H.—l

16

Enclosure in No. 14. AMOUNT sued for and received in the Resident Magistrate's Court, No Town, between the 1st April, 1876, and 31st March, 1877.

Seven Warden's cases. Court fees, £3 18s. No. £ a. d. Received on Agricultural Leases ... ... ... ... 85 13 9 Gold Mining Leases ... ... ... 166 ... 166 0 0 Water-races ... ... ... ... 128 ... 6 8 0 Special Sites ... ... ... ... 54 ... 6 15 0 Sundry Registrations ... ... ... 127 ... 6 7 0 Extended Claims ... ... ... ... 1 ... 0 5 0 Transfers and Renewal of Agricultural Leases ... ... ... 4 0 0 Business Licenses, Annual ... ... ... 2 ... 10 0 0 Business Licenses, Half-yearly ... ... 19 ... 57 0 0 Business Licenses, Quarterly ... ... 3 ... 6 0 0 Applications heard in the Warden's Court. No. Water-races ... ... ... ... ... 85 Dams ... ... ... .* ... ... 33 Double Areas ... ... ... ... ... 23 Protections ... ... ... ... ... 18 Residences Areas ... ... ... ... ... 11 Frontage Tunnel Claims ... ... ... ... 5

No. 15. Mr. Warden Guinness to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Sic,— Warden's Office, Collingwood, 16th May, 1877. I have the honor to forward herewith statistical returns. I have to report that this district has made no progress during the year ending 31st March. Some of the old hands have left, and more are about to do so. I attribute the falling off of the population to the want of better communication, both by means of roads and telegraph, and until some improvements in these matters are made I see but little hope of any advancement taking place in the district. I believe that its resources, as far as regards gold mining, are quite equal to any in New Zealand, and require nothing save some assistance for improving the means of communication with other parts of New Zealand. Since my last report, no new operations have been undertaken. A short bridle-track has been nearly completed to Burgoo, which may induce some men to prospect that locality next spring. A considerable number of agricultural leases have been taken up in the Aorere Valley, and it may be hoped these efforts at settlement will prove successful. I am unable to state with anything like accuracy what the amount of gold produced has been during the nast year, but I believe it may be roughly estimated at about 2,000 oz. I regret having to make so unfavourable a report. I have, &c, Fbank Guinness, The Under Secretary for Gold Fields, Wellington. Warden.

MAELBOROUGH GOLD EIELD. No. 16. Mr. Warden Whitehoen to the Undee Seceetaey for Gold Fields. Report on the Gold Fields of the County of Marlborough, for. the Year ended 31st March, 1877. Pelorus. —As compared with last year there is no material change in the population here, and some good gold has been obtained in the river Wakamarina during the year, keeping the average earnings up to a fair standard, not less than 30s. per week. I know of some cases where as much as £8 or £9 worth per diem per man has been obtained. I am sorry to say the reef-working which I spoke hopefully of last year has been entirely abandoned. The result of the crushing two tons in Auckland being only 7* dwts. per ton, that compared with the previous report from the Government Analyst —namely, 3 oz. 10 dwts. 19 grs.—quite disheartened the shareholders.

Number of Leases. Amount Sued for. Amount Received. Court Fees. 32 £ 319 s. 7 d. 3 £ s. 148 15 d. 2 £ s. 23 19 d. 1