H.—ll

28

of gold. The large farming class comfortably settled in hundreds of farms within the Tuapeka County, together with flour-millers, saw-millers, coal-miners, brickmakers, and tradesmen of all kinds, who can live and prosper in a thriving district, swell the total population of the county to over 9,000. AVith gold prospects so favourable, good soil and climate, and the existence of copper, antimony, and cinnabar in the district, waiting to be developed, the tendency must be to further increase. Land. —The area of agricultural land open for application during tho year has been small; but a block of about 7,000 acres in the Waitahuna District is being now surveyed, and, when open, will uo doubt be quickly applied for. Tho following statement will show the transactions for the year :— Agricultural Leases, — No. Acreage. Granted during year ... ... ... 41 ... 5,838 Purchased for cash ... ... ... 71 ... 5,890 Purchased on deferred payments ... ... G ... 340 In force on 31st March, 1879 ... ... ... 237 ... 25,779 Deferred-payment leases and licenses in force on 31st March, 1879 ... ... ... ... 277 ... 29,691 The total area held under leases and licenses is 55,470 acres, the annual rental amounting to £8,558 3s. Gd. The last harvest was a very good one. On several farms oats and wheat averaged 35 and 40 bushels to tho acre, and the yield in some cases was 50 to 60 bushels ; but, unfortunately, the present prices are too low for producers. Gold. —The produce of gold for the year was 26,694 oz., as against 27,260 oz. for the previous year. Considering the decrease of miners, the yield has been very satisfactory, and, when proper allowance is made for the effect of the last winter on the yield at AVaipori, shows there must have been an increased yield in other portions of the district. Revenue. —The revenue collected during the year ending the 31st March last amounted to £9,731 13s. 2d., made up as follows :— £ s. d. Rent on agricultural leases ... ... ... ... 3,632 010 „ deferred-payment leases and licenses ... ... 4,022 111 „ mining leases ... ... ... ... 258 010 Fees and fines in AVarden's Court ... ... ... 18 17 0 Other gold fields revenue ... ... ... ... 1,584 6 4 Resident Magistrate's Court fees and fines ... ... 200 8 9 Licensing Court fees ... ... ... ... 15 17 6 Judicial, —The number of cases and applications dealt with and decided in the Warden's Court during the year was —Cases, 64 ; applications, 301: and in the Resident Magistrate's Court—Cases, criminal, 108 ; civil, 228 ; judgment summonies and applications, 131. In addition to performing my various duties within the Tuapeka Gold Field, I have held weekly sittings of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Tokomairiro and at Balclutha, a monthly sitting at Clinton, and, during the present year, a monthly sitting of the AVarden's Court for Hindon Gold Field, at Dunedin. I have, &c, E. H. Carew, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

No. 16. Mr. Warden Maitland to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Dunedin, 11th June, 1878. I have the honor to forward the attached returns, giving information concerning the Hindon Mining District for the year ending 31st March, 1879. It will be seen from these tables that there has been a falling-off in alluvial mining operations, and that the attention of miners has been to a greater extent directed to quartz-mining. A considerable number of gold-mining leases and claims for quartz in various parts of the district, have been taken up. The New Caledonia Quartz-Mining Company (Limited), operating at Game-Hen Reef, have just completed their machinery and commenced crushing. There has not yet been sufficient time to learn results. Messrs. AY. and A. T. Kenny are also erecting machinery, which it is expected will be ready for crushing in the course of a few weeks. The lease- and claim-holders will then be enabled to obtain trial crushings of the stone, considerable quantities of which have been got out for that purpose. Having visited the district during the year, I may safely express the belief from what I saw that several of the reefs will turn out satisfactorily. There appear to be numerous outcrops of quartz reefs, more or less auriferous, throughout the district; and, as there is now every prospect of these being thoroughly tested at an early date, I shall doubtless be iv a position to afford more definite information in the next annual report. . I have, &c, J. P. Maitland, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

No. 17. Mr. Warden Wood to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields." Sir,— AVarden's Office, Riverton, 17th June, 1879. I have the honor to enclose herewith statistical returns for Switzers, or, as it is now called, " AVaikaia," and Orepuki Gold Fields, and report as follows: —