5 6 2 7 3/6 6/ 6 7 6 10/ 5 6 5 10/ 24/ 26/ 24/ 22/6 23/6 21/ 2i 4* 3 3 2 2i 2/ 2/6 1/9 1/9 2/ 2/ 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/6 1/9 1/6 1/6 2/ ]/9 2. 1/9 2/ 1/9 18/-22/ 25/ 18/ 16 20/ 15/-16/6 7/ 7/6 6/ 7/ 5/6 9-14 12-15 10 12 13 12 20/ 10/ 20/ 20/ 30/ 30/ 15-50 15-30 20 30 30 27/10-60/ 15/-18/ 15/-20/ 18/ 14/ 15/ 15/ 30/-90/ 20/-80/ 60/ 50/ 80/ 80/ 7 6-7 6 6 7 7-8 6 6 5 4 6 6-7 7 9-1/ 9 8 10 8 5 1/ 5 6 8 6 4 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 li 6 7 6 6 5-6 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/4 3/6 5/-7/6 6/ 5/6 6/ 5/6 5/-6/ 15/-30^ 18/-20/ 16/ 12/ 20/ 16/-28/ l" 6 25/ 25/ 3 3 i/9 2/ i/6 1/9 1/ 1/3 2'/ 1/9 24/ 28/ 8/" 9/ 12-15 40/ 10-60 15/-20/ 60/-100/ 6 7-8 "e 6-8 10 1/ 9 4 5 3 4 "(8 7 3/-3/6 3/ 0/ 6/ 13/-21/ 18/ ... ... 7'" I 25/ 3 1/9 i/6 /IO i/6 24/ 4/" 12-15 40/-50/ 10-60 15/-20/ 60/-100/ "e "6 "9 "i/ 4 3 "e 2/6-3/6 5/-6/ 13/-21/ 4 5/ 5-8 25/ 23/ 2i 11 1/6 1/-1/6 if JM 1/9 2/ 15/ 11/ 5/6 4/ 8 6-10 10/ 20 15-40 10/ 3/-10/ 1/-4/ 6 4_-7 4 3-5 10 6-7 8 4 3 4 2 2 4J-6 3/ 2/6-3/ 6/ 41-5J 16/-24/ 4 10/ 25/-27/ 2i-3 I 1/6 1/4 1/11-1/8 1/6-1/9 15/-17/ 5/-6/ 50/ to 80/ per cwt. 10-50 5/-10/ 30/-60/ 5-6 4-6 6-8 4^-5 2-3 5-6i 2/6-3/6 14/6-5/6 12/-20, 7 10/ 7 10/ 23/ 25/ 2J 3 2/ 1/6 1/6 1/2 1/2 2/ 2/ 17/ 20/ 4/ 4-10 4-7 10-50 12 8/ 40/ 40/ 6 6 4 3 6 (3 6 6 6 6 3 3 6 7 3/ 3/ 6/ ■ 6/ 18/ 18/ 6-7 4-6 26/ 25/-27/ 9-41b. 3 1/9 1/6 1/6 . 2/ 1/9-2/ 12/ 15/ 4/ 6/G 5-10 4-12 15/-30/ 15/ 15-50 15-50 12/-14/ 6/-11/ 6d.perlb. 20/-60/ C-7 5-8 4-5 3-5 8 8 6 8 5 5-8 2 3 5-6 6-7 2/-S/6 2/6-3/1 5/-6/ 51-61 20/-25, 17/

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42

No. 11. Table showing the Average Rate of Wages per AVeek, for the Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

