C—3a.

Another reef, originally taken up by the O.P.Q. Company years ago in the same locality, and worked by them and other companies in succession and then abandoned, is at present in the hands of a party who are endeavouring to float it on the London market. The area is about 74 acres. There is evidence of increased activity in matters relating to mining throughout this district, and all are hopeful of better times in the near future. The mining population is somewhere about two hundred and fifty, including eighty Chinese. Waikaka. Little or nothing has been done here, except by Chinamen. Tapanui. It will be seen that very little is being done in this district, the total number of persons employed being twenty-five, of whom four are Chinese. I have, &c, Bobert S. Hawkins, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Return of Miners' Rights, Water Licenses, Business Licenses, and Registrations issued during the Year ended 31st March, 1896.

Return of Cases heard in the Magistrate's and Warden's Courts stated below, and of the Revenue collected, during the Year ended 31st March, 1896.

Return of Revenue collected during the Year ending 31st March, 1896.

20

Nature of Rights issuea ana of Applications receivea. Lawrence. Waikaia. Tapanui. Totals. Miners' rights ... Business licenses Water-race licenses 457 107 211 6 £20 14s. Information not furnished. 20 3 688 6 Eegistrations ... 309 i 10 319 Applications for special claims Special claims granted ... Applications for licensed holdings Licensed holdings granted Applications for mineral licenses ... Mineral licenses granted Number of ordinary applications dealt with 20 14 8 6 1 1 3 3 147 183 "7 357

Districts. Civil. Criminal. | Warfen's. ! L_ Totals. I I Revenue. Lawrence Milton Clinton Waikaia Kaitangata Gore Tapanui Balclutha i t • • 111 40 20 37 57 107 38 87 60 57 22 16 7 110 36 95 21 "7 192 97 42 60 64 217 74 182 £ a. 147 16 91 16 16 0 35 8 32 12 242 12 229 2 164 13 a. 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 6 Totals 497 403 28 928 960 0 0

Lawrence. Waikaia. Tapanui. Totals. Warden's Department ... Deferred-payments Magistrates' Courts on goldfields Magistrates' Courts outside of goldfields ... £ a. 702 11 382 6 147 16 a. 6 2 0 £ a. 234 10 35"8 a. 9 0 £ 8. 10 13 229"2 a. 0 0 £ s. a. 947 15 8 382 6 2 412 6 0 547 14 0 Totals ... 1,232 13 8 269 18 9 239 15 0 2,290 1 10