C—3.

start crushing. From all present appearances there is reasonable hope of the gold return for the current year exceeding that of last year by a fair amount. A large number of claims for dredging purposes have been granted during the year; indeed, nearly all the available ground has been taken up, but necessarily a very long time must elapse before any work can be done. I am indebted to the managers and directors of the companies mentioned in this report for furnishing me with the material enabling me to compile it, and I desire to thank them for the assistance so readily given.

Return of Prospecting Licenses and Special Claims Granted by the Warden at Reefton, for the Year ended 31st March, 1900. Prospecting Licenses (Dredging).

Special Claims.

133

Date of Grant. Licensee. Name of River or Creek. Area. Locality. 1899. July 1 Aug. 1 1 1 Sept. 29 Oct. 13 „ 13 „ 13 „ 13 Malloy, T. J. .. Hankin, H. G. Uddstrom, Charles Kerr, James Doig, Alexander Stevenson, James Naylor, Frederick Butson, Thomas Aitken, R. M... Inangahua .. Little Grey .. Blackwater .. Inangahua .. Acres. 100 100 70 70 20 100 75 70 40 Black's Point. Near Landing Creek. Near Antonio's Creek. Near Stoney Creek. Near Big River Junction. Near Boatman's Creek. Near Inangahua Junction. South of and adjoining Stevenson's. A mile and a haif from junction with Inangahua. Near Tawhai. Near Township. Near Cariboo. Coal Creek .. „ 27 „ 27 „ 27 Nov. 10 „ 10 „ 24 „ 24 Deo. 8 „ 22 1900. Jan. 12 „ 12 Pattinson, Timothy Furness, Samuel Cumming, Thomas M... Rogers, Francis Notman, Alexander McLarry, Patrick (freehold) Magnus, John Shannon, John Irving, Walter Slab Hut Antonio's Big River Boatman's Creek Inangahua River Inangahua .. Devil's Creek.. Adamstown Creek 60 50 50 48 100 98 80 88 80 North and adjoining Stevenson's. Cronadun. Near Beefton Bridge. Near Golden Point. Cairns, Robert Boatman's Creek Sluicing Company Gill, John Taylor, Josech Gill, John Gill, John Devil's Creek.. Boatman's Creek 36 30 Near Golden Point. Mch. 9 9 9 9 Snowy Creek.. Big River Mossy Creek .. Snowy Creek.. 100 68 80 60 Three miles up from Grey Road. Near Taylor's Clearing.

Date of Grant. Name of Licensee. Name of Claim. Area. Where situated. Quartz. 1899. ?eb. 24* tfar. 10f . 10J G.J.Willis .. :. G. Perotti Boatman's Exploration Gold-min-ing Co. Ditto Western Keep-it-Dark a. K. P. 30 0 0 85 3 24 30 0 0 Crushington. Golden Point. Victoria Range. . 10{ .. 10{ ,, iot . iot „ 10 „ 10 „ 10 „ 10 . 10§ , 24j| „ 24 „ 24 „ 24 „ 24 „ 24 tpril 7 7 , 7 „ 7 „ 7 ,. 7 7 7 „ 7 „ 7 „■ 7 Lord Edward Gold-mining Co. .. Big River Gold-mining Co. Golden Lead Mining Co. Hercules Quartz-mining Co. (Ltd.) R. Dumphy J. Morris Hercules Quartz-mining Co. Cumberland Extended Co. 29 2 30 29 3 30 5 3 10 30 0 0 16 2 6 37 3 0 73 0 19 16 1 37 62 3 15 30 0 0 16 2 0 10 0 0 28 3 0 29 3 36 57 2 9 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 49 2 0 95 0 0 99 2 0 100 0 0 29 3 30 29 3 20 29 3 31 93 2 4 Big River. Merrijigs. Crushington. Big River. Merrijigs. Crushington. Merrijigs. ti Consolidated Goldfields, N.Z. Cadman Blake Salisbury Juno Golden Fleece Royal Low-level Tunnel Earl Brassey .. Kirwan's Reward Lady Brassey Lord Brassey Boatman's. Black's Point, Murray Creek. Kirwan's Reward Co. Black's Point. Victoria Bange. * Sum Surrende jndered 26th January, 1900. ired 29th September, 1899. f Revival. { Surrendered 15th September, 1899. § Surrendered 22nd December, 1899.