a—2

8

There are also many places where the rivers could be utilised as a motive power to generate electricity, and where this could be done at a reasonable cost pumping appliances might, in some instances, be used to lift the water into reservoirs at sites where it would be scarcely possible to get a stream of water by gravitation. I shall now refer to the principal fields where alluvial mining is carried on. Mahakipawa. The early workings in the upper portion of the field are now nearly exhausted, but there is still a considerable extent of ground left in the lower part of the creek-bed which would afford employment to a limited number of men were it not for the frequency of floods, which in every case fill the underground workings with water. The gold has been traced for a short distance into Mr. Cullen's freehold, and very good washdrift is being obtained in the King Solomon Mine. Several shafts have been sunk lower down the flat, but none of them have got on to the same run of gold. It is expected, however, that this gold will yet be traced under the township, and near the terrace on the north-east side of the flat. About 125 men were employed in this locality last year. West Coast. This embraces a large field, which may be said to extend from Collingwood to Jackson's Bay, a distance of about 350 miles. At Collingwood, extensive preparations are being made by the Parapara Sluicing Company to work the alluvial flats in the vicinity of Appo's Creek and the Parapara Flat, but it will be a considerable time yet before operations can be commenced. During my recent visit to the West Coast, I was greatly surprised to find such extensive areas containing auriferous drifts, which can be made remunerative by hydraulic sluicing operations. The whole of the West Coast abounds with rivers and streams which can be utilised for mining, a great portion of the country in this locality being suitable for no other purpose. The quantity of gold produced on the West Coast last year was about 98,9300z., having a value of £395,728, and there were about 3,800 men employed in working alluvial claims, of whom 990 were Chinese. Matakitaki . There is an extensive field for sluicing operations in the upper portions of the Matakitaki Valley and Glen Roy Terraces, where a large supply of water can be brought to command the ground at a comparatively small outlay; and, from the information afforded me in the district, there is a large area of ground likely to pay for working, with a good supply of water. A company has recently taken up a special claim in this locality, and is now engaged in bringing in water from the Matakitaki River to work it. From the prospects shown me —said to have been taken from shafts sunk in this ground, giving an average of 3gr. to the cubic yard of material —it should make a valuable mining property. Westport, Addison's, and Charleston. In the Westport district a considerable number of men are engaged in working the auriferous black-sand leads at Addison's, Croninville, Charleston, and between Westport and Ngakawau. Many persons also find profitable employment in washing the auriferous black sand found oil the ocean-beach along the West Coast, from Karamea to Jackson's Bay. A prospecting association has been formed in Westport, with a view of cutting a tunnel tail-race through the Pakihis, from the ocean-beach to Fairdown, so as to cut the black-sand leads which are supposed to run through this flat. At Addison's Flat a large number of men are employed, some of them have been working there since it was first opened, and are said to be making fair wages. At Charleston rich patches of gold-bearing sand have been worked, and a number of men are still finding profitable employment in this locality. Grey Valley. In the Grey Valley, at Granvillc, Orwell Creek, Callaghan's, Nelson Creek, Red Jack's Creek, No Town, Moonlight, and Blackball there are a considerable number of miners making a fair livelihood. There are large areas of auriferous ground in these localities, which will yet be worked by hydraulic sluicing. Provision will have to be made for proclaiming several of the streams in this valley watercourses, into which tailings and mining debris may be discharged.