H.—26

6

No. 1. Mr. Warden Keneick to the TThder-Secbetaey for Gold Fields. Sic,— Warden's Office, Coromandel, 7th May, 1880. In forwarding my report upon that portion of the district within my charge known as the Hauraki North or Coromandel District, I would state that many of the remarks made in reporting upon the Hauraki South or Thames District will apply equally to this. I regret that I cannot take a very sanguine view of the immediate future of this portion of the gold field. Great depression has existed during the past year, and the population has decreased considerably. The reopening of the Kapanga Mine and the starting of the long tunnel through the Bismarck and Tokatea Claims by the aid of the rock-drill are undoubtedly signs that faith in the district still exists in the minds of those who know it best. But a large amount of expensive prospecting will require to be done, I am afraid, before an]* new discoveries can be hoped for. 1 have every confidence that the very large extent of country on this peninsula, as yet only partially explored, is, and will prove to be, auriferous; but time, money, and roads or tracks will bo required to prove it. A discovery tha*t promises to be of considerable importance and value has been made at Cabbage Bay, a few miles to the north of Coromandel. A. seam of coal of very good quality, some eight feet thick, has been opened up there. It is within easy distance of a shipping place, and apparently can be worked and shipped at a very moderate cost. Should experience prove this to be the case, the district will largely benefit by the discovery. The coal is on private land, and lam informed that a company is being formed to work it. I visit Coromandel every fourth week, and have hitherto found that sufficient for the requirements of the place and people. I have visited Mercury Bay, but as yet have made no arrangements for holding periodical Courts there, or at Tairua, further down the East Coast. There is no pressing necessity for doing so, the local Justices being able to deal with the class of cases likely to arise in a district populated principally by bushmen, sawyers, and gum-diggers. The following is a return of cases disposed of during the year in both Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Courts, together with the number of registrations of claims, &c.: Civil cases in ltesident Magistrate's Court, 235 ; criminal cases in Eesident Magistrate's Court, 40; cases in Warden's CoTirt, 16; new claims marked out, 80; new claims registered, 18; licensed holdings forfeited, 8; licensed holdings granted, 1. I have, &c , Haeet Keneick, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

No. 2. Mr. Warden Keneick to the Undee-Si_ceetai.y for Gold Fields. Sic,— Warden's Office, Thames, 30th April, 1880. I have the honor to forward my report upon the gold fields of this district for the year ending 31st March last. The short period that I have been in charge of the district must plead my excuse for the scanty nature of the report. As yet Ido not feel justified in speaking with authority upon many questions of considerable local interest and importance to a mining community. Notably amongst these must be reckoitpd the question as to whether agricultural leases have really succeeded in effecting the purpose for which they were originally granted—namely, that of settling the mining population on the land. I find that on the 31st March last there were eighty agricultural leases in force, extending over an aggregate area of 3,959 acres 3 roods 7 perches, whilst there were thirteen applications for leases pending. lam not in possession of information reliable enough to justify mo in giving an opinion as to whether this large area has to any appreciable extent been brought under cultivation or settled upon. Information such as this would be both interesting and valuable. I therefore hope to be able to include it in my next annual report. The full and exhaustive report of the Mining Inspector, forwarded herewith, renders it unnecessary for me to refer to the progress or prospects of claims individually. Generally I must report that, from various causes, more particularly referred to by the Mining Inspector, the progress of the gold field was at a standstill during the first nine months of the year. During the last quarter, however, the progress has everywhere been most marked., The resumption of pumping operations has not only benefited the claims adjacent, but has restored faith in the future generally throughout the field. Many of the old companies have during the year been, re-formed, and are starting to work in a systematic and businesslike way. Speaking generally, work has taken the place of speculation, greatly to the advantage, I need scarcely say, of both investors and miners.

APPENDIX TO REPORT ON THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND. WARDENS' REPORTS. AUCKLAND GOLD FIELDS.