C.—6

34

Return showing the Number of Cases disposed of in the Resident Magistrates' and Warden's Courts, and Revenue collected, for the Twelve Months ending 31st March, 1887.

The population of the district is estimated at 25,361 souls, located as under, —

No. 14. Mr. Warden Hickson to the Under-Secbetaby of Mines. Sib,— Warden's Office, Clyde, 30th April, 1888. I have the honour to submit the following report on the Dunstan and Wakatipu Districts under my charge for the year ended the 31st March, 1888, together with the usual statistics for the same period. Clyde and Alexandra. —ln these subdivisions of my district there is very little of moment to report upon in alluvial mining. About the same number of men are engaged as last year, and from what I can ascertain they have been no less profitably employed. Several extended claims have been taken up at Bald Hill Mat, where, during the last year, very good prospects have been obtained. Dredging. —There are one steam and three current-wheel dredges situate between the abovenamed townships, but, owing to the flooded state of the river, very little work has been done by them since the New Year. The whole of them are, however, again in active operation, and will, I trust, be able to continue so until the setting-in of the usual spring floods. The special claims which were taken up in this locality for the purpose of being worked by Welhnan's patent dredger are still lying idle, and will remain so, I have no doubt, until Mr. Wellman has completed the alterations to the machinery, which were found to be necessary upon a trial last year. The alterations being made will include the substitution of a 12in. pump for the 6in. or Bin. one, which proved totally inadequate for the requirements necessary to manipulate the heavy boulder wash-drift of the Molyneux. The patentee has no doubt of the ultimate success of his dredger as enlarged and otherwise improved, and should his expectations be realised, the expenditure of a large amount of capital and a considerable increase in the demand for labour in this district will follow. lioxburgh. —The river-bank claims hero are still being profitably worked, and seem to show no signs of exhaustion; one of these claims, of six acres, changed hands a few months ago for £750. I

Courts. Civil. Criminal. Warden's. Total. Ecvonuo. Lawrence Waikaia Papanui 176 35 83 115 58 48 19 16 1 310 109 124 £ s. 150 13 78 5 110 2 a, c c c 294 213 36 543 339 0 Dutside goldfields— Milton ... Balclutha Kaitangata Clinton ... Goro Mataura 117 74 33 54 466 39 46 42 45 70 22 156 120 75 99 536 22 86 g 65 15 35 11 67 8 347 10 5 18 Grand Total 744 264 1,008 608 9 1,038 477 36 1,551 947 9

Europeans. Chinese. Total. Puapeka... Waipori ... Waitahuna Waikaia... Papanui ... Milton ... Balclutha Kaitangata Dlinton ... 3,860 360 1,120 1,013 1,600 4,600 3,398 1,450 2,051 2,930 1,696 200 410 80 140 188 150 39 2 4,270 440 1,260 1,201 1,750 4,639 3,400 1,450 2,051 3,000 1,700 200 jore Mat aura VVaikawa 70 4 Totals 24,278 1,083 25,361