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No. 5. Mr. Warden AVood to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sic,— Warden's Office, Switzers, 10th May, 1877. I have the honor to forward statistical returns for the period ending 31st March ultimo. Mining throughout the Switzers Division proper of the district is at a very low ebb, and trade stagnant —the latter owing to the fact that this district does not possess the advantage which others have of a settled agricultural population. The land, although some of the finest in the Provincial District of Otago, is an education reserve, and therefore excluded from bond fide settlement. Tho small population of the Nokomai Subdivision is nearlyal together composed of Chinese, who are making wages, say 30s. per week. The AVaikaka Subdivision, situate about fifteen miles from Tapanui, has every prospect of turning out not only a payable gold field, but will probably support a large population, as it is now being thoroughly prospected by parties who will not readily relinquish the chance afforded of obtaining a claim that may last for years. Gold has been struck at a lower level than any hitherto obtained—so feet or 60 feet sinking, at distances up to two miles apart. This, it is hoped, may prove a well-developed lead, as the gold is of the same description. The supposed lead unfortunately runs into private land on the Chatton Hundred. The Orepuki Gold Field, situate on the west side of the Longwood Range, near the mouth of the AVaiau River, in Foveaux Straits, supports a population of about 200 miners, who are making good wages, from tho return of gold purchased by the banks in Riverton during the year 1876, which gives an average of over half an ounce a week per man. Prospecting for quartz reefs has been going on for the last fifteen months on the east side of the Longwood Ranges, and one of the gentlemen finding the means for the prospecting party writes to me that they have struck what they believe to be a well-defined reef that promises to be payable ; as heavy gold has been obtained in the locality, it is probable that their efforts may be successful. The new gold field of AVaikaka I am unable to report upon at present, but will do so as soon as I obtain reliable information. I have, &c, John Nugent Wood, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, AVellington. AVarden.

No. 6. Mr. AVarden Simpson to the Under Seceetaey for Golo Fields. Sic— Warden's Office, Clyde, 21st May, 1877. I have the honor to forward to you the statistical returns, for the year ended the 31st March, 1877, of the gold fields district of the Dunstan. Many of these returns are formed too much on guesswork to be reliable sources of information, particularly as to mining plant. It occurs to me that some of the statistics might be made much more accurate and reliable if obtained after the manner of the agricultural statistics in Otago. Of the district generally, I have to report that there has been a falling off in the yield of gold. The yield for last year was 45,436 oz., while this year it is only 34,812 oz., being a difference of 10,624 oz. This decrease has taken place in the yield from the quartz reefs to the extent of 6,710 oz., and in the yield from alluvial to the extent of 3,914 oz. It is beyond my expectation to find so small a decrease in the alluvial yield of gold, as for a great portion of the year one of the best sluicing districts has almost been without a water supply, owing to the breaking down of the Bannockburn Company's race, and as the Carrick Range Water Supply Race was only completed and available in January last. This decrease is therefore owing to no failure or giving out of tho mines. In reference to the falling off in the yield of gold from quartz, it is to be accounted for by the giving out of some of the mines on the Carrick Range, and the fact of the Great Cromwell Company having been engaged for a great portion of the year at work not immediately profitable, such as deepening their shafts; but now that mine is looking as well as ever it did, and they are now again started to get out stone which is averaging 2 oz. to the ton ; and other companies on the same reef are about to make a fresh start. There has only been one new discovery worthy of note made during the year, and that was on the River Molyneux, a few miles below Alexandra ; but that discovery is rather an important one, being the discovery of rich deposits on the Old Lake level. This ought to lead to prospecting at that level along all our rivers, and no doubt will. Settlement. —During the year there have been taken up under the agricultural-lease system, by eighteen different lessees, 2,124 acres, and under the deferred-payment system by fifteen licensees, 2,285 acres, making a total of 4,409 acres. There have been acquired in freehold 2,263 acres during the year. The total land held in leasehold and under license amounts in this district to 20,186 acres, yielding a yearly rental of £2,765 10s. The amount of land taken up during the year ended is quite equal to that taken up during the preceding year, showing a steady desire to settle, even under the difficulties of the present limited system. As during last year, Black's and the Teviot Districts are the places where the chief settlement has gone on, the really available land being confined to those districts. The gross amount of land actually open for settlement in the Dunstan District may be put down at 38,000 acres ; but when you deduct the land used as common at Clyde and Cromwell, amounting to 27,000 acres, all of which is not only unfit for settlement but is considered auriferous, and settlement opposed thereon, and if you add to that the ground which is considered auriferous in other parts, say 3,000 acres, a small balance of 8,000 acres is left to scatter over the whole of the large district of Dunstan. Looking therefore at the whole of the figures above given, I do not think it can be said the district generally is retrograding. I have, &c, W. Lawrence Simpson, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

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