FIRE BRIGADES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 27

FIRE BRIGADES.

Dunedin City and suburbs will tie we!l repre. sented at the forthcoming fire brigades' demonstration, to be held in Christchurch on March 19, no leas than eeven brigades having entered for the various competitions. Owing to tho water famine the firemen are handicapped in their training, as instructions have been issued that no water is to be used for such purpose. The fire brigades will be represented as under • — Eoslyn. — Foreman -Clay, Firen'pn White, Kiely, Ross, Cubbitt. Ryan, Armif. Caversham.— Captain Russell, Lieutenants Strang and Mundie, Firemen Foster, Sounesa, W. Russell. South Dunedin. — Firemen. H. Price, K. Price, Hill, Baker, W. Johnson, X. Johnson. St. Hilda.— Foreman S. Garbutt, Firemen R. Garbutt, Graham, Ashton, Brown, Richard' I son, Summerell (delegate). I Railway — Foreman Monk, Firemen Haigb, Murphy, Walker, Leonard, Lieutenant Cart (delegate). Hillside "Workshops.— Captain Wilkintf, Lieutenant Gubbins, Firemen Brooks, Lister, Morrison, M'JJeil.

Eheumaiism, gcut, sciatica, lumbago, 'are caused by excess uric acid poison in the blood, which deposit* in tho muscles and joint*. Reeuko quickly cures. 2/6 and 4/6.

ones, and the box is now driven from a shaft. An improvement has been effected in its running. Private advices state that the faces throughout the Hercules mine (Tasmania) are looking very well. The company expects to make a good 1 profit out of the zinc ore, for the supply of which it has contracted. It is also thought that parcels of copper ore will shortly be forwarded regularly to the Mount Lyeil works. The Mystery Flat Company's dredge had a steady run last week. Prospects were similar to those* of the previous week, tho western half of the cut being rather poor. The dredgemaster does not look for an improvement on that side for about a fortnight. All the machinery was .running well. The Molyneux Kohinoor dredge was cleaning out the paddock nearly the whole of last week, and it was not till Friday that bottom was found. The improvement which set m before the dredge closed down continues, and though not much bottom had been opened out the dredgemaster was able to get a good prospect in the dish all over it. On Sunday the mats showed fair gold. The machinery was Tunning well. The Lady Roxburgh Company's dredgemaster reports under date 3rd inst. that during last week the machine got over very little ground, which was getting deeper. Tho gold is found through the wash overlying -the bottom, which id 50ft deep in parts. Tha cv* extended well into the river, and was being widened. Inside it was fairly rough. and at the deepest parts was fairly good dredging The Paterson's Freehold Company's No. 1 dredge won 12oz 2dwt last week. Owing to the bushes on the bottom tumbler breaking on Thursday an old tumbler had to be put in. This accounts for the reduced return, for the dredge had to work without picks, and some of the wash escaped. There was no waeh-up on the No. 2 machine owing to Ihe ladder line breaking on Wednesday morning. Repairs will occupy the greater part of this week. Owing to the bulk of the lands through which the rich lead in connection with the rich Poseidon rush, Tarnagulla, V., passes having been alienated from the Crown without any mining conditions being attached to the title, miners have to pay the owners £2 per hole before they can start operations. This works very harshly in a great number of cases (says the Mining Standard), as a considerable number of holes bottom shallow, and are included in the long list of duffers. The manager of the Mount Rex tin mine imports for ihe week ended 26th ult that at No. 1 level tbe drive was extended sft, making a total of 50ft. A bore hole was then put in s!t. This was still in granite. He has now opened out west to crosscut if>r stone It ft in the wall of old workings. No. 1 face til .places is looking very T*-ell. Tt h.^a dipped below the Tace, thereby giving a little trouble. At No. 2 face the shallow ground has been finished, and the pipes moved to a strip of ground higher xip the creek, which is thought to be payable. The Waikaka United Company's No. 1 dredge had a steady run lap! week. The depth, bottom, and the quality of the wash were much the came as before. The machinery was all running well. The dredgemaster is laying in a supply of coal for the winter. The No. 2 dredge spent the week on the centre cut. There was a decided improvement in the wash. The cut is fairly solid across, and prospects in it are gond Tha depth of tile ground was unchanged and the bottom was fairly even. The dredge will work the same cut thi3 week. February 7. The contents of a letter received from -the master of the New Perseverance Company's

