H.—9.

18

depth of 60 to 80 feet, and the tailings run out several hundred yards through box tail-races paved from end to end with timber blocks. The Hohonu Water-Race Company supply these claims with water, from seven to ten heads each, at the rate of £210s. per head, and let from forty to fifty heads per week. This Company is constructing a branch race three miles in length, to convey additional water into their reservoir, at an outlay of about £1,000. Maori Point, Three-Mile, Hohonu, and Teramakau Junction also support a small population. There are 120 Chinese located in this district: they have settled down steadily to work, and have purchased some good interests in claims and water-rights, paying prices varying from £30 to £90. The change made in the Postal Department from daily to tri-weekly is most inconvenient, and causes great delay in the transmission of letters. This might be remedied by the payment of a nominal subsidy to the mail contractor, who runs a spring cart daily to the Greenstone in connection with the daily mail between Greymouth and Hokitika. A track from the Greenstone to Lake Brunner has been surveyed, and, when formed, will open up a tract of country near the lake for mining and grazing purposes, and will probably become a short route from the Grey district to the Christchurch Road, near the head of Bruce's station on the Lake. Sittings of the Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Court have been held regularly every fortnight at the Greenstone, and at the Arnold and Clifton once a month. The appointment of the police officers as Receivers of Gold Revenue at these stations has proved advantageous to the miners, and thereby tended to increase the revenue. The municipality of Greymouth contains a population estimated at 2,600. Several substantial buildings, stores and private residences, have been erected during the year, and the formation of the different streets is being vigorously pushed forward. The protective works and stone wall have been a great protection from the encroachments of the river, and should be extended without delay, to save the lower portion of the town. The sanitary arrangements of the town are being greatly neglected, and although the Council have been in existence several years, they are without an efficient code of by-laws and regulations for the control and proper management of the municipality. The Greymouth Coal Company have proved their coal by boring and driving, and have selected their block on the reserve. The main shaft is being sunk, and the requisite machinery has been purchased for the works. The Company have every expectation of being ready to supply coals to the market within three months. The population of the district is estimated at 4,868 souls, and are located as follows: —

Greymouth. Arnold. Clifton. Greenstone. Total. European ... Chinese 3,141 72 365 130 495 115 430 120 4,431 437 3,213 495 610 550 4,8G8 Fourteen hundred and eighty-five casi Warden's Court, as under :— is have been disposed o: in the Rei ddent Magii itrate's and Civil. Criminal. Warden. Total. G-reymouth Arnold Clifton Greenstone 891 60 31 73 333 20 11 10 24 13 5 14 1,248 93 47 97 1,055 374 50 1,485 The revenue for tin twelve months, ai lounting to :30,124 15s. 3d., is madi up as folL iWS: — Greymouth. Arnold. Clifton. Greenstone. Total. "Warden's Department Sesident Magistrate's Department Publicans' Licenses to Provincial Treasurer £ s. d. 1,609 9 6 £ b. 372 14 d. 0 £ 464 s. d. 5 0 £ 940 s. d. 0 0 £ s. d. 3,386 8 6 1,010 11 9 64 5 0 1,074 16 9 1,370 0 0 1,370 0 0 G-oldDuty... Half-share Customs ... 3,990 1 2,577 11 21,115 11 3 4 3 372 14 0 464 5 0 1,004 5 600 0 0 0 5,831 5 3,177 11 21,115 18 3 4 8 27,683 18 8 372 14 0 464 5 0 1,604 5 0 30,124 15 8