H.—9

AUCKLAND. No. 1. His Honor the Stjpebintendent, Auckland, to the Hon. the Colonial Secbetabt. f Sib,— Superintendent's Office, Auckland, Ist June, 1874. Adverting to my letter of the 16th April, I have now the honor to forward the report, by Mr. Warden Keddell, on the northern division of the Hauraki Gold Mining District, together with the statistical returns, required for the information of Parliament. I have, &c, J. Williamson, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Superintendent.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Mr. Warden Keddell to the Under Seceetaby for Gold Fields. Hauraki Gold Mining District, "Warden's Office, Sib, — Coromandel, 21st May, 1874. I have the honor herewith to forward the general report on the northern portion of the above district, for the year ending March 31st, 1874, also the statistical return called for in your circular letter of January last. I regret that these returns should have been so long delayed, and beg to assure you that it was unavoidable, owing to the absence of the Inspector of the district, whose assistance was essential, and also to the unexpected increase of my duties as Registration Officer. I forward these documents, by direction, through His Honor the Superintendent of this Province. I have, &c, Jackson Keddell, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, "Wellington. Warden. Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Repoet op Mb. Wabden Keddell upon the Noeth Hatteaki Gold Fields. General Report on the Northern portion of the Hauraki Gold Mining District, Province of Auckland, for the Year ending 31st March, 1874. In my report for the previous year I referred to the depression which succeeded the unhealthy and delusive appearance of prosperity which characterized mining operations in this portion of the district during the first half of that period, and I predicted that the reaction which followed would pass away, and a more healthy state of progress would, in its turn, take place. In this report of the events and progress during the past year, lam glad to be able to state such has been the case. Although a reference to the gold returns does not show favourably, I will be able to point out that a very considerable amount of capital and labour has been expended on the field, which will prove eventually remunerative. There is at least no doubt that this expenditure has been wisely prosecuted, and so far as the result can be relied on in quartz mining, will be advantageous to those interested. I will, in the first place, refer to some of the most important mines noticed in last year's report, and will begin with the Union Beach Gold Mining Company's property, situated on the shore of the Coromandel Harbour. This Company possesses upwards of thirty acres of land, composed of mines formerly known by other names and owned by different Companies, who, about June, 1873, amalgamated, and are now known as the Union Beach Gold Mining Company. The claim best known of these was the Green Harp, and the Company's mining operations are at present confined to this portion of their holding. It was confidently believed by some that this ground did really contain a valuable reef, though opinion was much divided on the subject after the fiasco attending its development in the hands of its first owners and proprietors. Under its present management, it has shown itself to be a first-class mine, and has yielded a large quantity of exceedingly rich specimens. The Company sunk a commodious shaft close to high watermark, and erected powerful machinery for pumping and winding, and work was resumed in August last in a manner that showed the confidence of the new proprietors, I—H. 9.

WARDENS' REPORTS.

APPENDIX TO REPORT ON THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND.