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battery process, it would be a matter of the greatest importance to the district, as many of the claims have stacked thousands of tons of tailings, and thousands of tons of stone have been left in the Keep-It-Dark, Wealth of Nations, Globe, Progress, and other mines, as the yield by the ordinary battery process was unremunerative. Could these blocks of stone be made by any process to pay, they would give employment for years to a very large number of men. A prospecting association was formed here in February last, having as its object the work of prospecting for reefs under regular management and recognised plan of operations. Under this association two men are now prospecting in Big Biver district, one in Merrijigs, two in Murray Creek, two in Boatman's, and one at Larry's. Only men known to possess a knowledge of pro-specting-work are chosen, their pay averaging £1 a man per week, to which sum the Government give a subsidy of 7s. 6d. a man per week, the rest being supplied by weekly contributions from the public. This pay is not given as wages, but simply as an encouragement to prospecting, it being sufficient to provide food, whilst the prospectors are themselves entitled to the benefit of any discoveries they may make. The prospectors have met with several runs of quartz, but, so far, nothing payable. Prospecting will be continued so long as the weather and funds permit. The association have an energetic secretary in Mr. James Clark. I have to thank managers of companies and others for information kindly supplied. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. H. A. Stbatfoed, Warden.

No. 8. Mr. N. D. Cocheanb, Inspector of Mines, to the Undeb-Secbetaey of Mines, Wellington. Sic, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Westport, 3rd May, 1895. I have the honour to report as follows on the mines worked under the provisions of " The Mining Act, 1891," in the Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland Districts during the past year. Wakamaeina. Umpire City Quartz-mine. — (11/6/94:) : Mr. James Wilkie was in charge of this mine, which is some 600 ft. above the level of the main road and not far away from the Golden Bar Claim, not now working. An adit runs in an easterly direction 140 ft. to the lode, the course of which is nearly north-west, and the width 9ft. Only 15ft. of driving has been done on the reef, which is a white quartz with some scheelite that occurs mostly on the hanging-wall. Work was intended to be in full swing in six or seven weeks after the arrival of the Otis crusher, which is on the way, and the driving of which is to be done by water-power. lam informed that work has since been stopped, as funds were required for the completion of the water-race. Waikakaho. Bavenscliff Quartz-mine was not working when I was in the district, but resumed work shortly after. Mr. C. H. Turner informs me that a cyanide plant has been fitted up, and 175 tons of quartz treated, but the return being very poor, only some 16oz. gold in all, work has been discontinued. This is to be regretted; but sooner or later rich shoots of ore such as supplied the gold to the Mahakipawa Creek will probably be found. COLLINGWOOD. Johnstons United Quartz-mine. —(15/6/94) : Mr. H. Cottier, without certificate, was in charge, only five miners and three truckers being employed in the two shifts; The Nos. 2, 3, and 4 levels have been abandoned, and work is now going on near the old workings to the south. The air returns through the old Decimal workings, and is very good. The old workings are to be blocked off and extra bars provided at the passes. Beport kept, and the Act observed. (9/2/95) : Mr. Johnston again in charge. Only three places working, employing a like number of miners singlehanded and three truckers in first shift. Eleven men in all employed at the mine, in two shifts, exclusive of the battery hands. The lode still lies very flat, and the quartz is poor and bunchy. One miner was working under a bad-looking part of the roof, and this, on my drawing attention to it, was ordered by Mr. Johnston to be taken down. A good current of air circulating. Plan properly kept, the last survey having been made three months ago. Eeport duly entered up. Beefton. Progress Quartz-mine. —(14/9/94): The blind shaft has now been sunk to a depth of 450 ft., and of that depth No. 5 level has been driven a distance of 310 ft., and is being continued to connect with the winze sunk from No. 4. Air poor, but Mr. Black, the mine-manager, stated that the contract provided the contractors were to take in air, the company supplying a fan, which had been done. I saw the contractors, and found this to be correct, and, as there was only a few feet to drive, I did not insist on the pipes being put in. Beport duly kept. Plan up to Ist instant, but not yet inked in. (16/3/95) : Stoping now going on about 35ft. above No. 5 level, employing fourteen men in the day and twelve in the afternoon shift. The length of the block of quartz is about 60ft., and it is very wide in the centre —about 30ft.—but narrowing in at the ends. Air in stopes not very satisfactory ; this is partly caused by the current being divided to pass clear of the engine, where it would otherwise be too hot. No. 1. level is being repaired, and extra-stoppings are to be put in at doors in shafts ; these should effect an improvement. Mine otherwise in good order. Globe Quartz-mine. —(11/9/94) : The only work doing is extending the No. 6 level to the east. The western end was stopped about a month ago on account of insufficient air, when it had been