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Drainage. Big Pump (The Thames Drainage Board, owners ; Mr. W. H. Phillips, manager).—Pumping operations have been carried on during the yeai', and the water kept to the 500 ft. level; but in March last it was resolved to allow the water to rise to the 400 ft. level. The total cost for the year of working the pump, including coal, maintenance, and wages (£1,265 75.) was £3,874. The consumption of coal during the year was 2,645 tons. Six men were continuously employed. Accidents. One fatal accident occurred during the year. . A man named James Tagart, who had charge of the Cassell's plant at Karangahake, fell into a vat containing solution of cyanide of potassium ; he was quickly taken out, but died in about five minutes after his immersion. Explosives. The chief explosives used are : blasting-powder loose in ordinary grains, compressed powder in pellets, gelignite, dynamite, and rackarock. The compressed powder constitutes about twothirds of the explosives used at the Thames, ordinary grain powder, gelignite, and rackarock being the other third. Gelignite and dynamite are chiefly used at Kuaotunu, Ohinemuri, and Te Aroha. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Geo. Wilson, Inspector of Mines.

No. 5. Mr. Warden Allen to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Blenheim, 30th April, 1892.I have the honour to forward you the usual annual report re the goldfields under my charge for the year ended 31st March, 1892. Wakamarina. There is nothing to report re this district, excepting that a license has been granted Mr. Hunter Brown for a river-claim, and he intends working the said claim by dredges. He has been at work for some preparing for dredging operations, but the actual work of dredging has not yet commenced. Several small holdings have been let that I believe will prove a benefit to this district. CULLENSVILLE. Nothing new to report either from the creek or the flat. The work of the various claims has been steadily carried on, and, in many cases, with good results. Ido not think that the total quantity of gold found has decreased during the past year. Duncan's Valley. A small rush took place in this district, but the ground has not yet been properly tried. During the year now under consideration sufficient work has not been done to prove whether this valley will be found payable or not. Indications, so far, are good. As to all other alluvial districts in Marlborough there is nothing new to report. Quartz Claims. There are only two quartz companies that require notice—namely, the Southern Gross Company and the Bavenscliff Company, both of Waikakaho. The Eavenscliff Company, under the management of Messrs. Turner and Logan, have done a great deal of work during the past year preparatory to commencing crushing. A very complete plant and buildings have been erected, a lengthy tramway and water-race constructed, but up to the end of this year now under report no work has been done in the way of crushing to enable me to give any results. The Southern Cross Company have had a few men at work for some months doing good work towards prospecting their claims, but at present nothing more than prospecting has been done. This company appears to be satisfied with the result of their work. There is no doubt about the value of this Marlborough District as a mineral district; but, as I have reported before, it is simply a question of time as to when this large extent of mineral country will be profitably worked. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. J. Allen, Warden.

No. 6. Mr. Warden Heap to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Nelson, 6th April, 1892. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual mining returns for the Nelson and Motueka portion of the Karamea Mining District: — As the returns show, there has been little doing in mining matters in this' district during the past year; and as I have not had an opportunity of visiting the Wangapeka, Motupiko, Baton, or Mount Arthur districts during the year, I have little to report. I may, however, mention that some three years ago a road was made up the Wangapeka Eiver, with the intention of continuing it through to the Mokihinui, but this was not done. The portion of the road constructed, however, let the miners into a new district, and the consequence is a number of men are now profitably employed, and some of them very much so, if accounts of them are to be credited. The fact is not widely