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Again the returns show little progress in mining matters in the above district during the past year, but that attention has been attracted to the district is evident from the number of mining experts who have visited the district for the purpose -of reporting to principals at a distance on its resources. Mount Arthur Table-land. The experience of the last year has been similar to previous years for some time past. About six men have been constantly at work on the field, and their earnings, as far as I can learn, have not averaged more than £2 a week during the year. In the summer months they suffer from shortness of water, and in the winter from too much snow. It is difficult to understand how men can put up with the rigor of such an altitude—not far off 4,000 ft. —during the winter months for so little reward. Several applications were made during the year for special claims, but, after obtaining preliminary reports, were not gone on with, probably on account of the great outlay required in getting water and machinery on to the ground. Wangapeka District. I regret that I have not been able to visit this part of my district since my appointment as warden, and have therefore to fall back upon the courtesy of other officers for my information. I am indebted to the local Postmaster, Mr. H. A. Quenton, for the following notes, the obtaining of which has somewhat delayed the forwarding of my returns :— The Sherry. —Some twelve or fourteen men are working on this field, principally groundsluicing. During the past year Mr. R. Mcßae, of Wangapeka Run, has been employing miners to prospect the terraces on his country, with the result that payable gold has been found. He has lately had a head-race constructed some 120 chains in length, including some 30 chains of fluming, which, together with the dam, will provide a good supply of water at all times. Work is now in full swing, and a considerable quantity of gold has already been obtained. He has named the claim " The Belle Hydraulic Sluicing Company." Application is about to be made to have the Wangapeka Biver, below its junction with the Sherry, proclaimed a sludge-channel. Myers and party are also credited with making good wages with their hydraulic plant in one of the Sherry Hills. Boiling Biver. —Six men or so have been working here for many years, principally in the terraces, apparently content with small wages, combined with a comfortable hut and a small plot of garden-ground. Upper Wangapeka. —About a dozen men are working in the upper branches of this river. Most of the gold got is of a course nature, and is found in patches. Baton. —Most of the miners, which number about a dozen men, are old hands, and appear to make small wages. During the summer months several of the settlers employ their spare time in mining, often making a very welcome addition to their incomes by this means. The work done is principally in the bed of the Baton River. The Crow Track is still incomplete, so that the developments I ventured to predict last year as imminent on its completion still belong to the future. I have, &c, Wilson Heaps, Warden.

No. 5. Mr. Warden Greenfield to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Warden's Office, Westport, sth June, 1896. I have the honour to forward herewith statistical returns and report on the mining industry of the Karameamining district for the year ended the 31st March, 1896, as follows, viz.:— Addison's. The Venture Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Since my last report this company has registered under " The Mining Companies Act, 1882." During the year the company has continued to work with very satisfactory results, dividends equal to 33 per cent, on the capital invested being paid. The Addison's Gold-sluicing Company (Limited). —This company has been engaged during the year in the construction of a tail-race tunnel, referred to in my report of last year as 1 mile 18 chains in length. Two-thirds of the drive have been completed, and the company anticipate that the tunnel will be completed at an early date, when sluicing operations will commence. The Londonderry Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company has applied for a special claim of 100 acres and a licensed holding of 30 acres. The ground contains a large deposit of auriferous cement, which has been tested, with results of 3dwt. to sdwt to the ton. B. Smith and Party. —This party hold 10 acres of ground, and have applied for a special claim of 100 acres. They have had the water-race surveyed, and have completed about two miles of the race. It is intended to erect a battery, and it is reported that the ground contains exceptionally good auriferous cement. Bbadshaw's Teerace. The old-established claims in this locality have done fairly well during the year, and a few new parties have started to work. The discharge of tailings into Bradshaw's Creek has been a fruitful source of litigation between the landowners and miners, entailing considerable expense on both; and I am afraid the trouble will remain and increase so long as tailings are discharged into the creek. It is asserted by practical men who know the locality well that an effective sludge-channel could be constructed, at comparatively small outlay, to convey the tailings direct to the sea, which would not only be a great boon to the miners, but would divert the discharge of tailings from the