H.—3

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that the days of gold mining, both in the Grey Valley and Reefton districts, are yet in their infancy, and population, with facilities for settlement and inducements to settle, are all that is required to develop the wonderful resources of tho country. So far as I have seen of the Chinese, I have not found them bad citizens; they seem honest and industrious, and I hear the European storekeepers speak highly of them. An European population will always hold its own and keep them in check. I hope the district will continue to thrive has it has hitherto done, and (that as in my last two annual reports I have had no retrogression to report) that the motto for the district is still " Onward." I have, &c, Lowthee Beoad, The Provincial Secretary, Nelson. Warden.

No. 7. Mr. Warden FitzGeeald to the Undeb Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sib ,— Warden's Office, Stafford, Ist May, 1875. I have the honor to report as follows upon the state of the Waimea District for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1875. There is but little change in the number of the population, as will be seen by reference to my last return, dated 20th April, 1874. The Chinese continue to prosper, and to live in peace with their neighbours. Their industry is proverbial, and they still maintain the confidence of the storekeepers, who consider them to be very desirable customers. There is but one Chinese store here, and I understand it does a good business. This storekeeper in many instances negotiates the bargains, and frequently large sums of money pass through his hands on account of the investments of his countrymen. The Waimea water-race is still in process of construction, the large pipes for the siphon being now gradually delivered on the ground by the contractors. Many parties are sanguine as to the ultimate success of this great undertaking, and very many remain on " tucker ground " in expectation of an ample supply of the necessary fluid. For myself, I may say, I entertain no doubt that on the completion of the works a very large population will be absorbed along the entire line and vicinity of the race. A new company is being formed at Callaghan's, with a view of working some twenty acres of ground through which a good lead is supposed to run. A similar undertaking there some time since appears to have fallen through, but the new company have appointed an experienced manager to superintend the works, and are I believe registering their claim under the Joint Stock Companies Act, with, I should consider, a very fair prospect of success. The quartz reefs at the Taipo have again attracted some attention, and a mining lease has been applied for, but I have not as yet heard of anything to justify me in reporting favourably on the prospects of this locality, more especially in view of the approaching winter, when works will probably have to be temporarily suspended. At Red Jack's, works of considerable magnitude are being prosecuted by two miners from Woodstock who have obtained leases to the extent of twenty acres, and who are now engaged in constructing an enormous reservoir, consisting of 640 acres. The estimated outlay is £3,000. The main road from Hokitika, which now runs through Stafford and Goldsborough, has of late been widened, and most of the Greymouth traffic consequently comes this way, and the line of telegraph is being placed alongside. There is but little alteration in the price of provisions since the date of my last return ; ninetyfive cases have been disposed of in the Warden's Court, and the large number of 1,204 registration certificates issued. The latter figures will show what a complete network of water-races and dams (mainly insignificant undertakings) are constructed by the miners, who almost invariably seek immediate registration. The transfers of shares are as a consequence very numerous. In conclusion I beg to state that in my opinion this district at least continues to hold its own, and that its prospects are very satisfactory. All other information will be found in the copious returns forwarded, and I do not think there is anything else calling for special mention. I have, &c., G. G. FitzGeeald, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

No. 8. Mr. Warden Fitzgeeald to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sie, — Warden's Office, Kanieri, Westland, 19th April, 1875. I have the honor to forward herewith the returns required by your circular dated the 26th January, 1875, and to report that the Kanieri Warden's District still maintains a steady mining population, likely to be permanent, notwithstanding the many public works at present in operation in the province, and the high rates of wages ruling thereon, varying from lis. to 14s. per diem. The population of the district remains much the same as at the date of my report for the year ending the 31st March, 1874, namely, 2,050. Of these, I estimate the number of miners at 500, which appears a small percentage for the whole population. It must, however, be considered that this district contains the principal farming centres in the province, and that a large part of the population are permanently engaged in that industry. I should estimate the earnings of these 500 miners during the past year at an average of half an ounce of gold per man per week, which would give a yield of 13,000 oz. for the year, or an average yearly earning per man of £98 16s.