C—3.

good headway, and, although only eight or nine months have elapsed since they took over the claim, the dredge is almost ready to start operations. The want of a road has seriously retarded progress, and the company had to erect a tramway at considerable expense to run machinery, &c, to the claim. Fairdown Gold-dredging Company (Limited). —This special claim of 89 acres is situated at Fairdown, and was purchased by the company about the end of last year. Contracts have been accepted for machinery to be delivered by the end of next June. Tenders are being invited for the construction of pontoons. A constant and ample supply of water from the Wareatea Biver has been secured. It is expected that this dredge will be working in seven months' time. Wareatea Gold-dredging Company (Limited). —This company holds a special claim of about 97 acres, two miles beyond Fairdown. I understand the ground has been thoroughly and exhaustively prospected by boring and other means. Contracts have been let for the pontoons and machinery. The former are almost completed, and the latter is now being carted on to the claim. I anticipate that the dredge will be working in July or August next. Wellington Gold-mining Company. —This company holds a special claim at the "old diggings." Early in the year ground-sluicing was commenced, after the expenditure of more than £3,000 in preliminary works. The results obtained at first were not altogether satisfactory, but I hear that more recent returns show a decided improvement. The water-supply has been found to be inadequate during dry spells, and steps are being taken to remedy this defect and to secure an adequate and continuous supply for sluicing purposes. The two special claims known respectively as the Bendigo and Bochfort have been sold recently by the General Exploration Company to Mr. G. G. Munro, of Dunedin, who has since disposed of the Bendigo water-rights to Millikin and party, of Addison's, and the machinery to the Humphrey's Sluicing Company, of Hokitika. The Bochfort Claim has been put in working-order again and sluicing recommenced. Fair gold is being obtained, with every prospect of a substantial improvement as the lead is opened out.

List of Prospecting Licenses granted at Westport from the 1st April, 1900, to the 31st December, 1900.

100

Date of Grant. To whom granted. 13 CD Locality. Date of Grant. To whom granted. s> Locality. 1900. ipril 19 ■lay 2 2 „ 16 , 16 ,, 16 „ 16 . 16 . 16 „ 16 „ 16 „ 16 . 16 . 16 . 16 ,, 16 . 16 une 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 . 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 . 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Aor. R.Johnson .. .. 20 James Bradley .. 90 H. E. Cooke and others 48 Thomas Lister .. 93J Alfred Kearns .. 20 Alfred Meager .. 20 Thomas Powiok .. 60 Harry Simpson .. 36 ••80 Frederick Bonifacio .. 100 Thomas Scanlon .. 90 .. 50 .. 50 .. 50 G. B. Ritchie • .. 50 ■ • 25 Walter Rogers .. 32 R. T. Watson .. 50 • • 40 Alexander Stitt .. 100 Robert Falla .. 80 • • 40 • • 42 .. 80 .. 80 Thomas Scanlon .. 40 •. 40 .. 80 .. 80 .. 80 G. B. Ritchie .. 25 George Taylor .. 20 Alfred Hansen .. 72 .. 72 Thomas Samuels .. 87 Thomas Scanlon . . 40 Arthur Simpson .. 80 D. T. Gibbard .. 18 .. 18 .. 56 J. M. Murray .. 100 ■ • 92 Thomas Rogers .. 40 Robert Watson .. 40 .. i 40 Graham Jackson .. I 75 David T. Gibbard .. 100 Walter Rogers .. ; 60 Christian L. Rasmussen [100 James Colvin .. 50 .. 50 Karamea. Jones's Creek, Birchfield. Addison's. Jones's Creek. Buller River. Orawaiti River. Karamea. 1900. June 6 6 6 6 , 20 „ 20 „ 20 July 4 4 4 i 4 4 " 4 John McGrath Robert T. Watson Thomas Scanlon Henry C. Greene A. B. Lindop David T. Gibbard Aor. 100 40 40 40 80 80 100 80 60 80 80 80 100 100 Deadman's Creek. Mokihinui. Oparara. Karamea. Addison's. Birchfield. Orawaiti. Sergeant's Hill. Karamea. Peter J. McKenna Thomas Lister Peter J. McKenna David T. Gibbard J. L. Blackmore and D. T. Gibbard W. Mackenzie D. T. Gibbard W. Mackenzie Robert T. Watson North Beach. Waimangaroa. North Beach. Fairdown. Buller River. 4 ,, 19 „ 19 Aug. 1 1 1 1 1 1 100 100 100 40 40 100 100 16 48 Stony Creek. Wareatea. Stony Creek. Jones's Creek. Addison's. Mokihinui. Karamea. Buller River. David T. Gibbard Addison's. Sergeant's Hill. Cascade Creek. Addison's. Ngakawau. Buller River. Karamea. Buller River. Mokihinui. Addison's. „ 18 „ 18 Sept. 5 5 „ 19 Alexander McKay Addison's Long Tunnel Gold - mining Company (Limited) David T. Gibbard W. Mackenzie Edward Hopkins David T. Gibbard Francis Beirne and David T. Gibbard David T. Gibbard Charles Woodward Edward R. Issell The Wellington Prospecting Syndioate (Limited) Ditto C. A. Ulrich 100 97 20 100 50 Fairdown. Waimangaroa. German Terrace. Fairdown. „ 19 „ 19 Oct. 3 „ 17 100 35 60 100 Karamea. Orawaiti. Karamea. „ IT „ 17 „ 17 „ 17 Nov. 2 100 100 100! 20, 20 Waimangaroa. Addition's. Mokihinui. DavidT. Gibbard Denis Collins and James Cullins Walter Molntyre Alexander Stitt Fairdown. Bradshaw's Terrace. Karamea. Fairdown. Blackwater. Little Wanganui. Coal Creek. 2 "„ 14 „ 14 ,, 14 „ 14 Deo. 12 „ 12 Walter"McIntyre 60 80| so! 50 SO 40: 50 Karamea. Mokihinui. Robert Johnson Herbert R. Cooke Karamea. Giles Creek.