No. 1 dredge lead to the supposition 'that the machine started work on Monday morning. The Rise and Shine No. 1 dredge worked! ahead Bft during tho week, the out beirg 400 ft wida atid Irom 42ft to 48ft deep. The quality of the wash is very uneven. The breaking of the hangers on Thursday caused a loss of 27 hours. / An Auckland telegram states that during 21 days of January the Waihi Gold Mining Comw pany treated 22,297 tons of or© for bullion valued at .£51,990, and the Kqinata Reefs Company during January treated 1720 tons of ore for bullion worth £2755. The Sandy Point Company's dredge worked ahead 6ft last week in 128 hours. The 'width of the cut was 160 yds, and the average depth of the ground 25ft. and -the aT-erage height of the face above water level 20ft. The prospects were much the sama as before. Owing to the dry weather the race water was ratha? diminished in volume. ' February 3. The directors of the No Town .CTeek Company have-> declared a dividend (the twentyninth) of Is per shared payable on Monday. The following returns are reported: — Mystery Flat, 360 a 3dwt for 133 houre^Waikeia, 18oz 6dwt for 139 hours ; Lady Annie, 13oz 3dwt for the week; Hessey*s, lloz Bdwt for 137 hours. The directors of the Golden Run Company have just returned from a visit to the claim. There is little water fn the dam just now, and sluicing operations have been, suepended. The dredge is on poor ground. The Hit-or-Miss Water-race Company (Moiint Ida) spent £9 12s 3d last year, and on December 31 had no cash and no debts. At registration on June 19, 1867, there were sis shareholders, and at the end of las* -year there were three, holding 301 shares of £20 each. An Auckland correspondent states thai shareholders in the Waihi Gold "Mining Company have now received a total of £274,809 -in dividends, out of an aggregate output of gold valued at £508,829 9s. The Matau dredge" •dredged steadily last week, but on Saturday morning the driving belt parted, and got knocked about before the engine could be stopped. The ground has improved as the dredge has worked in, but as the river is getting Very Jow it will be necessary to pull out to the frontage unless there is an immediate rise. The sand is jamming at the stern. There is plenty of room for what goes up the elevator, but a large percentage^ of the ground is very fine and is despatched from the sand chute into the paddock, which is 14ft to 16ft deep. An Auckland Press Association telegram states that for the three "weeks of January the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining Company crushed 2426 tons of ore for bullion worth £4729. For the six weeks ending January 31 the Xiew Zealand Crown Mines crushed 2673 tons of ore for bullion valued at £6003. The Mafwura Ensign states that Mr R. T. Coomer's dredge (the old Waimumu) sank in the paddock on Monday. Whilst lifting the ladder, she stripped the chafing beam from the pontoon. This caused a leak and the dredge sank. For many years past stream tin has been obtained from Stewart' 3 Island, and its existence- pointed to another lode being located in the mountains. Mr Alfred Vowies, a former resident of Auckland, in company with a practical miner, recently spent some time prospecting at Stewart's 'Island, and has returned (states the Star) to that city with some excellent samples of tin ore, which are at present on view at the office of Mr H. T. Lee. Mr Vowies has secured 200 acres under a prospecting license, and a syndicate is being formed for the purpose of doing further work on the property. The secretary of the Kokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company reports thart the water for No. 1 elevator is still so slack that sluicing has been suspended, but the water from Lion Creek race waa to be into the race on Wednesday, and probably sluicing is now in full swing. At Ko. 2 elevator washing-up was completed for a return' of 2210z ldwt 4gr. It is expected that nine heads of water from the Lion race will also be available for this claim, so that both claims can work full time from now forward. The , Ettrick Company's dredgemaster has this week been lowering the elevator gear, as it is not necessary lo lift the tailings to the full heighth of the ladder, the ground being only 20ft deep. He expected to resume dredging yesterday. The ground at present being operated on pays a little over expenses. There is an overburden of sft of clay and sand, which, through wearing away -the machinery and bearings very quickly, cutting the bearings like knife power, -slightly increases the working expenses. This will shortly give way to gravel. The face is about 95yds long. The dredge manager is now working so as to pass an acre of freehold land owned by a local storekeeper, who declines to allow it to be dredged, although the company made him an offer. The