Mining District. General Managers. Legal Managers. Mining Mauagcrs. Engineers. Enginedrivers. Stokers. Blacksmiths. Carpenters. Miners. Labourers. Boys. Chinese. Agricultural Labourers. Domestic SerTants. Auckland — North Hauraki... ... South Haurnki ... Marlborough — Pelorus Queen Charlotte Sound ... Nelson — Coliingwood £ s. d. £5 to £10 £100p.ann.l £ s. d. £1 to £2 £1 to £2 £ b. d. £4 to £6 £5 to £10 4 6 0 £ s. d. £3 to £6 £3 to £4 4 "6 0 £ s. d. £210s to £3 2 10 0 £ s. d. 2 10 0 2 2 0 £ s. d. 3 0 0 £214sto£3 £ s. d. 3 0 0 £214s to £3 £ s. d. £2 2sto£210s £2 2s. lo £2 8s. 0 15 0 3 0 0 £ s. d. 2 0 0 £116s to £2 2s 2 14 0 £ b. d. 15/ to 20/ 10/ to 20/ £2 to £2 5s. £ b. d. ... ... £ s. d. 2 8 0 1 16 0 ... £ s. d. 10/ to 18/ 8/ to 12/ ... 6 0 0 Il0/ to 12/ per day 10/ to 12/ per day 0 10 0 0 8 0 j 0 3 0 7/ to 9/ 5/ to 12/ per week Takaka Inangahua Charleston Westport 7 "6 o 4 10 0 £110s to £2 5 0 0 3 10 0 £5 to £6 5 "6 0 4 "6 0 4 "6 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 10 0 3 12 0 4 4 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 10 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 £3 to £3 10s. £2to£210s 1 10 0 15/ to 25/ 30/ and found 2 8 0 £1 to £1 10 1 10 0 0 15 0 £30 to £50 per annum 0 12 0 20/ and board 20/ and board 3 10 0 3 io 0 3 "6 0 2 10 0 I ... Lyoll Grey Valley Cobden 5 6 0 £350p.ann. 10 0 £110s to £2 6 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 5 6 0 4 0 0 3 10 0 5 0 0 £4 to £4 10s 4 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 16 0 4 0 0 £3 6s to £3 10s 11/ to 12/ per day 3 10 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 j £2 10s. to £3 10s. per day i , 1 10 0 j 15/ to 18/ 5s. per day ! £2 to £2 10s 3 0 0 30/ and board 3 0 0 No Town West Wanganui Westland — Waimea Totara • Kanieri Kumara I 5 "6 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 10 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 6 6 0 I 4 0 0 3 6 0 3 12 0 3 12 0 4 10 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 4 16 0 3 12 0 4 10 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 16/ per day 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 10s. per day 1 10 0 J 1 4 0 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 5s. per day 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 30/ per week and found 1 10 0 ... 15/ to 25/ 15 0 10 0 15/ to 25/ 5 0 0 ... I - Clifton (Dunganville) Greymouth Greenstone Okarito New River Maori Gully (Arnold) Otago — Hindon ... 1 0 0 5 0 0 4 "o 0 3 0 0 4 10 0 4 4 0 4 10 0 4 10 0 4 10 0 4 19 0 4 10 0 3 0 0 12/ per day 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 10 0 1 10 0 £1 & board 0 10 0 2 10 0 1 15 0 3 "6 0 2 0 0 15 0 £1, with board £1, with board 15 0 ... ... 4 6 0 4 "6 0 3 6 0 3 6 0 i io o : ... i 2 0 0 ! 1 io 0 5 0 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 10 0 £2 10s. to £3 2 8 0 1 io o Tuapeka Cromwell ... ~) Clyde Alexandra Black's Teviot Nevis ... ... J Waikaia Orepuki and Longwood... Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) Mount Ida £5 to £6 2 0 0 £25 to £50 per annum. £4 to £410s £4 to £5 4 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 I 3 0 0 3 10 0 3 10 0 £3to£315s 3 10 0 : £2 14s. to £3 £2 10s. to £3 £2 2s.to£2 8s. 2 10 0 0 15 0 15/ to 20/ XI 10s. to I £1 16s. I j 20/ to 30/ 20/ to 25/ 15 0 10/ to 20/ 12/ to 20/ ... £3 & found 25/& "found 2 5 0 2 5 0 4 0 0 3 12 0 3 18 0 4 10 0 £2 8a. to £3 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 2 0 0 15 0 15 0 17 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 0 15 0 1 1 0 4 6 0 5 "6 0 £4 to £5 i £3 to £4 £3 to £4 £3 to £4 4 0 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 1 10 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 0 15 0

43

H.-11.

