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dipping under the toe of the range, with a great depth of loose material and heavy boulders overlying it. Here there is but very little gold, and the limited fall in the tail-races is not sufficient to convey away a large quantity of coarse wash-drift. This is a field where a considerable mining population will make a livelihood for many years. Miners are working here and there in different places in the valley of the Manuherikiu Biver, and in many of its tributaries. Last year some ground was opened at Manorburn, where several claims were said to yield fair returns of gold. TUAPEKA. It was in this district that gold was first discovered in Otago, and the rich finds in Gabriel's, Munro's, Wetherston's, and Waitahuna Gullies, all made within a few weeks of each other, induced thousands of people from other colonies to come to New Zealand. Even now, notwithstanding that thirty-four years have passed since these places were opened, there are still a number of men obtaining their livelihood by gold-mining in close vicinity to the early workings. It is gratifying to state that the deposit at the head of Gabriel's Gully, where men have been employed since the first opening of the field, is still continuing to yield a fair profit; I refer to the Blue Spur, where the principal workings are carried on by a company, formed with English capital, who got about 3,7890z. gold for the year's work. It is to be regretted that any dissensions have arisen between the miners at Waipori and the farmers holding land adjacent to the river in the vicinity of the Township of Berwick. Each class is to a certain extent dependent on the other, for the miners require supplies from the farmers, who thus get a ready market for their produce. I trust that the differences at present existing will soon be settled amicably. Through the whole of the Tuapeka District, which includes Waipori and the lower portion of the Clutha Valley, there were 600 men employed in carrying on mining operations last year, and 22,3500z. of gold was obtained, representing a value of £90,180. Clutha Valley. There are several large companies carrying on mining operations in this valley, some by hydraulic sluicing and elevating, and some by dredging. The whole of the drifts in the Clutha Valley are nothing but a deposit of concentrated material, the light sand and mud being carried away by the waters of the Clutha Biver to the ocean, and leaving the denser materials behind. This river has shifted its channel at different times, and gradually cut down its present bed, where very rich deposits of auriferous wash-drifts are found in many places. Indeed, there are few of the dredging-machines now placed in this river which are not working the bed with success. Dredges, as applied to mining, have not only been profitably employed in lifting the auriferous gravel from the beds of rivers, but they are also used in working the ground in flats, when the depth does not exceed 35ft., and where the quantity of water to contend with has hitherto prevented the ground being worked by any other means, and they are likely to be largely used in this way in the future. The bed of every tributary and stream coming into the Clutha Valley contain more or less gold ; and on the Old Man Bange, fronting the valley, whereever there is any wash-drift containing gold, men are to be found working at different places and making a livelihood whenever a supply of water can be obtained. A few people may still be found working at Bald Hill Flat, Butcher's, and Conroy Gullies, although the ground in these localities has been turned over several times. Cromwell. Both on the banks of the Clutha and Kawarau Bivers there are men engaged in sluicing the wash-drifts ; and, notwithstanding that Bannockburn is one of the oldest diggings in the locality, there are still a considerable number of miners employed, and a good deal of ground can yet be profitably worked if