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Bellhill Hydraulic Sluicing Claim. —(3/11/98): This property, which is owned by a Christchurch company, employs five men. The face has a depth of about 200 ft., and is operated on by two nozzles. The wash from the tail-race is treated over a cocoa-matting-surface table. German Gully, near Callaghan's Creek. —(l/ 11/98) : This property is owned by a Sydney company, and employs three men. Operations are confined to clearing out an old drainage tunnel, but owing to a break at the face work had ceased. Healey's Gully. —(2/11/98) : The subsidised water-race in this locality has caused quite a mining boom. Twelve parties, which include a total of thirty-two miners, make good wages. No Town Creek. — (24/2/99): On this creek there are about eighty Europeans and forty Chinese, working single-handed. Thomas Walton's claim, situate about seven miles distant from the township, pays very handsome wages. The washdirt is 20 ft. in depth and overlies a sandstone formation. The extension of this lead is being prospected by three other parties. Scarcity of water is the chief drawback. Grey Bivee. Antoni's Creek. —(lo/3/99) : The washdirt varies from 3 ft. to 9 ft. in depth, and when water is scarce the dirt is washed in cradles and long-toms. This class of gold-saving gives employment to twenty-four Europeans and thirty Chinese. Blackwater Creek and Tributaries. —(lo/3/99): Long-torn boxes is the usual method of treating this ground. In some cases the surface is sluiced off, while others drive out the ground, and very satisfactory results are obtained. On this creek there are 120 Europeans and eighty Chinese at work. Junction and Noble's Creeks. —A few Chinese and three Europeans work along the banks of these creeks, also three dredging claims are pegged off. Immediately these streams are proclaimed sludge-channels for the discharge of mining debris, prospecting will proceed. Snowey Creek. —Preparatory to sinking operations being commenced at the quartz-mine, the survey-line of a water-race for motive-power is well forward. Big River Creek. —There are nine miners sluicing. Gkey Valley. Sulky Gully Water-race. —(6/12/98) : The construction of this subsidised water-race, which is two miles and a half in length, includes 545 ft. of tunnelling, and at the intake a very substantial dam is built, The work throughout has been completed in a workmanlike and satisfactory manner. Duffers and Brandy Jack's Creeks.— The mining population on these creeks continues about the same. The various claims are worked by six parties, which include nineteen men, also several oneman claims and six Chinese. HOKITIKA. Craig's Freehold. —(6/9/98): This property was the scene of a serious mining accident, by which James McKenna, jun., Edward Boberts, and David King, lost their lives by being buried under a fall of roof, which was fine sand. After the bodies were removed the mine was abandoned. (29/10/98) : Mr. James Craig notified me that he had let his freehold, South Hokitika, for the purpose of mining. Two parties of tributers will commence operations on the 31st instant. (10/3/99): Operations are started to reopen and develop this property by driving tunnels from the north and south sides of the auriferous belt. These drives are driven 256 ft. and 300 ft. respectively, and are very securely timbered. Provision for ventilation is made from an old shaft on the north side, but for the south drive a shaft will be sunk. The work is carried on under tribute-system by two parties of six men each, Mr. Charles Chesterfield is in charge of the party on the north side, and Mr. Eobert Gouldie heads the other party. University Reserve.- —(10/3/99): A party of four men work this claim. Mr. McDonald is in charge. Operations are confined to sluicing off a block which adjoins an old shaft. Shanghai Claim. —(lo/3/99): The principal work done during the past three months is the removal of the working-plant to the south side of the claim. On completion of this work active operations will commence. New-chum Gully. —(2B/3/99): In Messrs. Noble, Stenhouse, and Crawford's drainage tunnel the country driven in is locally known as " old-man bottom," and satisfactory progress is being made. Main and Party's Drainage Tunnel, Kanieri, —(28/3/99) : This subsidised tunnel has been driven from the paddock a total distance of 475 ft., and thoroughly timbered. Tucker Flat, Kanieri. —(7/12/98): Messrs. Holmes and party's drainage-tunnel has been driven a further distance of 118 ft., and well timbered. Kumaba. No. 5 Channel. —(24/6/98) : Work is progressing very satisfactorily with exception of the ventilation. The trustees' attention was called to this important matter, also the cage on No. 1 shaft. Mr. Burger promised that these matters would be strictly attended to. Deep Level.— (24/6/98): The ground, which is intermixed with large boulder-stones, continues hard and wet. The contractors are making satisfactory progress in driving. No. 4 Channel. —(23/6/98): Owing to a break in the roof 945 ft. in from the mouth of the tunnel, all sluicing operations connected with this channel were at a standstill for a considerable time. Eepairs were satisfactorily completed, and operations are again in full swing.