dredge will, after passing -this freehold, make for some payable ground on ihp Benger Stream, and .should it trace gold into freehold land just below the iloa Flat Hotel, the company will acquire the land. Owing to continuous dry weather the water supply gave out some weeks ago, and the sluice boxes are only kept going a few days at a time. The company has an arrangement with the Commissioner's Fiat Company (» private party) regarding the use by one company of the other company's water, and this will enab'e sluicing to be continued the greater part of this week. February 9. The Matau Company's dredge, which won Boz 15dwt for three days' work, is now being shifted into the river. The directors of the Waikaia Company have declared a dividend (the 13th) of Is rer share, payable on Wednesday next. The master of the Molyneux Kohinoor dredge reports a return of 14oz 4dwt. He has been opening out on the outside, where the ground is very deep, and the drift troublesome. The New Cromwell dredge was offered for sale by auction at Cromw-ell last Wednesday, but did not draw a bid. It is said that some of the Cromwell shareholders are anxious to continue operations. The Hartley and Riley dredge is now working in the beach underneath the o?8 brewery, at the back of a line of rocks which project into the water. The master of the Otago Xo 1 dredge reports that several shifts were lost last week owiag to ili-e eWator giving es-.m^ troxzblo. The ground is Blightly better. The No. 1 dredge was working through a paddock left by the Sunlight dredge, and was merely treating silt. The return will probably be as poor this week, but solid ground should soon be met with. Great as was the productiveness of gold dredging in Victoria in 1905 it has been greater in 1906. More plants are at work — 110, as against 82; more leases have" been issued; and more gold has been won. Departmental returns for 1906 are not yet quite complete, but it is estimated from the data to hand (states the Australian Mining Standard) that the gold won by dredging in Victoria will approximate to 80,000oz, thus exceeding that won by the same means in 1905 by 7000oz. To realise the full significance of this it is necessary to recall the fact that the 1905 yield was larger than that of the preceding year by 17,6360z. and that 1904 in ite turn was ahead, of 1303 bj over

ll.OOOoz. It will tfrn3 be obvious how the output of the dredging industry has gone ahead, from 21,6360z in 1900 to an estimated production of 80,000oz in 1906", an average increase of roughly 50 per cent, per annum for six years. Messrs Laurence, Robinson Bros., of Bannookburn, intend, it is stated, giving ths Young Australian reef another trial, and with this object in view will shortly repair the battery, which was previously driven by water-power, and instal an engine. Fuel unfortunately, will have to be carried uphill a distance of three and a-half or four miles. About eight tons of antimony ore has been taken from the Carrick Range, and is now being forwarded to Dunedin for shipment. The ore appears to be of good quality, and has been mined from various prospecting cuts over a distance of a mile and a-half. So far, no laTge body of ore has been found, but the owners intend to continue prospecting, in the hope of discovering something more promising. Endeavour Inlet will be the scene of considerable energy and activity in the immediate future, all arrangements having been completed for working the antimony mines in the locality (says the Marlborough Herald). Workmen are arriving in Picton every week, en route for the inlet, and inquiries are continually being made for houses in Picton, in order that they may bring their families to the closest town. Al-thoughAl-though numerous new houses have been erected in the town during the past 12 months, the demand still exceeds the supply, and Picton has never shown a more healthy sign in this respect. Wood and party, of Cromwell, are carrying on mining operations on a high sideland above the Bannockburn Creek and are well satisfied with their prosoecta. They are busy just now excavating flirt and stacking it until they obtain sufficient water to enable them to wash. They have gone to considerable expense in constructing a water race, which will '•ater on enable them to sluice the ground, which is expected to give good results under such treatment. The claim is somewhat isolated, and the ground operated on is shallow, with very little wash showing. The bottom in some places is practically surface workings a foot deep. A Dunedin gentleman, who has had a practical knowledge of mining in Otago for many years, expressed the opinion to a Times representative yesterday that if a Miners' Association were formed at Cromwell and a competent party sent out into the surrounding