o.—No. 4a.

thirty feet, had to be abandoned for want of funds to carry out the undertaking when so near completion. My duties are so numerous that I have not yet had an opportunity of thoroughly inspecting the ground, but I trust that I shall shortly be enabled to do so. The population on McCrae's Flat has been steadily increasing for some months, and has aow accumulated to about 300. It is situated about sixteen miles from Hyde in a south-easterly direction, and is surrounded on all sides by rising ground. The depth of sinking ranges from four to sixteen feet, and the ground is worked by paddocking, and the washing by tub and cradle. Good returns have been obtained by most of the miners; and from the fact of there being a large extent of ground untouched, as also from that of the population still being on the increase, it is but natural to conclude that this will prove one of the steadiest fields in the district. In consequence of the workings being in a basin receiving the drainage of the adjacent hills, the miners have a considerable amount of water to contend against. This might be obviated by the cutting of a tail race clear of the flat; but I fear that this wili never be undertaken, as miners have generally a great objection to undertake anything which is not absolutely necessary. In conclusion, I may state that I consider the district to be in a prosperous state. The late rush to the West Coast has doubtless deprived the district of a considerable portion of its population ; but I do not consider that the loss sustained will be anything like proportionate to the exodus. JSfumerous extensive races are in course of construction, which, in a district of this formation, is a certain sign of permanency, as the extent of ground which can be worked by the sluicing process is unlimited. I have refrained from commenting on the different fields separately, as they have all, more or less, suffered by the late discoveries in Canterbury ; and as the mode of mining is unvaried throughout my district, it is but necessary to allude to the most prominent features collectively. I do myself the honor to forward herewith sections through deep sinking—" Fullarton's," as als< through " Kyeburn Diggings" —which illustrate two descriptions of mining in this district. I have, &c, Alfred Keejte, Mining Surveyor. EETUEN showing the Population, and their Various Pursuits, in the District of Mount Ida and West Taieri, 31st March, 1865.

) See Diagram E.

25

THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

Nitmbeb of Mi: Engaged i>* ;ees KUJtBEl! OF I sons Engage: 'eeD IK Total Total Price Population Total Population Rate of Q-old tjo 2 IB Eh O Populatio: Localities. q '3 I of Engaged in Engaged in Wages. per Business of the c5 to g ■z m SO I Gold Mining. • Ounce. Pursuits. District. ■liimilton ff.yde Serpentine iowburn Mount Ida Jindon rullftrton's and Saxon's TJinmerburn Outlying Q-allies 50 30 90 50 40 300 20 200 130, 100 45 10 250 30 30 10 140 150 75 100 300 70 330 20 200 £ s. 4 0 3 12 >) £ s. 3 15 3 10 3 15 40 10 40 20 15 ... 20 ... 70i 201 15 5| 40| ... I1 ... '•' i •" 10 10 io 20 10 15 10 30 60 90 15 30 115 30 70 1 200 240 90 130 415 100 400 21 200 )) J) 780 595 10 1385 24ll 55 30 86 411 1796 1ETUEN showing t in ihe 1 far ■ioui jesci iption nd We 3 and Total I'PEi 3X ATE V. itri Oft] 1S6. lie Mac EllY US' the m ouir 'da a: >st Tai ieri Go Fid <ls list M ■eh, 5. Ci:ILES. Pud: Mac: ILING [INES. Slb Boxei To: ice 3 AND MS. a lTEB .CES. [FAKTZ HlHTNl Total iAI Locality. Approximai 6 9 6 § § 3 Desori iption. 6 Value. lamilton Tyde lerpentine jowburn >Io int Ida lindon uillarton's and Saxton's ximmerburn )uth-ing Gullies 17 10 30 i !? 13 100 7 I 67 £ s. 42 10 30 0 75 0i 42 10 32 10 250 0; 17 0 167 10 2 £ 7o 33 25 11 3 62 8 8 £ 99 75 44 9 126 24 24 Miles 33 38 4 i 40 2i £ 3788 4610 300 20 4080 70 6 9 1 1 4 3 17 liS ■1 21 8 £ a, 3,957 C 4,757 It 374 C 101 C 4,248 It 12G It 274 C 17 t 107 It I ... . I '■■ ... I "' ... | ... ... I 261 657 0 150 401 ! I I 12898 78 70 ! 118 ' 24 14,026 C