THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND: REPORT ON ROADS, WATER-RACES, MINING MACHINERY, AND OTHER WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH MINING.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1904 Session I, C-03

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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND: REPORT ON ROADS, WATER-RACES, MINING MACHINERY, AND OTHER WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH MINING.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

lUDBX.

Page. Accidents .. .. .. 15, 54, 64, 95 Alluvial Mining*— Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast .. 11, 58 Otago and Southland .. .. 12, 69 Antimony .. .. .. .. 95 Battery Superintendents— Examination Papers .. .. .. 135 Holders of Certificates .. .. .. 139 Cinnabar .. .. .. 17, 95 Copper .. .. .. 17, 64 Crushing and Amalgamation in Moaern Stampmilling : Paper by Mr. R. M. Aitken .. 34 Dredge Mining*— Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast .. 12, 61 Otago and Southland .. .. ..12,83 Construction of new Dredges and Improvements in Dredges .. .. .. 13 Holders of Dredge-master's Certificates .. 140 Johnson's Submerged-jet Dredge .. .. 13 McLeod and Hurley's " Dividend " Gold-saver 14 Examination Papers— Battery Superintendents .. .. 135 Mine-managers (Mining Act) .. .. 132 Fireclay .. .. .. .. 95 Galena ' .. .. .. 17, 45 Geologist (Report) .. .. .. 131 Gold-dredging (see Dredge Mining). Gold-mining Industry, The .. .. 2 Hasmatite .. .. .. 17,64,95 Hydraulic Mining*— Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast .. 11, 58 Otago and Southland .. .. ..12,69 Inspecting Engineer (Report) .. .. 1 Inspectors of Mines (Reports) — Mr. Coutts, Thames .. .. .. 41 Mr. Green, Dunedin .... .. .. 64 Mr. Tennent, Westport .. .. 54 Iron-ore .. .. .. .. 17 McLeod and Hurley's " Dividend " Gold saver .. 14 Mine-managers— Examination Papers .. ... .. 132 Holders of Certificates .. .. .. 137 Old Alluvial Claims and Tailings Areas .. 16 Petroleum .. .. .. .. 17 Platinum .. .. .. .. 17, 95 Prospecting for Gold .. .. .. 2 Production of Gold .. .. .. 3 Quartz-mining*' .. .. .. 3 Crushing and Amalgamation in Modern Stampmilling .. .. .. .. 34 North Island .. .. .. 3, 41 Otago and Southland .. .. ..10,64 West Coast, &c. .. .. 10, 54 Inspectors' Reports . . ... 41, 54, 64 Machines employed .. .. .. 141-144 Quartz crushed, and value .. .. 145-148 Treatment of Tailings and Sands from small Batteries .. .. .. .. 15 Reports— Government Geologist .. .. .. 131 Inspecting Engineer .. .. .... 1 Inspectors of Mines .. .. 41, 54, 64 Managers of Water-races ... .. 123,130 Wardens .. 96,102,104,114,116,118,120,123 Water-conservation Engineer .. .. 131 Roads constructed by direct Grants .. .. 2 Roads and Tracks subsidised .. .. 1

Page. Rock Phosphate .. .-. .. 17, 95 Sanitation in Mines .. .-. .. 16 Scheelite .. .. .. 17, 95 Schools of Mines— 17 Coromandel .. .. .. 22 Karangahake .. .. .. 26 Nelson .. .. .. .. 26 Otago .. .. .. .. 28 Reefton .. .. .. .. 28 Thames .. .. .. .. 18 Waihi ~ .. .. .. 24 Westport .. .. .. .. 27 Expenditure on Schools .. .. 33 Statistical Tables — Gold Duty credited to Local Bodies .. 181 Gold Exported, 1857-1903 .. .. 182 Gold Exported, Comparative Return, Years 1902-1903.. .. .. .. 182 Gold Exported, 1857 to 31st March, 1904 .. 183 Gold Exported, Comparative Return for Quarters March, 1904, and March, 1903 ' .. 183 Goldfields Revenue, Quarter ending 31st March, 1904 .. .. .. .. 179 Goldfields Revenue, Comparative Return, Quarters 31st March, 1903, and 31st March, 1904 181 Goldfields Revenue, Comparative Return, 1902 and 1903 .. .. ~ 180 Goldfields Revenue, Year ending 31st December, 1903 .. .. .. .. 178 Gold purchased by Banks .. .. 148 Machines employed .. .. .. 141-144 Mining Leases .. .. .. 190 Price of Gold, &c. .. .. ~ 184 Prices of Provisions .. .. .. 185 Quartz crushed .. ~ ~ 145-148 Quartz-crushing Machines .. .. 141 Rates of Wages .. .. .. 186 Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies .. 191-197 Summary of Works constructed .. .. 149 Wardens' Court Tables and Cases .. ~ 178-189 Water-races, &o. .. ~ .. 188 Water-races, Results of Working .. ~ 177 Works completed on 31st March, 1904 .. 157 Works in progress on 31st March, 1904 154 Subsidised Roads and Tracks .. .. 1 The Gold-mining Industry .. .. 2 Treatment of Tailings and Sands from small Batteries .. .. .. 15 Wardens' Reports— Mr. Burgess, Clyde .. .. ~ 120 Mr. Bush, Thames .. .. .. 9g Mr. Carew, Dunedin .. .. .. 110 Mr. Cruickshank, Lawrence .. .. 118 Mr. Day, Hokitika .. .. .. 114 Mr. Hutchison, Auckland .. .. 96 Mr. Keddell, Oamaru .. .. .. ng Mr. Kenrick, Greymouth .. .. 104 Mr. McCarthy, Invereargill .. .. 123 Mr. McEnnis, Naseby .. .. .. H6 Mr. Roberts, Tauranga.. .. ~ 102 Mr. Smith, Blenheim .. .. .. 102 Mr. Wilson-Heaps, Nelson .. .. 102 Water-conservation Engineer's Report 131 Water-race Managers' Reports— Mr. Aitken, Kumara .. .. .. 123 Mr. Murray, Nasebv .. .. ~ 130

* See also reports of Wardens.

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1904. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Mr. John Hayes, P. 8.50.,.50., Inspecting Engineer, to the Hon. Jambs McGowan, Minister of Mines. Sir, — Mines Department, Wellington, 15th June, 1904. I have the honour to submit my report, together with those of Inspectors of Mines, Wardens, and other officers of this Department, for the year ending the 31st December, 1903. The tables showing expenditure through the Mines Department on roads, bridges, tracks, prospecting operations, &c, are, as usual, for the period covered by the financial year—viz., from the Ist April, 1903, to the 31st March, 1904.

SUBSIDISED ROADS AND TRACKS. The expenditure (as subsidies) and the liabilities on outstanding authorities for the year ending the 31st March, 1904, are as follows:—

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t THE GOLDFIELDS OF NEW ZEALAND: REPOKT ON ROADS, WATEE-RACBS, MINING MACHINERY, AND OTHER WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH MINING.

Name of Local Body. Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1904. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1904. rharnes County Piako County 3ollingwood County ji'ey County Knapdale Road Board Contingencies £ s. d. 100 0 0 75 0 0 4 10 1 100 0 0 50 0 0 136 16 8 £ s. d. Totals 466 6 9

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ROADS CONSTRUCTED BY DIRECT GRANTS. The following statement shows the expenditure and liabilities on authorities issued on roads from direct grants to the several local bodies during the year ending the 31st March, 1904: —

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD. The following statement shows the expenditure and liabilities on authorities issued in subsidies to prospecting associations and parties of miners recommended by the local bodies in the different counties for the year ending the 31st March last: —

THE GOLD-MINING INDUSTEY. I have to report a further increase in the amount and value of gold exported from the colony, notwithstanding several drawbacks to which the industry has been subjected. Several mines in various parts of both Islands which were formerly consistent producers of gold have now ceased to occupy that position, some being closed down altogether. Dredging and hydraulic mining in Central Otago were also seriously interfered with owing to severe frosts and floods, and thus a shortage has resulted in the production of gold from that district. Other districts, however, all show increases, which have the effect of raising the value of gold exported for the year ending the 31st December, 1903, to £2,037,831, this being £86,398 in excess of the export value of the preceding twelve months. The total value of gold exported from the year 1857 to the end of last year (1903) amounts to £63,149,147. The several branches of the industry in the various districts are referred to under their several headings.

Name of Local Body. Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1904. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1904. Coromandel County Thames County ... Thames Borough ... Ohinemuri County Tauranga County Pelorus Boad Board CoUingwood County Waimea County ... Buller County Inangahua County Grey County Brunner Borough Westland County Hokitika Borough Bruce County Tuapeka County ... Vincent County ... Lake County Southland County Knapdale Boad Board Wallace County ... Boads Department Public Works Department... £ s. 5,011 4 2,,572 5 d. 8 6 £ s. d. 3,422 4 6 2,400 9 7 200 0 0 2,355 16 2 2,889 12 187 0 248 16 2,160 15 903 19 6,300 0 1,540 14 2,531 0 177 1 2,051 1 100 0 22 5 1,750 18 1,590 10 1,866 8 1,300 0 150 0 55 8 6,016 11 5,702 4 7 0 6 7 6 0 7 0 3 3 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 170 0 0 1,123 0 11 780 6 2 3,450 0 0 1,984 5 5 345 0 0 122 18 9 510 9 0 589 1 4 1,359 10 0 318 9 0 44 11 9 3,311 2 4 887 18 1 Totals ... 45,127 16 4 23,375 3 0

Name of County. Expenditure for Year ending 31st March, 1904. Liabilities on Authorities on 31st March, 1904. Coromandel Thames Ohinemuri Buller £ s. 250 5 304 0 23 0 35 10 32 19 383 16 9 6 d. 0 0 0 0 0 9 6 £ s. 148 5 766 9 135 10 35 10 168 12 110 9 15 13 d. 0 4 0 0 6 3 6 Inangahua Westland ... Tuapeka ... Totals 1,038 17 3 1,380 9 7

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PRODUCTION OF GOLD. The following comparative statements show the quantity and value of gold entered for exportation for the last two calendar and financial years:—

QUAKTZ-MINING. Nobth Island. The Waihi Gold-mining Company's properties rank not only as the largest and most important of their class in this colony, but take a place among the principal gold-mines of the world. During last year the tonnage of quartz raised and treated amounted to 214,508 tons (or 35,023 tons more thanthat of the previous year), having a total value of £603,167 Bs. 9d., and an average value of £2 16s. 3-2 d. per ton. Extensive additions to plant, some of which were outlined in the last annual report, have been made during the year. Among these, the large pumping-engine and pumps—the latter being 24 in. in diameter by 12 ft. stroke—is a notable feature. One of the shafts has been deepened to a lower level, and a considerable amount of development-work done underground in the various sections of the property. The reef-system is well opened up and ore-bodies proved, which will afford employment to a large number of persons for many years to come. The method of filling the stopes with mullock which is practised at Waihi might be more generally adopted at other mines in the colony—modified, of course, to some extent to suit local conditions —with advantage to employers and employed. There is a sense of security in working in and travelling through well-filled stopes, which is absent in the case of stoped ground left open except for the timber supports, or only partially filled in. The system also effects considerable economy in timbering, and the ventilation is more easily kept up to the actual faces of work. In the case of mines worked by shafts, it is desirable that some provision should be made to prevent the possibility of the pumps becoming choked with mud from the filled-in stopes in the event of any occurrence which would cause the mine to become flooded. At the several batteries and reduction-works belonging to the Waihi Gold-mining Company improvements in and extensions to the plant have been made, among which may be mentioned a new plant for the treatment of concentrates, which hitherto have been shipped to New South . Wales. The average number of persons employed by the company during the year was 1,120, and a quarter of a million sterling was paid in dividends. Altogether the sums paid in dividends since the commencement of operations amount to £1,257,189 17s. 6d. I have to acknowledge the courtesy of the management in furnishing, through Mr. J. Coutts, Inspector of Mines, several interesting photographs illustrative of the company's operations, for reproduction in this report.

Year ended 31st December, , Year ended 31st December, 1902. 1903. Name of District. Inorease for 1903. Decrease for 1903. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Auckland Marlborough Nelson ... West Coast Otago Canterbury Oz. 201,583 601 5,947 118,796 181,116 2 I £ 721,977 2,404 23,649 475,272 728,124 7 Oz. 232,681 972 7,962 125,241 166,458 £ 832,334 3,845 31,710 501,090 668,852 Oz. 31,098 371 2,015 6,445 Oz. 14,658 2 Totals 508,045 1,951,433 . I I 533,314 l 2,037,831 25,269* Name of District. Year ended 31st Maroh, 1903. Quantity. Value. Year ended 31st March, 1904. Quantity. Value. Increase for 1904. Deorease for 1904. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Auckland Marlborough Nelson ... West Coast Otago Canterbury Oz. 203,158 401 6,235 125,399 155,056 £ 724,892 1,604 24,704 ; 501,639 623,213 : Oz. 233,271 1,279 8,222 126,184 171,489 £ 834,070 5,073 j 32,819 504,845 690,141 Oz. 30,113 878 1,987 785 16,433 Oz. Totals 490,249 1,876,052 540,445 2,066,948 50,196+ * Total net increase, value £86,398. f Total net increase, value £190,896.

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The Waihi Grand Junction Mine has not yet entered the lists as a producer of gold. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of important work was undertaken during the year, the results of which are held to justify the owners in sinking to a deeper levei and erecting a modern battery of forty stamps with accessory concentrating and cyanide plants. It may therefore be confidently expected that the yield of bullion at Waihi may be augmented from this mine in the near future. Boring operations, with the object of proving reefs, have been undertaken by some of the companies holding claims in this locality, but, with the exception of those of the Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company, no practical results had been attained up to the end of the year. The success of this latter company's boring has, however, stimulated the holders of neighbouring properties to persevere in their efforts to discover quartz reefs on their claims. At Karangahake the New Zealand Crown Mines and the Talisman Consolidated Mines have worked steadily throughout the year, and the Woodstock Mine during the early part of the year only. The value of bullion obtained and average number of persons employed is summarised as follows :— Bullion-value. Average Number of £ s. d. Persons employed. New Zealand Crown Mines ... ... ... 78,279 12 1 242 Talisman Consolidated Mines ... ... ... 94,134 711 170 Woodstock Mine ... ... ... ... 9,680 12 1 40 Totals ... ... ... ... £182,094 12 1 452 Extensions, having for their object the further opening-out of the reefs at the lower levels, have been undertaken in connection with the incline shaft at the New Zealand Crown Mines. A large area of ground is opened up in this property, but a considerable proportion of the ore mined and treated during the year was somewhat below the average value. Development-work has been pushed ahead at the Talisman Consolidated Mines, and successful returns obtained. Generally, the outlook for these properties may be said to be of an encouraging character. The Woodstock Mine does not stand in so favourable a light, the ore-values being considerably lower than those obtained at either of the adjoining mines. It is possible, however, that, worked in conjunction with and as a part of one of the adjoining properties, payable results may be obtained, when such might be out of the question by running this mine as an independent concern owing to the expenses necessarily incurred in working as a separate property. At Waitekauri work has been chiefly of a prospecting character. Although the experience of the Waitekauri Gold-mining Company has for the past two or three years been of a disappointing character, it is to be remembered that the shareholders have received upwards of £83,000 in dividends, and that results of this nature are such as should encourage the company to persevere in their search for productive lodes. The Komata Beefs Mine continues to be a steady producer of bullion, the battery-returns for the year showing a value of £37,110 2s. 9d. from 14,780 tons. This gives an average value of £2 10s. 2-6 d. per ton. The future prospects of this mine are considered to be of an encouraging nature. Mining in the neighbourhood of Te Aroha is practically confined to Mr. Hardy's operations at Waiorongomai. The battery plant is for its size very complete, and every care is taken to obtain the best results from the treatment of the ores. During the year bullion to the value of £4,972 18s. 2d. was obtained from 1,561 cons'of ore, the average value being £3 3s. B£d. per ton. When I visited this district in November last negotiations were being entered into for the formation of a company to take over Mr. Hardy's property. It is intended to raise sufficient capital to develop the property on a much more extensive scale than Mr. Hardy has been able to do singlehanded. If values such as those referred to above can be depended on it would appear that the mine is well worth working on such lines as proposed, especially as a much lower level can be gained than the present workings without the necessity for shaft-sinking and pumping. At Tairua Broken Hills mining has been very energetically carried out at the property under the direction of Mr. H. H. Adams. The mine has earned a reputation for being one of the consistent producers of bullion, is a dividend-paying concern, and evidently has a very fair future before it. During the year 6,355 tons of quartz yielded a return valued at £21,146 18s. Bd., the average value being £3 6s. 6fd. per ton. In addition to the work at the mine just referred to, there is a little desultory mining carried on in tke locality. The prospecting-work at Neavesville, referred to in last year's report, has evidently satisfied the claim-holders. When I visited the district at the latter end of the year a new low-level tunnel had been commenced, and work was in hand for the equipment of an aerial tramway and the erection of a battery of thirty stamps, with concentrating and cyanide plants. At Te Puke some fairly extensive prospecting-work was being carried out in the early part of the year under the direction of Messrs. Bewick, Moreing, and Co., who hold an option over the property. In actual mining-work there is little or no change of note to report as regards Thames, but during the year considerable attention has been given to the question of boring to prove the existence or otherwise of auriferous lodes at greater depth than has hitherto been worked. It may be mentioned that the working of the several mines at Thames has demonstrated that there are defined lines of demarcation between profitable and unprofitable ground. From a section by Mr. James Park, published in 1897, an upper zone of poor country is shown to have been passed through in the Waiotahi shaft just above No. 1 level, slightly below No. 3 level in the New Prince Imperial shaft, between Nos. 2 and 3 levels in the Saxon shaft, and a little above No. 7 level in the Queen of Beauty shaft. Below this the section shows what is described as a "very rich zone," which averages about 330 ft. in vertical depth and rests on the top of a lower poor zone.

SECTION SHOWING PROPOSED CROSSCUT FROM KAPANGA SHAFT AT 1000FT LEVEL.

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This latter appears to be of considerable depth (about 400 ft.) between the Shotover shaft and the Big Pump shaft; but is estimated at, approximately, 140 ft. at the Prince Imperial shaft. According to the section, the Big Pump shaft was sunk through this poor zone and into what is considered productive ground below ; but as the pumping-level is above the base of this poor zone there are at present no facilities for proving that the shaft has really penetrated payable ground. Boring has been resorted to in order to ascertain the existence or otherwise of payable reefs below the lower zone of poor country, but so far the work done has not been sufficient to satisfactorily settle the question one way or the other. The Waiotahi Mine (Thames), although not a large mine, is a consistent gold-producer and dividend-paying property; some other claims and sections of mines are worked on tribute, whilst a few holders of small claims continue to add a little to the gold-output of the district. The most comprehensive mining-work undertaken at Thames during the year has been the extension of the Moanatairi tunnel towards the Alburnia claim. This will prove a considerable area of ground below the hill country, as the Moanatairi tunnel is some 600 ft. below the bottom of the New Alburnia shaft, the latter being 500 ft. deep. It will therefore be seen that the work now in progress will effectively prospect the ground to a depth of fully 1,100 ft. below the crown of the hills, and in the event of payable quartz being met with will enable mining to be done at a fairly cheap rate owing to the absence of any necessity for winding and pumping appliances for some years to come. The Tararu Creek Mine is still idle, and the Monowai Mine at Waiomo has closed down owing to the difficulty of successfully dealing with the ore, which is of a very refractory nature. At Tapu the Mahara Eoyal Mine appears to have entered upon a new lease of life. A new adit has been driven from the level of the battery and has cut the reef. This is stated to fork outwards towards the surface into four branches, all of which are expected to join at depth, two having already been found to have done so. As some of these branches are of considerable width, there appears every probability of a large reef at a lower level which may be worked economically. For the purpose of exploiting this, the winding plant formerly used at the Golden Point Mine, Tapu, has been purchased. The gold from the reef here is easily saved by amalgamation, and the concentrates by means of a Wilfley table. The crushings during the year gave a value of £1 14s. 2d. per ton in gold obtained by amalgamation. I have no information as to the value of the concentrates. The sands are said to be worth only 4s. per ton, and are therefore not considered rich enough to warrant treatment by cyanide. A company has recently been formed to work ground at Tapu explored by Mr. D. Sheridan. This company will be known as the Sheridan Gold-mining Company. Operations were commenced by the company in November. The working of the two properties named appears to give some hope as to the future possibilities of the Tapu locality. At Coromandel some very favourable returns have been obtained from the Hauraki and the Bunker's Hill Mines. At my last visit to this district work was in progress at the surface levels of the Hauraki Mine by tributers, and by the company's men at the 160 ft. level, principally on blocks of quartz previously left. The mine had been unwatered (after the recent stoppage of operations) down to the 220 ft. level, but the shaft is about 400 ft. deep altogether, and comparatively little work appears to have been done at the lowest level. It is thought that when the water is pumped out and work resumed at the lower levels there should be a good future for this property. The Bunker's Hill Mine adjoins the Hauraki Mine, the pumping for both mines being done under a mutual agreement at the Hauraki shaft. By arrangement, a certain amount of work is being done in the area of the Hauraki Freeholds Company. I was informed that there is a possibility of operations being resumed by the last-named company. Some small properties are being worked between the Upper Township and the crown of the Tokatea Hill. Excellent picked stone has been obtained at the Harbour View Mine. At the Golden Spark Mine adjoining, the work done in cutting the lode by a level tunnel has placed this property in a position which would appear to fully warrant expectations of the mine becoming a gold-producer at an early date. Prospecting operations are also in progress in different places on the Coromandel side of Tokatea Hill. A large outcrop of quartz, locally known as the " Big Blow " is to be seen on the road leading from Coromandel Upper Township to the top of Tokatea Hill. This outcrop extends on the line of strike for a considerable distance, and is spoken of by Mr. Francis Hodge, M.E., as the " mother-reef "of the district. Mr. Hodge thinks that, notwithstanding the admittedly low grade of ore contained in this " Big Blow " at the outcrop, it will be found to increase in value at greater depth, and suggests that it should be systematically tested by a series of diamond bores. He has kindly furnished me with a drawing for reproduction showing how the reef could be won from the Kapanga shaft at depths of 1,000 ft., 1,500 ft., and 2,000 ft. respectively, also the various claims at present held in which the large reef is considered to exist. In explanation of this drawing, Mr. Hodge writes as follows :— " I beg to hand you a report in support of the transverse section (with locality-plan) showing proposed crosscuts from Kapanga shaft. The transverse section gives the depths at which diamond bores may be conducted, and likewise crosscuts from the Kapanga line of main shaft to cut the Tokatea Big Eeef. From the locality-plan it can be seen at a glance that the belt on the line of section has been proved in passing various claims to be rich in developing various reefs outside of the Tokatea Big Reef. In the upper tufaceous sandstone gold-bearing rocks I estimate (from eighteen years' experience of the Coromandel Goldfield) that the Tokatea Big Reef is the mother of a permanent reef traversing the Coromandel Goldfield, which is running a few degrees south-east and west of north. It is a well-known fact that this Tokatea Big Reef is not payable down to the datum-line of sea-level. In width it varies from 20 ft. to 60 ft. It is assumed by many that this Big Reef would in depth be proved to contain highly payable gold-ore, and the most economical method of testing the accuracy or otherwise of this theory would be by diamond bores. " A line drawn from the Union Beach, or Coromandel Harbour at sea-level, to the Tokatea or Royal Oak Mine passes principally through tufaceous sandstones, diorite porphyry, compact felsite, very finely grained and hard and soft bands of calcareous slates with calcite veins.

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" The dip of the Big Eeef and the dip of the auriferous rocks, as far as developments have been prosecuted, seem to be in the same direction—namely, south-westerly. This being so, augurs well for the Tokatea Big Beef (and mother-reef, so-called) for permanency in depth. " I may say that during my experiences I have met representatives of large syndicates, who were eagerly disposed to develop the Big Eeef with deep-level mining. Finding the reef too poor to work on the surface series, and owing to the complications of having to work through various companies' and claimholders' areas, the proposal was abandoned, as it would not pay to sink shafts and open up levels, support drainage, winding, &c, for a limited area of ground. The necessity of a large holding for the purpose of developing this reef is therefore apparent. "It is my opinion—based on the fact that the Big Eeef traverses the country for miles (see locality-plan) towards Cape Colville (north) and to the Thames (south) —that if once proved by diamond boring to be payable, the reef would ultimately be permanently developed on a large scale,phus making the Coromandel Goldfield to equal any yet discovered in any part of the world. " In South African gold-mines and in Australia borings have been carried out at depths from 3,000 ft. to 4,000 ft. Diamond boring is only just being initiated in New Zealand on a small scale as yet, but so far is fairly satisfactory, and I feel persuaded that if it is persevered in throughout the colony jt will prove that New Zealand is very rich in gold-ores, especially at great depths." In connection with this subject, I would also draw attention to a paper on " The Igneous Character of the Carboniferous Rocks of the Tokatea Goldfield, Cape Colville Peninsula," by Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist, read before the Australasian Institute of Mining Bngineers'at the annual meeting held in Auckland in January, 1903 (" Transactions of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers," Vol. ix., Part ii.). This is reprinted with this report, appearing at the end of notes on quartz-mining in the Northern District. The Eoyal Oak of Hauraki Mine had a better year during 1903 than was the case in 1902. Work was carried on by the company on a lode not hitherto worked (cut from No. 6. level), and good hopes are entertained as to its permanence. Tributers have been employed in taking out blocks of stone in other parts of the mine. In common with other parts of the Coromandel field, the quality of the ore is patchy, and " specimen stone " is eagerly looked for. At the new Four-in-hand Mine, near Kennedy Bay, a new crosscut tunnel has been commenced at a considerably lower level than the Tainui level (above Waikoromiko Creek and on the opposite side of the hill from the battery) which is expected to intersect the Tainui reef at a distance'of 480 ft. It is calculated that the Four-in-hand reef will be cut at 1,080 ft., and the tunnel will, if continued 660 ft. further, come through the hill near the battery considerably below the No. 4 level in the Four-in-hand reef. The total length of the tunnel will thus be 1,740 ft., and it will command a considerable height of backs in both reefs.- When visiting this mine I noticed that the country rock through which the new crosscut is being driven is of a different character to the andesite at the higher levels, and, as the crosscut will intersect ground which does not appear to have yet been proved, the results of the undertaking will be looked forward to with interest. Sundry small claims are being worked in the locality, which afford employment to a somewhat limited number of men. In the locality of Kuaotunu the Waitaia Mine is at present the only gold-producer. The mine has been steadily worked, employing twenty-four men, the value of the stone averaging £4 4s. Bd. per ton. Tunnel-driving and prospecting have been carried on during the year at other properties in the neighbourhood. Work on a limited scale has been done at the mines near Gumtown, the average value of the stone at the different mines varying from £1 19s. 7d. to £5 15s. 2d. per ton. The three small mines crushed in the aggregate 634-J tons for a bullion-value of £2,440 35., representing a general average value of £3 16s. lid. per ton. Prospecting at the Sunbeam Mine on Great Barrier Island has evidently been satisfactory, as the owners have purchased a battery for work there. In various parts of the Northern District there are several mining properties which, taken as a whole, afford employment to a considerable number of men, and good work of an exploratory character is often done by the miners employed. The report of Mr. Coutts, Inspector of Mines, gives valuable information as to these holdings. The Igneous Charade?' of the Carboniferous Bocks of the Tokatea Goldfield, Cape Colville Peninsula.* [By Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist.] On the Hauraki Goldfields, within the limits of Cape Colville Peninsula, the Palaeozoic rocks are confined to the district north of a line drawn from Mercury Bay, on the east coast, to Rocky Point, on the shore of the Firth of Thames. South of Kennedy's Bay they are developed on the east coast only at Kuaotunu, at which place gold-mining is carried on in sandstones and slates of this age. Between Tapu Creek and Coromandel there is, along and adjacent to the shore of the gulf, a very considerable development of Palaeozoic and in part of Trias rocks, and between the Tiki Stream and the northern end of the Tokatea Hill, along the western slope of the main range, lies the special area of the Palaeozoic or Carboniferous rocks that have more particularly to be dealt with in this paper. The same formation has a large development between Cabbage Bay and the northern slopes of Moehau, and appears to the water-marge on both sides of this part of the peninsula.

* Paper read before the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers at the annual meeting, held in Auckland, in January, 1903 : "Transactions of tho Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers," Vol. ix., Part ii.

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In this part they are of special interest as having, on the west spur of Moehau, a considerable variety of dyke rocks intruded into the sedimentaries, the interest in which is increased by the fact that these dykes themselves are of Palaeozoic age, and correspond to the dykes that are so abundant in the Tokatea-Tiki area. It is this Tokatea-Tiki area as a goldfield, and its rocks as distinguished from later volcanic products on other parts of the peninsula, that more particularly have to be described in order that the object and meaning of this paper be made clear. Subsequent to the discovery of gold at the Thames, through a long series of years up till the present time, various surveys and examinations of the Thames, Coromandel, Karangahake, Waihi, Waitekauri, and Te Aroha mining districts have been made, and, from the various reports that have appeared, the general impression is that the gold is chiefly and almost wholly confined to volcanic rocks of Tertiary age. Some gold-mining was carried on in slates at Tapu Creek, but scarcely with satisfactory results, and later a considerable amount of gold was obtained from reefs in slate country on Kuaotunu Peninsula; but here also within recent years the gold-yield has lessened in amount, apparently confirming the idea that the Carboniferous rocks of the peninsula do not produce gold in paying quantities, except temporarily and to a limited extent," in parison with the yield from the auriferous andesites of Tertiary date. Since 1869 many claims have been worked on Tokatea Saddle and Hill without, however, the owners being aware that the rocks in which mining was carried on were different to those mined in Scotty's and Kapanga Mines, and thence to Kevin's Point, at Coromandel, or that the rocks of Tokatea Hill were the same in age and belonged to the same formation as the slates and sandstones of Tapu Creek and Kuaotunu, or the felsite tuffs of Eocky Point or the gorge of Tapu Creek. Hochstetter, when he visited Coromandel, in 1859, and examined the alluvial or slope deposits of Driving Creek, considered that the gold was derived from reefs of crystalline quartz occurring in the clay-slate formation that formed the backbone and main range of the peninsula. In 1870 Sir James Hector associated intrusions of porphyritic rocks with the slates of the main range in this part of the peninsula; but he leaves the impression that he believed the igneous intrusions were of much later date than the rocks into which they have been intruded—that they were, in fact, of the age of the volcanic outburst that accumulated the andesites of the neighbouring low grounds, and formed vast accumulations over the greater part of the peninsula, and which at that time (1870) were being most successfully mined in at the Thames. During the same year Captain Hutton, in reporting on the district adjacent to Coromandel —from the Tiki to Kennedy's Bay—states that the main range is in part composed of slates, in places described as blue arenaceous slates, weathering into soft yellowish-brown slates, on which is superimposed a thick mass of volcanic tuff and breccia, which, being the bed-rock of the gold veins and covering a large extent of country, is of far more importance than the slates.'* All the volcanic rocks were by Hutton regarded as of Tertiary age, and no mention is made of the occurrence of gold in the slates of the main range or Tokatea Hill. In 1880 S. H. Cox, then Assistant Geologist, examined the rocks of this area between the Tiki and Tokatea Hill. At the Tiki he found that the Golden Belt had been (then abandoned) worked in slates. On Tokatea Hill he recognises the presence of a felsite dyke, but considers the rocks mined in as decomposed volcanic rock ; but he is not clear in regard to what is the relationship of this volcanic rock. In 1882 he states that the rocks of Tokatea Hill and Saddle are unlike those of the Thames or elsewhere of the southern part of the peninsula, and more resemble the felsite or felsite tuff of the underlying slate formation. In 1893 Professor Park considered the rocks on Tokatea Hill as identical with the volcanic rocks that overlie the coal at Torehine, on the coast south of Cabbage Bay, and states that the volcanic rocks are continuous between the places named. The dyke-intrusions in Palaeozoic rocks at Torehine are also regarded as younger than the conglomerates at the base of the coal formation, no trace of igneous rocks being discoverable in the conglomerates, which fact is claimed to be negative evidence of great value.+ At a later date, when, in 1897, he read his paper on the " Geology and Veins of the Hauraki Goldfields," he evidently had not changed the opinion held in 1893, and in spite of the free use of the term " greywacke," as applied to the felspathic sandstones of the peninsula, there is no hint that a strong development of volcanic and dyke rocks existed between the Tiki and Tokatea Hill, and it is significant of the opinions held at this date that, " although the gold-bearing andesites and succeeding volcanic rocks have been erupted through the Palaeozoic basement rocks throughout the length and breadth of the peninsula, it is only at a few places that andesite dykes are seen penetrating the slaty shales."]: In 1897, noting a great distinction between the igneous rocks of Tokatea Hill and those of the lower grounds to the west, I proposed the term " Kapanga group " for the latter, andclassed the Tokatea rocks with those of the Thames, Karangahake, Te Aroha, &c, under the term " ThamesTokatea group " ; but further researches during the following year led to the separation of the rocks of Tokatea Hill and Saddle and the west slope of the main range to the Tiki and Pukewhau Saddle, and the inclusion of the igneous rocks of this part with, and as forming part of, the Carboniferous formation. The dyke-intrusions on the west spur and northern slope of Moehau had also to be considered, if younger than the rocks in which they appear, as being at least of Palaeozoic, probably of Permian, age ; but the dykes at Torehine and on the coast north of the Mata Eiver, within Thames County, are probably rightly considered as belonging to or connected with a later volcanic outburst.

♦ Gcol. Reports, 1870-71, p. 2. t Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. xxvi., p. 360. {Trace. N.Z. Mm. Eng. 1897 Vol. i., p. 16.

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In 1899 J. Malcolm Maclaren prepared a paper, which was printed with the Mines Eeport for 1900. This deals with the " Geology of the Coromandel Goldfields," and consequently with the area and the rocks here considered. Maclaren traced the soda felsites of Tokatea Hill, called by him ceratophyres,* into the valley of Paul's Creek, north-west of Tokatea Hill, and describes the same rocks associated with a dyke-like mass of quartz porphyry on the east side of Tokatea Hill and Saddle, and thence similar rocks south along the west slope of the main range to the Golden Belt reef at the Tiki. With the exception of the belt of rock called quartz porphyry, Maclaren, in his section of it, does not show the existence of any dykes in Tokatea Hill, yet he was aware of the existence of that occurring in the No. 7 level of the Tokatea Mine, and which is intersected vertically under the higher part of Tokatea Hill, 1,000 ft. from the surface. Like others, he seems to regard the numerous outcrops of grey porphyritic rock on the east slope of the hill as belonging to the Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Kapauga group to the north, or of the ThamesTokatea group as developed on the higher part of the Success Eange to the south of Tokatea Saddle. Bocks of the Carboniferous Formation, Tiki-Tokatea. —The lowest rocks, as well as those forming the upper part of the formation, are sandstones, occurring as grey, gritty, hard rocks, with dark, crumbling shales and mudstones interbedded. Nowhere within the area dealt with in this paper are the lower or higher rocks so exhibited as to be studied with advantage, and they are hardly, if at all, exposed at the surface on Tokatea Hill. In this northern part they are best seen in a small creek that lies north-east of the upper township. The rocks are thin-bedded and nearly in a horizontal position. On the road to the Success Mine similar rocks dip to the east, and on the spurs wither to a pale-yellow or buff colour. The same rocks are seen in Tiki Creek, near Frasers' Mill, where they overlie and underlie soda felsites, and form first an anticline and then a syncline as the creek is followed towards its source. In the No. 7 level of the Tokatea Mine, which was driven west from the lower east slope of the hill, the Main Tokatea reef was cut at 2,000 ft. from the entrance, and the dark slaty beds dipping west were not reached till within some 200-300 ft. of the Big Beef. The tunnel at first, for a considerable distance, passed through what was thought to be ordinary volcanic rock, and then entered the light-grey felsitic rocks, which continued till reaching the slates forming the foot-wall of the Big Beef. It is very remarkable that apparently but one dyke was met with after entering the felsite rocks. This occurred at 1,600 ft. from the entrance to the tunnel, and is a light-grey coarsely porphyritic rock, which may be regarded as an andesite or a dacite. The crystalline rock at the entrance to the tunnel is in part the equivalent of a dark porphyritic rock that is seen in the road-cuttings to underlie the thick rib of rock described by Maclaren as a dyke of quartz porphyry. While thus at most but two dykes have been detected in the low level of the Tokatea Mine, there seem to be numerous dykes on the surface of the east slope of the hill. These are different rocks to those forming the Kapanga or Thames-Tokatea groups to the north and the south, and correspond in character to the numerous dykes met with in Cadman's and Tiki Creeks, further to the south. In the line of the low level, No. 7 tunnel, of the Tokatea Mine the Big Reef was cut 400 ft. west of the crest of the range, and about one-third of a mile to the east of it the quartzporphyry dyke of Maclaren runs north and south parallel to the Big Beef. Between the quartz porphyry (called by me a rhyolite) and the Big Beef, with the exception mentioned, there seem to be no true slate or slaty shales, and some 1,200 ft. of the distance seems to be occupied by the soda felsites, which rise to the surface on Tokatea Saddle and nearly to the highest point of Tokatea Hill. On both sides of Tokatea Saddle the felsites are much crushed, and form breccia-beds associated with beds of greywacke, and these, with dykes or flows of more porphyritic rocks, constitute the country that carries the productive lodes and reefs of the Tokatea Goldfields. As the productive part of the field east and west is contained between the Big Beef and the belt of rhyolite, denominated quartz porphyry by Maclaren, so also to the north it does not extend much beyond half a mile from the Tokatea Saddle, and in that direction also is bounded by a strong rib of rhyolite which, from the Kennedy's Bay Road, half a mile above the Boyal Oak compressor, strikes west, or nearly at right angles to the north and south rib of rhyolite. On the Upper Waikoromiko Boad the north and south rib of rhyolite slightly alters its direction, and passes under the Thames-Tokatea rocks of the higher part of the Success Bange, south of which for a time no gold is found, and this is on both sides of the range the limit of the field to the south. North and south the field does not exceed one mile in length, and in an east and west direction it is less than half a mile. The north and south band of rhyolite presents various macroscopic characters in different parts of the line along which it is seen at the surface. Towards the north it is a white earthy-looking rock, with minute cavities such as effect the felsite tuffs of Bocky Pomt, near the Thames. At the waterfall in the tributary of the Waikoromiko, by which the road from Kennedy's Bay reaches Tokatea Saddle, it is still a light-grey rock, but is without the vesicles; and on the south side of the f reek exhibits a columnar structure. Further south, on the higher part of the ridge continued from the waterfall to the Upper Waikoromiko Boad, it exhibits flow structure on a gigantic scale. Again, further south it becomes a white, earthy, seemingly structureless rock, harder than in the extreme north of the line of outcrop, and here containing in places an abundance of minute bipyramids of quartz. Where it is lost sight of on the Upper Waikoromiko Boad it again shows as a soft earthy rock. The under-surface of the outcrop dips to the west at an angle of 50°, and, so far as can be ascertained, it forms the underlying rock to the soda felsites, and is itself underlain by a less acid, dark, hornblende rock, the slates not being seen for some considerable distance either to the east or to the north.

• Further analysis has not confirmed Maolaren's determination of soda felsite, and it is doubtful if the term should apply.

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LOW-PRESSURE CYLINDER OF NEW PUMPING ENGINE (WAIHI MINE) IN TRANSIT.

LOW-PRESSURE CYLINDER OF NEW PUMPING ENGINE (WAIHI MINE) IN TRANSIT. DIAMETER 110". STROKE 12' 0".

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The rhyolites that trend east and west, and bound the productive part of the field to the north, on the south side of the belt are of a breeeiated character. In what appears to be the middle part they constitute a light-coloured rock, not very hard and frequently showing well-marked flow structure. The northern part of this belt, as seen at the compressor, more than any other of these rhyolites resembles quartz porphyry. These rocks, where they were examined on the road to Kennedy's Bay, are outside the limits of the Tokatea Field, and had not called for mention but for the fact that in their western extension they form the northern boundary of the field. Of the felsite tuff, soda felsites, or ceratophyres characteristic examples may be obtained from all the levels of the Eoyal Oak and Tokatea Mine from No. 7to and including No. 3. It also outcrops on the west slope of the range on Harbour View Claim, and immediately north of the saddle. The rock is fine-grained and a yellowish-white in No. 7 tunnel. In No. 6it has much ealcite in connection with it, more especially in or adjacent to the reefs worked. In No. 5 level it is a greenish-grey rock, with minute spots of a lighter colour, and much resembles snakestone or Water-of-Ayr stone. In No. 3 level it is a creamy-coloured, seemingly amorphous rock, much breeeiated, and in Harbour View the breeeiated fragments are smaller and the rock of a greenish tint. On the east side of the saddle, in the Hauraki Associated Mine, greywackes and fragmental rocks are common ; but the green, mottled felsite is also present, and dykes of crystalline porphyritic rocks. One such dyke is seen seven or eight chains from the saddle on the road to Cabbage Bay, and at least two others lie lower on the slope before reaching the first waterfall, where the road to Kennedy's Bay crosses the creek, between which and the rhyolite there are at least two other very massive outcrops of dark-grey, coarsely porphyritic rock ; and, finally, that which lies beyond or east of the north and south rib of rhyolite has also to be taken into consideration. It would be tedious to enter on a description of the same rocks and dyke-intrusions in the middle and southern part of the Palaeozoic area, which terminates on the Pukewhau Saddle and on the Matawai. Suffice to say that the felsites in Tiki Creek are identical with those on Tokatea Hill, and that in less than half a mile east and west there are nineteen massive outcrops of dyke rocks to be seen in the bed and banks of the creek. With the exception of the Big Eeef, the lodes on Tokatea Hill are not of great size, and the auriferous lodes in the space between the north and south rhyolite belt and the Big reef trend west till they make junction on the foot-wall of the Big Eeef. Some of them have been very rich in gold, and have been worked continuously since the opening of the field. The gold-bearing veins of the Tokatea Goldfield are therefore in igneous rocks, interbedded between the higher and lower parts of the carboniferous formation, and are in no way connected with the tuffs and lava-flows that carry the reefs in the low grounds to the west, from Scotty's Hill to Coromandel, or on the Thames or the goldfields of the southern part of the peninsula. Proofs of the correctness of this statement are afforded by the unconforrnable relation of certain strata resting on the Carboniferous rocks on the Pukewhau Saddle and in the Waiau Valley, which unconformable rocks, of probable Triassic age, contain the proceeds of denudation affecting the Tiki Creek and Tokatea rocks. Apparently Maclaren did not note the great number of dykes that are to be seen in the valleys of Cadman's and Tiki Creeks, and when he does refer to them he thinks they belong to the Beeson's Island group of Miocene age. Yet in the paper above mentioned he says, " Further evidence of the existence of contemporaneous volcanic outbursts are supplied by the interbedded ancient lava-flows of the Tiki Creek, the Tokatea Hill, and Koputanaiki Creek. In the Tiki Creek they are seen to be both overlain and underlain by black, slaty shales, and to have a, dip corresponding with that of the shales." Maclaren made microscopic sections of some sandstones obtained from a little north of where Mill Creek crosses the Thames-Coromandel Eoad, and demonstrated the fact that these sandstones are largely formed of material derived from pre-existing volcanic rocks ; but he does not show that the rocks at Mill Creek are unconformable to those of Tiki Creek or Tokatea Hill, a relationship which I have shown does exist, evidences of which are to be seen on the Pukewhau Saddle and on the Mercury Bay Eoad, in the Waiau Valley, also in the cuttings of the ThamesCoromandel Eoad on the south slope of the range between Coromandel and Manaia Harbours. Mr. Maclaren directed my attention to the crystalline material of the sandstones near Mill Creek, and subsequently I satisfied myself that the red shales, &c, of the Pukewhau Saddle were stratigraphically unconformable to the Carboniferous beds of the Pukewhau and Tiki Creeks. Later in the season I discovered the conglomerates exposed in the road-cuttings on the descent, from the north, to Manaia, and in these I found pebbles, up to 1|- in. diameter, of various of the dyke rocks of Tiki Creek and Tokatea Hill, and rhyolites resembling those of Tokatea Saddle, and practically identical with the rhyolites further on the road to Kennedy's Bay, and at the Eoyal Oak Compressor, further to the north-east on the same road. There could be no doubt that these conglomerates were at least of Triassic age, and some fossil fragments confirmed me in the belief that this was the actual age of the beds. How far these conglomerates may represent material derived from the diorite and dacite dykes in the west spur of Moehau may be uncertain, but from the correspondence of many of the rocks from Moehau with the Post-carboniferous, yet Palaeozoic, dykes of Tokatea Hill, Cadman's and the Tiki Creeks, it is reasonable to suppose that all were intruded at the same time or during the same period. It but remains to say that the yield from the Tokatea Goldfield, which I cannot state in ounces, has been a large amount, and that in this instance it has proved that mining was profitably carried on in the Palaeozoic rocks of the Hauraki Goldfields, and there is still hope that the same rocks will yet be found to contain deposits as rich as those that have made Tokatea Hill famous in the history of the Coromandel Goldfields.

2—C. 8.

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Middle Island.

So far as quartz-mining in Marlborough is concerned, there is nothing of any moment to report. Work has been carried on principally at Jubilee Mine, Top Valley, near Blenheim, but the average yield of gold per ton of stone is small. A proposal for the amalgamation of other interests and the reconstruction of the company was made towards the end of the year, work being suspended pending the completion of the new arrangements. The mines at Taitapu, near West Wanganui Inlet, continue to be steadily worked. At the Golden Ridge Mine the principal work during the year has been in the development of the Anthill section of the property. The Golden Blocks Mine has worked a good-quality stone, the average value being £3 Bs. 3d. per ton. In the Westport district the mines at Mokihinui and Waimangaroa have not done much during the year, and their yield has in consequence been very small. The Alpine Extended Mine at Lyell has not produced any notable quantity of gold during the last three years. In the meantime a considerable amount of development-work has been done at workings from an inside shaft sunk from the low-level adit. The reef has been found irregular and patchy, but at my last visit at the commencement of the present year the prospects looked better than has been the case for a considerable time past. A party of men working a leader in the old United Italy Claim above Lyell have done remarkably well: 133 tons of quartz yielded gold to the value of £1,787, or an average of £13 Bs. Bd. per ton. This is reported to have given a net return of over £9 per week per man for five months' work. A little exploratory work on behalf of an Auckland syndicate has been done during the year at New Creek, near Lyell. On the Victoria Range broken quartz lying on the surface supplies a fifteen-stamp battery during that period of the year when the snow is off. The average value of last year's crushing was £1 9s. 9d. per ton. As there are no expenses for underground mining, the above value leaves a very satisfactory margin of profit. The Welcome Mine at Boatman's (Capleston) has been taken over by the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited). Prior to this arrangement the working of the mine had been let on tribute, and some very good returns obtained. For the present the tributing agreement will be continued under the new proprietary. At Reefton mining operations have been steadily carried on during the year. Very full information as to the operations of the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited) and the Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited) is given in the reports of Mr. Tennent, Inspector of Mines, and the Warden, Mr. Kenrick. These two companies, which are under the same general management, are large employers of labour (an average of about five hundred persons being employed), and their operations during the past seven years have demonstrated the possibilities of deep'mining in the Reefton district. Dividends amounting to £34,375 were paid by the Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited) during the year, which bring the total dividends paid since the company took the properties in hand to £165,000. The Keep-it-Dark Mine has also been a consistent gold-producer and a dividend-paying concern. This mine gives employment to fifty-eight persons, and during last year 12,568 tons of quartz was mined. The gross yield by amalgamation and cyanide was to the value of £20,473 2s 2d., and dividends to the amount of £8,750 were paid, making a total of £132,166 13s. 4d. so paid since commencing operations. It is intended to sink the shaft down to deeper levels, at which equally good results may be reasonably looked for. One prominent feature about the deep levels in the Reefton district is the comparatively small amount of water to be dealt with, a feature which reduces both capital-expenditure and working-cost. At the New Inkerman Mines development-work still continues, and a fairly comprehensive battery test was put in hand during the year. The battery comprises fifteen heads of stamps and a cyanide plant, together with canvas-tables and settling-tanks for the recovery of concentrates and deposition of slimes. It is intended to thoroughly test the quartz won in development work, &c, with this battery before incurring the expenditure necessary for the erection of a large and thoroughly modern plant. The Big River Mine continues to maintain its reputation as a patchy property : nevertheless, rich patches of stone are met with from time to time, which fully compensate for the expense of locating them. As evidence of this, the returns for the year enabled the company to pay nearly £1,200 in dividends after meeting liabilities and working-expenses. The total amount paid in dividends since the mine commenced is £47,366 ss. Work has been carried on at a few other properties in the district during the year. Operations have been resumed at the Victoria and Inglewood Mine under private ownership. With the erection of a cyanide plant it is expected that payable returns will be made. Comparatively little work has been done during the year on or adjacent to the Paparoa Ranges. Perhaps the most notable work has been the developments at Garden Gully. The holders of this property have been very persevering, and now claim to have proved the existence of payable reefs which can be worked from adit levels for many years to come. A company is to be formed for the purpose of developing the property on a fairly extensive scale and laying down a large battery plant. Quartz-mining in Otago occupies a very secondary position in comparison with mining in various forms for alluvial gold, the value obtained from quartz-mines during the year amounting only to £22,110 17s. 6d. In the Lake Wakatipu district only two mines have been on the list of goldproducers—viz., the Shotover Quartz-mining Company's mine, near Skipper's Point, and the Premier-Sunrise Mine at Macetown. The former mine was closed for some time, but has lately been reopened by an adit from the battery level and a new battery erected. The results obtained from crushings should give encouragement to other parties who are conducting prospecting operations in the district. The Achilles Mine (formerly known as the Phoenix) at Bullendale was

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closed down some time ago. This mine was latterly worked by an incline shaft, and the stone in the low levels did not yield returns satisfactory to the owners. It has, however, been sold to a private party, and work has been recommenced on a different footing to that which obtained under the previous ownership. It is contended that a considerable extent of ground was left unworked above a level accessible by adit, and it is to win this area that the new proprietary has undertaken the present operations. The venture will be watched with much interest, and there is no doubt that the discovery of a good body of stone, which will afford remunerative returns, will be the means of reviving this once active, but now practically deserted, locality. The Premier-Sunrise Mine has not been quite so successful as usual during the year owing to the patchy nature of the stone worked ; still, it has paid its way after providing for development and some new plant, &c, and, in addition, a surplus has been remitted to the London office. A very full report by the mine-manager is incorporated with the report of Mr. Green, Inspector of Mines. The old Tipperary Mine, Macetown, last worked by the Westralia and New Zealand Gold Explorers (Limited), has been taken over by the Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Company (Limited), and operations have been commenced with the object of reopening the mine. Near Cromwell there has been a little desultory work done on the Carrick Eanges and at Bendigo, but nothing of importance. If the reef-system at Bendigo is to be properly explored below the old workings, a low-level crosscut tunnel will have to be driven from the level of the river-flat so as to obviate the necessity for heavy pumping. It is well known that more than one reef exists in this locality, and that in the early days of quartz-mining in Otago very profitable returns were obtained from the working of these quartz reefs. I have in previous reports pointed out that down to a certain level the quartz is oxidized, and yields its gold very freely, but at greater depth the ore becomes more refractory. As the cyanide process had not been introduced into the colony when quartzmining in this part of Otago was at its height, the ore at levels below that at which oxidization ceased was considered worthless as it would not yield its gold under amalgamation. The alluvial goldfields of Otago offered more inducements for the expenditure of capital, and thus quartzmining gradually declined. Considering quartz reefs are known to exist at various points along a line drawn from near the head of Lake Wakatipu to near Oamaru —viz., at the Invincible Mine, Glenorchy ; Bullendale, Macetown (Premier Mine), Bendigo, and Balruddery—other places on and adjacent to the line referred to may be well worth prospecting. Two mines on the side of the Old Man Eange, near Bald Hill Flat, and a number of properties 1 of Macrae's, are worked by private parties. At some of the mines at Macrae's, scheelite is associated with the quartz, one party (Messrs. W. and G. Donaldson) having concentrating plant for the separation of the scheelite from the sands. This is shipped to Europe. The Barewood Mine has been worked with good results, 2,083 tons of quartz yielding gold to the value of £6,535 18s. Id., and concentrates value £391 6s. 5d., or a total of £6,927 4s. 6d., which gives an average value of £3 6s. 6Jd. per ton. The O.P.Q. Mine, at Waipori, is still standing idle. Very little work has been done during the year at Preservation Inlet. Some prospecting has been done at Newton's Beach, Stewart Island. It is reported that a reef varying from 6 in. to 2 ft. in thickness has been discovered which yields a very high assay value. Further developments will be awaited with interest.

HYDEAULIC AND ALLUVIAL MINING. Generally speaking, there is not very much change to note as regards this branch of the mining- industry since last report. Most of the claims at work have been in operation for some years past. Here and there a few claims have been exhausted, others continue to work in a steady^manner, -making such extensions as the nature of the undertakings demand, and in a few instances new work for the purpose of opening up claims has been undertaken. This latter feature is in evidence at Charleston Beach (West (Joast District), where a plant for working a beachterrace deposit on the north side of Messrs. Powell's claim by hydraulic sluicing and elevating has been under construction. Presumably the ground will be similar to that worked by Messrs. Powell, which consists of sand carrying fine gold. The method of treatment is by distributing the sand and evenly as possible over a series of tables covered with silvered plates, the gold being amalgamated in the same manner as at a battery. New work is also in hand south of Ross, in the locality olFox and Cook's Rivers, Okarito, at Omarua, and at the Waiho River for working alluvial deposits. Among other propositions likely to come to the front is that of bringing in water to work the alluvial deposits at Back Creek and Seddon's Terrace. The ground is reported to be of a good payable character (see report of Mr. Warden Day), and it is confidently anticipated that with a good supply of water for sluicing purposes a prosperous future would be insured. In respect to the yield of gold from the ground worked by water from the Government (Waimea-Kumara) water-races, this shows an increase as compared with the previous year, with a somewhat fewer number of men, as will be seen from the following schedule :— Average Number Ounces of Gold Value. of Men. won. £ s. d. Financial year 1902-3 82-41 6,717 26,196 6 0 1903-4 77-00 7,112 27,736 16 0 Increase ... ... ... 395 1,540 10 0 Decrease ... ... 5-41 Full details of this work appear in the report of Mr. Alex. Aitken, manager of the WaimeaKumara Water-races.

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The completion of the siphons in connection with the Mountain Hut Water-race in North Otago has given a decided impetus to alluvial mining in the neighbourhood of Maerewhenua, which had for some years past been in a languishing condition in consequence of the scarcity of water. There is auriferous ground in this locality which will take many years to exhaust, as the facilities for working available areas are limited by the volume of water which can be brought on to the field. Owing to the severity of the winter, hydraulic mining in Central Otago received a decided setback. In the localities of St. Bathan's and Matakanui especially (where the snowfall was actually 3 ft. 6 in. deep in one night) the races were snow-filled before the water could, in some cases, be turned off, and the great depth of snow cut oft' all access to the races for some time. Severe frosts followed, and when the subsequent thaw set in several landslips occurred and carried away lengths of the races. In other instances the sides of the races were burst out in consequence of the thaw. The cost of the necessary repairs which had to be effected is set down at upwards of £1,150 over and above that which has to be ordinarily expended at the close of each winter, and, taking the average, the loss of time consequent upon these breakages to water-races would reduce the length of the sluicing season by fully 25 per cent. The natural effect has been to reduce the amount and increase the cost of the gold won. Although the greatest damage appears to have been sustained in the localities referred to, the industry in other centres suffered more or less in consequence of the long and severe winter, and in this manner the shortage of gold from Otago (referred to in the early part of this report) is to be accounted for. Detailed particulars of the operations at the various properties in the Middle Island worked as sluicing and hydraulic claims will be found in the reports of Mr. Tennent, Inspector of Mines for the West Coast District, Mr. Green, Inspector of Mines for the Southern District, and the several Wardens for the various sub-districts of the Middle Island. A new invention for gold-saving purposes, which appears to be applicable as an adjunct to the ordinary tables as used at hydraulic claims, is described under the head of " Dredge-mining." Dredge-mining. Owing, in a great measure, to the unpayable character of the ground on which dredges had been placed as a result of the " boom " in dredge-mining of some three years ago, and also in some instances to the uusuitability of the dredges themselves to successfully work auriferous ground which might be worked to advantage by hydraulic mining, or even by more powerfully built dredges, quite a number of dredges have ceased operations during the year. Many of these have been sold and removed to other dredging centres, some have even been exported to Australia for service there. Notwithstanding this, it is somewhat significant that the number of working dredges returned at the end of the year was identical with that of the previous year—viz., 201, and this speaks for itself as to the steadiness of the industry at the present time. In accounting for the coincidence in the face of the facts above mentioned, it may be remarked that the reduction in the number of working dredges in the West Coast District (four) and the Otago portion of the Southern District (ten) is exactly balanced by the increase (fourteen) in the number of dredges at work in the Southland division of the Southern District. The following summary shows the number of dredges in each district at the end of the year 1903.

It is worthy of note that the alluvial flats in the valleys of the Waikaka and Waikaia Bivers in Southland have attained to positions of prominence as dredging centres. The earlier attempts at dredging on the Waikaia Eiver proved failures, but it is now found that the best ground for dredging is not in the river itself so much as on the adjacent flats and tributary valleys. A dredge on the valley of the Argyle Stream just above Waikaia Township has demonstrated the value of that tributary as a dredging-area; and a portion of the ground higher up, held by the Argyle Sluicing Company, and hitherto worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating, is to be worked by a dredge, the motive power being water, applied in similar manner to that adopted at Waipori and Cardrona under Mr. W. O'Brien's patent rights. On the Clutha Eiver and its principal tributaries dredging operations were seriously impeded by severe frosts and subsequent floods. The winter is, as a rule, the most profitable portion of the year owing to the low state of the rivers which enables dredges to " bottom ; " but the last winter, as well as that of four years ago, will be long remembered as being of exceptional severity. Many dredges had to stop work, and when the thaw set in the rivers became flooded to such an extent that dredging was necessarily suspended, hence the aggregate returns won were considerably less than would have been the case under average conditions. Some very good and even phenomenal returns were, however, obtained by several dredges in the localities of Alexandra and Cromwell, whilst the condition of the rivers was favourable for dredging. Interesting particulars of the work in this part of Otago will be found in the report of Mr. Warden Burgess.

District. Working. Standing. Building. Under Removal or Rebuilding. Dismantled. Wrecked or | m , , Stranded. Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast. Southern 46 16 1 4 5 72 200 155 L2 7 IK 8 Totals 201 28 19 12 272

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Submerged-jet Dredge. J. T. Johnson's Patent.

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RISING SUN COLD DREDGING COY. LTD.

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McLEOD AND HURLEY'S PATENT "DIVIDEND" GOLD-SAVER.

MOKOIA DREDGE, BULLER RIVER.

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Mr. Warden Kenrick has, in his report, given a very interesting summary of the results of dredging in the sub-districts within the jurisdiction of the Courts over which he presides in the West Coast Inspection District. During the year there were six fatalities in connection with dredging operations—viz., three in the West Coast district and three in the Southern district. This is a decrease of three as compared with the previous year. Of the six fatalities referred to, four were by drowning, one by being caught in machinery, and one by a fall on to the deck from an elevated position. CONSTEUCTION OF DKEDGES. Generally speaking, and with the exception of a new departure illustrated and described later on, there is very little to note under this heading. The experience gained on the Clutha River has shown the necessity of lengthening the ladders of several dredges in order to work the ground to better advantage. It has been asserted that one reason of several of the dredges in the Clyde-Cromwell Gorge not getting the results anticipated, is that the ladders are not long enough, nor the machinery generally strong enough, to tear through and work below a hard crust which is said to overlie the bottom and thus cover the richer gold-bearing wash. One of the largest and most recent dredges put to work is the " Rising Sun." This is placed on a claim on the upper part of the Clutha River (about two miles above Cromwell), which includes an area of both river and river-banks. The dredge has been built to the design of Mr. F. W. Payne, Consulting Engineer, Dunedin, to whom I am indebted for the drawing and also the following description : — "The hull is 118 ft. long by 35 ft. 6 in. beam, by 7 ft. deep; built throughout of blue-gum frames and kauri planking. " The boiler is of the externally-fired multitubular type, 15 ft. long by 5 ft. diameter, with a working-pressure of 1501b. per square inch. This boiler was specially designed by Mr. Payne to burn the local lignite, and has an exceptionally large grate-area. The objection to the externallyfired type of boiler—that it is apt to burn, due to collection of sediment, when used in connection with dredges—has been overcome by a special arrangement by which the feed-water is vapourised immediately on entering the boiler, and the solids deposited in a funnel or hopper from which they can he blown out at intervals by the engineer in charge. The economy of this boiler is evident, considering that, though this is the largest gold-dredge in New Zealand, the coal-consumption is only seventeen bags of lignite per eight-hour shift, a saving, as compared with much smaller dredges, of over seven bags per eight hours. (Sixteen bags equal one ton.) Taking an average of 80 indicated horse-power, this gives a consumption of 3f lb. per hour per horse-power. " The engine is by Marshall and Sons (Limited); compound condensing with cylinders of 10 in. and 16 in. diameter by 18 in. stroke, and indicating 100-horse power. " The ladder is 82 ft. long from centre of pivoting-shaft to centre of bottom tumbler. " The buckets are of 7 cubic feet capacity. " The winches consist of 6 barrels and a surging-drum and are driven by a pair of Marshall's vertical engines fitted with reversing-gear. " The screen is 31ft. long by 4 ft. 6 in. diameter, driven by friction-rollers. " The tables are of 360 square feet area and are provided with independent sparge-pipes at head. The water for the tables is supplied by a 12 in. centrifugal pump driven direct from the fly-wheel of main engine. " The elevator is one of Payne's patent centrifugal type, and consists of two striking-faces, the outside diameter of the path of these faces being 3 ft. 1 in., the width of striking-faces between the side plate is 2 ft. 6 in., and the speed is 300 revolutions per minute. It is driven by a countershaft off the first-motion shaft of dredge ; fast and loose pulleys are fitted on elevator-shaft, also an over-riding gear which makes the elevator a free wheel, as otherwise, upon any slackening of speed of engine and particularly when stopping, the momentum of the elevator would destroy the belt driving it. The elevator has proved quite capable of dealing with the exceptionally large quantity of stuff put through by the large buckets of this dredge, and has never once caused a block or exhibited signs of overloading even when the buckets have been charged to overflowing. The stacking capabilities of the elevator are in excess of requirements, as is proved by the fact that recently the dredge was able to work two weeks without it, due to the tailings having been propelled so far astern as to allow room to dispose of them for that time without stacking. During this time the coal-consumption remained practically the same as when the elevator was working, the difference being so small that the engineer in charge could not state definitely that any difference existed. " For the beater-bars (constituting the principal wearing-portions in connection with these elevators) different materials have been tried, but as there is not a wide choice of materials available in the colony, no doubt considerable improvement will shortly be effected by the introduction of a harder class of material such as chrome or manganese castings. " The tailings-stack is from 20 ft. to 25 ft. high, and owing to being level on top and also tightly packed—due to each individual stone falling with considerable force—this height may be safely taken to contain the same-amount of stuff as a stack 30 ft. put up with a bucket-elevator where the stuff is loosely stacked and peaked at top." Johnson's Submerged-jet Dredge. —A new departure in dredge-mining, applicable, however, to those places only at which hydraulic power is available, has been made by Mr. J. T. Johnson, of Waipori. I have not yet seen this plant at work, but Mr. Johnson has kindly favoured me with drawings for reproduction and also the following description : — " The principle of the submerged-jet dredge is simply that of the hydraulic elevator adapted to the requirements of a dredge, and consists of ordinary dredge pontoons, divested of boiler, engine, and bucket-ladder, these being replaced by a hydraulically-driven Pelton-wheel to work the winches, an hydraulic elevator in place of a bucket-ladder to raise the material to the shoots, and a breakingdown nozzle working on the submerged face to disentegrate the material.

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" The power-supply water is conveyed in a main pipe-line as in ordinary sluicing to the leve of the claim to be worked, and conveyed from there to the dredge in a patented flexible submerged line supported by floats. The idea of submerging the line is to relieve the floats of the weight of water in the pipes and to enable a longer span of pipes to be carried from float to float, thus extending the length of face reached by the flexible pipe-line. By carrying the last span underneath the dredge, the dredge is enabled to pass the flexible line to work first on one side of it and then on the other, thus doubling the length of face that can be reached when the flexible line works on one side of the dredge only. The flexible line connects on deck with a deck-pipe supplied with valves, by which the water is deflected as required to the elevating-jet, breaking-down nozzle, and Pelton-nozzle. " The construction of the dredge is so simple and obvious that a glance at a sketch of the dredge explains the whole thing, and it is almost unnecessary to add detailed description ; the altered conditions under which elevating is carried out, however, are accompanied by results which almost entitle the ' submerged jet' to rank as a new principle of working. " A comparison of the submerged jet with ordinary hydraulic elevating is instructive. In a hydraulic-elevating claim the elevating-jet would in lifting say 50 ft., have to overcome the weight of the whole column of water, plus the friction of the whole pipe. In the case of the same lift with a submerged jet, with say 30 ft. of the pipe submerged, the elevating-jet would merely have to overcome the weight of 20 ft. of the column of water, phis the friction of the whole pipe, making a saving in the weight of the submerged portion of the column of water in motion. A further increase in effectiveness is due to the fact that a shorter lift is required, as with a fixed elevator it is necessary to put a well-hole in the bottom to give fall for the sluiced material, and raise the outlet an extra height to permit of the tailings stacking ; while with the submerged-jet dredge the intake, as in dredging, does not need to go below the level of the bottom, and the tailings are spread almost at the level of the surface of the ground treated. A further great increase in lifting-capacity is due to the altered distribution of the water to the various outlets, a much greater quantity proportionately going to the elevating-jet. Thus, in hydraulic elevating, of a water-supply of twenty-two heads, ten heads would be required for the sluicing-nozzle to disintegrate the material and drive it forward to the elevator, and only twelve heads would be available for the elevating-jet; whereas the same water-supply applied to the submerged-jet process would be distributed thus: two heads divided between the Pelton wheel and breaking-down nozzle, leaving twenty heads available for the submerged elevating-jet. So not only is the lifting-power of each head used on the elevating-jet increased by the submerged process, but of a given watersupply a greater proportion is available for elevating, while plant-shifting is totally dispensed with. " The first dredge of this type was worked at Waipori for seven weeks, the available quantity of water being fifteen heads. To utilise this a fin. tip was used on the Pelton-wheel nozzle, a fin. tip on the breaking-down nozzle, and a 4 in. jet for elevating; the throat was 12 in. inside diameter and 15 in. outside, with 15 in. dirt-pipe. A right-angle bend on top deflected the discharge on to a drop-plate 4 ft. by 6 ft., from whence it spread over a spreading-table 12 ft. by 12 ft., and from thence into three chutes, totalling 600 square feet of gold-saving area. The tables and chutes were fitted with perforated plates and angle-bar ripples. " On starting, the lifting-power of the dredge proved too great for even the large shoots provided, and a regulator had to be provided at the intake to lessen the inrush of gravel, while to break the force of the stream of water and material on the shoots a hood was so placed as to break the force of the current before it left the spreading-tables. I estimate the lifting-power of the dredge-elevator at 1,000 tons per hour, while the capacity of the tables was 250 tons per hour, and no difficulty was experienced in gravelly formation in keeping the tables going at their maximum treating-capacity. The same water used in hydraulic elevating to advantage in the ordinary way lifted less than one-fifth of the material per week." McLeod and Hubley's Patent " Dividend " Gold-savers. The patentees, Messrs H.N. McLeod and G. A. Hurley, of Wellington, have supplied the following description and accompanying photograph of their patent gold-saving appliance:— ." So many forms of gold-saving plates have existed for the past fifty years with very little improvement in the principle of construction that an original idea, involving a radical departure from old ideas, is interesting and worthy of record. The designers have started out with the task of saving fine gold—not necessarily black-sand gold, although that is part of their programme for the future ■ —and in ignoring coarse gold, they have, perhaps, acted wisely. The trouble on dredges and with sluicing claims is not that the coarse gold is lost, but that the fine gold is lost, and in proportion to their success in winning the finest samples of gold, will the savers replace other plates and justify their name. It is claimed that at the tail of save-alls and in streaming down these savers have proved to be far superior to any appliances yet used for saving fine gold, and that so far on the main spread of tables they are, at any rate, as good as present appliances. It is hoped to be able to demonstrate by experiments, now proceeding, that when the savers have been nicely adjusted to the water conditions on the main tables, they will be as effective as on the save-all. It is not claimed that for black sand they have done any more than save exceedingly fine gold, much of which was amalgamated through contact with the silvered plates. " Further trials are to be made with black sand but at present the inventors are pushing their experiments in the direction of the finest gold in ordinary wash. The plates used are from fin. to 2-|m. in thickness, and lft. square, the cells or holes going through them, so that they are really false bottoms resting on the plush or matting of the ordinary tables. " The cells, by their peculiar shape and aided by the current of water carrying ' wash' with it, set up a motion peculiarly their own, the result being a series of eddies each directed towards

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the one object in view, namely, that of precipitating the gold to the bottom of the cell and lifting the ' wash ' which has been treated over the top rim of one cell 'into the succeeding cells, where it will again and again be treated until it finally drops back into the river or tail-race. "In these savers the ' wash' is led down a gentle slope towards the bottom of each cell, which it enters in such a way that the whole of the contents of the cell feel the influence of the eddying water. The interiors of the cells are constructed so as to retain all gold which reaches the bottom, and the immediate effect is the formation of a skin of concentrates over the particles of gold at or near the bottom of the cell. These concentrates are constantly in motion, and the strength of the current at the base of the cells is far less than at or near the top, the result being a settling or precipitation of the gold and the carrying-off of the ' wash,' leaving the gold behind. In the ordinary pattern there are thirty-two cells to a square foot of saver, but for black sand the savers will contain perhaps several hundred cells to each square foot. At present the problem being worked out is the adjustment of the depth of the cells to che requirements of ' wash,' and this must necessarily take time and money before the adjustment becomes perfect. " The advantages claimed for the savers are as follows : — " 1. Being made of cast-iron (and later probably this will be hardened) the wear-and-tear is reduced to a minimum. " 2. Being plates, they can be put down on plush or as expanded metal is put down, except that they are heavy enough to keep in their places without being nailed or otherwise fastened. " Each cell is by gravitation automatically doing the work of the miner when ' panning off,' and to have (say) ten savers on a dredge means that 320 cells are ' panning off' continually and passing on what each has finished to the cell next below. " 4. Perpendicular ' dead riffles ' catch and hold the finest of the light gold. " 5. All ' wash ' entering the cells is kept moving in such manner that the gold is precipitated, whilst the ' wash ' is carried on over the top into the next cell, and so on. " 6. The savers may be lifted separately, and may be used either the ends of the save-all and tables, or may cover the save-all and tables from the tail upwards for a few feet or more. " 7. Where the flow of water is insufficient to obtain the automatic motion required an outrigger may be placed at the tail of the tables, and the savers may then be used on the outrigger which should be placed at an angle sufficient to give the necessary fall. " 8. The cost is very moderate." The illustration shows a foot-square saver, the white portion or matting underneath the saver. A set of " Dividend " savers has been installed on the Eising Sun dredge, near Cromwell, an illustration and description of which dredge appears in this report.

