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There are very few inhabitants in this part of the colony, these few being settled near the ocean-beach. But few explorers have been any distance back from the sea-coast beyond the foot of the ranges. There is, how r ever, a large area of country lying between the head of the Arrow and Shotovcr Rivers and the West Coast which has never yet been explored, and where gold is likely to be found; but, owing to its high elevation, and the difficulty of access, it will only be by mere chance that any mineral discoveries will be made. Westport. There are very few miners in the immediate vicinity of Westport, and these few are scattered along the ocean-beach as far north as Mokihinui, and as far south as Fox's River, at Brighton; the principal gold-workings being at Charleston and Addison's Flat. At the former place a number of crushing-machines have been erected, which enable the cement to be worked at a profit, as it would not pay for sluicing in the ordinary manner with water. There are large areas of this cement on the Charleston Flat, and the Back Lead, and also on Brown's Terrace, which are likely to pay for working by this method; and there are also considerable areas covered with the same character of cement on Addison's Flat which are likely to be taken up. During last year one machine was erected. This is said to work the ground profitably. There are still a number of good claims on Addison's Flat, all the gold being obtained in ancient sea-beach wash-drift and sand. Several of these leads have been discovered between the present ocean-beach and the ranges, which are in some places six and seven miles inland, and there is still a large field in this locality for carrying on prospecting operations. A water-race has been completed from the Totara River to the Shamrock Lead, where a mining company intends to work the ground on the hydraulic-elevating principle; and a new lead was discovered in the early part of last year at Bradshaw Terrace, at the sea-beach side of Addison's Flat, which is likely to turn out well. The quantity of gold obtained in the Westport District last year was 15,8320z., representing a value of £63,420; whereas for the former year 14,1480z. was obtained, valued at £56,540. Inangahua. There are very little alluvial workings in the Inangahua District as compared with other districts on the West Coast. This may, however, be termed the only large quartz-mining district in the Middle Island. Still, there were about 320 men engaged in alluvial mining at Matakitaki, Maruia, Antonio's, Slab Hut Creek, and Blackwater. Of this number, 220 were Chinese; and the quantity of gold obtained was 4,2070z., representing a value of £16,407. Grey. This is a district where there are a' number of gold-mining centres, and a considerable population at each. The belt of country covered with auriferous drifts extends from the seacoast at Paroa and Rutherglen, and runs nearly parallel with the course of the Grey River up to Waipuna. There is very little of the ground in this belt where it is covered with driftgravel but would pay for working with a good supply of water; and, the Grey River being the only outlet for tailings, any flats or small parcels of lands which do not appear sufficiently auriferous for working are required as sites for tailings. Again, on the northern side of the Grey River there is another belt of country covered with auriferous drifts, from near the Otututu River to the ocean-beach at the Ten-mile and Seventeen-mile Creeks, which includes Slaty River, Moonlight, Blackball, and the terraces on to Langdon's. It is on these two belts of country that all the miners in the Grey District are working. It may be said that the whole of the Grey District outside the coalfields is highly auriferous, and even within the coalfields gold is obtained in the alluvial drifts. During last year 24,5450z. of gold was obtained in this district, representing a value of £98,141. Westland. The Westland District contains the largest area covered with auriferous drifts there is on the West Coast. It extends for 220 miles along the coast-line southward of the Teremakau River, every sandy beach being auriferous. Some of them have been remarkably rich, such as the Saltwater, Three-mile, Five-mile, and Gillespie's. At these places men are still making a livelihood, although the beaches have been worked for the last twenty-seven years. Notwithstanding that almost every river-bed in Westland contains auriferous drift, very few of them have been thoroughly prospected; and, as these rivers carry auriferous drifts onwards to 2-C. 2.