5

H.—2l

the Clutha. Veryrich deposits of gold have been obtained in the valley above the township, but below this the lead was lost. The ground below the township is much deeper than that above, and there being too much water to contend with, it could not be worked in the ordinary manner. Mining will not detrimentally affect any landholder, and no valid claim for compensation can be made. Your Commissioners recommend that the Cardrona Eiver and its tributaries to their sources be proclaimed watercourses into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged. POMAHAKA EIVEH. This river takes its rise in the Old Man Eange, and flows through freehold land for a distance of nearly 40 miles to its confluence with the Clutha. Gold-workings have been carried on on the terraces adjacent to the river since the early days of the goldfields, but at the present time very little work is being done. One dredge is at work on the Ardmore Estate on a small tributary about a mile distant from the river, and is said to give payable returns. There is a large extent of low-lying cultivated land in the valley of the river, which is covered with water in time of flood. Several dredging claims have been taken up in the river-bed, but your Commissioners could obtain no information as to the prospects obtained. Your Commissioners are of opinion that sufficient prospecting in the river-bed has not been done to warrant a recommendation that the Pomahaka River be proclaimed a watercourse into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged. Aerow Eivee. A number of mining claims are being worked on the terraces adjacent to, and the tributaries of this river, as well as workings in the bed of the main river. There is no freehold land which can be injuriously affected by such workings, as the river flows principally through a rocky gorge from its source to its confluence with the Kawarau Eiver. Extensive mining operations are likely to be carried on in this locality for a number of years. Your Commissioners recommend that the Arrow Eiver and its tributaries higher up the stream than the Arrow Township be declared watercourses into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged. Shotovee Eivee. Eich deposits of auriferous washdrift were obtained in the bed of this river in the early days of the goldfields, and gold-mining is still being carried on in the bed and adjoining terraces. The river flows through a steep, rocky gorge for a distance of fully twenty-five miles to its confluence with the Kawarau Eiver. Wherever the bed-rock was reached gold was found in payable quantities, and there are reaches in the river-bed in which no mining operations have yet been carried on. Dredges have been worked with very successful results in the portion of the river known as the Big Beach, and several dredging claims have recently been taken up in those portions not hitherto worked. There is no freehold land that will be affected by mining, and no valid claims for compensation can be made. Your Commissioners, therefore, recommend that the Shotover Eiver and its tributaries be declared watercourses into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged. Nevis Eivee. The Nevis Eiver passes through Crown lands from its source to its confluence with the Kawarau Eiver. It has been a receptacle for tailings from mining claims for the last thirty-seven years, and at the present time mining is being carried on in the river-bed and on the adjoining terraces. A number of dredging claims have been taken up in this locality. Five dredges are being worked, and one is under construction. Your Commissioners recommend that this river, with all its tributaries, be proclaimed watercourses into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged. BUCKLEEBUEN. The Bucklerburn flows through Crown lands from its source to where it empties into Lake Wakatipu. There is at the present time a hydraulic sluicing and elevating plant for working the ground in the bed of the stream. Eich deposits of gold were obtained in this burn in the early days of the field, and there is a possibility of dredging being yet carried on near the mouth of the stream. In view of the fact that no compensation would be required to be paid, your Commissioners recommend that the Bucklerburn and tributaries be proclaimed watercourses into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged. Daet Eivbb. A number of dredging claims have been taken up in the bed of the Dart Eiver. One dredge is in course of construction, and is expected to be ready for work at an early date. There is ample ground for a large number of dredges, and should the dredge now being built prove a profitable venture, there is every prospect of several others being placed on the river. There is no likelihood of any damage being done to adjacent land by mining operations, or of any valid claims for compensation being made. Your Commissioners recommend that the Dart Eiver be proclaimed a watercourse into which tailings, debris, and waste water from mining claims may be discharged.