country, it would obtain results that would more than justify the existence of the association. Some attention is being paid to Mount Radiant (Nelson), oil account of its supposed mineral wealth. The mountain, which is 4400 ft high, and extends in a series of spurs for a distance of 15 miles, is situated about 12 miles from the township of Karam«a. Some two years ago Messrs E. Johnson and sons, who have been in the Karamea district for over 33 yeaTs, picked up a specimen of copper which promised well. Climbing -up the mountain, they saw an outcrop which looked valuable, and, having secured specimens, they sent them to Westport, Wellington, and London for analysis. The report showed 20 per cent, of copper, along with traces of gold, silver, molybdemum, and mylibdite. Another party — that of Mr Crabb — has pegged <j& 920 acres on the northern fall, towards the Little Wang-anui River, and discovered a lode 40ft wide, with copper-bearing outcrops in different parts of the property. The lode is supposed to run for three-quarters of a mile through Crabb and party's property, and lately it has been exposed five chains down the hillside. Analysis have given 20 per cent. of copper, together with other rarer metals. Dr Bell, of the Government Survey Department, iB at present at Mount Radiant inquiring into the value of the property. Mr Crabb, accompanied by Mr J. F. Clark, of Wellington, are at present m Dunedin. It is their intention to form a company to prospect thoroughly the claim. Tho profits that may b© obtained from dredging are exemplified by the history of the Electric Gold Dredging Company, which euiee registration on September 2, 1899, has returned £118,300 on a capital of £26,000. The goM production has reached 43,4240z 15dwt 22gr, from which a sum of £168,786 j 13 8d has been derived, and ihe expenditure has amounted to £49.900 9s lid. Last year tho company's two dredges won 22280z " 13dwt »f gold, valued at £8694, and the expenditure was £8897 11s 3d (including between £650 and £700 spent in the purchase of a new claim and the removal of one of the dredges to it). At the end of the year the company had £3812 4s at the bank p.nd on deposit, and owed £1413 10& 6d. There were at registration 19 shareholders, and the share list now shows 271 names. Eighteen rt en find employment on the company's -two dredges. The Nokoniai Hydraulic Sluicing Company was registered on March 26. 1898, with a nominal capital of £24,000, divided into 24,000 shares. At registration there were seven aharehoklera, and at the end of last year the share list showed a •total of 57. Last year the company employed 58 men, and won 25670z 17dwt 3gr of gold, valued at £9568 0s 3d, art a ; cost of £7476 4a 2d. Since registration the rompany has won 15,7340z 9dwt 16gr, valued at £59 831 4s lid, has spent £47,550 16s lOd, and declared £20,483 11s in dividends. On December 31 lasrt tbe company was in funds to the amount of £736 4b 3d, and owed £575 3s. The Otago Gold Dredging Company was registered ou May 20, 1895, and since then has returned £13,500 in dividends. The total receipts have been £58,192, from 15,0600z of gold, and the* total expenditure has been £48,923. Of these totals £9835 worth of gold (25270z) was won last year at a cost of £7615. At the end of the year the" company had £1016 at tLe bank, be p ides five debentures of £100 each. The liabilities then totalled £534. On the company's two dredges 14 men find employment. The nominal capital consists of 5000 shares of £1 each, and of these 3000 were given to shareholders without return. On the other 2000, £1 a share has been paid, and the paid-up capital therefore stands at £2000. On December 31 there were 66 shareholders, as against seven at registration. Owing to the unfavourable nature of the season the Sailor's Bend Dredging Company's machine won no returns vast jc*r, although the sum of £1286 17s 7d was expended. Since registration 29080z sdwt 21gr of gold has been won, valued at £11,239 0s 2d, and £16,084 13s has been expended. A sum of £2800 has been returned in dividends, and of this amount £fi 15s remains unclaimed. The company was registered on September 1, 1899, with a capital of 6000 shares of £1 each, 1500 being distributed amongst shareholders without return. At registration there were 103 shareholders, and at 31st December last there were 175. At the latter date there was £304 13s Id in *he bank, and the company owed £1031 5s 9d (including the debeniurs recently issued). When working the dredge employs eight men. Twelve shillings per share has been paid en the 2000 shares which form the capital of the Waitahtma Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Lawrence). Last year the company, which employs sr>c men, won 7440z sdwt llgr valued at £2SG7 4s 10d, at a cost of £1844 16s 9d.

