C—3.

up a tail-race from the Anatoki Eiver for working their claim. During progress a little gold is being got, which only part pays expenses. The shareholders seem very confident of getting payable gold when they reach their ground. There are only two old men fossicking in other parts of the Anatoki. All the dredging claims taken up in the Takaka, Anatoki, and Bubu Rivers have been abandoned. MOTUEKA. The following licenses have been issued during the year, viz.: Two for prospecting for asbestos, two tail-races, one main tail-race, one water-race, one extended claim, and one drainage area, all in the Mount Arthur Table-land district. Wan gape ka. Blue Greek and Boiling River. —With the exception of a party of two, who are prospecting for a reef near the old machine-site at Blue Creek, only three men have been working in the vicinity during the past year, and their returns are reported to be very small. Wangapeka Biver. —The Wangapeka Dredging Company's new dredge is now nearly completed, and in a few months the question will be settled as to the fitness of the river for dredging purposes. The company have called for tenders for cutting firewood for the use of the dredge, and have also erected huts for the men to be employed in working the dredge. Nothing has yet been done on Mr. Tinlin's property. Sherry. —Gardiner's party are still working on private property at the Sherry, and are reported to have been on payable gold during the year; but, owing to their ground dipping, have had to deepen their tail-race, which is not yet completed. Tadmor Hill. —No one is now working on the old diggings at Tadmor Hill. Some prospecting has been done during the year, but nothing remunerative has been discovered. Baton. —These diggings have been deserted during the year. The men previously working there have found employment on the railway-extension works in Motueka Valley. I have not heard of any prospecting being carried on in the vicinity of the Crow Diggings during the year. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Wilson Heaps, Warden.

Mr. Warden Hawkins to the Undeb- Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sib,— Warden's Office, Greymouth, 20th March, 1902. I have the honour to present my report on the mining industry in the several centres under the jurisdiction of the Wardens' Courts over which I preside. Eeefton-Inangahua Disteict. From the opening of the district to the 31st December last 976,771 tons of quartz has been crushed, from which 617,833 oz. of gold has been obtained, representing a value of £2,433,298, out of which £734,917 has been distributed in dividends. The total amount of alluvial gold for the same period is approximately estimated at 148,572 oz., representing a value of £554,420. The total production of the district is, as far as can be ascertained, 766,405 oz. of gold, of a value of £2,987,718. The two following tables show the calls made, dividends declared, &c, by the various companies in the district during the year 1901, and the comparative returns for each year since 1880 :—

No. 1. Gold Returns, &c., for the Year ending 31st December, 1901.

127

Company. Calls. Dividends. Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold. Value. Progress Mines „ (sulphates) Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand : Wealth of Nations .. „ (sulphates) Golden Fleece „ (sulphates) Welcome Kirwan's Reward Victoria Range Keep-it-Dark New Inkerman Mines Big River New Scotia Snowy Creek Golden Lead Private oompany—Last Chance £ a. d. £ s. d. 27,500 0 0 Tons. 55,207 Oz. dwt. gr. 23,399 1 5 £ a. d 95,131 12 0 2,549 1 10 22,499 18 0 | 12,015 ] 14^809 '240 2,821 5,221 17 5 8,880' 8 1 20,838 17 10 764 15 9 34,217 12 6 1,594 11 5 1,923 13 9 9,171 11 9 4,206' 0 0 496'l5 3 2,299 13 0 833 6 8 4,489 1 0 43 17 3 30 6 0 1,101 3 9 3 4 0 4,006' 0 0 12,442 81 75 16,669 10 9 172 2 4 120 13 10 3,139 9 10 12 10 02,100 0 0 1,500 0 0 1,200 0 0 600 0 0 * 20 "l60 102' 0 0 413 2 0 Dredging Companies — Al Reeves's Proprietary Alluvial 6,233 6 8 58,199 18 0 97,870 46,067 6 2 186,719 5 7 425 0 0 610 0 0 907 12 6 787 13 20 3,608 0 0 3,576 5 7 3,141 3 8 14,002 0 0 Totals .. 6,233 6 8 59,234 18 0 97,870 51,370 12 4 207,438 14 10 * 5,350 tons of tailings.