C—3.

The tourist traffic connected with the Franz Joseph, the Balfour, and Cook Glaciers exists more in the imagination than in reality, and will continue to be so until some of our most important rivers are bridged and better access provided. The timber business in Westland promises to develop into a large and profitable industry. To the number of sawmills already in existence a number of others are being added. Leases have been granted by the Hokitika Harbour Board for mill-sites near the mouth of the river, the timber to supply the mills being obtained from Crown lands and the Board's reserves, will be floated across the lake and down the creek to the river-bank, in front of the mills, when it will be hauled up on to the skids and cut up in the mill. The timber thus cut will be shipped direct from the mill's landing-stage, thus saving extra handling and railage to Greymouth. This will give employment to a large number of men, and will be a great benefit to the business-people of the town. Direct shipment from the port means a larger profit to the sawmillers, and an increase of work to the men who are engaged in loading and unloading the vessels. A large busines is being done in silver-pine railway-sleepers, mostly hand-sawn, and men are making over the average rate of wages at this work ; and it would materially increase their profits if the sleepers and telegraph-poles could be shipped direct from this port instead of sending them by rail to Greymouth. Generally speaking, Westland has had a fairly prosperous year, and I anticipate that the current year will chow in gold returns and timber-getting a very marked increase in both. The gold purchased by the Westland banks for 1901 was as follows : Kumara, 6,540 oz., value £25,586 ; Hokitika, 7,200 oz., value £28,350; Ross, 1,515 oz., value £5,917: total, 15,255 oz., value £59,853. Sawmill licenses issued over 2,582 acres ; length of lease, forty-two years; certificate of registration issued over 2,511 acres 2 roods 30 perches (for one year, renewable) in connection with the above licenses. I have, &c, D. Macfarlane, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Mr. Warden Keddell to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Oamaru, 23rd May, 1902. I have the honour to report, with respect to the gold-mining industry in that portion of the Naseby district known as Livingstone or Maerewhenua, that very little mining has been done during the past twelve months ending the 31st December, 1901. My report for the first portion of that year, dated the 15th June, comprehended all that could be said of the yield up to the date, though the report was for the year ending the 31st March. There has occurred since June last no noticeable event worthy of record. The Mountain Hut Race Company are working still, and the race slowly approaches completion, and it is confidently assumed, when that event comes off, that the field will improve in yields. The failure of the dredges has had a most dispiriting influence on the industry, and it is much to be regretted that the abortive attempts at this branch of mining—dredging—should so affect the enterprise of the miners. The dredge on the Maerewhenua was thoroughly unsuitable, but, nevertheless, after its failure, though its incompetence is well known, it will be a long while before a further effort is made to test the ground. I have, &c, Jackson Keddell, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Mr. Warden Caeew to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sib,— Warden's Office, Dunedin, 28th January, 1902. I have the honour to enclose herewith the statistical returns for the Hindon portion of the Otago Mining District, made up to the 31st December, 1901. The only gold-mining operations of importance during the past year have been those conducted by the Deep Stream Amalgamated Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) and by Walter and party. The company, as its name suggests, carries on sluicing operations, and employs, when sufficient water is available, an average of sixteen men. The gold won by the company during the year was 772 oz., and two dividends of 6d. per share were paid. Walter and party hold and mine a special quartz claim at Barewood, and report that they employ twelve men in all, and crushed 1,787 tons of quartz for 910 oz. of gold. A few old miners obtain a little gold by fossicking about the old workings. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. E. H. Carew, Warden.

Mr. Warden McEnnis to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sic, — Warden's Office, Naseby, 12th April, 1902. In forwarding the mining statistics for the Mount Ida district for the year ending the 31st December, 1901, I have the honour to add a few general remarks, as follows: — At Hogburn Creek, Naseby, ten small claims are being worked on the " Maori bottom," as it is called here, being a lower depth than has hitherto been worked, seemingly with satisfactory results, about fifteen men being employed. Ido not think a large area is likely to be worked, for as the lead goes into the terrace bars of clay are met with, and the deep ground is more expensive

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