9

G.—i 2

dredges have been placed on the ocean-beaches to lift and treat the auriferous sand, they have, so far, not proved a success, owing to the washing appliances being defective for the character of gold found; but where dredges have been placed on river-beds to deal with the concentrated material from the recent and more modern gravels, these machines have proved satisfactory. Upper Bulleb. There is a considerable population engaged in mining between the junction of the Inangahua and Buller Bivers and the head of Matakitaki Valley, where the workings are carried on along the banks and terraces fronting the Buller Biver, and also in the valleys of the Matakitaki and Glenroy Bivers. At the upper Matakitaki there is a great depth of auriferous wash-drifts on many of the terraces, and during the last year the Mammoth Company has expended a considerable amount of money in bringing in a water-supply to work these drifts by hydraulic sluicing. From the trial-tests recently made, a large quantity of ground is likely to be found that will pay for working in this manner. Higher up than where these auriferous gravels are deposited is a very large area of country covered with quartz conglomerate resembling, to a large extent, that now being worked for gold in South Africa. These conglomerates extend from the Mangles to near the Maruia Biver. Some parcels have been tested at Beefton from this formation, and as high as sdwt. of gold to the ton have been obtained, but the area covered with these conglomerates is so large that it would take.a .considerable time to prospect the deposit, unless by mere chance a rich lead was met with. There is, however, an indication that a field will be opened up in this locality where quartz-crushing machinery will be largely employed. Westpoet, Addison's, and Chaeleston. There are a considerable number of miners working north of Westport, on the North Beach, North Terrace, and in the bed of the Waimangaroa Biver. Several nuggets have been recently found at the Waimangaroa, which led to a number of mining claims being taken up. On the south of the Buller Biver there are about twenty men engaged in hydraulic sluicing at Bradshaw's Terrace; and there is a considerable mining population at Addison's, and also at Charleston. Addison's Flat comprises a large pakihi, having several leads of gold-bearing gravels running through it parallel with the ocean-beach. There are a considerable number of mining claims on this flat which give remunerative returns for working, and more of the ground would be taken up if a further supply of water could be procured at a reasonable cost, the whole of the water from the local creeks and rivers being at present all utilised. At Charleston the workings are principally on old sea-beach deposits. Large areas are covered with a dark-brown sand cemented firmly together with oxide of iron, which requires crushing machinery to liberate the gold which the sand contains. Several parties are also carrying on hydraulic-sluicing operations, while others are engaged in washing the sand on the ocean-beach, and making a comfortable livelihood. About 282 men are engaged in mining in the Westport district. Geey Valley. The whole of the country in the vicinity of the Grey Valley is more or less auriferous, and some very rich deposits of auriferous gravels have been and are still being worked on the south side of the valley, where there is almost an unbroken line of the old gravels extending from the Inangahua Biver to Maori Creek. In every gully and creek-bed cutting into these gravels rich auriferous deposits have been found, and in many places bands and layers of these gravels have given good returns for driving out from shafts and adit-levels. In many of the wide valleys, where the auriferous layer has not a great depth of superincumbent material above .it, the ground is worked by paddocking. Slab Hut, Antonio's, Blackwater, Snowy, Waipuna, Duffers, Half Ounce, Orwell, Callaghan, Nelson, Bed Jack's, and No Town Creeks, with their various tributaries, have been and are yet the receptable of rich auriferous concentrated 2-0. 2.