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of-men under him, to explore and lay off a water-race to supply the nozzle from the Clarke River. This river was wholly unexplored, and the upper part of the race presented almost insurpassable difficulties. Mr. Holdsworth therefore abandoned it, and after great labour reports that he has found a practicable course for a race round Seal Hill to the Boulder Lake, about 3,200 ft. above sea-level. Immediately his plans are ready the construction of the race will be commenced by Mr. F. G. Mace, whom I have appointed manager and engineer for this purpose. So soon as Mr. Holdsworth has finished his work at Boulder Lake he will proceed to Slate River and lay off a race there to bring water to Golden Gully, which will also be taken in hand immediately the survey is finished. There will therefore very shortly be a large number of men employed on both these works." Takaka. A fair number of miners have been at work in this district, and have earned good wages. The Upper Waingaro River terraces, Bubu and Anatoki Rivers, have all been worked, but the methods employed are of a somewhat primitive character, and no extensive developments have been made. Motueka. Several applications for special claims, licensed holdings, and mineral licenses have come before the Court during the past year, but of these only one—a licensed holding of 30 acres—has been finally dealt with. It is intended to work this claim by hydraulic sluicing, the water being brought from Lake Peel. The special claims applied for embrace an area of 700 acres. The mineral licenses are to work deposits of asbestos; but progress has been delayed on account of the difficulty experienced in getting surveys made. The claims referred to above are all in the neighbourhood of the Mount Arthur table-land. A few miners have been at work on the Leslie River and about the Karamea Bend. On the Sherry, Baton, and Wangapeka Rivers a number of men are making a living, and it is reported that hydraulic sluicing on a large scale is shortly to be engaged in on Macrae's land at Wangapeka. Marlborough. There is little or nothing of importance to report on in the Marlborough District. A few men are obtaining poor wages. Special claims and licensed holdings are apparently being held for the purpose of sale. The prospects of the district, however, will be greatly improved if capital is introduced for the working of the auriferous deposits, which can only be effected on a large scale, and by considerable expenditure of capital. West Coast. Westport. The claims at Addison's and the Northern Terraces, in the vicinity of Westport, are still giving profitable returns to the miners, and apparently will continue to do so for many years to come. A large number of special claims, licensed holdings, and other mining rights have been taken up at Westport during the past year, but, beyond prospecting, little actual work has been done in connection with most of the rights. Bradshaw's Terrace. Lind and party occupy an area of 30 acres. The alluvial deposit consists of black sand and boulders. Ten chains of fluming have been erected, and ground sluicing is being carried on with eight sluice-heads of water with a3O ft. pressure. Three-quarters of an acre of land has been washed away for a return of gold value £500. The gold is saved on tables 41 ft. in width, on which there are five rows of plush. Three to six men are employed. Several other parties are at work in this locality. Addison's Flat. Maid of Erin Claim (Area, 10 acres). —Employs six men in ground-sluicing, the stones being hauled up the shaft 40 ft. by means of a water-balance of 10-horse power, and fair results have been given during the year. Golden Sand Company's Claim (Area, 308 acres). —This company expect to be at work in two or three months, and are at present constructing a water-race two miles and a quarter in length and a reservoir capable of storing 3,000,000 cubic feet of water. These works are at present under contract, and the Despatch Foundry, of Greymouth, are making the battery of twenty 5001b. stampers. The cement which is on or near the surface is from 8 ft. to 9 ft. thick, extending pretty well over the whole of the area held. The cement is easily crushed, but there are stones inseparably connected with it that must be put through the battery also. It is expected that the twenty head of stampers will put through 100 to 120 tons a day. The tables, which will have a spread of 72 ft., will be kept up Bft., so as to allow of future concentration and treatment of the tailings, as only about one-third of the gold proved by fire-assay to exist in the ore will probably be saved on the copper-plates and plush. This is owing to most of the gold being coated with a film of oxide of iron. Gould and party's Claim (Area, 15 acres). —This claim is worked by ground-sluicing, with a water-balance for lifting the stones. The amount of water which is in use in the face for carrying the dirt to the hopper is nine heads. The face of wash-dirt is about 16 ft. deep, chiefly black sand, with a moderate amount of stone m it. The hopper-plates are perforated with Jin. holes, and all the dirt which runs through these holes, together with the gold, passes down a tunnel 1,000 ft. in length to the tables, which are 50 ft. long—five tables, 2 ft. 6 in. wide, covered with plush ; then through a tunnel 7,000 ft. hi length. The ground is broken down by means of a nozzle with about