The Westport Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 644, 12 April 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1870.

Waeoens' reports from the West Coast Goldfields are not frequent features of official correspondence, but, like the few glimpses of fine weather which we get, they are well worthy of appreciation. Such has been the case hitherto, and, from what we have incidentally ascertained with regard to Dr. Giles's report for the past year, we may say that his report, at present on its way to the Provincial Secretary, will, when published, be read with considerable interest, and with great respect for the well-deliberated suggestions which are made on subjects recently much discussed on these parts of the Nelson Goldfields. This report we shall be able to publish in extenso in a few days, and we anticipate that it will be received, not only as a fair record of the at present promising progression of this district, but as an elaborate and somewhat exhaustive deliverance upon matters which, during a period of apparent retrogression, have received more of the attention of miners than the proper work of mining. "We refer especially to several debateable and lately largely debated subjects which may be included in the generic term of Mining Legislation. Meantime, and without anticipating the details of the Warden's report, we may refer to a few of the bare facts which are contingent to his general description of the condition of the district. Naturally, with a knowledge of the representations made as to the Lyell quartz reefs, and informed as to the valuable addition which has been made to the more available resources of the district by the opening of Bradshaw Terrace, Dr. Giles affirms that the present indications are undoubtedly of improvement rather than of retrogression. And he illustrates this by showing that, while the figures relating to revenue, registrations, rights, and so on, exhibit a falling-off as a whole, the end of the year compared with the first months exhibits an equality, if not an improvement. As a whole, the mining population of the Buller district, from an estimate which is necessarily conjectural, is stated to be not more than 1600, thus located— Addison's Plat and its neighborhood, 350; Northern Terraces and Creeks, 700 ; on the Buller to the Matakitaki, 300; the neighborhood of Westport, and along the beaches, 100 ; scattered, 150. To these numbers, Dr Giles anticipates an early increase, consequent upon the new attractions in the district and the re-action at Auckland, of which we had an initiatory indication yesterday in the return of a large party of miners to this part of the Coast. From facts stated with regard to the different districts, we learn that, on Addison's Mat and its neighborhood, there are six mining leaseholds, out of several more applied for, and that a considerable increase in that form of holding ground may be anticipated, with deep drainage effected on the Shamrock Lead and elsewhere. With regard to the Northern Terraces, the tailings claims, in the Warden's opinion, deserve attention, on account of their peculiarities and of the necessity for their special character being considered in regulating the area of ground which may be granted. At the Lyell, a mining lease has been granted to the reef prospectors, another has been applied for, and several claims have been taken up. Applications for leave to make tracks and take tolls have been received from that district, but, while admitting the necessity for the former, Dr Giles does not give approval to the latter. Of the Waimangaroa, we learn that different parties have expressed a desire to take up the supposed or real reef there, and it is now understood that the Pioneer Company is to take up the lease, and, within a stated period, work it, jor forfeit the ground. A second lease has been applied for on the side of the creek opposite to the present lease, and the applicants, it is said, hope to raise a company. Special attention, as we have said, is given by the Warden to the suggestions made with regard to formation of Mining Boards and alterations in the Mining Regulations, but the opinions expressed we must not anticipate. In their entirety they will, no doubt.be received and read with relish, and, judging by the spirit of discussion which pervades tho community here, will be amply reviewed. The Goldfields Licensing Act is most deservedly made also tho subject of a I

special chapter and of several suggestions, and ouo new local industry—the manufacture of flax—receives notice on account of its intrinsic importance and of the impediments which, in some respects, present themselves to its development, if due regard is had to the spirit or letter of the Mining Eegulations.

The numher of summonses heard in the Wardep's Court has, we learn, been 87 during the year, and several of these were settled without coming to trial. Coming as the cases did from all parts of a very extensive district, this number is somewhat small—due, perhaps, to the Warden's alleged desire to diminish litigation in mining matters. Assessors have been but seldom asked for. With regard to the routine work of the Warden's office, it appears that the following has been the number of applications made and rights issued during the past two years:— 18G8-9. 1869-70. Miners'rights 1502 ... 1241 Business licenses ... 404 ... 139 Summonses ... ... 105 ... 87 Applications 847 ... 898