H.—ll

20

The Population of tho District is estimated at 5,190 souls.

Number of Gold-mining Leases applied for, in force, and abandoned.

Number of Agricultural Leases applied for, in force, and abandoned.

NO. 10. Mr. Warden Giles to the Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Sir,— Hokitika, 10th June, 1879. In reporting upon the mining subdistricts of Waimea, Kanieri, Totara, and Okarito, I am not in a position to make many general remarks in addition to tbe statistical information comprised in the usual forms accompanying this letter. The reason is that I have only just taken charge of the above-named districts, in the place of Mr. Price, who has taken over the Inangahua District. I have consequently had no opportunity to make myself acquainted with any points which would be specially useful or interesting to notice in a report; and I have no reason to believe that there has been any such change in the character or prospects of the diggings as would require any particular mention. There have been, as happens in most years, reports of new finds. Some expectations were entertained that one of these, situated on the beach near Lake Mahinapua, on the south side of the Hokitika River, would have turned out well enough to have furnished subsistence to a large number of miners for some time; but these hopes have not been realized, the ground not proving to be so good as was expected. Another and, so far as present appearances go, more promising locality, which has lately begun to attract attention, is what is called the Back Creek, near AVoodstock, between the Hokitika River and the Ross Road. Some gold has been struck on a terrace in that locality by four or five different parties, and there appears at present to be every probability of a considerable number of claims being marked out there before long. As these claims have to be worked by tunnels, the ground must bo fairly rich to pay for the working; but, when the tunnels are ouce in, this mode of working is perhaps the best of all, as no lifting is required, and the ground is kept well drained. The fact that, after so many years of gold-working in the Kanieri aud AVoodstock Districts, and the large numbers of miners who have found employment there iv former times, this terrace should only now for the first time have been properly prospected, is instructive, and shows that it is easy to be premature in pronouncing a locality to be worked out. In the neighbourhood of Ross there is a good deal of work being done, and, from the number of applications for ground and for mining privileges, I should judge that this locality is far from being yet exhausted. The horse-track is now completed as far as Okarito, and, when proper provision has been made for establishing ferries on the rivers, this road can hardly fail to stimulate both mining and settlement. The track passes through some excellent land, and in the neighbourhood of the AVanganui River steps are now being taken to lay off sections for occupation. The Waimea District still shows much activity in the way of mining. There are now a considerable number of Chinese there, whose presence does not tend to diminish the work of the AVarden's Court, but comes in aid of the complications which would in any case arise from the conflicting interests of parties working iv the immediate vicinity of each other, requiring water from every available source, and using, or desiring to use, the same outfall for their tailings and drainage.

Districts. Europeans. Chinese. Totals. xreymouth Borough 'aroa ... Lrnold... Dunganville J reenstone 2,450 400 152 332 430 50 100 125 120 120 2,500 500 277 452 550 kelson South-West Gold Fields— Cobden No Town ... 520 311 80 520 391

Applied for. In force. Abandoned or refused. 36 20 16

Applied for. In force. Abandoned or lapsed. Nil 19