21

H.—9

of these about sixty-five are miners. This ground has been worked for the past eight years, and always carried about the same population. The earnings average about £3 ss. per week. The Kokatihi sub-district lies along the north bank of Hokitika and Kokatihi Eivers. It is a farming settlement: the only miners are two parties working up the Kokatihi Eiver on quartz reefs, discovered there about fifteen months ago. These reefs have not been properly tested yet, but machinery is being erected, and it is expected that crushing will commence in about two months. The discovery is not generally thought to be of much value. Coal has been found in this district, but not to any great extent. A Coal Company is in existence at present, who are prospecting, and they are subsidized by the Provincial Government. It is the opinion that a good coal field will be opened in this district. The total population of the sub-district is about eighty-five. The Arahura sub-district lies along the ocean beach, north of Hokitika, a distance of five miles, and then up the Arahura Eiver, on the south bank, for five miles. This sub-district is nearly altogether composed of small farms, the occupiers of which are the principal contributors of farm and dairy produce to Hokitika. The Christchurch and Hokitika Eoad runs along and through their ground. The population of the sub-district is about 250 souls. Upon the whole, I consider that the Kanieri Warden's district is fairly prosperous, and when the Kanieri Lake race is finished (which will be in about nine months), it will be able to carry a great many more miners, with a better prospect of increased earnings. The total number of cases adjudicated on in the Warden's Court was 32 for the past year. They were generally of a trivial character. Of new registrations for the past year, there were granted 63 head-races, 62 tail-races, 74 dams, 10 extended claims, 23 tunnels, and 34 residence areas. The total number of registrations for the year amounted to 781; and the total receipts from all sources to £927 Os. 6d. I have, &c, G. G. FitzGeeald, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

No. 11. Mr. Warden FitzGeeald to the Undee Seceetaet for Gold Fields. Sie ,— Warden's Office, Eoss, Westland, 20th April, 1874. I have the honor to make the following report on the present state of the Totara district. After an experience of twelve months as Warden and Eesident Magistrate, I regret that I am not in a position to report more favourably of mining matters than when I last reported. Since I took charge I have held weekly Courts in Eoss, and find these weekly visits sufficient for the transaction of the duties of my office. In case of emergency the clerk can always communicate with me by telegram, though as yet he has had no occasion to do so. Till within the last six months the longtalked of Mikonui water-race, and the hopes entertained of its construction by Government, kept a great many people idly waiting in the district. Latterly, however, these hopes have been dispelled, and now every day witnesses the departure of numbers who have been the mainstay of the district. The construction of the Waimea and Kanieri Lake water-races and the Greymouth Eailway, and latterly the Eeefton and the North Australian diggings, have induced many who were earning a precarious living here to leave, although well aware they were leaving ground with plenty of gold in it. In the centre of operations, Jones' Flat, there has been no change for the better during the year, with the exception of the erection of a turbine and two or three water-wheels, with incline tramways, the motive power of each being water. These Companies are working old ground, from the surface to the first bottom, with satisfactory results. The other claims on the flat are paying moderately. At Eedman's, mining is carried on as actively as ever. The drainage is inexpensively effected by water-wheels. At Donohue's one water-wheel drains all the surrounding claims to a depth of nearly 200 feet, the only cost of maintenance being a nominal charge for water and the wages of one man. It is very evident that when such rude constructions as these wheels are can be made to drain the ground, a plentiful supply of water and superior machinery are all that would be required to take the gold out of the flat and overcome the water at the greatest depth yet reached. Between Eoss and Donohue's there were a number of claims worked by horse and whim. This mode of working was found both ineffectual and expensive, and has been abandoned. The ground in this locality is now being sluiced —along the line, extending from Jones' Flat to Donohue's —at a distance of some three miles, the ground being equally rich as Jones' Flat. No matter where or how deep a shaft is sunk, the ground is payable; but of course, without water to drain or work it, it is perfectly useless to the miner. There is nothing new to report on the diggings up the Totara. The population there is settled, and making fair wages. A few parties are still at work at Aylmer lead, Campbellton, and Mahinapua Lake. The Totara and Jones' Creek Water-Eace Company have completed the enlargement of their upper race, and dispensed with almost all the fluming, substituting instead, ditching and tunnelling. This enlarged race now carries the water formerly conveyed by three races. The outlay on these alterations, though great, will be eventually returned, with interest, to the shareholders. A great saving in maintenance is effected by doing away with the fluming, and having but one race instead of three to keep in repair. So simple a matter as the falling of a tree on the fluming often stops the water for days, and consequently throws the miners using it out of employment. The oftreiterated cry for water in this district is shown not to be unnecessary, from the fact that this Company, in times so depressed as the present, are spending so much of their capital to secure a steady supply. It is not to be supposed that they do this from mere philanthropy, but rather with the hope of increasing their dividends. . The Greenland Water-Eace Company, which have got a right for twelve heads of water, as I stated in my last report, from the Greenland Eanges and small creeks along the course to Eoss, are making