G—No. 4,

8

REPORT ON THE GOLD EIELES

Painkiller is about four miles north of Eeefton. The reef was discovered on the 26th February, 1872. Several leases have been applied for over this ground. _ Boatman's Creek.—About eight or nine miles north of Eeefton. There are no less than four distinct lines of payable quartz reefs discovered, namely, Gaffney's, Thompson's, Byrne's, and Caple's ; on all of which lines claims are taken up north and south, and many leases applied for. It is situated in a very difficult place to obtain machinery, but the richness of the reefs will fully warrant the outlay of capital to dispose of the difficulty. The discovery dates from the 15th January, 1872. Larry's Creek.—This discovery, which is the most recent one, was made on the Ist March, 1872. It is situated some fifteen miles to the north of Murray Creek; the stone is exceptionally rich. The Frospector's and Nos. 1 and 2, South, are opening up the line of reef. It will, I think, yet be found that the reefs continue all the way to the Lyell. A large number of persons are now out prospecting between the two places. The gold found at Larry's Creek is of a much heavier description than that found in the reefs more to the southward. Flax Bush Creek, and other creeks between the junction of the Buller an Inangahua rivers, are all being worked by detached parties of miners, and patches, of very heavy waterworn gold found.' In the former creek, a nugget was found a few days ago weighing nearly fifty ounces. The Lyell.—This place is noted for the celebrated reef discovered by Antonio Zaia and others, whose perseverance and energy for some years in developing the reef cannot be too highly praised. Many tunnels have been driven, roads and races made; and, in fact, the whole claim is in thorough working order; the machinery being erected some 3-| miles from the Lyell township to the north. There is also here a lease held by the Excelsior Company, who, after many drawbacks and difficulties, are getting into shape. At and near the Matakitaki.—Some 120 scattered parties are engaged in obtaining alluvial gold. Importance of district.—The above facts shew the numerous and valuable discoveries that are made through the entire length of the district, and if to this be added the large quantities of land available for agriculture, aa instanced by no less than 4,533 acres being under application in small blocks for agricultural purposes ; the fine water supply throughout the district;. the fine timber available for building purposes, and clay for brickmaking, I know of no district more likely to assume a position of great importance. The statistics I shall now append will show how rapidly the place has grown within the last three months, and also the amount of work that has devolved upon the officers of the Government to keep pace with it. It will be necessary that suitable buildings should be at once erected for the proper administration of Justice, Gaol and Post Office accomodation. Statistics. The number of Warden's cases heard by me is 145; applications, 1,071; Eesident Magistrate's cases, 38; Gold Mining Leases applied for, 105; Agricultural Leases applied for, 50, wtth an area of 4,533 acres ; Coal Leases, 6. The whole amount of Warden's Eevenue collected is £3,614 18s. 6d., whilst the large sum of £2,415 has been paid as deposits upon application for leases, &c. The population I classify as under : — Eainy Creek and North Inangahua ... ... ... ... 150 Murray Creek Beefs and Black's Point... ... ... ... 800 Eeefton and vicinity ... ... ... ~. ... 1000 Boatman's, Larry's, and Christy's ... ... ... ... 500 Lyell and neighbourhood ... ... ~. ... ... 300 Matakitaki ... ... ... ... ... ... 120 Other places ... ... ... ... ... ... 400 Total ... ... ... ... ... 3 ; 270 Number of wooden buildings in Eeefton, 168, containing 462 rooms ; and 73 tents. At Black's Point: Wooden buildings, 47, and 17 tents. Many of these buildings are of a pretentious appearance, and the township has nothing of the usual look of a new rush about it; there is an air of permanence about the place. Boads. Rapid progress is now being made with the two roads connecting Eeefton with Greymouth on the one side, and Westport on the other. The road from Christy's to Westport is, however, very bad, and will require to be put speedily in order. This applies also to the first three miles from Christy's to tho Lyell, and from the Lyell to Jacklan's, which will soon be almost impassable. A track is urgently required up Larry's and Boatman's Creeks, the difficulties of going up, which at present are very great, are from the large boulders in the bed of the creeks. The punt over the Lyell works very well, and I have given every encouragement to parties placing boats at dangerous crossings of the different rivers, by granting them an Accommodation License. The_ track to Black's Point, a distance of two miles from Eeefton, is very bad, but I am glad to think this will be speedily remedied by the protection granted by the Government to Mr Courtenay for the construction of a tramway, which will afford an easy mode of communication between the town and the Murray Creek Eeefs. An application has been made for protection for a track from the Merry Jig Creek on the watershed of the Little Grey District to Eainy Creek, as the former is Mr. Warden Whitef'oord's District whilst the latter is my own District. I have communicated with him, and he concurs with me in th e ' advisability of the grant being made, as affording an easy method of supplying provisions, hitherto