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supply than had been in use. The wash had been driven out in early times. Depth of ground, 15 ft. ; height of elevator, 26 ft. About fifteen Europeans and Chinese are employed in and about this claim. Copland's Sluicing Claim, Nokomai. —This is a ground-sluicing claim above the Nokomai No. 2 Claim. The water-supply is obtained from the by-wash from the Nokomai Race. One man employed. Round Hill. Bound Hill Gold-mining Company (J. Ramsay, manager).—Working to the reef on the township side of the gully, where good results had been obtained from old ground driven out by Chinese. At next shift of plant the intention is to turn the Ourawera Creek and work across to the Pahia side, in which direction the main alluvial field of the future may be expected to be found. A log and stone hauling and stumping plant on lines derived from bush-logging engines has been erected in the claim. Pelton-wheel drive being used saves an enormous amount of heavy hand-labour formerly necessary to clear timber and boulders in the stripping, 40 ft. to 80 ft. overlying the pay-wash, which is found resting immediately on the andesites, which here form the country-rock. Smith Gold-mining Com,pany. —Work continued steadily up the creek. Ourawera Gold-mining Company (J. Coulling, manager). —Opening out a new paddock, which is turning out very rough with timber and stones. Harrison's. —A small ground-sluicing and elevating plant, taking up the bottom and sides of Jewitt's Gully. Orepuki. As the frontage becomes worked out mining claims are gradually being extended back in the bush in the direction of Pahia and Round Hill. Two sawmill tramways having recently opened up the bush for some three miles, and access having become easier, areas of new ground payably auriferous are being discovered, and await the application of water, which is meanwhile in use on other parts of the field. Unfortunately the pressure obtainable is somewhat low and ill-adapted to clear bush and heavy stripping off the auriferous wash, which is known to be of a richer nature than is usually found in other localities. Owing to the density of the forest undergrowth on the Longwood Range surface prospecting is a matter of extreme difficulty, and to this cause perhaps, combined with an inefficient supply of water, is due the fact that this goldfield has not received the attention which its importance appears to have warranted. The usual number of mining claims continue working, and available water brought in is in full demand. The beach-combing claims on the sea-beach at the mouth of the main sludge-channel continue to be regularly worked in accord with the amount of tailings discharged from the various claims. Preservation Inlet. Goal Island. —Several parties of miners, ten men in all, are engaged ground-sluicing, all on Nos. 1 and 2 creeks. Messrs. Cullen and Clark have been working on Moonlight, but are now removing to Davey's Beach, below No. 1. Mr. Ramsay is clearing bush and sluicing down the creek at No. 1. Claims are being worked at No. 2 by Hodge and Cooper, Peterson and Garrick, and by Johnston and Crerar. In each of these claims, the creek-beds having previously been worked, attention is now being paid to the sloping sides of the banks above the creeks; bush is cleared away and water brought in along the sidelings. The ground, though shallow, is very heavy, many glacial granite boulders ranging up to 100 tons in weight being distributed over the claims. The gold obtained is all water-worn, and rough or coarse and shotty in character; numerous small nuggets have been found, one nugget recently obtained—which I saw —weighing 9oz. 11 dwt. At the head of No. 2 creek Mr. Campbell is ground-sluicing, but the work is too heavy for one man. The comparatively narrow creek gully here opens out to a bush-covered flat, some 200 acres in extent, which, as the creeks become worked out, will no doubt receive attention from the miners. The flat is said to be commanded by water obtainable from a lake on an adjacent part of the island. Capital would be required to erect a dam at the lake-outlet, and the water would have to be conveyed to the claim in pipes. The strata comprising the flat is, where exposed, seen to consist of fine sands and gravels resting on sandstone bottom, but whether gold occurs in runs through the flat or is evenly distributed remains yet to be proved. Glenny's Creek, The Neck. —McLennan and Riddell are ground-sluicing at the mouth of the creek. The wash in appearance resembles the glacial drifts on Coal Island, and the gold is similar in character. McNamara's, Sealer's No. I. —Treseder and Goodger are prospecting the terraces on the creekbanks. Sealer's Creek, Puysegur. —A hydraulic-elevating plant is lying in a state of disuse; the ground not having come up to expectations, the company became defunct. Fourteen men employed in the district in alluvial mining. Milford Sound. Messrs. Watson and McQueen have taken up a sluicing claim at Madagascar Beach. Waterrace to be brought in a mile and a half from the Wolf River. Wash, 9 ft. of quartz gravel covered by light bush. Prospecting. —At least two parties are known to have traversed country lying to the eastward of Milford, the Government tracks having proved of great advantage in opening up country and affording means of ingress and egress to the parties; but unfortunately the weather had been unpropitious, and less useful work was done than had been expected.