11

C.—9,

between Lovell's Point and Grainger's Point are suitable and promising localities r the establis ment of dredging plants on the river. At Grainger's Point the river is confined to a narrow gorge, and consequently rushes through this with considerable force. Alluvial deposits on the immediate banks of the river are here absent, but at the upper end of the gorge high-level river-gravels have been formed, resting against the range on the south side at fully 100 ft. above ordinary flood-level. Grainger's Point to the Junction of the Inangahua. —Above Grainger's Point the Buller Valley widens considerably, and between the road and the river lies a somewhat extensive area of flat land—partly swamp, to some extent drained and reclaimed, and partly brier bush-covered lands— along the immediate bank of the river. The western end and middle part of this is known as Walker's Swamp or Farm (Rocklands). Above Mr. Walker's homestead the breadth of the low grounds rapidly becomes less, till two miles and a half from the Inangahua Junction the river runs close under the limestone range, which here terminates in high cliffs, along the narrow space between which and the river the Westport-Beefton-Nelson Road has been formed. On the northern side of the river there are also low grounds, forming partly the banks of the Buller Eiver and partly the lower valley of the Orikaka or Mackley's Creek. No information respecting gold-mining on this section of the Buller Valley was obtained, but it does seem probable that dredging on the river between Grainger's Point and the Limestone Bluff, where the river is again confined to a gorge, could be profitably carried on at many places. From the limestone spur to the Inangahua Junction but little gold-mining has been done on the south bank of the river, but on the northern side a moderate-sized creek (Welshman's) here makes junction, and from the valley of this a considerable quantity of gold has been obtained. From the Inangahua Junction to the Lyell Township. —ln this part of the Buller Valley there is a moderate breadth of low alluvial lands along the south bank of the river, part of which must be considered as belonging to the Inangahua Valley, the Buller River in reality breaking across the northern end of the depression along which the Inangahua flows. Less than three miles from the Inangahua Junction the Buller Valley is distinctly marked, and the alluvial lands along its banks are due to its action during times of high flood, or when running at a higher level than at the present time. Gold workings are carried on on the banks of the river to some extent, principally near Junker's Hotel; but this part of the valley is important chiefly on account of the auriferous character of the bed of the river. One dredge only, the " Cock-sparrow," is at present at work on the river, and as of late this has been very successful there, it is probable that shortly others will be built to exploit the gold from other parts of the river-bed. On the northern bank of the river there is a fringe of high terrace-lands over which gold is supposed to be present, but at the present it is undeveloped. In the upper part of this section, below the Buller Bridge, the alluvial flats along the banks of the river are for the most part cultivated and in English grasses. From the bridge across the river to the junction of Lyell Creek the south-west bank of the gorge, which here begins, is very abrupt, and no gravels are retained. Such as are in this part of the valley lie on the opposite or north-east bank. Here a number of claims are at work, but the works are on a small scale, the water supply being limited. From the Junction of Lyell Greek, East, through the Gorge to Boundary of the Block. —At many places in this gorge there are on both banks of the river alluvial workings, which are at so considerable a height above the river that very little water is available for mining purposes. Small catch-water races have, therefore, to be brought on to the points, patches, or fringing terraces, from whatever source is most convenient or where water can be obtained. The result is that at most places mining is-carried on with a totally insufficient supply of water, and ground is thus worked, it is presumed, so as to pay small wages, that otherwise should be made to pay handsomely. Block Vlll. —This block extends to the eastern boundary of Block VII., along both banks of the Buller River to the junction of the Mataira and Matakitaki Rivers. Like the previous block, it takes in but a narrow strip along each bank of the river, the alluvial banks of which have been hitherto the great source of gold in this part of the Buller district. The area of the block is 4,320 acres. The gorge of the river continues to the lower end of Fern Flat, but there are a few places at which there are small alluvial flats—as, for instance, at Newton Hotel, the junction of the Maruia, 4c. There are also between the Newton River and Fern Flat some high level terraces covered to a considerable depth with river shingle, which are known to be gold-bearing, but on to which no water-supply can be or has yet been brought. At the mouth of the Maruia the terraces on the south side of the river have been worked extensively, and is still being worked, according to the measure of the water-supply, for gold. At Fern Flat the river banks, on the northern side principally, have been worked, and a dredge, the "Buller Dredge," moored to the bank, is here at work in the bed of the river. From this point to the east limit of the block there should be several localities offering facilities for dredging the riverbed, but in the meantime little or no mining is being carried on. On the north side of the valley the Buller flows under high banks till the Mataira Valley opens out, and on the south side the comparatively extensive alluvial plain, east and west of the junction of the Matakitaki, stretches from Doughboy Creek to Long Ford. Block IX. —This extends between New Creek and the Eight-mile Creek, up the Buller Gorge from the Lyell Township. Its length east and west is five miles, and its breadth irregular. The block comprises an area of 9,800 acres. Within it lie the rich alluvial diggings of Lyell Creek, famous for its "patches" and the coarse character of its gold. The area west of Lyell Creek is rugged and mountainous, utterly unfit for agricultural or for grazing purposes. To the east of Lyell Creek, and lying between the middle part of that, the Buller Gorge, and the Eight-mile Creek, is a high alluvial plateau known as Manuka Flat. This is covered with an alluvial deposit which is known to be gold-bearing, and to some extent payable. Gold has not yet been found so abundantly as to lead to extensive workings, but all agree that the flat has not been sufficiently pro-