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There is no item of interest to report during the past year as having occurred in the district. There has been little or no variance of the population in numbers or condition, and very few changes in the claims. The Mountain Hut Bace, referred to in my former reports, has been discontinued for want of funds. This is a matter for regret, because the water it would bring on the field is much needed, and the race would command a large tract of country, and doubtless would profitably employ a number of miners. The proprietors have not relinquished the work entirely, but are seeking protection, at the expiry of which, if granted, they hope, with some outside assistance, to complete the work. Throughout the year, with very short intervals, water has been abundantly available for sluicing, and in consequence the return of gold has been satisfactory. There have been no new finds, nor any other new feature deserving mention. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Wellington. Jackson Keddell, Warden.

No. 12. Mr. Warden Hawkins to the Undee-Seceetaby of Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Warden's Office, Lawrence, 7th May, 1894. I have the honour to forward the usual statistical returns for the districts of Tuapeka, Tapanui, and Waikaia, together with a brief report of the state of mining in the said districts ; and also returns showing the business done in the various Courts, outside of goldfields, over which I preside. Tuapeka. There is very little change to record in mining matters since the date of last report. The number of mining applications dealt with is about the same as those of the preceding year. Eleven occupation licenses have been granted; also, two licensed holdings of 48 acres, and one special claim of 20 acres. The heavy rainfall of a few weeks ago caused much damage to mining in many parts of the district. In Gabriel's Gully the claim of the Local Industry was flooded; and had it not been for the foresight of the Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Company they also would have suffered considerably. As it was, during the year an obstruction in their underground tailrace put the latter to an expense of some hundreds of pounds, besides retarding their working. The Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Company have done an immense amount of work during the year. The cement treated by them (a very hard material) is estimated at 242,765 tons ; the quantity of gold saved, 2,1660z. The average number of men employed has been forty-six ; cost of explosives used, £613 9s. lOd.; and wages paid, £4,642 ss. sd. The Local Industry Company, whose total amount of paid-up capital is £1,050, has, during the year, paid £525 in dividends. This company has just applied to increase its holding in Gabriel's Gully to 23 acres. About six men are employed. Having leased the Phoenix Company's water, there is a fair supply throughout the year: and by means of the elevator plant they have put through 67,200 tons of tailings. Messrs. Kitto and party, who have been working steadily in Munro's Gully for more than twenty years, are now constructing a race exceeding twenty miles in length. They intend to bring in twelve heads of water from the Waipori Biver. This is a very heavy undertaking for a small party of working miners, and will entail an outlay of not less than £2,000 in labour and material. They are constructing the race themselves, and have already done a very great part of the work. They were compelled to go into this enterprise, as they had worked the portion of their claim commanded by their old race. John Donlan and party, at Weatherstones, have been granted, subject to survey, a special claim of 20 acres. They intend to work a portion of the flat by means of elevators. They are now busily at work erecting the plant. It is considered that the Weatherstone Flat affords a fine field for working by the mode they intent to adopt. At the Beaumont-Tuapeka Flat, and along the Tuapeka Eiver to the mouth, mining is being carried on steadily, but there are no finds of any importance to note. Waipoei. At Waipori a very large amount of work has been done during the year, and a considerable quantity of gold obtained. The Jutland Flat Company, dredging 313,974 tons of river-deposit, obtained 1,0270z.; the Upper Waipori Gold-dredging Company, dredging 435,075 tons, obtained 1,3700z.; the Amalgamated Deep Lead Company sluiced, by means of their elevator, 99,000 tons for a return of 510oz. These three companies have employed a total average of thirty men, besides a number of others employed indirectly by them in carting material, stores, &c, for their needs. The injunction recently issued against the Jutland Flat Company, at the instance of some of the Berwick farmers, has had the effect of stopping the work of the Jutland Flat and the Upper Waipori Companies, and, in consequence, at present a considerable number of men are thrown out of work at a time of the year when other work is not easily obtainable. The dredging companies, since they started a few years ago, have obtained gold worth about £30,000. The alluvial claims in the district are yielding, with a few exceptions, scarcely more than wages. A notable instance, however, occurred a short time ago, when two Chinamen found a nugget worth about £100 at the head of Lammerlaw Creek. The quartz workings are at present almost at a standstill. Gare and party have for the present ceased working their claim, while any other claims are being merely prospected.