Since registration on November 10, 1904, ihij expenditure has reached £4067 2a 4d, and *he gold won (10350b 9dwt 19gr) has realised £3988 7s 2d, and enabled £1025 to be paid in divi-* donds. At the end of the year the company had £I^s Is lid in the bank, had debtors nofc considered good for £66 13s 4d, and owed about £125. There were then eight shareholders, as against six at registration. The New Roxburgh Jubilee Dredging Company has won' 79880z ldwt 18gr of gold since registration on January 2*2, 1902, and has" paid £17,240 11s in dividends on a subscribed capital of' £2500. The nominal capital ia £7500. but scrip to the paid-up value of £5000 has been given to shareholders without u»yn\ent. The amount of capital actually paid-up is £2488 15s, £11 5s being iv arrears on calls Sixty-seven shares have been forfeited and 21 sold for £6 16s 6d. There, were 200 shajwholders at registration, but at 31st December last the number had dropped to 170. Dnring la&t year the company won 1940z 18dwt 18gr, of a value of £771 12s 6d, but the expenditure < reached £1926 8s lOd. Since registration ihe total expenditure has been £16,021 2s 6d. Inc.uding deposits, there was £1742 0s 5d aft the bank at the end of the year, and liabilities totalled £1034 6s. The company usually employs eight men. At 31st December last the Local Industry Gold Mining Company had debts estimated to amount to £560, and had no cash on hand or in the bank. Las* year £921 5s 2d was spent in winning 1660z 15dwt 22gr of gold. value £642 Is sd, and since registration ,£ba total expenditure has reached £17.334 4s 3d, and the value of the gold won (41620z sdwtl 2gr) has totalled £17,175 11s lid. Shareholders have had £2287 10s paid back to them) in the form of dividends. The company employs l five men. At registration there were seven shareholders, and at the end of las* year 13. The capital of the company 19 £1600, divided into 1500 shares. The annual statement of affairs of thd Junction EJectric Gold Dredging Company shows that at 31st December last, "he company had cash at the bank and on deposit amounting to £674 9s 2d, and owed £219 39 6d. The operations for the year resulted in a considerable loss, £5830 15s lid having been expended,* and £0472 6s 7d derived as tbo revenue from 6300z lldwt of gold. The company has hardly yet paid back its capital, £22,750 having been paid on a capital of £36,-000. ' Since registration the expenditure has totalled £47,015 3s Id, and 17,0990z 12dwt 3gr of gold. •. value £66,225 193 has been won. At the formation of the company there were 19 shareholders; there are now 307. Ten men find employment in the company's service. The Waitahuua Dredging Company, which was registered on February 22, 1902, and which conducts business from Lawrence, is not in active operation at present, the dredge being let out on tribute. Consequently no gold wad won last year by the company, and the expenditure only totalled £65 15s, leaving tha bank account with a credit balance of £1 Ofl . lid at the end of the year. Since registration' the company has won 6050z 6dwt SQgr of gold, value £2330 8s 2d, and has spent £3986 3s, 116 V Dividends to the amount of £1000 10s hava been paid on nominal capital of £1700, and a. subscribed and paid-up capital of £1380., At; registration there were seven shareholdere, ' and at the end of last yeas the snare Hat . showed 22 names. The Tamarti Gold Mining Company (Lawrence) waa registered on August 17,. 1905, butt did not commence aotive operations -until last! year. Since then £3126 15s Id has been spent,,, and 1660z Bdwt 20gr of gold, value £640 17s 3d, has been won. An initial dividend has absorbed the sum of £125. At registration) there were but 12 shareholders, and at the 31st of December lost this number had inoreased to 16. The subscribed 1 capital them stood a^ £3000, the whole of the 3000 shares which form the capital of the company having been allotted. The capital actually paid up. in cash stands at £2250, and scrip to the paioTun value of £250 hfls been given to shareholders without return. The company, which) employs five men, had at the end of las* year £14 2s 8d in the bank, and estimated its debts at £255. February 11. Tbe Pactolus No. 1 dredge was under repair* last week, and there was no wash-up. With a return of 21oz 18dwt for 116 hours tho master of the Rise and Shine Company's