a—3

89

List of Special Dredging Claims granted in the Warden's Office, Greymouth, from the 1st April, 1900, to the 31st December, 1900.

District of Ahaura Court. Half-ounce, Duffer's, and Noble's Greeks. The standing population appears to keep about the same in these localities, and, indeed, in all the old gold-mining centres on the Coast. Numerous parties of borers, experts, prospectors, and visitors have to a certain extent infused a little life into these places. The last twelve months has been an exceptionally dry season, operating very unfavourably on the sluicers. A number of special dredging claims have been granted, and four companies floated. Contracts for pontoons, machinery, &c, for the respective dredges have been let. Waipuna. About ten special dredging claims have been taken up, and seven companies floated. One dredge is already at work, the pontoons of a second are ready for launching, while a third is having the machinery put on. Contracts for the other dredges are in a forward condition. Orwell Creek. No new ground has been opened, and the district has suffered severely from want of water. At high levels a considerable extent of payable sluicing-ground may be obtained, but to bring water to command these terraces means a large'expenditure of money, more than is within the means of the working-men. Two companies have been formed to dredge the deep ground in the bed of the creek. °One dredge has the machinery erected and is ready for work. Riverview, Sullivan's, and Ahaura River. Sluicing is almost the only method of working employed here, and good returns are being obtained. The miners have themselves brought in four races from Orwell Creek across Abaura Plains to the north bank of the river, and are selling the water to other parties. The source of supply is, however, very small, averaging in ordinary weather about twelve heads in the creek. Moreover, this water is not available for the south bank, where the miners depend almost solely on storm-water and drainage. Six special claims have been granted for dredging, and three companies floated to work them. The river is confined by rocky banks, with rich alluvial wash on either side. One dredge is nearly ready for work, and contracts for the other two are in a forward state. Moonlight Creek. No new ground has been opened up, but the miners generally have had better returns lately than for some years. The character of the gold is very heavy and solid, so much so, indeed, that it takes very few specks to make up an ounce. But, as with all coarse gold, no leads or runs can be found, and the miners have frequently to work for months without seeing a colour, and, when they least expect it, get rewarded for their labour by some rich find. An effort has been made to float a company locally to work some terraces—Shetland and Stewart's—that are reported to be rich. Want of water was all that prevented them from being 12—C. 3.

Date of Grant. To wliom granted. Area granted. Locality. 1900. May 8 June 11 . 11 „ 11 July 23 Aus>. 8 8 8 8 Sept. 10 . 24 Oct. 22 . 22 . 22 , 22 . 22 Nov. 19 . 19 . 19 „ 19 „ 19 » 19 . 19 Dee. 8 ,, 17 . 17 , 17 . 17 Arthur J. Wickea Francis W. McKenzre Arthur J. Wickes Neil Dickson Hood Thomas Roee and two others North Beach Gold-dredging Company New River Gold-dredging Company Grey River Extended Gold dredging Company Cbailea Uddstrom David Larnach Thomas McCarthy Maori Gully Gold-dredging Company Acres. 20 59 81 99 20 80 99 99 42 18 99 87 80 99 58 89 20 37 31 83 62 100 99 23 31 88 74 95 New River. Paroa. New River. Barry town. Grey River. North Beach. New River. Grey River. Grey River and Ruby Creek. St.llwater. Paroa Lagoon. Maori Gully. Robert W. Parkinson Leviathan Freeholds Gold-dredging Company Grey River Extended Gold dredging Company Golconda Gold-dredging Company Henry Stokes Henry Philip Hill .. .. Marsden No. 1 Gold-dredging Company Marsden No. 3 Gold-dredging Company Michael Hannan Marsden Lead Gold-dredging Company Gardiner D. Wilson George Gage Grey River. South Beach. Grey River. New River. Barrytiwn. Near Mareden. South Beach. New River.