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fourteen months ago, turned out very rich, as may be judged from the fact that a share belonging to a poor fellow who was killed in the claim realized at auction £550, and I am given to understand the purchasers of it were repaid their outlay from the returns obtained from the claim in less than three months. The fear I expressed that this ground might only prove a " patch," has, I regret to say, been partly realized, and there were only two or three parties besides tho prospectors who had payable claims there. No doubt in the ranges in the vicinity will one day, when more thoroughly and systematically prospected, be found many such " patches "as the one now being worked. At present the difficulty of working such places, even when within a short distance of the coast road, is almost insurmountable, owing to the difficulties to be overcome in transporting provisions, tools, &c, in such a precipitous country. The quartz claims taken up at the Ten Mile have, after some prospecting, been all abandoned, and I fear there is little chance of their being again worked, at all events for some considerable time. The terrace workings along the beaches have paid fairly wherever the men have been able to obtain an adequate supply of water, which is not easily done among the limestone hills, whose formation is fatal to the erection of dams. Half-Ounce and Brandy Jack's. —Has supported a large number of men during the past year; and though the old lead is now getting worked out, the surrounding gullies and terraces have been prospected and found payable, and will profitably employ a considerable population for some time to come. Much of the ground that has already been worked in ordinary claims has since been taken up by fresh parties in extended areas, and under the Leasing Regulations. At Brandy Jack's Creek a company are at work on a piece of ground some ten acres in extent. The party have gone vigorously to work, and have all their machinery, &c, already erected, together with large water-wheel, pumps, and water race. There is little doubt of their being able (with their appliances) to strike a lead that was lost owing to the former parties who were working in this creek not having sufficiently powerful pumps to keep the water down. If the present party are successful, an extent of ground will be opened up that will give renewed life to this place, which for the last two years has been completely deserted. It will be remembered that Half-Ounce Creek was at one time considered to have been worked out and had been abandoned for some months, when it was again reopened and worked at a lower level by means of water-wheels and pumps ; and the appearances in both these creeks (Half-Ounce and Brandy Jack's) are so similar, that I am much mistaken if this place does not before long become of considerable importance. If once a population is attracted here, there are numerous terraces and gullies in the vicinity that will receive some of the attention they deserve at the hands of the miners. Buffer's Creek. —No material alteration has taken place in the prospects of this place during the past year, and sluicing parties are (when they can obtain a proper supply of water) making good wages. Of course the late drought has operated prejudicially upon the returns from this creek, as indeed it has in all cases where the miners are employed in ground sluicing, which is one of the features of mining in this locality. Teviot. —The discovery of gold at this place, which was made some months sinre, led to much prospecting in the neighbourhood; and although Teviot itself did not turn out as well as was at one time expected, a great deal of substantial good has resulted from the work that has been done there. Attention was drawn to some of the terraces and small creeks in the vicinity, and some of the ground about has turned out very well, and gold has been traced from here nearly up to the boundaries of the lease applied for at Brandy Jack's. 'Hie ground about the Teviot will maintain a large population for some time to come, particularly if gold is struck in the lease at Brandy Jack's. Napoleon Hill —The number of miners finding employment about the Hill has slightly improved within the last few months ; indeed at one time during the past year, the place was almost entirely deserted. The want of a proper water supply has been much felt here, and in every instance where the miners have had a small quantity of water at a proper level, handsome returns have been the result. Orwell Creek now presents a very different aspect to what it has done for some time past, new ground having been lately opened up, and found to be of a very payable character. The striking of a fresh lead here is most important; at present there are five claims on gold, and the number is steadily increasing, and there seems every prospect of the lead being traced for about a mile. There are nearly one hundred men on the ground, occupying about thirty claims ; and it will not be long before the ground is thoroughly tested, and the value of the discovery ascertained. The tunnels being driven in will in some cases be nearly 1,000 feet long ; and the Mining Surveyor, Mr. Lewis, is of opinion that it is not improbable the present lead will be traced up to a point where the old Napoleon lead was lost, in which case it will afford employment to a large number of men. The prospects of the new lead are most encouraging, and those parties who are on gold are going to work to complete extensive shoots (some of them 300 feet in length) to convoy wash dirt to the creek ; and a water race is in course of construction to bring a proper supply of water for the use of the miners at a level which will enable them to work their claims to better advantage. Black Water. —At this part of the district the number of miners has slightly increased, and the returns obtained by them have been satisfactory. As there are many sluicing claims here, the men have felt, in common with the rest of the population so employed, the want of water, which has been as scarce here as elsewhere. No Tjwii and adjoining Creeks, Sfc. —I have no change to report in the prospects of No Town and its surroundings, which (as it has done for years past) still maintains a large number of miners aud business people. Every description of alluvial mining is carried on about here, and matters present a brisk and lively appearance, considering the unfavourable season just passed. The track up from tho Eleven-Mile Township is in good order, and goods and farm produce are now regularly carted to .No Town, and the miners are enabled to obtain their supplies far more reasonably here than in any other part of the district; as a natural consequence they were enabled to obtain good wnges from ground that in other places would be lying idle. Fresh ground (though of limited extent) is being constantly opened up about here, and the country for miles round is proved to contain