25

H.—s

The Duchess of Albany, The Nuggetty, The Deep Creek, The Star of the South, and The Try-for-it (other reefing companies) can at present only be recorded as holders of leases with the privilege attached of paying rent for their claims. General Summary.—All things taken into consideration, I think matters look much better than they have done for some years past in the Wakamarina District. A fair amount of capital has been expended on some of the claims, and some very good work has been done. I hope to have something better worth reporting during the current year. I have, &c, J. Allen, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

NELSON GOLD FIELDS. No. 6. Mr. Warden Curtis to the Under-Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Nelson, 14th April, 1883. I have the honour to forward to you herewith the various forms with which you furnished me, filled up with the required information relative to the Wangapeka Gold Field. I have only to report that nothing whatever worthy of notice has occurred within the past twelve months in the district under my charge. I have, &c, Oswald Curtis, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

No. 7. Mr. Warden Gibbs to the Under-Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Collingwood, 16th April, 1883. I have the honour to forward for your information statistics and report of the condition of this gold field for the year ending the 31st March, 1883. There is very little that is new to report upon for the past year. Many of the matters referred to in my last report as looking hopeful are much in the same condition now, and the same difficulties which hindered the progress of many promising works are still existing, namely, the want of water and the continuance of the road-making. The Gouland Downs referred to last year, and about which so much has been written, and from the opening of which so much is expected by those who know and have prospected the ground, is, through the stoppage of the road-making, for which Parliament has more than once voted the money, still closed both to the miner and the grazier. The quartz ranges in this locality, the prospecting of which was going on last year for quartz reefs;, has, up to the present, not been successful in developing any workable reefs. There are a few men sluicing near the old ground, that being the only place in this large block of country where there is available water. It is generally believed that this locality would carry a considerable population, if water could be obtained at a moderate cost. The Rocky River, one of the tributaries of the Aorere, has during the year attracted some attention through several large nuggets having been found. This place has always been noted for its rough gold. Druggan's Flat, which I referred to last year as ground over which I had granted extended claims of one acre to each man, intended to be worked on a new plan entailing considerable preliminary expense, has so far turned out a success that, with few exceptions, the men are all actively working their claims, and I believe profitably. The older diggings are still worked by men who may be considered as much settlers as some of the agriculturists : they have good houses, and gardens with plenty of fruit trees in bearing, the gold-mining as carried on by them assuming all the features of a settled industry. Bedstead Gully (in this locality).—The tunnel intended to work the old Perseverance ground by Johnson and Co. is now 575 feet in. The stuff'is very hard, the new contractors for the drive barely making wages at £1 4s. per foot. This company is very sanguine of success. There arc large tracts in this part of the district which would give good returns if some inexpensive scheme of supplying water were adopted. The flume which was built in 1860 by the Nelson Gold-Mining Company, and which, till within the last few years, to some extent supplied the wants of this part of the district, became so much decayed as to be past repairing, and has entirely fallen. Such a supply at the present time, with the increased knowledge of the ground, would enable a large number tif men to engage in profitable work. The flume above referred to cost some £3,000. . The Red Hill:—- -The enterprising owner of this claim (Mr. John Ross) having recently died, these works are at a standstill. I have no doubt, however, that when the ground gets into other hands the works will become productive. 4—H. 5.