H.—ll.

29

Duringthe past year mining in the Switzers District has not improved: indeed, if anything, the yield of gold has fallen off, and no new ground has been opened up. Some of the claims on the Upper Waikaia have turned out well, but the gold is very patchy. At the AVaikaka tho Chinese keep steadily at work, making good wages, but Ido not hear of any very good results. At Orepuki the population has fallen off, but those that remain have as a rule done well. At tho Round Hill the Chinese population has considerably increased of late, doubtless from the fact that those that have been there some time have nearly all done well, which is generally the case where gambling aud opium-smokiug saloons are supported, and the Round Hill boasts of three of these places of amusement. The County Council of Wallace has formed good pack tracks to thege diggings, which has been a great boon to the community. Longwood, where a rich reef was struck about twelve months ago, is being prospected, but the thickly timbered and broken nature ofthe country renders it a slow process. The prospecting claim, though very rich, has not yet been worked, as it was locked up through litigation till Christmas last, when it was sold by order of the AVarden's Court under a suit for a dissolution of partnership, and brought £2,050 cash. The purchasers have been putting in a tunnel at a low level, and expect to strike the reef in the course ofa week or two. This tunnel, it is supposed, will drain the adjoining claim, which is supposed to be equally rich ; but the proprietors have not been able to contend with the water. Three other claims are at work, but the tightness of the money market prevents the owners from pushing on as they otherwise would. Notwithstanding the present state of things, I look forward to the Longwood being a large quartz-mining field. I have, Ac, John Nugent AVood, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

WEST WANGANUI GOLD FIELD. No. 18. Mr. Warden Mackay to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Government Buildings, Nelson, 21st May, 1879. In compliance with your circular, Ko. 330, of 26th April, I return herewith the forms, duly filled iv with the particulars needed, as far as it is possible to supply them. I have nothing noteworthy to record concerning the state of the fields since the date of my last report. I have, Ac, A. Mackay, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. AVarden.

WATER RACES. No. 19. Mr. H. A. Gordon, Manager of the Nelson Creek Water-race, to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir, — Office of Nelson Creek AVater-race, Hatter's Terrace, Ist July, 1879. I have the honor to submit annual report on the transactions connected with tho working and maintenance of the Nelson Creek AVater-race for tho year ending the 30th June, 1879. The average number of persons employed in mining operations, that have used water from the Nelson Creek Water-race during the year, has been sixty-seven, and the amount of gold obtained by tiiem during the same period (as near as can be ascertained) has been about 4,659 oz., which represents the value of £17,820 14s. The value of water sold during the year has been £1,805 12s. 3d., and tho cost of maintenance £1,434 2s. Bd., thus showing a balance of receipts above the expenditure of £371 9s. 7d. After deducting the value of water sold from the value of the gold obtained it leaves £1G,015 Is. 9d., which amounts to £239 os. 4d. per man per annum, or £4 lis. lid. per mau per week for wages and expenses in finding hydraulic plant and materials in working the ground. The sales of water for the six months ending the 30th June, 1879, show an increase of £173 15s 7d. on the receipts for the six months previous. This is due iv some measure to the purchase of Sherman and party's water-rights in Gow's Creek, as it allowed more of the claims to got to work in the vicinity of Owen's Look-out; but the principal claims which are using water at present from the race are situated at No. 1 Terrace, German Gully, and at Try Again Terrace. I have, Ac., Henry A. Gordon, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Manager.

No. 20. Mr. J. Gow, Manager of the Waimea-Kumara Water-race, to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sib,— Public Works Office, Kumara, Bth July, 1879. In reply to your memorandum No. 477, of the 10th of June, I have the honor to forward herewith a general report upon the transactions connected with the working and maintenance of the Waimea-Kumara AVater-race for the year eliding 30th June, 1879.