63

C—3

The mineral leases have been held from four to seven years without being worked, and, as these are granted with no conditions to keep a certain number of men employed, so long as the rent is paid no notice is taken with reference to the output of any mineral. " The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1887," provides for mineral leases being granted by the Warden, to the extent of 320 acres, at a minimum rental of 2s. 6d. per annum, and also provides for a certain number of men being employed. The latter condition being wanting in the leases granted by the Nelson Waste Lands Board is the cause of the complaint amongst the inhabitants of this district. Adams and Logan's Claim. —This claim was recently taken up, and a company is being formed to work the ground, which comprises a special claim of 100 acres, and they have also got the right to mine on Mr. Travers's freehold. The ground is situate directly above the head of the Parapara tidal lagoon, and takes in portions of the slopes and foot of the ranges adjacent to Messrs. Washbourn Bros.' paint-works. No work has been done with the exception of prospecting-holes being sunk here and there all over the claim. There seems to be a deep run of quartz-gravel wash going from the Parapara River towards Messrs. Washbourn Bros.' paint-works, on which a little working was done several years ago; and, on inquiry, one of the parties who worked here —H. Washbourn —stated that a good deal of gold was obtained, but the supply of water was far too small to be of any utility for working the ground systematically. Mr. Logan showed me a large number of prospects he obtained while sinking the prospecting-holes. Each prospect or small quantity of gold he had in separate parcels, being the results of washing a tin-dishful of stuff. The character of the ground makes it specially adapted for hydraulic sluicing, and to all appearance these parties have a property which will prove remunerative for working with a modern plant and a good supply of water. Mr. Washbourn stated that when he left off working the ground it paid him 12s. a day, and the reason of giving up his claim was that he started the lisernatite-paint works, and could not attend to both; and also, that the supply of water he had was too small, and at too low an elevation to work the ground advantageously. This company intends to construct a water-race from the Parapara River, where they will be able to bring in the water at an elevation of about 280 ft. above the level of the flat, or 240 ft. above the saddle where the horse-track crosses into the valley of the Parapara River, and to work the flat with hydraulic elevators, and the slopes and foot of the ranges by hydraulic sluicing. Judging from the formation of the country and the character of the wash-drift, there is at least a large portion of their claim that will pay for working along the low slopes and foot of the ranges, if a sufficient supply of water can be obtained at the proposed elevation and a good modern plant put on the ground, with a man in charge who thoroughly understands the modern methods of hydraulic sluicing. The quantity of water available for this company in the Parapara River at the time of my visit was about seven sluice-heads; but a good supply could be obtained for at least eight months in the year. Olengyle Company. —This is a private company, consisting of four working shareholders. Their claim is situate in Glengyle Gully, on the western side of the Parapara River, about a mile and a half up from its mouth. The claim also takes in a portion of Appo's Gully. The ground is worked by ground-sluicing—that is, the whole of the water comes over the face, and the fine material is carried away in sluice-boxes, which are 2ft. wide, and have a gradient of Sin. to 12ft. The large boulders are partly built up in the paddock and partly carried away on a truck by a tramway alongside the sluice. This company have been five years at work, including the time they were engaged in bringing in a water-supply. This supply is taken from the Parapara River in boxing for the whole of the distance, which Is a mile and a half. The boxing is laid on a bench, in most instances cut out of rock through a narrow gorge ; it is 2ft. wide and lft. 4in. deep, laid on a gradient of 1 in 144, or 36ft. Bin. to the mile, the depth of water-flowing in this box being llin., which would be equal to about seven sluice-heads. This supply is brought in at an elevation of about 110 ft. above the head of their sluice, or level at which they are working. Their present workings are confined

Names of Lessees. District in which Lease is granted. Area. Kental per Annum. Minimum I Rental per Acre. Maximum Kental per Acre. Date of granting Lease (Term, 21 Years). * 1 i Mineral Leases. Cerr and "Adams Aorerc .. Acres. 142 First twoyears,£3 lls.; remainder, £1 2s. First two years, £15 ; remainder, £30 First two years, £16; second two years, £20; remainder, £64 First two years, £16; second two years, £32 ; remainder, £64 s. (1. 0 6 s. a. i o 1st January, 1884 . H. Keep Parapara 598 0 6 1st July, 1887.! led Hill Gold-mining Company Aorere .. 640 0 6 1 0 1st January, 1887. led Hill Gold-mining Company Aorere .. 571 0 6| 2 y 1st January, 1887. Total I i 1,951 Coal Leases. £err and Adams Pakawau . 640 First two years, £16 ; next three years, £32; remainder, £64 First two years, £16 ; next three years, £32 ; remainder, £64 First two years, £22 10s.; next four years, £45; remainder, £112 10s. 1st January, 1886. 0 6 2 0 £err and Adams Pakavvau 450 0 8£ 2 10 1st January, 1888, l\ Marshall Pakawau 320 1 5 7 0 1st January, 1888, Total 1,410