C—3.

recently been sold to the Old Diggings Gold-dredging Company. The company is now being voluntarily wound up. Mokoia Gold-dredging Company. —This claim is situated at Three-channel Flat, about a mile above the Consolidated Company's ground. The dredge commenced operations in October, but had only been at work for a few days when a heavy flood carried it away and left it high and dry some considerable distance from the river. This unfortunate occurrence entailed a great loss to the company, as about three months were taken up in getting the dredge back to the water and executing necessary repairs. The dredge is, now working again. Feddersen Gold-dredging Company. —This company hold 97 acres on the Buller, about three miles below Lyell. The ground has been prospected, and good results are said to have been obtained. Tenders are to be called for very shortly for the construction of a dredge. Buller Dredges Company (Limited). —This dredge has been working for some years on the Upper Buller, and is now about three miles above Fern Flat. Four River Plain Gold-dredging Company. —This company have a claim of 100 acres, which is situated on the Buller Biver about a mile below the mouth of the Matakitaki Biver, and the same distance above the Buller dredge. The dredge has been in active operation for some months. Kohikohi Gold-dredging Company. —This company have a special claim of 100 acres, 38 acres of which is freehold. It is situated on the Matakitaki Biver near Murchison, and about five miles up the river from its junction with the Buller. The pontoons have been completed some time, and the company expect to commence dredging in three or four months. At least half a dozen other companies have been formed, or are in course of formation, with the object of placing dredges on various parts of this river. Alluvial. About the usual amount of alluvial mining has been carried on in the district during the year, and no particularly rich finds have been reported. In the Maruia Mr. George Walker has a sluicing claim of 30 acres, and is said to be getting very good returns. Several other smaller sluicing claims are also being worked in the Maruia and Upper Matakitaki districts, and very fair returns are being obtained ; while on the banks of the Maruia and Matakitaki Bivers a good few individual miners manage to make a living. On the Buller Biver alluvial mining is principally confined to the Chinese, a fair number of whom seem to be making a living. At White's Point—twelve miles up the Buller from Lyell—the Neville and Perkins Hydraulic Sluicing Company have acquired an extensive flat from the freeholders (Messrs. Neville and Perkins), and are bringing in forty heads of water from the Newton Biver with which to work the ground. About thirty men are now employed on the construction of the race. Close to this company's ground, and at the mouth of the Newton Biver, a special sluicing claim of 100 acres has been applied for, and also forty heads of water from Deep Creek ; while at Fern Flat, six miles higher up the river, a Wellington syndicate have bought Mr. Digby Hunte's freehold with a view to carrying on sluicing operations on a large scale. Quartz. There is very little to report concerning this branch of the mining industry. The Alpine Extended Gold-mining Company let their mine on tribute to twelve of the workmen who, however, could not make wages, and gave it up. The mine is now closed, the company having obtained protection for one month, and are inviting tenders for driving ahead 300 ft. on No. 7 level. Kelly and party have got a very good leader claim on the old Tyrconnel lease, and are said to be doing well. Harrison and party have been working for some months on a leader in the old Golden Crown lease, but I am informed a recent crushing proved to it be too poor to warrant work being continued.

Return of Prospecting Licenses granted at the Warden's Court, Lyell, from the 1st April, 1900, to the 31st December, 1900.

102

Date of Grant. To whom granted. Locality. : Date of Grant. To whom granted. •a 81 Locality. 1900. May 10 , 10 , 10 Houston F. Logan William R. Hunter .. George Walker Acr. 50 35 100 Matakitaki River. Buller River, Murchi son. Matakitaki River. 1900. July 12 „ 12 „ 12 . 12 . 12 Robert Gilmer Elijah Bunn Charles G. Morel Acr. 80 32 28 50 40 Maruia River. „ 10 . 10 July 12 „ 12 „ 12 „ 12 , 12 » 12 . 12 . 12 „ 12 „ 12 « 12 , 12 George van Belle John Gow Hugh Taylor Vincent Gibbens Hector Bates Walker.. 60 100 50 : 60 65: 00 60| 60J 40 100 40 50 80 40 Inangahua River. Glenroy River. Maruia River. . 12 . 12 i 12 Sept. 13 , 13 . 13 . 13 . 13 Charles E. Harden Houston F. Logan 40 40 40 73 45 100 30 40 Buller River, Pern Flat. Buller River, Lyell. Matakitaki River. William J. Dillon James Colvin Frederick Junker Hugh Owen Alfred Meager Glenroy River Maruia River. Alioe Maud Gow Daniel James William T. Gilbert .. Buller River, Owen Junction. Ditto. Matakitaki River. Manuka Flat, Lyell. Buller River, Junction. Buller River, Owen Junction. Ditto. Buller River, Newton Flat. Lyell. Matakitaki River. Taylor's Greek. Buller River, Longford. Ditto. . 13 . 13 „ 13 . 13 Nov. 7 George van Belle Frederick Harrison .. Tbomas Hubert Lee .. James Bailie 40 20 iooj 25j 40 , 12 . 12 . 12 . 12 Alfred Kearns James Stevenson John Cullen 40 40 100 100 Matakitaki River. Buller River, Newton Flat. Matakitaki River. 7 7 Henry David Abbott .. 40j 70 . 12 . 12 . 12 : 12 George Walker 65 25' 60] 65 7 7 Vernon Hill David Rait.. 40 50