No. 12. TABLE showing approximately the NUMBER, DESCRIPTION, and VALUE of the WATER-RACES, TAIL-RACES, DAMS, RESERVOIRS, and GROUND SLUICES in operation during the YEAR ending 31st MARCH 1879.

Watej -It ACES. Tail-races. Dams. Reservoirs. Geotjnd Sluices. Mining Districts. Number. Length in Miles. Number of Sluice-heads. Approximate Cost. Number. Approximate Cost. Number. Approximate Cost. Number. Approximate Cost. Number. Approximate Cost. Auckland — Hauraki North Hauraki South Mablbobough — Pelorus ... Wairau ... Nelson — Coliingwood Takaka ... Inangahua Charleston Westport Lyell Grey Valley Cobdeu ... No Town Westland — Waimea ... Totara Kanieri ... Kumara ... Greymouth Greenstone Clifton (Dunganville) Maori Gully (Arnold) Okarito ... Otago — Hindon ... Tuapeka ... Clyde Cromwell Alexandra Black's Teviot ... Nevis Waikaia ... Orepuki and Longwood Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) Naseby ... Kyeburn and Clarke's Hamilton's, Sowburn Hyde and Fullarton's Macrae's, Strath Taieri, and Shag Valley Serpentine Maerewhenua St. Batban's and Ida Valley Other localities £ 3,500 85,000 £ £ £ 14 25 10 20 45 130 .2 ' 102 2 "l00 1 ' 600 25 1 40 52 2 1,6C0 60 7 120 8 250 76 7 35 324 40 220 *187 85 75 30 4 24 about 175 50 170 211 56 57i 95 8 104 about 500 160 530 265 132 119 2,000 200 3,160 30,250 4,300 27,000 3,603 4,195 32 7 15 227 30 120 80 15 19 500 130 615 19,000 2,200 16,000 947 605 50 11 17 249 37 50 103 37 61 600 200 792 12,000 1,600 6,800 800 2,105 "ts 36 100 237 "soo 4,700 "so 250 735 60 100 65 107 69 87 98 12 336 55 70 68 90 55 71 51 895 150 200 68 149 137 137 98 14 18,500 15,000 18,000 11,328 6,725 14,345 5,077 3,309 1,000 740 100 120 54 44 49 33 44 4 6,000 1,000 1,000 1,080 2,207 2,000 477 877 100 953 43 140 16 129 28 71 96 7 6,000 1,500 2,000 470 5,4 4 1. 2,345 1,894 1,822 350 345 8 4,000 "275 250 50 40 65 20 50 50 75 8 1,000 350 600 400 135 2,500 400 650 100 1 J 11 288 200 10 1,010 20 913 550 20,000 8 587 150 8,000 8 226 125 7,000 8 75 600 600 100,000 200 4,000 70 4,000 119 110 450 44 65 30 15 26 36 46 70 5 190 160 600 150 205 103 84 42 88 133 286 21 268 73 780 132 220 78 55 43 93 155 302 19 19,000 8,000 83,000 20,000 12,000 6,000 14,000 4,500 5,000 12,000 31,500 2,000 150 600 130 45 25 15 20 25 28 45 5 19,000 12,000 2,500 3,000 3,000 400 2,000 1,250 14,000 400 50 68 58 15 15 10 18 5 16 4 5 4,500 6,700 1,400 1,100 500 1,300 200 2,000 5,000 200 'so -,000 4 • Exclusive of Government '*U Ha

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No. 13. Number of Machines employed in Alluvial and Quartz Mining, for the Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

