G.—Bo. 4

impossible during the winter months, and, from a Report I have obtained from Mr. Woolley, Mining Surveyor, likely to open up large auriferous alluvial tracts of land at present closed, merely from the absence of sufficient facilities for communication. The floods which took place in February last rendered it advisable that a new site for a township should be surveyed on the terrace, which forms the continuation of the present township, and I would strongly advise that the land should be sold with as little delay as possible, by which much of the difficulties entailed by the sections being taken up under business licenses will be avoided. The Leasing Question. —Some slight agitation took place with reference to the locking-up of the land by the numerous applications for gold-mining leases that were made, but the answer of the Government to the deputation who waited upon them with reference to it appears to have allayed any uneasiness that might have arisen. In connection with this question I might add that it appears to me desirable that the Gold Fields Act should be so amended as to make a preliminary enquiry by the Warden desirable before applications for leases should be received. At present under the lOSth section of "The Gold Fields Act, 1866," parties have only to apply, and immediately the ground is protected (otherwise locked up) until the decision of the Government is known, which, even if refused, will occupy at the very least two months. Inangahua Junction.' —The gradual development of the reef's towards the Lyell render it most desirable that a township should be surveyed at Christy's as soon as possible, and I would also recommend that it be sold early, as several parties are waiting for ground to settle upon to erect blacksmith's shops, bakeries, &c. Conclusion. —I have to bear my testimony to the promptitude and zeal which has distinguished the officers placed, under me in this district. Mr. Woolley's services as surveyor have been invaluable, and the amount of work got through something astonishing. Whilst with Messrs. Wakefield and Cooper, the clerks in my office, hours have been of no consequence, and almost from daylight to midnight they have steadily stuck to the work which, until my arrival, had of necessity fallen into arrear. I have every confidence that the next Annual Report from this district will shew the opening up of a large tract of country, of which very little was known before, as having become the location of a large and prosperous community. I,have, &c, The Provincial Secretary, Nelson. Chaeles Beoad, Warden.

No 6. Mr. Warden Giles to Under-Secretary, for Gold Fields. Warden's Office, Sir,— Westport, 13th May, 1872. In compliance with your request I now have the honor to forward, in addition to the statistics already sent, some further particulars relating to the district under my charge. My district extends from the Eazorback, between the Grey and Brighton, to an indefinite distance along the coast north of Westport. In this area the diggings aro of different kinds, being all alluvial. Ground sluicing is prevalent at Charleston and Brighton, and has latterly been coming more into use at Addison's Flat and the adjacent Pakikis* as well as on the terraces north of Westport, where the best ground has been now worked out. Cement crushing by means of batteries of stamp heads has been the distinguishing feature of the Charleston district, but this is a mode of working which has lately declined owing to the best ground being worked out, and ground sluicing of large areas is becoming the more common mode of working ; underground excavation has been the usual mode of working at Addison's Flat and tho terraces north of the Buller, near Mount Bochfort; at the latter place by means of tunnels and at the former by shafts; but ground sluicing is now becoming common at both these places. In addition to these methods of working, we have claims for washing tailings in the creeks and gullies and beach claims. The latter are now attracting a good deal of attention, and although the beach can only be worked when the tide recedes, and water has to be brought from some distance, yet these claims are expected to prove very remunerative. I suppose the rate of wages may be considered as averaging about £1 a week throughout the district. There are now no quartz diggings in this district; the Waimangaroa workings, the only place where quartz crushing machinery was erected, being now abandoned; yet the rich specimens of auriferous quartz which are met with in that locality justify the expectation that attention will again be directed to those workings, and that a connection will be traced between them and the more inland reefs. I am not aware that there is any further information that I can supply in addition to the above remarks, and the statistics already furnished. But, I enclose, for your perusal, a printed copy of the Annual Report which I have recently made for the information of the Provincial Government of Nelson, and which, I hope will leave no point of material interest unnoticed. I have, &c, Joseph Giles, Warden. The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields. 3

Uiitimbered flats, mostly swamp.

9

OE NEW ZEALAND.