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my visit to Criffel. The drawbacks to the progress of the field are want of tracks and water. Up to the time of my visit only water for half an hour's washing per day could be stored during the night previous by damming up a small spring ; but one enterprising party —the discoverers, I believe, of the field; Messrs. Wilson, Holloway, and Co.—are engaged in constructing a race fifteen miles long, to bring in six heads of water for their own use, at a cost of from £1,200 to £1,500. I predict that a big rush will be made to this field in spring, as I am aware that parties at work there last summer netted handsome returns. If, however, this large gold field is to be worked with advantage to the colony and in the interests of mining, a considerable outlay will yet have to be made in the direction of water supply. I have been informed that an additional quantity can be procured from the head of the Luggate Creek, also from the stream known as the Gentle Annie. This new goldfield is a valuable one and deserves much attention. As snow covers the field thickly during the winter months, no work of consequence can be done upon it until the coming spring. Cromwell.—l returned to Pembroke during the afternoon, and left for Cromwell, which place I reached late in the evening. The next morning I proceeded to Bannockburn, where I inspected several large sluicing claims in operation in that district, and the Pipeclay Gully Sludgechannel, aided in construction by the Government. Dunstan. —I returned to Cromwell, and then went on to Clyde, where I remained for the night. Mining matters both here and at Cromwell are dull, but particularly so at Clyde. I am, however, disposed to think that an increased water supply at both places would enable most of the old workings to be re-washed with much advantage to the communities in each district. Black's—From Clyde I proceeded to Tinkers, Dry bread, and Sugar Pot. A the latter I saw the Undaunted and Blue-duck Sluicing claims, each work showing large mining enterprise. I then went on to Ophir, and remained for the night. Here I inspected the chief workings, and the Ophir Sludge-channel before proceeding on the next day to White Horse, Cambrians, Vinegar Hill, and St. Bathans, en route to Naseby, which place I reached late in the evening. Tinkers and St. Balkans. —At Tinkers and nearer to St. Bathans some of the sluicing claims were doing well, and were being worked on an enterprising scale. I observed St. Bathans Sludge-channel and Muddy Creek Channel to be in an unfinished state, through want of funds to complete them, and I think that the completion of these works will prove very beneficial to the district, as a greater supply of water-power could be advantageously used both in this neighbourhood and at Ophir, where a high level supply is very necessary to properly work the field. Near to St. Bathans Mr. Ewing is actively engaged in some extensive operations in mining by hydraulic sluicing at a low level, and he employs constantly a large number of men. At St. Bathans I was met by Mr. M. J. S. Mackenzie, M.H.E.j who was good enough to travel with me through the district. Naseby.- —At Naseby some great mining works have been accomplished, foremost among which is the Mount Ida Water-race, constructed at a cost of over £65,000 to the State. Its entire length covers about seventy miles, and it has been of incalculable value to the district in aiding to develop its riches. The mining carried on at and around Naseby is at present alluvial, and in some cases gold is being found at a considerable depth in payable quantities. There is no doubt that in this district, as also in many others I have visited, it is only a question of increased water-supply to result in an enormous addition to the gold production. Alexandra. —Having stayed two nights and a day at Naseby to inspect its many mines, I left for Alexandra, a distance of about sixty miJes, where I arrived in the evening, having visited on my route a quartz reef being opened on the Rugged Ridges, and known as the Otago Central Gold-Mining Company. This district I believe to abound in reefs, that only await capital and enterprise to work them. Gold-Dredgers. —The next morning I proceeded up the Clutha River some distance, where a large steam-dredge was at work. I boarded the dredge and acquainted 2—C. 6.