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The statistical returns show that there are 490 water-races, of an aggregate length of 379-| miles, registered to carry 1,307|- heads of water, valued at £41,075; 250 tail-races at £13,248 ; 550 dams and reservoirs at £18,030; and 135 ground-sluices at £7,500. These, taken together with the mining plant and machinery, estimated at £17,000, show the total value of mining property in the district to be £96,853 sterling. Sittings of the Courts have been held regularly every three weeks at Westport, Charleston, and Lyell, and every six weeks the Court is appointed to sit at Murchison, but if there is no business to transact the Court is adjourned by the Eeceiver of Gold Eevenue, wdio attends regularly every three weeks to transact business with the miners from the Matakitaki, Owen, and other portions of the district in that locality. I attach herewith return showing the total population, the cases disposed of in the Eesident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts, the number of miners' rights, licenses, and registrations, &c, issued, the revenue collected at each office, and the estimated yield of gold. The following is the return of cases in the Eesident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1884 : —

The following is the estimated yield of gold: Westport, 4,1230z. J.odwt. 4gr. ; Charleston, 4,7520z.; Lyell, 3,4000z.: total, 12,2750z. 13dwt. 4gr. The following is the estimated population : Westport, 2,832 Europeans; 11 Chinese : total, 2,843. Charleston, 831 Europeans. Lyell, 550 Europeans; 11 Chinese: total, 561. Murchison, 400 Europeans. Total population, 4,613 Europeans; 22 Chinese : total, 4,635. I have, &c, W. 11. Eevell, The Under-Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

Eesident Magil itrate's Court. Warden's Court. Totals. Civil. Criminal. Westport Charleston Lyell ... Murchison 155 12 83 13 131 12 19 2 5 11 7 1 .291 35 109 16 Totals 263 164 24 451 The following is the return of revi mue for the t -elve months nidi: ig 31st March, 1884 :— Westpo: :t. Charles; ;on. Lyell. Totals. Garden's Department, Gold Fields >itto, Colliery Reserve Resident Magistrate's Department £ S. d. 1,201 14 3 505 15 0 177 7 6 £ s. d. 563 10 3 £ s. d. 956 1 3 £ s. d. 2,721 5 9 505 15 0 256 18 6 7" 0 0 72"11 0 Totals 1,884 16 9 570 10 3 1,028 12 3,483 19 3 The following is the return of miners iwelve months ending 31st March, 1884 : — i' rights, licenses, registrations, &c, issued during the Westport. Charleston. Lyell. Totals. Miners' rights Business licenses, £5 Business licenses, £3 Water-race licenses, 5s. Water-race licenses, 2s. 6d. ... Eegistrations, 10s. Eegistrations, Is. Mining applicationsApplications for gold-mining leases Gold-mining leases granted ... 188 1 2 71 . 10 95 49 9 12 275 3 202 3 610 217 2 1 166 2 5 89 11 47 80 1 3 629 3 7 3 362 24 752 346 12 16