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capital lias been sunk in order to develop the field, principally in bringing water from a distance. There are 130 miles of constructed conduits to the field in eleven distinct races, varying in length from twenty-seven miles down to five miles, and Laving a total carrying-capacity of U heads. The following table sums up the present stai ist ica of i he Held : Number of miners, 39 ; number ol water-races, 11 ; carrying-capacity of races. II heads: number of sluicing plants, including two elevators, 19 ; length of piping for sluicing plants, 18,900 ft. ; length of water-races, 170 miles. The business transacted during the year was as follows: Grants Claims. 8; water races, 7: tail laces. 7: residence-site, I. Surrenders Claims (including five tor amalgamation), L 3; waterrace, 1 ; tail-race. I. 1 have, &<■.. J. HtJTCHISON, Warden. Mi. Warden Haselden, Naseby, to the Under-Secretary, .Mines Department. Wellington. Sir, Naseby, 25th April. 101 I. I have the honour to present extracts from the annual reports of the (lining Registrars within my district for the year ended 31 si December, 1910. My Wardenship of the district began on the Ist February last: since then I have thrice been through the different localities comprised therein, lint 1 am unable to offer any observations which would differ from the tale that has been told so often during past years. Ali-. Registrar Tansey reports as follows regarding Cromwell district:— During the year ended 31st December last I was not in charge of this district, but as far as I can ascertain nothing calling for special mention has transpired. The supplies of water seem to lie gradually diminishing, and this has affected the returns from the sluicing claims, which are elightly less than in the previous year. The number of dredges in active operation is also decreasing, but those at work mostly get good returns, and the industry, generally speaking, is a paying one. and likely to lie so for some time to come. The following liusiness was transacted in the Warden's office during the year : —Claims granted, 22 : surrendered, 29: water races granted, 21 : surrendered I ; dams granted, 2: surrendered, nil; tailraces granted, nil: surrendered. I: ordinary prospecting licenses granted, <i : surrendered. 5; special sites granted, 2 : surrendered, nil. Mr. V. Jeffery, Clerk of Courts, reports as under regarding the Clyde. Black's, and Alexandra districts :— During the year ended .'list December last I was not in charge of this district, but from what 1 can ascertain nothing calling for special mention has transpired. The supplies of water seem to lie gradually but surely diminishing, and the returns of gold from the hydraulic-sluicing claims are. as a consequence, slightly less than the previous year. Dredging, however, although probably on the decline, is yet a paying industry, and may lie for some considerable time to come. The following are details of the liusiness transacted in the Warden's Court for the year ended :ilst December, 1910: Applications, 171 ; plaints. 2:5: general registrations. 356; water-races, 30: miners' rights. 230 ; Court fees, £24 6s. ; total revenue. £1,456 9s. 3d. I have, &c, W. R. Haseldkn, Warden. Mr. Warden Bartholomew, Lawrence, to the IJndbr-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Lawrence Kith April, 1911. I have the honour to present my report for the year ended 31st December, 1910, on that poll ion of the Otago Mining District now under my administration. Weatherstoxe axd Blue Spur. The state of mining is much the same as in the previous year. All the parties working are still hampered l>\ the scanty supply of water, which each war has lieen steadily decreasing in <|iiantit v. The production of gold in this portion is almost wholly obtained by hydraulic sluicing, and that is principally confined to small companies and working-parties. The richer alluvial ground has Long been worked out. and for successful working a fairly large quantity of ground must lie turned over; and with the present scarcity of water during the summer months, the chance of obtaining payable results is seriously affected. W.UPORI. In addition to hydraulic sluicing, which is carried on under the same handicap of an inferior watersupply as in other places, several quartz claims are being developed here, with moderate success. There is only one dredge at present working in this sulidistrict. Waitahixa. The same general remarks on the state of mining apply also to this portion of my district. There is little change in mining prospects here, and all forms of alluvial mining are steadily declining.