15

H.—3

Between Lagoontown and the Mahinapua Lake, a party have, at considerable expense, finished a drainage-tunnel 1,000 feet long. They must be certain as to the richness of the ground, or they would not have gone to the expense of such a work. At Aylmer lead there is nothing fresh to report. Up the right and left hand branches of Donnelly's Creek the sluicing parties continue at work. At Redman's the large deep-sinking claims are being worked with satisfactory returns, and there is every probability that they will find payable ground for a long time to come. At Donohue's, where the claims are worked by deep sinking, and drained by water power, the claims have been idle for some time. Owing to the decayed state of the old drainage wheel erected some seven years since, it was found necessary to pull it down and erect a new one, which is now finished, with recent improvements. The water is now being rapidly drained out of the claims, and the miners hope to be at work in a few days. The ground to a considerable extent has been taken up round the existing claims, in anticipation of having it drained by the more powerful wheel. At Clearwater Creek a large claim has been taken up, which the party are working on the incline system. For this purpose they have just completed the erection of a large water wheel. At Sailor's, Swiper's, Blockade, and German Gullies, and all along the terraces between Ross and Donohue's, the old horse and whim system is abandoned, and sluicing is carried on vigorously. The ground being commanded by the Totara and Jones's Creek water-race, enables the men to work constantly, the only drawback being the high price charged for water. On Jones's Flat the claims are steadily worked, principally on the incline system, by parties holding extensive areas of old or abandoned ground, formerly worked by means of shafts. By this system all the stuff is put through from the surface to depths varying from 20 to 50 feet, with satisfactory results. The rich nature of tho ground on which Ross itself is built is so well proved, that attempts have been often made to get at the gold in the upper levels. One party in particular may be mentioned who lately sunk a shaft. When they reached the gold-bearing level they were obliged to give it up, after a protracted struggle with the water. Such cases as the foregoing, while no doubt disheartening to the individuals concerned, are additional proofs of the richness of the flats, which it is to be hoped will, at a date not far distant, be rendered accessible to the miner. The Totara and Jones's Creek Water-race is in good working order, and paying the shareholders handsome dividends. The Greenland Water-race is now almost completed. This work proved to be a more arduous one than was at first anticipated, owing principally to the large amount of rock-cutting which had to be done towards the head of the race. They have now, however, water in the race, which is eagerly bought. There have been no fresh discoveries of auriferous ground during the year. A prospecting party, headed by an old settler at Redman's, whose energy deserves all praise, went up the Mikonui Gorge during the Christmas holidays, and remained there some weeks. Although no important discoveries were made by them, they do not seem to be daunted as yet, as I am informed they intend going out again. None of the benefits hoped for from the construction of the Bowcn and Okarito Road have been felt as yet, although the road is finished for some distance at both ends. It is to be hoped that no difficulty will arise in the construction of this road, as it will be of very little use till made right through. The difficulty of getting men, even at good wages, to work on this road is evidence that, so far as the willingly industrious are concerned, none need be idle who are able to work. It is matter for extreme satisfaction that the Government surveyors are at length making a resurvey of the line of the proposed Mikonui Water-races. Should this re-survey enable those engaged on it to give a favourable report, it is to be hoped the General Government will at once commence the construction of the race, on which the hopes of those well acquainted with the requirements of the district have been for so many years centred, as the only and certain means of its permanent prosperity. The amount of gold forwarded from Ross to Hokitika during the year has been 12,662 oz. 11 dwts. 18 grs., which, at £3 16s. per ounce, is £48,117 16s. 7d. Gold Fields Revenue ... ... ... ... ... £703 5 0 Warden's Court Fees and Fines ... ... ... ... 25 8 0 Resident Magistrate's Court Fees and Fines ... ... 190 2 6 Export Duty on.Gold ... ... ... ... ... 1,266 0 0 £2,184 15 6 The population may be estimated as follows: — Europeans —Male ... ... ... ... 1,000 „ Female ... ... ... ... 600 Chinese ... ... ... ... ... 70 Grand Total ... ... ... ... 1,670 Resident Magistrate's Court — Number of Cases, Civil ... ... ... ... 215 Number of Cases, Criminal ... ... ... 79 Total ... ... ... ... ... 294 Amount sued for in the Resident Magistrate's Court, £1,645.