11.—26.

The Population of the District is estimated at 1,562 souls, who are located as under:—

The Eeventje for the Twelve Months, amounting to £3,673 7s. 4d., is made up as follows : — £ s. d. Warden's Department ... ... ... ... ... 2,106 19 4 Resident Magistrate's Department ... ... ... ... 550 13 0 Fees —Licensing Court ... ... ... ... ... 15 5 0 Spirit licenses ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,000 10 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... £3,673 7 4

Return of Miners' Rights, Licenses, and Registrations issued during the Twelve Months. Miners' rights ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 262 Business licenses, £5 ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Business licenses, £3 ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 Water-race licenses, 2s. 6d. ... ... ... ... ... 101 Water-race licenses, ss. ... Registration, 10s. ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 Registration, Is. .„ ... ... ... ... ... ... 370 Applications ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 337 Agricultural leases Gold-mining leases ... ... ... ... ... ... 9

The Estimated Yield of Gold in District is about — Oz. dwt. gr. Alluvial ... ... ... ... ... 4,530 6 7 Beefing ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18,089 17 4 Total ... ... ... ... ... 22,620 311

WESTLAND GOLD FIELDS. (Including part of Nelson South-West Mining District.) No. 8. Mr. Warden Mackay to the Undee-Seueetaey for Gold Fields. Sic,— Warden's Office, Greymouth, 26th July, 1880. In accordance with tho request contained in your circular of the 15th March last, I have the honor to report on those portions of the gold-mining districts under my charge which are situated in the County of Grey—that is to say, the southern division of tho Nelson South-west Gold-mining District and the northern part of the Westland Gold-mining District, extending from the river Teremakau northwards. Before entering on the question, I would beg to state, iv explanation of the delay which has occurred in furnishing this report, that, in consequence of the lamented death of Mr. Warden Broad, I was appointed to be Warden of those districts in November last, and I had not been more than ten days here when I had the misfortune to dislocate and fracture my ankle, which for a considerable period prevented my travelling about and making myself acquainted with the various mining localities ; consequently, if I had written my report on or soon after the 3Lst March, it would have been of the most meagre and unreliable character. Since that time I have visited and made myself conversant with the whole district, and, for the reasons before shown, in reading my report it may be considered as describing the present state of mining affairs rather than the actual position on the 31st March. The statistical returns are, however, compiled for the twelve months preceding that date. I will first proceed to report on that division of the Westland Gold-mining District which is included within tho County of Grey, beginning at its northern extremity at the river Teremakau. At Greenstone and Westbrook there are still a considerable number of miners, who on the whole appear to be fairly remunerated for their labour. This is perhaps as well indicated by the fact that 201 applications for mining easements and privileges have been applied for during the last twelve months. Of these 177 were granted and 24 refused or withdrawn.

18

Subdistriots or Localities. Europeans. Chinese. Total. Reefton Cronadun, Capleston, and Larry's Creek Black's Point, Crushington, and Murray Creek Antonio's Flat, Maori Gully, Devil's Creek, and Burton's Creek Black water and Little Grey 500 270 450 100 75 7 100 507 370 450 100 135 60 Total ... 1,395 167 1,562