{Return to an Order of the House of Representatives, dated 3rd August, 1869.) " That it is desirable that the Q-ovcrnment should cause to be laid upon the Table of this House, during each Session, a Report embodying a general account of the present condition of the Gold Fields of the colony, their advancement or otherwise during the preceding year, and their probable prospects ; together with particulars showing the average price of provisions during the year on<each Gold Field, the rate of wages, estimated population, and such other information as would afford a comprehensive idea of the general condition of the mining interest in the colony ; and that His Excellency be requested to forward a copy of such Keport to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies." {Mr. IF. II. Harrison.) Mr. C. E. Haughton to the Hon. the Ministee for Public Woeks. Sti;,— Wellington, 24th July, 1875. I have the honor, in accordance with your instructions, to forward a General Report upon the state and prospects of the Gold Fields; with Appendix containing Reports by the Wardens upon the districts under their charge, and Statistical Tables. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. C. E. Haughton.

THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND, (REPORT ON).

1875. XE¥ ZEALAND.

H.—3

REPORT. Not having had an opportunity of visiting the several gold fields since the date of my last Report, I am necessarily obliged to rely entirely upon the information afforded to me by the Wardens and other officers for the subject-matter submitted herewith, for the purpose of being laid before Parliament, in accordance with the Resolution of August 3rd, 1869. The tables showing Gold Fields Revenue, under its several classifications, and the Export of Gold and Silver, have been furnished by the Secretary to the Treasury and the Acting Secretary of Customs, and will be found to afford every possible information upon these subjects, compiled in a most clear and comprehensive manner; and I desire to take this opportunity of acknowledging the courtesy of Mr. Batkin and Mr. McKellar in affording me such valuable assistance in preparing the Appendix to this Report. I think it advisable to let the Gold Fields Wardens speak for themselves. Their reports, in most cases very ably written, will be found in the Appendix, printed verbatim as they were received ; and I nave to thank these officers not only for the Reports, but for the voluminous and carefully prepared returns which accompanied them, and which have enabled me to compile the Tables in the Appendix, which will, I think, be found reliable and exceedingly useful in aiding the judgment of those interested, with regard to the condition of our gold fields population. It seems useless to expect to obtain information from mine owners and managers which might be some guide as to the economies of gold mining; not 5 per cent, of the circulars issued for this purpose have ever been answered, and, consequently, no results of any practical value can be arrived at. Tables 23 and 24 embody the few returns which have been received. Gold. The data collected as to gold are as follows: —In the year 1873 the colony exported 505,337 oz., of the value of £1,987,425; in the year 1874, 376,388 oz., of the value of £1,505,331. During the quarter ending March, 1874, 108,747 oz.; whilst in the corresponding quarter of the year, 97,681 oz. have been returned as the export. The yield of gold in the various provinces during the fifteen months ending 31st March, 1875 was as follows:—Auckland, 95,537 oz., valued at £379,059 ; Marlborough, 1.889 oz., valued at £7,514 ; Nelson, 110,855 oz., valued at £443,081 j Westland, 97,225 oz., valued at £389,864 ; and Otago, 168,563 oz., valued at £676,989. Full particulars of the quantity and value of the gold exported will be found in Tables Nos. 5, 6, 8, and 9, and, at the end of the Appendix, the Returns for the Quarter ending 30th June, have been reprinted from the New Zealand Gazette. In Tables Nos. 23 and 24 will be found the yield of gold from various parcels of quartz crushed, and the yield from some alluvial mines during the last year. I regret that the returns received from the mining managers, &c., upon this subject have been so meagre as to be practically useless for purposes of generalization.