o.—3a,

32

In Granville, comprising Half-ounce, Duffer's, and Noble's Creeks, there are about the usual number of miners, who generally seem satisfied with the result of their labour. No new find has been made in these localities lately.Eevenue received at Ahaura for period ending the 31st March, 1895, has been as stated hereunder :— s s. a. Miners' rights ... ... ... ... ... ... 265 0 0 Miners' duplicate ... ... ... ... ... ... 030 Water-races ... ... ... ... ... ... 23 12 6 Business licenses ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 15 residence-sites (issued free) ... ... ... ... 7 10 0 Bents ... ' ... ... ... ... ... ... 129 7 0 Eegistrations ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 6 0 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 121 2 6 I have, &c, H. A. Stbatfobd, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

No. 10. Mr. Warden Macfaelane to the Undeb-Seceetaey of Mines, Wellington. Sib,— Warden's Office, Hokitika, 13th May, 1895. I have the honour to forward herewith the usual mining statistics for the year ended 31st March,-1895, together with the annual report on mining matters in the districts under my charge. Hokitika. In this district the most noticeable features in the mining operations for the past year have been the magnificent gold returns from what is known as " Craig's claim," on the south side of the Hokitika Eiver, and the improved output of the Humphrey's Gully Company, thus emphasizing and further proving the extent and richness of our auriferous drifts. Craig's claim, in less than four years, has produced gold to the value of £18,000. The claim has been worked on tribute by a party of eight shareholders and two wages-men. The tributers' share of the gold was £12,849; that of the owner, £5,151: equals £18,000. The area of ground driven out for the above return is under three acres. The area unworked is large, and appears to be equally rich ; the last week's washing gave 50oz. of gold. The owners and tributers purpose putting up a small battery to crush the tailings, the cement in which will amply pay for further treatment. Independent of the rich layers that are being driven out, the overlying drifts would pay well for sluicing if water was available, and if the tailings difficulty would not prove a bar on account of the ground being so close to the harbour. The claim is situated on the terminal face of the line of terraces comprising Bads Creek, Seddon's, Eimu, and Brighton Terraces, lying on the south side of the Hokitika Eiver. The Humphrey's Gully Company is still without an adequate supply of water. This is to be regretted, as the returns from this claim are steadily improving. lam informed that negotiations are still pending for an increased water-supply. Boy's long tunnel, on the Arahura Elat, has proved a run of auriferous wash, skirting the base of the terrace; a number of claims are at work, having fair prospects, and recently a number of ordinary claims were marked off on the same run. The Kanieri Lake Water-race Company are now selling their water to the miners between the main and right branch of the Kanieri Eiver, where extensive hydraulic faces are being opened out with very fair prospects. Cadman's Terrace, that promised well in the beginning of the year, has not turned out much gold on the different levels driven on, but enough has been done to show that an immense body of auriferous drift exists that will pay handsomely for sluicing when water is made available for miners to work with. In Kanieri, Marks and party are about to sink a new shaft, the water from the old workings rendering their present working unprofitable. They have met with excellent prospects under the present water-level, hence the necessity for sinking a new and deeper shaft. This flat, like the old Kanieri Mat, has never been bottomed, its lower levels remaining an unknown quantity. The population remains about the same ; occasionally parties of men go on to co-opera-tive works, but, when finished, fall back on mining. During the year this Warden's district has been added to by the Davey Survey Block in Canterbury having been brought under the jurisdiction of the Warden in Hokitika. This was in consequence of an application having been made by a party for a special claim of 100 acres at the head of the Wilberforce Eiver, near Browning's Pass. The reef the company purposes working outcrops somewhere near the snow-line on the eastern slopes of Mount Harman, and is about 3ft. thick, and prospects 2-|-oz. to the ton; this is from a trial battery-test made of 2 tons in Auckland. The strike of the reef is in the direction of the Taipo Eeefs, having a dip to the west. No doubt more will be heard of this promising reef if work is not hindered by litigation arising, and of partnership disputes. Eeturns like the above should give encouragement to prospectors of the country between the Pass and the Taipo—the probable source of the gold now found in the auriferous drifts along the coast. Eoss. There is nothing new to report from this district in the way of new discoveries. The various sluicing companies show no improvement in their gold returns. This, no doubt, is partly due to the increased quantity of overlying tailings some of them have to deal with, and, in other instances, to the extraordinary dry season we have had. There is a little more stir in quartz-mining. The Donnelly's Creek reef is being worked on tribute. The lode has been sunk upon another 50ft.,