C-,2,

7

Company and several .other sluicing claims have given fair returns of gold. The Collingwood Goldfields (Limited) have constructed extensive water-races, and will shortly be in a position to commence hydraulic sluicing operations. West Coast. Hydraulic sluicing has been commenced at Karamea, and some prospecting is also carried on in that district. A number of small parties are employed on the beach between Mokihinui and Westport, and several parties are at work in the Waimangaroa and Orawaiti. At Fairdown the General Exploration Company have for some time conducted hydraulic sluicing operations. At Bradshaw's Terrace several parties are profitably employed, and at Addison's Flat a number of claims are being worked, but very little has been done at the Bendigo Claim during the year. Prospecting has also been carried on at Brown's Terrace. At Charleston the usual number of parties are employed on the cement leads and on the black-sand beaches. Powell's hydraulic elevating claim is also at work on the black-sand deposits near the beach. On the Buller River several parties are employed near Berlin's and at different points between Inangahua Junction and Lyell. Sluicing operations are also being carried on on the Matakitaki and Maruia Rivers. A number of parties are also employed on the branches of the Inangahua. Grey Valley. There is also alluvial mining at Antonio's, Blackwater, Noble's, and Orwell Creeks, and at Ahaura, Callaghan's, Nelson Creek, Healey's Gully, Blackball, and Moonlight, and at No Town, Bell Hill, and Sulky Gully. Greymouth Beaches. , Between Cobden and Point Elizabeth a few parties are working, and there are several sluicing claims at the Fourteen Mile Beach, Seventeen Mile Beach, Canoe Creek, and Barrytown Flat, and on other beaches as far north as Brighton. Small parties are also engaged at some of the creeks and beaches between Greymouth and Hokitika. Marsden District. A number of parties, Chinese and Europeans, are engaged at Saltwater River, Dunganville, and Mosquito Flat. Greenstone District. • -■"• .■'.:■. Both ground and hydraulic sluicing is carried on at Maori Point, Greenstone, Blackwater, and Cape Terrace. Kumara District. A number of persons continue to find employment in hydraulic sluicing operations. Upwards of seventeen parties work their claims through the channels, taking the water from the Kumara Water-race. Several private channels are also used by the owners of claims who have a water-supply of their own in addition to what is furnished from the Government Race. No. 5 Channel, Or Main Tail-race, has lately been completed, and the claim-owners are preparing to carry on sluicing through this channel. Prospecting for leads at deep levels is also being carried on. Waimea District. Several parties are engaged sluicing at Callaghan's and the Middle Branch, at which place a new main tail-race is nearly completed, and the claim-holders will shortly be able to use it. A tunnel is being driven from Flowery Creek towards Kelly's Terrace to drain the wet ground. Arahura. The Humphries' Gully hydraulic-sluicing claim continues to be worked, and water-races to convey an increased quantity of water are being constructed,