OE NEW ZEALAND.

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G.-aiFo. 4.

In the following quantities of gold sent from the district in the several years is not included a considerable quantity from the Haast in 1867 : — Tear 1866 ... ... ... ... ... 78,668 ounces „ 1867 ... ... ... ... ... io,822 „ „ 1868 .. ... ... ... ... 6,222 „ „ 1869 ... ... ... ... ... 6,050 „ „ 1870 ... .. ... ... ... 7,878 „ „ 1871 ... ... ... ... ... 8,037 „ In 1866 there was a population of about 5,000 in the district, but it soon decreased to as many hundreds. Most of the river banks and beds are stocked with cattle and sheep, which have generally proved very remunerative—the former especially, the feed being very suitable and making splendid beef, but in the rapid and cold rivers a good many sheep have been lost. The result of the good feeding the river beds have afforded has been to reduce the price of meat from about Is. 9d. to about 9d. per So. Numerous patches of ground are cultivated by miners and others, and a considerable quantity of potatoes, oats (for hay and chaff), and vegetables grown, good crops being generally obtained ; and when land in the district is obtainable under the special settlement clauses of the regulations, I am in hopes that some of the miners will take land up the rivers near gold bearing ground, which, worked in conjunction with their land, will afford them profitable occupation, and lead to a permanent settlement of the country with a fair prospect of discovering a new gold field. _ Communication along the coast has been latterly much facilitated by the County Government having formed tracks around some of the bluffs, and also repaired the road board track over the Three Mile bluff, and Blanchard's track over the Five Mile bluff. The great wants of the district are a cheap and plentiful supply of water and good roads inland ; as these are supplied the population will increase, and the capabilities of the district be developed. At present water is both scarce and dear, and the only roads inland the river beds. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields. Edwaed J. Tizakd, "Warden.

OTAGO. No. 15. Mr. Warden Willis to the Undee-Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Warden's Office, Sic,— Dunedin, Bth June, 1872. Herewith I have the honor to forward Gold Mining Statistics for the quarter ended 31st March, 1872, a table shewing the number of Water Eaces, Dams &c, a table shewing the number of Begistered Companies &o, a Eeturn of Mining and Agricultural leases, and a return of the price of provisions for the same period. The number of miners as will be perceived is very limited in number, indeed there are actually more working without the Gold Fields boundary than within it. None of them are reaping rich returns for their labor, but all are satisfied with the moderate yet steady yield from their workings There are a few isolated miners working in the gullies at the back of " Flagstaff" but I have not been able to obtain any reliable information respecting them. I have not held any Courts during the quarter, in fact no cases have been referred to me that required me to do so. The two quartz mining companies within the district, but without the Gold Fields boundary, are still only prospecting. I have issued 12 Miners rights and two business licenses during the quarter. I have &c, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields. Alexandee Willis, Warden.

No. 16. Mr. Warden Pyke to Undee-Secretaey for Gold Fields. Warden's Office, Sic, — Lawrence, 4th June, 1872. I do myself the honor to report as follows on the condition and prospects of the district of Tuapeka: — This, the oldest of the New Zealand gold fields, still continues to flourish. The letter in which Mr. Bead announced to the then Superintendent of Otago (Major Eichardson) the discovery of Gabriel's Gully was dated 4th June, 1861 —exactly eleven years ago. Since that period the district has been continuously wrought with ever-increasing accessions to the known auriferous area, and it yet presents no indications 'of exhaustion. It still remunerates tho toil of a considerable number of miners, whilst a large settled population has been permanently located on the soil.