C—2

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ANNEXURE B.

REPORTS OF WARDENS. Mr. Warden Frazer, Whangarei, to the Under-Seoretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir — " The Warden's Office, Whangarei, 27th March, 1913. I have the honour to present my annual report on the Puhipuhi Mining District for the year ended 31st December, 1912. A good deal of steady work was done during the period under review. Although the number of fresh applications to the Court was smaller than in 1911, the results obtained by the holders of mining privileges were very satisfactory, as is evidenced by the large increases in goldfields and territorial revenue. The figures for the year are as under, those for 1911 being enclosed in parentheses : Miners rights issued, 16 (29) ; water-race licenses granted, 2 (nil) ; coal lease granted, 1 (nil) ; ordinary prospecting licenses granted, 11 (19) ; special claims granted, nil (3) ; certificates of protection granted, 3 (nil) ; goldfields revenue, £128 7s. (£7l Bs.) ; territorial revenue, £323 10s. Bd. (£140). Active prospecting was carried on during the year by Messrs. C. T. Mitchell, Gilmer and party, Chapman and party, Smith and party, and Simpson and party. A number of reefs were partly proved, and in two cases companies were being formed in order- to raise the necessary capital to provide machinery for working the reefs. Prospecting was also carried on at Whangarei Heads, and a large reef carrying fair gold was reported to have been discovered on the west side of Kauri Mountain. Coal-mining has shown considerable activity during the year. The Hikurangi Coal Company (Limited) and the Northern Coal Company (Limited) worked good time, and there are indications that the output of coal is likely to increase largely in the near future. The mine at Kiripaka remained closed after the miners' strike, and only a small number of men were employed there during the year. The results of the year's work in the district may be regarded as affording ground for satisfaction, though there has been nothing of a striking nature, and nothing to give rise to excessive speculation. I have, &c, F. V. Frazer, Warden. Mr. Warden Evans, Nelson, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir— Warden's Office, Nelson, 19th April, 1913. I have the honour to report on the mining industry in the part of the Karamea Mining District presided over by me, as under : —■ Nelson. The only mining grants made in the Nelson Court are those in the Wangapeka district. Several new prospecting licenses have been granted in this district, and some of those previously granted have been renewed. None of the holders have converted their prospecting licenses into claims, but prospecting is being carried on in connection with the licenses in force. I have received reports from the holders of the prospecting licenses as required by the Mining Act, but nothing has been reported that would warrant me in calling on the holders to convert their prospecting licenses into claims. MOTUEKA AND TAKAKA. There is practically no mining being carried on in these parts of the district. OOLLINGWOOD. Mining matters in this part of the district remain about the same as they were last year. The Parapara Iron Company's rights arc under protection, and no work is being done thereon. The Golden Blocks Company is still carrying on mining operations as in past years. Practically no new grants have been made during the year for gold-mining, but a number of prospecting licenses for coal have been granted in and around Puponga. I have, &c, J. S. Evans, Warden. Mr. Warden Haselden, Naseby, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Naseby, 17th April, 1913. There is very little material out of which to construct an annual report on the goldfields of which I am Warden. On the whole, the district has maintained its average of success. The question of water rights for irrigation is assuming more importance, and also the question of alienating lands for settlement which may hereafter prove to be auriferous. With regard to the returns which are usuallyTsent with the annual report, I may observe that all the Mining Registrars can do is to send a return of the number of miners' rights issued, and this will not agree with the census returns of the number of persons employed in gold-mining. The prices of provisions in the different mining centres are very little higher than in the cities. I have been struck at the uniformity which exists in retail prices in various towns, although the actual freight is much higher in some than in others. I respectfully suggest that Wardens should be relieved of the task of making annual reports. I have, &c, W. R. Haselden, Warden.