44

Machinery employed in Alluvial Mining. Machinery employed in Quabtz Mining. Mining Districts. _— « _a Ph p o o HJ_ «_ >_ 3 _) O p. 8 be *__ a •_) fa tf J3a1 001. •300 fi BO* «S_3 _j_ *__ a *V -— o_ a c § Sou CO I Steam-engines employed Winding, Crushing, &e. T_ a el 5_ fa _> Approximatb of ali. Mining Plant, Included in this Ketcbn. I 3 a P. pa No. Aggregate Horsepower. .52 .a % <_> § 3 I I 1 I I I I I Auckland — North Hauraki South Hauraki ... 10 40 1 50 I 234 1,095 1,329 12 31 142 646 788 8 25 1 *154 154 60,000 180,000 240,000 ... - I' I - 1 i I I ... - I 1 I - I I 1 I 1 I - 1 1 1 Maelboeough — Kavenscliffe and Queen Charlotte Sound ... Pelorus _lJ I I ■■■ ■••- 1 I ... I I '" I 1 - l 1 1 I - I - I I I 43 I 33 I I - "50 50 I 1 ... I IT l 2 41 1 10 3,250 50 "i 1 I ~T MM U_ I 1 1 __^_l - ... 2_ 41 1 10 I ... I I ". Nelson — Coliingwood ... West Wanganui Inangahua Charleston Lyell ... ' m \ "\ "| Westport Grey Valley ... No Town Cobden .,. ... ,,, tM \-\ 1 - 1 - I ... !____ I 1 ■■■ 1 1 1 - I I I ■■■ I 3,300 60 5 B 20 1 14 1 1 11 10 5 180 ... ... "is 6 ... ... ... ... 30 '"7 118 "e "2 2 #17 2,500 100 72,830 3,000 8,000 ... 260 43 2,000 50 120 2,523 180 48 170 50 10 463 50 "l ... "2 "a 23 3 2 ... ... ... "2 12 2 ... ... ... 3,500 550 140 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Westland — Waimea Totara ... ... "[ \[\ Kanieri Greymoutli ... Clifton (Dunganville) ... Arnold and Maori Gully Greenstone Okarito Kumara ... ... — I I - I 28 _____ 70 - _^_l 14 j I 1 - I 30 ... 8] ... I 132 I ... 16 ... 218 - ... ... 17 2_ 2 90,620 "i 1 1 2 3,300 80 100 600 50 75 1,500 40 3,000 8,745 1 6 140 60 80 30 50 25 20 '"4 ... ... ... . 4,100 5,000 2,000 550 750 1,200 1,700 450 3,500 - - ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 ... 1 5 - ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... - ... ... ... ... i 1 3 4 12 ... ... ... ... ... ill 17 I i - I I "80 485 I I - I 1 1 14 I 20 1 1 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Otago — Hindon Tuapeka Clyde, Cromwell, Alexandra, Black's, Teviot, Nevis ... .,, Orepuki and Longwood Waikaia Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) ... Naseby Kyeburn and Ciarke'a ... Hamilton's, Sowburn ... Hyde and Fullarton's ... Macrae's, Strath Taieri, and Shag Valley ,.. Serpentine and Maerewhenua St. Bathans, Ida Valley, and other localities 20 ... ... ... 19,250 I — I I I 1 ■■■ I 1 i I ■■■ - ! ■■• I I I , 1 10 500 "J 1 10 30 I ... ... I 115 ... , I 2 32 3 4 1 1 28 29 1 1 4 1 5,000 11,000 ... ... I .« I ... ... 1 I - 4 1,000 200 1,000 256 260 100 40 15 50 40 70_ 3,541 20 700 30 5 70 160 20 25 10 2 20 55 30 4 200 4 100 1 3 60 7 55 I I 4 6 • 40,000 550 2,700 50,000 2,000 1,200 450 200 350 1,000 2,600 117,050 ... ... 3 7 3 40 I ... 1 ... ... ... - ... ... 1 ... ... ... "8 104 I ... I "5 ... ... ... ... . ... •"2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...I ... I ... I ... ... I ... 1 ... ... ... ... ... ... I 1 ... 1 ... , .... ... ! - I - I - ... I I •- I ... I - ... ... ... ... ... ... - ... ... ... ... I ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I 1 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... "l ' 24 I "*5 10 "l ... ... ... ... ... ... ... "l 1 6" "l6 ' 108 ' ... ... ... ' 5 ___J 1 ' 50 ' I 5 1 I 204 ... 1 100 I 1 - I 115 -t4 ... I ... ... ... I 1,108 I 103 231 IB

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No. 14. SUMMART.—Number of Machines employed in Alluvial and Quartz Mining for the Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

No. 15. TABLE showing the Number of Gold-Mining Companies registered under " The Mining Companies Limited Liability Act, 1865," and Amending Acts, the Joint Stock Companies Act, and "The Mining Companies Act, 1872," upon 31st March, 1879.