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. The following statement shows the number of non-fatal accidents attended with what at the time was considered or might perhaps prove to be serious injury, which have been reported to the Department during the year, and also the fatalities in connection with the branches of the gold-mining industry during the year :—■

TREATMENT OF TAILINGS AND SANDS FROM SMALL BATTERIES. In my report of last year reference was made to the loss of tailings from small quartz-mines especially, and a suggestion was thrown out that the tailings from such mines should be stacked for future treatment, as it would in all probability pay to erect simple cyanide plants in convenient positions in order to treat the accumulated tailings of a few [small mines. Such a plant as then suggested itself to my mind, has been erected at Coromandel by Messrs. Shepherd and Patterson, primarily for the purpose of treating the accumulated tailings from the Hauraki battery. The character of this small works will be seen from the accompanying photographs. The tailings are sluiced by a small jet of water to the bottom of the uptake-pipe of a'small hydraulic elevator, and thence conveyed in a wooden spout carried on trestles to the cyanide-vats. This plant cost about £400, and has a capacity for treating 40 tons per week, one shift per day being worked.

Northern District. West Coast District. Southern District. Total. Class of Mining. Serious. Fatal. Serious. Fatal. Serious. Fatal. Serious. Fatal. Quartz Hydraulic and alluvial Dredging ... 23 No wor No wor 8 2 1 2 13 1 2 8 26 2 15 9 4 6 kings, kings. 2 2 3 Totals 23 16 43 19

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SANITATION IN MINES. In all mines the question of the most suitable means of dealing with human excreta is one which forces itself upon the management. At some of the smaller mines, and especially those entered by tunnels, it is the practice for workmen to come to the surface to evacuate, but at extensive mines—especially those worked from shafts —this is entirely out of the question. Among miners there are many men who are very cleanly in their habits and persons; others again are the very reverse. The latter will continue to utilise a disused working for the purpose of evacuation (and make no provision for burying their excreta) until the place is barely fit to pass by. Men of clean habits will take the precaution to bury their excreta, and where this is done the action of the clay or mullock (or coal-dust in collieries) deodorises it and no nuisance is caused. The provision of latrine accommodation underground has not hitherto been attended with satisfactory results. I have seen accommodation of this kind in some large mines which fully convinced me that the remedy could easily be worse than the disease, and the adoption of underground latrines might create' a far greater nuisance and danger than the indiscriminate use of odds-and-ends of places about the mine could possibly do. Again, where mine-owners and managers have provided suitable pails, &c, workmen have been known, not only to ridicule the provision, but to wilfully damage the appliances and so render them unfit for use. With such experiences as these managers cannot be blamed if they decline to provide sanitary accommodation in the mines. There is, nevertheless, no doubt that the provision of accommodation of this character is most desirable in underground workings, and to make a system of this kind a success the appliances should be light and portable. A drum of galvanised sheet-iron fitted with seat and closely-fitting lid, also with handles to facilitate removal, suggests itself to my mind. Drums of this character could be distributed through the workings in convenient places. A box containing some deodorising agent, such as soil, ashes, or sawdust, should accompany each drum, and every person making use of the accommodation be required to put a measure of soil (or other deodoriser provided) into the drum just as he would flush an ordinary water-closet. Any person wilfully damaging these drums or leaving them uncovered should be punished. These drums ought to be taken to the surface at least every alternate working-day and emptied, the drums being well cleansed with water to which a small quantity of some disinfectant (preferably having a coal-tar product for its base) has been added. Such a disinfectant is to be found in most of the liquid (non-arsenical) sheep-dips on the market, which are practically identical with many of the disinfectants largely advertised and sold under various names. One gallon of liquid dip mixed with 80 to 100 gallons of water gives a solution of ample strength for ordinary purposes. An outbreak of ankylostomiasis, or miners' worm disease, in a large tin-mine at Dolcoath, in Cornwall, was reported upon some time back by Dr. Haldane, F.R.S., for the Imperial Government. This report has only come into my hands since the foregoing notes were written, and as the matter is of considerable importance to the mining community, and prevention is ever better than cure, I have thought it advisable, in the interests of persons employed in mines, to quote a paragraph from Dr. Haldane's report. Dr. Haldane says, " After consultation with Mr. Martin (H.M. Inspector of Mines) and myself, Mr. Thomas (the manager of the mine) has now introduced a system of pails with accompanying disinfectants for use in the case of necessity by the men underground, and issued strict orders for the prevention of pollution of the mine by excrement. The parts of the mine known to be polluted are also being treated with disinfectants in order to destroy existing foci of infection. I trust that with the co-operation of the men these measures, together with the active treatment by the medical men in the district of all cases of ankylostomiasis, will soon stamp out the disease at Dolcoath. It must be clearly understood, however, that the prevention of the disease is largely in the hands of the men themselves, and that it is their clear duty to observe, and if necessary to enforce, the precautions necessary for preventing the pollution of a mine. Unless proper arrangements are made in other mines and carried out by the men ankylostomiasis is very likely to spread in England, and may easily affect coal-mines as well as metalliferous mines. The Cornish mines are specially exposed, owing to the fact that Cornish miners are continually returning from tropical countries/and that men known to have been infected are already scattered over the district. It must also be clearly understood that many of the men who are only slightly infected show no symptoms at all, as the presence of a few ankylostomes in the intestine may produce no symptoms. Such men may continue for years to be a source of possible infection owing to the presence of ova in the faeces." If closets are provided on the surface, and the men encouraged to use them before going underground, the necessity for defaecating underground would be considerably reduced.

OLD ALLUVIAL CLAIMS AND TAILINGS-AREAS. The working of many alluvial claims by hydraulic mining and land-dredging, as well as by the earlier methods of digging, has left areas of ground in various parts of the Middle Island quite unfitted for agricultural purposes. In many instances the land was not suited to farming, even if mining had never been done, and in this respect surface-damage cannot be seriously considered where conditions of this character obtained. There are, however, several places where hydraulic mining and dredging have left the surface in such a condition that the planting of forest-trees might be undertaken with advantage. A practical proof of this is to be seen in the Waikaka Valley, Southland, where the owner of a freehold property has planted trees on the tailings left by a gold-dredge working on the property. In most cases, however, the old claims and tailings-covered areas are on Crown Lands, and therefore when the claims are worked out, very little if any interest is taken to utilise the ground

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HAURAKI BATTERY AND MESSRS. SHEPHERD AND PATTERSON'S SMALL CYANIDE PLANT, COROMANDEL.

MESSRS. SHEPHERD AND PATTERSON'S SMALL CYANIDE PLANT, COROMANDEL.

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for other purposes. Considering that year by year the native forests of the colony are being cut down and comparatively little tree-planting is being done, the time does not appear far distant when timber will be a much more costly article than it is now. It is, of course, fully recognised that in some districts the felling of the native bush is followed by one branch or other of the farming industry, and that under these conditions replanting of the forests in situ is out of the question. This, however, gives force to the suggestion now made for the planting of forest-trees—where this can be done to advantage—on old alluvial mining-areas and tailings-deposits. The mining districts of Central Otago are climatically suited to fruit-growing, and now that railway-construction is getting well advanced, and quick communication with populous centres thereby established, the question of planting fruit-trees and so turning old mining-areas into orchards and fruit-gardens is a matter of practical interest and importance, as the water used for mining purposes in the past, and at the present time, will eventually be available for irrigation purposes.

MINBEALS OTHEE THAN GOLD. SCHEELITE. This mineral occurs principally near Glenorchy (Lake Wakatipu), and at Macrae's in the Otago District, also at Top Valley near Blenheim, in the Marlborough District. It is found in conjunction with quartz, but the only place at which it is being separated is at the battery connected with Messrs. W. andG. Donaldson's mine at Macrae's. The concentrated mineral finds a ready market in Europe. During the past two or three years numerous inquiries have been made for a supply of scheelite containing not less than 60 per cent, of tungstic acid. One inquiry alone was for a supply of from 20 to 40 tons per month, an amount practically equal to the present average annual supply. Cinnabar. A limited amount of work has been done during the year at the claim at Waitahuna, near Lawrence. The mine, however, has not yet reached a productive stage. Galena. A trial shipment of ore from the Kia-Ora (late Tui) Mine, near Te Aroha, Auckland District, was sent to Australia for treatment during the year, but although some assistance was given by the Government in this matter no report of the results of the trial have been received by the Department. From information supplied, it appears that the reef consists of quartz, carrying rich sulphide ore in shoots, and galena. Tne latter is said to vary from 6 in. to 5 ft. in width, with an average of about 2 ft.; the reef as a whole having an average width of 8 ft., although an occasional width of 20 ft. is attained. COPPBB. Operations have been commenced with a view to the reopening of the copper-mine near Nelson, and the work done is reported on by Mr. Tennent, Inspector of Mines. Platinum. This metal is associated with the alluvial gold at Orepuki and Bound Hill, Southland, and also near Takaka, Nelson. The Bound Hill Gold-mining Company separate the platinum from the gold, the yield being about 1 oz. of platinum to every 100 oz. of gold. HEMATITE. This mineral is manufactured into paint at Thames, and also at Parapara, near Collingwood. At the latter place the rich ores of the Parapara ironstone deposits are drawn on, and the ore ground, both raw and after being calcined, different colours resulting. Knife-polish is also made at Parapara by grinding a felspathic rock. In Southland, haematite is being got at Mataura and used for colouring purposes at the Mataura Paper-mills. leon. Operations for the working of the ironsands of Taranaki and the ores at Parapara have not commenced. Petroleum. Some boring for petroleum was undertaken during the year at Kotuku (in the vicinity of Lake Brunner), between Otira and Greymouth. Oil in small quantity has been obtained. Although no active work is now in progress, I understand the matter of further investigation as to the possibilities of the district is not being altogether left in abeyance. Bock Phosphate. The output of this mineral shows a steady increase. During last year the production at the quarries at Clarendon and Milburn (Tokomariro District, Otago), was about 4,400 tons. Its value for the preparation of a fertiliser is apparently well established.

SCHOOLS OF MINES. The instruction given at these institutions is of considerable benefit to young men preparing to take positions in and about mines and batteries. An examination, open only to students at the several schools of mines, is held annually in December. Scholarships, tenable for three years at the Otago University, Dunedin, together with a grant of £50 per annum, are available to those competing students who comply with the conditions under which these scholarships are granted.

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THAMES SCHOOL OF MINES. The Director, Mr. 0. Gore Adams, A.0.5.M., F.C.S., reports as follows :— Despite the general depression existing on the Lower Thames Goldfield, the attendance at the Thames School of Mines has been kept up to a satisfactory average. During the year a special grant from the Mines Department, as mentioned in my last annual report, enabled the Council to purchase an optical lantern with electric arc lamp, half-plate camera, lantern-slide maker, and all accessories. A number of lantern-slides have been made illustrating metallurgical, mining, geological, electrical, and other subjects, and these slides are now used to illustrate the lectures given to the students. This is a great advantage, saving time and giving a correct representation of many objects that it would be impossible to draw properly on the blackboard. The various subjects taught and the scope of the work are indicated by the following summary of classes. Subjects of Instruction. Mining and Applied Mechanics. Mining. —Characteristics, mode of occurrence, and distribution of the usual minerals; classes of ore-deposits; faults; recovery of lost lodes; shaft-sinking and driving levels; dry and wet ground ; timbering shafts, levels, and inclines; underground workings. Mine-drainage.— Surface-water; dams; force-pumps; lift-pumps; steam-pumps; pumpingengines ; capacity of pumps ; thickness of pipes ; calculation of water-power. Explosives. —Composition and strength ; mode of charging boreholes and firing; products of combustion ; calculation of quantities. Vβ'.illation.— The atmosphere; natural ventilation; artificial ventilation ; furnaces, fans, &c. ; division of air-currents ; composition and detection of noxious gases. Hauling and Winding. —Strength of ropes; aerial haulage ; underground haulage ; roads, rails, and guides ; safety appliances; man-engine ; turbine ; Pelton-wheel; steam-engine ; windingengine, and signalling. Land and Mine Surveying. Land-surveying. —Chains and tapes ; ranging lines; adjustments of theodolite, dial, and level; chaining; offsets; reduction of slope-measurements; inaccessible points and obstacles to alignment ; iriangulation ; measuring base-line ; shape of triangles ; tie-lines. Mine-surveying. —Connecting the underground with the surface meridian; magnetic variation ; correcting the magnetic survey; holing. Levelling. —Eecording levels; grading roads, tramways, and water-races ; Abney level; calculation of earthworks. Office-nork. —Computation of co-ordinates, areas, and triangles; use of logarithmic tables; scales ; methods of plotting survey; construction of survey-plans; principle and use of slide rule ; principle of calculating-machines. Metallurgy of Gold and Silver. Ore crushing and pulverising machinery ; rock-breakers ; stamps ; rolls ; Huntingdon mill; arrangement of battery; sampling; drying and roasting furnaces ; dry and wet crushing; classifiers ; concentration; amalgamation on copper plates and in pans; chlorination; cyanide treatment and other leaching processes; treatment of slimes; agitation; fitter-presses; smelting; fluxes and slags ; cupellation ; refining bullion ; retorting and smelting of bullion ; calculation of results obtained in the battery ; metallurgical problems. Practical Assaying (Dry). Dry Assaying. —The furnaces and assay appliances; the fuels and fluxes ; methods of sampling; preparation of the ore-sample; fusion and cupellation ; parting; weighing and valuation of the bullion ; sources of error in fire assaying; assay of litharge and red-lead; assay of gold and silver ores; assay of bullion; refining of base bullion ; assay of lead-ores ; assay of tin-ore ; retorting and melting of bullion ; volatility of gold and silver ; preparation of pure silver ar.d gold ; calculation of results obtained in batteries from treatment of ore ; keeping note-books and forms of assay reports ; the valuation of specimens. Practical Assaying (Wet). Wet Assaying. —Preparation and use of reagents; tests for purity; use of apparatus and balances; assay of iron-ores, of copper, lead, zinc, antimony, bismuth, mercury, manganese, nickel, cobalt, arsenic, chrome-iron, and silver ores; assay of slags; assay of sulphur in fuels; assay of ash and coke in fuels; assay of lime in limestone; assay of cyanide-solutions. Practical Chemistry. Junior Class. and use of reagents. Tests for purity. Dse of apparatus and balances. Separation of the metals into groups. Qualitative tests for the different metals. Separation of silver, lead, mercury ; separation of copper, bismuth, arsenic, and antimony; separation of iron and alumina, iron and zinc, iron and manganese, iron and chromium ; separation of calcium and magnesium ; separation of barium, strontium, and calcium; separation of potassium and sodium. Qualitative tests for the acid-radicals (inorganic)— (a) H 2 S, HCI, HBr, HI; (b) HN0 8 , HClOs; (c) H. 80,, H a Co 8 , H a Cr0 4 , HP, H B PO<, H 4 SiO, H S SO 4 , H,AsO«.

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Senior Class. —Estimation of chlorine; estimation of sulphuric acid and sulphur; estimation of phosphoric acid. Analysis of limestones and calcareous freestone; analysis of coals, coke, charcoal, and shales; analysis of barytes; analysis of fluor-spar; analysis of scheelice and wolfram; analysis of rocks (including estimation of K 2 O and Na 2 O); analysis of fireclays ; analysis of soils ; analysis of complex sulphide ores ; analysis of milk ; analysis of waters ; analysis of bonedust and bone-ash, with estimation of nitrogen; analysis of guanos and apatite ; analysis of superphosphates. Estimation of alcohol— (a) by weight; (b) by volume. Volumetric analysis : the estimation of—alkaline hydrates ; alkaline carbonates; acids, HCI, Hj,SO 4 , HNO 8 , HC a H B Oi, H,C,H 4 0,; haloid salts, HCN, KCN, I, As 2 O 8 . SO, (Na,S a O, + 5H s 0). Theoretical Chemistry. Mechanical mixtures and chemical compounds. Melting and boiling points. Elementary and compound substances. Laws of chemical combination. Equivalent weights. Multiple proportions. The atomic theory. Atoms and atomic weights. Molecules and molecular weights. Volume and density. Chemical symbols, formulae, and equations. Specific heat. Diffusion of gases. Electrolysis. The history, occurrence, preparation, properties, and uses of the elements, and their compounds—viz., hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine, sulphur, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, carbon, boron, silicon, sodium, potassium. Calculation of problems. General and Mining Geology. Physical Geology. —The earth as a planet, its form and motions ; geological climate; the atmosphere ; ocean; solid crust; the interior of the earth. Dynamical Geology. —Metamorphism ; agencies modifying the crust of the earth—atmospheric, aqueous, chemical; weathering; sedimentation; classification of deposits—mechanical, aqueous, organic, and chemical; denudation and erosion ; volcanic action ; earthquakes. Structural Geoogy. —Stratification ; jointage ; contortion ; faults ; conformity ; unconformity; dip and strike ; cleavage ; metamorphic rocks ; intrusive sheets, bosses, dykes, fissures ; formation of quartz veins, lodes, and metallic deposits ; dynamics of lodes ; recovery of lost lodes. Geological Surveying. —The practice of running natural sections; noting dip, strike, and inclination of strata and lodes ; mapping geological formations; collection of mineral and rock specimens. Stratigraphical Geology. —Classification of plants and animals ; fossils; blending of species; geological record; the study of characteristic life, and distribution of formations from archaean to recent times, with special reference to the geology of New Zealand. Mineralogy and Blowpipe Determination. Crystallography. —The six systems, their axes, typical and modified forms; holohedral and hemihedral forms ; twin crystals ; use of goniometer. Systematic Mineralogy. —Physical properties—hardness, specific gravity, cleavage ; optical properties —reflection, refraction, polarisation, phosphorescence, lustre; chemical properties and composition; isomorphism and pseudomorphism; distribution and paragenesis of minerals; classification. Descriptive Mineralogy. —Description of the chief varieties ; mode of occurrence ; distribution in New Zealand ; value. Blowpipe Determination. —Use of the blowpipe ; oxidizing and reducing flames ; examination of mineral samples. Mathematics. Arithmetic. —The simple rules; weights and measures; vulgar fractions; decimals; proportion ; problems ; logarithms ; mensuration. Algebra.— -The signs and symbols; simple rules; factors; symmetry; problems; quadratic equations ; simultaneous equations ; binomial theorem : transposition of formula used in mining. Trigonometry. —Definition of an angle ; trigonometrical ratios; easy problems; solution of triangles. Euclid. —The first four books of Euclid, with definitions, axioms, and problems. Drawing. Geometrical Drawing. —Use of scales and instruments ; plane geometrical figures ; projection; isometric drawing. Mechanical Drawing. —Machine drawing to scale from copies and from the machines, showing plan, elevation, and sections; tinting; shading; inking-in ; figuring and lettering; enlarging and reducing; preparation of working-drawings, and tracings on paper and cloth. Architectural Drawing. —Preparation of working-plans and finished drawings. Practical Astronomy. The ecliptic ; equinoxes; meridians; longitude; latitude ; altitude; declination ; right ascension; azimuth; use of Nautical Almanac; polar distance ; zenith distance; hour-angle; sidereal time; mean time; solar time; parallax; refraction; retardation ; acceleration ; convergency of meridian ; determination of meridian by star and sun observations, by single altitudes and greatest elongation of circumpolar stars; use of star-charts; calculation of hour-angle, azimuth, and altitude of celestial bodies for any time and place; determination of latitude by meridian altitudes ; determination of time by star-transits and sun-observations.

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Petrology. Preparation of thin rock-sections; use of the polariscope; identification of minerals in thin sections; drawing and photographing of sections. Theory of light; ordinary and extraordinary ray; polarised light; positive and negative crystals; uniaxial and biaxial crystals ; interference figures, &c. A grinding-plate and polarising microscope are provided by the school. Saturday Science Lectures. Fundamental ideas of matter. Gravitation. Mechanical powers. Friction. Pressure of liquids and gases. Specific gravity. Heat, sound, and light. Magnetism. Electricity. Chemistry. Physiology and health. Physics. Heat. —Change of volume, measures of temperature; change of state, latent heat, hygrometry, specific heat, calorimetry ; sources of heat, the conservation and dissipation of energy ; convection, conduction; reflection, refraction, transmission, and absorption of radiant energy. Use of thermometer, barometer, hygrometer ; determination of the density of solids and liquids; calculation of the density of gases from observations of their temperature and pressure; calorimetry. Sound. —The production and propagation of sound; the vibration of sounding bodies; the elements of the physical theory of music. Light. —Nature, production, and propagation of light; the laws of reflection and refraction at plane and spherical surfaces; prismatic dispersion and spectra; interference, double refraction, and plane polarisation; the principal optical instruments, and vision. Use of goniometer, photometer, spectroscope, telescope, and microscope ; determination of the curvature, focal length, and magnifying power of lenses ; determination of the refractive index of solids and liquids. Static Electricity. —Fundamental phenomena of attraction and repulsion, conduction, induction, and distribution, electrostatic units; electrical machines; condensers. Magnetism. —Fundamental phenomena of magnetic attraction, repulsion, and induction; magnetic units ; terrestrial magnetism. Current Electricity. —Voltaic batteries ; galvanometers ; electrolysis ; Ohm's law ; thermal effects of the electric current; electro-magnetic units; the interaction of magnets and currents, and the mutual action of currents upon one another ; thermo electricity ; induction of currents; magneto-electric and dynamo-electric machines. Use of electrometer, galvanometer, voltameter, "Wheatstone's bridge, and resistance-coils; determination of the resistance of conductors and batteries; determination of the electro-motive force of batteries, and of the strength of currents ; measurement of magnetic forces. Mechanics and Hydrostatics. Composition and resolution of forces acting on a point, and on a rigid body on one plane; the mechanical powers ; the centre of gravity; the fundamental laws of motion ; the laws of uniform and uniformly accelerated motion and of falling bodies ; the pressure of liquids and gases; the equilibrium of floating bodies; specific gravities, and the principal instruments and machines the action of which depends on the properties of fluids. Syllabus for Electrical Class. The syllabus comprises a complete course for the City and Guilds Examination in electrical engineering, and includes the following subjects : — General notions about electro-motive force, current, resistance, and the principles of electric circuits, simple and branching; the electro-motive force required to produce a given current in a wire of given resistance ; electric batteries, their construction and adaptation for commercial uses ; simple principle and use of electric measuring instruments ; ammeters, voltmeters, delicate mirror galvanometers, resistance-coils; the induction of currents by the motion of magnets; notions about magnetic lines of force ; the induction of currents by action of currents in neighbouring circuits; the effect of iron; induction-coils and transformers for alternate currents; simple principle of motors and of electro-magnetic mechanism ; the magnetic drag on wires carrying currents; glow-lamps and arc lamps, their arrangement in parallel and in series ; the necessary parts of arc lamps and their action ; the relation between mass, weight, and force ; relations between heat and work; relation between the watt, the kilowatt, and the horse-power; watt meters ; systems of wiring houses ; methods of jointing ; general knowledge about conducting and insulating materials and their mechanical and electrical properties ; meaning and calculations of drop ; methods of testing installations. If any student wishes to sit for examination in telephony or telegraphy he may do so by making arrangements with the lecturer. The attendance for the past year is as follows: — First Term. Seoond Term. Third Term. Eegistered students ... ... ... 33 30 30 Saturday science classes ... ... ... 61 59 44 Total students ... ... ... 94 89 74 Being an average of 31 registered students, 54 Saturday science pupils, and 85 of a total. The examination results for the year 1903 were very good, taking into consideration the lack of active mining and consequent depression existing on these goldfields. Thirty-four students san, sending in 68 papers, including 18 from the Saturday science class. Fourteen first-class, 18 second-class, and 22 third-class certificates were gained. The examinations were supervised by myself and staff.

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WAIOTAHI MINE, THAMES.

WAIOTAHI BATTERY, THAMES.

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The examination results are appended :—

Results of University Scholarships and Schools or Mines Examinations.

The maximum number of marks was gained by L. Andrew, who accordingly won the • President's gold medal. This student well deserves his success, for he follows his daily occupation from eight till five, and attends the School of Mines in the evening. This is an example of what can be done by a young man anxious to get on. .1 am pleased to state that the Council have recognised his merit in a fitting manner, by awarding him a scholarship to this school for 1904, of the value of his school fees. The students have shewn a disposition to take a greater number of subjects this year. This is as it should be, for the fully trained man is the man most in demand. Those who study but one or two subjects can never hope to compete against those who have been trained in all branches of their particular work. The Saturday science class has been well attended. Eight prizes were awarded to pupils who attended every meeting of the class, and the first and second prizes were awarded to A. B. Floyd, 80 per cent., and N. Wright, 71 per cent., respectively. Battery and Assaying Depaetjvient. Nine parcels of ore were treated in the experimental plant during 1903. Two were treated by cyanide, six by amalgamation, and one lot crushed and not further treated. The small number of parcels put through is due to the absence of active prospecting in the district. None of the lots calls for special comment. In addition to the assays made in connection with the ore treated in the battery, 165 public assays were made. The following are details of some of the more interesting : 3047/2, from Ohiwa B.P.—These two specimens were sent to be tested for cinnabar, but on testing proved to be merely jasper. 3048/1, from Maratoto.—A carbonaceous shale. 3049/1, Tararua Kanges, near Masterton. —A vanadium-ore for analysis. Thejiighest per centage from the samples was O'l per cent, vanadium. 3077/1, near Huntly, Whangape. —Coal for analysis. Eesult : Moisture, 152 per cent.; hydrocarbons, 335 per cent. ; fixed carbon, 496 per cent.; sulphur, 0-34 per cent. ; ash, 17 per cent.: ash, reddish-brown colour. 3080/1. —A gold railway pass, sent by New Zealand Eailways to be assayed. Eesult : 6275 per cent, gold, 9-2 per cent, silver, 280 per cent, copper : This is equivalent to 15-06 carat. 3083/1, Kaihu, Northern Wairoa.—Consisted of iron-pyrites, replacing wood. Of no value except as a specimen.

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Nam* of Student. u C£ 1 co Ti >h CO r> !>•§ B a o co in — P-H & I i s i a s | S> » ! Oc; O . I -3.2 su .2 a =8 o -S® ss-ss asm 'S° ■ i:~ o 3 ; g :» la i 5s Oh I E^ a 3 &■£ ■3.2 o a ■3 3 o>ns S. w S <-> Cd HH i. * se? ft CO tfl ctj flH. CO co ! <3 "3 S i 2 £ i -h ■53 8.2 £ •: so o >. u CO JO in i oJCO H | Pm 00 fl CO CD -3 -3 m ej.rS o fl 0C 60 12 a a 13 ■ft ft o s! . co • CO -TC CO T~ Ur m 3 co g o <.2 <!.2 • I O 3 >- fc „ CO _ 3 &f cc i dCE Irs ° EO — O — 13 ,3 c g& I gpi .2 ! « I rH j £1 S j S I ■ ar to a £ .a O 9 3 j 2 ?r, «•>■ oi ! co ,S cjO 5 g |.S So I S I r" fc O oo a a CCi **! ► as 0 ca c -~ 4 fl I •- Q 6 fl * x o CD i is s S IS s H. M. Clark .. L. Andrew L. Kitching L. Maddern H.R. Jury G. L. Thorburn Allan Baker L. Adams A. Price A. P. Alexander Young Booker .. P. Lavery C. Purnell W. Smith T. Mangan J. Horn H. Lowe M. 0. Johnson .. Nellie Wylie Annie Wylie S. Grigg H. Baker E. G. Ellis N. Wright A. B. Floyd P. Williams G. Warne M. Grigg O. Wright J. C. Paul W. Danby J. P. Rickard .. E. Clarke J. G. Ponlgrain 8 78 72 73 11 85 .-.2 55 87 63 | 71 I 56 53 71 66 47 18 47 55 76 21 69 27 7!) II 70 66 51 68 58 70 77 48 io 81 19 35 04 42 20 •■ .. I " 77 17 ii 36 48 01 48 39 53 ■10 18 82 51 L9 43 20 26 71 so 38 27 22 40 37 26 21 64 58 ' ' .. i .. .. .. .. | ..

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3085/1, (Thames District.—Gold, 6 dwt. 7gr. per ton; silver, 18oz. sdwt. 11 gr. per ton;value, £3 Is. 9d. per ton, approximately. Copper, nil; lead, trace ; iron, I*3l per cent. ; sulphur, 1-86 per cent; tellurium, nil. 3088/1. —An island near Dpolu was the source of this specimen, which turned out to be metallic zinc. It was stated to occur in this island in volcanic rocks, but it is very doubtful if it is of natural occurrence. 3106/1, from the borehole, Kuranui Caledonia Gold-mining Company, Thames: quartz stringers and country from between 1,000 ft. and 1,100 ft. depth.—Assayed 7 gr. gold per ton, 6dwt. 17 gr. silver per ton; value, Is. 9d. per ton. This sample was not a core from a reef, but from mere stringers of quartz. It indicates the presence of gold at that depth, and being such a small sample cannot be considered as a proper indication of the value of the quartz. 3116/1, Manganese-ore for analysis.-—Total manganese, 575 per cent.; manganese as manga-nese-dioxide, 39 3 per cent., equal to 62-2 per cent, manganese-dioxide. It is the manganese existing as the dioxide which is available for the making of chlorine and for other uses. 3119/1, from the borehole, as 3106/1. —Of the same description as 3106/1. Assayed, gold, 2 dwt. 19 gr. per ton ; silver, 2 dwt. 5 gr. per ton : value, 11s. 4d. per ton. 3123/1, Waiomo district.—Gold, 6oz. 11 dwt. 2 gr. per ton; silver, 86 oz. 2 dwt. 18 gr. per ton : value, approximately, £34 16s. 7d. per ton. Museum. This is very well stocked with minerals, rocks, and mining exhibits. Several valuable specimens have been added to it during the year. It is open every Thursday afternoon from 2to 4 ; and at all reasonable times will be thrown open for visitors to the district. Governing Body. At the annual general meeting of subscribers held at the school at 8 p.m. on the 16th February, 1904, the following officers were elected : President, Mr. Matthew Paul; Vice-presi-dent, Mr. W. Baker; Treasurer, Mr. E. F. Adams; Members of Council—Messrs. G. S. Clark, George Comer, John Ensoll, H. D. Haszard, Henry Lowe, and E. F. Murphy. Mr. Albert Bruce is permanent honorary secretary. I have much pleasure in thanking the Council for their cordial support during the year, and the assistance they have given me in furthering the interests of the school. Staff. There have been no changes in the staff during the year, but Mr. E. G. Wright, temporary electrical instructor, has been appointed instructor for both the Waihi and Thames Schools, and will devote half his time to each during 1904. The staff, consisting of Mr. A. H. V. Morgan, M.A., assistant lecturer ; Mr. E. G. Wright, instructor in electricity ; Mr. T. J. Mountain, licensed surveyor, drawing-master, have all performed their duties in a very efficient manner, and I wish to express my thanks and appreciation of this and of their zeal. As usual, students have been taken trips by myself down mines, also on visits of inspection to batteries and pumping and winding plants in the district. COEOMANDEL SCHOOL OP MINES. Mr. D. V. Allen, A.0.5.M., Director. The annual report is as follows : — The annual meeting of the Coromandel School of Mines was held in the lecture-hall, on Friday evening, the 12th February, 1904. There was a very fair attendance, T. W. Ehodes, Esq., J. P., presiding. Report of the Council. The Council submitted the following report upon the past year's work: — During the past year the efficiency of the school has been increased generally, and results compare favourably with previous years. The curriculum embraces all the subjects specified by the Mines Department as essential for the several examinations in scientific mining, and the institution is replete with all necessary apparatus and appliances for instruction in the several branches. The results of both the school and the mine-managers' and battery-superintendents' examinations are very gratifying, and are proof of aptitude, attention, and regularity of attendance on the part of the students. During the year, the Council have, with the assistance of the Mines Department, been enabled to erect a grinding and facing plant, which is very advantageous in the classification of geological specimens ; the plant is enclosed in a separate building, the necessary power being provided by a Pelton-wheel, connected with the county water-supply. An additional mineralcase has been affixed in the lecture-hall; the drainage scheme has been completed and sundry additions have been made. The Visiting Committee's monthly reports have remarked favourably upon the working of the school and the deportment of the students. Instruction in electricity and magnetism has been commenced this session, and the students are showing a keen interest in the subjects; the Council interviewed the Minister of Mines, and he agreed to assist in providing the apparatus, thus enabling the class to be started with the necessary equipment. During the year it will be necessary to replenish the stock of chemicals and other materials, so essential in carrying out the full course of instruction, which will entail considerable outlay; in this connection, the Council desire to urge upon the public the expediency of according a larger measure of financial and moral support to the institution. The public battery has had a record year, thirty-seven parcels of ore having been treated during the twelve months, being an increase of fifteen upon the preceding period. The Council, with a view to increasing the usefulness of

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the plant to prospectors and others, have in view a scheme to supply increased motive power at a proportionately reduced cost, and have interviewed the Minister of Mines upon the question, with the result that financial assistance has been promised; when the scheme is carried into effect it will enable a further reduction to be made for the treatment of ore. Dibectob's Eepoet. The Director (Mr. D. V. Allen) read his annual statement, as follows : — The school has been well attended throughout the year, the average attendance being the largest we have had for three years. Early in the year some of our members formulated a scheme for increasing the attendance, generously donating sufficient money for the free tuition of eleven students who were selected by competitive examination. This acted as the necessary impetus— others enrolled until finally we had some thirty students. The following are the details for the three terms :— T . Number of Average Students. Attendance. First ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 58 Second ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 61 Third ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 60 Generally speaking, students attended regularly and took considerable interest in their work. Our course for the year included instruction in the following subjects—viz., mathematics, land and mine surveying, mining, wet and dry assaying, theoretical and practical chemistry, metallurgy, and mechanical drawing. During the first term a class in geology was commenced but owing to lack of attendance was subsequently discontinued. The two best-attended classes were theoretical chemistry and mathematics. A good deal of useful work was done in the laboratory and assayroom, while the practical survey class did good field-work. At the annual examinations for schools of mines, sixteen of our students presented themselves and five first-class, nine second-class, and six third-class certificates were obtained. In this connection I would point out the want of uniformity existing at the several schools of mines in the matter of awarding marks. Our school has always taken 75 per cent, as necessary for a first-class pass. Last year one student passed for first-class mine-manager and two for battery-superintendent. For this year's examination we have four candidates for first-class mine-manager and one for battery-superintendent. The sphere of usefulness of the.school has been increased by the erection of a grinding plant for preparing rock-sections. The power is supplied by al2 in. Pelton-wheel, the water being supplied by a 2 in. pipe at a standing pressure of 801b. per square inch, diameter of nozzle fin., speed of wheel 1,500 revolutions per minute. The whole plant is contained in a substantial building. All that is now required is a good petrological microscope for examination of sections. In conclusion I am pleased to state that the outlook for the present year is assuring. Considerable interest is being evinced in the class on electricity, eleven students having already joined this class alone.— D. V. Allen, A.0.5.M., Director. Public Batteey. The battery has been well patronised during the year. Altogether thirty-seven parcels of ore were treated, which constitutes a record. These represented 68f tons of general ore, 813 lb. of picked stone, and 30 lb. of slag. The total yield was 691 oz. of bullion, valued approximately at £2,050. This is satisfactory, and goes to show that a much-needed want has been supplied by the erection of a public battery in this district. I understand that the Minister of Mines will favourably consider any reasonable scheme for increasing our motive power. The accomplishment of such a scheme would benefit our local mining community considerably. Prospecting would be encouraged, for our crushing-charges would then be so moderate that parties could treat ore at a profit which previously would not Day. The oil-engine on the whole worked well, notwithstanding its heavy work. I have again to acknowledge the valuable services of Mr. H. Macdonald, our amalgamator, who has carried out his rather onerous duties in a satisfactory manner.—D. V. Allen, Battery-manager. Balance-sheet. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £7 2s. lid. on the School Account, and a similar one of £3 9s. lid. on account of the public battery. Election of Officeks. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr. T. W. Ehodes, J. P.; Vice-Presi-dents, Captain Hodge and Mr. A. N. Jamieson ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. W. Thomas ; Auditor, Mr. A. F. Steedman ; Councillors—Messrs. John Reilly, 8.A.; J. B. Rockliff, J.P. ; H. P. Hornibrooke; 11. Battens, M.E. ; E. A. Daldy; W. Jones, and G. T. Mellars. Peesentation of Ceetificates. The certificates won by students at the examination in December last were presented as follows :E. McMillan—Ventilation, first-class ; explosives, first-class ; mining, second-class; pumping and winding, second-class. John Carroll—Ventilation, first-class ; surveying, second-class ; explosives, third-class. T. Cummings—Surveying, second-class. W. J. Patterson—Metallurgy of gold and silver, first-class. Victor Denize —Assaying (senior), second-class; chemistry, third-class. E. E. Jamieson—Assaying (senior), third-class. Vincent Daldy —Assaying (junior), third-class. G. Antwis —Assaying (junior), second-class ; chemistry, second-class. Sydney James—Chemistry, first-class. Eansom Myers—Chemistry, second-class. Eric Rhodes—Chemistry, second-class. W. Turner—Chemistry, second-class. Herbert Jones—Chemistry, third-class.

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Votes of Thanks. Votes of thanks were accorded to the Director (Mr. D. V. Allen), the President (Mr. T. W. Rhodes), the Secretary (M. W. Thomas), the Auditor (Mr. A. F. Steedman), and the Councillors for the past year. Uniformity of Ceetifioates. After discussion it was resolved, That, with a view to securing uniformity of certificates, the Mines Department be requested to prescribe the number of marks students require to obtain to entitle them to awards of respective grades, and to issue the certificates to the whole of the schools of mines throughout the colony. That the Councils of other schools of mines be requested to cooperate in this matter. An Incentive to Study. The President intimated that he would present a prize at next annual meeting to the student who showed the best progress for the year's work. WAIHI SCHOOL OF MINES. The Director, Mr. Percy G. Morgan, M.A., reports as under:— As Director of the Waihi School of Mines, I have the honour to submit the following report for the twelve months ending the 31st December, 1903 :— During the past year the number of students attending the school has been by far the largest for any year of its existence ; the average attendance of registered students being sixty-eight, and the average class-attendance 195. For 1902 the average attendance was fifty-one, and for 1901 forty-seven. It will be seen, therefore, that the school is being more and more appreciated and utilised by the mining community of Waihi. As will be gathered from the subjoined table, nearly all the classes were well attended, the most popular being mineralogy, mathematics, electricity, assaying, and surveying.

Table of Attendances for the Year ending 31st December, 1903.

Ac the beginning of the year a large number of new students joined the school, and as most of the old students also resumed attendance, it was found necessary to carry on junior and senior classes in mining, surveying, and theoretical chemistry. As in former years, the lectures and instruction given in the morning were repeated in the evening, thus enabling students working on different shifts to obtain regular lessons in every subject. Under the circumstances, a great deal of extra labour accrued both to myself and to the assistant-lecturer, Mr F. T. Seelye. The somewhat limited school-accommodation was severely taxed by the increased attendance, and by the necessity of carrying on two and sometimes three classes simultaneously. "Examinations. —Eighteen students presented themselves at the annual School of Mines examinations held during December. Forty papers were given and the results just to hand show that twelve first-class, eighteen second-class and eight third-class certificates were obtained. Very few papers fell below 40 per cent., and only two failed to reach the minimum required for a certificate. In themselves, these results, especially if the disadvantages under which many students labour be taken into account, are very satisfactory, but it is to be regretted that a very large proportion of the students did not come forward for examination, and therefore their work remains untested. As a partial explanation of these students' absence it may be mentioned that one or two were unable to obtain leave of absence from their work, whilst others stated that they could not afford to lose several shifts in order to sit for examination. Others again, being new students, thought themselves too new to the work to come forward in even one subject.

Name of Subject. First Term. Second Term. Third Term. Average. Junior mining Senior mining Mathematics Junior theoretical surveying ... Senior theoretical surveying ... Practical surveying ... Geology Mineralogy... Blowpipe ... Junior theoretical chemistry ... Senior theoretical chemistry ... Practical chemistry ... Wet and dry assaying Metallurgy ... Drawing Electricity ... 6 8 26 11 11 23 10 6 35 10 6 18 27 7 5 20 8 5 13 15 8 6 27 10 7 18 21 35 3 13 8 16 18 7 13 25 35 15 10 21 22 8 16 3 15 7 18 18 9 12 28 8 7 10 14 4 12 22 Totals 212 222 150 195 Individual registered students ... 74 72 58 68

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100-HORSE POWER TURBINE, WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

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During 1903 two of our students obtained first-class mine-managers' certificates, one a firstclass coal-mine manager's certificate, and two battery-superintendents' certificates. In all eighteen first-class mine-managers', two first-class coal-mine managers', and fifteen battery-super-intendents' certificates have been obtained by students of this school during the past six years, besides a number of second-class mine-managers' certificates, winding-engineers' certificates, etc. In connection with these examinations it is to be remarked that the standard required by the examiners for coal- and metal-mine managers is apparently raised higher year by year. In consequence it is now becoming very difficult for the ordinary working-miner to satisfy the examiners' requirements. The question as to what educational tests ought to be passed by a mine-manager is a difficult one, and it is not my intention to discuss it at the present time, but this I may say that I feel certain that any further raising of the standard, especially in the direction of asking questions that are outside the ordinary scope of the average mine-manager, will, under present conditions, quite debar many intelligent and experienced working-miners—really good "practical " men—from gaining certificates. Laboratory.— During the year sixty-seven assays and determinations, mostly of gold and silver ore, were made for the public. In addition, a number of minerals, rock-specimens, &c, were examined and named free of charge. Syllabus. —The course of instruction during 1903 was on very much the same lines as in former years. The introduction of senior courses in theoretical chemistry, mining, and surveying, enabled a higher standard to be attained in those subjects. In connection with the geological class some instruction in petrography and in the use of the polarising microscope was given. Several students did a fair amount of work in the direction of preparing thin sections of rock for microscopic examination. In May a class in electricity was started, and was well attended during the second and third terms. Mineral Collection. —This has been very largely increased during the year by specimens of minerals, fossils, ores, and rocks. A good collection of natural crystals has been bought by the Council, whilst the members of the staff have collected a considerable number of rock-specimens from various localities. Among the numerous donors to the collection may be mentioned the following : —Mr. Thomas Gilmour.—Telluride-ore from Kalgoorlie, and other specimens. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company.— Diamond-drill cores, steel boring-crowns, fossil wood, &c. The Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Kalgoorlie).—-Diamond-drill cores from Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie, &c. Mr. S. B. Hunter (Victorian Mines Department).—Calyx and diamond-drill cores from several Victorian localities. Mr. E. R. Green (Inspector of Mines, Otago district). —Eocks and fossils from Otago. Mr. F. Johnson (Taitapu, Nelson). —Specimens of gold-ore and chromeiron from Nelson. Mr. P. T. Seelye.—-Bocks and minerals from Dunedin and other Otago localities. Other donors of interesting specimens were: Mrs. Mathewson, Kokonga, Otago ; Mr. W. B. Warburton, Johannesburg; Captain W. Newdick, Ehodesia ; Mr. E. B. McDuff, Director, Karangahake School of Mines; Mr. D. V. Allen, Director, Coromandel School of Mines; and Messrs. Quick, St. Clair Heard, Gordon Cumming, J. Gilmour, E. G. Banks, W. Morrison, 0. McLean, A. J. Graham, and W. Corbett, all of Waihi. Petrological Microscope. —During the past year the want of a microscope for petrological work has been much felt. The Council of the Thames School of Mines kindly lent us their miscroscope for a few weeks, and towards the end of the year a microscope imported by myself was available for showing sections to the members of the geology class. Quite a number of our best students are anxious to take up petrological work, and for their benefit it is to be hoped that before long the Council will be able to procure a petrological microscope for the use of students. Library. —This, as in former years, has been much used by the students. The Council has purchased a number of books, and the usual Government publications have been received. Thanks are due to Messrs. Gray Bros., of Auckland, for the gift of several valuable works on metallurgy and assaying. Theodolite. —During the greater part of the year considerable inconvenience was caused by the lack of a theodolite which could be lent to students for survey practice, but this was remedied a few months ago by the purchase of a good second-hand transit theodolite. Addition to Building. —Towards the end of the year the congestion caused by the large attendance induced the Council to undertake an addition to the school building. With the help of a Government subsidy a class-room ft. by 20-J-ft. and a smaller room ft. by 13 ft. have been built on to the south end of the school, and are now ready for occupation. Teaching Staff. —During the year there have been no changes in the staff, which consists of myself as Director ; Mr. F. T. Seelye, A.0.5.M., assistant lecturer ; Mr. R. H. Mitchell, drawingmaster ; and Mr. Staffard Clarke, laboratory assistant. Mr. E. G. Wright who has been appointed by the Government joint instructor in electricity to the Thames and Waihi Schools of Mines, begins his duties here after the summer vacation. Office-bearers. —At the annual meeting of members of the school the following office-bearers were elected: President, Mr. Thomas Gilmour; Vice-President, Mr. W. H. Johnston; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. E. G. Banks ; Members of Council—Messrs. A. T. Kenrick, Eobert Morgan, Thomas Johns, A. B. Benge, C. Saunders (elected by subscribers); William Morrison, F. Stewart (elected by students). In addition to the above the Waihi Borough Council elected as its representatives Messrs. Arscott and Slevin. Later in the year Mr. Arscott's place was taken by Mr. J. Newth. Mr. Harry Allen, who had ably acted as Secretary for some years, resigned that position laet April. In his place the Council appointed Mr. G. St. Clair Heard. Conclusion. —For the coming year the prospects of the school are bright, and a large attendance at the various classes is anticipated. I have to thank the various members of the Council for the great help they have given me in carrying on the work of the school. My thanks are particularly due to Mr. Harry Allen, the late Secretary, and to Mr. G. St. Clair Heard, our present Secretary. Mr. F. T. Seelye, A.0.5.M., assistant lecturer, and Mr. E. H. Mitchell, drawingmaster have ably acquitted themselves in their respective departments, whilst Mr. Staffard Clark has proved himself a capable laboratory assistant.

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KABANGAHAKE SCHOOL OF MINES. The Director, Mr. B. B. Macduff, reports as follows: — I have the honour to furnish herewith the third annual report on the Karangahake School of Mines for the year ending the 31st December, 1903. Attendance. —The attendance at the classes was not so good as was the case during last year. This was especially noticeable at the end of the year, but can be accounted for by the cessation of work at one of the mines and its battery, so that the average attendance was reduced to twentythree students, taking an average of slightly over three classes per student; but I hope the classes will be better attended next year. There is no lack of young men in the district who could avail themselves of this branch of education were they inclined to do so. Examinations. —This year was the most successful we have had since the opening of the school. The results of the examinations held by the Mines Department at the end of the year 1902 show that the students have done excellent work, gaining certificates as follows : Eighteen first-class, eleven second-class, five third-class. At the examination for mine-managers and battery-superintendents, held in January, 1903, eight students sat, two for mine-managers and six for battery-superintendents, and all of these students succeeded in passing. Syllabus. —-This was similar to that of former years, but some students did a little advanced work in their respective classes, and with good results. Next year it is intended to add to the syllabus a class in metallurgical chemistry, which shall include qualitative and quantitative analysis of battery-products such as ore, slimes, concentrates, sands, amalgam, slags, &c, as well as the testing of ores for acidity, the causes of loss of KCy during treatment, assay of KCy solutions for gold, silver, zinc, &c. This class should greatly benefit battery hands. It is also intended to start a separate class in elementary arithmetic, so as to give any one willing a chance to work up enough arithmetic to follow the other classes intelligently. New Building. —Thanks to a grant from the Government, the size of the school has been doubled, and now the school comprises a large lecture-room, a reading-room, chemical laboratory, balance-room, and office, and the whole school is soon to be lighted with gas, which will also be used for heating purposes in the laboratory. Governing Body. —-The following gentlemen held office during the year: Patron, Mr. E. G. B. Moss, M.H.E.; President, Mr. D. P. Mitchell, M.E.; Vice-presidents, Messrs. P. Eich, B.Sc, G. N. McGruer, and E. Cartwright; Council —Messrs. H. W. Guthrie (Chairman), C. Tresize, T. G. Vinson, G. A. Chappell, A. Tomlinson, T. P. Heron, and E. D. Jones (Secretary and Treasurer). This Council has worked untiringly in their efforts to push the school to the fore. Library. —During the year the library has been added to, partly by the Council and partly by gentlemen outside the school. In this respect I must heartily thank the Very Eev. Dean Hackett for two standard works on geology and assaying, and Messrs. McGruer and Eich for several books and papers. My thanks must also be extended to the Mines Department for all Government publications. Mineral Collection. —During last year a good number of mineral specimens and rocks were added to the collection, but want of space has prevented their being displayed; but this has now been overcome, and any gentleman wishing to donate specimens to the school collection will receive the thanks of the Council by forwarding them to the school. Assays and Analyses. —During the year six assays for gold and silver and sixteen analyses of iron-ore were done, besides the identification of a number of minerals for prospectors. This latter is done free of charge. In conclusion, I must thank the Council for their co-operation in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the school; likewise all gentlemen who have kindly given books, specimens, &c, and also Mr. V. C. Dette, my laboratory assistant. NELSON SCHOOL OF MINES. The Instructor, Mr. W. F. Worley, submits the following report : — I have the honour to report as follows upon School of Mines work done in Nelson for the year ending the 31st December, 1904 : — Blowpipe Analysis Classes. —These classes continue to do satisfactory work, but owing to the drafting of the senior boys of the town schools to the Nelson College as soon as they have passed Standard VI., the quality of the work is not equal to that of former years. In these classes twenty two boys were taught how to use the blowpipe for the identification of the ordinary ores of commerce. Beginners are allowed to practise on salts of the chief metals, but the testing of ores is the object aimed at. Second-year boys are put through a systematic course of testing unnamed substances. They have to record in note-books — (a) the physical properties of the substance given them to test, (b) the experiments they make with it, (c) the results obtained from these experiments, and (d) the conclusions they arrive at as to the composition of the substance. The results are then checked, and marks awarded for successful work. At the end of the year a certificate of proficiency is given to those whose work has been uniformly good. Testing for gold by panning off wash-dirt in a digger's dish also forms part of the instruction given. Assaying.— During the year ten assays were made for the public. Some of these were to test the value of leaders of quartz found in the Maitai Valley, but the results were, I regret to say, not satisfactory. Assaying Class. —Only one student attended this class, but he by his enthusiasm made up for lack of numbers. The course of instruction embraced the crushing and sampling of ores, the proper use of the balance, the fluxing of ores, the refining of bullion, and the estimating of the value of the ores per ton from the results given by the assay. More students could have been got for this class if my laboratory had been large enough to accommodate them. When the new technical school is opened here arrangements will probably be made for the teaching of chemistry and kindred subjects in connection therewith.

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Conclusion.- —Owing to my being sent to Eeefton at the end of last October to take temporary charge of the school there, my blowpipe-analysis classes were curtailed by about six weeks. Advantage, however, was taken of my stay in Eeefton to learn as much as possible about practical gold-saving ; and my thanks are due to the managers of the mines there for the courtesy shown to me in allowing me to visit freely the mines and reduction-works. The knowledge thus gained will be useful to me here. My visit to Eeefton also caused a projected lecture on agricultural chemistry to be abandoned, but probably two or three lectures upon that subject will be delivered during the present year. WESTPORT SCHOOL OP MINES. Mr. Sidney Fry, Hon. Director of the Westport School of Mines, reports as follows : — From the beginning of the year up to the time of the appointment of the present Director, in the middle of the year, no regular classes had been carried on. We then made arrangements to carry on classes in mineralogy, theoretical and practical chemistry, and mine and land surveying under the instruction of the Director. A class in assaying was also instituted under the instruction of Mr. James Bradley, the President of the Committee. From that time up till the present we have enrolled twenty students, some of whom attended for a time till the novelty wore off, and then ceased attending. There are also a few who attend in a desultory manner, but the remainder have settled down to earnest study and are already showing a marked improvement. The average attendance at the classes has been as follows : Mineralogy, 104 ; theoretical and practical chemistry, 104 ; land and mine surveying, 5-4 ; and assaying, 106. Among the more advanced students are Messrs. K. Eoss, E. Connell, and W. Gowans. The last-named student travelled in from Millerton every week for the purpose of attending the lectures in land and mining surveying, and has sat at the recent examinations, held at Eeefton, for a firstclass colliery-manager's certificate, with what result I am not yet able to report. During the year we have done, in the course of experimental work and assays for the public, fifty-two fire assays for gold and silver, twenty-two assays of other metals (some of these being w r et assays), and sixty-six analyses of coal from various parts of the world. Among a few of the most notable we may quote the following. No. 1. Mineral filling cracks in Denniston coal.—Occurs in rhombic scales. Hardness, 2 ; lustre, dull; earthy to resinous ; colour, white to brownish ; yields water in closed tube ; 8.8. infusible, gives blue colour with cobalt-nitrate (aluminium); with micro-salt gives silica reaction, it is therefore Kaolin. (Analysis by the Director.) No. 2. Sample of gold-bulliou from the cleaning-up of the tail-race of the Eochfort Hydraulicsluicing Claim. This, after cupellation was found to be brittle and to have a specific gravity of 19-7, and, on analysis, gave—gold, 90-8 ; silver, O7 ; platinum, 8-5 : 100. (Analysis by the Director.) Actuated by the impression, gained through reading the reports of Messrs. Cox, Binns, Park and McKay, on the geology and physical condition of the Parapara iron-ore deposits of Collingwood, that they would be favourable as a matrix of gold, the Director obtained a few samples of the ore, and on assay this proved to be the case, the ore being auriferous ; but to what extent is not known yet, as no systematic sampling has as yet been done with it. Mr. Kenneth Eoss, an advanced student, has done some very useful work in the treatment, experimentally, with solutions of cyanide of potassium, of auriferous black sand and cement, in which the gold is not in a good physical condition for either amalgamation or for concentration on blankets. As a result of his investigations, and ultimate conviction that there is a great future before these deposits on the West Coast if treated in a scientific and extensive manner, he communicated with Mr. Thomas Edison, with a view to enlisting his interest in them, and thereby getting a trial of them by his new method of gold-saving from low-grade deposits. An encouraging reply was received to the effect that the engineer in charge of Mr. Edison's new invention was absent on an extended tour, examining placer-deposits, but that, as soon as he returned, the matter would be placed before him for consideration. Mr. Eoss, in reply, said that he was confident that a visit to New Zealand by Mr. Edison's engineer would be productive of good results ; and he also sent small samples of the auriferous sand. Whether or not this new method of treatment would be applicable to these deposits remains to be seen ; but the fact is plain that we have enormous low-grade propositions in this district alone, which only await the time when we are sufficiently educated to treat them profitably, and I have no doubt that it would well repay the Government to assist such matters as the foregoing in the way of sending bulk samples away for treatment, and any other thing which might bring matters to a good issue. I have mentioned the matter to show the good the school is doing by educating practical men up to the point whence they may clearly see the possibilities lying around them, instead of looking away to some other part of the world where " distance lends enchantment to the view." Mr. P. Bingham, Admiralty Inspector, has done a great many analyses of coal for sulphur during the year, as also has Mr. Bradley, who has also investigated the composition and properties of different samples of coal from various parts of the West Coast. Towards the end of the year, the Director organized branch classes in Denniston under his own instruction, the subjects taught being mathematics, including arithmetic, algebra, plane trigonometry and use of logarithms, mining, under which head come mining geology, boring and sinking, mine working and timbering, haulage and drainage, and ventilation and minesurveying. There is also a steam class for the use of those desiring to go up for engine-drivers' certificates. These classes were really organized in July last, but as we could not get a number sufficiently interested to form a committee to work it as a school of mines the Director deemed it expedient to get it amalgamated with the Westport School of Mines, so as to give the students a higher

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status. The total number of students enrolled during the time it has been in existence is fifteen, and the average attendance is eight. Some of the students are very diligent, and, we have no doubt, will give a very good account of themselves. Two of the students sat at the examination for engine-drivers' certificates a few weeks ago, and both passed. We have pleasure in tendering our heartiest thanks to those gentlemen who have so generously helped to augment our collection of rocks, ores, and fossils, among the donors being Messrs. Tennent and Eichards, Mines Inspectors; Mr. James Bradley; and Mr. A. McKay, Government Geologist, who kindly sent twenty-six specimens of representative New Zealand fossils, which have been labelled and will be displayed in a proper show-case. Through the courtesy of Dr. Ohly, of Colorado, U.S.A., we obtained a good sample of monazite sand, and the Director also obtained samples of Australian monazite from Bichmond district, New South Wales, and from Bonang in Victoria. We have lately removed our apparatus into fresh premises, which are a portion of the old Courthouse, and though we are not yet fixed up properly are carrying on our work as heretofore. This building, though leaving much to be desired, is certainly an improvement on the premises just vacated. It will be our endeavour during the present year to try and make arrangements for the issue of class certificates, as done in other schools of mines, in order to give students some encouragement by having a definite object in view in their studies. REEFTON SCHOOL OF MINES. The Director, Mr. J. Henderson, submits the following report:— Mr. T. O. Bishop resigned the position of Director in August last in order to take up an appointment with the New Inkerman Company. I had carried on the work of the school for two months previous to my appointment in September. Owing to this the report is more or less incomplete. The attendance during the year seems to have been about the average, with, as usual, a falling-oif in the last term. On Roll. Attendance. First term ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 28 Second term ... ... ... ... ... ...50 25 Third term ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 19 Classes were carried on during the year in chemistry, assaying (wet and dry), surveying, mining, metallurgy, and mechanical drawing. At the annual examination only six students sat, but all did fairly well. The results are as follow : First class, 4; second class, 3 ; third class, 1. At last year's annual examination for mine-managers' and battery-superintendents' certificates a number (I have not the exact figures) of students sat. Of these one obtained a first-class certificate at once, and two more in the interim examination. This year four students are sitting for first-class certificates. During the year ninety-seven samples were received for assay, chiefly quartz and tailings for gold; although bullion assays and assays for tin, copper, and silver were also made. In conclusion I have to thank the Committee for their support, and especially Mr. Ashby, the Secretary, for his able assistance. OTAGO SCHOOL OF MINES. Professor James Park, F.G.S., the Director, reports as under: — Diplomas and Certificates. The mining school for the session ending the 7th November, 1903, showed the satisfactory attendance of thirty-two registered students, and two casual students for one subject only— namely, one in geology and one in surveying. Of the registered students, twelve entered for their first year, leaving twenty in their second, third, or fourth year, according to their academic standing. Three students in their final year completed their course in the divisions for which they entered; and one of these, having presented satisfactory certificates of time spent in mining operations, as required by Eegulation 9, was awarded the diploma of Associate in Mining to which he was entitled. The successful candidate was Otto Albert Friedlander. Diplomas and certificates were issued during the year to seven students who had passed the necessary class examinations prior to 1903, on the production of the necessary certificates relating to practical work, as follows:—Frank Hadfield Statham, (1) diploma of Associate in Mining, (2) certificate of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer; William Ernest Barron, certificate of Land and Mine Surveyor; Stanislaus Charles Napier-Bell, diploma of Associate in Geology; James McGregor Wilkie, diploma of Associate in Metallurgy ; Harold F. de Eenzy Harman, diploma of Associate in Metallurgy; Claude G. L. Gregg, diploma of Associate in Mining; Kenneth Monirose Graham, diploma of Associate in Mining. Annual Examinations. The attendance in the different classes and the results of the annual examinations in the subjects of instruction in the mining school, as prescribed by the regulations for the different courses, are shown in the following tabulated statement: —

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The teachers of the subjects enumerated above were as follow : The Director —Mining geology, mining, surveying, applied mechanics ; Mr Waters—Metallurgy, assaying, blowpipe analysis ; Dr Marshall —General geology, mineralogy, petrography; Mr G. Armstrong —Mechanical drawing. Eighteen students in their first or second year, according to their standing, attended the University classes in mathematics, theoretical mechanics, theoretical physics, practical physics, theoretical and practical chemistry ; and three, qualifying for the requirements of the B.Sc. degree and for honours in geology, attended the class in palaeontology. The results of the examinations in these subjects were as follow : —

The teachers in the different subjects were as follow : Professor Gibbons—Mathematics ; Professor Benham—Paleontology ; Professor Shand —Theoretical Physics, practical physics, theoretical mechanics; Professor Black—Theoretical chemistry, practical chemistry, quantitative chemical analysis. Students in ithe different divisions, according to their standing, had to attend the drawingclasses at the School of Art. Mr Hutton, the Director, reported that the results were satisfactory in every case, as shown in the following tabulated statement: —■

Ulnch Medal. —This medal was awarded to George Dey, who secured a second class in mineralogy, and a second class in petrography.

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Subject of Examination. Attendance. First Class. Results. Second Class. Third Class. Failed. General geology (senior) General geology (junior) Mineralogy (senior) Mineralogy (junior) Petrography (senior) Petrography (junior) Applied mechanics (senior) ... Applied mechanics (junior) ... Surveying (senior) Surveying (junior) Mining (senior) Metallurgy (senior) Metallurgy (junior) Blowpipe analysis Assaying (senior) ... Assaying (junior) ... Mechanical drawing (senior) Mechanical drawing (junior) 2 10 1 8 2 4 7 11 9 4 6 2 5 6 6 6 7 5 1 1 3 1 4 1 4 "2 3 2 1 4 3 1 2 4 2 2 2 3 6 1 "i 3 2 7 7 2 2 i 1 1 3 3 4 2 1 1 i 1 "3

Subject of Examination. Results. Attendance. First Class. Second Class. Third Class. Results. Failed. Mathematics Theoretical mechanics Theoretical physics Practical physics ... Theoretical chemistry Practical chemistry Quantitative chemical analysis Palaeontology 15 9 8 12 11 11 9 3 1 1 5 4 3 2 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 7 2 8 5 4 4 4 6 3 1 1

Subject of Examination. Results. Attendance. First Class. \ Second Class, j Third Class. Failed. Results. 'ractical, plane, and solid geometry ... 'reehand and model drawing 10 2 5 1 3 1 2

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Government Mining Scholarship. "* Two students—namely, W. A. Given and Arthur E. Andrew—sat for this examination in December. The examination embraced eight written papers on senior mining subjects, and one paper on mechanical drawing. These students secured first place in six subjects—namely, mathematics, with 89 per cent, of possible marks; theoretical chemistry, with 82 per cent. ;_ practical chemistry, with 75 per cent.; metallurgy of gold and silver, with 80 per cent. ; mining, with 85 per cent. ; land and mine surveying, 81 per cent. In mine-ventilation, with 81 per cent., A. E. Andrew tied with a Coromandel student for first place; and in geology, with 75 per cent.,, he was only one point behind a'Thames student, who secured 76 per cent, of marks. The examination papers were set by the Government Board of Examiners on the curriculum of the Government mining schools, which"is entirely different from that of the Otago University mining course. Our students having had no special preparation had thus to depend on their general knowledge of the subjects of examination. In the eight subjects enumerated above Mr. Andrew secured the high average of 80 per cent., but did not gain the scholarship, as he failed in mechanical drawing with 60 per cent.— that is, 15 per cent, below the scholarship requirements. Mr. Given secured the satisfactory average of 64 per cent, in the nine subjects of examination. Altogether, the results were eminently satisfactory. Laboratory. During the year fifty samples of ore were assayed for the public at schedule rates, and in the same period the Directors furnished reports of twenty-eight samples of rocks and minerals, for which no charge was made. Donations. The geological collections in the mining school were supplemented by a large number of fossils. rock and mineral specimens, presented by members of the staff and students. The school is also indebted to Messrs T. and W. Smith, of Sheffield, for a gift of " steel fractures," which will form a valuable addition to the technological exhibits for the class in applied mechanics. Geodesic Station. Towards the end of the session the much-needed transit railway theodolite and level arrived from the London makers, and in the few remaining weeks of the session a large block of concrete with an iron tube imbedded in it, was fixed on the top of Tana Hill, near the University, to serve as a geodesic observatory for our advanced students in surveying. Bounds of angles were observed at Flagstaff and Tana Hill late in October, but the cloudy weather prevailing in November prevented the reading of the angle at Signal Hill. Where the angles are completed, the latitude and longtitude of the new station will be computed in terms of the meridional station of the General Survey Department; and with a permanent referring-light fixed in a convenient place in the harbour, students will be able to check the meridional error of their traverses, and make observations for the determination of latitude and time. This work will be completed early in the session of 1904. Mining Students' Association. Considerable interest was shown in the proceedings of this Association, and during the session a number of interesting papers were contributed by past and present students on the scope and kind of mining and metallurgical operations that had come under the notice of the authors in their practical work during the preceeding summer vacation. Most of the papers were short and simple, with the proper thesis flavour, and a few showed much close and shrewd observation. The titles of the papers and the names of the authors are given below : " The Shotover Mining District," Mr. D N. Tomlinson; "Mining prospects of Western Australia," Mr. W. F. Tomlinson, A.0.5.M.; " Kaitangata Coal-mine," Mr. W. A. Given, M.A.; " Treatment of Zinc Slimes," Mr. G. W. E. Turner; " The Gem Eocks of Kakanui," Mr. J. A. Thomson, B.Sc.; " A New ' Tippler' used for Fortification Coal-mines," Mr. A. E. Andrews, B.Sc. ; " Taratu Coal-mines," Mr. W. Gibson ; "Metallography," Mr. J. C. Neill; "Mine Creek Coal-mine," Mr. U. B. Inglis; " Milburn Phosphate Deposits," Mr. A. E. Andrew, B.Sc. In addition to these a paper was read by Mr. D. B. Waters on " Acetylene Gas," and one by the Director on " Some Base-level Planes of Erosion in New Zealand." Domicile op Students. The permanent homes of the students who attended the mining school during the session of 1903 were distributed throughout the colony as shown centesimally in the following table : Dunedin and suburbs, 34 per cent.; Otago (country districts), 9; Southland, 7; Canterbury, 18; Westland, 9 ; Wellington, 3; Hawke's Bay, 3 ; Auckland, 17 : 100. Associates op Mining School. The School of Mines was established in 1878, but the graduate course was not inaugurated until nine years later, when three additional lecturers were appointed. The first diplomas were issued in 1887, and since that year 59 diplomas as Associate in Mining, 36 as Associate in Metallurgy, and 12 as Associate in Geology have been granted to 66 individual students who had completed the prescribed course and complied with the regulations relating to practical work. Of the 66 graduates, 35 took the diploma in mining only; 20 took diplomas in both mining and metallurgy ; 4 took metallurgy only ; 2 graduated in both metallurgy and geology ; and 2 in geology alone. On the other hand, 9 graduated in both mining and geology, and 2in mining, metallurgy, find. £T6oloffv. Besides these diplomas, since 1887, 60 certificates as metallurgical chemist and assayer and 18 certificates as mine and land surveyor have been issued to 63 individual students. From these figures it will be seen that 35 students took the mining diploma only, while 4 took metallurgical only. On the other hand, the majority of the students who graduated in mining also graduated in

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metallurgy. And there can be no doubt that these figures correctly represent the relative importance of mining and metallurgy. All our experience has shown that a mining engineer without a knowledge of metallurgy is poorly equipped and greatly handicapped in the practice oE his profession. But metallurgy is only a branch of mining. It has not reached the dignity of a separate profession here as it has in Europe and the United States of America. The metallurgist is not a mining engineer, but a highly trained and specialised chemist. The success of New Zealand mining graduates in Australia, Sumatra, Java, China, India, South Africa, Gold Coast, British Columbia, and United States has been very remarkable ; and this success ha 3 followed, almost without exception, the possessors of mining diplomas. The B.Sc. in Mining and Metallurgy. The University of New Zealand grants a degree of B.Sc. in mining and a B.Sc. in metallurgy. The Universities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide grant only a B.Sc. in mining, which includes metallurgy; as also do the mining academies of Germany and France—of England, with one exception, and America, with two exceptions. The question arises, should New Zealand, which possesses no facilities for candidates acquiring a knowledge of metallurgical operations, excepting in the department of gold-recovery, continue to grant separate degrees in mining and metallurgy, while older countries where the facilities are almost perfect refuse to grant more than one ; that is, the B.Sc. in mining, which in all cases covers and includes metallurgy? The New Zealand B.Sc. in mining, including metallurgy, should be made, not a purely academic distinction, but the hall-mark of a professional occupation acquired by a successful apprenticeship in the lecture-room, laboratory, mine, and reduction-works. Its status would then be on all-fours with the New Zealand M.B. degree, which now takes a high place in the medical profession. The plums in mining are, perhaps, bigger and more plentiful than in any other profession. A four-years course of study and preparation is a splendid investment to any level-headed youth of grit and perseverance. Practical Work during Summer Vacation. According to the regulations of the mining school, candidates for diplomas are required to spend a certain time in obtaining practical experience as under: —(l) In the mining division at least twelve months, partly in metal and partly in coal mines ; and of this period at least nine months must be spent in underground mining-work, and not less than four or more than six months in a coal-mine. (2) In the metallurgical division, at least twelve months in ore-dressing and metallurgical works. (3) In the surveying division, at least six months in the practice of mine and land surveying. (4) In the geological division, at least six months in the practice of geological surveying in the field. For some years students have found an increasing difficulty in obtaining work in mines or mills, and in the divisions of surveying and geology it has been almost impossible to obtain the * practical experience required by the regulations. Toward the end of the session the Director wrote to the Hon. James McGowan, Minister of Mines, pointing out the disability of Otago mining students in respect to practical work, and requested him to provide employment in the Government Departments for seven students in the summer vacation—namely, for two in the General Survey Department, two in the Public Works Department, two in the State coal-mines, and one in the Geological Survey. The Minister approved of the suggestion, and courteously caused instructions to be issued to the several Departments to give the needed employment. Although the arrangement was made late in October, work was found for six students during the summer ; and it is anticipated that when the Geological Survey is reorganized employment will be obtained for a greater number in future. The Hon. Mr. McGowan for sixteen years or more has shown the keenest personal interest in all that relates to technical mining education, and among his many acts to promote the interests of mining schools none has been more warmly appreciated than the present. Occupations op Old Students. Among the appointments secured by old students during the year 1903 are the following : Mr. G. Geoffrey Sale, A.0.5.M., as first assistant to prospecting syndicate, Macequece, Portuguese Territory, South Africa, and afterwards manager of slimes-treatment works, Johannesburg ; Mr. P. Fitzgerald, A.0.5.M., manager Golden Pah Mine, Western Australia; Mr. John Henderson, B.Sc, Director of the Eeefton School of Mines ; Mr; Otto Bishop, A.0.5.M., battery-superintendent New Inkerman Mines (Limited), Eeefton; Mr. E. Paterson, A.0.5.M., general manager diamond mines, Brazil; Mr. T. Buteman, A.O.S.M , lecturer to the Kalgoorlie School of Mines, Western Australia ; Mr. E. Edwards, A.0.5.M., assistant engineer of the Exploration Company (Limited), Blue Nile, Egypt; Mr. S. E. Napier-Bell, A.0.5.M., manager of the Brothers Home No. 1 Tinmine, Derby, Tasmania. Besides these several have obtained appointments as assayers, amalgamators, and cyanide foremen. Mining Education in Europe and America. The character and results of mining education at the principal mining schools and academies in Continental Europe, England, and America have been much discussed during the past year or two. Broadly speaking, it was generally agreed that the graduates of the American mining schools excelled as mine-managers and mining engineers, the Germans as metallurgists, and the English as teachers and professors. The curriculum of the Otago Mining School for a number of years was mainly modelled on the English system, and it is noteworthy that during this period the results, as shown by the occupations of the graduates, reflected the experience of the English prototype. The instruction was, perhaps, more academic than technical, and the students with their limited experience doubtless found that teaching was the only occupation that offered a prospect of lucrative employment.

