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ANNEXUKE B.

REPORTS OF WARDENS. Mr. Warden Dyer, Auckland, to the Under-Secretary', Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Auckland, 17th February, 1909. I have to report that there has been very little activity in the mining industry in the Puhipuhi Mining District during the year ended the 31st December, 1908. During the year thirty-nine miners' rights have been issued, also six ordinary prospecting licenses, and three ordinary prospecting licenses for coal, and one certificate of protection. The work for the year has been confined to prospecting. I have, &c, R. W. Dyer, Warden.

Mr. Warden Roberts, Tauranga, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Tauranga, 22nd February, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your memorandum dated the 26th ultimo, asking me to furnish a general report on the mining industry in my district, and in reply thereto have to inform you that very little work has been done in the direction of developing the mining industry in the Tauranga Subdistrict of the Hauraki Mining District during the year ended 31st December, 1908. I have, &c, J. M. Roberts, Warden.

Mr. Warden Burgess, Thames, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Warden's Office, Thames, Ist April, 1909. I have the honour to forward herewith my annual report on the Hauraki Goldfield for the year ended 31st December, 1908. The gold obtained from the mines in the Hauraki Mining District during the past twelve months shows a decrease of £72,369, as compared with the returns of the previous year. This falling-off is chiefly attributable to the decline in the yield from the Waiotahi Mine at the Thames. In the Ohinemuri district there has been an increase of £72,409. It is from this part of the mining district that by far the largest portion of the gold has been obtained—the yield being £1,260,579, as against £38,056 for the Thames, and £4,029 for Coromandel. The Waihi Mine maintains its commanding position as the richest and most important mine in the Dominion. Each year shows a substantial increase in the annual return. As development proceeds in the mine the immense resources of the company's property are more strongly shown. Operations have been carried to 1,000 ft, from the surface. Next to the Waihi Company's mine in importance stands that of the Waihi Grand Junction Company. Vigorous operations have been carried on in this mine, and a complete and efficient battery and plant for the treatment of the ore has been provided. There is reason to believe that the lodesystem of the Waihi Mine extends into the Grand Junction, though at a greater depth. A large amount of capital has been expended by the company in developing this property, and work has been persistently maintained; although the returns have been small in comparison with the outlay, recent developments have been encouraging The only other mine at Waihi in which continuous work is carried on is the Waihi Extended. This claim is owned by an Auckland company, and credit is due to the shareholders for the persistent manner in which work has been maintained and supported by them. So far operations have been of a developmental character only, and no returns have yet been received. A number of claims have been taken up at Waihi from time to time, and efforts made to work them, but, so far, no operations of any magnitude have been carried on upon any of them. Considering the extent and value of the reefs worked in the Waihi Mine, and the probability of their extension into the surrounding plain, it seems at first sight somewhat surprising that more vigorous efforts have not been made to carry on prospecting-work at Waihi. The great difficulty has been the want of the indispensable capital. The auriferous lodes of the district lie at a great depth (500 ft, to 1,000 ft.) below the surface, and the preliminary expense of sinking shafts and erecting pumping-machinery before the ordinary work of prospecting can be commenced puts it beyond the power of an ordinary local syndicate or company to successfully engage in the undertaking. Efforts have been made to obtain capital from London and elsewhere out of the Dominion, but so far without success. At the present time several large areas are held under protection while their owners are endeavouring to procure the assistance of capital from London. In one or two instances there seems a fair prospect of the negotiations ending successfully. These properties are, in my opinion, well

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