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APPENDIX TO REPORT ON THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND. WARDENS' REPORTS.

AUCKLAND. No. 1. The Peovincial Seceetaey, Auckland, to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sie, — Superintendent's Office, Auckland, 12th May, 1875. Adverting to my letter of the Bth ultimo, I have now the honor to forward the Warden's report upon the northern portion of the Hauraki Gold Mining District up to the 31st March, 1875. Mr. Warden Eraser has been instructed, in compliance with your letter No. 26, of the 21st April, to forward supplementary report up to the 30th June next. I have, &c., Vincent E. Rice, The Under Secretary, Public Works Office, (for the Provincial Secretary). (Gold Fields Branch,) Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. Warden Keddell to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sib,— Warden's Office, Coromandel, 4th May, 1875. I have the honor to forward, under cover to His Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Auckland, the general report and the several returns called for in your circular of January last, having relation to the statistics of the northern portion of the Hauraki Gold Mining District. I have further the honor to inform you that these documents would have been earlier prepared and forwarded had I not been absent from my district on special duty the greater part of the month of April. I have, &c, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Jackson Keddeli, Public Works Department, Wellington. Warden. General Report an the Northern Portion of the Hauraki Gold Mining District, Province of Auckland, for the Year ending 31st March, 1875. In compiling my report for the year ending 31st ultimo, I find there is very little new enterprise to chronicle as having been initiated during that period, but the progress effected will, I think, be considered satisfactory. At the commencement of the departmental year the Queensland Gold Fields were the great attraction for our enterprising miners who were free to leave the colony; and following this, during the last quarter of the year 1874, the near approach of the opening of the long-looked-for Ohinemuri District prevented, or at least retarded, any prospecting in this portion of the district. Ohinemuri has been looked upon for the last six years as the birthright of the miners on this peninsula, and all who were able were determined to go to that field as soon as open. It was, moreover, expected that alluvial gold would be found there ; and I am satisfied that it is in a great measure attributable to this that so few "new finds " have been made since my last report in this portion of the district. My report will, therefore, be confined to progress on the older claims, and recording what has been done towards developing those commenced during the year 1873-74. Of the older claims I will begin with the New Zealand Kapanga Company's property, known as " The Kapanga," which it will be seen by former reports is identical with one of the best known and most successful of the older claims worked under the " Gold Fields Act, 1858." I last reported that the engine shaft had been sunk 150 feet, and that it was expected that in about ten months the lode would have been reached, but owing to circumstances which I will presently state, the company has not made the advance anticipated. The depth of shaft at present is 249 feet, or about 100 feet during twelve months. It must be remembered that the shaft is very large, since it must be through it all the mine will have to be worked, is very strongly timbered, and has been sunk through a hard country, and had to contend throughout with a strong stream of water from the old workings; it has also been found necessary to provide cisterns at intervals to raise the water to the surface. This is done by three 15-in. pumps, one supplying the other in sections, and set in motion by the powerful beam steam engine imported for the purpose. The fixing of this pumping arrangement, which is very complete, and the other details in connection, occupied considerable time, as in this, and in all works on the mine, due consideration has been paid to the requirements of the future ; and all I—H. 3.