99

C.—3.

Ahaura District. Moonlight. —The population of this district is about the same as it has been for the last two years. The Moonlight Gold-dredging Company have their dredge still working in Moonlight Creek, but the returns are not encouraging, the ground is rough and somewhat difficult to work. The New Shetland Terrace Claim at Upper Moonlight is in good working-order, and, with plenty of water, should get a fair amount of gold. Blackball and Healey's Gully. —The number of gold-miners in these districts keeps about the same, and a considerable amount of gold is being won. The Republic Company, Hindman and party, Kerr and Hay, and the Montgomery Terrace Company are the most important holders of mining privileges at Upper Blackball and Healey's Gully. The Paparoa Ranges have had a considerable amount of attention in the prospecting for quartz, and the Garden Gully Quartz-mining Company have been carrying on extensive prospecting operations. They are now erecting a battery, and should good results be obtained the venture will be the means of bringing the Paparoa Ranges into prominence. Nelson Creek. —The dredging industry in this locality is about the same. There are six dredges at work and two in course of construction. Alluvial mining gives employment for about fifty men, most of whom are making good wages. No Town. —There are very few alluvial miners in this locality, but the dredges (three in number) on the No Town Creek are getting very good returns, and have a considerable area of land to work. Waipuna, Including Mosquito Creek and Noble's. —The population remains about the same, mostly following alluvial mining. The two dredges in Mosquito Creek have gone into liquidation. The Mosquito No. 1 always got good returns and paid several dividends, but the claim is now worked out. Duffer's and Half-ounce. —There are only a few old hands following up mining in this locality. The two dredging companies, Sullivan's Lead and Golden United, have gone into liquidation. Ahaura River. —The usual number of sluicing parties continue to work on the banks of the river. During the past year the supply of water has been very limited, and the miners have to purchase the water from Messrs. Currie, who hold the main water-rights. If water could be obtained to work some of the higher terraces and levels the general opinion is that there is plenty of payable ground around Ahaura to work by sluicing. Orwell Creek. —The populat on in this district is dwindling down to a low ebb. There is no water in this locality for sluicing. Some time ago it was proposed by a Reefton party to bring in water from Randal Creek and Allen River to sluice Napoleon Hill. Should this be done the place would go ahead again, as plenty of payable sluicing-ground is available. Timber. —The timber industry in the Ahaura Warden's district is going ahead very fast, the amount of timber being cut is about 500,000 ft. a month, and in a short time an output of double that amount may be looked for. Greymouth District. Alluvial. Sluicing operations in this district have been of a very limited nature for some time past. The only locality in which any extensive operations are being carried on is at Barrytown, where Messrs. McKay and White are obtaining very satisfactory results from their venture. The Nine-mile Company was wound up during the year and the property transferred to the New Nine-mile Sluicing Company, but no work of any importance has been done. In other portions of the district mining operations are carried on as usual by the ordinary individual miners, whose number now is gradually diminishing. Dredging. Table A appended hereto contains particulars relating to twenty-six dredging companies having dredges in actual work in my district during the year. Of these only eight—as specified below in Table B—have paid dividends during the year. Table A also refers to the following companies which have worked dredges, but during the year have ceased work owing to the poor nature of the ground and difficulty in working same : Buller Junction, Golden United, Sullivan's Lead, Trafalgar, and Waimangaroa River. Since the end of the year theJjTotara Flat and Stony and Mosquito Leads dredges have been closed down. The latter having been sold and repurchased will shortly be again in active Operation. In my last report I referred to three dredges—viz., Boatman's Creek, Golden United, and Moonlight, as not having at that time worked sufficiently long enoughffor an idea to be formed as to the value of the properties. Of these the Boatman's Creek and Golden United have been closed down during the year, while the Moonlight has been barely earning working-expenses. Taking the gold yield shown in Table A—viz., 23,557 oz., and estimating the value at £3 19s. per ounce, the gross value of gold won by the twenty-six dredges approximately amounts to £93,050. Out of this the sum of £13,885 has been distributed in dividends during the year amongst shareholders in eight companies, leaving about £79,164 to cover working-cost, &c.