H.—7

12

Charlotte Sound, where reefs have been found, generally believed to be good. Machinery is just being erected by " The Turner Gold Mining Company, Registered," and in a short time crushing will commence. Several leases have been applied for; and should the Turner Company be successful, this small gold field will be a very busy place, as the reefs are said to be very numerous. Queen Charlotte Sound. —This is another field proclaimed (in consequence of a reef being found), which embraces all tho Crown land lying between the Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds. Only one lease has as yet been applied for. Good stone has been obtained from the reef, and a trial will probably be given it as soon as tho Turner Company have completed their crushing machinery. At present only a surmise can be made as to the future of these two last-named gold fields, but it is generally believed that the ranges between the Sounds contain many quartz reefs, and should those at present known, and about to be tested, prove payable, there will undoubtedly be a considerable population settle in these localities, and other reefs found. W. Whitehorn, Warden.

NELSON. No. 3. Mr. Warden Lowther Broad to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Warden's Office, Nelson, Bth April, 1873. I have the honour to forward herewith the various returns required by you, which, however, you will perceive, are very imperfectly filled up, a result consequent upon the absence of all the books and records at Wangapeka, and also the fact that during the past twelve months little has been doing in the Wangapeka District. Quartz mining has come to a standstill, the Culliford's and Doran's Mines not having proved (so far as they were tested) payable. In connection with the last-mentioned mine, a very expensive wire tramway and battery were erected, the former scarcely answering the expectations of the shareholders. The machinery for the battery was made by Mr. Moutray, of Nelson, and is turned out quite as perfect as any that can be imported. It is possible that an arrangement may bo made to give this mine a more searching prospecting, and with good machinery at hand it is to be hoped something will be done to try its real value before finally abandoning it. The great expense connected with such an undertaking would perhaps be getting the wire tramway into working order. The number of alluvial miners scattered about the Wangapeka, Sherry, and Paton Districts remains about the same as last year, and I believe they continue to earn remunerative wages. Although the last twelve months have witnessed utter stagnation in mining progress, I by no means think this state of things will continue. The certainty of always being able to obtain "wages ground " will be sure to attract population, when the excitement attendant upon new rushes calms down ; and with an increased population, we may fairly hope that their enterprise will develop the mineral riches which are known to exist in different parts of this district. I have, &c, Lowther Broad, Warden. The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington.

No. 4 Mr. Warden Turnell to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Warden's General Report, Golden Bay District, Nelson Gold Fields, Year ending 31st March, 1873. During the past year a considerable number of the mining population have been drawn from this district by the favourable reports from Reefton and Queensland which have appeared from time to time in the public newspapers, and there is a corresponding falling off in the revenue receipts. The deficiency arises chiefly from the fact that the number of miners' rights issued is less by forty-one than the previous year. Fourteen leases have been either surrendered or allowed to lapse, and the amount received for publicans' licenses is £27 10s. less than that of the previous twelve months. The total deficiency, in comparison with last annual statement, would appear to be £176 13s. 10d., a fact very much to be regretted, since there is within the district many hundreds of acres of auriferous table lands perfectly valueless for agricultural purposes, but which would prove remunerative to the gold miner if a full supply of water could be obtained at a sufficiently high level to admit of the ground being worked on the hydraulic and ground-sluicing principle. This want can only be supplied by the introduction of large capital. Most of the alluvial claims held under lease, referred to in last report, continue to be worked to profit; two have been surrendered as worked out, but other applications are under consideration. The unusually dry season proves exceedingly favourable to river work. Several parties are doing remarkably well, both in the Aorere and Slate Rivers. Tho former is attracting considerable attention: applications for extended claims are daily being made. These rivers cannot be worked during the winter months. The Perseverance Company have been steadily at work, but as yet no dividend has been made. A small battery has been erected by Mr. John Ross, and is in full operation; but it being a private undertaking the result is not known. A lead of auriferous quartz has been discovered at Friday Creek, on the Native reserve called " Taitapu." The ssam has been mined into for a considerable distance, and very rich specimens have been met with, but in consequence of not being able to secure a lease of the land, and the great cost and difficulty of getting machinery on to the ground, the reef has not been fairly tested, it is expected that the reserve will shortly be proclaimed under " The Gold Fields Districts Act, 187.1." The iron ore which abounds in the district has attracted attention ; and as it exists inclose