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The Waitaia Gold-mining Company are crushing and stoping, the battery producing regular results. The Handsworth has a battery crushing by water-power for very fair returns. The Irene Special Quartz Claim is being worked by a party of tributers, who are making payable crushings. Kapowai Block. On this part of the field much prospecting has been done, the results being very encouraging. A company has been formed, who, with the Kapowai Gold-mining Company, have almost completed a battery, while driving has been rapidly pushed forward. There is a strong hope of a good future for this new district. Opitonui. On the Kauri Freeholds properties operations have been actively carried on. About a hundred and fifty men are employed, while the battery continues to make regular crushings with fair results. It is to be hoped the mine may meet with success, as this part of the field depends entirely upon it. The public battery at Coromandel mentioned in my report of last year has now been completed. Already a large number of parcels of ore from all parts of the surrounding district have been treated. This battery is undoubtedly of great benefit to miners, who have hitherto had no means of fully testing the value of their reefs without going to considerable expense; the proof of the benefit being in the number who have taken advantage of it. The School of Mines continues to do good work in the way of instruction. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. B. S. Bush, Warden.

Mr. Warden Boberts to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Warden's Office, Tauranga, 11th April, 1901. In compliance with the instructions contained in your letter of the 21st ultimo, I have the honour to attach the report asked for therein; also the forms forwarded therewith duly filled up. During the past year very little has been done in mining owing to the unsettled state of the financial and mining market. The Te Puke Gold Reefs Company have, however, resumed mining operations since the middle of February, and have put on a staff of men. The works are all being cleaned out and put in order pending the arrival of London and Australian experts, who are due to visit and inspect the property early in May. The old top level that had completely caved in has been reopened, and the reef penetrated to a distance of 45 ft. It is estimated that another 15 ft. or 20 ft. of driving will be necessitated before the foot-wall of the reef is reached, and it is here that the best gold has been found. The stone coming to hand is of a very promising kind. The low-level drive at the 300 ft. level is in a good state, and here the reef is 22 ft. through, and much more compact. A week or two ago another lode, supposed to be 40 ft. or 50 ft. through, about a quarter of a mile to the westward, and running parallel (i.e., north and south) to the other lode, has been exposed all along a small creek owing to a landslip having cleared off the surface-soil. It is intended to prospect the new reef to find out its size and value, and if it is up to expectations it will be a very valuable find, and materially enchance the value of the property. In the other claims the only work done has been prospecting-work in the Otara Freehold and the Sisters Claim-, and in both these properties very encouraging results have been met with; and if the main claim at Te Puke is taken up and developed there is no doubt that attention will soon be paid to some of the outside properties. Alluvial Find. —An experienced prospector followed up traces of loose gold between Te Puke and Rotorua till he located its source in an extensive bed of alluvial deposit that gives good results of rich, coarse gold. The deposit is in places over 10 ft. deep, and is composed of surface country, ironsand, and general detritus ; the best gold is found where the deposit is consolidated and cemented together. Five prospecting licenses have been granted in the vicinity of the find, and the opinion is that the deposit is from the reef systems traversing the district and connected with the Te Puke reef system. I have, &c, J. M. Boberts, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Warden Allen to be Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Blenheim, 9th May, 1901. I have the honour to forward you my annual report, which, of necessity, will be very short. In the Wakamarina there is nothing special to report. With the exception of a few parties of alluvial miners, there appears to be very little work doing. The Yukon Company are about resuming work under new management. The Wakamarina Golden Point Dredging Company are placing a dredge on their claim, but they have not yet commenced working. A number of claims have been applied for and granted for dredging in the north bank of Wairau district. The Omdurman Company are preparing to place a dredge on one of their claims. They will probably commence work in or about the month of June next. Messrs. Watty and party are placing a battery upon their quartz claim, hoping to start work in May. The Jubilee Company have been working for a short time, but I have not heard the result. No work has been done to 11—C. 3.