45

.CHINERY E: :pli ited 1: Al: -UVI. -iHi: ra. Hai :hin: Qua ;ry emi rtz Mi: ■loyed 1: SING. Mining Districts. so _> 3 l| 1 to a "3 "O 3 P. ._ n fi fa o .& ja a O . ra ~T « a o O 9 __ .Sco r3 CO ■9 <__ I i H "_ _> O _-. D 1 fa I E fcc fi fa fi T3-i a _ So ■« fl •* 2 a c •ss_s _ _> fa _> Q j I a i. __' "a ■s a M _ ■ OJ ' a IS OS , a to i -5 I p Steamengines employed Wtading, Crushing, &c. AggreNo. gate h. P . i 12 q fc£ □ -3 3 fa __ -3 03 _J J a « CO "_> E _J3 is fa B "3 a. §) O p_ fa o .5* f <_ *__ a Approximate Value of all Mining Plant included in thia Keturn. 1 Q_ a 3 Ph i ps_ .UCKLAND lAELBOEOUOH .ELSON Pestland iTAGO 1 2 3 5 "1 ...I 17| 1 50 2,523 8,745 3,541 28 10 50 463 485 1,108 _.3 70 20 103 ... "i ... 14 20 204 2 30 50 1,329 2 41 8 132 50 2 8 43 1 16 788 10 218 33 9 1 2 "i 151 17 £ 240,000 3,300 90,620 19,250 117,050 I '* 100 115 1 6 108 6 24 231 15 "7 "2 Total 11 20 ! 14,859 88 2,056 i 1 196; I 6 233 102 145 1 66 1,610 66 84 1,247 57 10 2 470,220 173

Jnder "Hn [MITED LlAB] AND AMEI .ing Companies [lity Act, lSt.5,'* jding Acts. Under Jo: Ac int Stock :t. Us )E__ " Min: Act, ing Companies 1873." Minino District. No. _N ominal Capital. Paid-up Capital. w- Nominal ao- Capital. Paid-up Capital. Nn. Nominal Capital. Paid-up Capital. .UCKLAND — *North Hauraki South Hauraki 160 £ 2,891,950 £ s. d. 2,258,756" 0 0 ie £ 382,200 £ s. d. ■IS £ 636,200 £ s. d. 'elson— Inangahua Coliingwood Charleston Westport Lyell Grey Valley West Wanganui 160 2,891,950 2,258,756 0 0 16 382,200 48 636,200 6 236,500 188,582 13 10 1 9,000 2,381 3 3 35 1 614,500 20,000 237,906 9 10,000 0 3 5 1 80,000 28,800 11,000 33,255 1 27,500 0 11,000 0 Westland — New River Waimea Totara Kanieri Kumara' Clifton (Dunganville) Greenstone 236,500 188,582 13 10 9,000 2,381 3 3 45 754,300 319,661 10 1 8,000 8,ood"o 0 i 12,000 10,000 0 1 1 10,000 500 5,00b" 0 0 3,500 0 0 1 1 1 4,000 2,5o6"' 0 0 4,480 4,480 0 0 Itago— Hindon Tuapeka Cromwell ") Clyde [ Black's, &c. j Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) Naseby Hyde and Fullarton's Maerewhenua ... St. Bathans and Ida Valley Serpentine 10,500 8,500 0 0 16,480 14,980 0 0 12,000 10,000 0 11 40,975 18,602" 0 0 I 5 6,000 34,400 4,000 O 27,090 15 10 54,500 28,780 0 0 1 10,000 2,455 0 0 131,000 78,040 0 3 5 43,995 24,620 35,811 1 6 24,620 0 0 9 i 4 6,000 16,600 4,500' 0 11,460 O Q 19,600 19,60o" 0 0 1 2,400 1,920 0 Total ... 31 183,690 127,413 1 6 10,000 2,455 0 0 28 196,400 127,010 15 * No record kei it since the Act of 18! '2 cairn iir

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46

No. 16. RETURN of the Number of Mining Leases in force on 31st March, 1879, the Extent op Ground Leased, and Rental per Annum.