No. 1 dredge reports that there is a slight improvement in prospects. There was no wash-up on the Enterprise dredge last week. The dredge struck solid! wash at one end of the cut on Saturday morning. There was no wash-up on the Rising Sun dredge last week. Several days were occupied!" in baling out the paddock. The master of the Golden Run dredge ° xeporte a return of 17oz lOdwt for 150 hours. The ground is drifty and poor, but he expects to strike better wash shortly. An Auckland telegram states that for VF days' crushing in January the Tailsman Consolidated Company treated 2855 tons of ore for bullion, worth £12,500. Owing to the, misfortune of the Iredge sinking very little gold was won by the New Roxburgh Jubilee Company last year, while the expenditure was fairly heavy. Go{d> to the' amount of 1940z 18dwt 18gr, and to the valuer of £771 12s 6d, was won, and £1926 8s 10dT\va<j expended. At the end of the year the cash in the bank, including deposits, to» £1742 0s sd, and the liabilities totalled £134' 6s. Since registration tihe company has worn gold amounting to 79880z ldwt 18gr, and 1 valued at £31,045 8s lOd, and has spent £16,031 2s 6d. Dividends amounting to £17;240 lla have been paid back on a nominal capital of £7500. Tne company gives employment to eight men. The Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company, which was registered on October 4 last year, at present employs a surveyor and four men. The expenditure last year was £1906 8s 73, and after paying all expenses to the 31sti December the company had £614 lls 5d at the* bank and £2 in hand. Of the 13,000 shares of £1 each, which constitute the capital, 10,400 have been allotted. Scrip to the paid-up value of £2600 has been apportioned for distribution, amongst shareholders without return, but atf 81st December last had not been allottedEight shillings had then been called up on tha ghares, but a <;all due bn January 24 had not* been paid, and there were other arrears to tiha amount of £597. The amount of capital! actually paid up in cash waa £2523. At registration there were 75 shareholder* «nd ab tiha end of tbe year the number had decreased by; one. The operations of the Roxburgh Am&lga* mated Mining and Sluicing Company for th«» past year showed a considerable profit, foe whereas the expenditure in catmectson wiftU carrying on operation* was £51667 4m 4d, the re* ceipts were £6832 14s 8d from tSBBo2 ldwt of gold* The financial position at the end of the yeas was a fairly strong one, for, wiib. oash at the* bank aad on deposit amounting to £574 5a 10d, the company owed £96 to. Since Out registration of tihe company on Marcli % 1889^ dividends to the amount of £25,141 18s 4d haret been paid. Gold to the amount of 22,6140s 14dwt 7gr, and to the value of £87,911 16a 7d&, has been won, and £76,299 9s 6d has becq( spent. On an average the company employs 14 men. There were 168 shareholders on 81ef December, and of a nominal capital of 80,009 shares of £1 each, 29,152 shares had beefi

•Hotted, and 18s 6d paid up per share on the contributing issue. Scrip to the paid-up value of £15,000 had been distributed amongst shareholders, and the paid-up capital stood at £13,121 5s 6d. The forfeited shares numbered 825. February 12. Th« secretary of the Kura Company regxnrte a- return of 430z 16dwt 12gr for 235 tours. The secretary of the Molyneux Hydraulic Company reports a return of 360z 15dwt for the week. The Molyneux River showed an appreciable rise yesterday, standing 7ft 6in above the fiomal mark at Alexandra, as compared with * level of 7ft lin on Saturday morning. The weather was mild. The manager of the Nelson Creek dredge reports a- return of lOoz far 117 hours' work. .Dredging operations have been suspended coring to the shortage of water, caused, the secretory presumes, by the exceptionally dry ■eaeon. The Lady Annie Company's dredgemaster does not expect much of a return this week unless the ground improves considerably, but lie -expects to be in a position by the end of next week to work the ground he left some time ago, and which shciwed fair prospects. *Ehe' Blackwater River Company's dredgeanaster reports for the week before last that lie "had -a poor run; as he had to stop the machine for three days to renew the sleeve Of the bottom tumbler shaft. As the ground worked was very poor he did ncit'wash up, but