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Prospecting. A considerable amount of prospecting has been done during the year in the beds of the Taraniakau River and Greenstone Creek, and also in the vicinity of Griffin's Range and the Rough Wainihininihi. At the latter places two mineral prospecting warrants over areas containing in the aggregate 4,000 acres have been granted for the term of five years. These areas are to be prospected for greenstone and other nephritic rocks. [ have, &c, J. George L. Hewitt, Warden. Mr. Warden BARTHOLOMEW, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Dunedin, 30th March, 1912. I have the honour to present my report for the year ended the 31st December, 1911, on the mining district under my charge. Lawrence. Waipori, and Waitahuna. In the Warden's Court at Lawrence the following business was transacted : Miners' rights issued, 260 ; applications received, 84 ; registrations, 61. Twelve new claims were granted, nearly all to existing holders, who surrendered their old titles to take up unworked and adjoining ground. At Waipori there was some friction between the local miners and the Dunedin City Corporation over the latter's applications for additional storage-dams for their electrical-power works at Waipori Falls. The Corporation withdrew two of the applications objected to, and obtained rights to three additional dams in positions where the mining industry would not be interfered with. Nothing of note has occurred in the development of mining during the year. The increased supply of water during the latter half of the year, consequent on the wet season, has enabled sluicing operations to be carried on more advantageously and profitably than for several years past. Roxburgh. No new discoveries have been made in this portion of my district during the past year. The hydraulic-sluicing companies have taken advantage of the increased water-supply, and may be said to have had a prosperous year. There are about twelve dredges carrying on operations in the river between Shingle Creek and the Island Block, and while no phenomenal returns have been reported, the favourable condition of the river has enabled them to put in more than the average working-time, with consequent payable results. During the past year a considerable number of small areas have been taken up under the occupation-lease system for fruitgrowing purposes, and probably the attention of the rising generation and others having been attracted to this important and profitable industry has prevented the outlying portion of this district obtaining the amount of prospecting its auriferous nature warrants. Hence the absence of new discoveries. The following details represent the business transacted in the Warden's Court: Rents and royalites, £503 Is. 3d. ; fees and fines, £25 9s. ; ordinary applications, 90 ; general registrations, 95 ; waterrace licenses, 14 ; and miners' rights, 142. ' have, &c, J. R. Bartholomew, Warden.

Mr. Warden Haselden, Naseby, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Warden's Office, Naseby, 22nd January, 1912. I have the honour to present my annual report on the mining district under my charge for the year ended the 31st December, 1911. During 1911 there has been little advance made in the gold-mining industry, but the standard of recent years has, on the whole, been maintained. At Macrae's Plat there has been fresh enterprise, especially in scheelite or tungsten mining, and if the hopes entertained at present are realized satisfactory results will be obtained. The property formerly owned by Messrs. Donaldson Bros, has been acquired by a registered company, and both gold-bearing quartz and scheelite are being obtained. Gold-mining in quartz, alluvial, and dredging has kept up fairly well throughout the districts,, the demand for water being a gauge of activity. During the early part of the year water was very scarce, but has been more plentiful of late. A change is gradually taking place throughout the districts, and agriculture, sheep-farming, and fruitgrowing are making progress, but are retarded by want of water, and by a plethora of rabbits. Notwithstanding the efforts of Inspectors, the rabbit nuisance is a very formidable enemy to the settlers. The question of granting irrigation rights is a very serious one, and requires attention. It is plain that if the water available over a large area is granted to the occupier of a small holding, the larger area will remain a desert. The area in my districts is so large that it is impossible for me to personally obtain any thorough knowledge of the different localities, and I have to depend somewhat on information acquired from the Mining Registrars and the police officers attached to the Courts ; when reporting on applications to purchase land, where practicable I have inspected the area myself, but this has not always been possible. I have, &c, W. R. Haselden, Warden.

\li-. Warden Young. Queenstown. to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— The Warden's Office, Queenstown, 30th March, 1912. I have the honour to present my report for the year ended the 31st December, 1911. on that portion of the Otago Mining District under my charge.

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