No. 17. RETURN of tho Number of Agricultural Leases iv force on the 31st March, 1879, the Extent of Ground Leased, and Rental per Annum.

•Exchange leases: Number, 135; area, 6,574 acres 3 roods 35 perches; rental per annum, £861 14s. Deferred payment leases, and licenses : Number, 142; area, 23,116 acres 3 roods 3 porches ; rental per annum, £4,435 19s. 6d. No. 18.

RETURN of the Number of Licenses under " The Gold Mining Districts Act, 1873," for the Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

Mining District. jNumber Gros3 Acreage. Eental per Annum. Mining District. Number! Gross Acreage. nental per Annum. .nCEXAND — Hauraki North Grahamstown 2 1 3 , A. E. p. 17 0 11 2 1 32 19 2 3 £ s. d. 34 2 9 4 18 0 39 0 9 Westland — Waimea Totara Kanieri Kumara Greymouth and Clifton Okarito Jackson's Bay 5 4 6 3 A. E, P. 76 0 0 35 2 0 99 0 0 10 0 0 £ s. d. 76 0 0 36 0 0 102 0 0 10 "o 0 lAELBOEOTJGn— Ravenscliffe, Queen Charlotte Sound ... Wairau 7 1 ' 74 2 33 16 2 4 77 0 0 17 0 0 18 220 2 0 224 0 0 Jelson— Coliingwood West Wanganui Inangahua Charleston Grey Valley Westport ... Lyell Cobdcn No Town ... 8 8 1 51 31 33 12 6 17 3 91 0 37 71 0 10 15 3 28 569 1 14 182 2 4 256 2 14 160 1 24 94 1 35 267 0 0 36 2 10 94 0 0 67 10 0 16 0 0 590 0 0 183 0 0 262 0 0 88 0 0 97 0 0 272 0 0 29 5 0 Otago— Waikaia Orepuki and Longwood Hindon Tuapeka Cromwell ... Black's Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) Naseby Kyeburn and Clarke's Macrae's,Strath Taieri, and Shag Valley ... St. Balha:i3 and Ida Valley ... Other localities 1 17 ia B9 7 1 65 3 7 6 0 0 174 1 24 164 0 0 341 2 15 101 0 0 6 0 0 372 0 7 17 0 0 54 0 0 6 0 0 185 0 0 164 0 0 364 0 (J 101 0 0 6 0 C 394 0 C 17 0 C 54 0 C it 1 85 0 0 10 0 0 85 0 C 10 0 C 162 1,653 3 25 1,604 15 0 187 1,331 0 6 1,386 0

Mining District. Number Gross Acreage. Kental per Annum. Mining District. iNumberl Gross Acreage. Rental per Annum. .UCKLAND — Hauraki Ohinemuri a. e. r. 4,220 2 37 £ s. d. 211 1 0 I Otago— Hindon Tuapeka* Cromwell Clydo j Alexandra [ Black's ) j Teviot Waikaia I Orepuki and Longwood Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field ... Mount Ida District (various localities A. E. P. £ s. a. Ielson — Nelson Coliingwood Inangahua Charleston Westport Lyell Grey Valley Cobden No Town 88 237 65 25,778" 2 16 8,457 0 0 8,240 10 0 1,053 2 6 85 4,220 2 37 211 1 0 3 IB Bl 30 89 42 78 17 _._! 20 15 0 80 7 0 422 1 0 60 10 0 260 7 6 280 10 3 495 3 6 115 16 6 104 10 C 20 3,838 0 0 479 15 0 792 0 21 3,514 2 23 501 2 4 2,338 0 0 2,447 3 16 4,486 1 15 1,116 8 84 900 2 39 62 23 9,024 0 0 5,882 0 0 1,128 0 0 736 2 6 228 13,073 1 5 1,534 4 6 Vestland — Waimea Greymouth Arnold Okarito 130 25,351 0 30 3,052 5 6 297 16,101 0 32 1,840 0 9 1 2 12 0 6 11 0 8 0 1 12 0 • 1 5 0 0 5 0 0 12 3 1 7 0 0 770 91,404 0 11 11,229 0 0

