OE NEW ZEALAND.

19

G.—No. 4,

General Eepoet of the state of the Gold Fields District of the Waimea, County of Westland, for the year ending 31st March, 1872. J ± rea _ —The whole area of the Waimea district contains 372 square miles of country, with the boundaries as follows :—On the north by the Teremakau river ;on the east by the dividing range ; on the south by the Arahura Eiver; and on the west by the sea coast. The approximate auriferous area is computed to be between 30 and 40 square miles, and the present actual diggings at 14 square miles. Population.—The total population is estimated at 2,000 souls, out of which 1,550 are occupied in mining operations, widely scattered over the district. In addition there are 18 Chinese mining. Attached, marked A, is a distribution return of the population. Diggings. —The diggings are much spread apart, and all of an alluvial nature, the gold having been traced in the terraces, creeks, gullies, and on the sea beach. The workings are carried on wholly by sluicing, ground sluicing, and hydraulic power. There is but little deep sinking, in consequence of the great difficulties to be contended with in the way of water, requiring expensive machinery to dram the ground ; and the return in most cases is not found sufficient to warrant the outlay. As regards quartz mining, although reefs have been found at the Taipo and tried, yet their position is so inconvenient of access, and the oufiay required to thoroughly test them so great, that for the present the claims have all but been abandoned. There are 397 head water races, many of them five, six, and seven miles in length, conveying 490 Government sluice heads of water, constructed at considerable expense, and entirely by private enterprise; 500 tail races, 584 reservoirs and dams, 439 ground sluices. The present approximate value of the whole may be put down at forty-one thousand pounds, although their original cost of construction was very much more. Machinery.— There is no steam power used, all the workings are carried on by hydraulic appliances, principally hoses and wheels. Their present value is between six and seven thousand pounds. Revenue and Gold— The gold revenue for the past twelve months amounts to £2,966 2s. 9d. This does not include Customs duties or gold duty, which cannot be accurately ascertained, but merely miners' rights, business licenses, spirit licenses, and all other items within the definition of gold fields revenue. It is difficult to ascertain the correct yield of gold, because it finds its way out of the district unchecked, but the amount may be safely estimated the very least at 20,000 ounces. Prospect of the Bistrict.— This district holds out peculiar advantages for mining operations, because the gold is not found only in solitary localities in mere leads, which frequently soon run out, but it is proved to be wide spread throughout most of the terraces, with which it abounds, and. is the peculiar feature of the County. Its innumerable creeks and gullies are also more or less auriferous. The greater number are found to pay average good wages whenever a sufficient supply of water is obtainable. The watersheds are ample and extensive, the only requirement is increased facilities to utilize them by introducing a comprehensive and well-defined water scheme, whereby a permanent supply could be insured by forming large races and reservoirs at a high level to command the terraces. This would be the means of opening out a vast amount of ground, which at present cannot be worked, although known to be payable, as water cannot be brought to command it by individual enterprise, for lack of capital, as the undertaking would be of a costly nature. It is a matter, therefore, well worthy the consideration of Government, whether under such circumstances it might not initiate a system of water supply without incurring any great risk as to loss of outlay. The district offers this guarantee, that not only for years and years to come will it support the present population, but a much larger one, certainly a third more : for wherever there is plenty of water a miner is pretty sure of making average wages, and mining then becomes a fixed occupation, and induces men eventually to become permanent sWtlers. That in time payable quartz mining will be carried on in this district there can be no doubt, as from the auriferous nature of the reefs already discovered it only requires capital and time to develop them. Finally, the Waimea District may be looked upon as containing a population of settled miners, respectable, well conducted, and very free from all serious crime ; not likely to diminish in number; many of whom are making homes for themselves. The great majority not in possession of any very rich claims, but contented with good average wages, and relying their future prospects on the abundance of auriferous ground still unopened, and which they feel assured will yield sufficient to support them in comfort. Statistical returns accompany this report, together with price list of provisions and rate of wages. I have, &c, T. Price, Warden.

No. 12. Mr. Warden Aylmer to Under-Secretary Gold Fields. Warden's Office, Sir,— Kanieri, 10th May, 1872. In compliance with your circular, dated 27th March, 1872, requesting a report of^ this district, I have the honor to state that the district comprises an area of 2§2 square miles, containing of known auriferous ground forty-three square miles, of which sixteen square miles may be considered the present workings. Mining throughout is still being steadily carried on ; but there has been a slight falling off in the population of late, which is attributable to the good accounts recently received from the reef districts at Inangahua, in the Nelson South-west gold field, which have induced numbers to leave.