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List op Deedges Building, Woeking, oe Standing. The following is a list, up to date, of the dredges in the Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland Mining Districts, and the locality where the dredge is situated : — Dredges Building. Marlborough.— Omdurman, Top Valley Creek; Golden Point, Wakamarina River. Westport. —Wareatea, Island Creek. Buller River. —Premier, Welcome. Ahaura River District.— Callaghan's Creek, Ahaura, Moonlight, Watterson, Shellback. Ngahere. —Eed Jack's, Red Jack's Creek. Grey River.— Ruby Creek, Grey Valley "United. New River.— Marsden No. 1, Maori Queen, Great Greenstone. Hokitika. —Hokitika River, Hokitika Junction. Ross. —Prince of Wales, Ross Day Dawn. Dredges Working. Marlborough. —Moana. Buller River.— Rocklands, Consolidated, Mokoia, Buller Junction, Buller No. 2, Four Rivers Boatman's. —Reeves's Proprietary, Al. Nelson Greek ,—Nelson Creek, Pactolus No 1. Totara Flat. —Waipuna. Grey River.— Ford's Creek, Grey River, Dobson No. 2. Greymouth. —Leviathan, New River. Kumara. —Greenstone Creek. Hokitika. —Mahinapua. Totara River, Ross. —Totara. Dredge Standing. Imperial, Wakamarina. Dredges not visited. Buller River.— Buller No. 2, Four Rivers. HEMATITE PAINT AND KNIFE-POLISH. Washbonrne Brothers' Parapara Hematite - paint Works.— The year's output—6o tons—of paint shows a steady increase on preceding years, and the proprietors are sanguine of further increase in sales as the preserving properties of the paint on wood are better known. Sales of knifepolish have materially increased during the year, and the agents' reports from the purchasers are satisfactory. The works are under important alterations and improvements in order to meet the growing trade necessities. I have, <fee, 8 b R. Tennent, Inspector of Mines. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Edwin Ridley Geeen, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, to the Undee Seceetaey, Mines Department, Wellington. gIE _ Office of Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, 13th April, 1901. I have the honour to report on the several gold-mines and dredges visited by me. Alluvial and Hydeaulic Mining. Round Hill Gold-mining Company, Round Hill (G. Lee, manager).—Three paddocks are being worked alternately, as water suits. The bush is felled and cleared in advance. The upper 20 ft. of the face (which is about 40 ft. deep) is carried ahead, the silt elevated, and the roots and treestumps cut out and burnt. The best of the wash is on the bottom, and has been driven and blocked out by Chinese in the early days. Patches of original bottom-wash are occasionally met with and these carry very good gold. At a subsequent visit I noticed that Mr. J. Ramsay (who has been appointed manager in succession to Mr. G. Lee) had somewhat modified the method of operations Instead of working separate paddocks as formerly, the water is concentrated, and only one paddock worked, with, it is said, more satisfactory results. The tables have been enlarged and an extra box added at the head, making three parallel boxes into which the elevator discharges. The elevator and directors (two) are lifting 56 ft., and working under a pressure of 270 ft. head, about twenty-seven heads of water being used. Ourawera Gold-mining Company, Round Hill.—Two paddocks at present being worked. Excellent water-pressure (450 ft. head) facilitates the breaking-down of the hillside, and good work is being done This claim, like the Round Hill, is working on the true bottom (dionte), and good results are obtained where the ground has not been previously worked. The plant as at present erected is elevating 36 ft., but the lift is about to be increased to 42 ft., to give more fall lor the disposal of tailings. The high water-pressure enables the men at the nozzle to stand well back from the face, which is 50 ft. to 60 ft. high. Mr. James Coulling has been appointed manager m succession to Mr. J. Ramsay, who is now with the Round Hill Gold-mining Company. 9—C. 3.