included- the little gold there was in last ■week** return." The dredge was working up-stream, and the dredgemaster was waiting for the opportunity to turn and head for the road. The return obtained by the Central Charl*on" Company's dredge last week was not so large as is usually won from the particular I»rt of the claim she was working. Owingto the drought the dam is very low, and the water is getting very thick. Unless rain comes the dredge will have to stop in a week or a fortnight— indeed, there is now difficulty in making tail team, and but for the extra pontoons work could not have been continued mo long. A comprehensive prospect of the Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company's claims was made recently, under the supervision of certain of the directors, for the purpose of confirming, or otherwise, the prospecting formerly made. Shareholders and others who feed interested age invited by advertisement to inspect the results at the office of the secretary. During the week ended Monday, February 11, returns were reported from 32 dredges on the Otago-Southland field. The total yield was 82Loz 13d wt 12gr, or an average of over 25ocz per dfedge. . The secretary of the Barewood Gold Mining Company reports for last month that 146 ions of stone yielded 420z of retorted gold. During the early portion of the month operations consisted solely of 'dead work, and the battery was kept going- on poor eeconds, but latterly the ground, although poor, carried gold throughout, and was of sufficient value to ccttex crushing expenses. Last year the operations of the Waiotahi Gold Mining Company (Auckland) resulted in thft winning of 81,8840z Sdwt of gold ; value, 4233,478 4s 3d, at a cost qf £37,276 14s 9d. Since registration the company has won ore worth £490,676, and has expended £210,790 7s id. Dividends to the amount of £274,800 have been paid. At the 31st December last the company had £9842 4s Id at the- bank, and £12,500 on deposit. The company owed £629 38s" lid, in addition to income tax, estimated at £5200. The secretary of the Muddy Creek Company reports that the dredge has just undergone extensive repairs, comprising the renewing of the pontoons, top tumbler, framing of the chute, besides- general repairs to the machinery. l£r Hamer, the dredgemaster, dry-docked the dredge without removing any of the machinery, the first time, it is believed, that the feat has been accomplished. The pontoons were steel-plated bow and stern, and" are now stronger than ever. Dredging will recommence as soon as the d.ry weather breaks and when there is sufficient water in the creek to float the dredge out of ber dock. Very little time was put in by the Clyde Dredging Company's machine last year, and onrjr 720z 15dwt of gold, value £281 10s, was produced. The expenditure for the period was £1024 17s. Since registration, on May 17, 1895, £37,682 18s Id has been spent, and 18,5770% ldwt 3gr of gold, value £52,293 15s 2d, has been won. A sum of £22,700 has been distributed in dividends. At the end of the year the company had £572 13s at the bank, and had debtors (considered good) for £8 2d, creditors totalling about £120, and contingent liabilities amounting to £100. The company then employed five men, and the share list showed 82 names. The nominal capital is £8000, in 8000 shares, but only 6000 have been allotted. Scrip to the paid-up value of £150 nas been given to shareholders without return, aqd the capital actually paid up in cash, therefore, stands at £5850. The Alexandra, Lead Gold Dredging Company was registered on July 26, 1899, with a nominal capital of 18,000 shares of £1 each. At ihe end of last year 17,521 shares had been allotted, and as £3000 worth of scrip had been distributed amorgst shareholders without payment the paid-up capital stood at £14,521. At registration there were 146 shareholders, and at the end of last year 185. The company's dredge, on which 10 men axe employed, won last year 882oz 2dwt Bgr of gold, valued at £3420 6s 6d, and the expenditure was £3741 2s Id. Since registration the company has derived £30,776 3s Id as the revenue from 79470z Odwt 13gr of gold, has spent the sum of £31,571 19s sd, and has declared £14,033 12a in dividends, of which £1 5s remains unclaimed. A 31st December there was cash at the bank to the amount of £127 17s 2d, and the liabilities were £429 14s sd.