C—3a.

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS OF WARDENS AND OTHER OFFICERS ON GOLDFIELDS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. Warden Bush to the Undeb-Secbetaby fob Mines, Wellington. Sib,— Warden's Office, Thames, 22nd April, 1897. In reply to your circular of 9th March, I have the honour to furnish the following report on the Puhipuhi Goldfield, near Whangarei. There are eighteen claims in existence, which pay £875 per annum rent. The area occupied is 1,790 acres, and there are twenty-five miners at work. I had hoped from the prospects of the field when last reporting that there would have been a little more vitality by this time. The British Gold and Silver-mining Company owns six special claims, and consists of gentlemen who are prepared to expend a considerable sum of money in working and developing their mine, but up to the present they seem to have met with many disappointments. Several thousand pounds have been spent on and about this property, but, so far, with little benefit. There is a considerable quantity of silver ore on this property, which it is stated should pay well, but owing to the want of a something, no return worth mentioning has yet been obtained; whether the fault is in the management, or want of knowledge in the treatment of the ore, I am not in a position to say. This company deserves better fortune. Another property I understand has been floated on the Home market, but the bulk of the claims have had more or less protection to give the licensees' time to procure capital to.enable them to develop the ground. I believe a time will come when a process will be discovered which will enable these ores to be satisfactorily treated, when, I believe, it would pay to work some of these claims. Under the present known processes it is very difficult to save sufficient silver and gold to pay. The British Company have a battery, tram-line, and reservoir in connection with their claims, also a water-race. It is to be hoped the next year's report may show some improvement on this field, in the shape of one or two of the mines there employing the full number of men, and being able to pay working expenses from results obtained. I have, &c, E. S. Bush, late Warden, Puhipuhi. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

No. 2. Mr. Warden Bush to the Undeb-Secbetaey fob Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Warden's Office, Thames, 7th July, 1897. I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Hauraki Goldfleld : — Thames County. The prospects of this portion of the mining district have never been so bright as at present. During the past year a most beneficial change took place in the prospects of the mining industry. To the introduction of large sums of foreign capital to assist in systematically developing the large areas of auriferous back-country which the county possesses may this change be attributed, and not to any actual increase in the output of gold. During tfie past year the amount of bullion won has shown a decrease as compared with the previous twelve months, as the works carried out have been more of a developing than of a productive nature. With the assistance provided by the outside capital large and more systematic works have been commenced in the old-established mines, and new and hitherto almost unknown portions of the district have been prospected. The result of this prospecting goes to prove that a large and highly auriferous back-country exists. Several mines containing rich reefs have been opened up, notably the Broken Hill (Tairua) and Whangamata Proprietary.

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