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But mining schools exist primarily for the training of mining engineers, and this objective is ever present in the mind of the governing bodies of the American and German mining schools. The defects of the Otago course have been removed, this having been effected by the system of practical work inaugurated by the late Director, and the revision of the curriculum adopted in 1901, which have brought the graduate course abreast of that of the leading American mining schools. The results have amply justified the more stringent and practical course now prescribed and enforced. The mining school is not able to turn out trained mining engineers, but it prepares the graduates by a system of careful specialisation to be competent to occupy positions as assistant geologists, assistant mine-managers, mine-surveyors, mill assayers, and foremen of cyanide-worke. It is in these occupations that the shrewd student accumulates the practical experience and knowledge of detail which afterwards form the foundation of his successful professional career. A union of theory and practice has often, and rightly, been emphasized by many writers on technical mining education. A judicious union of the two is admitted to be necessary for a proper and intelligent understanding of any professional subject, but it should be borne in mind that theory and practice, although co-ordinate, are not necessarily equal. In some subjects the theory dominates the practice ; in others the practice dominates the theory. For example, in the extraction and recovery of gold from its matrix by solutions of potassic cyanide, a proper understanding of the theory is more important than the practice, which is largely mechanical and easily acquired. Conversely in assaying the theory is simple; but the practice —that is, the skill and precision necessary for the performance of assays that could form the basis of commercial valuations—can only be acquired by long and diligent practice in the laboratory. Again, in the case of geology the theory and practice are alike simple and easy to acquire ; but not every geological student, not even the brilliant student, is a potential geologist. To theory and practice must be added the geological faculty—a mental attitude or function not easily defined —which experience has shown to be rare, but, to some extent, capable of cultivation. The relative value of theory and practice must be considered in each case, and the instruction so regulated that the one shall be the complement of the other. It is believed that the success of American mining education is principally due (a) to specialisation and (b) to the employment of experienced professional men as teachers in the different departments of mining and metallurgy. It has long been recognised in the United States that the brilliant student without experience is of no value as a teacher in such professional subjects as mining engineering and geology. The pre-eminence of German graduates in all departments of metallurgy is held to be due to three principal causes—namely, (a) judicious specialisation ; (b) thoroughness of instruction in chemistry ; and (c) the opportunities which students possess of obtaining practical experience in almost every class of metallurgical operation. So far as New Zealand is concerned, mining students have no opportunity to engage in or even see the metallurgical operations connected with the production of iron, steel, copper, zinc, lead, silver, antimony, &c. And since information concerning these, imparted by lectures and textbooks, must necessarily be unsatisfactory and to some extent superficial, special attention i 3 devoted to the production of gold, which is the dominant mining industry of New Zealand, the Commonwealth of Australia, and South Africa, and the occupation in which the majority of the Otago graduates find employment. Geeman Mining School Examinations. For a number of years it has been agreed that a written examination paper of some six or eight questions, in a technological subject covering a course of study extending over six months, is an unsatisfactory and inadequate means of ascertaining the knowledge and proficiency of a student in that subject. The Germans, with a view of increasing the efficiency of mining education, have lately introduced in their leading mining schools some radical changes in the conduct of the examinations for mining engineers. Written examinations have now been relegated to a subordinate place. In view of the great extension of mining technology, it has been deemed advisable to divide the examination into two parts—namely, preliminary and final, the former being held at the end of the student's second year, and the final at the end of the fourth year. Preparatory to the preliminary examination, the student, among other requirements, must submit two drawings and two freehand sketches of mining machinery or other appliances not too simple in character, and two simple essays or theses on appliances or methods with which the candidate has become acquainted in the course of his prescribed year of practical work. If these requirements are satisfactorily performed the candidate is put through a vivd voce examination in the following subjects : Higher mathematics, physics, inorganic chemistry, mechanics relating to mining, and mineralogy. Failure in any one subject in the vivd voce examination debars the candidate from passing, but he may present himself for re-examination in that subject at the end of three months. If a candidate fails in more than one subject all the subjects of examination must be taken again. Candidates for the final examination must accompany their applications with satisfactory certificates of class attendance and practical work, and the following theses, attested by a declaration that they are the work of the candidate himself—namely, a geognostic description of some mining district or mineral deposit; a description of mining machinery, or of an electro-technical installation ; a geodetic or surveying paper recording work actually performed by the candidate, with calculations, profiles, and full explanations ; and a drawing of some complicated mining machinery or appliances, or a short description, sketch, and calculations of similar machinery of the candidate's own design.

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When the examiners are satisfied -with these preliminaries they will set the candidate a thesis on some mining subject, which must be completed in three months. This done, the candidate is put through a viva voce examination in geology, including palaeontology, mining geology, mining surveying and geodesy, machinery and electro-technology, chemical technology and blowpipe analysis, general principles of mining law, mine-management, political economy and finance, mining statistics, and the translation into German of a French or English paper on mining. The preparation of the drawings and theses required in the German mining course itself possesses a high educational value, as thereby many minute but essential details are brought under the notice of the student by personal observation, which is not always possible in mere lecture demonstration. Besides, in the preparation of a thesis, a student discovers the limitations of his knowledge—itself no mean advantage—and is thus able to repair his deficiencies before commencing the practice of his profession. Pkepakation of Theses foe Diplomas of Otago Mining School. In the regulations relating to the issue of diplomas by the Otago Mining School a certain period of practical work is required in all the divisions; and in the surveying division the requirements of plans, profiles, and geodesy, in conformity with the regulations of 1902, form a thesis perhaps more stringent than the German. Candidates for diplomas in mining, metallurgy, and geology are not required to produce a thesis, and the experience gained in the prescribed period of practical work is often of doubtful value. On the other hand, the advantages attending the preparation of a thesis on a technical subject are manifestly great, and, in order to keep pace with the progressive policy of the Germans, it will be necessary to require a thesis from candidates for diplomas in mining, metallurgy, and geology. Conclusion. I wish, in conclusion, to express my appreciation of the zeal and ability with which Dr. Marshall, Mr. Waters, and Mr. Armstrong (lecturers), and Mr. A. E. Andrew (demonstrator in surveying) carried out their several duties throughout the session of 1903. EXPENDITURE ON SCHOOLS OP MINES. The following table shows the expenditure by the Government on schools of mines since their inauguration, exclusive of subsidies paid to the University of Otago towards the School of Mines in connection with that institution :—

The above statement shows the amount expended on the different schools of mines throughout the colony; but, in addition to this, the sum of £10,553 6s. 2d. has to be added, as that has been paid to the' School of Mines attached to the University of Otago, £500 being paid last year towards maintaining the school, which makes the total expenditure up to the 31st March last to be £38,481 Is. 2d. This expenditure has extended over a period of nineteen years.

s—o. 3.

Financial Years. Chemicals Subsidies towards and Apparatus, the Erection of also Mineralogical Schools of Mines, and Specimens Maintenance. supplied to Schools of Mines. Scholarships. Salaries of Teachers, and Travellingexpenses, &c. Total Sum paid by the Department towards the Schools of Mines. 1885-86 1886-87 1887-88 1888-89 1889-90 1890-91 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 1896-97 1897-98 1898-99 1899-1900 ... 1900-1901 ... 1901-1902 ... 1902-1903 ... 1903-1904 ... £ s. d. 257 16 6 253 15 9 42 10 0 142 2 0 217 6 6 181 14 0 312 3 4 197 0 5 390 0 0 820 0 0 352 14 11 1,089 18 6 740 15 2 990 3 4 866 10 11 1,155 12 3 1,379 15 6 1,575 15 3 £ s. d. 36 19 9 409 1 4 253 14 1 6 12 9 181 14 10 54 8 0 45 10 10 £ £ s. d. 1,223 9 10 2,716 9 3 1,714 9 6 1,139 4 1 716 3 10 620 9 9 689 5 9 670 1 0 858 19 4 773 17 8 849 3 0 834 12 8 780 19 0 729 10 11 52 16 3 77 7 10 69 16 4 111 0 0 109 15 10 £ s. d. 1,260 9 7 3,383 7 1 2,221 19 4 1,188 6 10 1,040 0 8 892 4 3 870 19 9 982 4 4 1,055 19 9 1,209 8 6 1,719 3 0 1,346 6 1 2,000 17 3 1,553 5 8 1,117 3 3 1,098 2 1 1,337 13 8 1,783 14 2 1,866 9 9 58 18 6 29 19 9 32 19 7 24 3 8 56 3 4 63 5 1 134 18 8 88 18 8 50 100 100 50 50 98 49 158 92 Totals... 10,965 14 4 1,477 8 10 747 14,737 11 10 27,927 15 0

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CRUSHING AND AMALGAMATION IN MODERN STAMP-MILLING. By R. M. Aitkbn, Metallurgist, Reefton. The subject of stamp-milling is one about which much has been written, and as the present methods of working and the machinery in use have been so often and minutely described in all details, it will only be necessary in this paper to touch upon the most important parts of the process. It does seem strange that notwithstanding all the numerous and ingenious inventions for the rapid pulverisation of the ore, and the easy extraction of the precious metals, the stamp mill still continues to hold its own, and is almost universally employed. This no doubt is partly owing to the simplicity of the machinery, the cheapness of the treatment, and its apparent adaptability to the various classes of ores ; but the main reason must be on account of the important changes of development through which it has passed. Take for instance the grading by grizzlies, the use of rock-breakers and automatic feeders, the many mechanical improvements effected in stampers, cams, and mortar-boxes, and the increased attention given to wearing-parts and screening ; these have all tended to lessen the wear-and-tear, simplify the working, increase the efficiency of the mill, and thus reduce the working-costs per ton. Yet in spite of all these numerous improvements it needs no hesitation to assert that the milling plants of to day are far from perfect; they are undoubtedly more elaborate, more complex, and more costly than formerly, but the methods of crushing and amalgamation are practically the same. It is not my intention to find fault, or condemn the present method of working without giving reasons for the same, or suggesting some means of remedying the defects ; but it is probably time that the matter received some consideration when we find the main principles of crushing being practically ignored to allow of inside amalgamation being practised, and little or no attempt made to properly amalgamate the free gold on outside plates. Perhaps to some men the treatment appears so simple that it has not been made the subject of such study as it fully deserves, or possibly the successful introduction of leaching and other after-processes has caused many metallurgists to lose sight of the desirability of crushing the ore, sizing the pulp, and arranging their tables to obtain a more perfect amalgamation. The improper crushing of the ore, want of sizing, and injudicious use of mercury may not only cause poor battery amalgamation but must seriously affect the working of the after-processes such as concentration, chlorination, and cyanidation ; and it seems highly probable that the low extractions so often obtained from these processes may be traced directly to the initial methods of crushing and amalgamation. The main objects of crushing are to use rock-breakers, stampers, and screens that will produce the largest possible output —crushed to the requisite fineness —for the best and proper extraction of the contained metals, consistent of course with cost, without rendering the pulp unsuitable for amalgamation, concentration, or any other processes that are to follow. But this is not the case in our modern mills where we find the efficiency of many being seriously interfered with by having mortars made suitable for inside amalgamation, by increasing the depth of discharge, reducing the speed of the mill, and dropping stampers in unsuitable rotation to assist this method of saving. It has been stated that this double use of the crushing-machine is the one distinctive feature which has enabled the stamp mill to hold its own against newer inventions for pulverising ore, and to compete with better, but more complicated, amalgamating-machines. This may be so, but at the same time it has given a general and foolish idea that rapid pulverisation can only be secured by impairing amalgamation. Although the practice is almost universal it must be considered one of the most serious errors in stamp-milling —even with free milling ores —and if the properties of mercury and the use of the battery are understood, very little reasoning will show that crushing and amalgamation in the one machine is detrimental to one or both operations. The mills of Colorado and California in America afford an excellent illustration of the two extreme methods of gold-milling. In the former, the stamps drop slowly from twenty-five to thirty beats per minute, while in the latter a rapid pace of ninety to over a hundred drops is maintained. The theoretical work done in each is about the same, as the height of drop in the one is 16 in. to 20 in., and in the other 4 in. to 6 in.; but in practical work the latter will crush two and a half times that of the former. The great difference is, that in Colorado the ore contains a large percentage of pyrites, and excessive pulverisation was considered necessary to break the close intimacy between the finely divided gold and its associated pyrites. This was attained by a slow drop and a deep discharge, the cushion of water deadening the blow of the stamp, and the design of the mortar being wide and roomy to cause a weaker splash and allow the heavier particles to resettle. But in California, the idea was to induce rapid pulverisation with heavy fast-dropping stamps, narrow mortars (diminishing opportunities of resetting), and shallow discharge to increase the force of the splash and accelerate the exit of the pulp through the screen. The modern method of wet crushing has practically resolved itself into a standard one, and, although varying to some extent in different mills, it may briefly be described as follows : The ore from the mine before passing into the ore-bin is separated according to size by grizzlies, and the larger lumps broken down by rock-breakers. From the bins it is automatically fed into the mortars, the centre stamp of each battery being so arranged as to control the working of the self-feeder. In the mortar it is crushed to a suitable degree of fineness, and a portion of the free gold extracted by inside amalgamation before passing through the screens. To enable the use of inside copper plates the mortars are made more roomy, and the depth of discharge, speed of the mill, &c, regulated so as to prevent any unnecessary scour taking place. On leaving the box, the pulp (coarse and fine together) is run slowly over one long amalgamated copper-plate table to save the free gold, at the foot of which is placed an amalgam-trap to arrest any escaping particles. The table is about the same width as the front of the mortar-box, with a grade carefully adjusted to ensure an even flow of the pulp. At this stage amalgamation is considered complete, and sizing of the pulp is sometimes done before concentration and chemical

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methods of extraction are employed. But more often we find concentration attempted before sizing, the general result being that poorer work is done, as these machines were never intended to concentrate two different grades of material at the one time. It must surely be evident that classification of the pulp is absolutely necessary before proper concentration can be effected, as this operation is entirely dependent upon the size and specific gravity of the particles treated, and the same argument will undoubtedly apply to plate amalgamation. At the present time the system of treatment after amalgamation is subject to great variation in different mills ; in some the whole of the sands are treated in bulk by cyanide, in others, the concentrates are extracted and treated by chlorination, while the bulk of the tailings is sized into coarse sands and slimes. The coarse sands are cyanided in vats and the slimes treated by filter presses, or further concentrated on canvas-covered slime-tables. The treatment of the ore should certainly be divided into two separate and distinct operations — i.e., First, the pulverisation of the ore —which is purely mechanical; Second, the extraction of the gold — which is partly chemical and partly a mechanical operation. The Pulverisation of the Ore. The first thing the metallurgist has to decide is the fineness of the crushing or the size of particle which gives the most economical results. This depends on the character and composition of the ore and it is necessary to ascertain not only its value and percentage of mineral contained, but the condition and form in which the gold exists ; because the crushing need only be to that degree of fineness which will liberate the contained gold, or allow it to be extracted by some chemical methods applied to the after-treatment of the tailings. Although it is generally admitted that gold exists in pyrites in a metallic state, its excessively fine state of division renders mechanical separation practically impossible without first decomposing its enveloping sulphide, and, even if liberated, water-concentration would not save it. Therefore, where the main richness of the ore lies in its mineral matter, comparatively coarse crushing may be admissible so as to avoid reducing those valuable sulphurets to slime which is both difficult to save and treat. Then probably there are cases where ore is plentiful, and mining costs so low, that it is more profitable to lose the extra gold that would be liberated by fine crushing in order to treat a larger quantity, the object being to secure the maximum of profit rather than produce the cleanest possible tailings. Grizzlies, Bock-breakers, and Self-feeders. Without the addition of these, no stamp mill can be considered complete, as the ore from the mine is too large to feed direct into the mortars. Large pieces are apt to break the screens, prevent uniform and steady working, and thus decrease the efficiency of the stamps. The grizzlies on which the ore is dumped consist of iron bars set on an inclined plane to suit the material, and spaced a similar distance apart as the bottom ends of the rock-breaker's jaws ; all material small enough passes through and the balance goes to the breaker, both discharging into the same hopper. There are two main types of rock-breakers in general use : in one the stone is crushed between a flat fixed jaw and a reciprocating one, while in the other the fixed jaw is circular the moving one gyrating inside it. As the work upon them is most irregular they must be driven by themselves, and, owing to their vibrations and the dust produced, are best kept in a building apart from the other machinery. As crushing in a breaker is performed at about one-fifth the cost of that in a stamp mill, it is advisable to reduce in this manner as fine as possible ; for this purpose two sets of rock-breakers are often used with a grizzly between. They are placed one above the other and set to break to two different grades. In small mines with easily-broken ore, where motive power is costly and labour cheap, hand breaking and feeding may be admissible, but at its best feeding by hand is most irregular. On the other hand, the automatic feeders increase the capacity of the mill by keeping a steady and uniform supply of ore; and as the die is always kept covered with a thin layer of material, the wear of the shoes and dies is less and much more even. With an even wear the stamper-stems are less liable to break and a greater crushing-surface is maintained : in fact the great advantages due to the use of rock-breakers and selffeeders must be evident to all with any knowledge of the subject, and mills without them cannot possibly do the same amount of work as a modern one on the same class of ore. The Stamper and Lifting Mechanism. As the result of long experience five stampers in each mortar-box has been fixed upon as the most convenient number, and each five head is known as a battery. It is usual for each two batteries or ten head to have a separate cam-shaft, independently driven from the main driving shaft, an arrangement which allows of that portion being stopped without in any way interfering with the rest of the mill, and at the same time equalises the strain on the cam-shaft. The stamper, which gives the total falling weight, consists of four parts — i.e., The stem, head, tappet, and shoe, the two former containing over 70 per cent, of the total weight. The stem varies in length from 9 ft. to 16 ft., and in diameter from 2j in. to 3f in., and is only subject to wear near the guides. The head or boss is of almost universal pattern from 16 in. to 20 in. long and of the same diameter as the shoe; it is cast with two sockets, the upper portion being bored to receive the tapered end of the stem, and the lower portion recessed to receive the shank of the shoe. Key-ways through the head admit of the insertion of a tapered steel drift, by means of which the shank of the shoes or end of the stamp-stem can be driven out. The shank of the shoe enters the head and holds it in its place, and the butt forms the wearing-face of the entire stamp. Its diameter varies with the weight of the stamp and the drop given, usually in such proportion as to give from 11 lb. to 14 lb. per square inch of crush-ing-surface.

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The tappet forms the projection under which the cam catches and lifts the stamp, and is fitted to the upper portion of the stem, being accurately bored so as to give a good sliding fit. This is necessary owing to the tappet requiring to be constantly adjusted according to the wear of the shoe so as to maintain a proper drop and prevent the striking of the cams. The old style of securing the tappet to the stem was with two vertical keys; in modern practice a gib fitting the curvature of the stem is placed within a recess in the tappet, and tightened by means of two or three side keys. To enable the tappets to be reversed when worn, both ends are faced and counterbored. The lifting mechanism is performed by cams with two arms fitted to the cam-shaft and curved in such a manner as to convert the uniform rotary motion of the cam-shaft into an upward motion of the stamp-stem, so that the rate of lifting shall be uniform, and by the intermittent action time is given so that the stamper may fall freely under the action of gravity. The cam-action on the tappet tends to revolve the entire stamp on its own axis by friction, the extent of which depends on the velocity of the cam, weight of the stamp, and lubrication of the two surfaces. The speed of rotation should not be fast —about one complete revolution in twelve to twenty drops —it contributes greatly to the regular working of the whole machine, and causes the wearing-surfaces of the shoe and die to be more uniformly affected. The old method of attaching the cams to the shaft with keys is now rapidly being superseded by the self-fastening cams of the Blanton type which grip the shaft by friction and are clamped more firmly with the lifting of the stamper. In this type the cam is bored to fit the shaft for about half its circumference the other side being fitted to receive a curved wedge, turned on the inside to the radius of the cam-shaft and of such a length as to allow the cam being moved about f in. on the outside face. The wedges are suitably distributed along the shaft and held in position by two small dowels, the cams being simply slipped over and drawn smartly back on the wedges to fix them. A light blow on the under-side will release the cam and thus a whole set can be removed and replaced in a very short time. A more recent modification of the Blanton grip is to machine the cam-shaft so as to have ten taperfaces running along its full length. This allows any cam to be placed in any required position on the shaft without the least fitting, and the order of drop can be easily altered if found necessary. Height and Speed of Drop. —The height of drop must be in proportion to its rapidity. Sufficient time must be given for the stamper to fall by gravitation to a state of rest before being again lifted, otherwise the tappet will strike the cam. With a low drop a shorter-armed cam is used which lessens the leverage, decreases the strain, and allows of greater speed. With those who use the stamp mill for the purpose of crushing the high drop is a thing of the past. A 6 in. blow should be the maximum of drop with an increase in the weight of the stamper according to the hardness of the rock under treatment. Heavy fast-dropping stampers with the necessory low drop are undoubtedly the fastest crushers and will produce the most uniform tailings when worked under proper conditions. The Order or Rotation of Drop requires careful attention before uniform working can be obtained, for it is absolutely necessary that an even layer of material should be kept over the dies, and an accumulation of crushed quartz at either end prevented. With inside amalgamation it is necessary to obtain a steady uniform wash backwards and forwards of the pulp in the mortar-box with as little splashing as possible ; but there appears to be a great diversity of opinion as to which is the correct order of drop. It is probably affected to a certain extent by the height of the drop, shape of the mortar-box, position and area of screens, &c, but in most cases it is necessary to increase the drop of the stampers at either end of the box to ensure regularity. To vary the drop of individual stampers in a battery does not appear the correct way to overcome the difficulty, and should any difference be necessary it should be done by increase or decrease of weight. The common practice of dropping individually may possibly not be the best method, for there are cases where the stampers are dropped in pairs (i.e., 1 and 5, 3, 2 and 4 ; or 2 and 4, 3, 1 and 5) in order that an even layer of material may be maintained without any difference in the drop, or weight of the stampers. Whatever the order of drop may be the weight should be evenly distributed over the cam-shaft to insure an even speed, and this is just as easily done by dropping in pairs as individually. Mortar-boxes. The capacity and efficiency of a mill must depend largely on the design and construction of the mortar, which varies considerably in weight, dimensions and shapes, according to the use for which it is intended. If required solely for crushing the design should be narrow, and of such a shape that the material cannot escape the crushing effect of the stamper, and must fall under the shoe thus increasing the force of the splash, diminishing the chances of pulverised ore resettling, and accelerating the exit of the pulp through the screen. But if, on the other hand, its crushing-capacity is to be reduced by attempting to make it an amalgamator, then let the mortar be more roomy so that inside plates may be used, give a weaker splash (increasing the chances of resettling) and thus allow portion of the ore to be unnecessarily slimed. Mortars are generally cast in one piece and open the full width in the front to receive the screens through which the crushed ore is discharged. At the back, a feed-shoot is provided (sufficiently high to prevent splashing) with an opening extending from centre to centre of the two end stamps. To get the best effect of the blow of a stamper the weight of the box must bear a certain definite proportion to it, no matter how good the foundations may be, or how firmly the mortar-blocks may be set. Although no doubt the proportion of weight has been well thought out, it still appears that a 4-ton box for 1,250 lb. stamps is on the light side, and from my own experience it seems highly probable that by increasing the weight of the mortar to 5 tons for 1000 lb. stamps, the crushing-capacity of the battery would be greatly increased. The heavier the stamper the faster it will crush, but the weight of the mortar or anvil on which the ore is crushed must increase proportionately before receiving the true effect of the blow. Although many assert that the mortars in use are quite heavy enough I feel sure that extra weight would prove to the contrary.

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The wearing-parts of the mortar-boxes are protected by liners of cast-iron or wrought-steel plates (the latter being preferable) which can easily be renewed when necessary. In the bottom of the mortar-box are placed the dies which form the working-face upon which the ore is crushed. There is one die to each stamper, the upper portion being cylindrical to correspond m diameter with the stamp-shoe, and the lower portion a square footplate with bevelled angles to facilitate the lifting from the box. The wear-and-tear of the shoes and dies not only depends on the ore and the degree of fineness to which it is crushed, but varies with the regularity of the feed, the rotation and drop of the stamper, and the varying depth of discharge. The material in use depends largely on local conditions ; steel has the longest life but cast-iron gives a more even wear. The general opinion is that a steel-shoe with a cast-iron die renders the wear of each more uniform. Screens.—We now come to what must be considered one of the most important questions in connection with the successful working of any mill—wz., the proper size of the orifice of the screens. This can only be determined by a systematic sampling, grading, and assaying of the tailings, together with a careful study of the ore. The requisite degree of fineness to which the ore has to be crushed being partly decided upon, the question is—" What size of orifice in the screen will produce the maximum number of particles of the required size ? " To arrive at this many things have to be considered, for only a small portion of the pulp (say about 10 per cent.) is actually crushed to the maximum size of the orifice, the rest being much finer, and a large proportion (in most cases about 40 per cent.) is reduced to slime. It is therefore evident that the size of the orifice does not determine the degree of fineness to which the ore is crushed and much depends on the width and shape of the box, the distance of the screen from the centre of the box, the rotation of the stampers, the height and speed of drop, and the depth of discharge. Suggestions have been made to use coarser screens than those required and thus crush 40 to 50 per cent, to its proper fineness, returning the 10 per cent, that is too coarse to the mortar ; but surely when the causes of such irregular crushing are so self-evident the difficulty may be overcome to a large extent by using the stamp mill intelligently as a crusher, and giving every facility for the pulp to be discharged through the screens as soon as possible after it is crushed to the required The screens in general use are of various kinds, some being plates suitably perforated (either plain or burred) and others are made of woven wire. Although the sheet-screens are more durable than those of woven wire, the latter present a far greater discharge-area giving sufficiently crushed particles an equal chance of being discharged or retained. The woven wire gives the necessary conditions for uniformity of pulverisation and a high crushing-power, their liability to choke being easily overcome by proper attention. The screens are fastened to wooden frames and held in the frame-seat in front of the mortar-box by two long steel keys ; they are usually set widening outwards at an angle of about 10° which renders them less liable to break without detracting from their efficiency. The screen-area required would no doubt vary somewhat according to the material being crushed, but should only be increased when it cannot discharge as fast as the ore is crushed. Although it is quite possible that screening may be used to better advantage on a mortar-box, it does appear that in the modern mill with ordinary clean quartz the screen-area is quite large enough for the quantity crushed. The Depth of Discharge is the distance from the level of the issue to the top of the die and vanes in different mills from nothing to 12 in. or 15 in., according to the method of working. A deep discharge compels a slow crushing but a far more minute pulverisation of the ore than the screens indicate, as the material, instead of being forced up against the screen, has to rise up through the water before reaching it. The shallow discharge induces a more rapid but coarser crushing, as there is only a thin cushion of water between the ore on the die and the descending stamp which causes a more violent splash and forcible issue. The main use of a deep discharge in a modern mill is not for the purpose of fine crushing, but to permit of inside amalgamation being practised without the scour being too noticeable. It is, however, the varying depth of discharge (the great importance of which in many mills is underestimated ; for, as the die wears, the depth increases) which creates such changing conditions and consequently renders it more difficult to regulate the thickness of the ore upon the die or crush to the requisite degree of fineness. This variation amounts to about 5 in., and in order to keep the discharge regular chock-blocks are inserted at decreasing depths according as the wear takes place ; these when used in addition to false bottoms for insertion below the dies place the depth of discharge under complete and accurate control. The Extraction of the Gold : Uses of Mercury. Almost every system of gold-milling depends partly on the employment of mercury which has apparently been used from very early times. Being in a liquid state, at ordinary temperatures it differs from all other common metals, and has the property of uniting with gold, silver, copper, and other metals to form alloys or amalgams. On exposure to the air surface-oxidation takes place and it emits vapour to slight extent although its boiling-point is about 360° C. If mercury is agitated with pure water a certain amount is taken up mechanically in a state of minute subdivision, therefore, when subjected to the violent agitation and scouring action of sand and water in a stamp-battery, the extent to which flouring will take place is easily understood, apart from the injurious effects of deleterious matter contained in the ore. By " flouring" is meant subdivision from mechanical causes, and once this occurs the action of foreign bodies (always present to a certain extent in stamp-milling) produces what is known as "sickening," where the particles so formed become coated with a film preventing a reunion. Grease, oils, and fatty substances readily cause sickening, and the base minerals always associated to a certain extent with gold and silver ores— e.g., sulphur, arsenic, antimony, zinc, &c—produce the same effect though probably to a lesser degree. This sickening produces a permanent flouring, and once the mercury is in

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this condition its property as a gold-saver is gone, and its liability to be carried away by the muddy waters increased, as it will not then save on amalgamated copper-plates or in mercury-traps. Yet some millmen says that flouring is not always injurious but rather favourable to amalgamation, as it allows the globules to alloy themselves with the gold before being coated. Such an assertion is probably on a par with a statement made by a person grinding tailings in berdans who said, " Berdans save gold best when they are losing mercury and the more that is floured and lost the more gold is saved." Inside Amalgamation is practised in almost every modern stamp mill, but there appear to be few arguments in its favour and many against it. My own opinion is that the above statement regarding berdans can be correctly applied to its use although it is carried out on a more scientific basis. In its simplest form no plates are used, the mercury being fed in at regular intervals and the quantity arrived at by guesswork. The churning of the stampers intimately mixes the mercury with the pulp, and the mercury coming in contact with the particles of gold, the two metals amalgamate more or less thoroughly. Part of the amalgam produced gradually coheres in small lumps and settles down in between the dies, while some is projected towards the screens, and passing through them is caught on the outside plates, or where inside plates are used a portion may adhere to these. The process is exactly the same with inside copper plates except that they facilitate the collection of the amalgam and help to retain it in the mortar. The condition of the escaping amalgam indicates the process of amalgamation, if hard, brittle, granular, or inclined to crumble, there is not enough mercury ; if thin, soft, and pasty, there is too much and the supply is regulated accordingly. When inside amalgamation was first practised both front and back plates were used, but as the weight of the stampers increased the plate on the feed side was discarded, and the one below the screens curved away so that it cannot be struck directly by the splash of the stamp. This was necessary on account of the scouring action of the pulp which undoubtedly still takes place, but only to such an extent that it is not now noticed, because these plates are being constantly supplied with amalgam as it is formed. But let us ask the question "Do these plates even now, after becoming well coated with amalgam, ever lose almost the lot by scouring action ? " and the answer must be that such things happen too often. The running of the mill too fast, the varying depth of discharge, and improper or irregular feed all tend to produce severe scour, even allowing that the amalgam formed is kept in a proper condition, which at its best is highly improbable. Now supposing we allow that none of these variations occur, and the whole stamp mill is regulated to a nicety and worked in a perfect manner, then any observant person who understands amalgamation must admit that scouring still takes place, but with the amalgam constantly accumulating the extent of the evil is not noticed. Should any millman doubt the effects of this scouring action let him get his inside plates in good order and start crushing barren ore ; it will probably not take long to bring the plates into the same condition as the ore. But so far, we have allowed that the ore contains no foreign matter to interfere with the action of the mercury —a condition almost impossible to obtain —for even those known as oxidized ores, must be only partially so, and acid sulphates must result. Where base metals exist in the ore sickening must take place, and more especially if the mercury is agitated with it in the mortar-box and brought into a floured state. It is probably one of the best methods of producing sickened mercury which cannot be saved by ordinary plate amalgamation or mercury-traps, and thus escapes to the concentrators if in use. On the concentrators with a plentiful supply of clean water a portion is saved, but the greater part is probably lost or some may enrich the concentrates saved on slime-tables. The mercury lost is simply amalgam containing varying percentages of gold, so it is evident that by attempting to force amalgamation both gold and mercury are lost. The arguments used in favour of inside amalgamation are : First, save the gold as soon as possible after liberation as.overstamping will probably make it non-amalgamable. Second, amalgam is less apt to be floured than gold and is three times as heavy as the gold it carries, and so only one-third the loss is entailed. To save the gold as quickly as possible is a good idea, providing it is likely to remain in the place it is saved, but to amalgamate, and then subject the amalgam to scour, is simply ridiculous. Experience will prove to any man that mercury or amalgam in any condition is far easier broken up into small particles and floured by the action of a stamper than gold is. Gold, when once amalgamated, is reduced in specific gravity, and by continous pounding and amalgamation coarse pieces of gold that could not possibly escape are brought into such a condition that they may be lost. That overstamping prevents gold from amalgamating has never been proved in practice, but in any case overstamping is not necessary in a properly worked stamp mill where the ore is discharged almost as soon as it is crushed to the required size. The arguments against the use and the ill effects of inside amalgamation have already been shown, but may be summarised as follows : . First, it prevents the full efficiency of the stamp mill as a crusher being obtained, and causes the pulp to be either crushed much finer than is required or delivered in a very uneven grade. Second, it flours mercury by agitation and grinding, which, though sickening, is afterwards lost. Third, it amalgamates, and then granulates the amalgam formed by its scouring action, thus losing coarse gold which could not possibly be lost in ordinary crushing. Fourth, as the percentage of base metals in the ore increases, so it becomes less effective in saving, and more injurious to the mercury, until in some ores its use is impossible because no amalgam will remain in the box or on the plates and, lastly, the bulk of the gold saved by its use at any time is only that which would readily save itself. Now surely when all the arguments for and against are carefully considered the verdict must be against attempting to crush and amalgamate in the one machine, and I am certain the time will come when the injurious practice, although now almost universal, will be abolished. In mills where inside amalgamation is practised the mercury-loss is highest, and floured mercury and amalgam may be found, not only in the concentrates, but in the tailings and slimy water which flows away.

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Outside Plate Amalgamation. —The amalgamated copper plates are usually laid down immediately under the lip of the mortar-box, and, being of the same width as the front of the box, the pulp requires very little distribution on to the plate. There is no reason why the plates should be placed in this position or be confined to that width, as they are certainly in the way and liable to injury while shoes, bottoms, and screens are being changed. They would be subject to less vibration if placed some distance from the crushing-machine. The crushed pulp is run in so thin a stream over the plates that the friction causes it to travel in little wavelets which are supposed to bring every part of the pulp in contact with the amalgamated surface ; but still the practice of running coarse and fine material together over plates set on the same grade and with the same flow of water must certainly be wrong, because if the conditions are suitable for fine, they cannot properly treat the coarse material. To obtain the thin stream the water is reduced, thereby thickening the pulp, and as the speed of flow must be sufficient to keep the heavier and larger particles moving it cannot possibly be expected that the finer particles of gold, travelling in this stream of muddy and slimy water, ever get a chance of coming in proper contact with the amalgamated surface. A small water-supply and a high inclination of table will probably give better results than the opposite conditions, always allowing that there is ample water to make a thinly fluid pulp. A finely crushed or clayey ore requires more water and less grade than coarsely crushed ore, while one rich in sulphurets requires more water and a steeper grade than clean quartz. The mechanical effects of sand and water passing over the amalgamated surface often cause scouring—i.e., the granulation of mercury and amalgam from the plates —and this is all the more noticeable where the quantity of water or grade of the plate is unsuitable for the unevenly crushed material, and when heavy substances such as heavy spar, scheelite, or base minerals are present. The theory of plate amalgamation demands a clean amalgamated surface carrying a small excess of mercury, with the grade of the tables and quantity of water so adjusted that every particle of escaping pulp shall be brought in contact with that surface. The quantity of water must be sufficient to make a thinly fluid pulp, and the speed of flow should only be fast enough to keep the particles on the move. Scour will take place to a small extent with the finest of sands, but the object is to reduce it to a minimum. It is therefore evident that the present system of plate amalgamation is totally unsuitable for treating the uneven pulp issuing from the stamper-boxes, and that classification according to size is absolutely necessary before the extraction of the gold is commenced. Amalgamation does not require force, but only proper contact. It is certainly better to allow that portion which will not amalgamate to pass on and be extracted by other methods in its natural state than to attempt to save it by violent agitation. By forcing amalgamation, mercury and amalgam are lost in such a condition as to render the saving and after-extraction a difficult process ; for that portion saved in concentrates would be partially brought together by the action of the concentrator, and the larger pieces, after roasting, would be more difficult to dissolve by chlorination. Then the action of the cyanide would be too slow to dissolve that portion in the tailings unless it happened to be in an oxidized condition ; but the principal loss would be in the finest slimes which often constitute the richest part of the tailings and certainly the most difficult to treat. The evil effects of improper amalgamation have apparently never been taken into serious consideration, and I feel certain it would repay every millman to give more attention to this part of the process and find out the condition in which the gold leaves the plates. Having pointed out many defects and irregularities in our modern system of crushing and amalgamation, let me in conclusion suggest some improvements in the method of working : — First, dispense with inside amalgamation. Let the ore be reduced by rock-breakers to even a halfinch mesh and be pulverised in the stamp-battery to the requisite degree of fineness as quickly as possible, and give every facility for its discharge through the screens when so crushed. In short, use the stampbattery solely as a crusher. To do this, maintain a high speed with a low drop in such order as to keep an even layer of material on the dies and at the same time facilitate the discharge. Design the mortars narrow, give sufficient screen-area, and keep regular—with the aid of chock-blocks, without plates —as shallow a discharge as possible. The weight of the stamper may probably stand increasing, but it is first necessary to bring the weight of the mortar-boxes up to their proper proportion, those at present being too light to give the true effect of the blow. As already stated, the mechanical portion of a stamp mill has been greatly improved upon, but it is the method of working that requires altering. Our engineers can show us returns of the increased tonnage crushed per stamp, but we must also remember that the weight of that ton (2,000 lb.) is considerably less than that crushed some years ago. No doubt the present mill crushes more per stamp than those without the aid of rock-breakers, self-feeders, &c, but still we find that increased quantity passed over the same width of copper plate with less water to save the free gold. Secondly, do not amalgamate by force, but by contact. The coarse pulp on leaving the mortar-boxes should be classified by hydraulic sizers, and thus separated into two or three different grades the latter number for preference. Three products would result —First, coarse sands ; second, fine sands ; and, third, slimes; each of which should be passed over separate sets of amalgamated copper plates with a spread, quantity of water and grade to suit each product. In the present mills we find the grade of tables and quantity of water being constantly altered. It is seldom that two millmen can agree which is best, because the plates in both cases are expected to do an impossibility. The correct method of treating each product from the separators should be arrived at in a systematic manner —by first ascertaining the quantity of water required to bring each into a thinly fluid pulp, then a suitable spread of amalgamated plate surface for each quantity is arranged, and finally, the fall on each set of tables is so adjusted that the particles are just kept continuously on the move and nothing more. For the coarse sands containing the bulk of the heavy gold and sulphurets the spread would be small, but the water would flow over the plates practically

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clear ; the fine sands would require more water, less grade, and a large spread, while the slimes with a fluid pulp would be passed in a very thin stream over plates with a low grade. The condition of the amalgam on the different plates could then be kept suitable for each class of gold, being hardest for the coarse material and softer for the slimes ; a feature which would be impossible on the ordinary plate. By this method of working, plate amalgamation is carried out in a scientific manner, giving every particle that will amalgamate a chance to do so by proper contact, and at the same time reducing scour to a minimum. The amalgamating-tables should be placed some distance from the crushing-machines so as to be free from vibration, and properly attended to without fear of injury from the rough usage they are likely to receive in the present mill. After amalgamation, each product may be concentrated separately on suitably adjusted machines, and the tailings treated by cyanide ; the coarse and fine sands would be leached by natural percolation, and the finer slimes worked by the efficient but more complex filter-press process. After each treatment samples may be systematically taken, and assays would show the extractions being obtained and whether coarser or finer crushing is advisable. The opinions expressed in this paper I have advocated for many years past, and feel certain that our present stamp-milling methods require improving in the direction stated. At the present time lam unable to enter more fully on this important subject, but hope this paper may induce others, who have probably better opportunities of doing so than myself, to experiment. Conclusion. In the following Appendix will be found — (a) the annual reports of the Inspectors of Mines, Wardens, Managers of Government Water-races, Government Geologist, and that of the Engineer for Waterconservation ; (b) the questions used at the last examinations of candidates for certificates of competency as mine-managers and battery-superintendents ; (c) a list of persons to whom certificates as minemanagers, battery-superintendents, and dredgemasters, have been issued ; and (d) the usual statistical returns. I have, &c, John Hayes, Inspecting Engineer. The Hon. the Minister of Mines, Wellington.

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WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY

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APPENDIX.

REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF MINES. Mr. James CoUTTS, Inspector of Mines, Thames, to the Under-Seoretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Inspector of Mines Office, Thames, 14th March, 1904. I have the honour to furnish herewith the following report on the gold-mining industry in the Hauraki district for the year ended the 31st December, 1903. Mining on the Thames and Coromandel has not improved much since my last report. The people at the Thames subscribed liberally to a fund to be used for carrying on boring operations to test the country at depth in the vicinity of some of the mines where rich gold was obtained in the early days of the goldfield, and were in good hopes that either gold-bearing lodes or country of a favourable description would be met with. An arrangement was entered into with the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Limited) to put down a series of holes. In the month of August two sites for boreholes were selected, and in the early part of September, boring operations were commenced on the Kuranui Caledonian Company's ground, where a borehole was put down to a depth of 1,041 ft., and the Caledonian No. 1 Reef penetrated into for a few feet, when by some means the crown-head and diamonds with a portion of the rods got squeezed tight in the bottom of the hole. Up to the present time these have not been extricated, and instead of several holes having been put down by this time, it may be said the work has not been fairly commenced, a condition which has proved most disappointing to all concerned. Boring has also been carried out on the Thames foreshore, and also in the Ohinemuri District, at the Woodstock, Waitekauri, Grand Junction, Consols, and Consolidated Mines, but in nearly every case the results have not been so satisfactory as could be desired. The mines in the Ohinemuri district (as will be seen by the returns) have contributed a large share of the total bullion during the year. Waihi District. Waihi Gold-mining Company. —This company's works are increasing to considerable dimensions, and the most up-to-date machinery is being obtained to replace that which formerly was sufficient for the requirements. A large winding plant is in the course of erection at No. 1 shaft, which will be capable of hauling up two trucks at a time instead of one, thus enabling the company to increase the output from the mine should it be required, or in the event of any stoppage in the other winding-shafts through accidents or otherwise, a sufficient supply of quartz could be hauled up this shaft to keep the batteries running. A powerful pumping plant is in the course of erection at No. 5 shaft; this, together with the present engine now doing most of the pumping on the same shaft will, it is supposed, be capable of unwatering the mine to a depth of 3,000 ft. The work of development in the mine is being vigorously proceeded with, and as the lode-system is opened up from day to day, new discoveries are being made and the value of the mine becomes more apparent, proof of which is shown by the handsome returns obtained from the ore as it is broken out. At Waikino Mill great improvements and additions are being made. The most important in hand is the erection of a plant to treat the concentrates, which have for some time past been transmitted to New South Wales for treatmeat. From tests already made, this new plant will put through a large tonnage, and the extraction will be quite as good as that at the works in New South Wales. No. 6 level.—No. 6 shaft north-west crosscut was commenced at a point 665 ft. east of No. 1 shaft crosscut, and driven a total of 96 ft. Harris's north-west crosscut was started at Harris's pass on Empire lode, and run north-west for 550 ft. The following reefs were passed through :At 195 it., quartz 2 ft. wide ; at 200 ft., quartz 3 ft. wide ; at 208 ft., quartz 1 ft. 9 in. wide ; at 492 ft., Albert lode, 4 ft. wide. No. 4 shaft south-east crosscut was advanced from 71 ft. to 158 ft. from No. 4 shaft when north section of Royal lode was met with. No. 5 shaft north-east crosscut was driven from No. 5 shaft to north section of Royal lode, a distance of 119 ft. South-east crosscut from Empire lode near Rose Pass was driven a total of 59 ft. ; at 37 ft. in, a part of L lode 3J ft. wide was passed through ; at 55 ft. in, another section of L lode is seen—it is 2 ft. wide. Martha lode : North section east of No. 1 shaft has been driven on from 515 ft. to 944 ft., and also west of No. 2 shaft north-west crosscut from 138 ft. to 254 ft. The total length opened up on the north section of lode is 1,700 ft., crosscut at 516 ft. east, lode 48 ft. wide ; crosscut at 571 ft., lode 23 ft. wide ; crosscut at 705 ft., lode 32 ft. wide ; crosscut at 753 ft., lode 28 ft. wide. No. 2 reef west of No. 6 shaft crosscut has been driven on a total of 340 ft. : lode varies between 2 ft. and 6 ft. in width. Regina lode west of No. 1 shaft: North-west crosscut has been driven on from 204 ft. to 398 ft. : lode varies between 2 ft. and 20 ft. wide. Albert lode north of Empire lode junction : A total of 606 ft. has been opened up on its course. No. 5 level.—Martha lode : North section east of No. 1 shaft has been driven on from 743 ft. to 793 ft. : the total length of level on north section of Martha lode is 1,426 ft. Regina lode west of No. 1 shaft has been driven on from 199 ft. to 366 ft. : lode varies between 1 ft. and 8 ft. wide. No. 2 reef west of No. 6 shaft has been driven on from 52 ft. to 265 ft. west. Empire lode west of No. 2 shaft south-east crosscut has been driven on from 87 ft. to 243 ft., when a connection was made to Welcome lode : the lode varies between 1 ft. and 4 ft. wide. Albert lode north of Empire lode junction has been driven on from 48 ft. to 447 ft. north, Royal lode : Westward, the main section of lode was followed from 250 ft,

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to 441 ft. from No. 5 shaft south-east crosscut; eastward 129 ft. was driven, making a total of 320 ft. : the average width of the lode is 9 ft. Shafts. —No. 1 shaft: No sinking has been done. The bottom of the shaft is 572 J ft. from surface. New guides —5$ in. by 4 in. have been placed in the winding-compartments. A new set of poppet-legs have been placed over the shaft. A Babcock and Wilcox boiler has been built in. A new windingengine is about to be erected. No. 5 shaft :No sinking has been done. The second plunger of B pump has been placed in position at the 704 ft. level, also an auxiliary 14 in. diameter drawlift. A balancebob was put in at No. 4 level. The shaft was divided into three separate compartments, and new dividing-pieces had to be put in from top to bottom. This was done to introduce a larger pump on the east end of shaft called C pump. At the 704 ft. level, the cistern chamber has been excavated for the first plunger gear. The bottom part of the plunger-lift has been placed in position, also 90 ft. of the rising main. A 20-ton capstan has been erected, also 4 Babcock boilers. The winding-engine has been altered to suit the requirements of the single winding-compartment. No. 6 shaft has been sunk from 166J ft. to 443 ft., making the distance sunk during the period 277 ft. An 18 in. filling-pipe has been placed in the ladder-compartment which delivers the filling at No. 4 level for the Martha east-end stopes. Mine-development and deadwork.—Crosscuts through country, 3,733 J ft. ; on course of lode, 8,563J ft. ; crosscuts in lode, 530 ft. ; winzes sunk, 5,921 ft. ; shafts sunk, 289 ft. : total, 19,039 ft., or 3 - 6 miles. At No. 5 shaft the erection of the new pumping-engine known as C pump has been proceeding for some months. The capacity of this pump is 1,500 gallons per minute from a depth of 1,500 ft. Very massive concrete foundations were necessary owing to the nature of the ground. The high-pressure cylinder, bed, guides, and cross-head are erected in position : the large plummer-blocks for trunnion of beam fixed in position, and the beam (which was delivered in three lengths) is now being riveted together. The low-pressure cylinder, weighing with its wooden lagging some 23 tons, was delivered at the shaft in December. The concrete walls of the pump-buildings are approaching completion. Product. —A total of 214,508 tons was treated during the year, which was obtained in the following proportions from the various reefs worked : Martha reef, 94,296 tons ; Empire reef, 46,216 tons ; Welcome reef, 29,499 tons ; Regina reef, 7,895 tons ; Magazine reef, 5,763 tons ; Princess reef, 5,531 tons ; Albert reef, 5,210 tons ; Victoria reef, 5,109 tons ; reef J, 4,750 tons ; reef I, 4,173 tons ; reef L, 2,014 tons ; Surprise reef, 1,637 tons ; Royal reef, 1,346 tons ; No. 2 reef, 1,089 tons ; reef H, 53 tons ; reef C, 37 tons ; total, 214,508 tons. The whole of this has been wet-crushed. The product was 677,873 oz. of bullion exclusive of concentrates and slag-tailings which were shipped. A total of 1,784 - 73 tons was shipped , the total value of which, according to assay, was £82,402 6s. 4d. The value of the total product was as follows : 677,873-1 oz. of bullion, excluding concentrates and slag-tailings, £519,445 10s. Id. ; assay value of concentrates shipped, £82,402 6s. 4d. ; assay value of slag-tailings, £1,319 12s. 4d. ; total, £603,167 Bs. 9d. A total of 78,881 tons was passed over amalgamated copper plates ; the average value of the bullion per ounce was 15s. 4d. or Is. 9d. lower than the preceding year, a better extraction of the silver-contents having been obtained. Reduction-works. —The respective tonnage crushed at the mills amounted to 214,508 tons. The total average number of stamps running during the year, exclusive of Sundays and the period at Christmas, during which the mills were stopped, was 317,470 out of a total of 330 stamps. The total average duty per stamp per diem was 2 - 406, an increase of 0 - 288 over the preceding year. Waihi Mill (90 stamps).—Twenty-eight Union vanners have been erected, and are in use. Towards the end of the year another press was obtained from Martin and Co., making five of this make of press now in use. A new dynamo was erected, and electric light cables have been run throughout the plant wherever extensions or alterations were necessary. Victoria Mill (200 stamps). —A third turbine of 100-horse power which was in stock, has been erected, and was brought into use during the month of August. Since then very little steam-power has been required. A mechanical chain-grate stoker was obtained from England, and has now arrived at the Victoria Mill. Several machine tools have been added to the machine-shop. A series of trials for the treatment of concentrates at the Victoria Mill, instead of shipping them, have been carried out for some months. Tenders were called for ten steel agitating-vats 6 ft. in diameter and 15 ft. 9 in. in depth. The vats have since been received, and erected upon timber trestling and the necessary V boxes were constructed. The tube-mill came to hand in October, and was erected. The shafting for driving it, and an air-compressor and pumps, together with a pressure-tank were also installed. Work in connection with the whole plant has just been completed. Union Mill (40 stamps).—The Babcock and Wilcox boiler formerly used at the No. 1 shaft of the Union Mine was removed to this mill, and re-erected as the'single Babcock and Wilcox boiler in use was overtaxed. A settling-tank and filter was made to improve the quality of the boiler-feed water. A new turbine was procured, and brought into use for driving the agitators. An average of 1,120 men were employed by the company. The large sum of £250,000 was paid in dividends during the year, totalling £1,257,189 17s. 6d. since commencing work. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company have two claims. One is situated on the western side of the Waihi Company's mine, and the other on the eastern side, and they comprise 90 acres and 190 acres respectively. As the claims do not adjoin each other, they have to be worked as two separate mines. At the beginning of the year, the company were carrying on prospectingwork in both mines, but after a few months' work, not meeting with the success anticipated, it was decided to apply for protection for the western claim, and direct the whole of their attention to the mine on the eastern section, where most encouraging prospects were being obtained. While working on the western mine, a large amount of sinking, driving, and rising was done to effect communication between the B and C shafts for ventilation, and when this was accomplished, a crosscut drive was put in a distance of 56 ft., where the reef was intersected, and driven through and found to be 14 ft, wide,

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The quartz consisted chiefly of large blocks of oxidized ore, and on tests'being made, it was found to be very low grade. In the eastern section communication has been effected between Nos. 1 and 2 shafts, which has given excellent ventilation to this portion of the mine, but to complete this work, 243 ft. of rising and driving had to be done at a considerable cost. At No. 2 level, the drive on the lode was extended for a distance of 36 ft. for the purpose of reaching the Waihi Company's boundary. In the north-eastern drive on the lode at the same level the drive has been extended a distance of 304 ft., and four winzes opened out and sunk for a short distance below the level. The lode here (I am informed) at each place gave"satisfactory results, and the company have every confidence this portion of their mine will prove to be highly payable at greater depth. At the bottom of No. 1 shaft the No. 3 level crosscut has been driven a distance of 167 ft., In the month of May the directors decided to test the lode at a depth of 1,000 ft. by means of boring, and let a contract to the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Limited) to put down a bore from the 500 ft. level at an angle of 68 J°. At a depth of 458 ft. the first quartz was met with, and the bore was to all appearance in lode-formation, until the supposed footwall of the lode was reached at a depth of 784 ft. The company intends shortly to commence sinking the No. 1 (main) shaft to a distance of 750 ft., where a crosscut drive will be put in to intersect the lode. An average of twenty-nine men have been employed. Waihi Extended Mine. —This company's operations have been directed to crosscutting north, south, and westward, at the 500 ft. level, with the object of discovering the Waihi Company's lodes. In several places quartz and silica veins running through the country were met with, and what appeared to be the hanging-wall of a lode was followed for some distance, but as the Grand Junction or Waihi Company's lodes have not been met with (although striking direct into this company's ground) the manager is of opinion that the lodes will not be found until a greater depth is reached, on account of the broken nature of the country. A total of 830 ft. of driving has been done during the year. An average of ten men have been employed. Waihi Gladstone. —Operations in this mine (which is worked by a syndicate) have not turned out as succesful as was anticipated. The small five-stamp battery which the owners erected on the property was completed about the middle of the year, when crushing operations were commenced for the purpose of testing in bulk the value of the ore won from the different prospecting and development workings of the mine. The reefs vary from 1 ft. to 6 ft. in width at different points of the property. The method of treatment adopted was wet crushing and plate amalgamation. Up to the present however, the results obtained have not proved of a payable nature. The total quantity put through the mill was 400 tons of quartz from which 47 oz. 10 dwt. of gold was obtained ; value, £115 3s. 9d. An average of six men were employed. Waihi South. —All work in this mine is stopped for the present, pending negotiations with the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Limited) for a series of boreholes to be put down on the property to locate any ore-body that may be traversing the ground at a depth previous to incurring a large expenditure in machinery, &c, to enable deep sinking to be undertaken. In the early part of the year work was carried on in the Waihi Grand Junction West Mine by this company, but when the aforesaid company stopped operations here, the Waihi South Company could not carry on the work they had on hand at the time on account of the large amount of water to contend with. Waihi Consols. —This company is directing attention to boring with the object of discovering any lodes that may run through their property at a depth, and a contract was let in October last to the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Limited) to put a hole down 1,200 ft. At the end of the year the hole had reached a depth of 262 ft. Waihi Consolidated. —There has been very little work done on this ground during the year ; a contract was let for boring, and a start was made with the old machine that was on the ground, but this not being good enough for the work, operations were temporarily suspended until one of the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company's machines arrived. Pride of Waihi. —There has been little work done on this ground for the year. Ohinemuri River Syndicate Claim. —The syndicate have gone to considerable expense in the erection of houses and machinery, and although temporary trials of the machinery have been made, and also experiments to find out the best mode of treating the tailings, the work is practically at a standstill until a grinding-machine is installed. It is confidently assumed that the sands will then be treated efficiently and economically, and thereby a payable concern made of the venture. An average of ten men have been employed. Waitekaubi District. Waitekaun Gold-mining Company. —Golden Cross Section. —Work here has been chiefly directed towards testing the reef at No. 7 level and prospecting the upper levels and the surface. No. 7 level : Crosscuts east and west were commenced from a point in this level 531 ft. northward of the main shaft. The eastern crosscut was driven 219 ft., and a chamber was then constructed from which to undertake boring operations. No. 1 borehole penetrated a total distance of 810 ft. below No. 7 level, at an angle of 72 ° across the footwall formation. The western crosscut was driven 147 ft., and No. 2 borehole was commenced here. 350 ft. was bored at an angle of 54 °, thus proving the hanging-wall side of the formation. No. 3 borehole was projected from the end of the western crosscut at an angle of 35 °. This work was discontinued when 120 ft. had been bored. For the purpose of further proving the formation, a fourth borehole has been commenced from a point on the surface 360 ft. eastward of the main reef. It is designed to cross the line of reef at a point 260 ft. north of the main shaft, or 271 ft. southward of the previous boreholes at a depth of 500 ft. below No. 7 level. No. 1 level: The main drive north on the reef has been extended 352 ft., making a total of 1,406 ft. north of the shaft. The ore opened up in the course of this work is not of a payable grade. The main crosscut west was extended with a view to locating parallel reefs. After reaching a point 645 ft. westward of the main workings, the work was suspended. Several rises and crosscuts were made at this level through large bodies of

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low-grade ore. Empire Section. —Work in this section has been restricted to prospecting on the surface. It is now intended to commence operations from the Empire crosscut, on what is known as the Empire reef, by driving north and south. The Realm crosscut which was driven some years ago a total distance of 720 ft. eastward, is being reopened for the purpose of further exploring the ore-bodies then revealed. Old Waitekauri Section.—Prospecting is still being continued in this property. During the period under review, 947 tons of ore were produced from the Queen level for a return of bullion worth £3,245 Is. 9d. Further stoping on this block is now proceeding, eight men being employed. There were 5,024 tons of tailings treated, and 947 tons of quartz put through the mill for 3,9590z. of bullion of a value of £4,521 14s. Bd. the mode of treatment being wet crushing and cyaniding. £83,393 has been paid in dividends since commencing work. An average of forty-four men were employed during the year. New Zealand Jubilee Mine. —This mine was under protection for six months, and during the remainder of the year the work was directed to extending the low level a distance of 630 ft., and driving the Horn level 310 ft. The low level is now in over 4,000 ft., but for the last 300 ft. the country driven through has been very broken, and not of a favourable description for the existence of goldbearing lodes. An average of fifteen men have been employed. A limited amount of prospecting-work has been carried on in the Hunuia, May Bell, Eclipse, and Starlight Claims, but up to the present nothing of importance has been discovered, and no returns of gold have been made. OWHAROA. Ohinemuri Syndicate.—There has been no work done on this property during the year. At present the plant and buildings are being dismantled for removal. Rising Sun. —Prospecting and development-work have been carried on with a limited number of men, the principal operations being confined to making a connection between No. 2 and No. 3 levels. Kaeangahake. Talisman Consolidated (Limited). —This company has vigorously carried on the work of opening up the mine, which has consisted in driving, sinking, rising, and stoping above the Nos. 8, 9, and 10 levels, and with a great amount of success. The quartz was mostly obtained from a rich shoot of ore that was followed down from No. 7 level, which produced 47,267 tons of quartz, and gave a return of 183,333 oz. of bullion, worth £94,134 7s. lid., which no doubt left a good profit on the year's operations, but no dividends were paid in consequence of the company being in debt at the beginning of the year. Driving south on the reef at No. 8 level has been carried on almost continuously without developing any new ore-shoots. The country in this section of the mine is considerably disturbed, and the values are low. This drive is now getting under what is known as the Bonanza section, and higher values are expected. At No. 9 level sufficient driving has been done to prove that the payable ore-shoots met with on No. 8 level go down. These are now being stoped. On No. 10 level driving south was stopped early in the year, awaiting the completion of incline shaft from No. Bto this level. Since the shaft was finished, the reef north of same has been stripped, and the leading stope driven. Stripping of reef south of shaft is in progress, and the values met with are higher than those found in driving. From the face of Woodstock No. 5 level driving south along reef was commenced and continued to a point where incline shaft will come down. This will be known as No. 11 level. Between the Woodstock boundary and present face good values were found ; further driving is suspended, awaiting the completion of incline shaft to this level. The incline shaft from No. 8 level has been finished to No. 10 level, and is in good working-order. From No. 11 level a rise is being put up to No. 10 level to connect with shaft. 170 men were employed. New Zealand Crown Mines (Limited). —Operations in this mine during the year have again been carried on with satisfactory results, the value of bullion obtained during the period under review being £78,279 12s. Id. (an increase of £3,515 7s. lid. on the previous year) which has enabled the company to pay the usual dividend amounting to £15,000 for the year. In the mine the main incline shaft has been sunk from No. 4 level a depth of 120 ft. on the underlie, making the total depth 506 ft., and at present, preparations are being made to open out No. 5 level from the bottom of the shaft. Here it is intended to instal the second plunger lift, which it is considered will be sufficient to cope with any water met with when the lode is intersected at this level. The No. 2 level south was extended a distance of 30 ft. on a small leader but without satisfactory results ; the course of the drive was then altered to a southeasterly direction, where the main part of the lode was again picked up after driving 27 ft. When the level was extended 48 ft. from the point of intersection, 15 tons of quartz was broken out, worth about £2 per ton ; after a further extension of 170 ft., the drive was stopped and operations directed to driving north of the crosscut on the lode. In this direction it was driven on for a distance of 176 ft., the average thickness of the lode being about 2 ft; 153 tons of quartz was broken out here for a value of £255. About 480 ft. from the shaft a crosscut was driven in a south-easterly direction 54 ft. without intersecting anything of value. In No. 3 level north very little mining has been done north of the shaft below the Waitawheta tunnel during the year. The total length of this level is 409 ft. The No. 3 level south was extended and from this extension 401 tons of quartz was obtained, worth £1,352. The average width of the reef was 4 ft. 8 in., and the total distance driven from the shaft is 1,945 ft. 9 in. A winze was sunk from No. 3 level, a distance of 91 ft. (the required depth for opening out No. 5 level), making its total depth 242 ft. A very large amount of driving has been done on the different levels during the year, and stoping operations carried on from No. 4 level below the Waitewheta main level to No. 3 level above that level. Owing to the gold not being evenly distributed through the quartz, the lode has been stoped out on the shoots of what was considered the payable ore, and the places where the lode is thin and poor were left in as pillars. This is a great support to the hanging-wall, but no doubt some of the pillars will be extracted, when the rich shoots of ore are worked out, in fact, some are being taken out now. An average of 242 men have been employed by this company during the year.

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CONCENTRATES TREATMENT PLANT, WAIKINO BATTERY, IN COURSE OF ERECTION (WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY).

CONCENTRATES TREATMENT PLANT, WAIKINO BATTERY, IN COURSE OF ERECTION (WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY).

