H.—4

20

Dellman's Town has increased in size, and begins to have the appearance of a settled township. A good road has been made to it from Kumars, and a fair trade is carried on there. During the past year Kumara has been declared a borough ; a State school has been finished— a fine building, capable of accommodating 400 children; the telegaph and post office, one building, has also been completed, and other improvements have been made in the town. The Government water-race has been a great boon to the district, for wherever new ground has been opened it has extended a branch race to command it. The miners at Kumara have no reason to complain of want of water. I know of no gold field which at its commencement had so great an advantage in this respect. The sludge-channel which Government contemplate making will be a great benefit, as it will command Dunedin Flat, Shamrock Terrace, and upper parts of the lead, and mining claims towards Larrikin's Terrace and Baker's Flat; and it would be advisable to have it carried out with as little delay as practicable. Greenstone. —This district, which is in the Grey County, is separated from Kumara by the Teremakau Eiver. During the early part of 1877, several rushes took place from Kumara to terraces on that side of the river. On Quinn's Terrace a considerable quantity of ground was taken up, but from want of water to command it the claims have been reduced to about twenty. This caused a small digging township to spring up below the terrace, which is generally known as Westbrooke, but which has since dwindled down to nothing. Several other small rushes have taken place in different parts of the district, but none have been sufficiently remunerative to attract any population. The workings are restricted generally to ground that has been opened some years, for this is one of the oldest diggings in Westland, it having been discovered in 1864. The miners are generally scattered over the terraces, and a few work the creeks. The workings are mostly carried on by ground-sluicing ; eleven parties are hydraulic-sluicing; all with average success on some of the terraces lately opened by shafts and driving. The Chinese in this district number 172, restricting their operations to the creeks and low flats along the sides of them, and appear to be contented; they are a well-behaved and inoffensive body of men. The population is estimated at 750, showing an increase of 150 over that of previous year. The gold revenue is higher by £S0—present year, £646 18s. 6d.; for 1877, £566 13s. 6d. The yield of gold I believe to have been good —certainly not less than last year —but it is impossible to arrive at a correct estimate, because a good deal was taken to Kumara and sold there. A large race is now being constructed, named "The Erin-go-Bragh," belonging to a company. Its source of water is Greenstone Creek, and it terminates on Hayes' Terrace, a distance of seven and a half miles, on which there are 54 men employed, to hasten its completion. It will have an abundant supply of water, and will command all the ground along the line of race, which is known to be auriferous and payable. On the whole the district is fairly prosperous, and, from the known auriferous nature of a large area of ground, which only requires a good supply of water at a high level to work it, holds out every prospect of maintaining the present population for some time to come. During the year the following number of registration certificates for various rights were issued: —■

N.B. —No agricultural leases granted. Gold-mining leases —4 quartz aud 1 alluvial granted in Totara District, and 1 quartz in Waimea District. The above is for the year from Ist April, 1877, to 31st March, 1878. I have, &c, M. Price, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, AVellington. Warden.

OTAGO GOLD FIELDS. No. 11. Mr. Warden Robinson to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Naseby, 31st March, 1877. I have the honor to report upon the district under my charge as Warden for the past year as follows: — 1. A dry season has to some extent been unfavourable to mining in this part of the country, where all operations are dependent upon the supply of water for sluicing ; still, on the whole, a reasonable amount of success has attended the exertions of the miners. 2. The most important event of the year in respect to mining has been the opening of the Mouut Ida Water-race and Sludge Channel. This occurred on the 26th of July, 1877, and was made the

Districts. (0 Q ■A B ■ go _. .S w a. rn a ' A » a " fi m\ | a g EH * «5 __ a 'a 3 : m" ! CO CJ . 3 s c_i -tH I a Si fl «"___■_ ■a ao {_£ 9 Sf _o o 13 O 00 z- • O en S=h3 SI ■a » __ = . ° a i'-S ~ .—. ji S °.£ d bo o a* Total. 'otara [anieri Vaimea 9 1!) 96 18 17 8 17 S3 7 89 8 14 61 1 li) 1 4 6 7 6 1 | 10 19 6 11 6 29 I ... 67 ! 3 5 7 14 1 8 13 10 79 .27 90 52 114 152 70 115 321 597 86 166 257 472 998 379 447 [umara rreenstone 3