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Since Christmas the miners on this field have been for the greater part of the time idle, as there has not been a sufficient rainfall to give anything like an adequate supply of water. Dredging. It cannot be said that any of the dredges in this district have been successful. The Kohinoor, at Ross (of which great results were expected), went into liquidation, and the property was sold to a syndicate. The Prince of Wales was let on tribute, as the company could not make it pay. Since starting work the tributers have done fairly well. The Montezuma was sold to satisfy wages liens. The new owners can get no satisfactory returns. The Wanganui Wataroa has closed down, as the tributers could not make it pay. It is a source of wonder to the old residents in the neighbourhood how it was that the dredge was ever placed on the claim. The Woodstock is still at work, but hardly getting enough to pay working-expenses. The Greenstone Creek dredges are working, but not paying dividends. Owing partly to ill-luck and partly to unforseen difficulties the dredge that was to have been placed on the Five-mile Beach below Okarito is not yet constructed. Quartz-mining. During the summer a good amount of prospecting has been done in the vicinity of Brownings' Pass. Owing to its altitude very little could be done before the greater part of the snow bad disappeared. Several prospecting licenses and special claims have been applied for, as well as water-rights and other mining privileges. On Wilson's Reward Claim a tunnel is being driven about 130 ft. below the outcrop of the reef that was found, and it is hoped that the reef will shortly be met with. From the prospects obtained on the surface, the find should be a valuable one if it be proved that the reef lives down and maintains its size and value. Next summer should see a much greater amount of prospecting done in the back country. Prospecting. Towards the end of the year a very useful movement was started by the Ross Borough Council which eventually led to a meeting of delegates from all the public bodies and prospecting associations in Westland being held in Hokitika for the purpose of forming an association for placing prospecting on a scientific and businesslike basis. With the assistance of the Government and of the newly appointed Colonial Geologist it is hoped that the working of the new association may result in a revival of the mining industry in this district. Timber. During the latter months of the year, owing to the demand for timber falling off, several mills were obliged to cease work. Those which continued working were to a great extent kept going by reason of demand for white-pine for shipment to Australia. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary Mines Department, Wellington. Victor Grace Day, Warden.

Mr. Warden Keddell, Oamaru, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Oamaru, 17th April, 1905. I have the honour to report with respect to the Livingstone subdistrict of the Otago Goldmining District that the mining industry in this locality has remained stagnant during the past year, no notable feature having occurred. The population of Livingstone proper and Maerewhenua remains about the same, and as far as ordinary settlement is concerned the district shows signs of material progress. The principal source of supply of water, the Mountain Hut Water-race, has had several unforseen misfortunes which have impaired its usefulness. The race (which conveys its water from a considerable distance in the hills in an open ditch made in the face of the mountains) has been damaged by breaks caused by the slipping-away of the lower side of the race. Repairs are made with difficulty and considerable expenditure of labour, and in consequence of these accidents there has been a shortage of water. The failure during the past year of the anticipated supply of water has been very regrettable, as there is a large area of ,'ground lying < r idle'"which would have been profitably occupied if water was obtainable. The race-proprietors could sale for 20 heads if they could deliver that quantity. lam satisfied the enterprise was a good and sound one, and that there would be for some time a great demand for a large supply of water if it could be made constant. The manager is capable and energetic, and the accidents referred to could not be provided against. The maintenance and distribution of this water employs about twenty-five men, but the sale of its present limited supply affords little or no profit to the proprietors. The records of the Warden's Court show that work is continued'with vigour by the small number of miners engaged. $,' H Tf-1 I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Jackson Keddell, Warden.