13

H.—l.

A fortnightly Court is also held at Charleston, a distance of 18 miles from Westport, at which the miners and others from Brighton, a distance of 10 miles further south, and other scattered portions of population below towards the Razorback, attend. The Addison's Flat miners, distant some seven miles from Westport, attend that Court, which is held every Tuesday, and also as frequently as necessity arises, not interfering with the visits to the outlying districts. The details of the work at the various Courts, together with the gold exported from Westport during the same period, are as under; but it must be mentioned that this by no means represents the total produce of gold in the district, as large quantities from the upper portion of the Buller River find their way to Nelson by the hands of local storekeepers : —

Oz. dwts. Gold exported from Westport from April 1,1876, to March 31, 1877 ... 23,275 4 £ s. d. Duty on above gold ... ... ... 2,327 10 6 Value of said gold during same period ... 93,181 11 11

New Biscoveries. —l have very little to report on this head during the past year. Gold has been found in a creek up the Four-Mile River, some eight miles from Charleston, and also in a creek at the Lyell, where it was not known previously to exist, but there is sufficient evidence throughout the district to show that large tracts of auriferous ground remain undisturbed, and only await population to bring to light the hidden treasures they undoubtedly possess. Present Position of Old Workings. —The mining operations at Charleston, Brighton, Lyell, and Addison's Flat have assumed the aspect of permanent workings : although no longer sustaining the large floating population they did some years ago, yet in its place has been left a settled population with homesteads and carefully-kept gardens —many of the miners married, with families growing up around them, and not at all likely to form a portion of that nomadic class who are likely to be led away by the mere rumour of a new rush. Population. —I am only able to give in rouud numbers what I consider to be the gross population of the district. The number of persons actually engaged in mining are given in the statistical returns forwarded: AVestport ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,000 Addison's Flat ... ... ... ... ... ... 250 Karamea, Northern Terraces up Buller to Christy's ... ... 650 Razorback, on south, to Totara on north, including Charleston and Brighton 1,000 Lyell, Hampden, and Matakitaki ... ... ... ... 500 Total... ... ... ... ... 3,400 The schools at Westport, Charleston, and Brighton are largely attended, and are a great boon to the district. Roads. —The main road up the Buller, connecting Westport with Reefton and Greymouth on the one hand, and the Lyell, Matakitaki, and Nelson on the other, is now completed, with the exception of some trifling approaches to, and a bridge over, the Lyell Creek. From, however, the nature of the ground, continual slips are occurring, which will necessitate constant supervision in order to keep the road open for wheel traffic. In connection with the road up the Buller a new line of telegraph has been constructed from Westport, joining the Reefton line direct to Nelson, which will be of considerable advantage to the district generally. The various other roads in the district, being now in the hands of the County Council, will no doubt receive that attention which a local knowledge of the requirements on the part of the members of the Council will enable them to give.

Westport. Charleston. Lyell. Totals. 'umber Miners' Rights umber Business Licenses "umber Summonses in Warden's Courts ... "umber Applications Registered Rights ... umber Applications Gold Mining Leases umber Applications Agricultural Leases esident Magistrate's Court— Number Criminal Cases Number Civil Cases ... 183 9 1 76 6 2 305 2 36 487 9 6 240 20 14 210 5 9 628 31 51 773 20 17 231 394 16 56 48 58 295 508 Revenue. Westport. Charleston. Lyell. Totals. 'esident Magistrate's Court— Fees and Fines 'rovincial and Public Accounts £ s. d. 426 9 1 1,636 16 6 £ s. d. 52 6 0 778 14 9 £ 115 1,000 s. d. 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. 593 15 1 3,415 11 3