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Comstock United. —This mine was under protection for a time. The main tunnel being driven over a distance of 1,700 ft. and no reef cut, the owner could not proceed any further without some assistance. He therefore applied to the Ohinemuri County Council and the Government for a subsidy to put in this tunnel a further distance of 600 ft. ; this was granted, and the work is now in progress, and the drive extended 60 ft. Although a rubbly formation of quartz has been passed through, yet no denned reef has been met with. Three men are employed. Woodstock Mine. —This property has been closed down for the greater part of the year. Although a considerable amount of money has been recently spent in prospecting and developing the mine and in alterations to the battery, the results obtained were not sufficient to meet the working-expenses, which were somewhat increased by having to pump the water and raise the ore, &c, broken out in the low level. The ore here was also of a less value than that obtained above the main adit level. lam informed there is every likelihood of the property going into liquidation or being merged into the adjoining properties. In the early part of the year while operations were carried on, 6,184 tons of quartz was treated for a return of 14,570 oz. 5 dwt. of bullion, value £9,680 12s. Id. An average of forty men were employed during the year. Several parties have been prospecting in the neighbourhood, but up to the present no new discoveries have been made. Te Aeoha. Premier and Mammoth Claims. —This property has been continuously worked during the year, the principal operations being confined to the Premier section, where a good block of ground has been opened up at No. 2 level, the reef here varying from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in thickness, and where stoping operations are proceeding with payable results. In the Mammoth section a trial parcel of 60 tons was broken out of the reef and conveyed to the battery as a bulk sample to ascertain the value of the ore previous to connecting the mine with the county tramway by an aerial tram-line. The results of the crushing (I am informed) gave sufficient encouragement to have the work undertaken in the .near future. Considerable improvements have been made in the battery by the erection of concentrating pans, &c, and it is also intended to increase the number of stamps by another ten heads and bring the battery thoroughly up to date for the necessary treatment of the ore. During the year 1,561 tons of ore was treated for a return of 1,728 oz. 9 dwt. of gold, value, £4,972 18s. 2d. An average of fourteen men have been employed. Kia Ora Lead and Silver Mines. —There were two men employed on this mine in the early part of the year, and a parcel of ore was broken out and transmitted to New South Wales for treatment, which is said to have given as a result from £3 to £100 to the ton, but this apparently has not induced the commencement of active operations, as little or no work has been done on the mine since. A limited amount of prospecting-work has been carried on in this locality during the year, but nothing of importance is reported to have been discovered. Komata. Komata Reefs Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Komata reef section : The chief work done in this portion of the mine has been the extension of the No. 4 level northwards towards the Te Ao Marama shaft. This was driven 612 ft. 6 in., making the total distance north of the main tunnel 950 ft., and leaving about 300 ft. to reach the shaft. A considerable amount of driving has been done in the south end of this section, but the results have so far given very little encouragement. Stoping has been carried on from two of the levels —viz., B level and No. 3 level—and has resulted in 2,340 tons of general ore and 14 tons of selected ore. The number of fathoms stoped was 323J, and the average width of the reef was 3 ft. 6 in. The total value of the ore obtained from this section was £7,711. Te Ao Marama section : A good deal of development-work has been done here during the year, chiefly on the No. 2 level northward. This has resulted in a very large tonnage of payable ore having been opened up. Nothing has been done on the lower levels, as it is the intention to open up these from the drive being advanced towards this section from the Komata Reef section. Stoping has been carried on from the Hopper, Smithy, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 levels. The total number of fathoms broken out was 1,013, which produced 10,931 tons of ore. Development-work produced 1,420 tons, making the total tonnage from this section 12,351 ; the total assay value of this was £33,642. The average width of the reef in this section was 5 ft. Battery : During the past year the capacity of the battery has been considerably increased by the addition of a 5 ft. Huntington mill and six extra vats, and by the raising of the sides of five of the slime-treatment vats. Also numerous small additions and alterations have been made to the plant. In order to provide ample power during dry weather, al3 in. by 30 in. Marshall horizontal condensing-engine and a large loco.-type boiler have been installed. The tonnage treated during the year was 14,780, from which bullion to the value of £37,110 2s. 9d. was produced. Tram-line to battery : The grade of a portion of this has been altered, so that the trucks will run by gravity from the mine to the battery, where they are hoisted to the unloading floor by a hoist operated from one of the battery shafts. An average of ninety-two men have been employed during the year. Byron Bay Mine. —A little work was done on this property which consisted of driving on the lode, where encouraging prospects were met with. This induced the holders to sink on it, but the winze was only sunk a few feet owing to a large quantity of water coming in which they were not able to cope with. Protection for six months was applied for and granted to enable them to raise funds to go on with the work. Two men were employed. Just in Time Mine. —This claim has only been intermittently worked during the year, and I have not heard of any new discoveries being made. Mistake Claim. —This is a claim lately taken up which adjoins the Te Ao Marama section of the Komata Reefs Mine, but so far little work has been done on it.

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Bast Coast District. Mananu Mine. —This mine was under protection"'[in the early part of the year, and when work was resumed, the reef was driven on at the No.'4_level for a distance of 155 ft., making the total distance driven on it at this level 210 ft. The reef is composed of hard blue mottled quartz containing a good deal of mineral. It is about 2 ft. in width, but not payable. At No 3 level the same reef was driven on for a distance of 252 ft., making the total distance 607 ft.; there was also a rise put up on it to No. 2 level, a distance of 63 ft. ; the reef here would average 15 ft. in width, but there was not sufficient gold in it to pay. At the north end of the mine (on what is known as the Rapids section) a considerable amount of surface-work has been done on what is believed to be the continuation of No. 1 reef, and most of the ore broken out of those workings was treated at the company's mill. In following the reef down it got smaller and of less value and would not pay to work. A good deal of prospecting was done on various reefs, some of which looked very promising, but none were found to be payable. The mine and plant is closed down and is again under protection. 370 tons of quartz was treated for 166 oz. of bullion, value £333 17s. Id. An average of six men were employed. Whangamata Proprietary Mine. —There has been little or no work done in this mine for the last twelve months. The machinery, water-race, fluming, &c, have been sold and are being removed. Chelmsford Mine. —The low level was extended in the early part of the year and the reef intersected. After driving on it for a short distance, the reef did not open out as well as anticipated. The mine was therefore closed down for want of funds, and has since been under protection for the last six months. An average of three men have been employed during the year. Tairua Broken Hills Mine. —This property has been vigorously worked during the year with satisfactory results, a good margin of profit being left after all expenses were paid. The work generally has consisted in driving, rising, and stoping on the Blucher, Night, and Puon reefs, which have varied from 1 ft. to 3 ft. in width, and there is a considerable height of backs over the low level. In the intermediate level the Blucher reef has been extensively operated on and has yielded highly payable ore. The New Year and Wellington reefs have also been driven on, and the tests of the quartz made from time to time are such (I am informed) as lead the manager to believe they will pay handsomely to work. Prom the amount of payable quartz already won from the mine, the prospects generally throughout the workings appear as if it is reasonable to suppose that payable returns may be obtained for some considerable time to come. The mine is very convenient and cheaply worked. As the ore is broken out and passed into the shoots, it is run into the trucks, then along the low level and ground tramway direct into the battery. In the battery a Huntington mill was fitted up, which greatly assists in increasing the output. An auxiliary water-power is to be increased by lowering the Pelton wheel and tail-race. The mode of treatment adopted by this company is wet crushing, amalgamation, and cyaniding. During the year 6,355 tons of quartz was treated for a return of 12,281 oz., and value £21,146 18s. Bd., which enabled the directors to pay in dividends the sum of £10,306 ss. This must have been very gratifying to the shareholders. Coronation Claim. —This property is situated south-east of the Tairua Broken Hill Mine, and was under protection during the early part of the year. At the expiration of that time a contract was let for extending the level a further distance of 200 ft. for the purpose of intersecting gold-bearing lodes, fully expected owing to excellent prospects which were obtained on the surface in trenching. Up to the present no payable discovery has been reported. From four to six men were employed. Taniwha Mine. —This mine has during the year been worked on tribute by Mr. John Collins and party, the operations being chiefly confined to open-cut work on the large outcrop formation, which is composed of country rock interlaced with quartz stringers, carrying a fair percentage of gold. As this has to be carefully selected for treatment, it barely pays to work. A small crushing-plant is connected with the mine consisting of two stamps run by an oil-engine, but the quantity of crushing-dirt put through is small, only 42 tons of ore was treated for 82 oz. 1 dwt. of gold, value £190 Is. Id. From two to three men were employed. Prospecting operations have been carried on in the Gem, Myosota, and Golden Hill Claims, but up to the present no important discovery has been reported, and no returns of gold sent in. Golden Belt Mine. —This mine has been continuously worked during the greater part of the year, the drive on the road-side (formerly termed the low level) was extended until the lode was intersected and driven on for some considerable distance. This varied from 2 ft. to 5 ft. in width, the quartz being very high grade. As broken out it was stacked at the entrance of the drive, pending the erection of the battery, which is being vigorously proceeded with. A main low level is now being put in some distance lower down the creek. It is intended to connect this level with the higher workings. An aerial tramline is iti course of construction for the purpose of conveying the ore from the mine to the battery. The battery will consist of thirty head of stamps when completed, twenty of which were purchased from the Alpha Company, Waitekauri, together with the cyanide plant. These are now being removed to the site selected ; the other ten head have been obtained from the Hauraki Associated Mine, Coromandel. Eight men were employed. Chester Claim. —This ground was prospected tor some time by Murphy and party, who treated a small parcel of 6 lb. of stone for a return of 22 oz. 15 dwt. of gold. HIKUTAIA. Maratoto Mine. —The work in this mine has been confined to the development of the Maratoto reef at Nos. 4 and 5 levels, where it has been driven on north and south of the crosscut for a considerable distance. At No. 5 level the reef is a strong body of stone varying from 8 ft. to 10 ft. in width, the quartz being of a kindly description in places, and I am informed the sulphide portion contains a fair percentage of the precious metal. A rise has been put up from No. 5 level to No. 4 level, a height of 120 ft., which has proved the reef between these levels, and given good ventilation. No bulk crushings

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have been put through the company's battery during the year, the work being confined to developing the mine. An average of six men were employed. Khartoum Mine. —A good deal of prospecting was done on this property during the year, the work being directed to driving on the reefs. In some places encouraging prospects were obtained, but the funds became exhausted, and the mine had to be closed down pending further capital being raised. Four men were employed. Hikutaia Gold Syndicate Mine. —Only a limited amount of work has been done on this property during the year. A large amount of work was previously done on the reef, but the ore being low-grade, and not proving payable to work, the mine was stopped for the time being. Omahu District. Klondike Mine. —Operations in this mine were carried on during the greater part of the year with a limited number of men. The five-head stamp battery which the company erected on the property was completed in the month of May, when crushing operations were started. After putting a parcel of 125 tons through the battery for the unpayable return of 17 oz. 6 dwt. of gold, valued at £41 16s. 6d. (which was most disappointing), and there not being sufficient capital in hand to further develop the mine, work was stopped, and six months' protection obtained to enable the company to try and raise further funds. Four men were employed. Sheet Anchor Mine. —This mine has been worked under option for some time, the work being chiefly confined to prospecting the ground in and about the low level, where it was anticipated the ore-body previously discovered on the surface —in a disturbed class of country, and from which good results were obtained—would be intersected at a depth. Although several small reefs and formations have been cut through (some of which carry a little gold) nothing that is considered of a payable quality has been met with at this level. Up to the present no crushings have been reported. Four men were employed. We Three Claim. —This ground which is adjacent to the Sheet Anchor Mine has also been worked during a portion of the year. The operations being confined to the surface portions where disturbed outcrops were discovered, and from which 2 tons 4 cwt. of stone was broken out and treated at the Thames School of Mines for 92 oz. 7 dwt. bullion, value £37 12s. Id. Two men were employed. Puriri District. Puriri Gold Estates. —This property is owned by an English company, and was closed down for a considerable period, but during the present year operations were again resumed under the general management of Mr. Stevenson, the company's representative, who directed operations on the property previous to going to England, and who apparently was not satisfied with the results obtained previous to closing down. lam informed that whilst in England Mr. Stevenson was successful in raising a substantial amount of capital to enable further prospecting and development-work to be undertaken on the property. At the start a good deal of preliminary work had to be done in repairing roads, levels, passes, water-races, &c, also the erecting of a new battery building and foundations, all of which have been completed. In the mines the operations so far have been of a prospecting nature ; in the Moncreith section a surface prospecting-level has been driven north-east of the main shaft to prospect the ground previous to unwatering the shaft and workings from deeper levels. In the Aurarius section an intermediate level is being driven on the reef from a pass between the No. 3 and Smithy level for the purpose of dividing the block and testing the value of the reef. So far no crushings have taken place. From six to ten men were employed. Miner's Right Claim. —Two men have been employed on this ground during the year, the operations being confined to driving and stoping on several small leaders which have been intersected in the different workings, and from which 54 tons of crushing-dirt was broken out and treated at their small battery for a return of 28 oz. 11 dwt, of gold, value £78 10s. 3d. Outside District. Waihi Beach Claims. —On this property preliminary operations have been pushed on for some time. These consisted of the erection of workmen's dwellings, blacksmith's shop, and other necessary buildings, also getting timber and material on the ground for a shaft, which the company have decided to sink to test and prove the value of the reefs which have been discovered outcropping on the coastline. The site for the shaft has been surveyed and a point selected on the high land, where the shaft will be sunk to a depth of 330 ft. before opening out on the hanging-wall side of the lode. A crosscut will then be put in, it is estimated 150 ft., to cut the lode. It is intended to sink the shaft a depth of 80 ft. by hand-power, during which the arrangements will be made for the purchase and erection of a pumping plant and winding-engine. An average of four men were employed. Ohui, Te Puke, and Kati Kati. —Very little work has been done on any of the mines during the year. Thames District. Moanataiari Mine. —This mine changed hands twice during the year, It was first purchased by Mr. J. J. Craig, and an attempt was made to form it, together with the May Queen Hauraki into a company; but this failed, and in the meantime the tributers continued to work the blocks of ground let to them on tribute. In August, Mr. H. H. Adams purchased the property, and amalgamated it with the Alburnia. A company known as the Old Alburnia Company was formed, and operations were immediately commenced by extending the Moanataiari tunnel towards the Alburnia shaft, a contract being let for driving 300 ft. A lode was intersected near the end of this contract which varied from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. in width, and a little gold was seen in breaking out the quartz, a feature which is certainly most encouraging to shareholders. This tunnel is penetrating through unprospected ground at a con-

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siderable depth, and should the company be fortunate enough in discovering a payable gold-bearing lode, it will give the Thames a fresh start. For most of the year the upper levels were worked by tributers, and the following are the returns : New Moanataiari tributers crushed 603 tons, and 51 lb. specimens, which gave 744 oz. 9 dwt. of gold, value, £2,021 6s. 4d. Old Alburnia tributers (since taken over from the New Moanataiari) 478J tons, and 115 lb. specimens, for 781 oz. 6 dwt. of gold, value £2,089 7s. Id. An average of fifty-four men were employed. Kuranui-Caledonian Mine. —From the month of January to the month of July four wages-men were engaged prospecting near the shaft at No 1. level, in close proximity to where the big patch of gold was obtained in 1870 ; several small leaders were intersected, and although a few colours of gold were seen, yet nothing of a payable character-was discovered. The boring scheme having now matured, work was suspended in order to await the results at a depth. The Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Limited) started work on the 12th September on the site chosen for the first hole, situated about 160 ft. north of the Moanataiari tunnel, and according to plans carefully prepared should intersect the Caledonian No. 1 lode at a depth of about 1,000 ft., at an angle of 82 °. For the first five weeks good progress was made, a distance of 1,041 ft. having been drilled, producing cores all the way. At this point the Caledonian No. 1 lode was met with, but was found to be of a rubbly nature, consequently, the diamond drill was unable to bring up cores. In the endeavour to do so, the crown head with the diamonds was lost in the hole, and efforts to withdraw the rods were unavailing. However, after some trouble, they at last succeeded in breaking them off, leaving 40 ft. in the bottom of the hole. From that time up to the present, the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company (Limited) have been trying to recover this bit (which is valued at £250), but so far without success. Having failed to grip it by the usual method adopted in cases of this kind, they at last decided to enlarge the hole to 4J in., and ream over so as to free the casing and are now getting on fairly well, the foreman being sanguine that they will be able to recover the diamond bit, and sink the hole the required depth of 1,500 ft. For a distance of 950 ft. of drilling the country was not what the miners term good, but in the bottom of the hole it is all that could be desired. Several assays taken of the country rock at a depth of 1,034 ft. gave a value of 11s. 3d. to the ton. This is encouraging, and it is reasonable to expect that when the core (or cuttings of the lode) is brought to the surface, it will also be found to contain good values. Crushings of loads of ore and 825 lb. picked stone were treated for 1,735 oz. 7 dwt. of gold, value £4,707 4s. sd. Fifty-two tributers and three wages-men were employed. Victoria Mine. —Operations during the year have been confined to tributers working from the 70 ft. level of Tookey's shaft and at the surface levels. Notwithstanding the large amount of work done, the tributers on the whole have not been successful in making any fresh discoveries, but are hoping to obtain better results in the year just entered. Boring operations on behalf of this company are now in progress. A contract was let to bore 1,000 ft. on the Thames Foreshore Claim at 12s. per foot. The borehole has now reached a depth of 380 ft., and when the 1,000 ft. is attained, another 500 ft. or perhaps 1,000 ft. will be let. Crushings : 170 tons of ore was treated for 212 oz. 9 dwt. of gold, value £586 4s. 6d. Eight men were employed. Kuranui Mine. —The whole of the operations in this mine have been confined to the tunnel level, where driving and rising was carried on to some extent. The tributers lode has been driven on for a distance of 450 ft., and two rises put up on it to a height of 80 ft. The best prospects met with on this lode were in the drive, which yielded 12 dwt. to the ton. The highly mineralised ore met with in driving led the manager to expect that the ore would improve in value as the lode went downwards ; but so far he has been a little disappointed. Twenty-two loads of ore was treated for 14 oz. 8 dwt., value, £34 13s. Bd. Twelve men were employed. Waiotahi Mine. — There is little new to report from this mine since my last, operations being similar to those of the preceding year, the work consisting in following up small leaders and stoping them out. Some of these have been very rich around and in the neighbourhood of the shaft. No new development-work to any extent has been undertaken by this company for some time past. From various leaders operated on 865 tons of ore was obtained and treated at the company's battery for a return of 1,428 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, value £3,856 15s. 2d., which enabled the company to pay to the shareholders in dividends the sum of £900, making the total paid in dividends £40,200. Fourteen men were- employed. Fame and Fortune Mine. —Work in this mine during the year has been entirely confined to tributers, whose operations have been principally directed to driving and stoping on the hanging-wall portion of the Golden Age reef, from which 300 tons of quartz and 35 lb. of picked stone was obtained, giving a return of 364 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, value £937 Is. An average of nine men were employed in the mine and six wages-men in the battery, which is also employed in crushing for the public. West Coast Claim. —This ground has been steadily worked during the year with two men, the operations being confined to driving, rising, and stoping on small leaders which have been opened up, and from which 43 tons of quartz was won and treated for a return of 57 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, value £155 18s. 6d. Ballarat Claim. —This ground has been worked steadily by the owner (J. Brett), whose attention has been directed to driving, sinking, and stoping on small leaders, from which 28J tons of quartz was obtained, which gave a return of 97 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, value £286 15s. 9d. Two men were employed. Nonpareil L. H. —The work carried out during the past twelve months has been confined to tributers, during which period there has been an average of seven men employed working the several blocks of ground on reefs and leaders. The principal ore-bodies worked upon were the Liverpool Boys reef and Wade leaders. The Liverpool Boys reef is now being worked from the low level by a party of tributers, and since they commenced upon the reef they have met with fair results. The reef varies in size from 4 in. up to 15 in. Other tributers have also worked upon this reef in the upper levels during the year, but with poor results. Crushings : 140 loads and 7 lb. of picked stone was treated for 159 oz, 12 dwt., value £451 6s. Seven men were employed.

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May Queen-Hauraki Mine. —This mine changed hands in the early part of the year, when the syndicate made an effort on two occasions to form a company, but failed. Then the work in the mine was directed to driving a crosscut at the No. 2 level Saxon shaft for the purpose of intersecting the No. 1 and No. 2 Cardigan lodes, which were successfully worked at the lower levels. When cut, the reef was driven on for a short distance, two loads of quartz being broken out and crushed for a value of £13 7s. 10d. The rest of the work was done by tributers who worked on various leaders. The total quantity of ore won from the different parts of the mine and treated was 514 tons, which yielded 769 oz. 7 dwt., value £1,949 13s. sd. Eighteen men were employed. May Queen Extended. —During the past year the works carried out in the mine have been the extension of the crosscut towards the Odd Fellows reef, driving and stoping on New reef east of old crosscut, and driving back west on New reef to connect with new crosscut driven in western section. A crosscut was extended to cut the Odd Fellows reef, but not meeting with the reef where it was expected to be cut, the directors decided to suspend work in this direction, and confine their attention to the driving and stoping on New reef east of crosscut. Since commencing this work a distance of 52 ft. has been driven, and a block of ground stoped out to a height of 60 ft. above the level by 115 ft. in length ; the average width of the reef has been about 10 in. The drive west on the reef has been extended 113 ft., and for the whole of this distance would average a width of 15 in. While operating on the reef in both ends of the mine, a few pounds of picked stone were occasionally secured, and colours of gold were to be seen frequently through the reef. 380 loads of quartz won and treated from all parts of the reef gave a return of 298 oz. 17 dwt. of gold, value £859 17s. Id., which was barely payable, but the directors decided to go on with the stoping as an improvement in the quality of the ore might take place at any time. A party of tributers also crushed five loads of mullock for 2 oz. 2 dwt. A total of 385 loads was treated for 300 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, value £866 Is. lid. Seven men were employed. Thames Talisman Mine. —This mine was under protection for six months, and when operations were again resumed, the drive was extended a distance of 80 ft., where the reef was expected to be met with. Not finding it where anticipated, it was decided to extend the drive another 16 ft. Here small stringers of quartz were cut running at a long angle with the drive which is now supposed to be all that is left of the reef at this level. The upper level has also been cleaned out and repaired for a distance of 112 ft. It is stated that the Grand Trunk reef was worked here with good results in the early days of the goldfield. Four men were employed. New Una Mine. —This is portion of the old Una ground. A company has been formed with the object of testing the ground at a deeper level, a main low level was started on the level with the Karaka Road, and has been driven a distance of 500 ft. From this level to the Una level (where the company worked the German and Loyalty reefs with very good results) there is a height of backs for 140 ft. Should the company be fortunate in getting payable gold here, it will help the Thames and restore confidence in this part of the district. This company is doing excellent work. Seven men are employed. Gloucester and George Turnbull Claim. —This is being worked by a Glasgow syndicate, who have directed their attention to extending the low level to intersect the leaders in the Lincoln section. A little gold was frequently seen when they were working on the leaders, but as these are extremely small, only a very limited amount of quartz is obtained. To all appearance the syndicate have sufficient confidence in the mine proving payable, that they have sent from England a complete five-stamp battery, with the intention of erecting it near the mine. Two men have been employed. Claremont Claim. —This is only one man's ground, but it is astonishing that not a ton of general ore has been crushed for years, yet specimen stone is frequently treated. 150 lb. of stone was crushed for 98 oz. 1 dwt., value £253 15s. 6d. Fortuna Hauraki Mine. —Only a limited amount of work principally by tributers has been done on this property, the ground being under protection during the greater part of the year. The operations were confined to surface-workings on small leaders, from which 32J tons of quartz and 301b. of picked stone was obtained and treated for a return of 74 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, value £205 11s. 3d. Waymouth Claim. —This ground has been steadily worked with two men, but the results obtained during the year have been very poor, 15 tons of quartz having been broken out and treated for a return of 6 oz. of gold, value £16 10s. A little prospecting has also been done on the Ethel reefs and Anchor Claims, from which small returns of gold have been made, but nothing of importance discovered. Otinui Consols Mine. —This property has been steadily prospected during the year, the operations being confined to driving a low level to intersect at depth the reef which I am informed was worked with good results some years previously. As the country which is now being penetrated is of a kindly description for gold-bearing reefs, the chances are that payable stone may be obtained at any time. It is estimated that this level will give about 60 ft. of backs on the main reef, which is expected will be met with in about another 40 ft. of driving. From two to four men were employed. Tararu Creek Mine. —This mine has been under protection for the whole of the year, little or no work has been done on it. Eclipse Mine. —This mine changed hands in the early part of the year and a company was formed. Since then the work in the mine has been directed to extending the low level to a point under where a chute of payable ore was worked in the upper levels. When this company started work, the crosscut had to be driven about 100 ft. to intersect the lode, and at the place where it was cut through, it was fully 6 ft. in width and heavily mineralised but of low grade. From the crosscut the lode has been driven on for a distance of 300 ft., with a varying width of "from 2 ft. to 6 ft. It may be fairly expected that a large block of ground will be opened up here as it is said the gold was continuing downwards from the level above, and there is every possibility that it will recoup the shareholders for the outlay. Seven men are employed. The Golden Drop, Argosy, Temple Bar, and Bullion Claims have also been worked intermittently with two men on each claim. Small returns have been obtained.

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Puru Consolidated. —During the early part of the year work was carried on in this mine on behalf of the company, but as the returns obtained were not sufficient to meet the expenses, the company stopped all work on their own account and let the mine and battery on tribute to P. Mahar and party, who have since worked with a fair amount of success. The operations are chiefly confined to stoping out a block of ground over the back of No. 2 level, where the reef varies from 16 in. to 3 ft. in width. 415 tons of quartz and 100 lb. of picked stone was broken out and treated for 171 oz. 6 dwt. of gold, value £461 14s. 6d. Four men are employed. Monowai Mine. —Operations in this mine were steadily carried on up till the month of September, but the ore got gradually of less value and not payable. Owing to the refractory nature of the ore, a feature which necessitated the shipment of the concentrates to New South Wales for treatment— thereby increasing the cost of recovery —and to the fact that a cheaper method has not been found, the directors became unwilling to proceed further, and sent instructions to stop all work, pending the sale of the property or other arrangements being made. 1,387 tons of ore was treated for £1,584. Thirtyfive men were employed. Sheridan Mine. —This property has only recently been taken over by a company, and work commenced on the 23rd November, 1903. The work in progress is the sinking of a winze from No. 2 level on a leader about 2 in. in width on the hanging-wall of the Sheridan reef. The winze has been sunk to a depth of 50 ft., and the lead has carried a little gold down for the whole of the distance. It is intended to sink the winze another 10 ft., where it will be driven on at what is termed the 70 ft. level. The pass is to be repaired for the purpose of getting the quartz down to the low level, where it will be conveyed to the company's mill without much handling. Should gold in payable quantities continue down to the low level, the work of opening up this section of the mine would be undertaken at once, as from this level to the top of the winze there is 190 ft. of backs. The prospects are certainly most encouraging for the new company. 5 tons of ore were treated for 10 oz. 17 dwt., value £33 Is. 10d. Four men are employed. , . Mahara Royal Mine.— This company directed attention to opening up the mine by means of driving a low level which is connected by a short ground tramway with the battery. After driving this low level 520 ft., the lode was intersected, and was found to be from 4 ft. to 7 ft. in width, but the quartz was low-grade at this point. After driving on it for something like 120 ft., a patch of very rich ore was met with, which proved to be a chute of gold-bearing quartz that was worked on the upper levels. A small block was then stoped out up to the level above, and a winze was sunk on it a few feet, but meeting with more water than could be dealt with by hand-labour, this was stopped, and the company purchased the Golden Hill pumping and winding plant, which is to be erected on the surface over the winze to pump the water out. The management will thus be enabled to prove the lode below the level. Another chute of what is considered payable ore was discovered in extending the level, and stoping operations are now proceeding on this over the back of the level, pending the erection of the machinery. Crushing : 1,012 tons of ore was broken out and treated for 570 oz. of gold, value, £1,729. An average of twenty men have been employed. COROMANDEL DISTRICT. Old Hawaii (late Hauraki) Mine.— This property, which was formerly worked and owned by an English company, and from which splendid returns were obtained for some years, was, during the early part of the year, disposed of to a local syndicate, who have since transferred it to a company. Pumping and winding machinery have been erected at the shaft which the previous company had dismantled. As it was considered by them that the runs of gold below the surface levels were worked out, operations were stopped on behalf of the English company, and tributes let to seven parties of miners in various portions of the ground down as low as the 100 ft. level. In most cases, the men were successful in obtaining payable returns. All these tributes were let to expire on a uniform date, after which the mine was taken over by the present company in the month of April. Since that time operations have been steadily carried on in the mine in prospecting and developing the various reefs and leaders from the 100 ft. level upwards. The 12 in. Cornish pump which was put in the shaft has been employed in unwatering the workings and draining the same down to the 220 ft. level, where prospecting-works have been recently started, it being decided not to unwater the shaft any deeper for the present. During the period in which operations have been carried on by the new company, 345 tons of quartz and 673 lb. of picked stone was obtained and treated for a return of 1,436 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, value, £4,387 Is., and for the previous company, 253 tons 17 cwt., and 131 lb. of picked stone, for a return of 709 oz. of gold, value, £2,169 Is. Bd., making a total output from the mine for the year of 808 tons 17 cwt., and 804 lb. of picked stone, for 2,145 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, value, £6,556 2s. Bd. An average of twenty men were employed. Bunker's Hill Mine.— During the past year operations in this mine have been confined to opening up and stoping on the lode known as the Tributers' (or lona reef). In the early part of the year progress was retarded by the inability of the company to cope with the water with their machinery, and owing in a great measure to the Hauraki Company's pumping plant having been sold and removed. However, the company purchased the Blagrove's pumping plant and had it removed and erected at the Hauraki shaft, this course having been agreed to by the syndicate then in possession of the Hauraki Mine on certain conditions, which were successfully carried out, and work was again resumed at No. 1 level of the Hauraki with very good results. The following include some of the details of the work carried out: 325 ft. of driving on the lode, 100 ft. of sinking on it to connect the levels, and 1,500 ft. of stoping done. The quantity of general ore treated was 464 tons, and 1,541 lb. of picked stone, for a return of 2,589 oz. 6 dwt. of gold, value, £7,556 18s. 3d., and the amount paid in dividends was £1,333 6s. Bd., also' the total dividends paid since commencing work was £1,333 6s. Bd. Twenty-four men were employed. Hauraki Freeholds Mine.—The company's work was chiefly directed to operating on the lode that had been successfully worked by the Bunker's Hill Company up to the Hauraki Freeholds boundary,

ELEVATOR WHEEL, WAIKINO BATTERY, BEING PLACED IN POSITION, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY. DIAMETER, 35ft.; BUCKETS, 2' 0" WIDE.

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GROUP OF FOUR ELEVATOR WHEELS, DOUBLE LIFT, WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

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and this company commenced where the Bunker's Hill Company left off, after arranging with them to have the privilege of working through their ground on certain conditions. After starting work, a large slide was met with which cut off the reef downwards from the intermediate level, but the length on the lode extended as risen on ; this has been successfully worked up till now, and there yet remains a large block of ground on the lode to work out. The company contemplates opening up the lode on the northern side of the fault at no distant date from the Welcome Find shaft which is their own property. 60 tons of ore and 239 lb. of specimens were treated for 636 oz. 1 dwt. of gold, value, £1,947 3s. 6d. Ten men were employed. Kapanga Special Quartz Claim. —This property has been worked during the past year by tributers. The work done was on the Kapanga and Scotty's reefs, respectively 15 ft. and 25 ft. above the Driving Creek level. 468 tons of ore was treated, producing 154 oz. 1 dwt. of gold, realizing £378 18s. Bd. An average of five men were employed. New Hero Mine. —This mine has lately been taken up, and comprises the hill known as Murphy's, in the Upper Township, Coromandel, where Murphy in the very early days obtained some very rich specimens from two distinct lodes. As these were only worked on the surface, several persons formed a good opinion of the ground and the gold going down. A syndicate was formed for the purpose of testing the lodes at a greater depth from a low level which was put in by another syndicate some years ago. Although the tunnel was put in a distance of 750 ft., the lodes that were worked above were not intersected, and the present shareholders are of opinion they would not cross the tunnel, and therefore decided to drive a crosscut at right angles to the tunnel at 650 ft. in, so as to cut the lodes on the underlie ; this is now being done, and the country is all that could be desired. So far nothing of importance has been met with. Two men are employed. Ruby Claim. —This ground has been steadily prospected with two men during the year, the operations being chiefly confined to extending a prospecting level in a north-east direction, with the expectation of intersecting at a depth on the underlie some of the offshoot leads from the Main Tokatea reef (or blow), from some of which (in the early days) fair returns were obtained at higher levels. Up to the present nothing payable has been discovered. Golden Spark Mine. —This ground was taken up in the early part of the year by a syndicate whose operations were principally confined to driving a low level from the bed of the Whakaroa Stream for the purpose of intersecting the Bright Smile and other leaders which had been operated on by previous owners at higher levels with good results. After driving this level a distance of about 220 ft., the Golden Spark leader was intersected, and is at present being opened up east and west of the crosscut preparatory to stoping. Gold has been frequently seen in the stone, and the leader varies from 3 in. to 10 in. in thickness. A rise has also been put up on this leader at a point which connects with a winze previously sunk from the level above. This gives good facilities for working the block of ground, and drains off the water from the upper workings. It is also the means of giving good ventilation. During the year a small parcel of 5 cwt. of ore was treated at the School of Mines battery for a return of 3 oz. of gold, value, £8 12s. 6d. Five men are employed. Hauraki No. 2.—Operations in this mine have been steadily carried on with two men, the work being solely confined to prospecting the different leaders from the surface level where the No. 2 leader has been exploited to a fair extent, and averages about 5 in. in width. Up to the present nothing of a payable character has been discovered. South Kapanga Mine. —Work of a prospecting nature was carried on in this ground during the greater part of the year, but as nothing payable was found, and the,funds ran out, operations were stopped pending the raising of further capital to carry on the work. No returns of gold have been obtained. Kathleen Crown Mine. —The only work done on this property during the year has been confined to surface levels, where only a limited amount of tributing was carried on, and from which 2 tons of quartz was obtained and treated for a return of 7 oz. 8 dwt. of gold, valued approximately at £22 4s. Sea View Special Quartz Claim. —The principal work done for the past year has been by tributers working in a level known as the No. 3 Smithy level, and the level above it. The quantity of ore raised has been 62 tons, which yielded 154 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, value, £423 os. 7d. The work proposed to be carried out during the present year (1904) will be conducted on the same lines. I might mention that in the adjacent property, last worked as " The New Hauraki Gold Properties (Limited) " a large reef exists, which in all probability is a continuation of the Tokatea Big reef. No doubt, in course of time, the prevailing system of diamond boring will lead to this reef being proved at greater depth, and if this is successful, it is natural to think that similar work may be undertaken in the Sea View Special Quartz Claim. A considerable amount of work has been done in this claim by an English company, but without success. There are probabilities of tributers making discoveries in the upper levels of the Sea View as their tribute developments advance. Harbour View Mine. —This ground, which was previously taken up and worked by a syndicate, was, in the early part of the year, taken over by a company, who have since secured the adjoining property known as the Pride (late Hauraki Associated). The work in the mine for some time was directed to extending the No. 5 level in the Harbour View section, where the Simpson leader was intersected, and on which a rise was put to the number 4 level a height of 75 ft. on the underlie. This has opened up a large block of ground on the leader which varies from 3 in. to 10 in. in width, and at times produces picked stone of fair quality. Stoping is also being carried on from an intermediate level from the rise. On the cross-leader work is being done at No. 4 level, and a limited amount of crushing-dirt obtained. It is the manager's intention to extend this level into the Pride section, to prospect and develop the various leaders from which a considerable quantity of gold was obtained by the previous owners. During the year tons of quartz and 155 lb. of picked stone was treated for a return of 185 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, value, £483 ss. Id. An average of seven men were employed

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A little prospecting has also been done in this locality on the Stanley and Peveril Claims, but nothing of importance has been discovered, and no returns t of gold made. West Tokatea Mine. —Very little work has been done on this property, which has been under protection for most of the year pending a reconstruction of the company. This, lam informed, has been successfully arranged. Preliminary operations are proceeding with a view to further developing the mine. Queen of the North Claim. —In the early part of the year this ground was for some time unoccupied, but was subsequently taken up by M. Kemner, and is at present worked by two wages-men and two tributers, the work being confined to driving and rising on small leaders from which rich stone has been obtained. So far, no stone has been crushed on behalf of the present owners. Forest Queen Mine. —Prospecting work has been steadily carried on in this mine with two men in expectation of discovering a payable run of stone. Although a little gold is occasionally seen, yet up to the present, the general ore has not been considered worth crushing, or of sufficient value to warrant the expense of taking it to a battery for treatment. This latter is a heavy item on account of the position of the mine. No crushings have taken place on behalf of the present holders during the year. Royal Oak Mine. —Development-work has chiefly been confined to further testing the Tribute reef between Nos. 3 and 7 levels, but without much success, only one small block proving payable between Nos. 5 and 6 levels. 1,766 ft. have been driven and stoped altogether on this leader, but nothing of importance has been opened up. During the winter months the battery was kept fully employed on ore from the old stopes between Nos. 3 and 6 levels, the bulk coming from where the rich quartz was won in 1898 on the Tribute leader. The ore, though of low grade averaged between 10s. and £1 per ton, and paid a few shillings over working-expenses, the cost of mining, tramming, and crushing not exceeding Bs. 6d. per ton. The general quartz, after all the stone showing gold had been picked out for separate treatment, was worth very little, averaging only about £1 10s. per ton. Tokatea reef : 562 ft. of driving and stoping has been carried out here as well as several hundreds of feet of old workings re-opened, but nothing payable was discovered. The old stopes in the lower levels were also tested, but with unpayable results. At No. 7 (lowest) level the shaft which is down 180 ft. was kept free of water until March, when the water became troublesome. Operations had to be suspended and the pump withdrawn. The 180 ft. level below No. 7 was extended east a total distance of 405 ft. from the shaft; the reef was poor and unpayable for the 110 ft. of driving done during that period. A little gold was obtained west of the shaft 50 ft. below the floor of No. 7, but not payable. Turnbull's leader : This is a small branch vein running off from the Tribute reef at No. 5 level, on which 123 ft. of driving and stoping has been done, but it gave a small return and poor value. No. 3 reef : This reef has been driven on for 128 ft. south from "A " level; some rich gold was obtained from it on the upper levels, but no gold was seen here. The new ore-body exposed at No. 6 level in the crosscut driven from the drive on the Tokatea reef to intersect the tribute reef has also been further tested with more success. It has been driven on at No. 6 level for a length of 76 ft., and stoped 274 ft., with what may be termed payable results ; this vein seems to be a dropper from the Main Tribute leader, starting just below No. 5 level, dipping away northwards on its footwall side ; at the No. 6 level it is a good strong lead, and the country encasing it is excellent. Being within the parallel zone of where the rich patch was won in the Tribute reef, there is a chance that some good stone may be secured here. Several other likely looking ore-bodies have also been tested during the last twelve months, but with the one exception, nothing of much value was obtained. From May to November the battery was running almost full time, chiefly on low-grade ore from old stopes. Since May (when there was plenty of water for motive power to drive both the battery and rock-drills) the mine has been able to pay its way, but for the previous four months a total of £3,000 was spent out of capital for no return. Crushings : 2,330 tons 10 cwt. of general dirt and 14 cwt. 3 qr. 7 lb. of picked stone was treated for 1,787 oz. 1 dwt. of gold, value, £4,663 13s. 3d. The average number of wages-men employed were thirty-six, also twelve tributers. Whangapoua Claim (late Lillis's). —This mine, which is situated on the Kauri Freehold Gold Estates property, has been steadily prospected by the present holder, P. Ryan, who has previously had fair returns from the ground, but during the past year, only a small parcel of 10 cwt. was treated at the School of Mines battery for a return of 2 oz. of gold. Vaughan Claim. —This ground has been worked by the owners (Messrs, Danby and Kirk) whose attention has been directed to driving and stoping on some of the small leaders which traverse the property, and from which a small parcel of 1 ton of general ore and 6 lb. of picked stone was treated for 42 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, value, £115 15s. 6d. Prospero Claim. —Prospeoting-work has been continuously carried on in this ground with two men, but up to the present nothing payable has been discovered. The Castle Rock, Ternians, and Pukewhau Claims have also been intermittently prospected, but no discoveries have been reported. A little prospecting has also been carried on in the Manaia District, but so far without success. Omoho Creek. —ln the early part of the year a little activity was displayed in this locality through the discovery of gold-bearing quartz on the surface, which led to the marking-out and taking-up of several claims. It was considered the stone discovered was shed from a large ore-body at a higher elevation, and although a fair amount of prospecting by driving and trenching has been done—more especially at the Rangatira and Huruhuru Claims —I am informed no reef of a similar nature of quartz has so far been discovered. A parcel of 44 lb. of stone was treated from the Rangatira mine for 3 oz. 16 dwt. of gold, value, £10 9s. New Four-in-Hand. —In the early part of the year protection was obtained for the purpose of raising capital to put in a low level to intersect the reefs that had been operated on by the company in the upper levels, and with a certain amount of success. During the period of protection, two men were employed working upon the Tainui leader, and from here good results were obtained —8 tons of quartz

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yielding 160 oz. of gold. Two small blocks of ground which had been left in on account of the water percolating through from the surface during the wet season have also been taken out, and 20 tons of quartz from here gave a return of 58 oz. of gold. The new level mentioned has also been commenced from the Waikoromiki Creek side of the range and from the opposite side to that from whhich the company conducted their previous operations. The object of driving this level is to eventually cut the Tainui I. H. reef, but as the drive will transverse entirely virgin country, it is confidently expected that other known reefs as well as some not yet discovered, will be met with, and that good results will follow. A distance of 1,100 ft. has to be driven before the Tainui I. H. reef will be intersected, and 350 ft. has already been driven. 28 tons of quartz and 85 lb. of specimens were treated for 218 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, value, £632 13s. JOd., and an average-of five men were employed. New Tandem Claim. —This property, which is a small area of 10 acres, adjoins the New Four-in-Hand Mine, and has been steadily worked during the year with satisfactory results. The operations are chiefly confined to driving and stoping on the Tandem reef, which varies from 3 in. to 12 in. in width, and produces at times picked stone of good quality. During the year 10J tons of general ore and 118 lb. of picked stone was obtained and treated at the Four-in-hand mill for a return of 257 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, value, £744 ss. 6d. From two to three men were employed. White Star Mine. —This property, on which a good deal of work was previously carried out by an English company during the boom, has recently been taken up by a local syndicate, and work of a prospecting nature has been steadily carried on. Although a little picked stone has been obtained, yet nothing that might be considered payable has so far been discovered. 14 lb. of srone was treated at the School of Mines for a return of 3 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, value, £10 17s. 3d. From four to six men were employed. Cabbage Bay Extended. —A limited amount of prospecting-work has been done on this property, on which a small battery is erected, but up to the present nothing of importance has been discovered, and no returns have been sent in. Two men were employed. Macaronic Mine. —Operations in this property during the year have not been so successful as could be desired for the shareholders, who, after having had several of the different reefs and leaders traversing the property prospected with results that were considered would be payable, decided to erect a fivestamp battery. This was completed about the month of May, when crushing operations commenced, but as the returns obtained were not sufficient to meet expenses, the battery was closed down, pending further prospecting of the property. During the time the battery was run, 55 tons of quartz and 5 lb. of picked stone was treated for a return of 21 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, value, £57 3s. 2d. From four to six men were employed. Kuaotunu District. Great Mercury. —All tributing and working in the surface-blocks of the Great Mercury Mine ceased in October last. At that time the proprietors of the mine started a low level in what is known as Murray's Gully, on the boundary between the Irene and Great Mercury Mines, the object being to work both mines from this level. The work of driving this tunnel has been pushed ahead steadily with three shifts, the face being now in a distance of 520 ft. Several reefs and leaders have been cut, but so far none of them are gold-bearing. The intention is to keep driving on for the present, and if nothing important is discovered, to come back and drive on some of the reefs already cut. Waitaia Mine. —There is little change to note since my last report. This mine has been continuously worked during the year, and regular monthly returns have been steadily maintained. The operations during the period under review have been confined to driving and stoping on the Waitaia reefs, at different points from the No. 5 level upwards. The reef has varied from 4 in. to 15 in. in width, and has been well opened up at the various levels, but being small, necessitates a considerable area of ground being gone over to keep the battery crushing. During the year 1,072 tons of quartz was broken out and treated at the company's mill for a return of 1,611 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, value, £4,537 2s. 3d. An average of twenty-four men were employed. Handsworth Mine. This ground has again been successfully worked during the year by the owner (L. Woodcock), who directed his attention to stoping on the runs of gold that have been cut at the various levels in his mine, and from which excellent results have been obtained. Forty tons of general ore was treated for 391 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, value, £993. Two men were employed. A limited amount of prospecting-work has been carried on in this locality in the Juno, Miny, and Hosie Claims, but nothing is reported to have been discovered. Gumtown District. Kapowai Mine. —This property has changed hands lately, and the purchasing syndicate lost on time in commencing work. It is confidently considered that the mine can be made to pay as all the ore previously crushed was of high value. Under previous ownership, the mine was only worked intermittently. An average of four men are being employed. 276J tons of ore was crushed for 233 oz., value, £547 11s. Welcome Jack Mine. —This mine changed hands in the early part of the year, and the owners have been stoping out a block of ground on the main leader, between Nos. 2 and 3 levels. lam informed payable ore has been broken out and treated. The leaders being small, only a limited amount of quartz can be obtained by two men, but being convenient to the battery it pays to work. 123 tons of ore was crushed for 282 oz. 4 dwt., value, £539 11s. sd. Big Beetle Mine. —lt was fully expected that when the company got their battery erected good returns would be obtained, but the results proved disappointing to some of the shareholders, although the quartz yielded nearly 2 oz. to the ton. This, under fair average conditions, should have been most encouraging, but the trouble is that the mill only consists of two stamps, and in consequence, the quantity of quartz put through is very limited. Still, there is a fair prospect of the mine continuing to pay for

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some time to come in a small way, as I am informed a new leader has been lately discovered carrying fair gold. 235 tons of quartz were treated for 458 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, value, £1,353 Is. 7d. An average of six men were employed. Great Barrier Island. Barrier Reefs Mine. —There has been little or no work done in the mine during the year, but the company had 782 tons of tailings treated for 948 oz. of bullion, value, £190 2s. 2d. —something near 4s. an ounce. Sunbeam Mine. —This ground was worked for a time during the boom, and although it was said good prospects were met with, yet it was allowed to come to a standstill. It was again taken up last year. Then the present company got possession of it, and have since done a little prospecting on the property. The results obtained have apparently satisfied the company that what will prove a payable concern has been got, and in consequence, they have purchased the Ethel Reefs battery at Thames, which is to be removed and erected near the mine. Accidents. I am sorry to have to report that eight fatal accidents happened in this district during the year, this being six in excess of the preceding year —the lowest then recorded for some time. It is very hard to account for so many; in one case it was proved the manager was negligent, but in some of the other cases the men themselves were in my opinion greatly to blame in not taking greater care for their own safety. These fatalities should act as a warning to workmen and officials generally. Twenty-three other accidents were reported as being considered serious at the time by the different managers of mines where such occurred, all of which were inquired into and reported on in the usual way.

Fatal Accidents.

I have, &c, James Coutts, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines. Mr. Robert Tennent, Inspector of Mines, Westport, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir.— Inspector of Mines' Office, Westport, 30th March, 1904. 1 have the honour to report as follows on the gold-mines in the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast districts for the year ended the 31st December, 1903 : — QUARTZ-MINING. Blenheim. Wellington Mine. —This property is at a standstill. Jubilee Mine. —This mine worked continuously until the close of the year, when operations were suspended, pending the amalgamation with the Luck at Last, and Wellington companies, and reconstruction of the company. The services of Mr. Evans, manager, are still retained on the property, and he anticipates that the driving of a low level to prove the reef at a lower depth will be commenced at an early date. 1,711 tons of quartz was milled which yielded gold to the value of £1,957 7s. 10d. Arm Chair Creek. —The only progressive work in this creek is the driving of a low level in the Duke of Cornwall property by Clow and party. Havelook. Golden Bar.— Further operations on this property have been abandoned. Mining on the Wakamarina Valley is still confined to a few fossickers.

Date. Name. Name of Mine. Cause. larch 9 Martin Dale Waihi, Waikino Mill . . A beam fell on him while at work in the mill. Killed by an explosion of supposed missed shots in drive. A bucket fell on him while working in a winze. Fell off ladders in No. 5 shaft, a distance of 90 ft. IS 11 Alexander Crosbie.. Talisman Extended pril 6 J. J. Landrigan Waihi lay 8 W. N. Parry and W. J. M. Cornthwaite Joseph Richards .. „ lOV. 13 New Zealand Crown Mine Killed while working in a stope. Timber overhead gave way. Killed by a truck falling down No. 1 shaft while they were working in the bottom. >ec. 7 J. F. Middleton and Angus McCole

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CoLLINGWOOD. Golden Ridge (Taitapu Gold Estates. James Carroll, Mine-manager).—Operations on this property comprise two separate mines locally known as the Anthill and the Golden Ridge. The surfaceblocks having become partially exhausted on the Anthill section of the property, operations are directly confined to driving No. 3 level from the bottom of No. 2 winze to connect with No. 1. Stone for milling purposes will be available on completion of these drivings. Steam-driven hoisting and pumping installation is nearly completed. On the Golden Ridge section, all work is suspended, with the exception of a few miners driving and stoping in the New Find. Developments at Anthill comprise driving and crosscutting 140 ft. and sinking 40 ft. ; Golden Ridge, crosscutting 1,000 ft. ; and New Find, crosscutting and driving 700 ft. The twenty-head stamp mill is in good condition under the charge of Mr. F. Giles. The mines throughout are carefully timbered and ventilated. Golden Blocks (Taitapu. Frank Johnson, manager).—Mining operations have been steadily maintained during the year, and the stone milled (2,409 tons) yielded a gold-value of £8,230. Practically all the milling-ore was mined from Nos. 1 and 2 levels, but chiefly from No. 2, as operations on No. 1 are confined to the employment of two men ; while the work in connection with No. 3 low level is strictly of a development character. The reserve of milling-ore has been specially kept in advance of requirements during the past four years, but the recently extended explorations have not been favoured with the success anticipated. An extended'privilege adjoining the now operative property, having been recently acquired from the Taitapu Gold Estates, systematic prospecting is actively proceeding, and the results so far obtained exhibit favourable promise. Developments comprise driving and crosscutting 1,600 ft., and raising and sinking 850 ft. Timbering and ventilation receive special attention, and the operative plant is strictly kept in good order. Westport. Red Queen (Mokihinui). —This property is worked by a party of tributors (three men), who, at the date of inspection were sinking a winze on a small leader from the surface-level. The ground was securely timbered. Lady Agnes (Mokihinui). —As the result of unsatisfactory crushing further operations were suspended, and prospecting was commenced on an outcrop 200 ft. above the old working. Britannia Mine. —Mining operations have been actively carried on during the year ; the stone milled (504 tons) maintaining an average yield of 11 dwt. 3 gr. per ton, which gave a small profit over working-expenses. The stone milled was chiefly won from Nos. 4 and 5 levels which are driving on a thin vein overlapping the original reef. The extension of these drives is considered to junction with the rich stone formerly worked on the upper levels. With the increased water-supply for motive power now available, it is intended to increase the milling-power, and treat the large bodies of low-grade ores now exposed. The ground is carefully timbered and well ventilated. Stony Creek. —The operations formerly carried on by this company are suspended, and Mr. Thornhill Cooper and another miner are doing some surface-prospecting. Alpine Extended (Lyell. William Prince, mine-manager). —Notwithstanding the varied mining operations that have been persistently carried out north and south at depth on the No. 12 levels, the development so far attained has been rather of a disappointing character, and must fail to meet the anticipations of the shareholders. In driving northward irregularity in width and position of the reef were the chief characteristics met with, while the values obtained were not of a high standard, but as the face is extending the prospects assume a more favourable promise. In driving southwards on No. 12, a block of stone 46 ft. in length and varying in width from 1 ft. to 3 ft. was intersected at 280 ft. from the shaft, but was eventually cut out by a decided break in the country, and was replaced by a narrow lead 2 ft. wide and carrying fair gold. Driving was further continued on this stone for 91 ft., the result being that it thinned down to 12 in., and during the last 40 ft. of driving, the lode maintained no permanent change. In taking a review of the general conditions and contour of the auriferous country recently developed north and south on the No. 12 level, the irregularity of formation met with in the varied drivings, risings, and sinkings, indicates that movement of considerable magnitude has taken place, and unless unforseen developments occur in the geological formation of the lode at depth, the future prosperity of this mine cannot be regarded as encouraging under the existing conditions. The workings generally are in good order, securely timbered, "and well ventilated. The Italy Syndicate (late Tyrconnel). —This property is now owned and worked by a private party of four men, under the title of Kelly and party. Since taken possession of by this syndicate, working conditions have received strict attention, and development has been kept well in advance, but progress is much retarded by the very unsatisfactory means of conveying material by road. There was crushed 133 tons of ore which yielded a gold-value of £1,787. Boatman's. Kirwan's Reward. —Respecting the progressive operations in removing and milling the broken quartz from this peculiarly intermixed formation, subject-matter of importance is practically nil, and so far as clearing the crown of the Victoria Range is concerned, indications of the " parent reef " have not been discovered. The fifteen-head stamp mill has been actively worked during the open season, with a gold-value of £7,164 fron 4,814 tons treated. Lady of the Lake. —Not visited. Welcome. —Operations were confined to stoping the quartz exposed above the low-level tunnel, Specimen Hill, and the No. 5 level, Welcome, besides which, a winze was sunk 115 ft. to connect the intermediate and low levels with the object of locating the position of the stone northward. During the first nine and a half months of the year the company mined and milled 1,445 tons of quartz, which yielded

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546 oz. 5 dwt. 21 gr. of gold, valued at £2,247 3s. 4d. The coarse sands cyanided, amounting to 1,044 tons, yielded gold to the value of £1,089 Bs. 9d. During October, the whole mine and plant were let on tribute to O'Leary and party who up to the end of the year had mined and milled 185 tons of quartz for a return of 271 oz. 8 dwt. 21 gr. valued at £1,097 7s. The sands discharged to the cyanide plant were still under treatment at the end of the year. The Welcome Company has been absorbed by the present company, the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited), so that the former has now ceased to exist. The +ributers will continue mining and reduction operations as heretofore. . Reepton. Wealth of Nations. —Practically there has been no development-work of any description done on this property during the period under review, owing to the unsatisfactory conditions under which material is raised and lowered on the inclined winding-shaft, as the power of the old overshot waterwheel having attained its maximum hoisting-capacity in depth, future developments will be maintained from the Energetic shaft. Stoping has been carried out from the 350 ft. (No. 2) level down to the 800 ft. (No. 6) level producing 12,385 tons of quartz, which when crushed yielded bullion to the value of £14,296 7s. 3d. by amalgamation, and concentrates to the value of £1,094 9s. 4d. were sold to the smelter. At the cyanide-works 8,645 tons of sands, representing 69.8 per centt of the tonnage milled, was treated, and yielded bullion to the value of £5,061 3s. lid. or 11s. 8 - 508 d. per ton. Of this amount 2s. 11'047d. was absorbed in working-costs, leaving a profit per ton treated of Bs. 9 - 461 d. The working-costs of this mine, amounting to 17s. 8 - 456 d. per ton treated are made up as follows : Mining, 11s. 9'766d. per ton ; milling and concentrating, 2s. 6'507d. per ton; cyaniding, Is. 11'704d. per ton; office and general expenses including bullion and assay charges, Is. 4 - 479 d. per ton. Battery and mining equipment remain unaltered. Energetic shaft: The shaft has been sunk from a depth of 831 ft. to 1,369 ft. at which point the last set was placed in position on the ninth October. Since then the brace of the shaft has been raised 8| ft. to its permanent level : making the actual winding-depth 1,377.5 ft. Directly sinking operations were completed, driving was commenced to cut out a chamber at a vertical depth of 125 ft. below the bottom level (No. 6) of the Wealth of Nations, when crosscutting was continued 126 ft.; but the computed distance to strike the reef will probably not be less than 220 ft. Considerable alterations and improvements have been effected on the surface, and good headway made with the permanent equipment. An exterior-fired multitubular boiler, 5 ft. diameter, by 16 ft. long with steam-pres-sure of 140 lb. has been suitably, installed. The winding-engine is horizontal with two high-pressure cylinders —18 in. in diameter with 36 in. stroke —and is built on the direct coupled Tangye girder principle with parallel drums. The poppet-head gear, 37 ft. 6in. in height, is also substantially erected. The Hirnant air-compressor, designed for rock-drilling purposes, is a horizontal single cylinder, 13 in. in diameter, with air-cylinder 14 in. diameter. The whole plant is spaciously and comfortably housed. Future operations at this shaft will be as follows : When the reef is encountered on No. 7 level it will be driven on in a southerly direction towards the present Wealth of Nations incline shaft, and as soon as possible the shaft will be further continued another lift of 125 ft. to No. 8 level. The developmentwork throughout will as far as possible be conducted by rock-drills so as to hasten the developments, as the future prospects of the Wealth of Nations Mine will depend entirely upon the manner in which the next levels open up. Should they turn out well, the surface reduction-works will have to be altered to suit. Golden Fleece. —During the period under review a large amount of development-work has been carried out, principally on levels Nos. 11 and 13 comprising driving and crosscutting, 1,392 ft.; raising and sinking 678 ft.; besides which the main shaft was sunk from No. 12 to No. 13 level, and the necessary connections made. Stoping has been carried out in a very general manner from levels Nos. 13, 12, 11, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3, a very large amount of ground having been gone over to provide the tonnage milled. The quartz has maintained its characteristic irregularity during the year, the stone cutting out and coming in, both horizontally and vertically, with great rapidity. These sudden changes of formation necessitate the removal of a considerable quantity of barren ground to avoid missing small blocks of quartz, and to provide ventilation requirements. During the year 14,133 tons of quartz was crushed yielding bullion to the value of £21,978 3s. 5d., besides which sulphurets to the value of £1,436 14s. 7d. were sold to the smelter. At the cyanide-works 9,580 tons of coarse sands was cyanided, representing 67-785 per cent, of the total crushed. This yielded bullion to the value of £3,381 19s. 6d. Of this amount 2s. 3"937 d. per ton was absorbed in working-costs, leaving a profit of 4s. 8.789 d. per ton. The total working-cost of this property amounts to £1 ss. 7'942d. per ton milled. This high cost is accounted for by the very mean width of quartz stoped. No alteration of importance has been made in the surface equipment of this mine during the last twelve months. Progress Mines. —Development has been actively pushed on in levels Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, resulting in the opening-up of large ore-bodies on Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9 levels in the eastern portion of the mine. The total distance driven, &c, during the year is as follows : Driving and crosscutting, 3,672 ft. ; raising and sinking, 927 ft. : Total, 4,599 ft. Stoping has been carried out from No 3. level down to No. 9 in a general manner, and the yields obtained therefrom are fully up to expectations, so far as tonnage is concerned. In the eastern section of the mine large bodies of low-grade ore, which cannot be worked to a profit under existing conditions, are used as filling-in material. To ascertain the dimensions of the reef on Nos. 6 and 7 levels, east, the continuation of the north-east ore-body has been located, and the stone on both levels extracted. A valuable ore-body recently discovered on No. 9 level, east, has partly enabled the management to locate the same line of reef on No. 10 level. This discovery, if permanent, will greatly enhance values on the deep levels, as considerable work has been undertaken to locate the existence of the main lodes at this depth. Diamond-drill borings, actuated by compressed air, have been'actively pushed on in No. 10 level for the last three months, resulting in two blocks of

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stone being recently steuck quite unexpectedly. The surface equipment has been further increased by converting the single cylinder 14 in. by 22 in. Rand air-compressor into a duplex movement. This alteration has greatly aided development, as no difficulty is now experienced in keeping the air-pressure at 80 lb. while six drilling-machines are running in full work. At the old shaft the winding-engine has been replaced on a concrete bed in a reversed position, so that the driver is now in, full view of the ropes while the cages are running in the shaft. At the battery the only additions of importance have been the construction of two new tanks—lo ft. in diameter, 7 ft. in depth—in connection with the cyanide installation, thus making the number of treatment-tanks in use up to twelve. One other tank is also in course of construction. An additional sump 20 ft. by 8 ft. has been erected. This is used for storing strong solutions. The cyanide house has been enlarged to cover the tanks erected, and a small shed placed over the new sump. The whole of the company's plant has been maintained in good order, and the output of the mine exceeds that of any previous year. This year's work resulted in the mining, transportation, and reduction of 57,114 tons of quartz, which yielded by amalgamation 21,298 oz. 15 dwt. 22 gr. of gold, valued at £88,738 12s. lid. 1,060 tons of concentrates treated by chlorination yielded 2,866 oz. 1 dwt. 13 gr. of gold valued at £11,851 15s. 4d., while 26,547 tons of coarse battery sands treated by cyanide yielded 3,181 oz. 6 dwt. 19 gr. of very base bullion valued at £7,769 11s. Id. The working-costs amount to 2s. 4'704d., and the profit to 3s. 5'537d. per ton treated, making the yield equal to ss. 10 - 241 d. A small experimental shipment of 13 tons of roasted slimes forwarded to the smelter realised £142 14s. Bd. A general summary of the aggregate working-cost, yield, and resulting profit in milling 57,114 tons, and cyaniding 26,647 tons during the year is as follows : Total working-cost (exclusive of capital and development expenditure) incurred in mining, milling and chlorinating (including bullion charges and office expenses) £45,971 2s. 9d., or 16s. Tl76d. per ton milled ; cyaniding, £3,175 Is. 4d., or Is. l-342d. per ton milled ; totals, £49,146 4s. Id., or 17s. 2-518 d. per ton milled : Profit on mining, transportation, milling, concentrating and chlorination works (including office expenses and bullion charges), £54,619 ss. 6d., or 19s. 1"517 d. per ton milled ; cyaniding, £4,594 9s. 9d., or Is. 7"307 d. per ton milled : totals, £59,213 15s. 3d., or £1 os. 8'824d. per ton milled. Summary : Total workingcost, £49,146 4s. Id., or 17s. 2"518 d. per ton milled ; profit, £59,213 15s. 3d., or £10s. 8'824d. per ton milled : yield, £108,359 19s. 4d., or £1 17s. 11"342 d. per ton milled. On capital expenditure, £8,115 2s. has been spent during the year ; of this amount £6,508 16s. 7d. was incurred directly in mine-devolop-ment. The milling-time during the year 1903 was very good, but a serious break in the water-race caused a stoppage of four days eight hours during July. This was the only break of any importance. The total number of days the mill ran was equal to the theoretical time with the exception of 12 - 62 days. This loss of time represents the total delays caused by the monthly clean-ups, daily scrapes, water-race breakages, and incidental stoppages. A successful and prosperous year for 1904 is confidently looked forward to. The same policy will be pursued as heretofore, with the exception that mine-development will be pushed even more energetically than during the period under review. Keep-it-Dark (owners, Keep-it-Dark Gold-mining Company (Limited) ; Edwin Bray, manager).— The operative works in connection with the mining, milling, and cyanide extraction have been continuous, while the progressive developments comprised sinking of the main shaft, extension of No. 5 crosscut to intersect the main lode, and completion of the necessary connections for passing and ventilation between Nos. 4 and 5 levels. The auriferous blocks on Nos. 2 and 3 levels having become totally exhausted, stone for milling purposes was chiefly stoped from No. 4 ; the reef on this level having maintained a uniform width and quality, except where partially intercepted and displaced by mullock-intrusions. While crosscutting to intersect the main lode in No. 5 level, the cap of a supposed new block was struck at 252 ft. from the main shaft, and was driven on for 30 ft., but its geography and values await development from No. 6 level on completion of sinking operations. The working-plant of this property is kept in good repair, while timbering and ventilation are made special features throughout. The working-cost for mining and raising 12,568 tons of quartz for milling purposes was £7,567 or an average of 12s. sd. per ton, while the cost of crushing and other incidental expenses amounted to £1,464 14s. Id., or a fraction under 2s. 4d. per ton. The gross yield, 3,639 oz. 1 dwt. 6 gr. gave an average of 5 dwt. 19 gr. The results from the cyanide extraction have been favourable ; partly due to a reduced percentage of antimony in the ore. The output of bullion from this process, 1,643 oz. 5 dwt. 18 gr., valued at £5,697 9s. sd. gave a value return of 9s. Of d. per gross ton milled, while the cost of treatment, including labour and all material used, amounted to £2,316 3s. 5d., or 3s. BJd. per ton, leaving a profit of ss. 4|d. per ton on the total tonnage. New Inkerman Mine (Norman Dudgeon, attorney).—Mining has been practically confined to stoping east and west from the new incline hoisting-shaft with the exception of completing the varied details in connection with the shaft. Regarding width and regularity of formation, the reef so far as developed maintains a wandering position occasioned by regular jumps-up which necessitate the stopes being generally driven in the solid. The works are in good order, while timbering and ventilation are strictly attended to. The fifteen-head stamp mill, recently constructed and fitted with automatic feeders and other modern appliances, commenced crushing about May, giving a regular monthly return. Cyanide extraction-works, in proportion to milling-requirements, have also been suitably installed. Industry Mine. —Operations on the No. 1 drive opened east of the Big River Road, Merrijigs, having proved unsuccessful, all work has been suspended, and the movable plant withdrawn. However the company have opened an old tunnel on the Cumberland property, and continue to push developmentwork which, so far as prospects have yet determined, does not offer much encouragement for future prospects, as the country rock is badly crushed and undefined. There are two miners employed. The ground is securely timbered. New Scotia. —This company, after a lengthened period of driving, sinking, and rising to connect the Scotia Eastward with the Gallant low level, have meanwhile abandoned all operations connected therewith. The hoisting-engine and boiler have been removed and rebuilt to sink on an outcrop from the Gallant rise level. Victoria and Inglewood. —The upper levels of this old property having been thoroughly overhauled and retimbered where required to insure free ventilation, operations were resumed on the battery level

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to extend it further on the line of reef to undercut a winze from No. 4. Connection has been successfully completed, and stoping has now commenced, but up to time of writing, battery-returns have not come to hand. The working is securely timbered and well ventilated. Big River. —As stated in my report of last year this company had completed a further sinking of 100 ft. in the main shaft, making a total depth of 1,090 ft. After considerable driving, crosscutting and rising, they were fortunate in striking a block of high average stone, from which a crushing of 340 tons near the close of the year yielded 453 oz. The prospects of this stone continue favourable, and it is hoped that the company will reap a rich harvest for the pluck and energy displayed in carrying out such an extended period of development. Last, Chance. —Morris and Fleming, in continuing to mine the small leaders on this claim, are stimulated by the periodical returns from the battery, which seem to have a natural tendency to improve as they go along. Great care is taken to secure the ground. Golden Lead. —This company continue with unabated energy to follow the leaders on this property, even though the prospects so far obtained have been very discouraging. Two men are employed. Jones Creek, Ross. —Messrs. Aitken and Sutherland are carrying out a system of trenching and crosscutting on a small leader, located near the upper reaches of the Jones Creek. In the low level they have followed a well-defined leader 3 in. thick, carrying fair gold, for 16 ft. The lead is increased in a very promising slate country, and, providing it proves to increase in dimensions and value, a new phase of mining may probably await the Ross district. Mount Paparoa (Mr. Alexander Campbell, mine-manager ; Mr. George Cray, secretary, Greymouth). —Operations at the inspection in May consisted in stoping out the block of stone north and south of winze sunk from No. 2 level. All ground is securely timbered and well ventilated ; the winze mentioned acting as the upcast. Twenty-one men were employed. The mine was closed down towards the end of the year. Garden Gully (Mr. Hooper, mine-manager ; Mr. Parkinson, secretary, Greymouth). —Six men have been employed driving along the lode (north) on a body of quartz having an average width of from 9 ft. to 12 ft. The present contract is for 100 ft. Gold can be seen in the stone at times. All works are securely timbered and are ventilated by a fan ; the motive-power being water. jThe crosscut to the reef is 563 ft. General Remarks. It is pleasing that in point of productiveness and values, the mining industry has fully maintained its standard, notwithstanding that the Merrijigs, Big River, and Paparoa districts have been practicably non-productive. While we cannot omit to remark that the return, £5,250, from the new Inkerman Mines is indicative of future prosperity, it is further notable that the standard now attained by persistent and systematic development of the ore-bodies at depth, not only insures profitable investment and permanent employment, but is conducive also to establish settlement and to be a stimulating factor in the providing of more comfortable homes. The prospector also is encouraged to make further research in the development of fresh fields. This latter remark is worthy of attention, as scope is amply provided for the profitable discovery of increased wealth. Respecting the recent discovery of the Ulster lode in the Waitahu district, we have to congratulate the prospectors and investors on this important find, and it is hoped the enterprise will fully maintain the anticipations projected. There were no fatal accidents during the year. hydraulic and alluvial mining. Mahakipawa. King Solomon Syndicate. —After considerable expenditure in water-race construction and pumpinginstallation to unwater and clear out the old King Solomon shaft-working, the company had to abandon further operations, and sink an intermediate shaft, which is used for winding and travelling ; the water being raised by an 8 in. pump at the Golden Gate, and by a 9 in. pump at King Solomon shaft. Surface preparatory work is very slow, and underground operations are not likely to commence for some time. In the Mahakipawa Valley, mining is confined to thirteen resident miners, who make varied earnings, as their prosperity largely depends on the rainfall. Cody and Jackson recently picked up two nice nuggets, valued at about £10, which are considered to be the forerunners of increased prosperity in the valley. Quite a rush has set in for quartz-areas, and a number have been pegged off. Wakamarina and Deep Creek. —The river and creek being exceptionally low, owing to the very dry season, advantage was taken by the miners to turn the streams at several points, and they have been successful in clearing up the bottom with very encouraging results. Charles Dimante is making further effort to reconstruct the company for a last chance, failing this, mining in the Wakamarina will be a matter of history. Ericon Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —This property may be regarded as practically a thing of the past as far as mining is concerned. The original owners (who have cleared small holdings) make a comfortable living between fossicking and farming. Top Valley. —Since work has been suspended at the quartz-mines, the miners have taken advantage to rake the beds of the low streams, and, on two occasions, with splendid results. Takaka. Takaka Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Charles Campbell, manager). —With the systematic developments judicially carried out under the practical supervision of Mr. Campbell, the consistent returns obtained from this property have proved the venture to be monetarily successful. To facilitate future operations in the construction of fluming and maintenance of water-races, the erection of a sawmill is nearing completion. Pipe-line installations and other works are kept in good order. There are twelve men employed on the property.

