H.—9

12

Sttmmaet. —Total amount of Jstono crushed: Lyell, 1,211 tons ; Inangahua, 16,223 tons ; total, 17,434 tons. Total yield: Lyell, 4,556 ozs.; Inangahua, 15,542 ozs. 9 dwts.; total, 20,098 ozs. 9 dwts. So that the average to the Inangahua reefs for the past year is little short of an ounce to the ton, whilst the rich yields of the Maruia, Break o'Day, and Maloney's claims, at the Lyell, have brought the average there up to nearly 4 ounces to the ton. It would be very useful if a similar Act to that in force in Victoria and at the Thames was brought into force here, so as to compel the owners of machinery to make periodical returns to the Warden of the quantity of stone crushed, together with the yield. It is satisfactory to know that of the reefs at Murray Creek and Boatman's, Anderson's, Wealth of Nations, Fiery Cross, and Just-in-Time have already paid all the expenses of their machinery and preliminary work in testing their mines ; and that during the past year the Golden Fleece has paid £6,000 in dividends ; the Just-in-Time, £4,800; the Fiery Cross, £1,800 ; the Invincible, £450 ; and the Wealth of Nations, £487.

The machinery at present at work in the district is as follows: — 1. Ajax Company, 15 heads, steam. 2. Westland Crushing Company, 15 heads, steam. 3. Anderson's Company, 15 heads, water. 4. Energetic, 10 heads, water (about to be altered to steam). 5. Band of Hope, 10 heads, water (idle). 6. Wealth of Nations, 15 heads, water. 7. Fiery Cross and Just-in-Time, 15 heads, water. 8. Alpine Company, 8 heads, water. 9. Little "Wonder, 2 heads, water (5 heads adding). Statistics. — Warden's Court. .Number of cases during the year ... ... ... ... ... 102 Number of applications under Rules ... ... ... ... 311 Number of applications for Gold Mining Leases ... ... ... 101 Number of applications for Gold Mining Leases withdrawn ... ... 11 Number of applications for Gold Mining Leases refused ... ... 2 Number of Agricultural Leases ... ... ... ... ... 16 Number of Acres applied for ... .., ... ... ... 595 Number of Miners' Rights issued ... ... ... ... ... 635 Number of Business Licenses— Annual ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 Half-Yearly ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 138 Quarterly ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 156 Resident Magistrate's Court. Number of Civil Cases heard ... ... ... ... ... 432 Criminal Cases —Inangahua, 44; Lyell, 55. Of the latter, 31 Inangahua, and 30 Lyell, were upon information. There were 13 drunk and disorderly cases ... ... ... ... ... ... 99 Number of Publican's Licenses issued ... ... ... ... 52 Number of Accommodation Licenses issued ... ... ... ... 24 Revenue. £ s. d. Provincial Account, Province of Nelson ... ... ... 3,574 13 6 Provincial Treasurer ... ... ... ... ... 1,608 12 0 Resident Magistrate's Fees and Pines ... ... ... '441 15 3 Township Sections ... ... ... ... ... 609 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... £6,234 0 9 The sum of £2,193 was deposited for leases, viz., G-old Mining Leases, £2,008. and Agricultural Leases, £185.

The Lyeil. Company. Jpine ... Ixcelsior laloney's laruia ... lonte Christo ittle Wonder )'Brien and Blair's Ireak o' DayQuartz. Tons. 50 249 93 308 124 65 25 297 Gold. oz. dwt. gr. 24 0 0 111 0 0 279 0 0 1,365 0 0 349 0 0 95 0 0 39 0 0 2,294 0 0 Value. £ s. d. 92 8 0 427 7 0 1,074 3 0 5,255 5 0 1,343 13 0 365 15 0 150 3 0 8,831 18 0 Totals 1,211 4,556 0 0 4,556 0 0 £17,540 12 £17,540 12 0 0