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Maerewhenua. A considerable number of miners find profitable employment in sluicing the terraces both in this district and at Livingstone. The stripping is heavy, and the wash of no great thickness. The whole of the available water is used for sluicing at the different claims, and in some cases the washdirt is taken out by driving. The Mountain Hut Water-race has been completed as far as Thompson's Creek, but as the country between that point and the field is uneven, and a large creek intervenes, the gorge of which is of great depth, the cost of completing the remainder will be considerable, and some time must elapse before water can be brought on to the field. Naseby. Work is carried on by small parties at Speck Gully, Mulholland's Gully, Robinson's Gully, and Enterprise Gully, while in the main gully Inder Brothers, J. Hoare, Baxter and party, and several others are working their claims on the elevating system. Guffie's claims, which are situated about a mile and a half below the township, are being worked on the elevating principle, and the owners have now erected a dredge, which will work in addition to hydraulic elevating. At Kyeburn, Hyde, and Macrae's little improvement is shown in the condition of the industry, the scarcity of water being a great drawback. The Taieri Sluicing Company are erecting an excellent plant on their claim, and will shortly be at work. Bride and party are sinking a shaft on the old workings near the Hyde Township, and the prospects are so favourable as to induce them, if practicable, to undertake extensive development works for drainage purposes. At Hamilton's, Upper Taieri, and Black's mining matters are much in the same condition as last year. Welshman's Gully. The Shamrock Elevating Company are carrying on work by elevating on their claim, which is situated about a mile from the main road to Naseby. St. Bathan's. Surface Hill. —The Scandinavian Hydraulic Elevating Company employ nine men. Gallagher and party (two men) are elevating their claim, with four heads of water obtained from the Scandinavian Company's race. The few parties who are engaged sluicing are rewarded with very fair returns. Ewing's Claim. —At the time of my visit this claim was idle, on account of the scarcity of water, and the elevator has not yet been moved, the rock which was excavated for the foundation of the elevator having slipped, thus proving its unreliability as a foundation at that place. Eagle and Gray's Claim.- —This claim has now been worked down as deep as the tail-race will admit, and, until elevating is adopted as the mode of working, very little more can be done. The M and E Water-race Company has recently put a powerful elevating plant on the ground, and with improved machinery and economic working a prosperous future should be in store for the company. Mr. John Ewing has recently erected a new and improved apparatus for transporting the larger portion of the rough tailings from sluice-boxes. Gannon and party are working their claim by elevating. Mr. Ewing's claim at Cambrian's is also in full swing, and the yields have been satisfactory. Other parties working in this locality—Gray and Fordham, Davis and party, and others—have had payable returns. Matakanui. Sims and Morgan (four men), Ewing and McConochie (nine men), Undaunted Gold-mining Company (twelve men), Sugar-pot Company (six men), Matakanui Water-race Company (eight men), and Sheenan and Barron (two men) : the above parties are working in this locality, and appear to be doing very well. The amalgamation of the Undaunted and Mountain Eace Company has now been accomplished, and a strong company formed, whose prospects would appear to be satisfactory. Ophir Deep Lead Gold-mining Company, Limited, Ophir (Area, 50 acres). —A shaft has been sunk 7 ft. Bin. by 4 ft. Bin., divided into two compartments, to a depth of 145 ft. Operations are to be commenced on a 4 ft. 6 in. bed of wash at 100 ft. from the surface. Steam-power is employed for winding. A puddling-machine and plant for breaking the wash, and sluice-boxes for gold-saving, are now being erected. Cromwell. A number of men are doing well at Quartz Eeef Point. Lowburn. Chapman's Claim. —Two men are driving out the washdirt under the terraces to the left of the Clutha. Tallman and party and Bethune and party are also engaged in the same locality. A few parties are working at the Five-mile and neighbouring gullies. Cardrona. A few small claims are being worked about the township, and in some cases good wages are being secured. A party of tributers are working a claim near the Cardrona Hotel, with satisfactory results. Some six men are employed at Criffel Face. The New El Dorado Company has taken up a 50-acre claim.