C—6.

NELSON GOLDFIELDS. No. 4. Mr. Warden Gibbs to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sic,— Warden's Office, Collingwood, 4th April, 1887. I have the honour herein to report, and also to transmit the usual statistics for the Collingwood and Takaka part of the Karamea Mining District for the year ending the 31st March, 1887. My report of last year on the gold-mining in these districts w rould almost apply if repeated at the present time. The old workings and localities still keep their small population in work, and, as far as can be ascertained, with fair returns. The Johnson's United Gold-mining and Mineral Lease, the only claim on which machinery is used, still keeps at work, though not very regularly, or, as far as I know, very satisfactorily to the shareholders. The Eedhill Leasehold, of which I made reference in my last report as having been subsidized by Government to assist the proprietors in prospecting, has, I am given to understand, been disposed of to an English company with a large capital. Nothing has, however, yet been done by the new proprietors on the ground. At West Wanganui there is still some quartz-mining carried on, but the workings have not increased. These works are all on private lands. The various pieces of road-work intended to give facilities to the miners in prospecting some of those places which without such road-making were practically inaccessible, are now being actively pushed forward out of moneys voted by Parliament, and it is generally believed that some active prospecting will result, especially on the Gouland Downs, the upper part of the Aorere Valley, and the country lying between those places and the Karamea, also the upper part of the Anatoke. The idea has long past prevailed that, when fairly accessible, some payable ground will be found in these places. These remarks apply as well to the Takaka as to the Collingwood District. Minerals other than Gold. —The hopes of those interested in the welfare and progress of this district are centred to a large extent on the proceedings of an English company with some £150,000 of capital, who, it is understood, contemplate working the immense deposits of hematite-iron ore at the Parapara, in this district, in conjunction with the coal at Collingwood, the distance between the two minerals and the limestone necessary for smelting being very small. The favourable opinion given by Mr. Price Williams, a gentleman of large experience in such matters, who has carefully inspected these deposits on behalf of the promoters in England, leads to the hope that the usual feeling of uncertainty attending mining ventures will not apply in this case. The Wallsend Coal Company at Collingwood still keeps about the same number of men employed, and turns out a steady quantity of coal, which is in great favour both as a gas and household coal. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. William Gibbs, Warden.

No. 5. Mr. Warden Cuktis to the Undeb-Seceetaey of Mines. Sic,— Warden's Office, Nelson, 4th April, 1887. I have the honour to forward to you herewith the various forms with which you furnished me, filled up with the required information relative to the Wangapeka Goldfield, now the Karamea District. I can only report that nothing worthy of notice has occurred in the district under my charge during the year ending 31st March last. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Oswald Cuetis, Warden.

No. 6. Mr. Warden Bird to the Undee-Secbetaey of Mines. Sir, — Warden's Office, Murchison, 18th April, 1887. In furnishing the annual returns for this district this year I cannot say that matters have improved much since my last report, although nearly all the mining ventures are still being proceeded with with more or less success, to which I referred in my last. Lyell. The United Alpine Company have not been so fortunate during the last few months as hitherto, not having declared a dividend since October last year, although working all the, time; but up to the present time they have not found it necessary to make a call. Since my last they have started to drive their No. 7 Level tunnel, and in order to facilitate the work they entered into a contract to be supplied with air-compressing machinery and to make use of rock-borers, and have also arranged to have their mine and battery lit up with the electric light. At a meeting held lately it was decided to offer the company's mine to the London market at a price of £80,000 ; but it is not yet known whether their offer will be accepted. The claims in the neighbourhood of the Eight-mile are all still being worked ; but, as they are all leader-claims, it takes a considerable time to take out a fair crushing, and it is a hard matter to say what their prospects are till they have crushed. Some of the claims referred to gave some excellent returns last year, notably the Tyrconnel aed Maruia Companies. The United Italy shareholders are still as confident as ever, and have continued to work the mine ever since my last report in anticipation of good results yet. The stone met with lately, I am led to believe, presents a more payable appearance, which is a source of general satisfaction to the

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