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REPORTS OF WARDENS. The Warden's Office, Auckland, Ist February, 1906. Mr. Warden Dyer, Auckland, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— In compliance with your circular letter of the 25th ultimo, I return the forms duly completed in so far as they relate to the Puhipuhi Mining District. Mining is practically dormant in the district. An application has been made for a mineral license to mine for copper at Kaeo, which is in the north, beyond the limits of the mining district. I granted the application, but there is an appeal pending, as other parties claim that they had priority. The parties are very confident that it will develop into a payable mine, but I can offer no opinion on that point myself. I have, &c, J. W. Dyer, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Mr. Warden Bush, Thames, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Warden's Office, Thames, 22nd May, 1906. Sir — I have the honour to forward herewith the Warden's annual report on this field for the year ending the 31st December, 1905. It affords me great pleasure to state that the discoveries in the Waiotahi Company's mine, Thames, have given a considerable impetus to mining in this portion of the field. This mine has yielded large quantities of gold, and during the past year it amounted to £73,918. The mine has now paid £121,800 in dividends to its shareholders. There is every prospect of a continuance of these good returns during 1906. Of the up-country portion of the district, the Waihi, the Talisman, the New Zealand Crown Mines, and the Komata Reefs have been the principal gold-producing properties. The total output from these amounts to £931,357 for year. Of this, the great Waihi Mine is responsible for £720,494, the Talisman £129,088, the Crown £.38,639, and the Komata Reefs £43,136. I regret to say that mining in and round the Coromandel portion of the district is very quiescent,: but should a discovery be made, no doubt a revival would quickly follow. A discovery of fullers' earth has been made in the Tararu locality upon Native ceded land, and an area taken up under a mineral license with a view to testing the ground thoroughly.. Nothing, however, of any great importance has so far been discovered, but the owners of the license are sanguine of securing good "results after an opportunity has been afforded to work and develop their ground. Thames District. In this portion of the district the outlook has not been so bright for many years. The discovery of gold in the low levels of the Waiotahi Mine has had the effect other companies to test their ground at a lower level than hitherto. Numerous large lodes are known to exist; though of low grade, it should pay to explore them with the prospect of striking one of those rich patches for which the Thames field is notorious. Water and want of capital have hitherto prevented this being done, but now that it has been shown that there is still good gold at a lower level than the 400 ft., people have been induced to take up shares in the several companies which are shaft-sinking. There is a large area of ground which has never had a pick in it below the 400 ft. level. With a pump, such as the Hauraki, capable of draining the field to 1,000 ft. at a comparatively small annual drainage-rate, it may fairly be assumed that our deep levels will be tested in the near future. A lode of fullers' earth has been discovered up Tararu Creek, and is now being worked. I have seen some of the mineral in its raw state, and it certainly looks as if a valuable find has been made. The ground is held by a party of Gisborne gentlemen, who intend to erect a fair-sized plant to dress the mineral. Waiotahi.— Splendid results have been obtained from the old Waiotahi main reef. Having almost worked out the upper western portion of the mine, it was decided about eighteen months ago to go down and test the lower levels instead of searching for gold in an easterly direction. As gold has been discovered in winzes sunk on the main reef, it was decided to. sink the shaft to another level and drive a crosscut to meet the reef under the winzes. Good gold was struck, the run extending for 100 ft. The success attendant on those operations induced the managemnt to sink the shaft to a further level and again crosscut to the main reef. The run of gold was again picked up in this level, No. 5, richer than at No. 4. Sinking for another level, No. 6 was at once commenced, and the reef struck within a few weeks. It is about 10 ft. wide, and gold has been seen. About 30 ft. of driving has yet to be done before it reaches the spot under the run of gold. The Kuranui-Caledonian Company, which holds the adjoining ground, agreed to let the Waiotahi Company crosscut from their ground to meet the Waiotahi workings in ordeT to provide drainage and ventilation. The connection has been made, and now there is ample air. The reef is opened up at the Nos. 4, 5, and 6 levels, and a large block of highly payable ore is in sight. The Golden Age battery of forty stamps has been purchased and put into good going-order, and now the company can treat a large quantity of ore monthly. A total of 4,986 tons of quartz and 54 cwt. 40 lb. of picked stone has been crushed for a yield of £73,884. An average of fifty-two men has been employed. Moanataiari Mine. —The operations carried on by this company have not met with the success that was anticipated. The prospects are now said to be improving. The work now going on is not far away from where good gold was found some years ago, and the country is of a favourable character for