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Upper Anatoki. —Owing to the flooded state of the river, inspection of this property was quite impracticable when the district was visited. Inspection of Bartlett's Creek and Onamalutu districts was prevented by the same cause. CoLLINGWOOD. Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing Company (James Bassett, mining-manager).—On the Glenmutchkin section of the property, sluicing operations continue to be actively pushed day and night under a constant water-supply of twenty heads, but unfortunately when the gold-bearing deposits are washed out from underneath the steep elevated terraces, huge slides of fragmentary rocks not only impede profitable operations, but the removal of these accumulations necessitates considerable expenditure. The Glengyle claim is worked only with' the spare water during wet seasons, and large slides of earth are also of frequent occurrence. Quartz Ranges (owner, C. Y. Pell, Nelson). —Sluicing operations are confined to the Debtor's section, and worked by a tribute party of six men. Water-races and other plant are kept in good order, while the remunerative returns obtained are satisfactory to both parties concerned. Rocky River. —All mining operations on this mine continue at a standstill. Slate River Sluicing Company. —The water-supply for the development of this property being limited to the rainfall conserved at considerable altitude, operations were consequently hampered and unsatisfactory even though the auriferous values, if continually worked, are highly remunerative. The company having determined to effect further increased storage-capacity, have meanwhile ceased sluicing operations ; and at the close of the year thirty men were employed in raising and strengthening the main dam, which when completed, will largely increase the conserved area. FilleuVs Freehold, Puponga. —Forbes and party of four men, having obtained the right from Mr. Pilleul to work a section of his property, have constructed one mile of water-race with storage-dam attached. It is proposed to extend the race a further 38 chains to pick up a much larger stream. The wash so far opened out is 10 ft. in thickness, and the results obtained from ground-sluicing a small paddock were considered satisfactory. Mr. Duncan Corby is sinking a series of shafts to prove the auriferous values in Te Hapu Flat : while samples of a white clay are also being taken from a cretaceous bed situated in the same locality. Should this clay be suited for commercial purposes, a syndicate is prepared to develop the property. Karamea district was not visited. Westpoei. Mining on the German creek and its tributaries shows a gradual decline ; operations being chiefly confined to a few old resident miners who have acquired small holdings, and reap the fruit of the old-age pension. Fairdown. —There has been no further effort made to reopen this property. Girder and party have been engaged for some time driving a prospecting-tunnel. Waimangaroa River. —Mining on this river is confined to a few resident parties with variable results. Golden Basin Prospecting Association. —Since my report of last year, nothing further has been done to extend the drive. Bradshaw's Terrace. —Mr. Gillow, having failed to extract gold in payable values from the auriferous sands, after persistently carrying out a prolonged series of mechanical and other tests, has withdrawn his interest in favour of a private party. Halligan and Party. —Since sluicing and elevating operations were commenced on this property, further development has been unimportant, other than the ordinary working which is kept steadily pushed and in good order. Drainage and table-construction were permanently effected in the first instance. Shamrock Claim. —This once sluicing and elevating property, lately owned by Phil. Mclnroe, has been at a standstill and lying under water during the past two years. No efforts are being made to resume operations. Golden Sand. —It would appear that this syndicate has abandoned the property. Addison's Flat. —This sluicing and elevating claim, owned and worked by Carmody and party, is kept in thorough condition, and is actively pushed with lucrative results. Drainage and other operative developments connected with the claim, having been permanently constructed prior to opening the ground, alterations outside the ordinary routine of operations are not important. Charleston. Charleston Beach Sluicing Company. —This company recently purchased the water-rights of the Croninville watershed to work and develop a beach-area north of Powell's property. When inspection was made, the various races and pipe-line connections were completed, while the tables and other accessories were under construction. The various works were in an advanced state of completion, and sluicing was expected to commence early in April. There were nine men employed. Powell's Sluicing and Elevating Claim. —This established sluicing and elevating beach property continues to be persistently and systematically pushed. The main pipe-line having recently been increased and relaid, it is anticipated that the results from the increased volume of sands treated are likely to supersede any past records. Argyle Water-race. —Urgent repairs to this race having been somewhat neglected, alluvial mining in the Charleston district has to a very large extent been hampered. When recently visited, four parties, comprising nine men were using the water when available, but owing to the very limited supply, other parties, who would otherwise avail themselves of the water, did not consider it prudent to open fresh claims. Crushing the auriferous sands is confined to five parties employing twenty-two men. The mills vary from five to ten head of stamps, and work with varied results. Murchison. Maruia Sluicing Claim. —The water-races and pipe-line connections are well maintained, but owing to dearth of water, which is chiefly supplied by rainfall, operations have been much hampered. There are six men employed.

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Messrs. Thomson and Mitchell (four men) were engaged cutting a water-race for the purpose of sluicing the terrace which rises on the opposite side of the Maruia Valley. When visited (25th September, 1903), the party expected to commence sluicing about the end of the current year. Six-mile Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —The varied works, comprising water-races and pipe-line connections, having been completed in a substantial and workmanlike manner, sluicing operations during the preceding nine months have been satisfactory, considering the limited water-supply occasioned by the excessively dry season. Lyell Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Thornhill Cooper, manager).—When this property was visited (27th July, 1903), operations were suspended owing to a large break on the water-race ; the manager and staff of six men being engaged in putting the race in repair. New Creek Syndicate. —Adam Mahr and party are carrying out a series of surface prospectings to define a recently discovered lode. The lode has been intersected by a low level, and a few tons of stone await the completion of a road for transit to the battery. Boatman's. Mining in the Boatman's district is now principally represented by the dredging industry. Alluvial mining is confined to a few old-age pensioners who had established small holdings along the creek-banks in the former palmy days. Grey Valley. Blackwater. —The increased activity recently developed by the introduction of the Blackwater and Greymouth Lagoon dredges, has again given to this old mining settlement quite a tone of prosperity. The Chinese section of the community having recently carried out extensive works to drain the deeper ground, some rich yields are expected. The Miners' Association was granted Government subsidies on Craighead's and O'Flaherty's prospecting-tunnel. Leading from the main Grey Road, the Blackwater Track has been widened and graded suitable for heavy wheel traffic. Ahaura. —So far as alluvial mining is concerned on the Ahaura River, Orwell Creek, and Callaghan's Creek, the European has practically transferred his lot to the Chinese, and from what little information can be gathered, the returns are varied. Red Jack's and Kangaroo Creeks continue to afford employment to ten Europeans and thirty Chinese. No new developments have arisen. Republic Hydraulic Company. —Sluicing is regulated to suit the other parties who use the water from the subsidised water-race. The water-race and pipe-line connections are well maintained. Seven men are employed. Moonlight. —There are five parties employing sixteen men in all, whose earnings attain a high standard. Grey Valley Sluicing Company. —As the result of a large fall of massive rock, caused by the removal of pillars in the Blackball Colliery, the water-race in connection with this property -received extensive damage near its upper reaches ; consequently sluicing was suspended pending the necessary permanent repairs. The Montgomery's Terrace Hydraulic Sluicing Works have been seriously delayed, owing largely to a huge slide from the broken hillside which carried away a considerable section of the newly constructed water-race. Roaring Meg Gold-mining Company. —Meagher and Jamieson have reopened this claim on tribute. The work so far done is chiefly the effecting of repairs. Sorenson and party (three men), and Giacomo Rissa and party (three men) are hydraulic sluicing the same terrace adjoining Jamieson and party. Faulkner and party are ground-sluicing the creek adjacent to Minerva battery during low water ; also during the excessive dry season there were quite a number of fossickers taking advantage of the opportunity to clear out the gorge section of the creek below the battery. Minerva. —All work continues to be suspended on this claim, and when visited there were two heaps of loose rails lying by the side of the tramway ready to be loaded and taken to the Roaring Meg ; both properties belonging practically to the same owner. Garden Gully. —When visited two men were engaged laying out a road from the Roaring Meg waterrace to the mine. This was the only work in progress. No Town Creek and tributaries furnish employment to sixty Europeans, and thirty-two Chinese. There has been no fresh development in alluvial work, dredging being the chief branch of activity. KUMAEA. The sludge-channels and deep levels connected with the various properties were duly inspected, and found to be maintained in an efficient condition and good order. In the No. 3 channel, certain repairs were satisfactorily effected during the year. Kelly , s-terrace Drainage Tunnel. —As the result of a recent inspection, stoppage of considerable extent was discovered, caused by a fall in the incline shaft. To remove the obstruction and effect the necessary repairs, authority has been issued to the Westland County Council for the expenditure of £100. Wheel of Fortune Hydraulic and Elevating Mining Company. —The water-races and other mechanical appliances are giving general satisfaction, but operations were much hampered through- dearth of water. When visited in April last, sufficient water was available to work one elevator only. A notice signed by James Park and D. E. Thornton, attorney, and published in the Hokitika Guardian, dated the 12th July, 1903, stated that they had seized all property belonging to the Wheel of Fortune Hydraulic and Elevator Gold-mining Company (Limited) on behalf of the mortgagees, and that future mining carried out by D. E. Thornton would be on behalf of the Golden Links Gold-mining Company. Back Creek. — Since Johnston and party's subsidised tunnel was completed the authorised distance, mining has been continuously and profitably carried out by eight men on a wash averaging

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5 ft. The various works are securely timbered and well ventilated under the supervision of William Weblet. Minerals (Limited) (R. R. Hunt, Secretary, Auckland). —The preliminary works of sinking a pros-pecting-shaft, extending the main drainage-tunnel, and the bush tramway, have been completed. The new works in hand include the erection of a paddock for saving the gold. The site of the main shaft will be determined after several small prospecting-shafts have been sunk, in order to decide the best place for the main shaft and the permanent works. The discovery of a new lead at the bottom of the prospecting-shaft just sunk gives the company two faces to work upon. The various works are securely timbered and well ventilated. There are fourteen men employed. HOKITIKA. Humphrey's Gully. —Since the extensive water scheme from the upper reaches of the Ahaura River and its tributaries has been completed, sluicing has been continuous night and day on Nos. 1 and 2 faces. Recently the property was let on tribute, and the efficiency of these important works, in their varied departments, is effectively maintained. Including those engaged in the maintainance of water-races, &c, there are twenty-two men permanently employed. Mr. Greenbank (manager) is the authorised representative of the company. Craig's Freehold. —Mining on this property is continued by three responsible parties of tributers employing three, four, and five men respectively. The workings are securely timbered and well ventilated. There has been no fresh development of importance during the year. Ross. Mont dOr. —No change of any importance has been effected during the year. Sluicing has been tnuch retarded, owing to the exceptionally dry season, consequently returns show a proportionate decrease. Water-races, dams, and other working plant, are in good order. Ross United. —The Mont dOr Company recently acquired the right of this property, but so far operations continue on tribute as under the old company. Okarito. Fox and Cook's Rivers. —Lowe and party (six men) are constructing a water-race from the Fox River, a distance of two and a half miles, with the object of effecting hydraulic sluicing on a large scale. Guided by the extensive practical experience which the resident party has acquired relative to the auriferous character of the locality, they are satisfied to spend two years in the construction of a permanent water-supply. Oamarua. —Woodham and McCloud, having just completed a successful series of prospecting, intend to commence sluicing directly their water-race and dam are completed. The various works are substantially built and in a forward state of completion. Watson and Siller's water-race is nearing completion. They anticipate that sluicing will be in full swing in about two months. Meanwhile the timber for development is carried by manual labour a distance of six miles. The Westland Hydraulic and Elevating Company (James Park, attorney, Hokitika). —The No. 2 elevator located just above the junction of the Callery and Glacier streams is worked on day wage, but when visited they had not washed up. On the No. 1 elevator, the tributers threaten to relinquish their tribute unless the next washing shows decided improvement. Water-races, pipe-line connections, and all mechanical installations are well maintained and in splendid working-order. Me Vicar and Pannington with four others had completed arrangements to cross the Buster on the head waters of the Callery. On previous visits, during heavy frosts when streams are in low water, operations were very successful. Should the season be favourable, the trip will extend three or four months. Waiho River. —Woodham, Batson, and Irwin parties, including fourteen men in all, are bringing up tail-races to operate on the bed of the river. Gammon, Graham, and party, under an unregistered mining privilege, were working in the bed of the Waiho River to the detriment of the foundations and approaches of the bridge. At the instance of the Assistant Inspector of Mines, in the Warden's Court (2"-th November, 1903), a renewal of the application was opposed and struck out. DREDGING. A review for the past year of the gold-dredging industry as affecting the West Coast, does not disclose developments of importance conducive to stimulate or encourage the anxious investor to freely subscribe capital to an industry heretofore prejudicially affected by reckless speculation. It is true, nevertheless, where dredges of suitable construction are judiciously employed, profitable returns prove more consistent, and the term " sound investment "is more evenly qualified. By comparison of the revenue earned by a dredge termed " payable " in the ratio of the capital invested therein, practical experience has proved conclusively, that only in the minority of cases does the yield afford a profitable return. With reference to the cost of working, breakage of machinery as an item of expenditure has always been underestimated, and the attention which should be directed towards economy and success has also been insufficiently considered, in short, these ruinous breakdowns and stoppages are simply looked upon as a natural and unavoidable sequence peculiarly suited to meet mechanical-engineering requirements. Referring to the profitable extraction from the auriferous black-sand deposits, so abundantly distributed on the West Coast beaches, it is singular that notwithstanding the liberal inducement set forth by the Hon. the Minister of Mines to encourage scientific research, the problem, so far as demonstrated, has reached no higher altitude in the path of progress than the ordinary plush tables.

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Working Dredges Inspected.

Name and Situation of Dredge. Owners. ame and Situation of Dredge. Dredgemasters. Remarks. | Marlborough. Egmont ... ... Alpine Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) 1/9/03: Effecting repairs. 22/1/04: Now dredging in Top Vallej Creek. 16/2/04 : Eules well complied with. Working one shift. 3/9/03 : Stranded during the late flood, and a contract for £600 lei for refloating. Wangapeka ... ... Wangapeka Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... Golden Point ... ... Golden Point Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... F. A. Palmer W. Turnbull CoUingwood. Aorere Eiver ... ... : Aorere Eiver Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... Parapara ... ... Duncan Corby 15/9/03 : Still stranded. 15/9/03 : Sunk. Now about to be raised. D. Corby Buller Biver and Tributaries. Old Diggings ... ... j Hansen and party Eocklands Beach ... j Eocklands Beach Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Premier Buller ... I Premier Buller Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Welcome ... ... Welcome Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Buller Junction ... Buller Junction Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Mokoia ... ... Mokoia Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Peddersen ... ... Feddersen Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Fern Flat ... ... Fern Flat Proprietary (Ltd.) ... Amikitia ... ... Amikitia Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Kohikohi ... ... Kohikohi Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Al Dredge ... ... Al Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... A. G. Skilton ... D. McLean W.H. Kitto J.T.Taylor Smith Smeaton ... W. L. Crookston... Peter McVicar ... E. Liddicoat T. Warne T. Warne A. Thompson 16/10/03 :[}Not|inspeeted owing to heavy flood. 16/10/03 : Standing for repairs. 16/10/03 : Not working on account of flood. 16/10/03 : Eegulations fully complied with. 15/12/03 : Not visited on account of flood. 15/12/03 : Undergoing a general overhaul and a new screen. 23/12/03: Stranded. 24/9/03 : Working on tribute. Eules well complied with. 24/9/03 : Eules well complied with. 24/9/03 : Undergoing extensive overhaul. 23/10/03 : Elevator handrail, gangway over well-hole, and life-buoys required attention. 23/10/03 : Life-lines, life-buoys, and boat-hooks required attention. Recently commenced dredging. Eeeves's Proprietary ... Eeeves's Proprietary Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Boatman's Creek ... Boatman's Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Eobert Scott W. G. Mouat ... Grey Biver and Tributaries. M. C. Cuff George Lees A. Crumpton W. McKenzie ... J. McAuley 11/12/03 : Eules fully complied with. New copy of rules posted. 9/10/03 : Undergoing thorough overhaul. 11/12/03 : Eules fully complied with, except boat-hooks. 11/10/03 : Life-buoy, life-line, and boat-hook wanted. 11/10/03: Standing. Not visited. 12/11/03 : Standing, pending reconstruction of company. Blaokwater ... ... Blaokwater Eiver Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Mawhera ... ... Mawhera Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Lagoon ... ... Greymouth Lagoon Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Watterson's Ahaura ... Watterson's Ahaura Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Erickson's Eeward ... Erickson's Eeward Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Daylight ... ... Daylight Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Victory ... ... Victory Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.)

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Working Dredges Inspected— continued.

Name and Situation of Dredge. Owners. Dredgemasters. Remarks. Grey Biver and Tributaries, —continued. Trafalgar Nelson Creek ... Pactolus Aldinga Garibaldi Moonlight Callaghan's Creek Eed Jack's Bignell's No Town North Beach ... Mosquito Mosquito No. 2 Grey Eiver No Town Westland Bivers and Tributaries. Maori King ... Cornwall Leviathan Freehold Leviathan Stony and Mosquito Greenstone Junction ... Greenstone Three-mile ... Greenstone Creek Stafford-Waimea Woodstock New Commissioners' Flat Prince of Wales Trafalgar Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Nelson Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... Pactolus Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Aldinga Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Garibaldi Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Moonlight Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Callaghan's Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Eed Jack's Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Bignell's No Town Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) North Beach Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... Mosquito Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Mosquito No. 2 Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Grey Eiver Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) No Town Creek Gold-dredging Go. (Ltd.) «3i0iJ -■• 23/11/03: Sunk. A. E. Edmonds ... 12/11/03 : Rules well complied with. .James Cowan ... 12/11/03: Rules well complied with, except boat and life-line. N. K. Sligo ... 11/11/03: Rules well complied with, except light lines and boat-hooks. 27/7/03: Undergoing extensive repairs. 11/10/03: Standing. J.W.Russell ... 27/10/03 : Sunk in 5 ft. of water. David Clark ... Not visited. J. C. Nicholson ... 28/7/03 : Life-lines, boat-hooks, and bars across doorways required. W. Wylie ... 14/11/03 : Nearly completed. James Gilroy ... Not visited. A. E. Morel _, ... 16/11/03 : Eules well complied with, except railing on hatchway. C. J. Swann ... 16/11/03 : Eules complied with, except bar across doorway. ~ : «:.?Now Mawhera. A. Cowan ... 27/7/03 : Eules well complied with, except bar across doorways. Maori King Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Cornwall Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Leviathan Freehold Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Leviathan Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Stony and Mosquito Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Greenstone Junction Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Three-mile Greenstone Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) ... Greenstone Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Stafford-Waimea Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Woodstock Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Commissioners' Flat Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Prince of Wales Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) 7/11/03: Standing. Walter Houching 22/5/03 : Undergoing general overhaul. 7/11/03 : Standing. D. Sutherland ... 23/5/03 : Eules well complied with. G. G. McAlpine ... 23/5/03 : Life-line, boat-hook, and proper oars required. James Bennett ... ' 4/5/03 : Eules well complied with, except handrail on gangway. J. G. Donaldson ... 4/5/03 : Eules well complied with. Large boat undergoing repairs. Alex. Cowie ... 22/4/03: Eules well carried out. George Wilson . 7/11/03 : Eules posted on this date. D.Sutherland ... ; 2/12/03: Standing for urgent repairs. B. Naylor ... 29/10/03 : Boat containing a life-line and boat-hook required. James Sunderland ; 2/11/03 : Eules well complied with. Boat smashed while Inspector on board. David McMath ... 2/11/03 : Attention was directed to the dilapidated state of the elevator gangways. Andrew Dal ziel ... 30/4/03: Expect to start end of May. Kohinoor Kohinoor Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Wanganui-Wataroa Wanganui-Wataroa Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) i

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OTHER MINERALS THAN GOLD. Nelson. The Minerals Belt Copper-mining Company (Limited) (A. B. Morgan, Secretary, Cashel Street, Christchurch). —This company, having recently acquired a leasehold of 800 acres, is actively pushing developments towards clearing and retimbering the old tunnels formerly driven in the Munster and United sections. Unfortunately plans or records of the old workings are not available, and increased expenditure is thus unnecessarily incurred to complete the varied and difficult works. However, with the efficient care exercised, the works so far completed are substantial and well ventilated. In the Champion Mine, four men were employed for about three months clearing and retimbering, but owing to the expensive and difficult character of the ground, progress in that direction was abandoned, and a new crosscut commenced, which at the time of visiting, was driven 12 ft. and prepared for timber. Thirteen men are employed. Meanwhile, the transit of food and mine-material is a grave consideration owing largely to the rough and unsatisfactory condition of the roads and track leading to the ground. Washbourne Bros.' Works (Collingwood). —Since the yellow paints manufactured from the crude ore were introduced into the market, increased output has been steadily maintained. ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Quartz-mines. Golden Ridge Mine. —(22-1-03) : Hugh Evans sustained slight injuries returning to a shot. Golden Fleece. —(6-1-03) : Patrick Breen sustained slight injuries by falling down a pass. Progress Mines. —(3-7-03) : Henry Olsen and Charles Dawson sustained serious injuries by the explosion of a supposed miss-shot. Olsen lost left arm above the elbow, and Dawson sustained injuries to both eyes. Hydraulic and Alluvial Mines. Kumara. —(29-6-03) : Chow Yun was killed by a fall of ground in the face. Capleston. —(l2—ll—o3) : John Mamx was killed by a fall of earth in his sluicing claim. Dredges. Premier. —(1-9-03) : Thomas Freeman was drowned while running out lines. Body not recovered. Greenstone Creek. —(21-4-03) : Moses Barrowman was drowned while boating. Daydawn. —(24-4-03) : John Sim sustained fracture of left leg erecting machinery. Grey River Extended. —(24-4-03) : Edward Geoghan drowned. Greenstone Creek.— Albert Labes lost left arm while oiling machinery in motion. I have, &c, R. Tennent, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Office of Inspector of Mines (Southern District), Dunedin, 31st March, 1904. I have the honour to forward the accompanying reports on quartz-mines, hydraulic sluicing, and alluvial mines, and gold-dredges, in the Otago and Southland Districts for the year ending the 31st December, 1903. quartz-mining. Shotover. Achilles Gold-mines, Bullendale. —After lying idle for eighteen months, during which period the , English Company went into liquidation, the property was purchased by Messrs. Robert Lee and party, and work is to be recommenced at an early date. Shotover Quartz-mining Company, Skipper's. —(7-12-1903) : During the year a substantial ten-head battery, designed by and erected under the supervision of the company's engineer, Mr. D. B. Waters, has been installed in place of the old battery which had done duty for over thirty years. A fresh start was made to stope out quartz in the mine in October, although some prospecting-work had been done during the time the battery was being erected. Mr. C. Rillstone, the mine-manager, resigned late in the year and the vacancy was filled by the appointment of Mr. P. T. Ware, an English mine-manager with foreign experience, under whose directions stoping was continued and some good stone sent to the battery. The main adit is in good order and well timbered. The stopes are 30 ft. in length and filling is kept well up, very little timber being used or required in the stopes, the walls being hard and unbroken. The ventilating-fan, water-driven, works satisfactorily and supplies good air to the stopes. Shots are fired judiciously, so that the men do not work in an atmosphere vitiated by smoke and fumes. Ten men are employed in the mine. Two men were attending to the battery, while three men were engaged on surface-works. Explosives are kept in a suitable locked magazine outside the mine. Rules posted. Aspinatt's Reef, Packer's Point, Skipper's. —(B-12-1903) : Mr. Ring took out 10 tons of this stone for battery treatment which yielded at the rate of 10 dwt. per ton. The big reef is 4 ft. 6 in. in width with a parallel leader 6 in. in width 30 ft. apart. The big reef is highly charged with arsenical pyrites. As clean stone the small leader would yield 1 oz. of gold per ton of quartz, Mr. Ring has latterly abandoned the property.

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The reef outcropping on the eastern bank of the Shotover River opposite the Shotover Quartzmining Company's mine has been taken up by Mr. Cleave of Invercargill. At the time of my visit one man was engaged exposing a block of stone on the hanging-wall, but no developments of any consequence had taken place. The reef known as the Crystal reef was taken up by a party and some prospecting undertaken. The reef is wide, but very little work has been done upon it. Reefton United Quartz-mining Company, Shipper's Point. —(8-12-1903) : Since last visit the work of driving the crosscut to the reef had been completed and the reef was struck at 100 ft. The reef averages 2 ft. 6 in. at this point with a leader 9 in. wide running parallel to the main reef. Some driving was done along both these, and a leading stope taken out over 30 ft. on the reef. Some 10 tons of stone from reef and leader were packed out and taken to the Shotover Gold-mining Company's battery. lam informed that the stone yielded at the rate of over 1 oz. per ton of quartz. At the time of my visit, Mr. Ring, one of the Reefton shareholders in this property, was in charge and was awaiting advice from the company as to further development of the mine and erection of battery. William Keating''s Prospecting Claim, Upper Shotover. —Mr. Keating has done a considerable amount of prospecting by tunnelling for quartz-reefs at the Blue Slip, Upper Shotover. As a result of his operations he claims to have located several reefs in the locality. Macetown. Premier Sunrise (New Zealand) Gold-mining Company (Limited) (W. Patton, mine-manager, Macetown). —During the year 1903, the present company bought this property from the Indian Glenrook (Wynaad) Gold-mining Company. This mine has been worked continuously throughout the year, despite the unusual severity of the past winter. The reef continues mullocky and is by no means continuous through all the stopes, one of the drawbacks being that the backs are shallow — i.e., up to 50 ft. or 60 ft. Blank patches met with in the line of reef interfere with consistent gold-returns. The incline-face is continuously pushed ahead in advance of working stopes and is now down a distance of 1,690 ft., measured along the dip, at an inclination of lin 4. Two shifts of eight hours each are worked, and twenty men are engaged in the dip-face and the stopes. The reef is narrow and the stopes are kept well stowed up, minimising the requirements of stoping-timber. The main dip is very heavily timbered and kept in fair condition. The air in the mine was dull on the date of my visit and must be more so after shot-firing. The water-blast erected last year has done good work, but the manager has decided to substitute pipes of a larger diameter for conveying the air down the dip. The return airway for a considerable distance is heavy and difficult to keep open. Even at the present depth of the mine it is surprising how little water is met with.' The drainage-water is collected in sumps and drawn out of the dip in large tanks. The battery runs eight hours per day, two men and one boy being capable of looking after the fifteen heads of stamps in use. Tailings are collected, and after being sufficiently oxidised, are treated successfully by the cyanide process. Mr. Patton writes as follows :" I beg to submit the following report of work accomplished in the mine for the half-year ending the 31st December, 1903. Work in the mine was carried on almost continuously during the half-year. A stoppage of one week and three days in the incline-face was caused through an accident to the armature of our generator (electric plant) in the mill, during October, which also caused a stoppage of work for a week in the stopes. During the time these works were stopped, advantage was taken to have some necessary repairs carried out in the incline and ventilation-passage, so that part of the men were employed to advantage. The new electric-generator was started on the 27th October, and has been working fairly satisfactorily up to the present time. This new dynamo is situated about a mile and a quarter from the mine motor, which latter drives the hauling-gear at the top of the incline tunnel. A telephone was erected between the new generator and the motor, which has proved of immense service to us. The damaged armature is now being repaired so that we shall have a spare machine in case of another accident. Incline : During the half-year one shift of two men were employed for twenty-four weeks, during which time a distance of 72 ft. was driven at a cost per foot of £2 7s. 9d., including all expenses. No gold-bearing stone was met with. No. 35 rise": This rise'was put up to a height of 14 ft., and at this height a crosscut was started to cut the line of reef and connect with the opening tunnel, which was being driven along at the bottom of the chute of stone. The total length of this crosscut is 51 ft. in the footwall, and it has been driven through very hard country. Opening tunnel from No. 34 pass : This tunnel was driven a distance of 54 ft. from No. 34 pass, at which point it was found that the reef had taken a dip, thus necessitating sinking on the reef to a depth of 10 ft., where we found that the reef had taken its usual underlie, and still continued towards the incline tunnel. A drive was then started for the purpose of following the reef, and also to connect with No. 35 crosscut. The reef continued 23 ft. from the opening tunnel towards the pass. Stoping : During the half-year stoping has been carried on between passes Nos. 30 and 40. The reef, as usual, varied very much in size and quality. It cut out in several places completely, and at times ran up to about 3h ft. in width. Repairing : Two men have been employed during the greater part of the half-year repairing the incline tunnel and ventilation-passage, and a large amount of timber has been used. 1,800 ft. of 6 in. galvanised-iron air-pipes were procured for installing in the incline in place of 4 in.; which latter had proved too small for carrying sufficient air to ventilate the workings. These larger air-pipes are being erected as repairing-work proceeds in the incline tunnel. Milling : During the half-year 1,265 tons of quartz was crushed for a yield of 793 oz. 19 dwt. 19 gr. smelted gold, valued at £3.184 (approximately). The mill has had a steady half-year's work, with the exception of an accident which was caused by a heavy flood in October. Cyanide : The concentrates that have accumulated during the half-year are only now being treated. Financial result: The financial result of the half-year's operations has not been so good as usual; this is owing to several poor patches of ore having been met with, and also to heavy expenses which had to be incurred for timber and machinery : However, the mine has paid its way from start to finish and has remitted £100 to the London office.

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In addition to this, we have spent £171 14s. 9d. on Mine Development Account, £143 4s. 3d. on New Plant Account, £4 Os. 3d. on New Buildings Account, and £12 15s. 6d. on Prospecting Account, all of which works are chargeable to capital. On Mining Account, that is, rising, crosscutting and stoping, the sum of £1,366 Bs. has been spent to obtain 1,098 tons of ore, or an average of £1 4s. 9d. per ton mined. 1,265 tons of ore was milled at a cost of £251 19s. Bd. or an average of 3s. lid. per ton milled. The treatment of 15 tons of concentrates was omitted from the previous half-year's report, which yielded 101 oz. 9 dwt. 15 gr., valued at £308 Is. 6d. It has cost £162 9s. for mine-maintenance—that is, keeping the main low-level adit, incline, and the return ventilation-tunnel in repair. The total expenditure on revenue accounts for the half-year, all charges, amounted to £2,580 4s. 9d., or an average of £2 3s. 4d. per ton mined and milled. Development-work : I have been strongly of opinion for some time past that there is a good prospect of striking payable stone between passes Nos. 14 and 20 in the incline. I may state that from passes Nos. 1 to 14 there were two reefs ; one in the hanging-wall and one in the footwall. The hanging-wall reef was met with in the incline tunnel and was of fair quality, and on being worked up to a height of 20 ft. at No. 1 pass, indications led us to believe that a reef existed in the footwall; a crosscut was consequently started, and a distance of 15 ft. driven, when the footwall reef was discovered and found to be of good quality. This chute of stone continued and was worked down to No. 14 pass when it ran small but was still gold-bearing. Mr. Stanford (who was manager at the time) considered that it was too expensive to open up, and it was decided to discontinue operations on this line. The distance to rise from the incline to cut this line will be between 65 ft. and 70 ft. lam of opinion that if this reef was picked up again and followed, it would prove payable. I have often thought of going on with this work, and my only reason for not doing so long ago was the possibility of the reef not being so good as I believe it is, and perhaps not proving remunerative. There is, of course, a certain amount of risk, but, at the same time, I believe we ought to open up this line again. Our margin of profit has been so small lately, owing to the great amount of deadwork to be carried out in opening up our present workings, that lam almost afraid to start any new work. The above is work that I would recommend, and will be glad if the directors will sanction it. There is another venture that lam of opinion offers a fair chance of success, and that is, to drive back on the line of reef, from the incline, say from pass No. 20. This drive would be towards the east and would be under the present incline tunnel. This would, I think, be a good move as it would cut any chutes of stone that may have gone underfoot from the incline. This, I think, is all the more desirable, as it is an utter impossibility to approach this ground from any other point, as our present low-level adit has,been driven from the lowest possible point obtainable — namely, the creek-level —so that our present incline is the only means by which the Premier Mine can be worked. Ido not know of any other work that I would recommend in connection with the mine, except that which can be carried out from the incline." Tipperary Mine (owners, the Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Company (Limited), Macetown). —Mr. William Patton, manager, writes : " I beg to report that having received instructions from the London oard of directors, I resumed work at the Tipperary Mine on the 4th December, last. Ventilation : This mine having been closed down for about five years, was found, on resuming work on the 4th December to be full of bad air, so that it was impossible to get through to ascertain what state the main adit was in. The first thing to do under the circumstances was to construct a water blast, so as to enable us to go on with repairing-work. This work was successfully carried out, so that we are now pushing ahead with the repairs, which prove to be more serious than I expected owing to the large chamber at the hauling-shaft being broken down, but it is impossible to say to what extent, as the tunnel is filled up, and access to the inner part of the tunnel is impossible in the meantime. Eepairing Tram-line from Mine to Mill: This work is almost completed and a good job is being made of it. A good deal of damage was done to the line by heavy floods in the spring, which carried away some of the walls along the banks of the creek. These, however, are almost all rebuilt, and in about two weeks the road will be in work-ing-order. Cleaning and Repairing Water-race : This work will be taken in hand immediately the tramline is finished, and will take some time to complete as the race is filled up in places. There is also a long stretch of wooden boxes, which will require renewing (the length being about 100 ft.), and will cost £10 to £15. We shall, however, have this work carried out as cheaply as possible until the reef is tested." Cromwell. Cromwell Proprietary Gold-mining Company, Bendigo (C. S. Reeves, legal manager).—As stated in last year's report this property was let on tribute to the Bendigo Gold-mining Company (Limited), by whom it was sublet on tribute to M. B. Edwards and party. Operations, however, have not been in the direction of the development of the mine, but have been confined to prospecting for payable stone in the higher levels. To further test the permanency and value of the stone at depth, the proposed lowlevel tunnel from Bendigo Gully will require to be driven. This proposal received due consideration from the London board of directors, but the desired instructions are not forthcoming. Tenders were subsequently called for the purchase of the property of the Cromwell Proprietary Gold-mining Company (Limited) of Bendigo, consisting of mining-licenses, water-races, winding and crushing plant, and the whole concern was sold at a small figure to Mr. D. B. Waters, mining-engineer, who, it is understood, was acting on behalf of a small syndicate. Bendigo Tailings Syndicate, Bendigo (S. E. Brent, secretary).—Cyaniding operations were carried on until the clean tailings in the storage-dam became exhausted. Attention was then turned to the accumulation of battery-tailings, which had been discharged into the creek and allowed to run to waste for many years, and are now lying spread out from the foot of Bendigo Gully. The deposit is covered by creek debris, and a much larger plant is required than the one in use in order to treat the tailings profitably. Some preliminary work was done, but operations had been suspended for the greater part of the year.

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Alta Mine, Bendigo (H. Holmes, mine-manager).—A level was driven to strike the reef from the battery level, and about 100 tons of stone taken out and treated in the battery. The high results anticipated from this mine were not realised as the stone is low-grade and patchy. Latterly only one man has been engaged on prospecting-work in the mine. A five-head stamper-battery was erected at the mine and power supplied by a 7-horse power oil-engine. Later information from the mine is to the effect that a scheelite lode has been struck, running parallel to the reef-walls. Bannockburn. Go-bye Mine, Carrick Ranges (J. B. Holliday, owner). —Mr. Holliday has been prospecting on this property for the past six years. A large amount of driving has been done but without meeting with a body of payable stone. In spite of the want of success as yet attending his exertions, Mr. Holliday displays his confidence in the future of the Carrick Ranges as a quartz-mining field, by the persevering manner in which he carries on his prospecting operations. Messrs. Lawrence Bros., Carrick Ranges. —No work has been done on Messrs. Lawrence Bros.' property this year. During the year several syndicates turned their attention to the Carrick Ranges. Some desultory prospecting was indulged in from which no permanent results eventuated. There is a wide field for reefing on these ranges, but the stone is mainly refractory and requires special treatment. Bald Hill Flat. White , s Reef, Bald Hill Flat (R. T. Symes).—The prospecting-drive has been extended 100 ft., during the year, making a total length of 750 ft. driven along the hanging-wall of the reef. At the face of the drive the footwall is coming in, the country is getting harder, and good stone may be expected shortly. The payable chute of stone found by White's company is overhead, there being 110 ft. of backs in which a rise is now being put up. The prospecting-drive stands well with occasional renewal of timber. Two men are generally employed in and about the mine. Quartz leaders carrying gold are met with. The quartz is treated in the five-head stamper-battery. Excelsior Mine Bald Hill Flat (F. W. Gray).—This mine is in good order, timber excellent, and ventilation good. Mr. Gray, the mine-owner, supplies the following interesting information re this mine: " Work has been carried on as usual during the year at this mine, an average of four men being employed. The principal work done during that time has been the stoping of stone and prospecting-work underfoot or below the working-level which runs into the hill some 330 ft. from the battery. Although the stone loses nothing in quality, in depth it is, owing to the wet nature of the ground, becoming more difficult to work, and the owners contemplate abandoning this mode of working and driving a still lower level to tap the stone at greater depths, or trying further along the line of reef for some fresh chutes. Since last Christmas up to the present time —October —some 215 oz. of gold, valued at £3 18s.per ounce have been obtained, which provided a fair margin for profit over working-expenses. The reef in this mine is of a heavy mullocky nature, the walls being stone 12 ft. apart. The gold-bearing run of quartz, however, rarely exceeds 3 ft. in width, and is bunchy. The ground requires to be close-timbered, and the working of the mine is somewhat difficult. This mine is a paying one, and the owners are confident that if solid country is met with at greater depths, better quartz will be obtained." Rough Ridge. Rough Ridge Quartz Reef, Rough Ridge (F. H. Perry). —Very little work has been done on this property during the past year. Waipori. During the year there has been absolutely nothing done in this district in the way of quartz-mining, and there is nothing at present to indicate that a revival will take place in the near future. O.P.Q. (Waipori) Gold-mining Company (Limited) (A. E. Inder, manager). —After about eighteen months' crushing with a ten-stamp battery, which produced gold to the value of £15,000, it was recognised that cartage so increased the cost of fuel that radical alterations to the power plant were necessary to enable the mine to be worked to advantage. With considerable reserves of ore in sight, operations were suspended, and a proposal submitted to the board of directors to replace the steam plant with water-power, and the rights were acquired to enable this to be done. Another power available would be electricity, obtainable from the Waipori Falls Electric Power Supply Company. Little difficulty was anticipated in raising the capital necessary to carry out the proposed alterations and to develop the mine to a greater depth. The returns from the mine and the favourable opinion formed by the chairman of the board when he visited the property with an expert adviser were, it was thought, sufficient guarantee that the money would be forthcoming. The scheme submitted to shareholders provided for the raising of £15,000 by means of preference shares, which should be entitled to the whole profits of working until the money so raised was returned, after which preference shareholders were to rank as half-owners of the property. Unfortunately, the fortunes of the O.P.Q. Mine were so involved with those of other ventures in New Zealand, Victoria, and British Columbia, that capital was not so readily obtainable as it probably would have been had the mine stood alone. A large proportion of the shares were subscribed within a very short time. The balance, however, failed to go off, the antipathy of the English investor to things New Zealand dooming the scheme to failure. The main shaft on the property was sunk to a depth of 285 ft., inclusive of a sump 15 ft. deep. The lowest level driven is therefore less than 270 ft. below the shaft-collar. The mine had previously been worked from a shaft, the bottom of which corresponds to the present company's 180 ft. level. Thus the new ground opened up by the present shaft is less than 90 ft. in vertical depth. The continuity of the quartz chute has now been proved from the surface to the lowest level, where two veins of rich quartz continue strong underfoot. Although

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this part of the mine contains the richest ore, other portions of the lode worked from adit levels have produced large quantities of quartz of lower grade, but still rich enough to show a good margin of profit with the cheaper motive power. Although the boilers and engine providing the power at the mill are altogether unsuitable for a place where the cost of coal is so high, they are still first-rate machines of their type. The winding and pumping machinery is good and sufficient for its purpose, while the crushing plant, a battery of ten stamps, is, for its size, probably second to none in the colony. The two vanners in use have proved a valuable addition to the gold-saving plant, and have shown the advisability of an addition to the number of these useful machines. The tailings from the mill have been regularly tested by assay, and do not show a value sufficient to warrant the erection of a cyanide plant. It is possible, however, that stone from the lower-levels would, if treated separately, have shown a different result. The finances of the company did not permit of exhaustive experimenting, and further, the character of the ore from the upper and l&wer levels was so different, that it was found to be advantageous to treat both together. Thus the hard brittle quartz from the lower levels counteracted to some extent the clayey material unavoidably sent to the mill with the sugary quartz won from the upper levels. Although in the meantime there are difficulties in the way of finance, it is probable that these will be overcome, and the mine reopened. It is certainly to be regretted that a mine showing the returns the O.P.Q. has shown when worked under serious disabilities, should be closed down without an opportunity of proving its value by working under more favourable conditions. Bella Reef, Lammerlaw Range. —Want of capital to open up and put on a plant to successfully treat the low-grade stone has hindered the further development of the mine. A sample of concentrates sent to Australia for treatment, and from which good results were anticipated, appears to have gone astray, consequently the mine has been idle throughout the year. Cox's Reef, Lammerlaw Range. —This mine continues to be closed down. Milton. Last Chance Quartz-mine, Canada Reef (Thomas Park, owner). —Area of claim, 59 acres. Mr. Park employed four men taking out 35 tons of quartz, which was crushed for a return of 16 dwt. per ton. Macrae's. Quartz-mining in this district has progressed steadily during the year, while some attention has been directed towards opening up at new points along the line of reef. As stated in last year's report, new machinery has been installed in the district, and more attention is being turned to the proper treatment of battery-tailings and the saving of concentrates. Bonanza Mine, Macrae's (T. Kinvig, mine-manager). —A good deal of the timber throughout the mine has been repaired. The passes and stopes are in good order. Air good all over. Three men are employed in and about the mine. A rise is being put up from 60 ft. level on stone 3 ft. in width. H. N. Mills and Sons, Macrae's. —(l2-3-1903): The battery is idle, and very little crushing has been done during the past twelve months. Most of this has been in prospecting parcels from different points on the field. (25-10-1903) : The battery has been shifted from Macrae's Flat to Horse Plat, and re-erected there. Stone is being mined from a surface-blow close to the battery, but unfortunately the results are not yet satisfactory. Alfred G. Davies, Dunback Hill, Stoneburn. —Davies quarries out a considerable amount of quartz from various points on his freehold property. The stone is crushed in a five-head battery, power being supplied from a Ransome portable steam-boiler and engine. The stone is low-grade, but the tailings have been found to be of some value, and are being saved for future use. GUmour and Party, Dunback Hill, Stoneburn. —Tenders are being called for driving a tunnel 100 ft., more or less, to crosscut on to the reef. Golden Bar Gold-mining Company (D. Peddie, mine-manager).—(l 2-3-1903) : This mine is in good working-order, and a splendid body of stone has been opened out in readiness for stoping. Five men are employed in the mine, and the battery is kept running full time. The stopes are well timbered, and stowed except near the outcrop. The explosives are now stored in a secure surface magazine, and are carefully handled. The five-head stamper-battery is giving satisfaction ; from 60 to 70 tons of quartz being treated per week. (24-10-1903) : This mine is well conducted and in good order. All the stone to the rise of the top working-level has been stoped out, and a lower level has been driven 220 ft. on to the reef. From this level it will be possible to rise 70 ft. through quartz before reaching the top level, which gives the company a grip of a splendid body of stone. The level is in good order, and a good supply of stoping-timber is kept on hand. Six men are usually employed in the mine and three in the battery. The quantity of explosives kept in the mine on this date was excessive, and I advised the manager to reduce the amount considerably. The tailings are now being saved, as the concentrates are found to be valuable. (28-11-1903) : I visited the mine on this date in connection with the fatal accident whereby John Harcus was killed by an explosion of gelignite. Ounce Reef (Spiers and Ross, owners). —(12-3-1903) : W. H. Lidston and party work this mine on tribute, but have not been very successful so far, chiefly owing to the smallness of reef and the distance the ore has to be conveyed to the battery, increasing the cost of winning the gold. Four men found employment here for a few months, but at this date only two men were engaged surface-prospecting on the reef. (24-10-1903) :No one at the mine ; very little work done since my previous visit. Donaldson's Golden Point Mine (J. Pascoe, mine-manager).—(l 2-3-1903) :At this date four men were engaged in an open cut, laying bare a large reef-formation carrying layers of scheelite. The erection of the new ten-head stamper-battery is being proceeded with. (24-10-1903) : Operations had been pursued to the dip of the main drive, and the reef continues the same in value and permanency. This work has been discontinued, and operations are now confined to open-cut work. There is a fair percentage

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of scheelite running through the reef-formation, much of which is clean enough to be handpicked and bagged. A good supply of timber is kept about the mine for required. Tenders are being called for driving a low-level crosscut to cut the reef at depth. The new battery has been fitted up, and runs satisfactorily, whilst the Woodbury shaking-table continues to give satisfactory results. On an average eight miners and three battery hands are employed. Maritana Reef (M. C. McGill). —(12-3-1903) : The battery has been erected and trial crushings made, but owing to scarcity of water, continuous operations were impossible. (24-10-1903) : Further trial crushings with the experimental plant have been made. These prove the presence of free gold in payable quantity, whilst samples of crushed pyrites treated at the Colonial Laboratory were proved to contain gold to the extent of 4 oz. 5 dwt. per ton. Mr. McGill is satisfied that for successful working, the property requires an up-to-date plant driven by steam. A small concentrating-buddle was erected, and the concentrates were proved to be worth £17 per ton in gold and silver. Mount Hiyhlay Quartz-mine. —After a period of inactivity this mine has been placed under option to McGill and Stevenson, and it is understood that the mine will receive a further trial in the near future. Nenthorn. Samuel Stephens' Quartz Claim. —An application for a license over a special quartz claim, comprising 20 acres, in Nenthorn District, was granted to Samuel Stephens in August, 1903. Alexander Ewartfs Quartz Claim. —A license over a special quartz claim consisting of 30 acres in the Nenthern Mining District, was granted to Alexander Ewart in August, 1903. Barewood. Barewood Gold-mining Company, Barewood (W. E. Hitchcock, manager). —Operations had hitherto been carried on to the rise of the 130 ft. level, but workings are now confined to the 188 ft. level, in which nine men are engaged timbering and taking out leading stopes. The gold-bearing chute is on the hanging-wall, and runs from 10 in. in width up to 4 ft. or 5 ft. There is no work doing to theorise of this. All the stoped ground to the rise is filled in, and none is standing open except the levels and passes. Ventilation good. A rise has been put up to the intermediate level. Plans have been prepared for a new battery, and the housing and framing are being erected on the site. A new winding plant has been procured and erected on the mine. The shaft has been put in thorough working-order, and a safety-cage " Robert's Special " Bendigo, Victoria, has been installed fitted with safety-catches and Middleton detaching-hooks. The poppet-heads have been overhauled and put in a good state of repair. The company has acquired a new lease on the line of reef, and a considerable amount of surface-pros-pecting has been done. The mine is in good order. Ventilation fair. Two men are employed in the stopes, the greater number of the men being engaged on surface-works. Eighteen men are employed in and about the mine. Stewart Island. Baden-Powell Quartz-mine (Widdowson and party, A. Pascoe, secretary, Invercargill).—This party hold a special reefing-claim of 99 acres. Three men are employed, but up to the present operations have only been in the stages of development. Preservation Inlet and South-west Coast op Otago. At the New Star (formerly Morning Star) Mine, Preservation Inlet, after full six months' deadwork, the tributers recently found a small shoot of stone carrying gold, which is expected to lead to something better. Six quartz-miners are working in this mine, four alluvial miners at Coal Island, three alluvial miners at Sealers No. 2, two alluvial miners at Southport, and a caretaker at the Golden Site Quartzmine. Prospecting on the south-west coast is rendered difficult by the steep and mountainous nature of the country, which is covered with dense bush. The s.s. " Rimu " and the s.s. " Invercargill " run regularly to Preservation Inlet, being subsidised by the Mines and Postal Departments, and the Government steamer " Hinemoa " makes about three trips during the year, landing stores, &c, at each inhabited place ; but, except in the various sounds, boat-landings are few, and these become dangerous during the prevailing westerly weather. At least one member of any party of prospectors would need to have had some previous experience of boating on the south-west coast. The overland tracks from East to West Coast are : Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound ; Glenorchy to Martin's Bay ; and Lake Wanaka, through Haast Pass to Okuru ; but the latter track is not in good order. New Star Mine (tributers, Hawkins, Juncker, and party).—The old tribute having expired, a new tribute was let in January last, work being conducted in No. 1 level, which had been driven on 300 ft., and stoped on a blank face, no stone showing. At a distance of 380 ft. boulders of quartz were met with, gradually making into a chute of stone 10 in. to 12 in. in width. At 410 ft. a rise was put up 20 ft., stone continuing, and indications hopeful; walls, 5 ft. to 6 ft. apart. The lode consists of white quartz, carrying pyrites and a little galena, and the quartz gives a return of about 6 dwt. of gold per ton, each successive crushing being an improvement on the previous one. HYDRAULIC SLUICING AND ALLUVIAL MINING. Maebewhenua District. Owing no doubt to the favourable season for water, but more particularly to the supply available from the Mountain Hut Water-race, mining on the Maerewhenua Diggings is now being more vigorously prosecuted than for many years past. The claims on this field resemble each other, in that ground-sluic-ing is the universal method of work adopted, and stripping from 10 ft. to 40 ft. in thickness, composed

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of clay and gravel bands, is seen resting on a greensand bed of marine origin. The greensand bed which mayjDe taken as being about 6 ft. in thickness, carries a few colours of gold throughout, and where the " black seam " comes in—as it does on several of the claims —the " prospects " are fairly good, but the best wash is found underlying the marine bed, and varies in the several claims from 1 ft. to 3 ft. in thickness. The pay-wash is resting on a soft false bottom (or " Maori bottom "asit is sometimes called) into which the tail-races are cut into deep channels owing to attrition of tailings and water from the claims. Generally speaking, the material treated is of a free nature and easily dealt with, which is fortunate under ruling conditions of lack of plentiful water-supply under pressure. It is found that the claims on the lower levels are becoming somewhat hampered for want of fall for tailings, but the majority of the claims now being worked are" on the higher ground, where consequently increased fall is gained at the expense of loss of water-pressure. About thirty-seven men are at present employed on the field ; six claims employing thirteen men obtaining water-supplies from private races, while some twelve claims employing twenty-four men are dependent upon the Mountain Hut Race. George Adams. —About five heads of water being brought in by private race from Sheepwash Creek. Five men employed. Becket and Bayley.—Three heads of water-race eight miles in length from Bushey Creek. Three men employed. Joseph Frater. —No. 1 claim : Water from private race brought in from Ben Lomond. Three men employed. No. 2 claim :At Thistle Hill, new claim being opened out. Meikle and McAlinden. —Two claims in the " lower" greensand. Water obtained from the Pioneer Race, a private supply. Claims Supplied from Mountain Hut Water-race. Barnes and Russell. —Opening out new claim on Thistle Hill. Two heads of water used. Two men employed. Thomas Cooper. —Opening out new claim. One man. Thomas Duffy. —New claim. Two men employed Bloomfield and Adams. —Two men employed. White and Donegan. —Claim recently opened up. Water conveyed from race to claim by 600 ft. of piping reduced from 18 in. diameter at intake to 9 in. diameter in paddock. James Brayshaw. —New claim, face 50 ft. in height. Pipe-line, 1,200 ft. in length ; intake 24 in. diameter reduced to 11 in. diameter. Two men. Charles Adams. —Claim recently opened out. Pipe-line 1,000 ft. reduced from 18 in. diameter to 9 in. diameter. Three men. J. Rogers.—One of the new claims. 800 ft. piping 18 in. diameter reduced to 9 in. diameter. Two men. G. Campbell. —New claim. Pipe-line, 600 ft. Two men. George Adams, Jun. —New claim. Pipe-line, 400 ft. Two men. Buckley and O'Donnell. —New claim. Two men. J. O'Donnell. —New claim. Two men. Manuka Creek. Stewart's Sluicing Claim, Manuka Creek. —Mr. Stewart having died during the year there is very little doing now on this property. Waitahuna. German Flat Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company (A. Sutherland and party). —Three men find employment on this claim from which the gold-returns are not large. It is proposed to extend the water-race to a claim in Waitahuna Gully, from which better results are expected. German Flat has proved a poor mining property for the expenditure of capital. Upper German Flat Hydraulic Sluicing Claim (S. Johnston and N. Girvan). —Area, 14 acres. Claim worked by the two shareholders who also employ a third man. The claim affords the shareholders fair wages. Waitahuna Gully. City of Dublin Sluicing Claim (J. Ferris and party).—Ground-sluicing operations are still being carried on in the cement face. Quilter and Sons , Hydraulic Elevating Claim. —This claim has a very poor water-supply, and only affords employment for two men in the daytime. Thompson and party (Norwegian Company) (C. Thompson, manager).—The plant is still operating on the flat in Waitahuna Gully. Sailor's Gully (Waitahuna) Gold-mining Company (Limited) (A. Barr, manager). —Area, 64 acres. This claim is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Favourable results are obtained from this property on which operations are now being conducted in the cement-deposit. Four men are employed. Waitahuna Gold-dredging Company. —Two unsuccessful attempts have been made to work this property by means of dredging. The dredge is now sold for removal. As the ground is payably auriferous, it is proposed to extend the German Flat Company's water-race on to this claim and work it by means of hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Area of claim, 61 acres. Wetherstones. Golden Crescent Hydraulic Elevating Company (W. Smythe, manager). —Area, 90 acres. Terrace and flat ground. Sluicing operations have been fairly continuous throughout the year with payable results. An average of seven men were employed throughout the year.

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Golden Rise Hydraulic Elevating Company, Wetherstones (F. Whelan, manager). —Area of claim, 54 acres. Sluicing operations have been continued up the flat, and the claim is said to pay its owners well. The plant being in good order, and the ground easy to work, a large amount of material is sent through the elevator. An average of seven men employed throughout the year. Local Industry Gold-mining Company (W. 0. Dawson, manager).—Area of claim, 50 acres. This plant is still operating on terrace ground at the head of Wetherstones Plat with fair results. Four men employed on the claim. Tuapeka. Blue Spur and Gabriels Gully Consolidated Gold-mining Company, Blue Spur (J. H. Jackson, general manager ; J. Uren, mine-manager).—Operations have been fairly steady throughout the year, but the working-time is regulated by the supply of water available for sluicing and elevating. A start was made to work the deep ground, but success became marred by the collapse of the underground drainage-tunnel at a point unknown. Since then operations have been confined as formerly to the remaining higher parts of the deposit. The material in one section of the face is broken down and swept along a flume tail-race into the hydraulic lift by which it is elevated 70 ft. From the other section the material is broken down, then lifted 60 ft. by one elevator to the foot of another elevator lifting 70 ft. An average of twenty-six men are employed. Mr. J. Howard Jackson, general manager for the company, kindly furnishes the following extracts of statistics and information from his report to directors in London relative to the working of their mine. Amount of cement treated, 170,562 cubic yards ; amount of water used for sluicing, 407,385,000 cubic feet; amount of water used for pumping, 31,725,000 cubic feet: total water used, 439,110,000 cubic feet. Water used in sluicing : 1902-3—No. 1 Division, 3,630 hours (453-6 days) ; No. 2 Division, 3,873-5 hours (484-2 days ; total, 7,503.5 hours (937-8 days) : 1903-4 —No. 1 Division, 3,769 hours (471.1 days) ; No. 2 Division, 1,726-5 hours (215.8 days); total, 5,495.5 hours (686-9 days). Water used in pumping : 1902-3—403-5 hours (50-5 days) ; 1903-4—1,382-5 hours (172-8 days). Work and values for 1903-4 : No. Iβ Division—Hours sluicing, 3,769 ; cement, 113,070 cubic yards ; gold, 1,392-66 oz. ; value per cubic yard, 5 - 912 gr. = 11 - 676 d. : No. 2b Division —Hours sluicing, 1,726-5 ; cement, 57,492-5 cubic yards ; gold, 276 - 82 oz. ; value per cubic yard, 2-309 gr. = 4.560 d. : Totals —Hours sluicing, 5,495.5 ; cement, 170,562-5 cubic yards ; gold, 1,669 - 48 oz. ; mean value, 4-698 gr. or 9 - 278 d. per cubic yard. Gold won, 1,669.5 oz. ; value, £6,633. Cost of winning gold, £2 12s. sd. per ounce, or 66 per cent, of its value. Amount paid in wages, £2,676 ; amount paid for explosives (roburite), £366 : total colonial expenditure, £4,375. Average number of men employed, twenty-six. Owing to a long and severe winter followed by a dry summer the decrease of water as compared with last year amounted to 624 - 8 hours or 78-1 days : this also applies to decreased wages-expendi-ture. Early in the year the main drain failed in such a position as to render its repair beyond the means of the company ; in consequence of this failure 7'B per cent, of the available water-supply has been diverted from hydraulic sluicing and elevating (remunerative work) for the purpose of unwatering the mine. By improvements recently introduced in the pump this percentage will be lowered in future. No accidents have occurred during the year. Kitto and Party's Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Munro's Gully. —This claim is held and worked by a party of private shareholders, whose operations are evidently attended with a fair measure of success. The plant is now operating on the cement on the west side of the Blur Spur deposit, the tailings being discharged into Munro's Gully. Mills and Party's Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Munro's Gully. —This party is still elevating tailings in the bed of Tuapeka Creek. Evidently the ground pays for working, as the year's operations do not cover a large area of ground. Mr. Mills has recently sold out his share at a satisfactory figure to a small syndicate. It is proposed to increase the carrying-capacity of the water-race and otherwise improve the efficiency of the plant on the claim. P. P. Thomas and Party's Claim, Munro's Gully. —A water-race is under construction from the head of Munro's Gully. A claim has been secured in the gully and including adjoining terrace-ground carrying fair gold. Active operations will soon be commenced with, it is anticipated, payable results. William Hogg and Party, Tuapeka Flat. —There is a large area of auriferous terrace-ground in the valley of the Tuapeka River. This party have applied for a claim of 30 acres and have been granted first rights to seventy heads of water from Tuapeka River. A company is in process of formation to erect the necessary plant and begin sluicing operations. The ground is known to be payable but has been too wet for hand-labour. S. Lee and party had a portable engine and boiler and centrifugal pump on this claim. With the power available good results were obtained, but more powerful machinery is required to insure success. John Roach and Party, Tuapeka Flat. —This party having secured a claim comprising terrace-ground and flats in Tuapeka Flat, a water-race from Gabriel's Gully has been applied for. Waipori. William Brown and Party's Sluicing Claim, Bungtown Flat.— Sluicing operations were started during the year. This is a private concern and the plant is small. Golden Padlock Hydraulic Elevating Claim, Mitchell's Flat (J. Gare). —Area of claim, 4 acres. This claim continues to provide employment to four working shareholders. Mode of working is by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Reef Creek Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claim, Mitchell's Flat (F. Sandager and party).—During the year a race was cut to bring in water from the Reef Creek and other gullies to work a claim at the foot of Mitchell's Flat. Actual sluicing operations have not yet commenced, but the plant is now being erected on the claim.

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FarreWs Deep Lead (J. Claffey, manager). —Area of claim, 56 acres. This claim and plant is held under tribute by Mr. Robert Cotton of Waipori. The plant is operating on a small area of solid ground below the New Jutland Flat Claim. Depth of ground, 15 ft. Height of lift, 26 ft. Three men are employed. Later information regarding this claim is that the scene of operations has been transferred to the main road-line and adjacent ground, and some payable paddocks have been taken out; also that Mr. Richard J. Cotton has taken a tribute over it. Operations are now being carried out on the crest of the terrace and good gold is being obtained. Lammerlaw Creek Hydraulic Gold-mining Company (W. E. Caudwell, manager).—A large area of ground has been put through the elevator during the past year, and there is still a few years' work ahead of this company. The claim is worked on a good system and is said to pay its owners well. Wi Sew Kew'and Party, Lammerlaw Creek.—Area, of claim, 50 acres. There is nothing new to report regarding this claim. The area of ground turned over during the year is not large, but good work is done considering the heavy clayey nature of the ground. Four men are employed throughout the sluicing season. Bakery Flat Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Upper Waipori (J. T. Johnson, manager).— Throughout the year operations in the sluicing claim have been entirely suspended as the water has been diverted to'provide power for Johnson's submerged-jet dredge. Should this dredge prove capable of dealing efficiently with the ground the system will be adopted for the future working of the claim. Golden Point Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Upper Waipori (D. O'Brien, manager).—This plant is operating on terrace-ground and shallow gullies. The loss of pressure due to a very long pipe-line is very apparent. The material is broken down by the nozzle of a 7 in. pipe-line, is elevated 12 ft., and discharged through a run of boxes fitted with perforated plates and Venetian riffles. The face is composed of fine gravel with an overburden of clay, the whole resting on a so-called " granite " bottom overlying the main country rock. Five and a half heads of water are brought on to the claim under a vertical pressure of 100 ft. Post Office Creek Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Lower Waipori (J. R. Parker).—Operations for some considerable time have not been attended with success. This may easily be attributed to the fact that the water-supply and pressure are too light to deal efficiently with the hard ground. Some very deep ground had been sluiced away until fall became lost, then the bottoms were elevated about 20 ft. The high faces look dangerous, but are carefully watched for falls. The ground operated on has been extensively mined in former days, forming as it does part of the Post Office Creek lead. Six heads could be brought from Post Office Creek, a distance of three and a half miles, to command the claim at an altitude of 283 ft. Three men are generally employed. Munro and George's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Post Office Creek, Lower Waipori.— -Mr. Louis Pearsall's share in this claim having been bought out by Mr. George, a new race was cut in at a higher elevation to give 240 ft. vertical pressure. The pipe-line now consists of 2,000 ft. of pressure-pipes consisting of 13 in., 11 in., and 7 in. pipes. The elevator plant consists of 11 in. dirt-pipes, 4| in. throat with 2} in. jet. With the increased power the plant has been shifted back on to the " run " where operations were first begun to work the same ground over again. The gold-saving appliances consist of 48 ft. of boxes provided with riffles and perforated plates and cocoanut matting underneath. The material is elevated 31 ft. out of a paddock 21 ft. in depth. Being turned over for the second time the material is freerunning. Four men are employed. W. McMillan's Claim, Post Office Creek, Lower Waipori.— Operations in this claim are confined to sinking shafts and driving out the wash contained in the lead which skirts the Big Flat. This lead has been extensively worked, the proprietor of the claim having worked in the locality for ten years. Several shafts have been sunk as the ground became blocked out, the deepest of these being 52 ft. The wash averages 4 ft. in depth. The shaft is sunk for its whole depth through fine gravel. Very little timber is used in the shafts, as the material stands well on the perpendicular, but a large quantity of itmber is required where blocking out the wash. A drainage-tunnel has been brought up and strikes the main shaft 12 ft. 6 in. above the bottom. One head of water brought into the top of the shaft furnishes power for a hydraulic-jet pump which forces the drainage-water up 12 ft. into the drainage-tunnel. The gold is fine in appearance, but of good quality. Three men are generally employed. Ah Yet's Hydraulic Ground-sluicing Claim, above Big Flat, Lower Waipori.— Ah Yet has been sluicing high terrace-ground for a number of years. When he first started operations there was a good fall for tailings, but as the work went on, fall became lost. The material is all free-running gravel having no clay associated with it, and with water having 100 ft. of pressure a large quantity of material has been dealt with. The face is high. Beaumont. Champion Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claim, Beaumont (J. Fahey, manager).—This plant has been in operation for some considerable time, and a large area of ground has been turned over despite many obstacles such as buried timber and heavy drainage. The paddock runs from 58 ft. to 60 ft. in depth ; material elevated 70 ft., two elevators being required for this work. The paddock plant lifts the dirt 10 ft. into the sump of the main elevator, which discharges the gravel into a run of boxes provided with ripples and perforated plates. Much of the gold is exceedingly fine, requiring care and special arrangements for saving. The dirt-pipes of the elevator are 15 in. in diameter, with 11 in. throat and 3 in. jet. Where operations are now carried on there is no buried timber, but the drainage from the Clutha River is very heavy. Over 1,000 ft. of piping is in use in the pressure-line the paddock plant consisting of 11 in. and 9 in. pipes. Eighteen heads of water are used on the claim, six heads being consumed by the pump, which is kept going continuously to cope with the drainage. The "race gives> great deal of trouble in maintenance, being cut through very rough country. An average of fifteen men are employed in and about the claim..

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Island Block. Island Block Gold Dredging and Sluicing Company, Island Block. —At the end ot June, 1903, arrangements with the party of tributers terminated, and the company assumed direct control over the sluicing operations. Mr. D. Weir was placed in charge of the hydraulic plant, and Mr. A. C. Perkins was appointed dredgemaster and general manager. The dredge has opened out a large paddock on the western side of the claim, while sluicing operations are confined to the eastern side ; but it is desirable to evolve a scheme whereby the two systems of working may be combined in order that a larger quantity of material may be treated, and the bottom carefully cleaned up after the dredge. Much of the bottom in this claim is hard and ridgy, and therefore the dredge cannot clean it up properly. Operations throughout the year have been fairly continuous. The ground is from 40 ft. to 50 ft. in depth. Considerable expenditure is incurred in the maintenance of the water-races, dams, and mining plant. Ten men are employed in and about the sluicing claim, and seven men find employment on the dredge. Edie and Kirkpatrick , s Claim, Tallaburn (J. Kirkpatrick, manager). —Sluicing operations are still being carried on at Curries Flat. The shallow ground and top-stripping is swept off by a splendid body of water under good pressure. The deep run of ground skirting the foot of the hill is then elevated and discharged down the tail-race into the Clutha River. E. Curtain and F. Whelan's Sluicing Claim, Curries Flat. —The water-supply on this claim is very poor. Very little sluicing has been done on this property for some time, as, in addition to the work of building a dam on Featherstone's Flat and extending water-race, the season has been exceptionally dry. About four heads of water will be brought on to claim in sluicing season. Gunton's Beach Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Horse-shoe-Bend. —This property comprises a mile and a half of the Clutha River, suitable for dredging, and also sluicing areas on the adjoining banks, totalling 93 acres. There are three water-races carrying first rights to eight heads of water. The water is conserved in dams, while the claim is fully equipped with a suitable hydraulic sluicing and elevating plant. The claim was worked for some time by a syndicate under the style of " W. R. Pearson and others," but was recently sold at auction to Mr. W. Meyer of Miller's Flat, and operations will be resumed in the near future. Miller's Flat. Golden Run Hydraulic Sluicing and Dredging Claim, Miller's Flat. —The company suspended active sluicing operations on this property when it was found that the water-pressure was too light to efficiently deal with the ground. Recently the ground has been let on tribute to P. McLoughlin and party. Nine men are employed in the claim. There are patches of good ground here and there, but the best of the flat has apparently been worked out. The company's dredge, which is at work on the river portion of the claim, is securing good returns. Roxburgh. Hercules Sluicing Claim. —This plant and claim continues to be shut down. Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company (J. H. Waigth, manager).—The mine has been in active operation throughout the year. Progressive work is a marked characteristic of this claim, which is worked with a view to efficiency and economy. The claim gives employment to twenty men throughout the year, and is one of the mainstays of the district. Operations in the past have clearly shown the varying qualities of the wash and the uneven conditions of the bed-rock. The gold-bearing wash is not evenly distributed over the flat, but poor and rich patches alternate according as the bottom rises or falls; i.e., where the bottom dips good wash is found, and vice versa. Two elevators have been kept going constantly, and a large amount of material has been treated. No. 1 elevator lifts the material 45 ft., while No. 2 elevator lifts 50 ft. The electric-lighting plant being used for illuminating the paddocks during night-work continues to give satisfaction. Ladysmiih Sluicing Claim (W. Donnelley, manager).—Sluicing and elevating are being conducted on the usual lines. An increased water-supply with more pressure is being brought on to the claim. Under the old system good results were obtained, and better returns are expected under the new conditions. At the time of inspection a large area of non-auriferous overburden was being stripped off in advance of the elevating plant. Commissioners Flat Sluicing Claim (Coulter and party ; R. George, manager).—Area of claim, 22 acres. An increased water-supply has been brought into this claim, enabling more efficient work to be done. The claim is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Four men are employed. Gothic Hydraulic Elevating Claim, Coal Creek Flat (Manuel Bros. ; A. J. Manuel, manager).—This claim has an area of 12 acres, and is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Four men are employed. Pleasant Valley' Gold-mining Company, above Coal Creek Flat (John Dixon, manager).—Operations were suspended for some time owing to low water-pressure and heavy nature of material treated. Funds were not available to improve the water-supply. However, another attempt is to be made and the pressure-column will be increased in diameter. The new syndicate includes several of the old shareholders, and negotiations are being made to purchase a portion of the Hercules plant. Butterfly Sluicing Claim, Teviot (Weatherall Bros.). —Ground-sluicing in this claim of 2 acres on the bank of the Clutha River affords employment to the two shareholders. There are several miners working along the banks of the river near Coal Creek Flat. Bald Hill Flat. Carroll and Lynch , s Sluicing Claim.— A privately owned hydraulic sluicing claim. Operations are steadily conducted during the sluicing season with payable results. Mitchell Bros. , Sluicing Claim. —A ground-sluicing claim of 2 acres, in which one man finds constant employment during the season. J. Swing and J. DowdaWs Elevating Claim (W. McNeish, manager). —This claim continues to yield satisfactory results to the owners, and after the working-expenses there is a fair margin of profit

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This is worthy of note, as it will be remembered that a very capable dredge failed to work this ground to advantage. Last Chance Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company (J. McNeish, manager). —Operations are now being conducted some distance up the flat. An area of new ground has been acquired, and the worked-out ground thrown up. The water-race gives considerable trouble owing to its being constructed through " slip " country for a considerable distance. A dam built at the head of the pressure-line has proved of great service. Stringer and Party, Fourteen-mile Beach. —Prospecting a terrace at the Fourteen-mile Beach by shaft-sinking and driving. Naseby. Little Kyeburn Hydraulic Sluicing Company, Kyeburn (R. T. Stewart and party).—Two water-races have been acquired ; six sluice-heads of water are generally available on the claim. The material is elevated under a vertical pressure of 95 ft., while the water is discharged from the break-down nozzle under a vertical pressure of 90 ft. The ground is shallow but extremely rough. The numerous sluicing-claims in the Naseby District have worked steadily during the year. There is nothing of importance to add to the complete report of last year. Hamilton's. There are now only about five men employed on this field, sluicing with the small supply of water available. Patearoa. Patearoa Hydraulic Sluicing Claim. —Highly successful results have been obtained from this claim, which is the property of a small syndicate. Operations have been carried on for some time in terraceground, but the plant is now operating in the bed of the creek. Included in the property is an area of ground about 80 acres, proved suitable for dredging by prospecting with boring-rods. A suitable dredge has been purchased for removal to and re-erection on the claim. j Johnston Bros. , Sluicing Claim (Taieri River). —This property is situated five miles above Patearoa, on Taieri River. The owners have erected a hydraulic sluicing and elevating plant, and are reported to be doing well. Hambly Bros. —Party ground-sluicing on Taieri River, above Patearoa Alluvial mining in this district affords employment to several parties, chief of whom are Lusher and party, and Owen, Cambridge, and others. Upper Taieri River. Canadian Flat Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company. —The company went into liquidation for want of funds. The property has lain idle for some time. Considerable expenditure was incurred in carrying operations to the point at which they now stand, but further expenditure is necessary to complete the water-race. Area of claim, 130 acres ; holding valuable water-rights from the Taieri Palls. The water-rights are valuable as a source not only of hydraulic power, but also of electrical power. Messrs. McColl Bros, are working a sluicing claim on the Upper Taieri, which is said to yield fair returns. An hydraulic elevating plant is now being erected. Fortification Hydraulic Sluicing Company, Red Swamp, Lammerlaw Ranges. —Mr. J. T. Johnson, mine-manager, Bakery Flat, supplies the following information regarding this claim : " During the outgoing season the elevating plant was operating on Swede's Gully. Some good gold was taken out, but the whole area was not payable. We are now erecting the hydraulic plant formerly on Gow's Creek, Waikaia, and expect to have a good season's sluicing next year. The work of taking the plant on to the ground has proved a difficult one. It has been carted across the high ranges to within twelve miles of the claim. From that point it will be sledged to the claim. Alan McColl is in charge of operations. Three men are employed. Serpentine. Messrs. Gunton Bros. , Sluicing Claim. —A party of working shareholders working a sluicing claim which was purchased from the Enterprise Hydraulic Sluicing Company. Mining on the Serpentine and Lammerlaw Heights is chiefly confined to diggers holding miners' rights. Although difficult of access, and lying at high altitude, in bleak country, these districts afford employment for nearly seven months in the year to diggers, who return to their claims year after year when the winter months are past. The gold obtained is generally of a heavy nature, much of it being specimen quartz. The country is usually entered from Roxburgh, Miller's Flat, Patearoa, or Deep Stream. Deep Stream. Deep Stream Amalgamated Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited), Deep Stream (A. C Buckland, manager).—Area of claim, 106 acres. Operations during the year were successful, and the work is being pushed on up the flat. About fifteen men were employed during the year. When the season is favourable, two elevators are kept steadily at work, but the ground is becoming shallow towards the head of the flat. At the time of my visit the claim was shut down owing to shortage of water during a long spell of dry weather. SUTTON. Hibernia Sluicing Company, Matarae (Donald Ross and party). —Area, 21 acres. This claim, which is worked by ground-sluicing, is situated on terrace-ground adjacent to Taieri River, at Matarae. Four men are employed.

