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1881. NEW ZEALAND.

THE GOLD FIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND (REPORT ON).

Return to an Order of the Mouse of Representatives, dated 3rd August, 1869. " That it is desirable that the Government Bhould cause to be laid upon the Table of this House, during each session, & Report embodying a general account of the present condition of the gold fields of the colony, their advancement or otherwise during the preceding year, and their probable prospects; together with particulars showing the average price of provisions during the year on each gold field, the rate of wages, estimated population, and such other information as would afford a comprehensive idea of the general condition of the mining interests in the colony ; and that His Excellency be requested to forward a copy of such report to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies.'' (Mr. W 11. Harrison.)

Secretary for Gold Eields Office, SlEj— Wellington, Ist July, 1881. I have the honor to forward the general report upon the gold fields for the year ending the 31st of March, 1881, with the detailed reports of the Wardens for their various districts, and statistical information tabulated as in former reports, and also reports from the managers of water-races. I have, &c, The Hon. William Rolleston, James McKerroW, Minister of Mines. Secretary for Gold Eields.

REPORT On the gold fields of New Zealand during the past year there has been more than usual activity. This has been most prominently displayed in the prospecting of new country, and in the increased area of proved auriferous ground which has thereby become known. In Quartz Mining. —Te Aroha and Ooromandel in Auckland province; Mohaka in Hawke's Bay, Terawhiti in "Wellington , Mount Arthur in Nelson, and head of Lake Wakatipu in Otago province are localities in which more or less has been done in the discovery and testing of auriferous quartz veins. As frequently happens in quartz mining, there were at first in most of these cases greater expectations than subsequent experience has yet realized. It requires an expenditure of much hard work, time, and money before even the richest mine can be rendered productive. This necessary outlay is being made at most of the places named. In the alluvial mining districts also, of West Coast and Otago new ground has been explored, and in old ground improved machinery and more tunnels and sludgechannels have been brought to bear on deeper deposits. These prospectings and preliminary works have not been done to the neglect of workings formerly opened out, as the increases under the various heads of revenue enumerated in Table No. 3, Appendix, will show, and also the very I—H. 17