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Quartz-mining. —This is still confined to the Taitapu Estates, which will come under notice later on. Alluvial Mining. —As reported last year, little is doing in this class of mining, but I hear some workings on private land at Puponga are giving good results. Prospecting. —Prospecting has not been so active as last year, but eight licenses and two warrants representing 716 acres have been granted during the year. Coal. —There are in existence six coal leases in the District of Collingwood, over a total area of 938 acres 3 roods 4 perches, but practically the only work done was done by the Puponga Coal and Gold Mining Company. This company has made great progress during the past year, and have now completed the wharf, which is connected with the mine by a railway all in working-order, and it is said that the output from the mine is likely to reach 2,000 tons per week before the end of the current year. The coal is in favour both for domestic and steam purposes. lam also informed that the company have completed the purchase of the adjoining leases, the property of the Company. Iron. —As I anticipated last year, this year has seen Sir Alfred Cadman's application for a mineral lease over 920 acres at Parapara put in and provisionally granted for working the iron-deposits thereon. The terms of the lease provide for the expenditure of a considerable sum of money during the first year, so that soon work should be started and energetically proceeded with. As this is my last report as Warden, it may be interesting to note more particularly what has been done in each centre of the district during the past year. Collingwood. Besides the prospecting areas taken up as already mentioned, one special quartz claim of 50 acres, 3 ordinary claims, 5 extended river claims over an area of 11 acres 2 roods, 5 water-race licenses, 5 tailrace licenses, 2 residence-sites, and 1 drainage area have been granted daring the year. Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited). —During the year operations on this property have been continued in the Anthill and Golden Ridge Mines, with a fair share of success. At the Anthill the installation of pumping and hauling gear to facilitate the working of lower levels than was hitherto possible has been completed, as also the lower tunnel of over 1,000 ft. in length, and of sufficient size for the passage of a horse drawing trucks of ore through the hill between this mine and the head of the aerial tram from the Golden Ridge Mine to the battery. This tunnel has been driven partly as a prospecting-work but chiefly to render unnecessary the heavy expense previously incurred in carting over the hill, and in conjunction with a water-balance raising the trucks some 25 ft. to reach the south end of the tunnel, which is practically on a level with the head of the aerial tramway. It has done its work very satisfactorily, reducing the total cost of working, including that of the battery, from about 7 dwt. to about 4 dwt. per ton of ore treated. The hauling and pumping plant consists of a Babcock and Wilcox multitubular boiler of 10-horse power, working a double cylinder hoist, and a Cameron pump, which have done excellent work ; the pump easily keeping down the water which had previously stopped the deepening of the three winzes started in the No. 2 level of the mine. Winze No. 2 has now been sunk to a depth of 70 ft. from the level No. 2, the lowest workable, by adit from the surface, and a level has been driven southward to communicate with winze No. 2 to drain same and obtain proper circulation of air. This has just holed through, and stoping will now be begun on an ore-body averaging about 3 ft. in thickness, which has consistently shown payable prospects during the sinking of Winze No. 1. Pending stoping being done, and as the upper workings of the mine have been exhausted, the output from the Anthill section latterly has been small; but may now be expected to greatly improve. In consequence of the temporary cessation of stoping, it became necessary at the end of 1903 to discharge a large number of hands, including miners, truckers, bushmen, and sawyers, the number of employees being reduced from fifty, the average of the previous eight or nine months, to twenty, being all for whom there was work under the altered conditions. The lode discovered at Golden Ridge about Chritsmas, 1902, has been worked ever since with varying success, the ground being very patchy, both in regard to the size of the reef, which has more than once almost entirely disappeared, and as to the thickness of the stone. At present a face about 3 ft. in thickness and of very satisfactory quality is being worked. During the year, 1,705 oz. of gold of a value of £6,252 has been obtained from the two mines, and an average of forty-two men have been employed. The Golden Blocks (Limited), Taitapu. —Though this mine has not come up to former years' productiveness, yet there has been a steady monthly output which the attorney for the company describes as satisfactory. The company have taken up a neighbouring area from the Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited), and in prospecting this new area have struck gold which promises well. The Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing and Mining Company (Limited). —This company has been constantly working at what is known as the Glenmutchkin Face. The gold-bearing material lies immediately under the foot of a high steep hill, and when the wash is removed, extensive slips come down, the removal of the debris from which involves a great deal of labour. Had it not been for these extensive slips, the return from the face would have been very good. The Slate River Sluicing Company. —This company have been energetically working to complete their dam. It is now about finished, and with the increased water-power, good results are sure to be obtained, as the value of their ground is now well ascertained. Takaka. During the year only six mining privileges were applied for and granted—l special quartz claim, 1 tail-race, 2 protection certificates, and 2 prospecting warrants. At the Bubu the Takaka Sluicing Company is working three shifts continuously, with good results. At the Anatohi the Sleepy Flat Company has knocked off work for some time, but it is stated that operations may be shortly resumed.