C.-3

46

Mhivial. A few miners still eke out a living by fossicking tor gold in the back gullies, and a few ulluvial olaims are still being worked a< Boatman's, Merrijigs, Antonio's, and Blackwater, but no ventures of any extent are in operation in this district. None of the claims employ more than two 01 three men. ! have. &c, Alfred Crooee, Warden. Mr. Warden Hewitt, llokitika. to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, Warden's Office, Hokitika, 3lsl March, 1911. I have the honour to present my report for the yeai 1910 on the general condition of the mining industry in the districi under my jurisdiction. HOKITIKA SUBDISTRICT. There is little fresh to report concerning the Governor's Terrace, Axch Creek, Seddon's Terrace, Back Creek Terrace. Tucker Flat, and Humphrey's Gully fields. The claims remain aboul the same in number as at the date of tny last report, the miners engaged in these localities being al leasi profitably employed. A considerable area of land has been taken up in the vicinity of Kanieri Township and at the llauhau. the results of the prospecting operations having proved a sufficient inducement to a number of local miners and others bo endeavour to cil.lain capital to bring in a supply of water, the rights lor which have been obtained. Some portion of the ground has been winked in the primitive methods of ihe early days of the field, and proved very rich. With the water-supply available in connection with the present scheme the working of the ground should lie profitable. A number of claims aggregating in area some 1,600 acres have, with the consent of the Hon. the Minister of Mines, been taken up on the Riinii Mat and al ITauhau by various persons. At the time of writing my last annual report it was anticipated thai the development of these fields would be commenced on a large scale during 1910, but this has not eventuated, owing to the difficulty experienced in obtaining the necessary capital to bring m a sufficient water-supply. The grant of a right to 120 heads of Water by gravitation from the Toaroha River has been obtained. The conduit, if const mi led. would lie thirteen miles in length and would require seven miles of pipes and three miles of tunnel, the remainder being ditching. The Mahinapua Gold-mining Company pushed on with the bringing-in of their water-supply which is to lie utilized in working t heir extensive claim l> v means of a hydraulic elevator. 'I , he locality should. I think, give payable returns. The construction of the Success dredge at Brennan's Creek is Hearing completion. The dredge is a powerful machine, with a large capacity: length. 93ft.: beam, 30ft.; depth. 7ft.: height of gantry, 30 ft. ; height of top tumbler, 21 ft. :i in. : length of shoot f>:> ft., width (i ft. Two powerful engines are installed. The opera I ions of this dredge will lie interest ing. Development at the quail/, reefs al WilberfoTce proceeded steadily durum the summer months of the year. The claims of Baucke and Fiddes were taken over by the King Gold-mining Company, as a result of which the forthcoming year should witness Ihe speedy development of the mine. Wileon'i Reward Claim provided work for three men during favourable weather, the operations being chiefly confined to clearing out the drive put in by Hyndman and party, and testing the various outcrops "I the reef. The results have proved satisfactory, but development is hindered lor lack of the iieces>ai \ capital to carry on. KUMAKA SUBDISTRICT. Several new claims have been taken up in the vicinity of Westbrook and Maori Point, a good deal of fossicking having been done in these localities. As the Government Kumara Water race extension nears completion more claims will doubtless lie taken up. The extension of the race has been Steadil) carried on during the year. The whole of the pipe-line formation, about two miles in length, is practi callv completed. A.l the crossing of the Taramakau River the mooring-piles have been driven and the pipe-laying pontoons constructed. The ditching on the north bank of the river is well under way. A large shed has been built at Dillmanstown wherein to manufacture the 30 in. main. When I his important work is completed fresh impetus will b bo alluvial mining in the district commanded liv I his race. Five men have been engaged throughout the year by the Long Tunnel Company. The returns from the claim show a decrease from former years. McGrath and party have extended their tunnel tail-race a further distance of -100 ft. Mining operations have continued on their claim throughout the year, on which ten men have been kept employed. Garner and party have extended their tunnel tail-race a distance of 650 ft. Three men have been employed in driving this tunnel, which is now Hearing completion. .Minmg operations at Cape Terrace and Westbrook have been carried on steadily throughout the vr.ir. some twenty-three men being engaged. The returns have proved satisfactory. Dredging has been carried on at tin , junction of the Blackwater and Greenstone Creeks by Mr. j. W. Mellroy's dredge. Three shifts have worked continuously throughout the year. with fan returns. A good deal of prospecting has been done in various parts of this subdistrict, some Ilio acres having been taken up and vigorously prospected during 1910.