C—3a.

payable ground; but, being most of them private parties, the actual results have not been made public. The Enterprise dredge has, however, averaged about 230z. per week, whilst some of the others have as much as doubled that average. Bald Hill Flat. In this locality success greatly depends upon a good water-supply, and this, last year, although expected to be very good, was in reality not above the average. Mr. John Ewing now owns the property formerly owned by the Bald Hill Sluicing Company (Limited), and managed to get about six months' work with an average of six men, during which time 4200z. were got. The ground is very good, and, when water is available, Mr. McPherson, the manager, manages to get over a lot of bottom. Hessar and party have had a very good season, their excellent water-supply standing them in good stead. They own about sixty-five miles of a water-race, and this, as it may be supposed, entails great expense in keeping in repair. One of the party informs me that they have worked out since they commenced operations about 10 acres, which averaged sgr. to 7gr. to the cubic yard. Carrol and Lynch have felt the want of a constant supply of water, but the splendid wash they have been treating has made up in a measure for this drawback. Mr. George Wilkinson has four men employed in his claim at the head of the flat, and seems to be quite satisfied with the result. Mitchell Brothers and a party of Chinese are also working steadily on the flat, and are, I believe, doing fairly well. Several men are working in Butler's freehold, and are, it is said, making excellent wages. The terms upon which Mr. Butler allows them to work are, I am informed, at the value of £10 per acre and a small percentage of the gold won ; the top soil to be saved, and then replaced on the ground worked. Other freeholds in this locality would, I believe, pay for being treated on similar terms. Quaetz-mining. A promising reef has been opened by a party of young men on a spur between Gorge and Coal Creeks. So far very little work has been done on it, and therefore nothing definite can be said of its value at present; but lam informed, at its present stage of development, it looks quite up to the average of reefs found and worked in this locality. The Excelsior Claim, owned and worked by Mr. Francis W. Gray, has been yielding some splendid returns lately, and although the lodes are not up to the phenomenal results of a year or two ago, still the 2700z. got out during the last few months by two men must be considered very satisfactory. At White's reef work is being carried on with great vigour, some six men being employed in the mine ; and, although Mr. Robert Symes, the proprietor, does not publish his receipts, it is generally understood that the claim is paying him very handsomely. The Exhibition Mine, owned by Mr. Henry Symes, is at present shut down pending the erection of a ten-head stamper battery, which he lately purchased from Mr. J. F. Kitching, and known as " The Alpine." The two lines of reef in Conroy's Gully, which, many years ago, under most unfavourable circumstances, yielded upwards of three thousand pounds' worth of gold, have again been taken up with a view of inducing the flow of capital in that direction to give them another trial. Wakatipu and Aerow. In this portion of the subdivision there is every reason to believe that something like a revival is about to take place. At the Lower Shotover four new dredging claims of 100 acres each, extending along the course of the river to the west of the bridge, have been taken up, whilst immediately to the west of the Victoria Bridge still another has been applied for, and an attempt is likely to be made to work some portions of the Gibbston Flat. With reference to quartz-mining, I have to report that the Achilles Company quite recently got a cake of gold weighing about 4500z. as a result of one month's driving and twenty days crushing, the latter operations having been proceeded with concurrently with the former. The yield for the year was 2,0000z. The Tipperary and Glenrock Companies, under the management of Mr. W. J. Stanford, have had no great yield of gold during the year, having been occupied during most of the time in prospecting operations, with, according to present indications, every prospect of success. The Leviathan and Crystal Companies have only just commenced operations, and have lately amalgamated and been floated as one concern, with a company whose head office will be in London. The yield, so far, has been -|oz. to the ton. Over this subdivision the mining population remains about stationary, whilst the gold revenue well maintains the average of the last ten years. Cromwell. During the year mining matters in this subdivision, although marked by no exceptional finds, show a marked tendency to improvement. The water-supply has been well maintained, and there has not been much broken time ; however, the yields have not been large, owing, no doubt, to the richer alluvial deposits having been well-nigh worked out, and the deposits remaining, requiring improved appliances and the concentration of the water in larger streams. This, of course, cannot be effected without amalgamation of the various companies. Bannockburn has been quiet, and I understand that Parby and party's licensed holding has not done more than pay small wages, whilst the Pipeclay Channel Company's interest has been recently sold for £100 —a very small figure considering the outlay of capital. At Nevis, Robertson and party are reported to have done very well, whilst Ritchie Brothers, at the Lower Crossing, Masters Brothers, at Galvin's Terrace, and the Pactolus Syndicate are all

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