H.—s

42

There is no change of any note in alluvial mining in this part of the district, but increased attention has been paid to the quartz deposits. Nine quartz prospecting areas have been taken up during the year, of which all but two are in the Waipori District. The Waipori Flat opens a wide field for alluvial mining, but the expenditure of capital is necessary to attain this result. On the whole, although I have no instances of rich finds or crushings to record, the mining prospects of the district may be considered satisfactory. The Tuapeka Prospecting and Mining Company, the name of which explains its objects, still continues its operations in various parts of the district, and, although up to the present no successful results have crowned its efforts, it is still sanguine of ultimate success. The Company has up to the present expended between £300 and .£4OO, part of which was contributed by the Government, and it is now actively engaged prospecting the cement at Weathers ton's. The Company first commenced to search for quartz at the head of Gabriel's and Weatherston's Gullies. A tunnel was driven about 380 feet in the neighbourhood of the old Gabriel's Gully Quartz Company's workings. About half a mile from this, on the leading spur between Gabriel's and Weatherston's, tunnelling was carried on, and also in a gully bearing off to the right at the, head of Weatherston's. After work had been carried on for about a month a fine block of quartz was met with, which, after testing, was not thought to be sufficiently payable to warrant further outlay in its development. A shaft has been sunk on the cement at Weatherston's, and another is now being sunk, when it is proposed to connect these two, with the view of thoroughly testing the ground. The copper company is now at a complete standstill, and it is doubtful whether, at the present, operations will be again resumed. Work at the antimony mine has been stopped, owing to various causes; but, as there is a good plant upon the ground and the existence of a payable lode has been proved, there is little doubt that work will again be resumed. During the year 102 acres have been taken up as extended claims. Nine agricultural leases, embracing an area of 1,275 acres, have been issued ; fourteen, with an area of 1,699 acres, have been made freehold; and three have been exchanged into deferred-payment leases. Thirtyseven ordinary deferred- payment leases, embracing an area of 8,507 acres, and eleven pastoral deferred-payment leases, 9,320 acres, have been issued during the year; while seven ordinary deferred-payment holdings, 1,229 acres, have been purchased. A very limited number of deferred-payment settlers have up to the present in this district availed themselves of the provisions for their relief as provided in the Land Act Amendment Act of last session. The gold field of Waikaia is in a languishing condition. The Europeans have nearly given up mining, and have gone rabbiting; they find they can make higher wages, but it is a demoralizing life. In a few years this district will be one of the most nourishing farming districts in southern Otago, as the land has at last been thrown open for settlement. I have, &c, J. Nugent Wood, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

No. 16. Mr. Warden Robinson to the Under-Secketary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Oamaru, 31st March, 1883. I have the honour to forward herewith the usual annual statistical returns for the Maerewhenua division of the Otago Gold Field. There is not much of public interest to report in respect of this field for the past year. The number of miners at work has, with some fluctuations, continued at about the same average. So far as I can learn the earnings of miners at work have on the whole been rather better than of late years, the seasons having been favourable for sluicing. But there has been no new ground opened out, nor has any new enterprise of any consequence been started. It is not easy to get at an estimate of the yield of gold. There is no escort from Livingstone, and the miners dispose of their gold in various ways. Some goes to Naseby to the banks there, some is sold to local storekeepers at Livingstone and Duntroon, and some finds its way into Oamaru. No one, of course, tells what he gets. It seems probable, however, that the yield for the past year has been between 800 and 1000 ounces. Settlement in the neighbourhood of the diggings has contributed to benefit the miners by cheapening the means of living. There is now a considerable breadth of land under cultivation within a few miles of Livingstone. I have, &c, H. W. Robinson, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

No. 17. Mr. Warden Maitland to the Under-Secretauy for Gold Fields. Sib,— Warden's Office, Dunedin, 17th May, 1883. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual returns of particulars relating to the state and condition of the Hindon mining district for the twelve months ending the 31st