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Charleston. An important development in this district took place last year, by the Messrs. Powell undertaking a comprehensive system for working the auriferous sand-dunes at Rahui by hydraulic sluicing and a suction elevator. The interests of the small holders, who have in time past retarded a systematic development, are now being consolidated. I understand the returns received so far are quite satisfactory. The sand, though low grade in value, is, I believe, uniform in quality. This is the only development of any importance in the locality. Seddonville. Mining has been very quiet. The Swastika Company has been working at the old Red Queen property, but the prospects of it proving a payable proposition are not known. Kaeamea. Some eight miles of beach claims were applied for between Wanganui and Kongahu, but the applicants apparently found little prospects of profitable working, and all the applications were withdrawn. Several prospecting licenses have been issued for areas along the bed of the river. The Mount Radiant Special Claims are still held, and I understand capital is being raised in the North Island for their proper development. MußCHisojy. The industry in this district has been languishing somewhat. A. few parties are working at the Rappahannock and Upper Matakitaki. Prospecting licenses were issued early in the year, but the result of operations has not transpired. Several prospecting rights have been granted along the course of the Glenroy River. There is nothing of importance to report from the Mount Owen district. Prospecting rights on the slopes of the mountain have been renewed, but again it is not known with what success the prospectors are meeting. Lyell. The mining business here did not warrant the continuance of the Court sittings, and the office was closed down early this year. During 1912 practically the only business transacted was the acceptance of surrenders of rights and the granting of a few prospecting licenses. Prospecting is still being continued by the Alpine Syndicate, and the vicinity of the old Victory Claim is being further tested. In the early days there were some very rich finds in the Lyell, and the opinion seems to be generally held that the Lyell district will still well repay energetic prospecting. I have, &c, Wyvern Wilson, Warden.

Mr. Warden Hewitt, Hokitika, to the Undeb-Secret.ary of Mines, Wellington. Sir,— The Warden's Office, Hokitika, 16th May, 1913. I have the honour to present my report on the mining industry in the Westland District for the year ended the 31st December, 1912. Hokitika. The number of claims in which operations have been carried on remains about the same as at the date of my last annual report, and the value of the gold won shows a slight decrease on the figures for last year. A new,field has been discovered at Lang's Terrace, where the property of Messrs. Glass and party has been partially opened up, and very promising results obtained. The work done up to the present is more in the nature of prospecting, and this is not confined entirely to the property of Glass and party, but extends to other areas in the locality held under prospecting license. The cost of bringing in an adequate water-supply to work this terrace is causing delay in mining the properties held, and appears to be beyond the available means of the persons interested in the several properties. However, it is anticipated that this difficulty willjje overcome in course of time, as water commanding the ground can be obtained in sufficient quantity to enable the working of an extensive area. It is worthy of note that during the year under review no less than 3,060 acres 1 rood 26 perches of land in the Hokitika district have been taken up under ordinary prospecting licenses. I have had evidence before me from time to time as to the prospecting of a large portion of this ground by means of the Keystone drill, and by shaft-sinking and other recognized methods of prospecting, and of the expenditure of much labour and capital in proving the ground. But here again the prospector, after proving the auriferous quality of his ground, is met with the difficulty, which so far has proved insurmountable, of raising the capital necessary to bring in a water-supply to work his ground. The existence of sources of supply of water commanding the whole of the large area referred to has been proved, and several feasible schemes propounded for bringing the water in, but so far it has been found impossible to obtain the large capital necessary to carry out the work of construction of water-races necessary. A good deal of attention has been directed to the sea-beaches north and south of the Town of Hokitika. While on the south the operations have been confined to prospecting, on the north Messrs. Lincoln and party and the Montezuma (Limited) have carried on mining operations, a Kershaw pump being used for lifting and distributing the wash (chiefly sand) over the tables. Since the company referred to took over their property the result of their operations has been sufficiently encouraging to induce the management to obtain a second and larger pump, the results of the operations of which