H.—7

14

where no manifest objection existed to such a course, and by this means ground is doubtless sometimes worked which would otherwise not be worth taking up. Beach Claims. —The expectations which were formed twelve months ago as to the value of claims upon the sea-beach have only been partially realized. In the Charleston District, and on the beach between Charleston and the Totara, a good many claims are occupied. The working of them is rendered possible by the races, which have, at a considerable cost of money and labour, been brought down to the beach; and it is only to be regretted that a still larger number of claims are not constantly at work to remunerate the race proprietors for their outlay. The new regulation by which beach claims are made to extend to the sea, will, I think, satisfy the miners, and tend to prevent difficulty. On the south side of the Totara River the beach workings have proved a failure, and a good deal of time and labour have been apparently thrown away there. Quartz. —I have nothing to report about quartz reefs since the Lyell and Inangahua were formed into a separate district. There have lately appeared indications of a development of quartz workings nearer the coast, and within the somewhat indefinite boundaries of my district. The principal spot where a discovery of this kind has been made is at the Mokihinui, where it appears that an undoubted quartz reef, of apparently very good auriferous quality, has been found about twenty miles up the river. Some very good specimens from this reef were brought to me in February last, and a lease was applied for by the prospectors. The ground has been lately surveyed, and I believe the surveyor has formed a good opinion of the reef. The country is rough, but I understand a track can be made there. The conveyance of machinery will however probably be a matter of difficulty, as the river itself affords more obstacles than facilities. Other leases have since been applied for, and attention is now so decidedly drawn in that direction that there is little doubt of the reef or reefs in that neighbourhood being thoroughly examined and their value ascertained. Another quartz reef has been discovered and a lease applied for a few miles up the Buller. The specimens which I have seen from this place are much inferior to those from the Mokihinui, but I believe the prospectors have confidence iv the value of the reef. Nothing further has been done at the old quartz-reefing claim at the Waimangaroa ; but at a little distance thence, at a spot described as situate on the slope of Mount Rochfort, a lease has been obtained for the purpose of working a quartz reef. I have not, however, had any recent information of the progress of this claim. Westport. —The past twelve months has been a period of calamity and depression to the town of Westport. Street after street has been washed away by the river and sea encroachments, and the inhabitants have been compelled, at a great loss, to move their houses and places of business to such sites as they could secure, the approach to the new site of the township being then unfinished. The Government buildings are now safely established at the new site, and it seems probable that others will follow either from choice or necessity; but for some time the town is likely to have a very straggling arrangement. There seems to be no particular assignable limit to the further encroachments of the sea and river, and I do not see why the former destruction should not again be repeated if the river bank is not better protected than has yet been the case. General Prospects of District. —The general prosperity of the Buller District has undoubtedly been at a low ebb during the last twelve months. The situation of Westport must always give it a full share in the general success of the gold fields, but the opening up of the quartz reefs at the Lyell has not been yet rapid enough to relieve materially the depression of business experienced at the Port of the Buller, whilst most of the supplies to the Inangahua Gold Fields now go by way of the Grey. The principal hopes of renewed commercial activity are now built upon the prospect of a coal trade arising from the extensive seam discovered at the Ngakuwaho. I cannot give any information on this topic of which the Government is not already in possession; but it may be hoped that the development of this branch of industry, together with the gradual and steady progress of the quartz reefs, may at no distant date secure to the Port of Buller some portion of the commerce for which its pre-eminence amongst the harbours of the West Coast so signally adapt it. The statistical returns accompanying this report will complete the information I have to give respecting the general state of my district. I have, &c, Joseph Giles, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields. Warden and Resident Magistrate.

Disteict op Bulleb. —Statistics of Besident Magistrate's and Warden's Offices for the Year ending 31st March, 1873. ■nr i Charleston m . , Westport. and Brighton. TotalMiners' Eights issued ... ... ... 426 ... 699 ... 1,125 Business Licenses ... ... ... 235 ... 174 ... 409 Summonses in Warden's Court ... ... 56 ... 72 ... 128 Applications for Ecgistered Eights ... 582 ... 983 ... 1,565 Gold Mining Leases ... ... ... 15 ... 8 ... 23 Agricultural Leases ... ... ... 19 ... 6 ... 25 Eesideut Magisteate's Cotjbt. "Westport. Charleston. Brighton. Total. No. of Criminal Cases ... ... 212 ... 55 ... 3 ... 270 „ Civil Cases ... ... 429 ... 264 ... 25 ... 718