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country is extremely rough, and the hills for the most part covered with dense bush. Not a poor man's diggings, and not to be prospected properly unless one or two bridle-tracks are made across these ranges. If this necessary assistance of bridle-tracks was afforded miners would be able to get about, and probably some experienced practical quartz-reefers—men who were thoroughly acquainted with the work—might think it worth while to come from other reefing districts and spend a few months in making the " first find." Until this is done, or unless some purely accidental " first discovery" is made, the Marlborough Goldfield may be said to exist only in name. I may report that antimony has been found in this district, and very rich specimens of iron-ore have been sent to me from different places on this goldfield. I have, &c., The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. J. Allen, Warden.

NELSON GOLDFIELDS. No. 6. Mr. Warden Gibbs to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Warden's Office, Collingwood, 4th March, 1886. I have the honour herewith to transmit statistics pertaining to this goldfield for the past year. The mining operations generally have shown but little alteration since my last report. The population is about the same, and I believe all are doing fairly well. No fresh ground has been opened, but work has been very steadily pursued in the old localities. The only machinery at work for gold-mining purposes is at the Johnston's United (old Perseverance). In this claim some good stone has lately been struck, and the machinery, after standing still for some time, has again been set at work. In the claim known as the " Red Hill," for which a subsidy of pound for pound was granted up to £300 for putting in a low-level drive, the tunnel has been driven 600 ft. without striking any auriferous stone. The subsidy is exhausted, but the proprietors are talking of going in some distance further, being sanguine of success. I am glad to be able to say that the roads to the Gouland Downs, the Heaphy, and the Karamea, for which provision has so frequently been made by Parliament, are now being laid out by a competent surveyor; and there are great hopes that when this country becomes accessible, numbers will be induced to try their fortune on this new ground, which, although long known to be auriferous, has hitherto been too inaccessible to be fairly prospected. At the West Wanganui quartz reefs little has been done beyond putting in prospectingdrives. The Takaka sub-district has during the past year found employment for about the same number of men as were at work during the previous year; but within the last few weeks there has been a movement amongst a few men previously working at the sawmills to try their fortune as gold-miners in this locality and also in that leading to the Mount Arthur table-land. At the Parapara hematite works operations have been resumed under a new proprietary. The Wallsend Colliery, at Collingwood, has been for some time past turning out an increased quantity of coal, and is now employing about twenty-five men. I have, &c., The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Wm. Gibbs, Warden.

No. 7. Mr. Warden Curtis to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Warden's Office, Nelson, 22nd April, 1886. 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 Goldfield. I can only report that nothing worthy of notice has occurred in the district under my charge during the year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Oswald Curtis, Warden.

No. 8. Mr. Warden Bird to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Warden's Office, Westport, 4th May, 1886. I have the honour to furnish the following general report upon mining matters in the Buller Division of the district under my charge. Westport Subdivision. In alluvial mining there is no change to report. The number of men employed and the yield of gold remain much the same as they have been for several years past. Considerable progress has been made in quartz-mining operations during the past twelve months.