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Rock and Pillar. Rock and Pillar Sluicing Company, Rock and Pillar (N. Moloney and party).—Two men are employed in this alluvial sluicing claim on Wandle Creek. A shaft is also being sunk in the locality by the same party in search of a coal-seam. Idaburn. Wheeler and Party's Sluicing Claim. —Ground-sluicing. Two men. Blackstone Hill. William Wade and Son. —Extended sluicing claim of 1 acre. Generally one man at work. H. Armitage. —An alluvial claim of 1 acre, in which three men find employment. Robert Johnstone, Hill's Creek. —Ground-sluicing claim- Two men employed. C. Rose, Hill's Creek. —Ground-sluicing. William Hickey, Hill's Creek. —Ground-sluicing. Turnbull and Hayes. Ground-sluicing on Eough Ridge. McAdie Bros., German Hill, Ida Valley. —Ground-sluicing. D. Nicoll. —Fossicking on Garibaldi Diggings. J. Wilkinson and F. Cavendower.— -Fossicking on the Gimmerburn Creek. Ground-sluicing around this locality is confined to a few parties working with a limited supply of sluicing-water. Some splendid samples of gold are obtained in the Blackstone Hill Diggings. St. Bathan's. • Eagle and Gray's Sluicing Claim. —Area of claim, 3 acres. No work has been done on the property during the past year. Scandinavian Water-race Company, Surface Hill (N. Nicholson, manager).—This company holds several areas totalling 100 acres. An average of twenty-two men are employed throughout the sluicing season. The mode of working these claims is by hydraulic sluicing and elevating, but on account of the severity of the Otago Central-winter, sluicing is not continuous throughout the year. This company operates on an extensive scale, and consequently incurs large expenditure in wages, upkeep of races and of sluicing plant. United M. and E. Company (P. T. O'Regan, manager).—Similar to the Scandinavian Company, the operations of this company are conducted on an extensive scale. The top material is ground-sluiced off, and the remainder is elevated 82 ft. in vertical height. Seven men are usually employed. P. Hanrahan's Sluicing Claim. —Claim worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Three heads of water are supplied from the Scandinavian Company's race. Shamrock Gold-mining Company, Hawkdun Station (J. Mooney, manager). —Operations are continued in this claim on the same lines as formerly. The ground, which is not deep, is worked by ordinary hydraulic sluicing and elevating methods. Cambrian's. Shepherd's Flat Claim. —P. McCarthy and G. O'Hara have taken this claim on tribute, and are working it by hydraulic sluicing and elevating with water brought in from Dunstan Creek. R. Jones and Morgan. —Ground-sluicing at Lauder. G. Jones and Son. —Ground-sluicing at Cambrian's. Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Company, Cambrian's (Thomas Morgan, manager).—Although a large body of water under high pressure is brought on to this claim and a large amount of material sluiced away, the results have not been very satisfactory. Sluicing operations were resumed this season at a lower level, and better returns are expected. Fordham and Gay's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Cambrian's. —Area of claim, 5 acres. Method of working, hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Matakanui. Undaunted Gold-mining Company, Matakanui (T. C. Donnelly, manager).—This claim, which has an area of 124 acres, is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Nine men are employed. Fiftyfive acres of ground have been worked, which yielded at the rate of about 1,000 oz. of gold per acre. Ewing and McConochie's Sluicing Claim, Tinker's (J. Naylor, manager). —This claim is now amalgamated with the Sugar-pot Company under the style of " The Tinker's Gold-mining Company." Tinker's Gold-mining Company, Tinker's (J. Naylor, manager).—Hydraulic sluicing and elevating. This company is the outcome of the amalgamation of the Sugar-pot and Ewing and McConochie's properties at Tinker's. Eighty-eight acres are included in this area. J. Symes and Sons' Sluicing Claim, Matakanui. —A privately owned hydraulic sluicing plant at work on a claim below Matakanui Township. Matakanui Gold-mining Company (H. Norman, manager).—Area of claim, 45 acres. Mode of operations : hydraulic sluicing and elevating, good results being obtained during the year. Seven men are employed. Drybread Diggings. These diggings are now practically abandoned to a few fossickers. //. Glassford and C. Johnston. —Ground-sluicing. C. Wilson. —Ground-sluicing. Devonshire Diggings. This locality is now almost deserted by miners. S. H. Templeton has a ground-sluicing claim of 2 acres, which affords employment to two men.

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There is very little mining now in this district. Charles Wilson and party have an alluvial claim of 2 acres at German Gully, Black's, in which two men are employed. At Black's No. 3 the attempt to locate the seam of payable wash by deep sinking did not prove a success, and the undertaking was abandoned. Springvale. Springvale Sluicing Claim, Springvale, near Alexandra South (J. Gartley, manager).—Sluicing operations continue to be conducted in the gullies on terraces in the neighbourhood of Springvale. Alexandra South. Alexandra Bonanza Gold Dredging and Sluicing Company, Galloway Flat. —The operations of this company gave promise of assuming proportions of some magnitude. A splendid water-race was cut in and a dam built at Greenland Swamp, capable of storing a body of water two miles in length by half a mile in width, but, unfortunately, the sluicing plant erected on the claim proved altogether inadequate to deal with the barren overburden standing 60 ft. high in the face. Operations have been at a standstill during the greater part of the year. The annual report of directors to the shareholders says : "It is to be regretted that the gold-earnings have not yet covered working-expenses, but this is to a large extent due to the dipping of the bottom, which involves much extra time in driving away the wash, and has involved unexpected delay and expense in bringing up a deeper tail-race to facilitate its removal. It will be apparent that in working low-grade gravel, of which the overburden largely consists, what is to be aimed at is that the stuff should be put through in quantity. The directors are pleased to say the race is proving itself to be an efficient job, and may be relied upon as a permanent asset, as it commands a large area of auriferous ground which cannot be worked without it." Tucker Hill Sluicing Company, Alexandra South (Rivers and Gartley, owners). —During the year a large dam has been built and the water-race improved in order to bring in an increased water-supply. This was rendered necessary, as the owners had entered into an agreement to supply the Borough of Alexandra with one head of water. Ground-sluicing operations are being conducted on the terraces between the foothills and the eastern bank of the Lower Manuherikia River. Manorburn Gold-mining Syndicate, Galloway Station. —-This syndicate, having taken over Edward Appleton's claim, is arranging to bring in a water-race with a carrying-capacity of ten heads to work the property by hydraulic sluicing. Golden Bend Gold-mining Company, near Alexandra South. —The syndicate, having purchased a steam-boiler, engine, and 10-in. diameter lifting-pump, sunk a shaft on the property to the auriferous wash traced into the terrace by the Golden Link dredge. Operations were subsequently interfered with by a heavy flood which unseated the boiler, engine, and pumping gear, and filled up the shaft. Operations have since been at a standstill. J. Kane and F. McCarthy, Blackman's Gully. —This is a ground-sluicing claim in Blackman's Gully. The ground is fairly shallow, and five heads of water are brought in from Blackman's Creek. Operations have hitherto been successful. Robert Prophet's Claim. —One man finds employment in this sluicing-claim of 2 acres. Several other parties are ground-sluicing in Blackman's. There are about twelve men engaged mining in the district, including Conroy's Gully. Clyde. Keleher's Sluicing Claim, Clyde. —Ground-sluicing at head of Waikerikeri Creek with water brought in from Leaning Rock Creek. One man at work. Buckley and Joe. —Doing a little ground-sluicing on a terrace at Shepherd's Flat, Fraser River. Hookey and McConnell. —The high state of the Fraser River has prevented the bed of the river being worked for a considerable time. Cromwell. Quartz Reef Point. —Several small parties are prospecting and sluicing in this locality; also, behind Cromwell Township a party of Chinamen have a sluicing claim on the bank of the Kawarau River, from which good results are obtained. Around Lowburn a few parties of miners are engaged ground-sluicing on the terraces. Bannockburn. A. T. Aitken's Claim. —A ground-sluicing claim of 2 acres, in which two men find employment. Crabb Bros.' Claim. —Water for ground-sluicing is brought in from Shepherd's Creek in the Wealth of Nations' water-race. There is a heavy overburden of 60 ft. to 80 ft. to sluice' away in this claim. Three men are at work. /. Lawrence and Hancock. —Ground-sluicing claim. Two men. Gair and Murray. —Sluicing claim of 2 acres, near Adam's Gully. Two men. There are a few other miners in this locality, each holding ordinary claims of 1 acre in area. Kawarau Gorge. Robertson's Terrace. Prospecting operations have been carried on for the greater part of the year on Robertson's Terrace, at the back of Gee's Flat. James Robertson, having struck gold-bearing wash in the terrace, took up an extended alluvial claim of 5 acres. After driving out a good area of wash the owner sold out to T. Craig, who is now actively engaged mining.

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William Foreman's Claim. —This is an extended alluvial claim of 4 acres, on which a considerable amount of work has been done by shaft-sinking and driving. Gordon and Rowe. —This party holds a special alluvial claim of 12 acres. The claim has been well prospected by sluicing and driving, but with unfavourable results. There is evidently a good area of auriferous ground on this terrace and on Gee's Flat, but absence of water on Mount Difficulty (on the western side of the Kawarau River) makes it impossible to work the ground to pay. The above claims are in an ancient river-bed on the mountain-side, at least 200 ft. above the present level of the Kawarau River bed. Higher up the Kawarau Gorge, W. Ritchie and party prospected a terrace opposite the Roaring Meg Creek. The shaft attained a depth of 100 ft., and a drive was put in for a distance of 100 ft. without striking the back reef. A winze was then put down 16 ft. only to meet with water. The party then abandoned the claim. George Cockburn is now prospecting on the same terrace. Cardrona. Walter Little's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Cardrona Valley (Edward Barker, manager). —This plant is now in full working-order and the claim is being well opened out. The ground is about 20 ft. deep with fairly heavy wash, but the stones are a convenient size for handling. About twelve heads of water are brought in having a vertical pressure of over 300 ft. The pressure-pipes range from 22 in. to 13 in. in diameter while the paddock plant consists of 9 in. pipes. The material is elevated about 40 ft. Last season, on account of scarcity of water, work was necessarily not continuous, but a better supply is anticipated this season and good returns are expected. Six men are employed. It is understood that the success attendant on Little's efforts, caused attention to be directed to the possibilities of other portions of the valley as payable properties worked by hydraulic system. Loft and Party. —This party is engaged driving out the wash in the bed of the valley above the township of Cardrona. Magnus Henderson and Party. —A party of three men holding a sluicing claim on Branch Creek. Edward Barker and Party. —This party having taken up an area of ground below Branch Creek, intend constructing a race to work the ground by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Courtney and Fleming are still sluicing on Criffel Face. Cardrona Valley. A large amount of gold has been obtained from the bed of the Cardrona River opposite the township. Recently it was understood that a syndicate would purchase the Cardrona Hydraulic Water-race which carries in ten heads of water from Cardrona Creek, and would work this ground. The race carries second rights and commands an extensive gold-bearing area in the locality. Luggate. Logan and Party have a small elevating plant at work in the bed of the Luggate Creek. White Bros, and Sheath. —This is a special alluvial claim of 12 acres on Luggate Creek. James Partridge's Claim. —The claim is situate on Mid-run, near Luggate. Harrington and Party also have a sluicing claim in this locality. Alluvial mining on Mount Pisa and in the various 'gullies affords employment to a number of fossickers. Matatapu. McLaren Bros.' Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claim. —At the time of inspection the men were all away repairing the head-race preparatory to bringing in the water to resume this season's sluicing operations. The plant is well equipped and the claim gives employment to three men. Pressure-pipes are 11 in. and 9 in. with a paddock plant of 7 in. pipes. The material is suitable for elevating and is lifted about 18 ft. and discharged over a run of boxes fitted with gold-saving appliances. It is understood that the returns of gold are satisfactory. Arrowtown. King Edward Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company. —The water-race belonging to this company was purchased by Mr. R. Pritchard of Arrowtown, and disposed of by him to the Arrow Falls Sluicing Company who have diverted it on to their claim on the Arrow River. Mining was consequently at a standstill in the immediate vicinity of Arrowtown until a claim was taken up in the bed of the Arrow River below the township by Messrs. Fealey and Hay Bros. Fealey and Hay Bros.' Sluicing Claim. —This claim is situated on the Arrow River about one mile below Arrowtown. Water is collected from the Crown Terrace, sufficient being obtained to work one shift of eight hours. The ground is from 10 ft. to 20 ft. deep, and under a pressure due to a vertical head of 300 ft., the material is elevated (on the Smith's jet principle) about 20 ft. There are 600 ft. of 7 in. pressure-pipes, the jet is 2 in. in diameter and the discharge-pipes are 9 in. in diameter. Most of this ground has been previously hand-worked, but it is understood that the three men engaged find remunerative employment in this claim. Arrow River. Arrow Falls Sluicing Company (J. A. Miller, manager). —This claim is now well advanced from the gorge and it is desirable that the work should be prosecuted more quickly. The Arrow Flat water-race was bought by the company enabling twelve heads of water to be brought on to the claim under a vertical pressure of 330 ft. 1,600 ft. of 18 in. pressure-pipes have been laid down and the sluicing plant installed. It is also proposed to instal a complete electric lighting and power plant. Eight men are employed. After, successfully overcoming exceptional natural difficulties the company should now be able to look forward to a season of prosperity. Since the claim was inspected the Arrow River has been visited by

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a heavyflood which completely submerged the plant in this claim and otherwise considerably retarded the season's progress. Bremer's Claim, Bracken's Gully. —This claim was recently sold at auction to a syndicate. The property comprises an extended alluvial claim of 2 acres and rights to eight heads and a half of water. Robert S. Cooper and Party, Bracken's Gvlly. —Ground-sluicing claim of 3 acres. Peter Henderson and Party, Bracken's Gvlly.— Ground-sluicing claim of 4 acres. In Arrowtown District there are a number of fossickers making wages along the course of the Arrow River, on Whitechapel Flat, and around the junction of the Arrow and Kawarau Rivers. JMacetown. Anderson and Party, Eight-mile Hill. —Area of claim, 30 acres. Water is brought in from Deep Creek to sluice away terrace-ground, 15 ft. to 20 ft. in depth. Five men are employed in the claim. William Reid and Party, Red Hill. —Area of claim, 3 acres. The claim which is situated on a high terrace overlooking the Arrow River is worked by ground-sluicing. Around Macetown on the Annie and Twelve-mile Creeks and on the Upper Arrow, there are about a dozen fossickers, principally Chinese. Glenorchy. Valpy Bros. , Claim, Glenorchy, Head of Lake Wakatipu. —Area of claim, 15 acres. The claim is situated at the Twelve-mile Glenorchy, and is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Three men are employed. There are several other small claimholders in this district. QUEENSTOWN. Reid and McDonald, Twelve-mile. —This is a hydraulic sluicing and elevating claim situated twelve miles above Queenstown, near Lake Wakatipu. Working face 320 ft. in height from bottom of paddock to the surface. Arthur's Point. Arthur's Point Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Arthur's Point, Shotover River (H. Angelo, manager). —This claim is still being worked by Angelo and party. James Tyrell and Others. —This party having taken up a claim of 14 acres for hydraulic sluicing and elevating on the banks of the Kawarau River, near junction of Shotover River, the pipes and sluicing plant of the Big Beach Company, Arrow River, were purchased and are now installed on the claim. Moonlight. Moonlight Sluicing Claims Nos. 1 and 2, Moonlight Creek, Queenstown. —These claims at one time gave promise of great success and were meant to be worked on an extensive scale. A costly water-race was constructed on No. 2 claim, and sluicing-plants placed on the claims. The claims are now in the hands of tributers as the operations of the companies did not apparently meet with success. Shotover River. Reissler and McCormack, below Long Gully. —This claim is situated in the bed of Shotover River. A covered-in tail-race is being brought up and the material hand-stripped out ahead. Ward and Smith, below Long Gully. —This claim is worked when the Shotover River is low by Smith's jet-pump system of hydraulicking. Thompson and Robertson, below Long Gully. —A water-race is brought out of long Gully for a distance of two miles. Last season's work in the river was not remunerative to the party, and this summer the race is being extended to command a lower claim. Coulter, Son, and Sainsbury, below Deep Creek. —A piece of ground in the river is worked in the winter by Smith's jet-pump elevator. Boomerang Terrace. —Three Chinamen are sluicing here. Blue Jacket Sluicing Claim, Deep Creek. — J. S. Collins brought in a water-race a distance of two miles carrying six heads of water to work this claim. When the river is favourable the river-bed is worked by Smith's jet-pump elevator, and at other seasons ground-sluicing is carried on in the terraces. Area of claim, 10 acres. Three men are employed. E. Sainsbury, Maori Point. —One man sluicing on the terrace. Davis's Sluicing Claim, Stony Creek Terrace, Skipper's. —Sluicing operations on an extensive scale are being carried on in this claim. The immense amount of material is sluiced down a long tail-race, paved with steel rails, and discharged into the Shotover River. Robert Johnston's Sluicing Claim, Pleasant Creek Terrace, Skipper's. —Work on this claim is not of a very progressive nature. Apparently very little sluicing has been done latterly. Sorenson and Henderson, Pleasant Creek Terrace. —Area of claim, 13 acres. Two men are driving a tunnel into the terrace intending to block out the auriferous wash. Skipper's Sluicing Company, Londonderry Terrace, Skipper's (John Corbett, manager). —The minemanager supplied the following information regarding this claim : " The water-race is six miles long and carries about eight Government heads of water. There is 7,061 ft. of piping on the race in addition to iron fluming. There are two dams capable of storing a supply of eight heads of water for sixteen hours' use on the claim. The tail-race tunnel is 340 ft. in length, and fitted with iron boxes 3 ft. wide on a grade of lin 12. The boxes are provided with steel rails inside to act as gold-saving ripples. At the lower end there is an undercurrent fitted with matting, and from this about 25 per cent, of the gold obtained is recovered. The sluicing plant consists of 1,000 ft. of 11 in. pipes with necessary valves and hydrants. Owing to the severity of winter frosts at this altitude the claim is shut down about fourteen

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weeks during that season. About 85,000 cubic yards of material were sluiced away last season and the returns were payable." Stevenson and Aspinall's Sluicing Claim, Skipper's Point. —Two men are employed in this claim ; breaking up the heavy stones and boulders in the wash keeps the men fully employed. Upper Shotovbr River. Smith and Son's River-bed Claim, above Skipper's Point. —The method of working this claim is by wing-damming the river and elevating the material on Smith's jet-pump elevator principle, a system originated by the holders of this claim. Rogers and Johnstone, above Skipper's Point. —This claim consists of 10 acres of the river-bed and 4 acres of terrace-ground. The river-bed portion is worked by a Smith's jet-pump elevator. Strahle and Helms, above Skipper's Point. —This is also a river-bed claim worked by the jet-pump principle. Two men are at work. William Palmer, Shotover. —Ground-sluicing. One man. Monk's Terrace Sluicing Claim, Upper Shotover (J. Lynch, manager).—This is a ground-sluicing claim situated on Monk's Terrace, Upper Shotover. An average of four men are employed in the claim. The gold obtained is of a very coarse nuggety nature. > Monk's Creek Syndicate, Upper Shotover. —About 5 acres of Cook's Terrace have been pegged out as an alluvial claim for this syndicate. Sandhills Hydraulic Company, Upper Shotover (Hamilton and Lynch). —This claim is situated at the Sandhills and has an area of 40 acres. Four heads of water are brought in from Stony Creek, and under a vertical pressure of 320 ft. elevate the material 18 ft. Four men are employed during the sluicing season. Davis Bros.' Claim, Upper Shotover. —This is a ground-sluicing claim on Guy's Terrace. Three men are generally employed. The ground is very rough and the face of material in the terrace is over 60 ft. in depth. Muddy Creek Sluicing Claim, Upper Shotover. —This claim originally belonged to a company, but the property was recently disposed of to Mr. H. Heideman who intends to resume sluicing operations. Four men are generally employed in this claim when in working-order. R. Anderson, Muddy Creek Terrace, Upper Shotover. —Ground-sluicing. One man. The ground is very deep. Dwan, Costelloe, and Cummings, Muddy Creek Terrace. —This claim is worked by ground-sluicing on the river frontage of the terrace. Three men are employed. Nevis. Our Mutual Friend Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company (Masters and Adie Bros.). —Area of claim, 15 acres. The claim is situated at the back of Galvin's Terrace and comprises ground which had been previously driven out. Work is carried out on the usual lines under the supervision of Mr. W. W. Masters, the manager. Four men are generally employed. Robertson and Party's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim. —This claim adjoins that of Masters and Adie and is worked on the same lines. During sluicing seasons a good supply of water, under a vertical pressure of 400 ft., is brought on to the claim and the ground worked to a depth of 20 ft. This claim affords employment to four men. Keep-it-Dark Gold-mining Company, Galvin's Terrace (J. H. Robertson). —At the time of inspection operations were again suspended, but during the season a considerable amount of work had been done. A drainage-tunnel was brought up to the shaft to relieve the pumping-height. Some driving was done at the back of the terrace to strike the lead of gold, but the results were unfavourable and the property has been closed down indefinitely. Glenore Claim (Rip and Tear), Nevis (J. Ellis, manager).—A winding and pumping plant was procured and a shaft sunk 30 ft. Drives were then put in east and west to exploit the area. An air-shaft was also put down. Expectations were not realised, and the plant was at a standstill when the mine was visited for inspection. No expense was shared in making the winding-shaft and overhead gear of a permanent character. A larger pump is now required to cope with the increased water met with in driving. The members of the syndicate are actively engaged in dredging pursuits during the summer months, and took up this work as a means of employment in the winter months when the dredges are unable to work in consequence of the severe frosts. Thomas Shaw, Lower Nevis. —This is a ground-sluicing claim of 2 acres in which one man finds employment. Robert Ritchie, Lower Nevis. —This is a special alluvial claim of 19 acres worked by ground-sluicing. Upper Nevis. Upper Nevis Sluicing Claim, Cinnabar Flat. —After a long period of inactivity, it is understood that this claim has been let on tribute to Kitto and party. The company did very little sluicing on account of the poor supply of water, and evidently a large outlay would be required to bring in a suitable watersupply. Joe Park's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —Area of claim, 56 acres. Operations are being conducted on the usual lines. A fair supply of water is brought on to the claim under a vertical pressure of 220 ft. The gold is fine in character. Edward McMillan's Sluicing Claim, Cameron's Gully, Upper Nevis. —Area of claim, 3 acres. The method of working is by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Two men generally find employment in this claim. The ground is shallow and the sluicing plant light.

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McDonald's Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claim, Upper Nevis (R. McDonald, manager).—Ope rations are still being conducted on The Remarkables side of the Upper Nevis Flat. Returns are favourable, and it is possible that an early start will be made to bring in a race at a higher level for a, watersupply to enable the deep ground to be worked by elevating. Six men are employed. O'Connell and Graham's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —This property is owned by a private syndicate. The returns obtained are said to amply justify the expenditure incurred in laying down the sluicing-plant, and bringing in the water-race. The electric light is in use on this claim for night-work. Undaunted Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —Heavy floods in the Nevis River carried away the head of the flume, and operations on that area became suspended. A water-race was then brought in from the Little Scotchman Gully to command ground at the head of the claim. It was intended to work this by hydraulic sluicing and elevating, and at the time of inspection the manager was laying down the sluicing plant. On the 22nd December, 1903, a few weeks after my visit, the manager, Mr. R. Williamson, was working in a trench about 10 ft. deep for the purpose of laying the pressure-pipes under the road-line, when one of the walls collapsed off a slippery back inflicting injuries which resulted in death. The Coroner's Jury brought in a verdict of " Accidental death," no blame attachable to anyone, and the jury were satisfied that the accident could not have been foreseen owing to the slip off an invisible greasy back. Nokomai. Golden Lion Claim, Nokomai (D. MacGregor, manager).—Hydraulic elevating, 108 ft. in one lift. The claim has not been properly reopened this season. When the frost broke up and the water began to come in again, pumping operations were started, but for various reasons —chiefly financial —no progress was made. Should sufficient money be raised to give the claim a further trial the wash will probably be driven out. This will do away with the necessity for elevating about 90 ft. of barren overburden. Mr. Cummings, the secretary, was interviewed at his office in Invercargill, and his attention drawn to various matters in relation to the safe working of the claim, should the method of underground-mining be adopted. Some driving had been done before the previous winter set in when operations were suspended. A start is now being made to clear out the drives and get the claim in working-order preparatory to systematically blocking out the auriferous wash. The main drive is in 128 ft. and the ground stands well, only the roof requiring to be close-timbered. Should driving operations be prosecuted it will be necessary at an early date for the company to consider the advisability of sinking a shaft for ventilation and second outlet purposes. Nine men are employed in and about the works. The claim is advertised for sale. Nokomai No. I Sluicing Claim, Nokomai (J. Roberston, manager).—Work in this claim is prosecuted steadily and with satisfactory results, the claim being a consistent gold-producer. The sluicing and elevating plant is well handled by the manager who employs on the average fifteen men in and about the claim. Throughout the valley the average depth is 40 ft. The material is very compact schistose debris and the paddock-walls stand very well when opened out. A new paddock was being opened out at the time of inspection, and some 20 ft. had to be sunk through before main bottom would be reached. Nokomai No. 11. Sluicing Claim, Nokomai. —Unlike the No. I. claim this plant is elevating comparatively shallow ground. The material, which averages 15 ft. in depth, is easily elevated. The watersupply and pressure are poor, and after being elevated about 26 ft., the tailings require to be blown away from the dump which entails loss of both time and water. About fifteen men, of whom Chinese form the greater part, are employed in and about this claim. J. Copland has a ground-sluicing claim above the Nokomai No. 11. Company's claim, the overflow of water from which enables him to work. Victory Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Nokomai (W. France, manager).—The original company went into liquidation and the property was bought by Mr. France and several other large shareholders. A new dam was built and the water-supply improved, but further operations have not apparently met with the desired success. Waikaia. Argyle Sluicing Company, Waikaia (J. Stewart, manager).—Under efficient management the work done on this claim is of a very progressive nature, and the results are in accordance therewith. Nine men are usually employed. It is proposed to put a dredge, worked by water-power, on the lower part of this claim above where the Hessey Company's dredge is operating successfully. For this reason elevating operations have been discontinued on the flat and the water transferred to a large area of adjoining terrace-ground. Winding Creek Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Waikaia.—Some work has been done on this property by a party of tributers when water was available. The company recently sold out to a small local syndicate. Gow's Creek, Gold-mining Company, Waikaia. —Nothing done during the year. The plant is being dismantled for removal. - Piano Flat Gold-mining Company, Waikaia. —Operations proving unsuccessful the claim was closed down and plant has been idle throughout the year. Chow Yoke and Party's Claim, Whitecombe.—D. Matheson, jun., to whom this property belongs, had two men driving last winter for a few months. There are a number of small claimholders scattered over this district, principally in the higher altitudes, where only summer work is practicable. Charlton. Ewen McGregor's Alluvial Claim, Mataura River. —The claim is situated opposite Charlton on an alluvial flat on the banks of the Mataura River. A plant has been installed consisting of a boiler, engine,

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winding-gear, and a centrifugal-pump. A scoop travelling on a wire-rope is worked from the winch, and when filled, is raised to the run of boxes and the contents tipped therein and passed through ordinary sluice-boxes, water being supplied from the centrifugal pump. The ground is 10 ft. in depth having a lignite " bottom " and carrying fine gold. At the time of my visit alterations were being made to the machinery. Round Hill. Round Hill Gold-mining Company, Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claims (Frederick Hart, manager ; A. Reynolds, secretary).—No. 1 elevator : Lifting 35 ft. ; seventeen and a half heads of water used under a pressure of 300 ft. Elevator-jet requiring ten heads and seven and a half heads for the break-ing-down nozzles, of which there are two used alternately as required. A large paddock opened on what was formerly known as Booth's Claim, Canton Hill, is being cleaned up to the diorite " bottom." Occasional rich patches were struck in the inequalities of the rising bottom which the early miners in driving had been unable to clean up carefully owing to the large stones and heavy nature of the ground generally. Stones ranging in size up to 29 tons in weight, also large tree-stumps and forest-trees lying buried in the overburden, have been successfully handled by the aid of the hydraulic hauling plant, without which the paddock could not have been profitably worked. Perforated plates are laid in the run of intakeboxes where one-third of the gold is recovered. As indicating the fineness of Round Hill gold, Mr. Reynolds showed me seven "nuggets "selected from the season's gold, value £11,000. The "nuggets" weighed 6 gr., one piece weighing 2 gr. being the largest Mr. Reynolds had seen coming from the company's claims. No. 2 elevator : Paddock sunk on new ground on the western bank of Ourawera Creek. This area had not been considered payably auriferous, but a series of bores put down had proved a large area of payable ground which may be expected to last many years. The run of gold appears to be making in the direction of Pont's Gully on the Pahia side. Face, 35 ft., elevating 64 ft. vertical; sixteen heads of water used. Between 50 and 60 acres of ground running from 30 ft. to 80 ft. in depth has been worked by this company since commencing work in the year 1892. Thirty-five men are employed. Platinum occurs in the wash and is obtained in the proportion of about 1 oz. of platinum to each 100 oz. of gold recovered. A prepared test resulted in 569 measured tons of fine sandy material being elevated by No. 1 elevator in one hour, but the average quantity of dirt per elevator treated, runs between 50 and 60 tons per hour ; value, 2d. per ton ; working expenses, d. per ton. An experiment made of running old tailings over again for one week resulted in less gold being obtained than paid wages. The substitution of malleable cast-steel in place of cast-metal for working-parts of the elevators has proved successful. Deflectors, straight and curved, in use in the elevators have the effect of economizing power and increasing effect. The deflectors which are placed in the last piece of the pipe-line above the T-piece to the jet are 2 ft. 10 in. in length, and divide the pipe into two equal sections longitudinally. The straight deflector was Mr. Hart's own idea, the curved deflector having been evolved by the company's managers' and leading men. Both Mr. Reynolds and his mine-manager, Mr. Hart, are more than ever convinced that the Round Hill gold is derived from the diorite as further proved (they hold) by the work done on the Rip and Tear claim. When this claim was sluiced three years ago the bottom was cleaned until scarcely a speck of gold could be found in a prospect. The surface of the diorite bottom having weathered during the interval, prospects of two hundred colours to the shovel of dirt can now be obtained ; and this result is also obtainable from the vertical faces of diorite in that claim, and in other places where tail-races had been cut in the diorite and weathering or oxidization had subsequently taken place. Ourawera Gold-mining Company (James Coulling, manager).—Sluicing and elevating, 61 ft.; ten heads of water; pressure, 280 ft. vertical. Face 50 ft. in height, carrying two beds of lignite, tree-roots, buried timber, and heavy stones, handling of latter being facilitated by the use of hydraulically driven log-hauler. Twelve to fifteen years' work ahead cleaning up old bottom and stripping main bottom (where solid) left by old diggers, owing to shortage of water for treating such hard ground. About 15 acres have been worked. Twelve men are employed. Smith Gold-mining Company (David Smith, manager). —Cleaning up and elevating the bed and banks of Ourawera Creek. Not more than 5 acres of ground have been worked. Six heads of water in use under a pressure of 150 ft. The plant will shortly be shifted to the terrace on Meldrum's Gully, the site of an old diggings. On the 3rd June, 1903, Edward Deegan, nozzleman, slipped and fell in front of the nozzle, the water-flow dashing him against a tree-stump. Deegan sustained fracture of three ribs. O'Brien's Claim (Thomas O'Brien). —Ground-sluicing in Italian Gully. Two men. Fitzmaurice and Birhenhall. —Ground-sluicing in Italian Gully. Water picked up from Round Hill Company's overflow. Two men. Arthur Dandy. —Elevating at head of Jewett's Gully. Using Moffatt's race ; water partly overflows from Ourawera and Round Hill Company's races, also own race brought in from a side creek. H. Driver. —Ground-sluicing at Lake George. There are about twelve Chinese, two of whom are steadily employed, the remainder engaged fossicking on the diggings. The season having been a good one for water, the claims have consequently done very well. Orepuki Goldpield. The western side of the field being practically worked out, attention is being directed to the considerable area of bush land lying in the direction of Round Hill and Pahia. A strong party of Chinese, fully alive to the situation, having acquired valuable water-rights, are now engaged cutting a water-race to command ground held by them on Falls Creek. About 130 European and thirty Chinese miners are engaged on the field. Water is in fair supply this season, and almost all the claims are fully employed. Tuanoa Creek Sludge-channel. Messrs. Hennessey are engaged ground-sluicing ; two men employed. Reichel Bros., two claims, ground-sluicing ; three men employed, Clyme, ground-sluicing ; one man employed. M. and B. Reid,

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ground-sluicing ; two men employed. Barclay and Jarvis, sluicing; two men employed. W. Taylor, driving and blocking out; one man employed. Love and Smith, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Bennett and Sons, driving and blocking out; three men employed. Several claims recently held by Europeans have been acquired by Chinese, who have leased water brought in from the tributaries of Tuanoa Creek. Klondyke Spur, on Tuanoa Creek. —Dawson and party, sluicing ; three men employed. Turnbull Bros., sluicing ; two men employed. Evans Bros., sluicing ; two men employed. Whalen and Wallace, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Merrilees and McEwan, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Camp Gully, a Tributary of Tuanoa Creek. —Currie and party, driving and blocking out in the terrace; five men employed. Barry and party, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Evans Bros., driving and blocking out; two men employed. Alderson driving and blocking out; two men employed. Branch off Clark's Gully. —Arnett and Fryer, sluicing ; two men employed. King Bros., sluicing ; two men employed. John Whalen, sluicing ; two men employed. Fortune and Son, sluicing ; two men employed. Chinese party, sluicing ; four men employed. Horan and Herbert, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Hall and party, sluicing ; three men employed. Hall and party, driving and blocking out; three men employed. Prince's Flat. —G. Black and Son, sluicing; two men employed. Chinese, sluicing; one man, employed. Buckley's Gully. —Homer and party, sluicing ; three men employed. Waterloo. —Chinese, sluicing ; about fifteen celestials employed. Mary Ann Gully. —Fitzgerald Bros., sluicing ; three men employed. Riddell Bros., sluicing ; four men employed. Cooper and Son, sluicing ; two men employed. Stony Creek. —Otway and party, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Sandy Creek Sludge-channel. Branch off Sandy Creek. —Forbes and King, sluicing; three men employed. Forbes and King driving and blocking out; two men employed. Sorenson, sluicing; three men employed. Evans Bros., sluicing ; three men employed. Bennet and Rowlands, driving and blocking out; two men employed. White and party, driving and blocking out; three men employed. Shrimpton and party, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Fortune Bros., driving and blocking out; two men employed. Homer and Hislop, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Falls Creek. Ralston and party, opening out sluicing claim ; two men employed. Lennon, sluicing ; one man employed. T. Fitzgerald, driving and blocking out; one man employed. A party of fifteen Chinese, bringing in water-race from tributaries of Tuanoa Creek. Kenny's Creek. J. Forbes, sluicing ; two men employed. J. Arthur, jun., sluicing ; two men employed. Pahia. O'Connor, driving and blocking out; two men employed. Decosta Bros., driving and blocking out; two men employed. Watson Bros., driving and blocking out; two men employed. Beach Claims. Mouth of Sandy Creek Sludge-channel. —Crawford ; three men employed. Wilson and Fretwell; two men employed. Williams ; one man employed. Murdoch, one man employed. Mouth of Tuanoa Sludge-channel. —E. Fortune ; two men employed. Hall and party; one man employed. Hutton and Yates ; two men employed. A. Pearson ; one man employed. Waiau River. Only two men now engaged sluicing at Papatotara. The Belmont Dredge, which had been navigated down stream a distance of fifty miles, lies wrecked in the lagoon near the mouth of the river ; a flood had drifted shingle into the paddock, and when the waters subsided the dredge's back became broken. Preservation Inlet and South-west Coast op Otago. Sealer's No. 2. —Treseder and G-oodger, who are engaged in hydraulic sluicing, have brought in a head-race for a distance of three-quarters of a mile to work ground on McNamara Creek. Coal Island. —Only two men (Campbell and Powell) are now engaged in ground-sluicing. Cullen and Clark, two old miners, are doing a little prospecting at Moonlight. Southport. —Johnston and McLaren are fossicking in the creek. Milford Sound (Greenstone Beach, Anita Bay). —A party of five men, with five months' provisions, were landed from the " Hinemoa." Some of the men are experienced miners, and it is understood that they are acting on behalf of Messrs. Bertram and Co., a'Dunedin syndicate formed for the purpose of prospecting for a formation of greenstone (nephrite) which is believed to occur at an altitude of 1,600 ft. above sea-level, on the north-western terminal slope of Mitre Peak.TThe face of the mountain is very steep, and a large landslip which occurred in bygone days brought down fragments and boulders of greenstone, pieces of which have been picked up on the beach at low water for many years past. Madagascar Beach lies north of the entrance to Milford Sound. Rough gold was found on the]beach, which has been worked intermittently on a small scale. A Dunedin party, having acquired an area

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On the beach, intends bringing in a head-race from the Wolf River for the purpose of ground-sluicing. Part of a small sluicing plant is at present lying on the beach unused. Martin's Bay. —McKenzie Bros, combine cattle-raising and prospecting. HoUyford River. —George and Campbell are said to be prospecting on the river and along the seabeaches to the northward. Big Bay. —Harris and party (five men) were landed from the " Hinemoa " on her previous trip, a Dutchman called Oscar acting as guide. It is stated that, after giving the alleged auriferous ground a good trial, Harris and his mates gave Oscar twenty-four hours to clear out, which he accordingly did. Two of the party reached Glenorchy overland, while the others determined to make for Preservation Inlet in the boat. After encountering many hardships, they reached Moonlight, on Coal Island, where their boat was wrecked. The men received hospitable treatment from Messrs. Cullen and Clark, the miners residing there. GOLD-DREDGING. Summary of Dredges in Southern Mining District. Working — At 31st December, 1903. In Otago .. .. .. .. •• .. .. 112 InSouthland 43 155 Building—■ —■ In Otago . . .. .. • • .• • • • • 1 In Southland . . .. .. .. • . . • •. 6 7 Standing— In Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 In Southland .. .. .. .. • • • • ■ • 1 12 Removing — In Otago .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 15 In Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. . • 3 18 Dismantled — In Otago .. .. .. . • • . .. . • 5 In Southland .. .. .. . • • • • • • ■ 3 8 Total .. .. .. .. 200 Decrease of working dredges — Otago .. .. .. .. .. ■• •■ 10 Increase of working dredges — Southland .. .. .. .. . ■ .. •. 14 At the end of December, 1902, the total number of dredges in Otago and Southland was 211. At the end of December, 1903, this number had dropped to 200. During the year there was a decrease of ten working dredges in Otago, and an increase of fourteen in Southland. The total number of dredges in Otago was lessened by twenty-one. Of this number, ten went to the Southland District, six to Victoria, and two to the West Coast of New Zealand. A number of registered companies were liquidated during the year, and in some cases the dredges were started again to work by new companies, while in other cases, the dredges were sold for removal to other claims. On account of the number of dredges for sale, the building of new dredges in the Otago and Southland Districts was almost at a standstill. A regrettable event was the wreck of the Belmont Dredge, Waiau River. The owner, Mr. Francis Jack, of Winton, had caused the dredge to be brought down the river a distance of forty miles to a claim on the lagoon at Waiau Mouth. The dredge reached the claim, but unfortunately became stranded. The machinery was recovered. Payne and Peck's centrifugal elevator continues to give satisfaction, and is being installed on many dredges. O'Brien's application of hydraulic power to dredges has proved successful in districts where water is available under sufficient pressure. Johnson's submerged-jet principle of dredging, or rather elevating, has been tried and proved capable of practical results. McGeorge's silt-distributor for land reclamation : Much comment having been raised regarding the destruction of agricultural land in the process of dredging, an arrangement of undercurrents and siltchutes has been installed on McGeorge's Freehold, whereby the silt is carried out and deposited on the rough tailings. Growth of grass, oats, and trees, has been tried on the tailings with apparent success. When it is considered that much of the land suitable for dredging is low-lying and swampy, as in Waimumu, Waipori, Charlton, and parts of Waikaka, and Waikaia districts, it will be recognised that it is advantageous to have this land turned over and raised in height.

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GOLD-DREDGING. Working Dredges inspected.

84

[Note. —The owners of all dredges having an asterisk (*) in front of their names have been served with notices that the rivers on which the dredges were working were deep and swift-flowing within the meaning [of the Act, and that clause 2 of Regulation 83, " The Mining Act, 1898," applied thereto.] Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. Otago. clutha river. *New Paul's Beach, below Beaumont New Paul's Beach Gold-dredging Company (A. McLean, Lawrence, secretary) New Golden Gravel Gold-dredging Company (R. A. Mathewson, Dunedin, secretary) Champion Gold-dredging Company (R. Pilling, jun., Lawrence, secretary) Otago Gold-dredging Company (A. G. Fenwick, Dunedin, secretary) Island Block Gold-dredging Company, (James Brown, Dunedin, secretary) New Britannia Gold-dredging Company (J. A. Hopcraft, Dunedin, secretary) Golden Run Gold dredging Company (J. Burton, Roxburgh, secretary) Pringle and party W. Nesbit John Donaldson .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order .. .. .. .. ,. Fly-wheel guard broken down ; four lifebelts require renewal 5/5/03 7/9/03 *New Golden Gravel, Beaumont T. Barnes Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Dredge idle ; ladder silted up 28/2/03 8/9/03 ""Champion, Beaumont J. Herbert L. Johnston Bar required across coal-door ; life-saving appliances in good order Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Dredge idle ; company in liquidation Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 28/2/03 6/5/03 8/9/03 27/2/03 8/9/03 27/2/03 *Otago No. 2, below Island Block G. Bennet Island Block, Island Block A. C. Perkins Fencing required at stern and around gold-saving tables ; coupling on elevator shafting should be guarded Forward gangway in disrepair ; fly-wheel to be guarded ; dredge undergoing repairs Dredge standing Dismantled ; pontoons standing ; machinery removed to Victoria *New Britannia, Island Block .. A. Gibson 8/9/03 6/5/03 8/9/03 ♦Golden Run, Miller's Flat H. Coutts.. New set of regulations required ; dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 26/2/03 9/9/03 *Pride of Clutha, No. 2, Miller's Flat J. Tough Dredge and life-saving appliances in first-class order Dredge undergoing repairs Andrew Taylor, winchman, drowned on 3rd November, 1903 —outcome of boating accident: For particulars see list of dredging accidents appended. Dredge standing 27/2/03 8/9/03 *Pride of Clutha No. 1, Miller's Flat ♦Golden Gate, Miller's Flat .. Pringle and party John Pringle 27/2/03 8/9/03 6/5/03 9/9/03 *Otago No. 1, Miller's Flat ♦Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat Golden Gate Gold - dredging Company (J. Burton, Roxburgh, Secretary) Otago Gold-dredging Company (A. G. Fenwick, Dunedin, secretary) Golden Treasure Gold-dredging Company (J. Burton, Roxburgh, secretary) Majestic Gold - dredging Company (R. Pilling, jun., Lawrence, secretary) D. Ballantyne R. Williamson C. Monson J. T. Cornish Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order ; elevator- pinion to be guarded Platform required aft to attend to stone-chute ; dredgemaster informed me that the machinery was oiled while in motion. Wrote Mr Ballantyne under date*29th September, 1903, to discontinue the practice ...... Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ; guard-rail to be erected round the tables .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order New copy of regulations required; dredge and life-saving appliances in good order; regulations posted Regulations posted ; dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Guard-rail required on main engine, as passage is narrow ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order All the new elevator driving-gear to be guarded Guards still required about screen and elevator driving-gear ; fight lines and boathooks required Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 6/5/03 9/9/03 26/2/03 ♦Majestic, Ettrick W. Williamson J. Herbert 9/9/03 26/2/03 *Golden Bed, Ettrick.. Golden Bed Gold-dredging Company (E. Trythall, Dunedin, secretary) Ettrick Gold Steam Dredging Company (J. Burton, Roxburgh, secretary) A. E. Maitland 7/5/03 9/9/03 26/2/03 10/9/03 25/2/03 10/9/03 "Ettrick, Ettrick T. Thompson Dredge undergoing repairs ; life-saving appliances in good order Guard-coupling required on screen driving-shaft; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order

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85

Working Dredges inspected— continued.

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. clutha river — continued. *Gold King, Dumbarton Rock.. J. Sparrow and Sons J. McLean Elevator-driving pinions, and fly-wheel of main engine to be guarded ; railing on bows to be erected Fly-wheel not yet guarded ; approach required to elevator Dismantling for re-erection on Fourteen-mile Beach Claim 7/5/03 *Main Lead, Hercules, Dumbarton Rock Fourteen-mile Beach Electric Golddredging Company (D. Crawford, secretary, Dunedin) Endeavour Gold-dredging Company (G. M. McLean, secretary, Dunedin) New Roxburgh Jubilee Gold-dredg-ing Company (J. Davie, secretary, Dunedin) New Teviot Gold-dredging Company 10/9/03 26/2/03 ♦Endeavour, Dumbarton Rock F. C. McClure Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Dredge idle Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Samuel McAuley, fireman, lost his foot in the screen-roller on the 9th July, 1903, and succumbed to the injury on 17th July, 1903 ; approach required to elevator and suitable fencing Bar across coal-door required ; new copy of regulations required ; one buoy to be re-covered : Visited dredge in connection with accident to F. Cameron on the 5th February—fractured leg while crossing bucket-belt in motion Elevator-handrails required .. .. Dredge repairing ; life-saving appliances in good order Fence required at stern ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order 7/5/03 10/9/03 25/2/03 11/9/03 ♦Roxburgh Jubilee, Roxburgh.. E. Butler ♦New Teviot, Roxburgh D. A. Mitchell 25/2/03 ♦Lady Roxburgh, Roxburgh .. Lady Roxburgh Gold-dredging Company (P. H. Power, secretary, Dunedin) Molyneux Kohinoor Gold-dredging Company (H. Shrimpton, secretary, Dunedin) Coal Creek Flat Gold-dredging Company (A. J. C. Brown, secretary, Dunedin) Melba Gold-dredging Company (J. H. Thomson, secretary, Dunedin) W. H. Brice A. P. Bremner 11/9/03 25/2/03 12/9/03 ♦Molyneux Kohinoor, Coal Creek Flat A. Rennie Fly-wheel and rope-pulley to be guarded ; bar required across coal-door ; forward part of wellhole to be fenced ; main friction to be guarded Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Guard-rails not in place on bows ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order.. Dredge idle ; shifting to Ardmore 11/5/03 ♦Coal Creek Flat, Coal Creek Flat S. Coard .. 12/9/03 24/2/03 12/9/03 ♦Melba, Coal Creek Flat M. Harliviek G. McGregor Undergoing extensive alterations and repairs Dredge closed down Dredge being removed to Otago Claim, Miller's Flat Forward platform with strong bearers to be put on for convenience in handling bottom-tumbler; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Dredge closed down Dredge being removed to Golden Treasure Claim, Miller's Flat Dredge standing 11/5/03 12/9/03 9/12/03 11/5/03 Coal Creek to Alexandra Gorge. ♦New Long Valley New Long Valley Gold - dredging Company (A. McLean, secretary, Lawrence) C. Olsen ♦Fourteen-mile Beach No. 1 Fourteen-mile Beach Electric Dredging Company (D. Crawford, secretary, Dunedin) Ditto Caretaker G. P. Blue 12/9/03 18/12/03 12/5/03 15/9/03 ♦Fourteen-mile Beach No. 2 New dredge not yet properly equipped with life-saving appliances, nor machinery efficiently guarded Dredge undergoing repairs ; life-saving appliances in fair order .. .., Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 15/9/03 ♦Golden River Golden River Gold-dredging Company (R. T. Wheeler, jun., secretary, Dunedin) Molyneux Falls Gold-dredging Company (H. F. M. Mercer, secretary, Dunedin) New River Molyneux Gold-dredging Company (J. B. Brugh, secretary, Dunedin) Davis Bend Gold-dredging Companv J. Sanders 12/5/03 15/9/03 ♦Molyneux Falls — Wilson J. Thompson Dredge idle pending installation of a 25-horse power oil-engine Dredge had recently undergone alterations ; screen rollers and belts to be guarded ; pumpengine and main fly-wheel to be fenced off ; lifebuoy and light line to be placed aft Dredge undergoing alterations ; only one boat at the dredge Dredge idle ; still only one boat at the dredge 12/5/03 - 15/9/03 ♦New River Molyneux G. G. Watts, (caretaker) 3/4/03 21/9/03 ♦Davis Bend G. McDonald New copy of regulations required ; the dredgemaster has ordered new sets oi buoys, lifebelts, and boathooks Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order 3/4/03 J. Parsons 21/9/03

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Working Dredges inspected— continued.

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. clutha river — continued. Coal Creek to Alexandra Gorge —ctd. ♦New Bendigo New Bendigo Gold-dredging ComW. Woodhouse Dredge being shifted to new claim ; life-saving appliances in fair order Dredge idle owing to high river Main-engine fly-wheel to be guarded,and gangway hand-rail required ; new copy of regulations to be posted up Ladder has been lengthened 9 ft., and pontoons lengthened to carry extra weight; suitable 12 in. by 12 in. blue-gum ladder-bearer ordered ; dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Dredge being fitted with false bows ; life-saving appliances in fair order Dredge and life-saving appliances in first-class order 3/4/03 13/5/03 21/9/03 pany P. McVicar ♦New First Chance New First Chance Gold-dredging Company S. Hoy 19/2/08 ♦Sailor's Bend J. Dewar 3/4/03 13/5/03 21/a/03 19/2/03 Sailor's Bend Gold-dredging ComEngaged lowering pivot-shaft of ladder ; suitable 12 in, by 12 in. blue-gum ladder-bearer ordered ; dredge and life-saving appliances in first-class order Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order pany 3/4/03 13/5/03 21/9/03 19/2/03 ♦Manuherikia Manuherikia Gold-dredging Company L. Anderson Dredge has been fitted with false bows to carry weight of extended ladder; life-saving appliances in good order Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ; new copy of regulations to be posted up Securely moored on the Manuherikia River .. .. .. .. ... Being dismantled Guard-rail on fly-wheel of main engine to be replaced ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Dredge repairing ; life-saving appliances in good order ♦Moa No. 1 Clyde Gold-dredging Company W. Nicholson 21/y/03 19/2/03 21/9/03 19/2/03 ♦Moa No. 2 Alexandra. ♦Alexandra Lead Alexandra Lead Gold-dredging ComRobert Ross Sleeve required on projecting end of main engine-shaft; well-hole fencing forward not up ; after well-hole uncovered Well-hole railing down ; guard on screen driving-gear not sufficient Dredge and fife-saving appliances in good order 13/8/03 21/2/03 13/8/03 ♦Molyneux Hydraulic ♦Alexandra Eureka pany Molyneux Hydraulic Gold-dredging Company Alexandra Eureka Gold - dredging Company New Golden Beach Gold-dredging Company C. Simonsen N. Bradley Charles B. Curno .. 21/2/03 13/8/03 19/2/03 15/8/03 19/2/03 15/5/03 15/8/03 16/12/03 20/2/03 17/9/03 20/2/03 13/8/03 20/2/0.3 17/9/03 20/2/03 17/9/03 6/3/03 22/9/03 ♦New Golden Beach Dredge idle Dredge undergoing extensive alterations ♦Ngapara No. 1 Ngapara Gold-dredging Company .. T. Bringam M. G. Scott Dredge still undergoing extensive alterations Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ♦Ngapara Extended Ngapara Extended Gold-dredging Company Enterprise Gold-dredging Company G. McDonald C. Allen S. J. Luke New copy of regulations required ; two lifebelts to be renewed Rails not in position at stern, round well-holes and across tables Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ♦Enterprise No. 1 ♦Enterprise No. 2 G. R. McGregor .. Earnscleugh No. 3 .. Earnscleugh Gold-dredging Company C. Weaver Life-saving appliances not yet complete Several guards required about the elevator, screen, and silt-elevator driving-gear ; also guardrails required about all the top gear ; these requirements were pointed out Well-hole gangway and fencing required ; regulations defaced Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ♦Earnscleugh No. 1 .. ♦Earnscleugh No. 2 .. J. Fouhy.. 15/8/03 15/8/03

Working Dredges inspected— continued.

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87

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. I Dates of Visits. clutha river — continued. Alexandra —continued. "Chicago *Sandy Point (Glasgow dredges) "Perseverance No. 1 .. Chicago Gold-dredging Company .. Sandy Point Gold-dredging Company Perseverance Gold-dredging Company Ditto William Poppelwell A. Steel S. Cameron Guard-rails required across tables, and on forward well-hole Dredge repairing ; life-saving appliances in fair order Large boat not thoroughly equipped ; hand-rail required for well-hole gangway Well-hole gangway and hand-rails required ; three boathooks missing Dredge undergoing repairs Repairing Dredge and life-saving appliances in first-class order "Perseverance No. 2 .. 17/9/03 15/8/03 17/2/03 15/8/03 17/2/03 15/8/03 17/2/03 15/8/03 "Dunstan Lead Dunstan Lead Gold-dredging Company D. Bringans Below Clyde. "Matau Matau Gold-dredging Company H. P. Sanders Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order "Unity Unity Gold-dredging Company T. Barry .. Cover required for screen driving-gear ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Visited dredge in connection with fatal accident to William H. Hughes, engineer, on the 27th February, particulars of which appear on list appended Set-screw on screen roller-shaft to be guarded ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Dredge undergoing extensive overhaul Dredge idle 17/2/03 15/8/03 17/2/03 At Clyde. "New Vincent 5/3/03 New Vincent Gold-dredging ComW. Kane (caretaker) 23/9/03 Clyde to Cromwell Gorge. "New Dunstan pany 5/3/03 23/9/03 "Davis Bend No. 2 .. (late New Dunstan) "Leaning Rock "Monte Christo New Dunstan Gold-dredging Company Davis Bend Gold-dredging Company 18/2/03 New' Bendigo Gold-dredging Company Monte Christo Gold-dredging ComJ. R. Baker Thomas Hogg L. Anderson T. Keen J. Hewitt Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Lately Leaning Rock dredge ; being removed to new Bendigo claim, below Alexandra Dredge and fife-saving appliances in good order Fly-wheel guard not in position ; platform required about top gear ; second boat not equipped ; buoy on bows too small Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 17/5/03 1 23/9/03 16/2/03 16/2/03 23/9/03 "New Halfway House pany "Kelly and Casey New Halfway House Gold-dredging Company Kelly and Casey Gold-dredging Company Caretaker J. Sawle .. T. Hogg .. Dredge shifting up-stream ; recommended that extra precautions be taken before attempting to pull through the rip ; two buoys falling to pieces. This dredge has since been sold to Alexandra Eureka Company, and is now known as Alexandra Eureka No. 2 dredge Machinery removed to Waikaia ; pontoons high and dry ; these pontoons have since been pulled to pieces Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 16/2/03 24/9/03 16/2/03 "Great Central Lately Great Central Gold-dredging Company Alpine Consols Gold-dredging Company Riley's Beach Gold-dredging Company Alpine No. 2 Gold-dredging Company Hartley and Riley Gold-dredging Company Central Electric Gold-dredging ComCaretaker 16/2/03 "Alpine Consols R. B. Denniston .. 24/9/03 "Riley's Beach J. Watt M. Murray — Johnston Set-screw on tension-pulley not guarded ; stern railing down ; three lifebelts required Dredge idle ; awaiting favourable fall of river 16/2/03 24/9/03 24/9/03 "Alpine No. 2 "Hartley and Riley G. McLay Dredge and life-saving appliances in first-class order 50 ft. of heaving-line required for stern Dredge idle ; this dredge has been acquired by the Sunshine Gold-dredging Company, Lowburn 25/5/03 24/9/03 25/5/03 "Central Electric K. M. Woods pany

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Working Dredges inspected— continued.

88

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. clutha river — continued. Clyde to Cromwell Gorge —contd. "Junction Electric No. 2 Junction Electric Gold - dredging Company A. Ross New copy of regulations required; conferred with the dredgemaster re freeboard which is deficient 14/2/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 25/5/03 .. 14/12/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ; this dredge has since been acquired by Re- 13/2/03 vival Gold-dredging Company, Lowburn Now shifting and re-erecting the Upper Magnetic dredge on claim .. .. .. 25/9/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 13/2/03 Inspected the pontoons and found them in thorough good order ; parts of the red-pine gantry 14/2/03 and tumbler-framing showing signs of decay Dredge standing ; pontoons fairly dry .. .. .. .. .. .. 25/9/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 14/2/03 .. 25/9/03 Pontoons building .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I 14/2/03 Erecting machinery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25/9/03 Dredge approaching completion .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14/12/03 Erecting pontoons .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14/2/03 Dredge nearly ready for starting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14/8/03 New dredge not yet equipped with life-saving appliances, nor machinery efficiently guarded .. 25/9/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order .. .. .. .. .. 2/10/03 Shifting late New Royal Maori dredge a few miles up the Clutha River ; life-saving appliances 25/9/03 in good order Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 14/12/03 Shifting Central Electric dredge up to work freehold land on Clutha River ; life-saving appli- 25/9/03 ances in good order Bows to be fenced ; forward gangway required; set-screws on screen driving-gear to be guarded 14/12/03 Dismantling this dredge for removal .. .. .. .. .. .. 1/10/03 Above Cromwell. "New Royal Maori New Royal Maori Gold - dredging Company R. A. Denniston .. "Point d'Or Point d'or Gold-dredging Company M. Murray Lowburn. "Rise and Shine Rise and Shine Gold-dredging Company Ditto J. C. Ray "Rise and Shine No. 2 Thomas Keen "Rising Sun Rising Sun Gold-dredging Company W. Kane.. "Revival Revival Gold-dredging Company .. F. M. Kitto "Sunshine Sunshine Gold-dredging Company.. D. Murray Luggate. "Golden Chain Golden Chain Gold-dredging ComBelow Albert Town. "Upper Clutha pany Knewstubb Bros. Lying idle at Luggate Ferry .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21/5/03 1/10/03 Albert Town. "Prince Albert Prince Albert Gold - dredging Company G. Coup Dredge undergoing repairs ; life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. 1/10/03 KAWARAU RIVER. Above Cromwell. "Junction Electric No. 1 Junction Electric Gold - dredging Company G. S. Morris Pontoons launched .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13/2/03 Hand-rails required on well-hole gangway ; three boathooks required ; also winch-engines and 18/5/03 all set-screws to be guarded Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 26/5/03 To guard more efficiently the screen gear and rollers ; and to make suitable approach to stone - 2/10/03 chute Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ; new set of regulations required .. .. 13/2/03 Set-screw on pump to be guarded ; also set-screws and screen bevel gear to be guarded .. 2/10/03 Three buoys falling to pieces ; heaving-lines required ; new copy of regulations required .. 13/2/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 18/5/03 13/2/03 18/5/03 "Cromwell No. 1 N. P. Kloogh 26/5/03 2/10/0; Cromwell Gold-dredging Company.. 13/2/03 2/10/05 13/2/03 18/5/03 2/10/0S "Cromwell No. 2 F. Woodhouse .. 2/10/03

89

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Working Dredges inspected— continued.

12—C. 3

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. kawarac river — continued. Above Cromwell —continued. ♦Lady Ranfurly Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 13/2/03 Rail required across open doorway, and also open space aft; light lines required .. .. 3/10/03 Two of the buoys falling to pieces ; dredge undergoing extensive overhaul.. .. .. 13/2/03 Set-screw and screen driving-shaft to be covered . . .. .. .. .. 3/10/03 Dredgejto be shifted to a claim on Clutha River. (Since acquired by New Royal Maori Com- 26/5/03 pany, and shifting to Clutha River) Closed down ; company in liquidation 5/10/03 Dredge idle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5/10/03 Electric Gold-dredging Company .. G. C. Troy ♦Electric No. 2 (magnetic) A. Hedley ♦Voltaic Voltaic Gold-dredging Company .. Caretaker .. I ♦Grand Junction No. 2 Grand Junction Gold-dredging Company Meg and Annie Gold-dredging Company Grand Junction Gold-dredging ComW. Woods A. Young .. j E. A. McDonald .. j ♦Meg and Annie ♦Grand Junction No. 1 A. Young .. j Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 12/2/03 Dredge idle ; company in liquidation .. .. .. .. .. .. I 5/10/03 Gibbston. ♦Golden Molyneux pany Golden Molyneux Gold - dredging Company Kawarau Consolidated Gold-dredging Company United Morven Gold-dredging ComCaretaker Machinery going to west coast of New Zealand ; dredge partially dismantled .. .. 12/2/03 ♦Kawarau Consolidated ! Pontoons moored in safe position .. .. .. .. .. .. ■ ■ 12/2/03 .... .. 5/10/03 Machinery being taken down for removal to Victoria ; pontoons going to Waikaia' .. .. 11/2/03 ♦United Morven I ♦Junction Waikaka (late New Kawarau Bridge) pany Junction Waikaka Gold-dredging Company Caretaker One boat submerged and other in disrepair ; one lifebuoy required and one to be recovered ; 12/2/03 light lines and boathooks required, and guard to screen driving-gear Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order. (Since dismantled and machinery removed to 27/5/03 Waikaka) Pontoons lying unattended ; caretaker appointed this day .. .. .. .. 7/10/03 To fence stern of both pontoons, and guard elevator driving-gear ; fence winch-engines ; reg- 11/2/03 illations not yet posted on the dredge ; well-hole gangway required ; condemned boat not yet replaced by a suitable one The above requirements have not yet been carried out; but the dredgemaster will attend to 27/5/03 them before the dredge resumes work Dredge standing .. .. .. . • ■ • ■ ■ ■. .. 7,10/03 Thomas Hoskins .. ♦Gibbston Gibbston Gold-dredging Company.. Caretaker ♦New Gibbston New Gibbston Gold-dredging ComJ. S. Ritchie shotover river. ♦Prince Arthur pany Prince Arthur Gold-dredging ComJ. F. Kitto Dredge just raised after being submerged for a few months .. .. .. .. 8/12/03 ♦Maori Point pany Maori Point Gold-dredging Company J. Hoskins Dredge idle on account of high river .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8/12/03 CARDRONA VALLEY. Lone Star La Franchi's Sunbeam Lone Star Gold-dredging Company C. Melton A. La Franchi Well-hole gangway required ; also heaving-lines .. .. .. .. .. 28/9/03 Well-hole gangway required ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. 28/9/03 Re-erecting Rolling Stone machinery on Lady Cardrona pontoons ; dredge to be fitted with 28/9/03 O'Brien's patent hydraulic arrangements Sasse and party NEVIS river. Nevis. Nevis Crossing Gold-dredging Company C. Macdonald Nevis Crossing New dredge not yet fully equipped with life-saving appliances, nor machinery aft guarded .. 11/12/03 Crewe Crewe Gold-dredging Company — Martin W. Weir Several matters still require attention .. .. .. .. ■. ■. 13/12/03 Bows and stern to be fenced ; elevator and screen driving-gear to be covered ; all set screws 11/12/03 to be guarded ; well-hole gangway required Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. • ■ 13/12/03

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90

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. nevis river — continued. Nevis —continued. New Era Ngapara No. 2 Ngapara No. 3 New Era Gold-dredging Company.. Ngapara Gold-dredging Company .. Ngapara No. 3 Gold-dredging Company T. Omond J. McLean Forward gangway and boat required .. .. .. .. '.. .. 11/12/03 One buoy missing ; boat required ; gangway required on bows, and bows to be fenced .. 11/12/03 Boat not equipped ; two boathooks missing ; dredge-bows to be fenced ; forward gangway ; 11/12/03 also light lines required Dredge and life-saving appliances not yet in efficient state .. .. .. .. 12/12/03 Dredge idle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12/12/03 Upper Nevis Upper Nevis Gold-dredging Company MANUHERIKIA RIVER. Chatto Creek Chatto Creek Gold-dredging Syndicate Morning Star Gold-dredging Syndicate Olrig Gold-dredging Company B. Davis Stern railing down ; forward and well-hole gangways required .. .. .. .. 18/2/03 Dredge standing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19/9/03 Dredge undergoing repairs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14/5/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 19/9/03 Forward gangway required ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. 18/2/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ; new copy of regulations to be posted .. ; 19/9/03 Dredge ready to start work ; fixing machinery-guards .. .. .. .. .. 23/2/03 Dredge idle ; company in liquidation .. .. .. .. .. .. I 15/8/03 Morning Star Olrig J. Timmings T. Sanders E. A. Johnston Coronation Coronation Gold-dredging Company ERASER RIVER. Loch Lomond Loch Lomond Gold-dredging ComT. Sanders New dredge not yet equipped with life-saving appliances .. .. .. .. 15/12/03 IDA VALLEY. Cairntrodlie, Poolburn pany Cairntrodfie Gold-dredging Company H. Mercer Not visited. NASEBY. Roberts' Naumai, Upper Kyeburn Roberts' Naumai Gold-dredging Com- ! Dredge idle greater part of year. pany I TUAPEKA. Taniwha Lawrence, Tuapeka Flat Reliance, Tuapeka Flat Tuapeka, Tuapeka Gabriel, Tuapeka Flat HappygValley, Wetherstone's .. Taniwha Gold-dredging Company .. Lawrence Gold-dredging Company.. Reliance Gold-dredging Company .. Tuapeka Gold-dredging Company .. Gabriel Gold-dredging Company .. Happy Valley Gold-dredging Company Havelock Gold-dredging Company.. Gordon Gold-dredging Company .. Manuka Gold-dredging Company . . A. N. Wakefield .. S. McStay J. Hughes G. Montgomery P. J. Uren W. J. Noble Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 16/6/03 Gangway required on bows ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. 16/6/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 16/6/03 „ .. .. .. .. .. 17/6/03 . . 16/6/03 Stern railing down ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. 18/6/03 Havelock, Waitahuna Gordon, Waitahuna .. Manuka, Waitahuna W. Rowe.. T. Thompson — Fowell Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 18/6/03 .. 18/6/03 Hand-rails not erected on bows and stern ; two lifebuoys require to be re-covered ; friction 18/6/03 not guarded ; regulations defaced Life-lines and boathooks required ; fly-wheel on main engine to be guarded ; set-screws on 18/6/03 winch-shaft to be cut off ; boat not equipped Waitahuna Gully, Waitahuna .. Waitahuna Gully Gold - dredging Company W. Cummings GLENORE. Gold Bank, Glenore Stirling, Glenore Gold Bank Gold-dredging Company Stirling Gold-dredging Company .. A. Thomas J. Nelson Fence bows and well-hole ; well-hole gangway required .. .. .. .. 27/8/03 Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order .. .. .. .. .. 27/8/03 WAIPORI. Quilter and party Quilter and party W. Carr Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. .. 29/4/03 „ „ „ .. 17/11/03

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Working Dredges inspected— continued.

