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known, or no doubt more men would make their way to the district. The Crow Eiver, a tributary of the Karamea, also appears to have been tapped by the same road, or at least made more accessible, and some six parties are more or less profitably engaged there. The gold in both these places is said to be of a coarse water-worn nature, the largest nugget heard of being about 9oz. in weight. There seems to be little doubt but that if the connecting road between Wangapeka and Mokihinui was made, more gold-bearing country would be made available, and, not unlikely, some rich discoveries made. The old districts of Tadmor, Sherry, Baton, and Mount Arthur table-land continue to yield a little gold. Farmers in their slack times turn gold-diggers on their farms, and so add appreciably to their incomes. The Customs returns show 3870z. 7dwt. of gold as the declared produce of Waimea County during the last financial year, as against 920z. 7dwt. for the previous year. But I have no doubt a portion of the apparently large increase of last year was made up of gold held back from the previous year to avoid payment of the duty which was abolished on the 31st March, 1891. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Wilson Heap, Warden.

No. 7. Mr. Warden Geeenfield to the Undeb-Secbetaby of Mines, Wellington. Sik, — Warden's Office, Westport, 21st May, 1892. I forward herewith statistical returns for the Karamea Mining District for the year ended 31st of March, 1892, and I have the honour to report on the mining industry in the various localities of the district as follows, namely : — Addison's. All the old-established claims in this locality are still steadily at work, and apparently yielding payable returns. For more than twenty-five years Addison's has been the principal gold-producing field in the Buller District, and, from present appearances, it may safely be predicted that considerable quantities of gold will be obtained in this locality for many years to come. The principal difficulties to be overcome in extending operations are want of water for sluicing purposes, and the necessity for a main sludge-channel to get rid of the enormous accumulation of tailings, which materially hamper the operations of mines. The Fair Maid Gold-mining Company succumbed after a short career, and the property has been purchased by a party of miners, who will probably make the claim pay, as they will save expensive management and have the advantage of local personal control. Several new claims have been taken up in this locality during the year. The Venture Goldmining Company now in operation is a local company now carrying on work successfully. This company has started crushing black sand cement, a revival of an old industry, and it is to be remarked that, although the workings at present are to a certain extent on cement thrown aside as hopperings in early times, the returns are satisfactory. The claims on Wilson's lead now in operation are giving fair results—namely, Mace and Basset, Murray and party, and Minogue and party. The material overlying the wash-dirt is of a stony nature, rather difficult to deal with, and the wash-dirt itself is more or less cemented together, so that much of the gold is probably lost in the hopperings. The northern end of the lead (Minogue's claim) appears to be more easily worked than the others. On Bradshaw's Terrace there are two new claims now at work (Eogers and party and Sangwell and party). McKay and party are also bringing on water, and expect to begin sluicing in two or three months. The ground is rather poor, but, being on a terrace of a sandy nature and adjacent to a creek, facilities are afforded for working economically. Chaeleston. There has not been much change in this district during the past year. Two new batteries have been erected, and two others are to be erected shortly, and it is thought that when the Fourmile Water-race is completed it will be the means of giving an impetus to mining and constant employment to several parties of miners who, for want of water during the past year, have been frequently idle. A syndicate has been formed in Melbourne to work the special claims held at Brown's Terrace, and it is expected that operations will be commenced at an early date. Mokihinui. For many years past quartz mining has been carried on in this district, occasionally with encouraging prospects, but as a rule the returns obtained have not been remunerative. At the present time work has entirely ceased, and only two claims are now held—namely, the South Pacific Company and the Red Queen Company. There has been some work done on these claims during the year, but not very much. Waimangakoa. .The Baconsfield Company crushed a small parcel of stone recently, which yielded a fair, return, but as the stone had to be taken by pack-horses to the Great Bepublic battery, four miles, the operation could scarcely be expected to yield a profit. At present mining operations are suspended apparently for want of capital. The Great Eepublic Company, after struggling for many years with varying success, collapsed for want of funds, and the grant has been cancelled. 3—o. 3a.