Mining District. Number. Gross Acreage. Rental per Annum. .UCKLAND — North Hauraki Grahamstown Ohinemuri 47 73 13 A. E. P. 306 2 30 460 3 16 58 3 37 £ s. d. 808 0 0 1,364 0 0 177 0 0 Total 143 826 2 3 2,349 0 0

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No. 19. RETURN of Cases in the Wardens' Courts, and Costs Awarded, for Tear ending 31st March, 1879.

No. 20. RETURN showing the Revenue and Expenditure on account of Constructed Water-races maintained by Government, from the Ist of July to the 31st of December, 1878, and from the Ist of January to the 30th of June, 1579.

* Approximate. t £96 5s. struck off books, and £364 8s. worth of water sold prior to 1878. Note. —The returns numbered 8 to 19 inclusive are compiled from statistics supplied by Wardens. Mines Department, Oliyek Wakefield, Wellington, 30th July, 1879. Under Secretary for Gold Fields, By Authority : G-eorge Didsbubt, Government Printer, Wellington.—1870* Prico 1». 0d.

47

Number of Mining Disputes Adjudicated on. Aggregate Amount of Value Cases wherein Judgment has decreed Specific Performance. Mining District. Amount of Costs Awarded. Claimed. Recovered. N... Remarks. .UCKLAND — North Hauraki South Hauraki 41 49 £ s. d. 338 16 0 120 15 0 £ s. d. 33 0 0 136 12 0 £ s. d. 37 11 0 54 12 0 Iaelboeough— Pelorus 3 130 0 0 2 0 0 4 17 0 .ELSON — Coliingwood... Takaka Inangahua ... Lyell Westport Charleston ... Cobden Grey Valley... No Town 2 1 101 17 8 10 2 23 34 10 0 8,416 13 7 267 6 6 102 17 6 66 10 0 26 5 0 45 2 9 21 13 6 10 0 10 0 374 18 8 0 5 0 81 3 0 16 10 0 7 0 0 38 9 0 10 0 0 19 0 0 6 0 61 8 0 20 14 0 39 5 0 32 17 0 0 19 0 16 7 0 17 8 6 1 2 Vestland— Waimea Kanieri Kumara Totara Greenstone ... Greymouth ... Clifton Arnold (JIaori Gully) 30 6 44 18 5 20 1 6 224 11 0 6 10 0 1,073 9 0 129 18 0 215 0 0 76 0 0 10 0 0 7 0 0 20 1 4 2 5 0 195 12 8 10 6 0 19 17 0 6 5 0 57 7 0 35 10 0 4 2 0 4 3 0 0 12 0 3 13 0 13 4 2 "o 0 "s 50 0 ITAGO — Tuapeka Cromwell Alexandra ... Teviot ... }■ Black's Clyde ... J Switzer's Orepuki Arrow (Wakatipu Gold Field) Naseby Jlacrae's Hamilton St. Bathans ... 64 25 8 0 0 250 0 0 0 11 0 5o'"o 0 2 4 0 15 "o 0 48 19 6 3 4 216 11 3 581 19 7 113 8 9 520 2 1 27 7 0 15 9 0 8 All of these were police prosecutions, in which fines were imposed. 18 0 0 50 0 0 3 15 0 5 13 0 1 14 0

1st July to 31st Decem: ier, 1878. 1st Ja: :uary to 30th Ji ■ne, 1879. NAme of Race. Revenue. Rev< Balance dub on Water Account. mue. Expenditure. Expenditure. Water Sold. Actual Receipts. Water Sold. Actual Receipts. 'eison Creek ... Waimea-Kumara 815 18 4 2,418 8 5 815 18 4 2,550 2 6 747 19 3 *1,000 0 0 989 13 11 2,148 12 3 9S9 13 11 1,850 11 1 686 3 5 *1,000 0 0 t434"l0 1