a—3a,

14

Greymouth. As regards alluvial mining, I must premise by stating that there is nothing calling for special mention, no fresh developments having taken place within the period under review. The older portions of the diggings, although probably becoming poorer year by year, appear to maintain a stationary population, for, unless it be the case of Chinese, there has been no very apparent increase or diminution in the mining population during the last few years. Commencing at the extreme northern end of the Greymouth sub-division : — Barrytown. —l am informed that the majority of the miners are not doing remarkably well, although about the same population as during the previous year is still sustained. There are no fresh discoveries to report. A quartz-prospecting area has, however, been applied for, a licensed holding in alluvial ground of 7-J acres taken up, and a battery for crushing black-sand cement is in course of erection. Between the Ten-mile and Cobden there is a mining population of about twenty men, about whom the most that can be said is that they are making a living. One party of miners at the Ten-mile is engaged bringing a race on to some ground, and their venture is thought to be a good one. Sulky Gully and Fiji Terrace at the time my last report was written were manned by coalminers from the Brunner Mine, whose time was not fully occupied at their usual avocations. They thought to thus profitably occupy their spare time, but I believe their hopes were not realised, and this locality is now deserted by all excepting some half a dozen men. It is, however, said that a party of Chinese is doing fairly well, although possessed of a very limited water-supply; and in the same locality a party of Europeans, who are bringing in a race from McLean's Creek—a large undertaking—hope on its completion to be amply repaid for their trouble. At Maori Gully, one of the rich diggings of days gone by, a small but settled population still succeeds in earning a livelihood. There is no change to report from Marsden, Welshman's, Limestone, and No Name. The European population continues the same, but there has been a slight diminution in the number of Chinese. At Dunganville, on the other hand, there has been an increase in the Chinese population, some eighty or ninety of whom are now mining there. The miners in this portion of my district are forming an association for prospecting purposes, and it is to be hoped that their efforts in this direction will be successful. Quartz-mining. At the Paparoa Bange, more familiarly known as Langdon's, the owners of the Victory Claim—• Messrs. Curtis Brothers—have erected a five-head crushing-battery, constructed a tramway, and built a large dam. They have also during the year extended the main tunnel about 50ft. along the reef, and opened out three stopes. The leading stope is 134 ft. on the reef, which averages from 18in. to 2ft. in width. A lower level tunnel was also started, but the stormy weather of some weeks back carried away the face of it, and a fresh start .will now require to be made. Crushing was commenced in October last, and has been continued pretty regularly each month since then. Mr. Curtis supplies the following information respecting the crushings : October-November, 30 tons; December, 25 tons ; January, 35 tons; February, 45 tons. These crushings averaged 2oz. 12dwt. per ton. In March, 20J tons were crushed, yielding 78oz. 3dwt. 6gr. of melted gold, of a value of £317 4s. 2d. Julian Company. —This company has been engaged putting in a new drive, known as No. 3 drive, seeking for what is known as Langdon's reef, though at a considerably lower level than where it was originally driven on. During the year 600 ft. have been driven; 300 ft. of this is straight driving, and the balance a cross-cut to the westward. No gold-bearing stone was met with in the drive. It is expected that the Victory reef will ultimately be found in this claim. A little prospecting only has been done on the other claims in this locality. One special claim and three licensed holdings were applied for during the year in the same neighbourhood, two of which were taken up. The other two are not yet surveyed. In connection with quartz-mining matters, it might here be mentioned that negotiations were entered into by the owners of seven of the claims at Langdon's with Mr. Mills, of the firm of Forsyth and Masters, who was going Home to float the same on the London market; but Mr. Mills, on reaching England, found it necessary to modify the offer he had made to the claim-owners, and, as Messrs. Curtis, of the Victory Claim, would not agree to the fresh proposals, nothing eventuated. COAL-MINING AND TIMBER. Grey mouth-Point Elizabeth Bailway and Coal Company (Limited). —This company now controls the Brunner Mine, having, in October last, taken over the Grey Valley Coal Company interest. For the year ended December last the output was 98,021 tons, on which royalty to the amount of £1,450 lis. sd. was paid. Besides this an acreage rent of £1,000, reserved by the lease held by the company, has also been paid. Save the terrible accident which occurred on the morning of the 26th March last, the sad details of which have been too well published throughout the colony to bear repetition here, I know of nothing in connection with the mine requiring special mention. I am informed that a considerable amount of prospecting has been done during the year on this company's property at Point Elizabeth, and that it is now proposed to proceed with the railwayworks connecting the mine with the Port of Greymouth. The only other coal-producing mine in this district is situate at Blackball. It has been working regularly each week throughout the year, though not, I believe, on full time. The sales during the period under review have amounted to 38,943 tons. Timber. —During the past year the exporting sawmillers of the coast entered into a combination known as "The West Coast Timber Trading Company," which was incorporated under "The Companies Act, 1882," in October last. The objects of this association, which, I may say, executes all orders and sees to the shipment of same, are the securing of better rates and such other advantages as mutual combination alone can give rise to, while cheapness of administration is secured,