9

H.—3

added the geographical position of the place, the great facilities for shipping arrangements which the splendid harbour of Golden Bay affords warrant the assertion that eventually Collingwood must become one of the most important places, I venture to say, not only in New Zealand, but even in the whole of the Australasian colonies. I am satisfied that at this time I have no more important duty to perform than to press on His Excellency's Ministers the great colonial advantages which would accrue from timely and judicious assistance in fostering the iron industry of Collingwood. So much depends on this opening up of the ironworks here, that it is almost superfluous to allude even to the other mineral wealth of this district ; still I may say that there are immense deposits of a kind of limestone fit for making hydraulic cement, equal to the finest Portland cement, which could be, at no great expense, converted into a marketable article, likely to command a large trade. There are, too, extensive deposits of clays suitable for making the finest kinds of potteryware, and in many places beautiful specimens of coloured marbles have been found. Should once the iron trade be opened up on a satisfactory basis, I have little doubt but that several other very valuable branches of industry would quickly be started, which would all tend towards making New Zealand one of the greatest producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. The progress of this district {inter alia) is much retarded for want of roads, especially up the Aorere Valley, where a considerable extent, estimated at about 25,000 acres, of excellent land, covered with most valuable timber, exists: this, too, is the only available land near suitable for agricultural settlement, and it is not more than twenty miles from the port of Collingwood. I have heard that the Provincial Government are considering about forming a special settlement at this place, and I can say that it presents great advantages for carrying out such a plan. No difficulties to making roads present themselves, as the country is not hilly where a road would be required, and already a partially formed road exists, which at a moderate outlay could be made into an excellent dray-road. Settlers once established would have ready access to a sure market for all kinds of produce; therefore this presents a rare opening for the industrious immigrant, and, to such, success in the Aorere special settlement would undoubtedly follow. I have, &c, Fbank Guinness, The Under Secretary for Public Works. Warden.

WESTPORT. No. 5. Mr. Warden Giles to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sie,— Westport, 28th April, 1875. In addition to the usual statistical returns which I have forwarded, there is little for me to report concerning the condition and progress of gold mining in my district for the past twelve months. Lyell. —At the request of the Provincial Government I have lately taken charge of the sub-district of Lyell, which was previously visited by Mr. Broad, of Reefton. I have not yet been able to become sufficiently acquainted with the reef workings at the Lyell to enable me to furnish the Government with any very detailed information. It is evident that the place has made great progress since the end of the year 1871, at which time it was in my district, and was occasionally visited by me. It then consisted of a few huts, stores, &c, presenting no resemblance to anything that could fairly be called a township. It is now a decent-looking and convenient if not a large township, and its progress shows considerable development of the reefing industry, under circumstances of great difficulty. No doubt the expectations that were formed at that time have been to a great extent disappointed. The richness and permanence of the stone found has not realized tho hopes that were entertained, and it is not easy to say at present what are the true prospects of the Lyell reefs. Good accounts have lately been given of some of the claims, and notably of the United Alpine. I think there is good reason to expect that the reefs will turn out permanent and valuable, and that great extensions of them will be found, so as to form connections with the reef at the Mokihinui River and other places. A rough track has already been explored between the Lyell and Mokihinui, and the country will doubtless be gradually opened up to prospectors. Mokihinui. —This is the third annual report in which I have had to mention the prospects of a valuable reefing district up the Mokihinui River, a fact which shows how very slow is the work of establishing quartz-reefing as a permanent industry in a country so difficult of access. I can still only report that the preliminary operations are in progress. The machinery of the Halcyon Company is now in process of erection, some very valuable stone has been found, and there is every reason to think that steady work on the claim will soon be commenced. The future alone can determine the true value of this reef, but the indications hitherto found seem to warrant the expectation that it will prove rich and permanent. Puller, Charleston, and Brighton. —The old diggings in these places, including Addison's Flat and the Northern Terraces, afford little material for remark. The nature of the workings remains much the same as before ; the quantity of them has experienced a diminution. This has been principally felt in Charleston, where population and business of all sorts have sensibly declined. Westport. —The town of Westport shows unmistakeable signs of improvement and renewed prosperity. This of course is very much due to tho expenditure of money in the construction of public works. The railway is now making rapid progress, and the benefit which its construction has conferred upon the district during the progress of the work will doubtless be continued and increased by the 2—H. 3.