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. waipori — continued. Johnson Submerged Jet Upper Waipori Bakery Flat Sluicing Company .. I J. F. Johnson Upper Waipori Gold-dredging Com- C. Haggitt pany Jutland Hydraulic Gold-dredging T. Jefferson Company Waipori Consolidated Gold-dredging C. F. Truesdale Company MeXeil and party .. .. T. Aitken.. New dredge starting work ; not yet fully equipped with life-saving appliances Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 17/11/03 27/4/03 17/11/03 27/4/03 17/11/03 29/4/03 Jutland Hydraulic Dredge and life-saving appliances in first-class order .. .. .. .. Waipori Consolidated Forward gangway to be repaired Perseverance Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 29/4/03 17/11/03 29/4/03 17/11/03 Oceanic Oceanic Steam Gold-dredging ComErecting machinery New dredge. Not yet fully equipped with life-saving appliances ; machinery inefficiently guarded Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Sleeve required on engine-shaft; fly-wheel to be guarded ; as also winch-pinions, and all set-screws ; railing on bows to be renewed Dredge and life-saving appliances not in good order Dredge sunk ; preparations being made to refloat her .. Dredge idle .. .. .. .. .. ... pany A. Mclvor Success Empire No. 1 Success Gold-dredging Company .. W. Hanley Empire Gold-dredging Company .. G. Larking 29/4/03 28/4/03 Golden Shore Empire No. 2 Golden Shore Gold-dredging Com- R. Allen .. pany Empire Gold-dredging Company .. G. Larking Dredge undergoing extensive overhaul Dredge idle Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Dredge and life-saving appliances not in good order Main fly-wheel and belt-pulley on main engine to be more efficiently guarded, and passage-way made through the belting ; well-hole gangway and platform about friction-gear required Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order .. .. .. .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ; new copy of regulations required.. Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order ; screen level pinion to be guarded Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 19/12/03 28/4/03 17/11/03 19/12/03 28/4/03 19/12/03 28/4/03 19/12/03 28/4/03 Lower Enfield Lower Enfield Gold-dredging Com- W. O'Brien pany J. Nelson.. Enfield Gold-dredging Company .. C. Robinson Enfield SHAG river. Inch Valley, Inch Valley Inch Valley Gold-dredging Company J. Black .. 19/12/03 14/3/03 24/7/03 14/3/03 24/7/03 Inchdale, Inch Valley Inchdale Gold-dredging Company .. P. Brennan POMAHAKA RIVER. Green vale, Scrubby Flat Ardmore, Kelso Greenvale Gold-dredging Company Private syndicate Dredge idle Dredge dismantled ; a larger dredge is to be procured Southland, mataura river. ♦Graham's Syndicate Graham's Mataura Gold - dredging William Gibbs Company Erecting machinery .. .. .. ... .. New dredge not fully equipped with life-saving appliances, nor machinery efficiently guarded Two buoys and two belts missing ; the second boat was condemned as being unsuitable for river-work, and the secretary of the syndicate was notified on the 16th November to provide suitable boat New boat not yet provided; dredge working irregularly Well-hole gangway required ; boats not fully equipped ; one boathook required 23/4/03 2/7/03 2/11/03 ♦Central Mataura Central Mataura Gold-dredging Com- William Shore 1/12/03 1/12/03 EDENDALE. Two Creeks pany Two Creeks Gold-dredging Company Dredge idle

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92

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. WAIKAKA RIVER. Graham and party's, Waikaka.. Waikaka Syndicate, Waikaka .. Sneddon's Freehold, Waikaka .. Graham and party Waikaka Gold-dredging Syndicate.. Sheddon's Freehold Gold-dredging Company Sneddon Rex Gold-dredging ComJ. A. Graham .. Erecting machinery New dredge. Fully equipped with life-saving appliances, but machinery not efficiently guarded Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order R. Henderson .. Winch-pinions, pump and pump-belts to be guarded ; bows to be fenced ■ Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Thomas Stevenson Bows to be fenced ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order ' Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order W. Williamson .. To guard engine and fly-wheel, and fence bows Some planks required about top gear ; otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Building pontoons .. .. .. .. .. .: .. .. - W. Williamson .. Dredge will be ready in a few weeks D. Caithness .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order — Wilson .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. 20/4/03 3/7/03 5/11/03 20/4/03 3/11/03 20/4/03 3/11/03 20/4/03 3/11/03 Sneddon Rex, Waikaka pany Argyle, Waikaka Argyle Gold-dredging Company 20/4/03 3/7/03 3/11/03 3/7/03 Lee and party's steel dredge, Waikaka Junction Waikaka Lee and party Garden Gully, Waikaka Junction Waikaka Gold-dredging Company Garden Gully Gold-dredging Company Lilliesleaf Gold-dredging Company.. ■ Building pontoons ' Re-erecting Central Waimumu dredge .. .. .. .. ' .. 4/4/03 3/11/03 Lilliesleaf, Waikaka R. F. White .. ; Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order New pontoons being built for this dredge Building pontoons J. Watt .. .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order Timber and machinery on the ground Dredge undergoing repairs H. McColl .. Set-screw on pump to be guarded, otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in'good order .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order J. Patterson .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 22/4/03 4/11/03 4/11/03 22/4/03 3/11/03 3/11/03 22/4/03 3/11/03 22/4/03 3/11/03 1/7/03 3/11/03 Star, Waikaka Waikaka, Waikaka Montrose, Waikaka Gleniti, Waikaka McGeorge's Freehold, Waikaka Star Gold-dredging Company Waikaka Gold-dredging Company.. Montrose Gold-dredging Company.. McGeorge Bros. McGeorge Bros. Patterson's Freehold No. 1, Waikaka Patterson's Freehold No. 2 Waikaka Patterson's Freehold Gold-dredging Company Ditto Record, Waikaka Phoenix, Waikaka McKenzie and party Phoenix Gold-dredging Syndicate .. Set-screw on pump-spindle to be guarded, otherwise dredge and life-saving appliances in good order H. McKenzie .. Dredge now being worked on tribute M. McCorkindale .. Bows to be fenced Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order H. Parsons .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order H. Rankin .. „ ,, 1/7/03 21/4/03 3/11/03 21/4/03 3/11/03 Perry's Pioneer, Waikaka J. R, Perry LITTLE WAIKAKA RIVER. Little Waikaka, Waikaka Little Waikaka Gold-dredging ComJ. Brownlee .. j „ „ i 1/7/03 1/7/03 22/4/03 4/11/03 22/4/03 4/11/03 Ibbotson's Waikaka Globe, Waikaka pany Ibbotson and party Globe Gold-dredging Company T. Masfin W. J. T. Ayson Waikaka United No. 1, Waikaka Waikaka United Gold-dredging ComDredge idle L. Robinson .. Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order — Louden .. Heaving-lines required pany

a

93

Working Dredges inspected— continued.

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. LITTLE WAIKAKA RIVER — Contd. Waikaka United No. 2, Waikaka Waikaka United Gold-dredging ComA. Blackie S. Coard J. Wallace Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Boathooks and light lines required Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 22/4/03 4/11/03 22/4/03 4/11/03 22/4/03 4/11/03 Waikaka Queen, Waikaka Waikaka Forks, Waikaka pany Waikaka Queen Gold-dredging Company Private syndicate J. McNeil Life-saving appliances in good order ; the freeboard somewhat'deficient Arrangements are being made to provide new pontoons CHATTOH. Ibbotson and party Private syndicate — Ibbotson Well-hole and forward gangways required 24/4/03 WAIMUMU STREAM. Waimumu. Messrs. Marshall Bros. Erecting machinery Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 15/4/03 2/7/03 18/4/03 2/7/03 18/4/03 2/7/03 18/4/03 Marshall Bros. Waimumu Queen Waimumu Queen Gold - dredging Company Waimumu Extended Gold-dredging Company Waimumu Gold-dredging Company J. Murray Waimumu Extended Waimumu H. Leicester J. F. T. Berendsen Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order .. . . . . , Dredge undergoing repairs ; Life-saving appliances in fair order Set-screws on pump and elevator driving-shaft to be guarded ; pontoons to be fenced off of the pump ; use of gangway under ladder to be discontinued Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order .. .. .. .. Waimumu Royal Waimumu Royal Gold - dredging Company Waimumu Central Gold - dredging Company Burrel's Freehold Gold - dredging Company McLean's Freehold Gold - dredging Company C. S. Nicholson W. Wilson 6/11/03 17/4/03 6/11/03 17/4/03 6/11/03 6/11/03 Waimumu Central D. Caithness Dredge being removed to Garden Gully, Waikaka Dredge and fife-saving appliances in good order Burrel's Freehold McLean's Freehold Dredge idle 6/11/03 CHARLTON CREEK. Charlton. P. Brandt Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 30/6/03 MacCharlton MacCharlton Gold - dredging Company Charlton Creek Gold-dredging ComCharlton Creek (.'._ Bennett Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order 30/6/03 Central Charlton pany Central Charlton Gold-dredging Company Charlton Valley Gold-dredging ComJames McCorkindale Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 30/6/03 Charlton Valley Caretaker Dredge standing ; company in liquidation .. .. .. .. .. 30/6/03 Lady Charlton pany Lady Charlton Gold-dredging Company 30/6/03 WAIKAIA RIVER. Waikaia. Pontoons building Bail required on coal-door ; main belts to be guarded ; set-screws on collars on winch ; projecting end of shaft to be cut off Dredge and life-saving appliances in good order 3/2/03 9/7/03 Hessey's Hessey's Gold-dredging Company .. G. Pettigrew 10/11/03

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Working Dredges inspected— continued.

Name of Dredge and Locality. Owners. Dredgemaster. Remarks. Dates of Visits. waikaia river — continued. Waikaia —continued. Mystery Flat Mystery Flat Gold-dredging Company Masterton Gold-dredging Company Duke of Gordon Gold-dredging ComEdward Lawson Boat not equipped ; bevel-pinions on winch driving-gear to be guarded Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order ; dredge undergoing repairs Dredging company being projected. Erecting machinery 4/2/03 9/7/03 Masterton Duke of Gordon 10/11/03 New Fairdown Waikaia Waikaia, Kia Ora Lady Annie, Waikaia Muddy Creek (Limited), Waikaia pany New Fairdown Gold-dredging Company Waikaia Gold-dredging Company .. Knewstubb Bros. Lady Annie Gold-dredging Company Muddy Creek Gold-dredging Company D. Mitchell New dredge not yet fully equipped with life-saving appliances Dredge projected. Building pontoons 9/7/03 10/11/03 11/11/03 11/11/03 4/2/03 Garryowen, Waikaia Garryowen Gold-dredging Company F. Browne W. Robins Forward gangway not fixed ; starboard railing down ; boat not equipped ; to guard the main fly-wheel and rope- pulley Dredge and life-saving appliances in fair order Erecting machinery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. New dredge not yet fully equipped Two lifebuoys required ; light lines and boathooks missing ; bows to be fenced and forward gangway required Building pontoons .. .. .. .. .. .. ' .. New dredge not yet fully equipped This dredge closed down greater part of year ; about to be shifted several miles down the river ; not visited. 8/7/03 4/2/03 9/7/03 11/11/03 Nugent Wood, Waikaia Nugent Wood Gold-dredging Company 9/7/03 11/11/03 E. Macdonald Nugget, Waikaia WAIAU RIVER. "Belmont, Waiau Lagoon F. Jack This dredge after being taken some fifty miles down river, became wrecked at the lagoon near mouth of Waiau River, and now lies dismantled. Back broken ; dredge dismantled 24/10/03

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OTHER MINERALS. Cinnabar Waitahuna Cinnabar Company. —The work done by the company up to the present has been chiefly of the nature of prospecting. So far as operations have been carried on, no pocket of ore has been met with, but the work done has all been of a permanent character. Indications at the face appear to be favourable and indicative of the presence of ore not far distant. It would be advisable now to alter the mode of prospecting which has proved expensive, and test the value of the ore-deposits as indicated on the surface by small shafts. The mine is in good order and well timbered. Ventilation is procured by means of a water-blast. Operations have been suspended for some time owing to lack of funds to further prosecute the work. It would be unwise to abandon the work at this time, and further efforts to locate the ore-body would be justified. SCHEELITE. Twenty-six tons are returned as having been produced and exported during the year. In addition to Macrae's, deposits of scheelite are known to exist at Glenorchy ; Alta Reef, Bendigo ; also in the Rock and Pillar, and Lammerlaw Ranges Antimony. Lodes occur at Alexandra, Waipori, Mount Stoker, and the Carrick Ranges, none of which are at present being worked. Platinum. This metal is associated with the auriferous deposits at Round Hill, Southland, and is recovered in the proportion of about 1 oz. of platinum per 100 oz. of gold saved ; about 20 oz. of platinum having been sold by the Round Hill Mining Company during the year. Phosphate Rock. Approximately 4,400 tons of 60 per cent, to 80 per cent, rock have been produced and disposed of during the year. Several finds of phosphate had been reported, but only the Millburn and Clarendon deposits are at present being worked. Fireclay. Used for manufacture of fireclay goods, bricks, and sanitary pipes. The following outputs have been returned ; T. N. Horsley, Springfield, Canterbury, 616 tons ; Homebush Colliery, Glentunnel, Canterbury, 200 tons ; P. McSkimming, Benhar, Otago, 2,034 tons : total, 2,850 tons. HAEMATITE. One hundred and sixteen tons have been taken out by Messrs. Gilvray, Mataura, for use by the Mataura Paper-mills. accidents and fatalities. Quartz-mines. Fatal. 24-11-1903. —John Hercus, miner, Golden Bar Quartz-mine, Macrae's, was killed by an explosion of gelignite in the mine. Investigation failed to disclose the actual cause of the explosion, which occurred while Hercus was presumably conveying a charge from the magazine to his working-face. Non-fatal. 17-3-1903. —Henry Campbell, trucker, Shotover Quartz-mine, Skipper's, sustained fracture of collarbone, and bruised leg, by falling into quartz-paddock when tipping a truck of quartz. Hydraulic and Alluvial Mines. Fatal. 30-3-1903. —William Turner, miner, Scandinavian Claim, St. Bathan's, crushed by a fall of clay from the side while employed sinking a hole for lowering the hydraulic elevator. 22-12-1903. —Robert Williamson, manager, Undaunted Gold-mining Claim, Nevis, crushed by a slip of rock from the side of a trench being sunk for pipe-line under the county road. Non-fatal. 20-3-1903. —John Corbett, manager, New Skipper's Sluicing Company, Skipper's Point: Leg broken by a slide of material from the face jamming him against the pipe-line. 4-6-1903. —E. Deegan, nozzleman, Smith Gold-mining Company's Claim, Round Hill, while turning the nozzle stepped in front and was thrown against some stumps, with the result of three ribs broken. Gold-dredges. Fatal. 2-3-1903. —William Henry Hughes, Engineer, Unity dredge, Clyde : Fracture of skull; fall from friction-framing to deck, 8 ft. 9-7-1903. —Samuel McAuley, fireman, Roxburgh Jubilee dredge, Roxburgh : Foot torn off by a screen-roller. Succumbed to injury, 17th July, 1903. 3-11-1903. —Andrew Taylor, fireman, Pringle and party's dredge, Pride of Clutha No. 2, Miller's Flat : Drowned by being jerked out of the boat while lifting dredge side-line over bow-post.

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Non-fatal. 29-1-1903. —E. Eaton, engineer, Perseverance No. 1 Alexandra : Foot crushed by elevator against the side causing lacerated wound of the heel. 5-2-1903.—F, Cameron, engine-driver, Teviot dredge, Roxburgh : Fracture of leg —crossing bucketbelt in motion. 9-3-1903.— J. White, engine-driver, Waimumu dredge, Waimumu : Right hand scalded when forcing in one of the mudhole-doors before the steam-pressure was off the boiler. 16-3-1903.—John O'Brien, engine-driver, Gold King dredge, Roxburgh : Hand caught (necessitating amputation of two fingers) while cleaning-governors with a bit of waste. 16-3-1903.—A. Andrews, cadet, Lower Enfield dredge, Waipori : Bruised leg and arm—while oiling machinery in motion, foot caught between belt-pulley and friction. 11-4-1903.— J. Maxwell, labourer, Oceanic Steam-dredge, Waipori: Fracture of left thigh and bruised calf of leg —fell on the bow of the pontoon. 1-7-1903. —H. Leicester, dredgemaster, Waimumu Extended dredge, Mataura : Right leg broken above ankle —pinned by bucket which had fallen when the tumbler was raised, at which work Leicester was assisting. 21-7-1903.— G. Pettigrew, Gold Bank dredge, Glenore : Left chest squeezed between belt and housing by engine taking a turn after being centred. 25-9-1903. — J. Ford, fireman, McGeorge Bros.' Freehold dredge, Waikaka : Fingers crushed under the rope between fair-lead and sheave while putting on a string of new buckets. Found necessary to amputate thumb and third ringer of left hand. 28-9-1903. — J. Melvin, winchman, Lady Roxburgh dredge, Roxburgh : Slight concussion of brain —fell off ladder on to deck while attending to winch-lamp. 9-10-1903. —V. Morris, fireman, Junction Electric No. 1 dredge, Cromwell: Foot injured by a bucket falling on it, while assisting to remove bucket and set of links. 10-10-1903. —G. Scoles, blacksmith, Electric No. 1 dredge, Cromwell : Struck on forehead and right arm by handle of hand-winch which suddenly reversed while using it. 10-11-1903. —Henry Tucker, Spec Gully dredge, Charlton, Gore : Thumb of right hand crushed on ladder-roller. I have, &c, E. R. Green, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

REPORTS OF WARDENS. Mr. Warden Hutchison to the Undeb-Sbceetaby for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Auckland, 11th February, 1904. I beg to transmit herewith the forms of return for Warden's Court at Whangarei. There is nothing to report as to the condition of mining in the Puhipuhi District, mining there having long since ceased. I have, &c, T. Hutchison, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Warden. Mr. Warden Bush to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sib,— Warden's Office, Thames, 6th June, 1904. I have the honour to forward the usual annual report on mining matters for the past year for the district under my control. Although the production of gold in the Hauraki Mining District is increasing yet it is a matter for regret to be forced to write, that some of the mines which for some years past have added considerably to the gold-yield, are at present not only non-producers but have ceased to exist. Notwithstanding this, the production for three weeks in the month of May last totalled over £65,000, the Waihi Mine being responsible for something over £50,000 of this. Even if this amount represented the month's return, the yearly total would be £780,000, but the last Waihi return to hand is over £52,000 for the month. If this can be maintained and other mines add a more fortunate quota than was the case during the past year, I see no reason why £1,000,000 should not be reached during the ensuing twelve months. Unfortunately, mining in this district is uncertain inasmuch as, in portions of it the gold-deposit is patchy, but when found is very rich ; while in other portions without the expenditure of much capital the reef-system cannot be reached, consequently, unless means are at hand to make a claim into what may ultimately prove to be a remunerative speculation, money-owners are not forthcoming, hence many of our mines which have had several thousands spent upon them, are languishing and in an unproductive condition, no one knowing what their future may be. Great hopes are entertained that in the event of the Grand Junction properties proving gold-bearing, an inducement will be offered to investors to assist other properties in the locality with capital for development purposes. Many are living in hope of ultimate assistance reaching them, chiefly built upon the expected results from the Grand Junction Mine. It is the general opinion, that if this company is successful in securing fairly good results after starting crushing, the present tightness in the moneymarket will be much relaxed. Capital judiciously spent, would, I feel sure, prove of great benefit to the field. It is anticipated that the boring operations now in progress in this district, will eventually result in locating some gold-bearing reefs which can not otherwise be discovered except at very great cost.

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DYNAMO ROOM, WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

DYNAMO ROOM, WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

97

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Thames.

Moanataiari: The New Moanataiari Gold-mining Company (Limited) becoming disgusted at their want of success decided to give up business, and early in the year sold all their properties at public auction. The purchasers, Messrs. J. J. Craig and C. C. McWilliam, endeavoured to form a company to work the mine in conjunction with the May Queen property (which had also been bought by them), but without success. Later on, Mr. H. H. Adams purchased the properties from them, and formed a company to work the Alburnia and this ground together by extending the Moanataiari tunnel towards the Alburnia. The new owners went to work at once, and let a contract for some 300 ft. of driving. When nearing the end of this contract a reef about 2 ft. wide was met with carrying a little gold. This discovery is looked upon as important inasmuch as it is in unprospected ground, and others more valuable may be met at any time. Tributers have been employed for the most part of the year, and crushed 603 tons of ore, and 51 lb. of specimen for a return of £2,021 6s. 4d. Alburnia : This mine (as I have mentioned), is being worked through the Moanataiari tunnel. It is the intention of the company to extend the drive to the Alburnia shaft at a considerable depth to see if the reefs which existed in the upper levels continue downwards. Tributers took out 478J tons of ore, and 115 lb. of specimens which yielded £2,089 3s. Id. Kuranui Caledonian : A few wages-men were employed during the early part of the year in prospecting about the shaft at No. 1 level, but when the borehole was commenced it was decided to await the result of its operations before putting on paid men, the ground being fully manned by tributers. The bore, the first of a series, was commenced in September, and for a while made good progress, though the country through which it passed for 950 ft. was not of a very good character. As it went down the country improved until at 1,041 ft. it was first-class. The Caledonian No. 1 reef was cut at this depth, but being of a rubbly nature it was decided to continue the hole to 1,500 ft. The rock at the depth of 1,034 ft. was assayed, and valued at 11s. 3d. per ton. At 1,041 ft. the bit stuck, and the hole had to be reamed to 4| in. to envelop the rod and casing, but up to the present the diamonds have not been recovered. Tributers crushed 793§ tons of general dirt, and 825 lb. specimens for a return of 1,735 oz. 7 dwt. of gold; value £4,707 4s. sd. Victoria Mine : A borehole is being put down on the foreshore with the object of testing the country at 1,500 ft. and is now down 380 ft. It is expected that solid ground will be met with at 1,000 ft. The ground has been worked principally by tributers, who crushed 170 tons of ore, and obtained 212 oz. 9 dwt. of gold, worth £586 4s. 6d. Kuranui Mine : This mine has been steadily worked during the year, but nothing payable has been discovered. The tunnel level has been extended 450 ft., and two rises put up 80 ft. Highly mineralised ore was met with in the drive which yielded 12 dwt. to the ton. It was expected that the ore would improve in value as the reef went down, but so far there has been no appreciable improvement. Twelve men have been employed and twenty-two loads of general ore crushed for a return of 14 oz. 8 dwt., value £34 13s. Bd. Waiotahi Mine : This mine has been carrying on its operations on the small leaders with remunerative results. No new works have been commenced, but lam informed that in a few months' time it is intended to sink the main shaft 100 ft., and then open out. If the same class of country continues, a new era of prosperity for this good old mine may set in. A total of 865 tons of quartz was crushed at the company's own mill for a return of £3,856 12s. Of this sum £900 was paid in dividends. Fame and Fortune Mine : This mine has been wholly worked by tributers. Operations have been confined to the hanging-wall of the Golden Age reef, and 300 tons of ore, and 35 lb. of picked stone crushed which yielded 364 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, value £937 Is. This company has a battery which crushes for the public, and there have been six men employed in it. West Coast Claim : Two men have been engaged in driving and stoping on small leaders, and 43 tons of ore have been crushed for a return of 57 oz. 15 dwt., value £155 18s. 6d. Ballarat Claim : This claim has been worked by two men, who took out 28Jj tons of general ore which yielded 97 oz. 14 dwt., value £286 15s. 9d. Nonpariel Mine : Seven tributers have been employed principally on the Liverpool Boys reef, and Wade's leader. The former reef gave fair results in the lower levels but the upper levels were not payable. The reefs vary from 4 in. to 15 in. Picked stone, 7 lb., and quartz, 140 tons, was crushed, and gave a return of £451 6s. May Queen Hauraki Mine : Early in the year this mine was sold by auction to Messrs. J. J. Craig and C. C. McMillan, who endeavoured to float a company, but without success. They then let a contract for driving a crosscut at No. 2 level in the Saxon section for the purpose of cutting the Cardigan Nos. 1 and 2 lodes. The lodes were met with, and driven on for a few feet, and two loads taken out which yielded £13 7s. 10d. In other parts of the mine tributers have been working, but Ido not think they were very successful. A total of 514 tons was treated, and yielded £1,949 13s. sd. May Queen Extended Mine : The main works have been the extension of the crosscut towards the Odd Fellows reef, and driving and stoping on the new reef. The Odd Fellows reef not being met with where it was expected, work was suspended and stoping on the new reef commenced. A block of ground was opened up 115 ft. by 60 ft., the average width of the reef being 10 in. The western drive was extended to 113 ft. Ore from both ends of the drive was treated also a few pounds of picked stone. The general ore occasionally showed gold, and it was expected to go well. About 380 tons was crushed for a return of 298 oz. 17 dwt., value £859 17s. As this return was just about payable, the manager decided to keep on stoping in hopes that the reef might improve. Seven men were employed. Thames Talisman Mine : The mine has been protected for most of the year. Four men have been employed lately in cleaning out and repairing the upper level where the Grand Trunk reef was worked in the early days. The manager is of opinion that this reef has not been worked out.

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New Una Mine : This mine is situated at Una Hill, and was many years ago held by the Una Company, and was lately known as the Thames. The present owners are engaged in putting in a low level to test the ground from the Karaka Creek side. It is thought they may come across the German and Royalty reefs. This portion of the field has not been tested at so deep a level, and should payable ore be found, the prospects of the mine paying dividends would be very good indeed. Seven men are employed. Gloucester and George Turnbull Mines : These claims are being worked by the Arrindell Syndicate formed in Glasgow. Two men are at present employed in extending the low level. A five-stamp battery has been brought out from Scotland, and is to be erected at the mine. Fortuna Hauraki Mine : Tributers have been working in the surface-working on leaders, and took out 32J tons of quartz, and 30 lb. picked stone, which yielded 74 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, value £205 11s. 3d. The Weymouth, Otanui Consols, Ethel Reefs, and Anchor Claims have all been more or less worked, but there is nothing of any importance to report. Eclipse Mine : The payable ore found in the upper levels having given out, and the company being without funds, it was decided to sell the mine and battery. Mr. H. H. Adams became the purchaser, and without delay formed a company, and commenced to put in a low level to cut the reef at a depth below the spot where the payable ore was found in the upper level. If the reef is payable in this low level a large block will be available for stoping. The prospects at present are very good. Seven men are employed. The Tararu Creek Mine has been under protection pending the result of a visit to England by Mr. R. W. Powell, the manager, to raise more capital, and confer with his principals. Mr. Powell fully expects to raise more money, and proposes to put in a low level towards the Sunbeam creek. The Golden Drop, Argosy, Temple Bar, and Bullion have had two men each employed, but only small returns have been obtained. Puru Consolidated Mine : This mine has been worked on tribute by P. Maher, who stoped out a block of ground over No. 2 level, and obtained 415 tons of ore, and 100 lb. of picked stone, which yielded £461 14s. 6d. Monowai Mine : I am sorry to have to report that this mine has ceased operations and is to be sold. Up to September the prospects were bright, but about that time the ore becoming less valuable, and of a more refractory nature, the company decided to cease operations. The ore was crushed in their own battery, and the concentrates shipped to New South Wales for treatment. This greatly increased the cost of recovery, so that nothing but fairly rich ore will pay. The company deserves a better fate for it has steadily prospected its ground, and tried many modes of treating the ore. Thirty-five men have been employed, and 1,387 tons of ore has been treated for a return of £1,584. Sheridan Mine : A new company was formed about November, and commenced to sink a winze from No. 2 level on a leader in the hanging-wall of the Sheridan reef. The winze is down 50 ft., and dabs of gold have been seen. It is intended to go down another 10 ft. and then open out. The pass will be repaired, so that quartz can be sent to the low-level for conveyance to the battery. The company crushed 5 tons of ore for a return of £33 Is. lOd. Mahara Royal Mine : The old company having called up all its capital, and finding it difficult to raise more, sold the mine and battery to Mr. H. H. Adams's syndicate. A local company was at once formed, and work begun. A low level was driven 520 ft., and a lode intersected from 4 ft. to 7 ft. in width. It was found to be of poor quality at this point, but improved after having been driven on for 120 ft., where a rich patch was struck below where payable ore had been worked in the top level. A winze on this reef was sunk a few feet, but had to be discontinued on account of water. The company intends erecting a small pumping plant over this winze, which, when in working-order, will enable them to open up a new block, and also test the lode at or below the level. Stoping operations are now in progress on a payable lode of ore found when extending the level, and will be continued until the pumps are at work. Twenty men have been employed. Mananu Mine : This mine is closed down and under protection. A good deal of money has been spent in prospecting the various reefs, but none of them were found payable. During the early part of the year the reef at No. 4 level was driven on for 155 ft., but was found to be not payable. It contains a good deal of mineral and is a hard blue quartz. A good deal of work was done on the same reef at No. 3 level, but with no better results. In the Rapid section the No. 1 reef at the surface has been worked on, but it got smaller as it went down and less in value, so that it was not payable. Six men were employed, and 370 tons of quartz crushed for a return of £333. Tairua-Broken Hills Mine : During the year this mine has been well and carefully worked with satisfactory results, the sum of £10,306 having been paid in dividends. Generally the operations have consisted of driving, rising, and stoping the Blucher, Night, and Puon reefs. The Blucher reef yielded highly payable ore in the intermediate level, and has been extensively worked. From tests made from time to time of the New Year, and Wellington reefs it is thought that they will also pay well. Generally the prospects of the mine continuing to be payable are very favourable. Coronation and Coronation Extended Claims have been worked with from two to six men. At the surface good prospects were obtained, and a level put in for the purpose of cutting the lodes, but up to the present payable ore has not been met with. The Taniwha Mine has had three men employed in prospecting. A large lode at the surface has been worked, and 42 tons of quartz crushed which yielded £190 Is. Id. The lode-formation is mostly rock with small quartz stringer running through it carrying the gold. The crushing-ore has to be selected, so that the results are hardly payable. The Myosotis-Gem and Golden Hills Claims have been prospected, but there is nothing of importance to report.

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Chelmsford. —The low level was extended, but the reef did not turn out as well as was expected, so the mine closed down and is now under protection. Efforts are being made to obtain more capital to put in a lower level. Golden Belt Mine : The old low level has been extended and the lode driven on for some distance. Valuable ore was met with, and a large quantity taken out and stacked. A main low level is now being put in lower down the creek, which, when completed, will be connected with the upper levels. An aerial tramway is in course of erection which will convey the ore to the battery now in course of erection. This battery, together with a cyanide plant, was purchased from the Alpha Company, and brought from Waitekauri. Ten heads of stamps were also purchased from the Hauraki-Associated Company at Coromandel, and when added to the others will give a total of thirty stamps. Eight men have been employed. The Chester Claim was worked by Murphy and party, who crushed 76 lb. of picked stone for a yield of 22 oz. 15 dwt. Several claims have been applied for in this district, but very little work has been done outside the Golden Belt. Klondyke Mine : In the early part of the year this mine was fairly well worked, and 125 tons of ore taken out and crushed for a return of 17 oz. 6 dwt., value £41 16s. 6d. As this was not payable, operations were stopped, and protection applied for pending the results of experiments which were commenced for the purpose of ascertainng the best method of treating the ore. The Sheet Anchor and We Three Claims have been prospected, and although several small reefs were cut through which carry a little gold, no payable lode was discovered. The country at the surface is very much broken, but it is hoped will improve in the low level now being commenced. Karangahake. New Zealand Crown Mines : This company has been prosecuting its mining operations with its usual vigour, employing a large staff of men in the mine and reduction-works. Some three hundred men find employment on its works besides those employed in providing timber for its use. The amount of timber required for this mine costs over £100 a month, which at Bs. per hundred represents a very large quantity of that material. This mine, however, for the past few months has been somewhat unfortunate in having to deal with rather a poor quality of ore which has caused a falling-off in the value of its monthly returns, but still the returns to hand are of sufficient value to give a small margin of profit. This company has a large sum invested in machinery of every kind necessary to carry on its operations, and all that it requires is to discover a richer block of ore to enable it to make the good returns of last year, which I have no doubt it will again be doing ere long, as a vein assaying £2 per ton has been unearthed in No. 4 level, which however is described as irregular ; but further development may lead to something better. A good body of ore has already been struck. The Talisman Consolidated have had a much improved year, having secured gold to the value of £88,079, which shows an average yield per month of £7,340. This is an increase of £20,763 upon the previous twelve months' returns. The present position of this mine seems eminently satisfactory ; let us hope the future will prove it to be one of our consistent gold-producers. During the year an average of 155 men have been employed upon its works. The incline shaft from No. Bto No. 11 level has been completed, and is working well. A rise from No. 11 level connects with this shaft. A drive from the Woodstock No. 5 level along the face of the reef has been carried to a point where the shaft will come down. Altogether the present prospects of this mine are cheering. The Woodstock Gold-mining Company have done little or nothing during the past year for want of funds. The company, it is stated, are liquidating, and it is rumoured that the property has been acquired by the Talisman Consolidated Company. The northern section of this property is almost entirely undeveloped, and is said to carry a larger reef-area than the southern portion, to which the whole attention of the old company was practically devoted. These three properties are practically the only ones that can be termed mines, as no others have developed and proved to be auriferous. The Crown and Talisman especially have proved to be good payable mines. There are a few other special claims still in existence, notably, two called the j3axon Nos. 1 and 2, which a Sydney firm are endeavouring to float. They have some faith in the ground, as they are paying the rent, and prospecting the ground with two men. Then there is the Comstock United, held by a very hopeful man, who for the last two or three years has just been on the point of cutting the reef ; a reef which is to astonisd the world, and to excel anything ever met with in the Waihi Mine. This reef has not yet been discovered although the owner positively asserts it is there, and professes to be working hard to reach it. The Rising Sun at Owharoa is another claim upon which the owners have spent a considerable sum of money in trying to turn it into a mine. They have pluckily stuck to it, and it is not their fault that it is not a gold-mine. They have no present intention of giving it up, but intend to prosecute their researches in the hope of ultimate success. Perseverance such as they have displayed deserves to be rewarded ; time and energy may discover something in the ground later on, as it is in the vicinity of a claim from which a large quantity of gold was obtained in years past. That section of the Ohinemuri River claims, extending from Karangahake to the junction of the river, has been protected pending the tests being made with regard to other of the claims, at the works erected at Waihi, with a view to ascertaining what was actually required to treat 'theTslimes before incurring the expense of a second plant. Komata. —The Komata Reefs Mine has during the past year proved itself a consistent gold-pro-ducer, and there is every prospect of its continuing to be so. This company's crushings for the twelve months ending the 31st March last, totalled £37,132, the monthly return being fairly uniform. There are three or four other claims in this locality in existence, but none of them so far have realised expectations.

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The Hikutaia Syndicate after struggling for years have at last had to surrender the bulk of their ground, retaining an area less than 100 acres. At Maratoto the old company not having met with anything to recoup their outlay have sold their property. Of the new owner's intentions nothing is at present known. There are one or two other holdings here, but there is nothing to report of interest in connection with them. Waitbkauri. The Waitekauri Gold-mining Company have had another very unsuccessful year searching for gold. Between thirty and forty men have been employed on their various properties. The battery has been at a standstill, but a considerable amount of development mining has been carried on at various sections of the ground, which no doubt will shortly recoup them for the outlay they have been put to. A great deal of gold has been obtained from both the Golden Cross and Waitekauri sections of this property, and there is no reason why some more should not yet be secured. The Waitekauri Extended section of this company's property has yielded nothing this year, and another battery there is standing idle. The Jubilee Company's claims are protected at the present time. I understand an effort is being made to raise further capital for further development-works, but it has not yet been secured. Want of capital is the greatest barrier to the successful development of some at least of our claims ; such a vast capital being required to make one of them into a mine that capitalists are chary to risk their money in perhaps something which, though gold-bearing, may not turn out very remunerative. Besides these larger areas there are several smaller extended claims in existence, but as one individual man owns each of these, very little is likely to be heard of them, unless by some fortuitous chance one or other of them turns out very rich. The Ohinemuri Syndicate at Owharoa, after struggling on for some years, have at last given up mining their ground, and sold the machinery they had erected there. Two coal leases have been taken up under the Coal-mines Act in the vicinity of Karangahake. Report says, coal of a good quality has been discovered on the ground taken up. Waihi. The great Waihi Mine has produced over fifty thousand pounds' worth of gold every month during the past year, and the company has displayed its usual energy in its mining operations. A new pumping plant has been imported to supplement those already in use. It is said that when this plant is erected and in working-order, the company will have pumping machinery at work valued at £130,000. The new pump is for erection at the No. 5 shaft, indeed its erection is nearly completed. It is a very massive piece of machinery, and going at a nominal speed, will raise 1,500 gallons of water per minute to a height of 1,550 ft. The other two pumps raise 1,000 gallons per minute and 800 gallons per minute respectively to 1,000 ft. The three pumps running together at a nominal speed will be able to raise 3,300 gallons of water per minute to a height of from 1,000 ft. to over 1,500 ft. If taxed, the new pump will be able to raise 2,000 gallons of water per minute. The company has employed twelve hundred men in and about its mining operations, and there is every prospect of this number being much increased in the near future, as, with the new pumping machinery in full work, the deeper levels will be thoroughly prospected and developed, when, should they prove anything like as rich as the upper ones, a great many more men will be required to carry the work on in them. The Grand Junction has purchased the battery erected at Opitonui by the Kauri Freeholds Gold Estates, which is being taken down and removed to Waihi for erection there ; I trust, therefore, when reporting next year, I may be able to report this mine as another gold-producer. This company up to the present has received nothing for the £150,000 spent upon its property. The great quantity of water met with has been one of the main obstacles to their success. There is from all accounts, very little doubt as to a rich gold deposit being in this property, which boring tests have more recently confirmed. Altogether between 4,000 and 5,000 acres at Waihi are held under mining-licenses as claims, but so far only one of the mines within this area is a gold-producer. The others are in some cases working away trying to find the precious metal, while others are frequently changing hands, each holder in turn trying hard to raise capital, failure to do which necessitates a surrender. This takes place periodically, but so far none of the holders have succeeded in securing the wished-for means for developing any of them. It is anticipated that in the event of the Grand Junction being successful in securing fair returns, a fair prospect for obtaining money from England will be secured, hence the desire to keep possession of these claims. The Waihi Extended, the Waihi Consols, the Waihi Consolidated, and the Waihi South have all spent considerable sums upon the ground held by them in trying to find what reefs they possess ; but so far with poor results, in fact with no results whatever. Recently, however, one or two of the companies have been endeavouring to prospect by boring, but so far nothing in the nature of reefs has been met with, and the drilling company have met with many difficulties from the nature of the ground that they did not anticipate having to contend with ; these circumstances have tended to defer the acquirement of that knowledge which it was hoped the boring would have rapidly disclosed. The Waihi Extended however have been working with twelve men during the past year, and it is reported have recently met with a good-looking lode. Of the other claims there is nothing to report, except that on the Waihi Beach work has been carried on with a reduced number of men. The Ohinemuri River Claims Syndicate after erecting a plant for treating old tailings deposited in the bed of the river, discovered that many things required altering, while other articles had to be substituted. These conditions have caused many difficulties and delays, and very materially increased

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ZINC-CUTTING MACHINES, WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

ZINC-CUTTING MACHINES, WAIKINO BATTERY, WAIHI GOLD-MINING COMPANY.

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the cost of the plant, besides deferring the knowledge as to whether the plant will successfully treat the substances so as to remunerate the syndicate. As it is a new industry in connection with mining in these parts, I trust the plucky enterprise will prove successful, the more so as it will be the means of employing a considerable number of men. This syndicate has spent between £7,000 and £8,000 on their plant already. COROMANDEL. In this portion of the field 2,507 acres are held as mining claims, upon some of which very little work of any kind is being done, while some of the properties which for a time looked so well and promising have absolutely died out, even the old Kapanga Company's mine now no longer exists. The machinery that was erected upon it has been dismantled, and disposed of. This mine was the oldest on the field, and for years was a promising property, producing considerable quantities of gold. A portion of the old claim has been taken up by Coromandel people, who still have faith in it. Gold is still being obtained in this portion of the district, but in much smaller quantities than was the case a few years ago. On the Kauri Block the Hauraki Mines (under the new company) continued working during the year with only moderate results from its crushings. The Bunker's Hill Mine has carried on continuous work with good results, having had some crushings of fair value. The Hauraki Freeholds, which adjoins the Bunker's property, have been following the latter's reef, and have also been driving from the Welcome Find shaft towards the Hauraki North. Tributing is being carried on around the beach below the Hauraki Mine in the Golden Pah and vicinity with various success. Messrs. Shepherd and Patterson have worked a cyanide tailings plant on the beach near here for some considerable time with payable results. In the vicinity of Driving Creek prospecting has been carried on in a section of the old Kapanga claim, now known as the South Kapanga, where some gold-bearing stone has been procured. In the New Hero a syndicate has been prospecting for some time, but so far the results have not been very encouraging. Several parties are prospecting about Paul's Creek, but have obtained nothing of much value. On the Tokatea, the Royal Oak Mine is still being worked, and getting gold. During the last few weeks several lots of picked stone have been secured, which has considerably raised the future prospects of this mine. At present, a scheme to amalgamate with other smaller surrounding holdings is mooted, so as to form a strong company, which proposes working on a more extensive scale. The Harbour View Syndicate's Claim has carried on considerable work with poor results. The Golden Spark has been acquired by a company, and the prospects appear good. The West Tokatea Mines have worked consistently through the year, but the results have not been too encouraging. During the last few months operations have again been pushed forward with renewed vigour. The New Four-in-Hand have carried on some very useful development-work with a view to thoroughly testing the ground, and are well satisfied with the results so far. I have not the least doubt this mine will again shortly be producing gold. Some very good returns have come to hand from the New Tandem Mine during the year. Kennedy Bay. —Prospecting of an encouraging nature has been carried on up the Omoho Creek, where some good stone has been obtained. Cabbage Bay. —The White Star Company are the only holders here, but the results of their workings have been so indifferent that they had to seek protection. Matamataharakeke. —The Macaronic and other claims have been worked steadily, and hopes are entertained of eventually securing large reefs of medium value. Kuaotunu. —The Waitaia and the Hamsworth are the only two properties that have been at all consistent during the year as gold-producers. The other claims in this locality have been principally in the hands of tributers with varying success. Kapowai Block, Gumtown. —The Kapowai Mine has had several fair crushings, and is still working with good prospects. Tiki. —The Progress Castle Rock and Vaughan Claims are in the hands of private individuals, who are prospecting, but the results have not been encouraging. Te Aeoha. In this portion of the field mining is extremely quiescent. Only about 270 acres are held as mining claims; of this area, 142 acres are held by Mr. Hardy, who really is the only holder who has done anything in the way of producing gold during the year. In connection with Mr. Hardy's mine there is a battery, a water-race, and other plant necessary for succesfully working a mine. Recently this property has been taken over by a company ; whether this will prove an advantage to the field or otherwise remains to be seen. The object, I understand, was to secure more capital for development purposes. The balance of the area held by other persons may be described as more or less protected. I have, &c, R. S. Bush, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

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Mr. Warden Roberts, Tauranga, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Tauranga, Bth March, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your circular, No. 1 of the 23rd January last, and in reply thereto beg to report for your information as follows : — During the twelve months ended the 31st December, 1903, a considerable amount of developmentwork was carried out in the early part of the year by an Auckland syndicate, who held an option over the Te Puke Gold Reefs Company's property. In the early part of the year there appeared to be a fair prospect of the mine being floated, and the necessary capital to work it being raised, but the optionholders have thrown up their option, and the property has reverted back to the company. No other work of importance has been done on the field. The forms forwarded with your circular are filled up and attached hereto. I have, &c, J. M. Roberts, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Warden Smith, Blenheim, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir— Warden's Office, Blenheim, 13th May, 1904. I have the honour to report that during the year ended the 31st December last, the gold-mining industry made but little, if any, progress in the Marlborough Mining District. Quartz-mining was practically confined to the operations of the Jubilee Company at Top Valley, and its operations were apparently none too successful, for in December it was found necessary to shut down with a'view to reconstructing the company for the purpose of obtaining additional capital 'to'exploit the reef in deep ground. During the year, however, this company has given employment, on an average, to twentytwo men, and has done about 290 ft. of driving and crosscutting. 1,704 tons of stone was crushed for a yield of 548 oz., and 1,100 tons of sand was treated by the cyanide process, producing 72 oz. of gold ; the total value of the gold obtained being £2,118 17s. 3d. It is estimated that a tunnel 1,200 ft. in length will require to be driven to give from 500 ft. to 600 ft. of backs on the reef, but as this tunnel will be a crosscut, it is hoped that other lodes will be intersected during the prosecution of the work. As regards dredging, of the two companies in operation, it may be said that the Golden Point dredge at Wakamarina was swamped during a flood in July last, and has only recently been raised and placed in working-order on the claim. Prior to the accident, small returns were obtained, but the shareholders have not so far received any return for the capital invested. At Arm Chair Creek the Alpine Gold-dredging Company's operations have been delayed by a series of misfortunes. A dredge, formerly known as the Omdurman, was purchased from the Egmont Company, the intention being to place it on the claim in Arm Chair Creek, whither it was to work its way by dredging. Before, however, a start was made, a flood came down the creek in which the dredge was moored, and she capsized. Having been placed in working-order again at a cost of about £600, another flood was experienced, and on this occasion, the dredge, which was, it seems, not properly secured, was carried about half a mile down the creek, where she now lies stranded. No alluvial mining of any consequence is carried on, the miners so engaged being mostly old men, who do a little fossicking. Speaking of other industries, the proposed manufacture of cement and lime at or near the Elevation, Picton, may be mentioned. A company was formed and registered for this purpose during the year under review, the scene of the operations originally intended being the Meadowbank Estate, near Blenheim ; but it has since been decided to abandon that site, and work the cement formation near Picton, and machinery has been ordered for the purpose. At Wakamarina, there is, I understand, a great demand among the sawmillers for bush for milling purposes. The usual statistical returns are forwarded herewith. I have, &c, T. Scottj3MiTH/-Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Warden Heaps, Nelson, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Warden's Office, Nelson, 19th May, 1904. Pursuant to the request contained in your Circular No. 1 of the 23rd January last, I have the honour to enclose herewith the forms of return forwarded therewith duly filled up as far as information was available ; also, I submit the following report on the condition of the mining industry in the district of Karamea North for the year ended the 31st December, 1903. Last year I had to report that the year had been unsatisfactory from a mining point of view ; this year it has been more so ; little if any fresh enterprise having been shown. Dredging. —This branch of mining has so far been a complete failure. Five special dredging claims of an aggregate area of 323 acres were surrendered during the year. Out of the five dredges which were completed and in working-order at the beginning of the year, only one is now at work, and it is in fresh hands and on fresh ground. It is confidently expected that under the new management good results will be obtained. WjSluicing. —The Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing and Mining Company and the Slate River Sluicing Company are the principal companies at work.

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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.

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The claim known as Jackson's has also remained idle during the year, but now I hear three men have taken it over, and are repairing the head-race and cleaning up the face for a start/HS Motueka, Mount Arthur Tableland.—l have nothing to report from this locality. Wangapeka.—The dredge on this river has at length got to work, being worked with coal mined at their own mine in the vicinity. The Sherry.—One claim on private land is being worked industriously, and with good results. Tadmor and Baton are not now being worked. I have. &c, Wilson Heaps, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Warden Kenrick, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Greymouth, 29th March, 1904. Herewith I have the honour to forward Statistical returns for the year ended December, 1903, also detailed reports on the several subdivisions of the mining district under my charge. Reefton-Inangahua District. Mr. E. W. Spencer, general manager for the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited), the Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited), and the Welcome Gold-mining Company (Limited) — furnishes the following reports on the operations of the various companies under his control during the year 1903 :— Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited). —Wealth of Nations : Practically no develop-ment-work of any description has been carried out on this property during the period under review, owing to the conditions under which we are working. For the maximum capacity in depth of the old overshot water-wheel used for hoisting has been reached and developments in future will be conducted from the Energetic shaft. Stoping has been carried out in a general manner from the 350 ft. (No. 2) level down to the 800 ft. (No. 6) level producing 12,385 tons of quartz, which when crushed, yielded bullion to the value of £14,296 7s. 3d. by amalgamation, and concentrates to the value of £1,034 9s. 4d. were sold to the smelter. At the cyanide-works 8,645 tons of sands, representing 69 - 802 per cent, of the tonnage milled was treated, yielding bullion to the value of £5,061 3s. lid. or 11s. 8"508 d. per ton. Of this amount 2s. ll"O47d. was absorbed in working-costs, leaving a profit per ton treated of Bs. 9 - 461 d. The working-costs of this mine, amounting to 17s. 8"456 d. per ton treated are made up as follows : Mining, 11s. 9'766d. per ton ; Milling and concentrating, 2s. 6"507 d. per ton ; Cyaniding, Is. ll"704d. per ton ; Offices and general expenses, including bullion and assay charges, Is. 4'479d. per ton. There have been no alterations in the surface equipment at this mine during the year 1903. Energetic shaft : During the year the shaft has been sunk from a depth of 831 ft. to 1,369 ft., at which point the last set was placed in position on the 9th October. Since then the brace of the shaft has been raised a height of 8J ft. which brings it up to the level of the permanent brace. Hence the shaft at present is actually 1,3775 ft. deep. As soon as the shaft-sinking was finished, a start was made to open out for the new level (No. 7) at a point 125 ft. vertically below the bottom level (No. 6) of the Wealth of Nations. Here a chamber has been cut, and the crosscut at the end of 1903 was out 126 ft. from the shaft. It will probably have to go 220 ft. before striking the reef. On the surface very considerable alterations have been carried out and good headway made with the permanent equipment. An exterior-fired multitubular boiler has been erected and bricked in, the dimensions of which are as follows : Diameter of shell, 60 in., length, 16 ft., working-pressure, 140 lb. per square inch. A compressor 13 in, by 24 in. by Hirnant has also been erected, and it is intended to supply air for the rock-drills. A gallows-frame 37 ft. 6 in. in height has been erected for use with the large permanent winding-engine which is an 18 in. by 36 in. direct coupled Tangye girder winding-engine, the foundations for which are ready to receive the plant. The engine-house measures 45 ft. by 26 ft. 6 in. by 19 ft. 6 in. in height, whilst the boiler and compressor house measures 34 ft. by 22 ft. 6 in. by 15 ft. 6 in. in height. At the end of the year the new boiler was ready to connect up to the temporary hoist, thereby throwing the small boiler out of commission. Future operations at this shaft will be as follows : When the reef is encountered on No. 7 level it will be driven on in a southerly direction towards the present Wealth of Nations incline shaft, and as soon as possible the shaft will be continued on down another lift of 125 ft. to No, 8 level. The development-work throughout will, as far as possible, be conducted by rock-drills so as to hasten the developments ; for the future of the Wealth of Nations Mine depends entirely upon the manner in which the next levels open up. Should they turn out well the surface reduction-works will have to be altered to suit. Golden Fleece : During the period under review a large amount of development-work has been carried out, principally on levels Nos. 11 and 13 comprising driving and crosscutting 1,392 ft., raising and sinking 678 ft., besides which the main shaft was sunk from No. 12 to No. 13 level, and the necessary connections made. Stoping has been carried out in a very general manner from the following levels : 13, 12, 11, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3, a very large amount of ground having been gone over to provide the tonnage milled. The quartz has maintained its characteristic irregularity during the year, the stone cutting out and coming in both horizontally and vertically with great rapidity. This necessitates the removal of a considerable quantity of blank ground to avoid missing small blocks of quartz. During 1903, 14,133 tons of quartz was crushed, yielding bullion to the value of £21,978 3s. 5d., besides which sulphurets to the value of £1,436 14s. 7d. was sold to the smelter. At the cyanide-works 9,580 tons of coarse sands was cyanided, representing 67*785 per cent, of the total crushed. This yielded bullion to the value of £3,381 19s. 6d. —of this amount 2s. 3'937d. per ton was absorbed in working-

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costs, leaving a profit of 4s. S*7B9d. per ton. The total working-cost for this property amounts to £1 ss. 7'942d. per ton milled The high cost being accounted for by the very mean width of quartz stoped. No alterations of importance have been made in the surface equipment of this mine during the year. Progress Mines of New Zealand {Limited). —Development-work has been pushed in an energetic manner on the following levels Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, and resulted in the opening-up of large ore-bodies on Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9 levels in the eastern portion of the mine. The total footages driven are as follows : Driving and crosscutting 3,672 ft. ; raising and sinking 927 ft. : total, 4,599 ft.. Stoping has been carried out faom No. 3 level down to No. 9 in a very general manner, and the stopes have continued to yield quartz fully up to our expectations, as far as tonnage is concerned. In the eastern end of the mine large quantities of low-grade quartz cannot be worked at a profit under existing conditions, this material has to be used as filling. On No. 6 and No. 7 levels east, the continuation of our north-east ore-body has been located, and the stone on both levels extracted to ascertain the dimensions of the reef on these two levels. No. 9 east has also opened up a very valuable ore-body which was previously unknown. We have recently been trying to locate the same ore-body on No. 10 level and have partially succeeded. A diamond drill worked by compressed air has been at work for the last three months which has aided us in the search for dislocated ore-bodies. By this means we have traced two blocks of stone which previously we had not been able to find. On the surface the equipment at the mine has been increased by the addition of the second half of the 14 in. by 22 in. Rand air-com-pressor, converting the single into a duplex compressor. This alteration has greatly aided developments as there is now no difficulty in keeping the supply of air at 80 lb. pressure when six machines are running. The engine at the old shaft has been transferred on to a concrete bed and turned round so as to face the work. At the battery the only additions of importance have been at the cyanideworks where two new tanks 25 ft. diameter by 7 ft. high have been built, making the number of treat-ment-tanks in use up to twelve ; besides this another tank is now in course of construction. An additional sump 20 ft. by 8 ft. has also been erected. This is used for storing strong solution. The cy-anide-house has been enlarged to cover over the tanks erected, and a small shed placed over the new sump. The whole of the company's plant has been maintained in good order, and the output of the mine exceeds that of any previous year. The year's work resulted in the mining, transportation, and reduction of 57,114 tons of quartz, which yielded by amalgamation 21,298 oz. 15 dwt. 22 gr. of gold, valued at £88,738 12s. lid. 1,060 tons of concentrates was treated, yielding 2,866 oz. 1 dwt. 13 gr. of gold, valued at £11,851 15s. 4d. At the cyanide-works 26,547 tons of coarse battery sand has been treated, yielding 3,181 oz. 6 dwt. 19 gr. of very base bullion, valued at £7,769 11s. Id. The work-ing-costs amount to 2s. 4'704d. and the profit to 3s. 5 - 537 d. per ton treated, making the yield equal to ss. 10"241 d. During the year a small experimental shipment of 13 tons of roasted slimes forwarded to the smelter realised £142 14s. Bd. A general summary of the aggregate working-cost, yield, and resulting profit in milling 57,114 tons, and cyaniding 26,647 tons during the year is as follows : Total working-cost, exclusive of capital and development expenditure—lncurred in mining, milling, and chlorinating, including bullion charges and office expenses, £45,971 2s. 9d., or 16s. l - 176d. per ton milled ; cyaniding, £3,175 Is. 4d., or Is. 1\342d. per ton milled : total, £49,146 4s. 1d.,0r 17s. 2-518 d. per ton milled. Profit —Mining, transportation, milling, concentrating and chlorination works, including office expenses and bullion charges, £54,619 ss. 6d., or 19s. l - 517d. per ton milled ; cyaniding, £4,594 9s. 9d., or Is. 7-307 d. per ton milled : total, £59,213 15s. 3d., or £1 os. 8'824d. per ton milled. SummaryTotal working-cost, £49,146 4s. Id., or 17s. 2-518 d. per ton milled ; profit, £59,213 15s. 3d., or £1 os. 8.824 d. per ton milled : yield, £108,359 19s. 4d., or £1 17s. 11"342 d. per ton milled. On capital expenditure £8,115 2s. has been spent during the year ; of this amount £6,508 16s. 7d. was incurred directly in mine-development. The milling time during 1903 was very good, and would have been better but for a serious break in the water-race which accounted for 4 days 8 hours during July. This was the only break of any importance. The total number of days the mill ran was equal to the theoretical time with the exception of 1262 days. This loss of time represents the total delays caused by the monthly clean-ups, daily scrapes, water-race breakages, and incidental stoppages. A successful and prosperous year for 1904 is confidently looked forward to, when the same policy will be pursued as heretofore, with the exception of the mine-development which will be pushed even more energetically than during the period under review. Welcome Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Operations during the year were confined to stoping the quartz exposed above the low-level tunnel, Specimen Hill, and the No. 5 level Welcome, besides which a winze was sunk from the intermediate level a distance of 115 ft. connecting it to the low level. This winze was put down to endeavour to locate the position of the northern end of the stone on the low level. During the first nine and a half months of the year the company mined and milled 1,445 tons of quartz, which yielded 546 oz. 5 dwt. 21 gr. of gold, valued at £2,247 3s. 4d. The coarse sands from which, amounting to 1,044 tons, were cyanided and yielded gold to the value of £1,089 Bs. 9d. During October the whole plant and mine were let on tribute to O'Leary and party who, up to the end of the year, had mined and milled 185 tons of quartz for a return of 271 oz. 8 dwt. 21 gr., valued at £1,097 7s. The sands were run away to the cyanide plant and were still under treatment at the end of the year. During the year the Welcome Company was absorbed by the parent company, the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited), so that the former has now ceased to exist. In the new year the tributers will continue to work the mine as heretofore, and run the battery the necessary time to reduce the quartz when mined. Last Chance. —Messrs. James Morris and Alexander Fleming, the owners of this mine, report that during the year 1903 the level has been driven 120 ft., and 40 ft. has been stoped from level to level. The claim is worked by only two men.

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Inglewood-Victoria.—Oi this mine's operations during the year no report is available. It is privately owned. Kirwan's Reward Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. B. P. McMahon, manager of the company, supplies the following report: " During the past year 4,814 tons of quartz-rubble have been crushed, yielding 1,791 oz. 5 dwt. 6 gr. of the value of £7,131 9s. Id. Work at the mine was stopped by a very heavy fall of snow on the 20th June, and was not resumed until the middle of September. The stone is obtained by open quarrying, and consists of quartz mixed with sandstone boulders, and at times a considerable amount of overburden has to be Temoved." Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. Lee, manager for the company, reports as follows : " Operations were commenced at the beginning of the year by driving upon the small gold-bearing leader that was crossed in No. 7 level, about 340 ft. from the main shaft. Branch drives to the southeast and north-west respectively from No. 7 level, were extended along the course of this line of reef. The lode was, however, very irregular in size, ranging in places from 1 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. in thickness, but with walls about 4 ft. to 5 ft. apart carrying a splendid reef-track. After about 150 ft. of driving had been completed without a block of stone of permanent value being discovered, work was stopped in these drives, and the extension of No. 7 level to the north was continued for an additional 120 ft., but without payable result. It was then decided to construct an uprise to No. 6 level, so that an intermediate level between Nos. 6 and 7 could be driven out under the old reef in No. 6, and thus greatly facilitate the tracing of that stone down to the low level; besides such a connection became imperative for the proper ventilation of the mine. 167 ft. of rising and 60 ft. of crosscutting from No. 6to meet the top of uprise were completed, and the two drives thus connected. Halfway up the rise the intermediate level was commenced, and after 40 ft. had been driven, a reef carrying very good gold was cut, which increased to 7 ft. in width, and continued for a distance of about 40 ft. Stoping operations were at once started, and the reef has maintained an average width of 5 ft. to the present stope. This lode is striking back south, and if it continues, will go up into maiden country east of all levels previously worked. As soon as the course of the reef was ascertained in the intermediate level, No. 7 was extended for the purpose of cutting it. After driving about 25 ft. a reef carrying very good gold was struck, and has been proved to live a distance of 57 ft. with an average width of 4 ft. Stoping has also been commenced here, and the reef appears to be striking in the same direction as the reef in the intermediate ; but the stone does not possess the same characteristics as the latter, and judging from its present underlay, it will take it into the hanging-wall side of the intermediate level. This however can only be determined when stoping operations are more advanced, but from the present indications, they look to be two separate reefs. A parcel of 340 tons of stone from the two reefs, which may be considered an average sample, gave a return of 454 oz. 2 dwt. of melted gold, valued at £1,836 18s. 10d., enabling liabilities and current expenses amounting to over £600 to be paid off, and a dividend of Is. per share (equal to £1,200) to be declared." The New Inkerman Mines (Limited). —Mr. Norman M. Dudgeon supplies the following report •' " During the year the following development-work has been carried out: Driving, 40 ft. ; sinking, 72 ft. ; rising, 119 ft. ; crosscutting 6 ft., making a total of 237 ft. Stoping was commenced in April last, and during the year 5,167 tons of stone has been broken out and delivered at the battery, 3,512 tons being stoped from below the main level, and the balance, 1,655 tons from above. Battery : The company's fifteen-stamp battery which has during the year been thoroughly overhauled and put in good working-order, commenced crushing in June, and has crushed 5,247 tons for a return by amalgamation of 1,020 oz. 18 dwt. 3 gr. gold, value £4,086 ss. lid. A cyanide plant, consisting of four treatmentvats 18 ft. 6 in. in diameter by 6 ft. deep, and two sumps 18 ft. 6 in. diameter by 6 ft. deep, and 15 ft. diameter by 5 ft. deep, was erected, and 2,458 tons of coarse sand has been treated during the year for a return of 351 oz. 12 dwt. 9 gr. bullion, value £1,165 16s. A slimes plant, consisting of six canvascovered tables, having a superficial area of 960 square feet, and three small settling-tanks has been erected. Twenty tons of slimes and 50 tons of concentrates have been recovered during the year, and will be shipped for treatment. Future operations :It is the present intention of the company to continue the main level west for about 350 ft., with the object of intersecting the continuation of a large outcrop known as the ' big blow.' " Keep-it-Dark Quartz-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. Hindmarsh, manager of the company, reports as follows : " Mine Department: The year's work has consisted chiefly of stoping out quartz from No. 4 level. The reef in this level, so far as it has been worked up, has not varied much in size. Sometimes a slide of mullock displaces part of the lode and causes a falling-off in the quality. Eleven stopes have been worked up. The crosscut from No. 5 chamber, which was in 120 ft. at the end of last year, has been driven 275 ft., the lode being intersected at that distance, being 300 ft. from main shaft. A block of stone, carrying payable gold, was met with at 252 ft. from shaft. This stone is 30 ft. long and is solid underfoot, but is broken on the top. Up to the present very little work has been done on it, as it is supposed to be the top of a new block of stone making under the level. A winze from No. 4 level was sunk 93 ft., and a rise from No. 5 level was put up 72 ft. to connect. This connection was made about the beginning of November. The reef which has so far been disclosed in No. 5 level is of very good quality, but up to the present time is not proved to be of large extent. The main portion of the reef has not yet been cut in the level. There are indications at top of rise, 70 ft. up from level, that a large part of the lode has taken a set-off into the footwall. Some time yet will be required before the extent of the lode in this level can be determined. During the year 12,568 tons of quartz has been raised from the mine and sent to the battery. The cost of same including all expenditure in connection with the mine and winding plant being £7,567 2s. 7d., an average cost of 12s. OJd. per ton. It has been

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decided to sink the main shaft 300 ft. deeper and thus open up two other levels on the reef which is a f present being worked. The shaft will then be a sufficient depth to give one level beneath the No. 7 level on the old reef, situate about 500 ft. north of the present workings. Tenders were invited and a contract let to sink the shaft 300 ft. and cut out and complete two chambers. The contractors commenced work on the 24th November, and up to the 24th December sank and timbered up 50 ft. Battery department: The battery and plant, head-race and tail-race have been maintained in good condition. The new cam-shaft and ten new cams have recently been put on, the battery being now in good order. 12,568 tons has been crushed, the yield of gold being 3,639 oz. 1 dwt. 6 gr., averaging nearly 5 dwt. 19 gr. per ton. The total cost of the year's crushing which includes all expenditure in connection with the crushing plant, and upkeep of head-race and tail-race amounts to £1,464 14s. Id., being a small fraction under 2s. 4d. per ton. Cyanide department : The amount of gold extracted from the tailings has been much better than it was in 1902. This may partly be accounted for by the absence of antimony in the ore in large quantities. A little antimony does sometimes yet show in the slimes and bullion when melted, but not in sufficient quantity to have an injurious effect. The bullion obtained for the year amounted to 1,643 oz. 5 dwt. 18 gr., valued at £5,697 9s. sd. This gives an extraction of 9s. Of d. per ton on the gross tonnage crushed. The cost of treatment including labour and all material used and consumed amounts to £2,316 3s. 5d., being 3s. BJd. per ton ; this leaves a profit of ss. 4Jd. per ton on the total tonnage. One shipment of about 40 tons of sulphides which are caught from the overflow of the tanks while filling, was sent to Melbourne for treatment, and notwithstanding the heavy expenses of cartage, railage, and ship's freight, and charge for treatment, a fair percentage of profit was obtained. The spread of canvas tables has recently been increased to more than double the extent, so that more sulphides will accumulate in future. The total value of gold won during the year was £20,473 2s. 2d., out of which dividends have been paid amounting to £8,750. From the inception of the company, 145 dividends have been paid amounting to £132,166 13s. 4d." Mr. T. Hubert Lee, manager of the Golden Lead, Ulster Industry, and New Scotia Companies, reports thereon as follows : — Golden Lead Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Operations during the year have been confined to prospecting in Nos. 3 and 4 levels with a small number of men. In No. 3 level a small gold-bearing leader of stone was followed for some 120 ft., but it could not be traced down to No. 4. Eleven tons of stone were stoped over No. 3 level on the small leader and crushed at the New Scotia battery, with the result of 16 oz. of melted gold, valued at £65. In the stopes the stone became poor and broken ; work was therefore discontinued. The company has now been wound up and amalgamated with an adjoining mine owned by the Industry Gold-mining Company (Limited). Both mines are now being worked by the new company, which is called the United Gold-mines (Limited). " Ulster Company. —This mine is situate about half a mile to the north of and in a line with the Golden Fleece line of reef, and has been prospected continuously throughout the year by a small local prospecting syndicate. A tunnel was driven in under the reef-outcrop on the surface, for 100 ft., at which point the reef was cut 2 ft. 6 in, wide, carrying highly payable gold. This stone was then followed for 110 ft., and is now about 1 ft. 6 in. wide in the face, with greatly increased values, gold being visible in almost every piece of stone. Operations are now suspended temporarily, as the owners have floated the concern into a public company with sufficient capital to thoroughly develop and equip it with plant, &c. Industry Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company after a period of unsuccessful prospecting in 1902 and temporarily stopping work, resumed operations early in 1903. In the No. 1 level good gold-bearing stone was cut in a branch drive to the west, and then followed down in a winze for some 67 ft., the reef being from 3 ft. to 4 ft. wide. The old Exchange level was then opened up, as it offered a better prospect of proving the reef lower down. After extending this level a short distance, the lode was cut, and then followed on to the winze above referred to. A trial-crushing of 100 tons of stone taken generally from all the workings on the reef, was carted to the New Scotia battery and crushed. The yield was 56 oz. 15 dwt. retorted gold, valued at £227 14s. 2d. The tailings were treated by cyanide under the supervision of Mr. J. W. Lee of the New Inkerman Mines (Limited), and gave the very handsome return of 74 oz. 12 dwt. 6 gr. of bullion, valued at £242 9s. 9d., or £3 ss. per ounce. The yields thus resulted in values of £2 ss. 6d. and £2 Bs. 6d. per ton being obtained from the battery and cyanide respectively. At this stage, as the company had no crushing-plant, proposals were made for an amalgamation with an adjoining mine, the Golden Lead, which has a crushing-mill of ten heads, aerial line, &c, in Deep Creek, and is within easy reach of the Industry Mine. These proposals were accepted, so the two companies"were wound up and re-formed under the title of the United Gold-mines (Limited). The new company is now engaged in proving the reef underfoot from the Exchange level, so that the aerial line to connect with the battery can be removed to the best position for the future working of the mine. New Scotia Gold-mining Company (Limited). —In this mine operations have been carried on extensively, but, so far, with indifferent results. The 200 ft. level was extended through to the Gallant section of the property, and up-rise completed between that level and the winze, that was sunk in the Gallant tunnel on the lode. This established connection between those two points, and thus furnished excellent ventilation, besides enabling the Gallant lode to be worked on a larger scale. After this, the battery and cyanide plant were run on stone produced from that lode. The results were as follows : Battery — 719 tons crushed for a yield of 118 oz. 3 dwt. 6 gr. melted gold, valued at £465 lls. Bd. Cyanide—6oo tons of tailings was treated for 35 oz. 14 dwt. 12 gr. of bullion, valued at £73 Is. Id. These values being unpayable, all work on this reef was stopped, and crushing ceased. In the intermediate level

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that was driven between the 200 ft. level and the Gallant level, a reef from 6 ft. to 10 ft. wide was followed north for a good distance, but values were too poor for working, though it is possible a payable chute of gold may be cut in it if persevered with. A winze was then started on a block pf stone almost near the surface known as Martin's reef. This lies to the west of the Gallant line of reef, and was formerly worked to a small extent by the old proprietors, two small crushings from it producing values equal to 7 dwt. and 12 dwt. per ton respectively, by the ordinary battery process only. This winze was sunk for 74 ft., when work had to be stopped owing to a large influx of water. The reef was from If ft. to 2 ft. wide throughout, and was improving in appearance and quality as sinking proceeded, the last work done in the bottom producing good-grade stone. A trial-crushing of 25 tons of stone was put through for the payable yield of 7 oz. 16 dwt. of gold, valued at £30 ss. 10d., in addition to which the tailings showed an assay value of 5 dwt. 5 gr. per ton. The company intend removing the windingplant and engine from the old Drake main shaft to this winze, with a view of sinking same and testing the reef further. Dredging Claims. A 1 Gold-dredging Company (Limited). —Mr. Rollit, of Christchurch, supplies the following report: " In December, 1901, the A 1 dredge was working up the claim with poor results, and the bottom rising, so that after working until March in that direction with no better results attained, the dredge was turned and worked to the bottom of the claim, where much better gold was found. The dredge will not be kept working on the bottom of the claim. The pontoons, which were built of red pine, have only been in work two and a half years, and are found to be in a bad state of decay, so much so that the directorsare endeavouring to procure new pontoons of hard wood. This means an expenditure of at least £1,500, so there seems no prospect of the company paying a dividend this year unless the gold greatly improves. Most of she shares are held in Christchurch. The company has paid five dividends of Is. each since it started operations, and has paid off a debt of £1,000, which was incurred before the dredge started work." Reeves Proprietary Gold-dredging Company (Limited). —-Mr. H. A. Bruce, of Christchurch, reports as follows : " It is to be regretted that the results of 1903 have not been so successful as in the preceding year, principally owing to time being lost in making additions to the old dredge ; at the end of 1902 a quantity of gear was purchased from the Totara dredge, and this has been placed on the old dredge. Three months were occupied in making these alterations and strengthening the pontoons to carry the extra weight, the change of gear rendering the machine much stronger and more serviceable for the amount of work it has to perform, and the result is shown in the increase in the returns since the alterations. The amount of gold won for the past year was 651 oz. 10 dwt. 12 gr., value, £2,542 15s. 4d., against 974 oz. 16 dwt. 18 gr., value, £3,891 19s. lid. for the previous year. During the year, the directors purchased the Merrimac dredge, an up-to-date machine, which is now in course of erection at the lower end of the claim. This dredge is practically new, and originally costing between £7,000 and £8,000, was purchased as it stood on the Kawarau River for the sum of £900, and to meet the cost of elevators, dismantling, removal to the claim, and re-erection, debentures were issued for the sum of £2,500, all being taken up by the shareholders in the company. The sum so raised, with the money in hand, augmented by the earnings of the present dredge, will, it is estimated, erect and equip the new dredge, and it is expected to commence operations about the beginning of February. It is anticipated that to complete the existing contracts for erection of the new dredge and start work, will require about £650 more, but ordinary returns from the present dredge during the next few months will, it is hoped, enable the company to meet contingent liabilities." Greymouth Lagoons Gold-dredging Company (Limited). —Mr. G. S. Cray, of Greymouth, supplies the following report: " Thedredge has been working during the year on the right-hand branch of Red Jack's Creek (Blackwater). Efficient work has been hampered through the ladder breaking, involving a stoppage of nine weeks, and heavy cost for repairs ; stoppage of work also occurring through the failure of water-supply during the frosty weather last winter —six weeks being lost on this account. The ground where the dredge has been working has been patchy, returns varying from 10 oz. to 50 oz. per week, but owing to the time lost, the average has barely covered working-cost. At present the dredge is engaged working its way back to the locality where work was started, nearer Blackwater River. It will take four or five months' work to reach the ancient bed of the river, and it is believed that returns will then be satisfactory, and this opinion is based on the returns now being obtained by the Blackwater River Company's dredge, which is working an adjoining claim." Alluvial Mining. A very small amount of work in this branch of the industry is now being carried on. At Blackwater about fifty Chinese are employed sluicing shallow ground, while about thirty European'miners are'engaged in driving and blocking out in the terraces. No new ground has been opened up. At Boatman's (Capleston) a number of men are still at work sluicing and driving . A few miners are to be found at Antonio's, Snowy, and Soldiers Creek, but the main industry of the district is quartz-mining. A'small cement-crushing battery is being worked at Lankeys, with very fair results.

