24

H.—9.

Comet.— This claim has put in two cross-cuts, but, though getting good-looking stone, it has not as yet proved remunerative. . ' . ' Anglo-Maori.— This small claim, two men's ground, has proved very good, going over an ounce to the ton. Ohinemuri-Owharoa Disteict. This district has not flourished during the year, owing to the principal mine, the-Smile of Fortune, only returning 5070z. of gold for the year, while the previous year it gave 2,1240z. This mine has, however, met with considerable mishaps this year both to its battery and its workings through the late floods, and has also done a large quantity of dead work m putting m alow level to intersect the workings of No. 3. From the appearance of the quartz now coming to hand the owners are sanguine as to the future success of the mine. One dividend has been paid during the year, amounting to £500. Badical—This claim has been worked by tributers, but the returns have not given wages .as has also been the case with the Lucky-hit and other claims in the district. • Waitekauei Disteict. The Waitekauri, Waitekauri No. 3, and Welcome Extended are still being worked by tributersIn the latter a party of tributers won 86oz. 13dwt. melted gold from 2 tons of quartz, and expected they had got the flat run of gold of the Young New Zealand, but since the beginning of the year they seem to have lost it again. Waihi Disteict. The new American turbine, which I mentioned in my last report as coming from America, has been erected and has now been working for the last ten months, and has crushed during that time 4,750 tons of quartz, for i,6310z. of melted gold. ,-,,,.•,, ■■"„■ oi + The following is a return of quartz, crushed and melted gold obtained for the year ending dlst March, 1884, for Hauraki South and North:—-

I should have mentioned that very little work has boon done in the Karangahake portion of the Ohinemuri Gold Field, but in one of the mines there (the Sir Walter Scott) very encouraging returns have recently been obtained from a small crushing. The ground m the neighbourhood is now being energetically prospected. M . McLaren, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Mining Inspector.

MAELBOEOUGH GOLD FIELDS.

No. 5. Mr. Warden Allen to the Under-Secretary for Gold Fields. _ Picton, 24th April, 1884. I have the honour to hand you my report on gold fields under my charge for tho year ended the 31st March, 1884. Queen Charlotte Sound. Closed at present. Wairau Valley. Very little to report concerning this district. Most of the miners from upper portion of the valley 11 at the present time away seeking more profitable employment It is usual for a number of them to return to this field during the winter months. There are a few miners working alluvial claims in one or two of the gullies: they can only be described as earning a living.

Month. Quartz crushed. Tailings treated. Yield of Gold. District. Hauraki South » '." it a n a n a April, 1883 May, ... „ June, i, July, August, „ September, ,, October, „ November, „ Dec'ember, „ January, 1884 Eebruary, „ March, „ Tons cwt. lb. 2,641 14 38 2,042 4 5 2,618 16 22 3,476 12 22 3,155 18 51 3,063 0 67 3,038 14 82 3,091 0 98 3,045 6 97 2,638 0 26 2,437 1 18 2,979 10 75 Tons owt. lb. 313 0 0 535 0 0 806 10 0 610 5 0 999 0 0 712 0 0 580 5 0 593 1 0 499 0 0 501 10 0 350 0 17 333 2 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 2,479 6 0 2,697 17 12 5,874 17 6 4,430 10 0 6,422 3 18 6,383 12 12 2,045 4 0 4,190 18 12 8,257 2 2 840 17 6 6,536 8 18 4,714 16 18 n a it it it it it a a tt a a it it -^ 12 months 34,228 0 41 1,042 12 95 6,832 13 17 54,873 14 4,017 19 8 2 Hauraki North Totals... 35,270 13 24 6,832 13 17 58,891 13 10