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Statement showing the Comparative Returns from the Quartz Mines in the Reefton District, from the 1st April, 1880, to the 31st March, 1901, and a similar Return for the Years ending 31st December, 1901, 1902, 1903.

Gold-yield, Reefton District for the Year 1903.

Years ending. Calls made. Dividends declared. Quartz crashed. Yield of Gold. Value of Yield. 31st March, 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 31st December, 1901 1902 1903 £ s. d. 10,218 17 6 25,504 3 4 64,345 0 0 49,456 0 0 29,333 0 0 24,565 0 0 21,596 0 0 30,432 0 0 38,919 0 0 27,531 0 0 20,404 0 0 25,956 0 0 18,800 0 0 14,350 0 0 10,153 0 0 8,418 0 0 9,033 6 8 7,859 3 4 5,920 6 8 10,747 8 9 5,826 9 7 6,233 6 8 6,900 0 0 4,587 0 0 £ 19,650 37,643 ! 32,600 16,500 | 34,100 ! 14,500 1 33,450 17,550 ! 16,688 18,250 27,325 30,743 16,900 18,832 11,012 25,925 4,900 50 900 47,050 35,300 58,199 48,475 57,641 : Tons. 25,926 14,894 18,928 23,433 34,349 27,198 23,930 24,403 28,564 32,394 39,643 35,562 37,693 34,518 26,602 29,816 13,270 9,751 42,305 58,277 82,618 97,870 98,485 109,571 Qr. dwt. gr. £ s. d. 17,597 14 10 j 68,630 13 10 20,154 0 0 ! 78,600 12 0 19,194 0 0 i 74,856 12 0 16,547 0 0 I 64,533 6 0 23,997 0 0 l 93,588 6 0 14,591 0 0 I 56,904 18 0 21,143 0 0 j 83,171 15 5 16,775 0 0 I 66,030 11 5 18,663 0 0 j 72,720 18 0 17,780 0 0 ! 69,676 12 1 23,347 0 0 91,998 8 10 23,390 0 0 95,885 5 1 20,171 0 0 80,894 5 1 18,413 0 0 | 73,752 14 11 13,426 10 0 i 53,509 5 1 22,025 0 0 j 87,935 18 4 8,365 4 20 33,824 7 1 4,266 7 1 18,253 7 3 21,487 18 15 i 87,587 1 0 26,693 3 18 108,455 17 8 33,979 5 5 134,557 7 11 46,066 16 12 186,719 6 7 46,561 9 17 188,758 2 5 58,840 6 15 : 195,468 16 10

Name of Company. Calls. Dividends. Jated. Yield of Gold. Value of Gold. Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited) .. Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited) (1) Golden Fleece(2) Wealth of Nations Welcome Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited) Kirwan's Reward Gold-mining Company (Limited) Keep-it-Dark Quartz-mining Company (Limited) New Inkerman Mines (Limited) New Scotia Gold-mining Company (Limited) Golden Lead Gold-mining Company (Limited) Industry Gold-mining Company (Limited) .. Last Chance (Private) Dredging Companies A. 1 Gold-dredging Company (Limited) Boatman's Creek Gold - dredging Company (Limited) Reeves Proprietary Gold-dredging Company Limited) Greymouth Lagoons Gold-dredging Company (Limited) Blaokwater River Gold-dredging Company (Limited) Other Alluvial Gold. Sold to Bank of New Zealand Sold to National Bank of New Zealand (Limited) Totals £ Nil £ 34,375 11,250 1 Oz. dwt.. gr. 57,114 - 27,346 4 6 £ S. r 3 . 108,217 4 8 jj JJ j j 1,500 Nil Nil J J 1,166 2,100 14,133 6,384 3 9 12,385 I 4,819 14 8 1,611 1,143 12 8 340 453 2 0 4,814 1,791 5 6 26,790 17 8 20,422 5 8 4,431 19 1 1,836 18 10 7,131 9 1 jj 8,750 12,568 | 5,282 7 0 20,473 2 2 t. 1,837 550 700 Nil Nil ■ 5,247 1,372 10 12 1,344 ! 162 7 14 Nil Nil 5,252 1 1 568 18 7 Nil )) JJ "l5 ! 85" 0 0 344 0 0 Nil 6,120 850 Nil 998 16 0 226 0 0 4,002 17 10 900 7 6 Nil 3) 653 16 12 2,549 17 10 jj 777 14 8 3,149 15 5 JJ 1,421 1,280 17 10 5,194 15 5 1,133 14 15 1,807 4 9 4,432 14 6 7,043 1 8 10,707 59,912 109,571 55,718 9 21 222,742 7 0

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Lyell and Murohison. The commenoeraeiit of the year ■saw seven dredges working on the Buller River between Lyell and Westport, and one on the Upper Buller ; but with the exception of about two, or perhaps three, the results were extremely disappointing. The Old Diggings dredge (formerly Cocksparrow) was purchased by a party of four workmen, and during the year has been working iv the Buller at Berlins. No returns have been published but the results obtained are believed to be satisfactory. The returns from the Rocklands dredge —which is working a couple of miles above the old diggings—have been very poor, and the same remark applies to the Premier dredge, which is working about a mile below the Inangahua Junction. The Welcome dredge which has been working near the mouth of the Inangahua has also been on poor ground during the year. The Buller Junction dredge has done very well indeed, 1,434 oz. 6 dwt. of gold having been obtained, and a sum of £1,875 paid in dividends during the year. The Mokoia, which is working two miles further up, has also proved highly payable. The Feddersen dredge, which commenced operations in January, 1903, only worked for a few months when the company decided to close down as the dredge was not paying working-expenses. Since then the dredge has been left high and dry by a flood, and has remained stranded for nearly six months. On the upper Buller the only dredge at work at the beginning of the year was the Fern Flat Proprietary's, but the returns were so poor that the company closed down, and afterwards let the dredge on tribute to a party of workmen. These men also were compelled to cease operations owing to the poorness of the ground. On the Matakitaki River two dredges have been working during the year —the Kohikohi and the Amikitia, but the returns from both of them have been a long way from payable, and the Amikitia Company have now closed down. The Bellevue Company are engaged building a dredge on their claim on the Matakitaki four miles from Murchison, and expect to get a start in about two months. Alluvial. Very little attention has been paid to sluicing. In the Murchison and Matakitaki districts a few individual miners just manage to make a living. On the Buller, alluvial mining is mostly confined to a few Chinamen. At Newton Flat the Newton River Hydraulic Sluicing Company (formerly the Neville and Perkins Company) are working on a large scale and during the last few months have been obtaining splendid returns. Four miles below Lyell the Lyell Hydraulic Sluicing Company of Wellington have applied for two 100-acre claims, and during the year have brought in ten heads of water from Pensinie's Creek, and have done a little sluicing ; but so far the results obtained have been very poor. Quartz. During the early part of the year the Alpine Extended Company finished the sinking of the main shaft and commenced driving a new level (No. 12) in the hope of picking up the good stone which went underfoot in No. 11. So far nothing permanent has been obtained, although some small blocks of splendid stone have been passed through. At the Eight Mile—four miles beyond the Alpine—Kelly and party have been engaged working a rich leader on the old United Italy lease. The clean-up at Christmas gave the splendid return of a little over £9 per week per man for five months' work, clear of all expenses. At New Creek, near Lyell, an Auckland syndicate have had several men engaged in driving. The syndicate have an outcrop of very rich stone, but so far have been unable to pick it up in the drive, although small bodies of good stone have been met with. About the usual amount of business was transacted in the Warden's Court at Lyell, the most noticeable feature being the number of suits entered —forty-eight. No doubt the greater part of these were friendly suits to keep titles good where the labour clauses were not being complied with. Westport District. Addison's. Willikin and Party.— During the past year this party constructed a long tramway to the northern end of their claim, and repaired the battery, and have since been crushing cement of a payable nature. McCann and Party have had some encouraging returns during the year with every prospect of continuance for a considerable time. Hallagan and Party have not had a very successful year, the returns not being up to expectation. Gould and Party have been sluicing steadily with fair results, and having now secured ample fall for their tailings, they should have a long term of remunerative work before them. Neill and Party have put through a large quantity of fairly payable wash. They were put to heavy expense in constructing a new road to be used in place of a road crossing their claim which they intend to sluice away. Carmody and Party's claim is one of the oldest and most prosperous at Addison's. Their new water balance and other improvements are finished, and they are putting through large quantities of payable dirt. The ground is heavy, stony, and deep, but having a splendid water-supply, they are able to deal with it in a satisfactory manner. The Venture Cement-crushing Party have had a good year, the returns generally being fully up to a payable standard. The Addiso-n's Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company was sluicing on the Outside or Stony lead with unsatisfactory results. The shovel prospects were first-class, but the gold proving exceptionally light caused sluicing operations to be disappointing. The company's tail-race

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has been extended to the Inside lead and washing started there last November. The returns at once showed a decided improvement, and should the ground not become hard or cemented, the company will probably enjoy a richly deserved spell of prosperity. The Shamrock and Golden Sand Claims have not been worked during the year ; and the Virgin Flat Company after a long struggle has shut down temporarily. There is a splendid plant on the ground, an ample water-supply, but apparently up to the present the wash-dirt has not been found to be payable. Waimangaroct. The Britannia Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Several small blocks of stone were met in levels 4 and 5, but the quality was not very good. However, the operations for the past year paid all expenses, including the cost of an additional water-supply, and better stone has been recently cut in No. 5 level. There is every indication that the mine will give better returns in the immediate future. Stony Creek Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company has not crushed any stone during the year. The working-reef cut out and only prospecting-work has been done since. Several small parties are working on the banks and in the bed of the Waimangaroa River. As they stay on year after year, it is evident that they must at least be making a good living. All dredging operations in this neighbourhood have been discontinued. The dredges have been sold, and the claims abandoned or protected. • Mokihinui. The Red Queen Gold-mining Company (Limited). —After going to heavy expense in providing a quartz-crushing plant with all accessories, the claim has been closed down and the company is in liquidation. The stone taken out was fairly rich, but the reef is so small and the faults so many, that returns did not cover working-expenses. All dredging claims taken up in the Mokihinui River and its tributaries have been abandoned. Old Diggings. There are now only three small parties of miners working on the banks of the Buller River at this old-established field. The wash is evidently rather poor, because large quantities are being removed by hydraulic sluicing, and yet the parties are reported to be barely making wages. Charleston. Back Lead. —This famous lead was at one time the best-paying field in the Charleston district, but at present it supports only eight parties of miners, five of which are ground-sluicing, and three crushing cement. These parties have been continuously employed during the year, and have worked a considerable area, but the returns are far from equal to those of former years. Powell's Claim at the Nine-mile Beach has been steadily worked, and it is understood that the returns have been uniformly good. The beachcombers in the same localty —or the greater number of them- —have had a favourable year. The " Fly-catchers " in Darkies Creek still keep their tables collecting fine gold as in the past and their returns depend altogether upon the quantity and quality of the tailings sluiced into the creek above them. The Charleston Beach Sluicing Company at the mouth of the Totara River have constructed a race and expect to be sluicing shortly. The claim will be worked practically in the same way as Powell's, and it is to be hoped it will prove equally payable. The mining population of Charleston is decreasing year by year, and, unless large sums of money are expended in working auriferous ground where water is obtainable only by considerable outlay of capital, the district will in the course of time cease to be a gold-mining centre. Brown's Terrace. —Two parties only are now working here both crushing cement and getting fair returns. There is a large area of ground in this neighbourhood which is considered payable, but the heavy outlay required to provide a sufficient water-supply prevents working-miners from taking it up. Croninville. The small parties of miners who have worked in this locality for many years past have now suspended operations, having recently sold their mining privileges to the Charleston Beach-sluicing Company. Ahauea District. Half-ounce and Duffer's Creeks. —There has been no change in this district during the last twelve months. The population remains about the same. Two dredges are working in the locality ; one has been working for some time with moderate returns, the other has only lately started. Noble's and Mosquito Creek. —The population in this district remains about the same. No new ground has been opened up. Two dredges are working in Mosquito Creek. One, the Mosquito, has been at work for about fifteen months, obtaining on an average of between 40 oz. and 50 oz. of gold per week, and since starting has paid £1,500 in dividends. The. Mosquito No 2 dredge started work in June last, but so far the returns have been only moderate. Orwell Creek. —The population has fallen away considerably in this locality during the year. The two dredges that were at work have closed down. One has been removed, while the other has been sold,

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and there is a prospect of its starting again No new ground has been opened up. There is a large area of sluicing-ground in this locality, but to bring water on to it would require a large outlay in race-con-struction. Ahaura and North Bank of Ahaura B,iver. —Sluicing is carried on to a considerable extent on the north bank of the river. Scarcity of water is here, also a considerable drawback, as in most cases it has to be bought. One dredge is working in Ahaura River. The returns are only moderate on account the incapability of the dredge to treat the deep ground. Nelson Creek. —-The population in this district has increased considerably. Five dredges are now at work in the locality, and all of them get returns which leave a fair margin of profit. The Nelson Creek dredge has proved about the most successful one on the Coast, while the Pactolus Company have been able to build a second dredge out of the profits derived from the first, and has also paid £2,500 in dividends. A large area of ground in this locality is suitable for sluicing should water be available on the high levels. No Town. —ln this locality a decrease in the population is also noticed. Very little sluicing is carried on. One dredge is working and two are in course of construction. The No Town Company's dredge has given consistent returns for over eighteen months past, and has paid £9,000 in dividends since commencing dredging operations. The Bignell's No Town, and No Town No. 2 dredges ought to be ready to commence operations shortly after the beginning of the new year. Moonlight. —The population in this locality remains about the same. The Shetland Terrace Company has commenced sluicing, and although the supply of water is not sufficient for good work, it will at least give the company some knowledge as to the quality of their ground. If this is proved satisfactory, the company will extend their water-race and tap the main creek above the forks. One dredge is working in Moonlight Creek with very fair returns, and one has closed down. Blackball. —The number of alluvial miners in this locality has decreased considerably. Not more than eight or nine men are now working at upper Blackball, and a few continue to fossick about Lindgren's Terrace. The population about the Township of Blackball remains about the same, and is composed mostly of the Blackball Coal Company's employees. Greymouth District. Comparatively speaking there has been very little alluvial mining carried on in this part of my district. In and around Rutherglen, Marsden, Dunganville, and Maori Gully, the population of alluvial miners has been much the same for some years past, and consists largely of Chinese. There are now no large sluicing companies working in any part of the district. The Waiwhero Company went into liquidation during the year, whilst the Nine-mile Company has ceased operations for some months past. Extensive sluicing operations are being carried on in the Barrytown district, with, I understand, very satisfactory results by Mr. Andrew McKay, but last year the scarcity of water, due to the dry season, greatly impeded much progress being made. The dredging companies owning properties in this part of the district are commented upon generally under the heading of " Dredging." Dbedging. The appended list of dredging companies which were in active operation during the year ended the 31st December, 1903, shows in a concise form the gross yield of gold from thirty-four dredges in my district, which does not extend south of the Teremakau River, and consequently does not include several West Coast dredges working beyond that limit. Three companies mentioned in the list—viz., Boatman's Creek, Golden United, and Moonlight, did not commence dredging operations till late in the year, and sufficient time has not elapsed to admit of a fair idea being formed concerning the value of properties being worked by these companies. The list includes the following dredges which were in active operation in the early part of the year, but ceased work during the year owing to returns proving unpayable : Erickson's Reward, Feddersen's, Fern Flat, Maori King, New Red Jack's, and Shellback Companies. These are all in course of liquidation or reconstruction. The undermentioned companies which owned working dredges in 1902 have been finally wound up during the year ending 1903. Two or three of these companies were working during the early part of the year under review, but no returns have been furnished showing the gold obtained, and consequently the actual figures must be omitted from the list: Garibaldi, Great Lead, Grey River, Leviathan, Leviathan Freeholds, Maori Gully, Red Jack's, Trafalgar, and Victory Companies. The nominal capital involved in companies which have been wound up during the year, or are now in course of liquidation, amounts to £128,430 (including debentures). The actual capital paid in cash will amount to about £30,000 less than the total stated, as each of the companies was encumbered with about two thousand paid-up shares on which no cash was paid. This reduced total is also subject to further reduction on account of dividends paid by two of the companies—viz., Grey River, £1,062 10s., and Leviathan, £1,500, which leaves a net deficit of approximately £95,867 10s. The realised assets of the companies in liquidation have usually been exhausted in paying debts incurred whilst working, and in very few instances has there been any refund to shareholders from sale of assets. Taking the gold-yield shown in the tabulated form —viz., 27,426 oz., and estimating the value at £3 19s. per ounce, the gross value of the gold won by the thirty-four dredges amounts to £108,332 145., and out of this, £26,758 ss. has been distributed in dividends during the year amongst shareholders in eleven companies, leaving £81,574 9s. to cover working-cost, &c.

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Following is a list showing dividends paid during the year, and also since the formation of the respective companies which are still in active operation :—

[Note.—ln addition to £2,500 paid by the Paotolus Company, profits have been applied to the purchase of an extra dredge which c -st about £9,500.] Taking the working-cost for thirty-four dredges to be as given above, the cost is not widely different from that incurred by thirty-one dredges which worked during 1902. The comparative figures are interesting, and I append them.

It will be noted that with three extra dredges working in 1903 as compared with 1902, the total yield last year was £15,195 in excess of 1902, whilst the amount set down for working-cost, &c, shows an advance of £974. Dividends paid to shareholders were £10,019 in excess of the previous year. Out of the thirty-one dredges engaged in 1902, nine ceased operations during the year, and the companies owning them went into liquidation, whereas last year the failures were six out of thirtyfour dredges. The fleet in this district will, however, be added to during the coming year to compensate for these failures, as several new dredges are in course of construction, and probably some of those which have proven unpayable will be removed to other claims, and will recommence under new ownership. I anticipate that during 1904 the number of dredges employed in this district will be quite equal to the number engaged formerly, and guided by the working-results of the past two years, it is manifest that about £80,000 in gold must be won by the collective fleet before any profit can be expected for shareholders in globo. Necessarily, some of the dredges will work for long periods, and some will only be usefully engaged during short periods of the year, as shown by the working-hours set out in the appended list. But taking good and bad results together, £80,000 is roughly the working-cost for from thirty to thirty-five machines, and the average cost on this basis is about £2,500 per dredge per annum. There is a substantial difference in the actual working-cost of several of the dredges which have worked throughout the past year, due no doubt to local conditions, and the strength of the respective machines ; but it may be fairly assumed that a dredge which incurs only reasonable stoppage for repairs, &c, and can work effectively throughout the remainder of the year under normal conditions, will incur an outlay of from £3,500 to £4,000 per annum in covering working-cost and a full maintenance of the plant. The two dredges which have given the best results to their owners during the past year, —viz., Nelson Creek and No Town Creek, incurred £4,968 7s. 3d. and £4,084 11s. 6d. respectively in carrying on operations, and it may be assumed from this guidance, as both of these dredges are working under capable management and under reasonable average conditions, that the best results can only be attained by incurring extra cost in renewing parts of the machinery before they break and thus avoid protracted stoppages in tinkering with old parts. The weak financial condition of many of the companies has prevented them from following this policy of renewing rather than repairing portions of machinery which have become badly worn, and the consequence is that frequent and protracted delay is incurred in patching up worn-out parts which ought to be renewed. It is fairly manifest that where a company is in a position to provide against stoppages by having duplicate parts on hand to replace inefficient parts, profitable work can be followed with only short interruption, and I deduce from my inquiry on this matter that it pays to make scrap-iron of parts of a dredge which have worn badly much better

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Name of Company. » T . Vaiue No. of , , *»""■ °Sh e a a r°e h Dividends, 1903. Total Dividends. Dividends per Share, 1903. Total Dividends per Share. A 1 Gold-dredging Company Blaokwater River Buller Junction Callaghan's Creek Jamieson's Reward Mokoia (ordinary) Mokoia (preferred) Mosquito Nelson Creek North Beach No Town Creek Pactolus (two dredges) .. Premier (Buller) (ordinary) Premier (Buller) (preferred) Reeves's Proprietary .. 8,500 9,475 12,500 12,500 9,990 6,500 2,500 10,000 8,500 8,325 12,000 12,500 8,085 2,500 12,200 £ s. 1 0 1 0 0 15 0 15 1 0 1 0) 1 ot 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 15 1 0 1 0 1 0 £ s. d. 850 0 0 1,421 5 0 1,875 0 0 937 10 0 499 10 0 £ d. 2,125 . 0 1,421 5 0 3,437 10 0 1,250 0 0 499 10 0 s. d. 2 0 3 0 3 0 1 6 1 0 |4 0 15 0 3 0 14 6 6 0 11 0 4 0 £ s. d. 0 5 0 0 3 0 0 5 6 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 3 0 1 17 6 0 7 0 0 15 0 0 4 0 1,925 0 0 1,925 0 0 1,500 0 0 6,152 10 0 2,497 10 0 6,600 0 0 2,500 0 0 1,500 0 0 15,937 10 0 2,913 15 0 9,000 0 0 2,500 0 0 Nii. Nil. 250 0 0 610 0 0 Nil. Nil. 0 2 0 0 1 0

Year. Number of Dredges. Gold. Approximate Value. Approximate VVoi kingcost. Average Cost per Dredge. Dividends paid. 1902 .. 1903 .. 31 34 Oz. 23,579 27,426 £ 93,137 108,332 £ 80,600 81,574 £ 2,600 2,399 £ s. d. 16,739 5 0 26,758 5 0 J

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than it does to run on with such parts till they actually break. Although the Nelson Creek and No Town Creek dredges have yielded good returns to shareholders, the profit is not entirely due to the richness of the ground. A good deal must be attributed to the management in keeping the dredges working efficiently, and this remark applies equally to some of the other dredges which have given fair profit. Ido not infer that where the dredges have been failures the fault in all cases has been due to mismanagement, but the average yield per yard from dirt treated by successful companies goes to prove that these successes could not have been secured unless the total quantity dealt with had been substantial ; and it is evident from this, that bad management will spoil the success of ground which can be made to yield large profits under efficient control. In 1902, fourteen companies (including the Leviathan Company now in liquidation), paid dividends to shareholders, whereas in 1903 the number was reduced to eleven, but the total amount distributed was increased by £10,000. Guided by precedent, I anticipate that during the forthcoming year, and assuming that about thirty-five dredges are on the active list during the year, one-third will pay good profits to their owners, and the remainder will manage to clear working-cost. Ido not suppose that the actual figures will be so large as in past years, inasmuch as the dredges remaining in active work may be accepted as " the survival of the fittest." The following dredges are in course of construction, and will shortly be engaged in active work : Bignell's No Town, on No Town Creek ; Reeves's Proprietary, No. 2, on Boatman's Creek ; and Sullivan's Lead, on Duffer's Creek : while the dredge in construction for No Town No. 2 Gold-dredging Company will probably be completed about the middle of the year. The Timber Industry. The exports of timber and railway sleepers for the year from the port of Greymouth are as follows : Timber, 21,523,530 ft., valued £86,094 ; sleepers, 2,884,184 ft., value, £24,027 : Total, 24,407,714 ft., value, £110,121. It is confidently expected that the export of timber during the forthcoming year will reach thirty million feet. The Kotuku Oil-springs. I am indebted to the manager of the boring operations at Kotuku for the following information regarding the above-mentioned springs : During the year, six bores were sunk in the locality, varying in depth from 100 ft. to 700 ft. In some cases great difficulty was experienced in piercing the hard ground, but in all the bores veins of oil were met with, one of them yielding a few gallons of oil weekly. In No. 3 bore a peculiar phenomenon was met with. When the rock was pierced, a great inrush of salt water and gas occurred, occasioning the water to eject in the form of a geyser, which still plays to a height of about 100 ft. During the year three boring-machines working entirely different processes were used. One of these is capable of boring to a depth of 2,000 ft. Coal. The output of coal for the year from the different mines was as follows : Blackball Mine, 88,949 tons ; Brunner Mine, 92,280 tons ; Tyneside Mine, 17,212 tons ; Total, 198,441 tons. General. The number of suits disposed of in the Warden's Court at Greymouth, for the year ending the 31st December, 1903, was twenty-seven. The revenue for the year amounted to £4,428 16s. 6d., the particulars of which are as follows : Miners' rights, £116 10s. ; copies of Mining Acts, 10s. ; water-races, £1 10s. ; rents, £1,566 15s. 2d. ; fees and fines, £74 10s. 6d. ; miscellaneous, £2,669 os. 10d. : total, £4,428 16s. 6d. I have, &c, William George Kenrick, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department.

Mr. Warden Day, Hokitika, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Hokitika, 22nd April, 1904. I have the honour to forward for your information the statistics for the year 1903 for that portion of the Westland Mining District under my charge, together with a few remarks upon the mining and timber industries. Alluvial Mining. Alluvial mining has to some extent decreased, but there is not a great difference in the yield of gold. The Wheel of Fortune Claim at Stafford has closed down, and the company is in liquidation, and the Humphrey's Gully Claim has been let on tribute. I am indebted to Mr. E. W. Spencer, manager of the Humphrey's Gully Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) for the following statement of the year's work on their claims : " During the year sluicing has been carried on in a very steady manner with the full quantity of water —viz., forty heads. This quantity has been in constant use on the claim, and was directed against the No. 1 face for seventyfive days, and the No. 2 face for 207 days of twenty-four hours. Needless to say, the head-race has been maintained in a state of good repair throughout its entire distance of approximately seventeen miles. Several small breaks occurred during the year which were promptly and effectually repaired. Two short flumes were entirely dismantled, one of which was rebuilt at a slightly higher level, the other was substituted by a ditch built up in the bed of the creek. Also, on the Mount Brown section, the flumes around Granite Bluff had to be strengthened by placing intermediate sets in position. The dani by-wash has also been raised about 12 in., which considerably increases the capacity of the dam.

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The sluicing-time for the year amounts to 282 days of 24 hours, to which must be added the Sunday stoppages, leaving thirty-one days to be accounted for. Of this number, the repairs to the flumes above mentioned took nine days, and the Christmas holidays ten days, so that the total time accounted for amounts to 353 days, leaving only twelve days for time lost in the twelve months, which is fairly satisfactory. No. 1 face : The total water-supply on this face during the seventy-five days of work produced gold as follows : Tail-race, 1950z. sdwt. 12 gr.; tables, 44 oz. 2 dwt.: total, 239 oz. 7 dwt. 12 gr. No. 2 face : This face was expected to improve in value as work proceeded, so attention was directed to it for 207 days with the full complement of water, resulting in the yield of gold as follows : Tail-race, 299 oz. 7 dwt. 22 gr. ; tables, 184 oz. 9 dwt. 3 gr. : total, 483 oz. 17 dwt. 1 gr., making a total of 723 oz. 5 dwt. 13 gr. of gold for the year's work. Of this amount, no less than 31*6 per cent, was retained on the tables. The total value of the output was £2,820 11s. 5d., whilst the total expenditure for the same period amounted to £3,646 13s. sd. During the year the Humphrey's Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited) has gone into liquidation, and has been absorbed by the parent company—-the Consolidated (roldfields of New Zealand (Limited) —as a going concern. On account of the unsatisfactory gold-yield obtained from the ground, it was decided to let the claim on tribute; this has been done, the tributers taking possession and commencing operations on the 7th January. It is greatly to be regretted that the gold-contents of the gravel are so low, amounting approximately to f gr. per yard, for on account of the enormous deposits of gravel in the district, if of only a shade better quality, a large population would be employed." The Mont DOr Company at Ross is still a successful claim. lam informed that this company's claims, together with the properties belonging to the late Ross United Company, have been placed under offer to a London syndicate. If the proposed new company be succesfully floated, it will be of great immediate benefit to the Ross district, and should give great impetus to mining matters there. The Westland Hydraulic and Sluicing claims at the Waiho are again being worked, and with new management, it is hoped that they will reach the payable stage. There is no new development to record, and unless more systematic prospecting is done, it is unlikely that the mining industry will progress. The tendency at present is apparently in the opposite direction. The moneys spent by the various prospecting associations in the district have not effected anything tangible. There is still a good deal of interest manifested in the future of the black-sand leads on the seabeaches. During the year two dredges were at work—namely, the Montezuma, near Hokitika, and the Wanganui Wataroa at the Saltwater. The first-named is still working, and so far has hardly paid workingexpenses, but the promoters of the company have great faith in the venture, and believe that, as the dredge works southwards towards Hokitika, the returns will enable dividends to be paid. This dredge has apparently solved the difficulty of getting rid of the sand so as to prevent it from flowing back into the paddock, by using a powerful sand-pump, and discharging the sand seawards over the crown of the beach, instead of allowing it to be taken up by the elevator and discharged astern of the dredge. The other dredge (the Wanganui Wataroa) was a failure from the start, the return of gold being very small. This company is now in liquidation, and the dredge has been sold. A dredge will in the course of the next few months be at work on the Five-mile Beach below Okarito, and it is hoped that the returns from it will be large. The beach in former years yielded large quantities of gold, and the old miners confidently assert that a dredge will be able to work the ground to advantage. There are eight other dredges at work in this district, but none of them, owing in great part to the abnormal wear-and-tear and breakages, have done much more than pay working-expenses. The cost of fuel has also gone a long way in eating up profits. For instance, the Prince of Wales Company at Ross pays more than £1,000 a year for coal. When, however, the railway to Ross is completed, at least one-third of that sum will be saved and available for distribution as dividends. Back Creek and Serfdom's Terrace. This rich and important field is languishing for want of an adequate water-supply. The majority of the claims are idle for a good part of the year owing to the scarcity of water, and a fair area of ground reputed to be payable is lying idle from the same cause. The claimholders interested in the Rimu Water-race have now paid off the whole of the mortgage on that race. They have paid over £5,000 in five years, although the claims have not worked anything like full time. This by itself shows the value of the field. If a good and constant supply of water were available, in addition to the present intermittent one, a number of claims would be taken up and worked in addition to those already in existence. The whole district is anxiously waiting the result of the survey at present being made with the view of bringing the water from Humphrey's Gully to this field. Timber. As the timber industry is now practically under the control of the Warden, some mention of it should be made in this report. Large areas have been applied for throughout the district, and during the next few months several new mills should be working. The output of timber has very largely increased during the last three years, and there is every prospect of its increasing. I would point out the necessity for providing for proper surveys to be made of the areas taken up or applied for, as at present the regulations only provide for a sketch-plan certified by a surveyor. As contiguous areas are taken up by separate parties, litigation will, in all probability, arise from this' cause. With respect to special claims over 20 acres, the Act provides that an exact survey must be made, and the area that the Warden can grant in any one title is limited to 100 acres. For timberareas the Warden can grant up to 200 acres, and also make three reservations of 200 acres each—in all 800 acres. In the case of special mining claims, which in most instances are speculations pure and

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simple, as no one can say with any certainty what the ground will produce, the applicant has to incur an expense of possibly £40 or £50, while with regard to timber-areas, the cost of the survey is limited to £5, and the applicant can calculate beforehand the quantity and value of the timber on the ground I have, &c, Victor Grace Day, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Warden Keddell, Oamaru, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Oamaru, 18th May, 1904. I have the honour to report with respect to that portion of the Otago Gold-mining District, situated south of Lake Ellesmere, and known as the Ninety-mile Beach, that no mining operations have taken place during the year ended the 31st December, 1903, and that the public interest which was excited some years ago and led to the proclamation of this district has entirely fallen off. I beg also to forward the statistical returns for the same period. There has been nothing of importance or novelty to report upon respecting mining operations during the past year in the goldfields situate at Maerewhenua and Livingstone. The population though fallen away greatly since I first took charge, has not been reduced since my last report. The Mountain Hut Water-race has not yet fulfilled its promise of plenty, and such spare water as it can supply, even with the scanty population, is not sufficient to fill the demand. The principal work now in hand is the special alluvial claim of Mr. John Christian, an experienced miner, who is largely interested in this sub-district. He is opening up this claim in the teeth of very arduous deadwork, the ground being very thickly interspersed with heavy boulders, which have all to be removed at great cost of time and labour. The mines generally are engaged in a small way in hydraulic sluicing. At the Quarterly Courts the miners have always a number of applications (occasionally opposed), but serious litigation is rarely met with. I have recently been informed that the supply of water in the Mountain Hut Race has improved of late, and that the prospect of the company may be supposed to have improved. Generally speaking, if the miners can get a full supply of water for two days in the week they can make fair wages and are satisfied. If, as was hoped, the supply of water by the Mountain Hut Race was continuous, there is plenty of gold to be won, and this portion of the field would give remunerative employment to more men. I have, &c, Jackson Keddell, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Mr. Warden Carew, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Dunedin, Ist March, 1904. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual returns for the Hindon Division of the Otago Mining District for the year ending the 31st December, 1903, and to report as follows : — The number of miners employed during the year was forty-two, that is about the same as in the previous year. One-half of that number worked for the Barewood Quartz-mining Company, and an average of sixteen men for the Deep Stream Amalgamated Hydraulic Sluicing Company. The Barewood Company, from quartz-mining, paid £2,800, and the Deep Stream Company, from alluvial workings, paid £1,500 in dividends during the year. There is a large area of auriferous country in the district, but very little prospecting is done, and consequently there is no present likelihood of an increased mining population. There is nothing further to report. I have, &c, E. H. Carew, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Mr. Warden McEnnis, Naseby, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Naseby, Bth April, 1904. In forwarding the mining statistics for Mount Ida District for the year ending the 31st December, 1903, I have the honour to add a few general remarks as follows : — Naseby. During the year mining operations have been carried on regularly, except for about two months, when all outdoor work was stopped by the severe frosts and heavy fall of snow. Fourteen claims have been "worked by means of hydraulic elevating and mostly with good results. Several new claims have been taken up, some being worked, and preparations are going on for working the others. There are only a few claims now being worked on " Maori bottom " —as it is called here—and it is believed these are yielding fair wages. There are very few individual or fossicking claims being now worked in this locality. Generally speaking, mining in and around Naseby is fairly prosperous,

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Kyeburn. At tliis place Stewart Bros, have erected a good elevating plant on their claim of 40 acres, and it is expected that their enterprise will be rewarded. The Naumai dredge is still working, but not with very satisfactory results. The other claimholders are steadily working as heretofore, and appear to be satisfied with their earnings. Pateaboa and Serpentine. At the former place Stewart and Bros.' workings have been much hindered through law proceedings, instituted by a landowner claiming damages for injuries to his land by tailings and polluted water from said claim going on his land. However, the matter is now amicably arranged and the claim has resumed operations. This claim is worked by an up-to-date elevating plant, and is paying well. Cambridge and party have a claim at this place and intend putting an elevator on soon. Johnson and party have during the year erected a new elevating plant on their claim, and they are said to be doing very well. At Serpentine there are two elevators at work giving satisfactory results. Several small parties are ground-sluicing and making a fair living. It is rumoured that an effort will soon be made to test the quartz lodes known to exist in this locality. Hyde and Middlemarch. From these localities there is nothing worth reporting. A little mining is going on in the same quiet way as for years past. Macrae's. During the year there have been no fresh developments of any great moment; in alluvial mining there has been less done than in previous years. Quartz-mining has been more actively followed up, and there seems to be a good future before it. The Golden Bar Mine has had a very successful year, and has given employment to eight men. The yields have not been above \ oz. per ton, but as the reef is large, it has left a very good profit. The Bonanza Mine did not do very much work in the latter part of the year, and stands in need of more development. The Golden Quarry reef was worked by Mills and party, who shifted their battery from Macrae's Plat to the reef at Horse Flat, and though the returns were very small, they are reported to have paid all expenses. The Maritana (MeGilPs) Mine has crushed when water was available, and the concentrates have been saved and shipped to Melbourne for treatment. The Golden Point Mine (W. and G. Donaldson) has operated during the whole of the year, and a large number of improvements and alterations have been made ; a new ten-head battery of latest type of heavy stamps was started, a 35-horse power compound-engine erected, and a supply of lignite (opened on Horse Flat two miles from the battery) is used with success to fire with. This means a great saving, as otherwise the coal would have to be railed to Dunback and then carted for a distance of fourteen miles. Scheelite continues to be produced, and is shipped to Germany, where it brings a big price at present, there being a much greater demand than the supply can overtake. Eighteen men are employed on this mine, and a low-level drive 250 ft. is nearly constructed. The Mount Highlay (C. Nunn) Mine and ten-head battery worked by water-power : Some 200 tons have been crushed during the year, yielding 45 oz. of gold. A low-level drive of 500 ft. is now being driven. The owner has good expectations of the future of this mine. The Inch Valley and the Inchdale dredges near Dunback are working, and are said to have yielded fairly good returns during the past year. Matakaniu. The Undaunted Gold-mining Company has paid a dividend for the year of £750. The water-supply during the year was not very good, and the claim was idle for six weeks in consequence of the heavy fall of snow and hard frosts. This company commands the best water-right in the locality : pressure to elevating pipe-lines, 420 ft., lifting 45 ft; breaking-down line 370 ft. pressure. The face is about 60 ft. deep composed of gravel-wash and a stiff band of clay. Nine men are generally employed on claim. The Tinker's Gold-mining Company has a pressure of 500 ft., and are elevating about 30 ft. when they have sufficient water. When water is scarce they work in shallow ground. The ground worked is a gravel-wash. This company paid in dividends during the year, £375. Seven to eight men are generally employed on claim. The Matakanui Gold-mining Company : This company has done very well during the year; it is working a rich vein of gold, elevating about 40 ft. The face is 60 ft. deep, composed of gravel-wash and small bands of clay ; they strip about 20 ft., and lift the balance. Eight men are generally employed on this claim. Mount Morgan Gold-mining Company : This company is working ground abandoned by the Klondyke Company, with fair results, elevating about 15 ft. Four men are generally employed on the claim. • Besides these there are a few small claims doing fairly well. St. Bathan's. The United M. and E. Company : This company had a splendid lead of gold exposed about last April, and good returns seemed certain to be obtained, when a slip which occurred on the hill or backreef side, shifted the pipe-line and endangered the elevator, so that it became necessary to remove both ; and the management considered it better to abandon that portion of the claim in the meantime, and

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take up a new tail-race from the St. Bathan's channel to work the eastern portion of claim. This mill is now almost completed, and the company have a good area of rich ground which can be elevated from a depth of 150 ft. below the tail-race. Good returns are expected for many years from this portion of the claim. The company have three races from Book's Creek, Mountain Creek, and Dunstan Creek, with a never-failing water-supply which is delivered on the claim with a pressure of 350 ft. Notwithstanding the many difficulties encountered, the yield of gold was highly satisfactory. Eagle and Gray's Claim : This adjoins the United M. and E. Company's claim. Very little work has been done on it during the last year, but the owners intend shortly to take up the fall gained by the St. Bathan's Channel which will give them 25 ft. of a face to ground-sluice upon, and as the claim is a proved one, many years of profitable working can confidently be looked forward to. The Scandinavian Company's Claim : A lot of work has been done on this claim. A vast amount of stone and rubbish has been swept off the surface of the ground preparatory to putting down a large elevator. A lot of broken reef and stone has also been swept off the back reef, which has also been thoroughly drained, so as to minimise the danger of slips when the deep ground is opened out. The Surface Hill Workings : All the operations carried on in this locality are conducted by the Scandinavian Company who have two elevators at work—one at Surface Hill, and the other at the Lagoon. At the former place an elevator was put in position last March, which lifted the material 105 ft. Six cubic feet of water per second, and one cubic yard of material per minute were easily lifted. To insure continuous work being carried on, another elevator was put in position alongside the first one, so that in case of accident to one, the other was immediately put to work ; by this means a great deal of time was saved. At the end of April the ground behind the elevators, which was of a wet and drifty nature, suddenly slipped and carried away both elevators. The manager considered it impossible to put another elevator in the same position, and shifted down the claim about 4 chains where good standing ground was known to be. A large elevator is now working to a depth of 90 ft., and preparations are being made to erect another at a depth of 113 ft. which will enable all the old ground to be drained and worked. A good return is expected for all this outlay. In the Lagoon claim a bar of clay about 60 ft. thick overlies the wash which varies from 1 ft. to 12 ft. in thickness ; good returns are anticipated from this claim, which is for the first time being worked with a modern plant. The ground is elevated from a depth of 44 ft., the actual pressure being 275 ft. The company contemplate an expenditure of between £4,000 and £5,000 so as to further increase their water-power, and thus enable them to elevate to a much greater height than at present. The Shamrock Hydraulic Sluicing Company : This company is carrying on extensive sluicing operations about four miles from St. Bathan's, near Manuherikia River. The ground worked since the inception of the company about six years ago has been mostly the heavy alluvial gravel in what is known as Welshman's Gully : it has been worked by elevating and stacking the tailings and has paid handsomely. The gully is now worked out, and the company before shifting their plant to the quartzdrift formation known as " Brennans," are taking out some remaining blocks left by Chinese miners in early days. Good results are being obtained. As the company have prospected the ground at Brennans and got good prospects, it is almost certain that, when they set in to work there, they will have good payable ground and many years of work. The Vinegar Hill Company's Claim, situate about two miles from St. Bathan's : This company have met with better success during the past year, and notwithstanding the fact that a considerable amount of water and labour was expended in stripping the claim known as " Excell's," from which no good has as yet been obtained but upon which operations on a large scale will shortly be commenced, a fair profit was made during the year from the elevator claim. The ground was elevated from a depth of 30 ft. with a pressure of 400 ft. This company have good water-rights from Shepherd's and Brown's Creeks, and doubtless the best plant in this locality. O'Hara and Party, Two-mile Flat, have rented Watson's Water-race from Mr. Ewing, and are working in partnership with Mr. Gannon. The ground is elevated to a height of 50 ft. with 150 ft. of pressure, and as these are experienced men and have a good plant and water-right, success seems assured. Cambrian's. A little mining is still carried on here, the most extensive being the workings of Pordham and Gay's, who are working the ground by elevating and then stacking the tailings. The returns are very regular and should continue so for some time to come. Amongst others mining here, are Jones and Son, McGurkin, and Hughes and party. All seem to be satisfied with the results of their labour. Gold to the value of £50,632 14s. 9d. has been purchased by the various banks in the district during the year. I have, &c, J. McEnnis, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Mr. Warden Cruickshank, Lawrence, to the Under-Secretary, for Mines, Wellington. S IR; — Warden's Office, Lawrence, 30th March, 1904. I have the honour to forward to you herewith statistical returns for the year ended the 31st December, 1903, and to submit the following report on the several mining sub-districts under my charge for the same period. Wetherstone's Blue Spur and Tuapeka Flat. In the Wetherstone's district steady work has been going on. The Happy Valley dredge has worked a large area, and the company is now paying dividends, Owing to the severe winter and long dry summer following, the sluicing claims have not been able to work full time,

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With reference to the Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Consolidated Gold Company (Limited) at the Blue Spur, I am indebted to the General Manager, Mr. J. Howard Jackson, for the following figures : Average number of men employed, 26 ; amount of cement treated, 170,262 cubic yards ; amount of gold won, 1,669 oz., worth £6,633 ; the oost of winning the gold, £2 12s. sd. per oz., or 66 per cent, of its value ; amount paid in wages, £2,676 ; amount paid for explosives, £366 ; total colonial expenditure, £4,375. Owing to a long and severe winter and a dry summer following, the decrease of the watersupply as compared with the previous year amounted to seventy-eight days ; this also applies to decreased wages-expenditure. Early in the year the main drain failed in such a position as to render its repair beyond the means of the company-. In consequence of this, about 7 per cent, of the available water-supply has been diverted from hydraulic elevating and sluicing (remunerative work) for the purposes of unwatering the mine. No accidents have occurred in this mine during the year. The management complain of the present high rate for accident-insurance premiums. In Munro's Gully, Messrs. John Kitto and party are still working their elevating claim, and lower down the same gully Messrs. Thomas and party have started a sluicing claim, working it with water lifted from Kitto and party's tail-water. At the Tuapeka Flat five dredges have been at work during the year with fairly satisfactory results ; they are as follows : The Gabriel, the Tuapeka, the Reliance, the Lawrence, and the Taniwha. Clutha River. On the Clutha River, between the Tallaburn Creek and the Tuapeka Mouth, the number of dredges is now reduced to two, viz.,—The Otago No. 2 and the New Paul's Beach, and when the river is low, fairly good returns are obtained. Waipori. Eleven dredges have been at work in this sub-district during the year, but several of them have been getting very small returns for a good many months, and two of the companies—viz., the Oceanic and Lower Enfield, have been forced to liquidate. On the other hand, the elevating and sluicing claims have, I am informed, yielded very satisfactory returns. Waitahuna. Three dredges are still carrying ou operations in this locality, but being owned by private syndicates, the returns are not disclosed. The three principal sluicing claims—viz., Thomson and party, Ferris and party, and the Sailors' Gully Sluicing Company, at Waitahuna Gully, are still in active operation. Tapanui. One dredge, owned privately, at work on the Pomahaka River, and another dredge under construction to work Scrubby Flat, are the only indications of mining in this sub-district. Waikaia. In this district, I am pleased to report that the dredging industry has now been well established ; no less than seven dredges are in active operation, all getting payable returns, and some of the companies paying good dividends. The revenue collected by the Receiver of Gold Revenue at Waikaia for rents, &c, amounted to £358 for the year. lam informed that the local bank at Waikaia purchased over 2,000 oz. of gold during the year, and that, in all pr6bability, another 1,500 oz. has been obtained and disposed of apart from the local bank, making a total yield from this sub-district of about 3,500 oz. of gold, of a total value of about £12,900, which must be considered as highly satisfactory. The number of Europeans engaged in the district in sluicing and dredging is about 150, and about thirty Chinese. Gore (including Waikaka, Waimumu, and Charlton). In this sub-district there is nothing particular to report on, the mining industry being about the same as it was when I submitted my last report twelve months ago, except that the number of dredges in active operations at Waikaka has been increased from sixteen to twenty; at Charlton, the number has been reduced from five to three ; at Waimumu, reduced from seven to six ; and generally speaking, the returns are fairly good. With reference to the dredging at Waikaka, perhaps it is not out of place for me to mention that, in my opinion, a great deal of very valuable agricultural land (freehold) is being absolutely destroyed by dredging operations, and although giving a good deal of employment just now, it is very doubtful if the destruction of this good land will not ultimately prove injurious instead of beneficial to the district and colony, I have, &c, G. Cbuickshank, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

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Mr. Warden Burgess, Clyde, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Clyde, 19th May, 1904. I have the honour to forward herewith statistical returns for the year ended the 31st December, 1903, for that portion of the Otago Mining District under my charge, also general report on the goldfields for the same periodi QUEENSTOWN AND ArROWTOWN. There is little of importance to add to my report of last year on these sub-districts. Alluvial mining still continues to employ the greatest number of men, and to yield a large proportion of the gold obtained in the district. Most of these claims are situated on the Shotover River and the returns from this locality are larger and more regular than those from alluvial mining in any other portion of the district. At Skipper's, Messrs. Stephenson, Aspinall, Davis, Henderson, and Johnson, have been working their respective claims with a fair amount of success. The New Skipper's Sluicing Company have worked steadily during the year for a return of 155 oz. of gold. At the Sandhills, Lee and party are working with satisfactory results on ground on Monk's Terrace. At the Branches, Messrs. Commins, Costello, and Dwan, have done a large amount of work, and have expended a considerable amount of capital in developing their claim. At Skipper's River, claims are held and worked by Messrs. Rogers and Johnson, Peat and Helms, and Lynch and party, and all are meeting with fair returns. A little below, Messrs. Thompson and McLeod, and Robertson, have been working for three or four years driving a tunnel. This work is now completed, and the claim is being opened out. The prospects are most promising, and there is good reason to believe the shareholders will receive the reward of their labour and perseverance. The Arthur's Point Hydraulic Claim at the Shotover Big Beach, has changed hands, and the present owners (Messrs, Phelan and McMullan) are getting gold in payable quantity. There is very little mining being carried on at Moke Creek, and what little has been done, has not been successful. The Moonlight and Moonlight No. 2 Companies are still working their claims here with not very satisfactory results. Messrs. Lee, Reid, and McDonald, have claims at the Twelve-mile Creek, Lake Wakatipu, and are well satisfied with the results of their work. On the Arrow River the Arrow Falls Company are the only owners of mining properties carrying on on operations of any magnitude. They have carried on work during the year for a return of 421 oz. Hay Bros, are working a claim of 20 acres, but their work has been very much interfered with by floods. At Cardrona, Mr. Walter Little is working very successfully on his claim on the CrifEel Face. Barker and party and others are also working claims in the vicinity. At Macetown, Anderson and party's claim is nearly worked out. There are several small claims in the vicinity that are paying fairly well. There are two parties working claims near the Kawarau River —the Golden Link Syndicate at the Shotover Junction, and Mr. Harbottle at Gibbston. At the head of Lake Wakatipu, a few Chinese are working, and only one small claim, owned by Valpy Bros., is working at Bucklerburn Creek. Of all the dredges that have been built and placed upon their claims during the last four or five years in this district, there are only four now at work. The Maori Point and New Prince Arthur on the Shotover River, and the Lone Star and La Franchi at Cardrona. The first-named is owned by a private company, and the returns are not made public, but it was understood to be more than paying its way until the severe winter of last year interfered with its operations. It was frozen up, and after that, seemed to meet with persistent ill-luck, and very little work has been done since. The Prince Arthur dredge working in the gorge at Moke Creek has also been unfortunate. Floods in the river proved very troublesome, and finally it sank, and the difficulty and expense of raising it forced the company into liquidation. A new company was formed, and took over the property shortly before the end of the year, but had done no dredging up to the 31st December. The La Franchi dredge (worked by waterpower) also suffered from the severe winter, and through stress of financial difficulties the company was forced into liquidation. A new company has been formed to take over the property, but up to the end of the year had not recommenced operations. The Lone Star dredge, owned by a private company with a small capital, has been working for the greater part of the year ; the results of the year's operations being 664 oz. of gold. Quartz-mining looks more promising than it has done for some time. Mr. R. Lee has purchased the old Achilles Mine at Bullendale. This was regarded as a very important mine a few years ago, and employed a large number of workmen. Operations eventually proved unprofitable, and about two years ago the mine was closed down. Efforts were made, unsuccessfully, to procure capital in England and elsewhere to enable the claim to be further prospected, and finally, the whole property, consisting of the mine and very extensive machinery, was sold to Mr. Robert Lee. Work has been energetically begun by the new proprietor. A new tunnel has been commenced, and steps taken to systematically work the property. The reopening of this mine is regarded with great interest in the district, as it is confidently hoped that with systematic and economical management, it will again take rank as a prominent gold-producer, and give employment to a large number of men. The Shotover Quartz-mining Company's mine at Skipper's has during the year crushed 1,003 tons of quartz, from which 465 oz. of gold was obtained. The Premier Sunrise Company, working at Macetown, crushed 2,030 tons of quartz for a return of 1,358 oz., and 47 tons of concentrates, treated by the cyanide process yielded 236 oz. of gold. The old Tipperary Mine, formerly owned by the Westralia and New Zealand Gold Explorers, has been taken up again by the Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Company, and repairing-work has been commenced. Some prospecting has been done on the Invincible reef at Glenorchy, and a little on the reefs in Brown and Jenning's gullies at Skipper's. The scheelite mine at Glenorchy is still in existence, but very little work is being done on it more capitaHs necessary to develop it.

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Cromwell. The year has been a fairly productive one as regards mining, notwithstanding the fact that owing to the severe winter mining operations were very considerably impeded. The dredging season was one of the shortest and most broken ever experienced in the district, and to that fact must be attributed the decrease in the gold-returns as compared with those of last year. From time to time, however, during the short intervals of a favourable river, very satisfactory returns were obtained by a number of dredges. The Hartley and Riley Gold-dredging Company has been especially fortunate, for during the year this company's dredge obtained gold sufficient to enable the directors to distribute among the shareholders dividends to the extent of £2 7s. 6d. on each £1 share. The Electric Gold-dredging Company (Limited), whose claim is situated on the Kawarau River, near Bannockburn, has also been very successful with its two dredges during the past season, and although operations for this year may be said to have just begun, shareholders have had 9s. per share in dividends paid to them. The dredging-areas in the Upper Clutha are now being steadily worked. In 1902 there were four dredges on this field ; there are now eight, and although some of them have not yet been put into work-ing-order, sufficient work has been done by the others to show that this portion of the river will pay for dredging, and will justify the confidence of those who have placed dredges on the river. There are six dredges at work on the Nevis, and all are reported to be doing well. They are fortunate in having a good supply of coal so near at hand. Twenty-one alluvial claims were granted in 1903, comprising areas ranging from 1 to 19 acres. Of these claims five are situate on the Nevis, eight in Bannockburn, and eight in Lowburn and Mount Pisa districts. Most of these claims are being worked and afford fairly remunerative employment to a number of miners. A party of miners are engaged in working an extended alluvial claim at Quartz Reef Point. This claim has been working continuously for about thirty years, and has always yielded payable returns. Two parties working alluvial claims at Nevis are reported to be doing very well. There is very little to be said of quartz-mining in this sub-district at present. The claims reported last year as having been taken up on the Carrick Ranges have been abandoned. Work was done on some of them, and samples of quartz were taken from the reefs and tried at the School of Mines in Dunedin.' The quartz proved too poor to pay for treatment, either by the battery or the cyanide process, and work was in consequence discontinued. There are two quartz claims at work at Bendigo, but so far the results do not justify the expectation of any pronounced success in quartz-mining in this district. Clyde and Alexandra. In the immediate neighbourhood of Clyde mining during the past year has not proved a success. Dredges one after another have ceased operations and the respective companies to which they belonged have gone into liquidation and abandoned their claims. The only dredges remaining on the stretch of the river between the Half-way House and the Clyde Bridge arc the Davis's Bend No. 2 and the Monte Christo. It is questionable whether the Davis Bend dredge will again commence operations, while there is left in the Monte Christo Company's funds only a small sum available for further prospecting. Although mining is at present depressed in this part of the river there is good reason to believe that payable gold could be obtained here if worked by a powerful dredge with sufficient length of ladder to reach the depth required. It will no doubt take some time to re-establish confidence sufficient to secure this being done, but given a claim large enough to warrant the expenditure, I believe the necessary capital would be forthcoming. The Unity, Matau, and Dunstan Lead dredges have done well. In the aggregate they obtained 3,658 oz., and paid in dividends to the shareholders the sum of £5,598. Only two or three parties are giving their attention to sluicing —viz., Gartly Bros.' at Springvale, and W. Anderson on the Dunstan Commonage. A few men are still employed in the outlying gullies, but their number is year by year becoming less. The younger men do not seem to care for this work, and the time is not far distant when the small sluicing claims will cease to exist. The water now employed for sluicing will in time no doubt be acquired by fruit-growers and others for irrigation purposes. At and around Alexandra dredging is carried on with its characteristic energy and with successful results. With the exception of short stoppages necessary for overhauling and repairs all have been steadily employed. With two exceptions the fifteen dredges between the Dunstan Lead and the Alexandra Bridge have been very profitably worked, and have enabled the different companies to pay to the shareholders an extremely satisfactory interest on their investments. From the bridge down to the Fourteen-mile Claim there are ten dredges, nine of which may be said to be working when the state of the river will permit. The Manuherikia, just below Italian Bend, had a most successful season ; during a run of twenty-one weeks of actual dredging, 3,978 oz. of gold was obtained, an average of nearly 190 oz. per week. This claim seems to prove richer year by year. During the season of 1902 it took thirty weeks to obtain 1,847 oz., or an average of 61| oz. per workingweek. The dividends declared during 1902 amounted to £4,800 or 40 per cent, on the capital, and last year £13,200, which exceeds the total capital of the company by £1,200. The only companies other than the Manuherikia between the bridge and the Fourteen-mile to reach the dividend stage were the Clyde and the Sailor's Bend ; the others not only met with sundry mishaps, but were seriously handicapped by a most unfavourable dredging winter. There seems to be a reasonable prospect of a prosperous future in this gorge if it only could be worked with suitable machinery.

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The Olrig and the Morning Star are the only working dredges in the Manuherikia at present, although several claims are held by parties who intend, if the necessary capital can be raised, to resume operations. The Olrig works steadily all the year round, and the returns, though not large, are sufficient to enable the company to declare an occasional dividend. The Morning Star is worked by a private company, the scene of operations being the old Manorburn Claim. The returns are not made public, but it is believed they are satisfactory. Sluicing. The Alexandra Bonanza Company, as I feared last year, failed to obtain sufficient gold on the Galloway terraces to warrant further operations. Work in consequence ceased, and protection was obtained for six months. Several special and other claims have been taken up in the hills at the back of the ground worked by the Bonanza Company on a seam of gold-bearing gravel locally known as " granite," the discovery of which a few years ago caused a small rush to this ground. When this land was taken up previously, there was absolutely no water to be got for other purposes than cradling, and the ground proving not payable when worked by this method, was abandoned. It was taken up again when the Bonanza Company ceased operations in the hope that water for sluicing would be obtained from the Bonanza race. lam informed by the manager of the company that applications for upwards of forty heads have been received, and that it is more than likely the company will, after being satisfied that the ground is payable, lease the water and for the present abandon work on its own claims. I have visited the ground on two occasions myself, and think that with water supplied at a reasonable rate, the field will prove payable and that at least fifty-men can be employed there. Mr. Rivers has had a disappointing year's work at Tucker Hill. The ground has been con siderably picked over before and must of necessity prove patchy. He is very hopeful however of ultimate success. Butcher's and Conroy's Gullies are practically idle. Mr. McCarthy has a claim which he has worked for several years in Conroy's Gully, but it is now under protection, work having ceased for the want of water. Bald Hill Flat. There is very little to report concerning this once prosperous field. The Last Chance Company, Dowdall and party, and Carroll and party are the only persons or companies now working in Obelisk Creek and the adjoining flats. All are working to advantage, and could make their efforts still more successful were it not for the severe frosts in winter and the shortness of water. Quartz-mining. The Excelsior andJWhite's reefs are still being persevered with, but the profits are small, and the outlook not very promising. Roxburgh Although a few dredging companies in this portion of the district have perished for want of the necessary capital, and fewer dredges are now in operation, I think the industry is in a sounder condition at present than at any time during or since the boom. There are sixteen dredges at work in the river between Coal Creek and the Island Block, and with the exception of the Teviot (idle at present) all are working steadily and with very satisfactory results. The Endeavour dredge and the Gold King dredge fell into the hands of Mr. Joseph Sparrow, who lost no time in getting them to work. The returns are not published, but lam credibly informed that both are getting above 40 oz. per week. The Golden Gate during the year paid in dividends £2,125, an amount closely approximating to the total capital of the company. The Golden Run, Golden Bed, Ettrick, Golden Treasure, and the Island Block are all obtaining satisfactory returns, and most of them are paying dividends. At Roxburgh, the Jubilee is a very persistent gold-producer, and has paid steadily since commencing work, while the Lady Roxburgh and the Molyneux Kohinoor are obtaining returns which leave a handsome margin of profit. Hydraulic Sluicing. During the year the Pleasant Valley Company was compelled to liquidate, but a syndicate of local people, still retaining faith in the ground, purchased the property, 1 ! and are now engaged in active operations. Manuel Bros., and Michell and Parker are engaged on the western bank of the river between Coal Creek and Roxburgh, and are meeting with success. George and party are working the old Commissioner's Flat claim on the eastern bank. The Roxburgh Amalgamated Company is working constantly, although the returns are not equal to those obtained during the earlier history of the claim, still sufficient gold is obtained to warrant a continuance of operations. The Ladysmith Company's claim holds the foremost position as a sluicing claim at present in the district, and success seems assured for some time to come. It was intended at first to work the ground by means of dredging, but further consideration resulted in the present method being adopted. Waikaia and Potter's. A few parties are working small claims in this district, and are only meeting with moderate success. I have, &c, Feed. J. Burgess, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

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Mr. Warden McCarthy, Invercargill, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Warden's Office, Invercargill, 15th March, 1904. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual statistical returns as well as my annual report on that portion of the Otago Mining District under my charge. Round Hill Goldfleld. —Nothing of great importance has occurred during the year. The mining is chiefly confined to the Round Hill Gold-mining Company (Limited), the Ourawera Gold-mining Company (Limited), the Smith Gold-mining Company, and a few small Europeans' claims. Most of the Chinese have left for the Orepuki Goldfleld. Orepuki Goldfleld. —This field is not so prosperous as it used to be some years back. The ground known as " the Old Township," which has been the richest in the district, is nearly worked out, and the miners are casting longing eyes at the freehold land consisting of Sections 10 to 19, Block 11., Longwood District, containing about 700 acres, which is known to be more or less auriferous, and some of it is held to be very rich in the precious metal. Experienced miners in the district generally consider that sooner or later it must be resumed by the Government for mining purposes. West Waiau Goldfleld. —On this field there is only one party at work. They hold nearly the whole of the available, water, and have a very complete mining plant of piping, hydraulic hose, giant nozzle, &c, including an acetylene gas plant for night-shift work. The proprietors have expended large sums of money in the purchase of water-races, plant, &c, including that spent in developing their property. It is to be hoped that they will be rewarded by handsome returns for many years to come. Preservation Inlet Goldfleld. —Matters are very quiet on this field. The New Star Gold-mining Company (Limited) have had an unfortunate year, and have been compelled to go into liquidation. Treseder and party and a few others are still pursuing operations quietly. Stewart Island Goldfleld. —Widdowson and party have continued to work their special quartz claim on Block 1., Anglem District, during the year. They did 80 ft. of driving in country which is very wet and also very loose. They had to closely timber the drive all the way. Two shafts were sunk not more than 30 ft. deep each. Two drainage-tunnels 69 ft. long were boxed in with flood-gates. A new camp has been built, a big slip that came down off the face was cleared away, and a ton of stone obtained and forwarded to Dunedin for assay. The following is a list of the machinery on the claim : 1 battery of one stamp, 1 Pelton wheel (up to 10-horse power), 96 ft. steel fluming, with valves and double nozzles, 20 chain wooden fluming, 20 chains water-race. Wages paid : Mine-manager, 10s. a day ; workmen, Bs. a day. Thomson, Fraser, and party have been steadily prospecting for tin in the Pegasus district. Wyndham and Waikawa Goldfields. —There is so far as I can learn, no mining of any importance in progress in any of these localities. I have, &., S. Ernest McCarthy, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Warden.

GOVERNMENT WATER-RACES. Mr. Alex. Aitken, Manager, Kumara District Water-races, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Kumara, sth May, 1904. I have the honour to forward the following report on the working of the Waimea-Kumara water-races for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1904. Waimea Race. The total sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, amounted to £665 ss. 3d., and the expenditure for the same period, for gauging, maintenance, and repairs, was £718 7s. 6d., showing a debit balance of £53 2s. 3d. on the transactions for the year. The average number of miners supplied with water for sluicing purposes from the race during the year was 25 - 41, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them, was 1,989 oz., having a value of £7,757 2s. The sales of water were £149 lis. lid. less than during the preceding year, and the quantity of gold obtained by miners using water from the race was less by 447 oz. (approximately) representing a decreased value of £1,743 6s. The number of miners employed in sluicing with water from the race was 3 - 5 less than during the preceding year. The expenditure on gauging, maintenance, and repairs, was less by £69 9s. Id. than during the preceding year, and the headworks at Kawhaka, the fluming, Waimea siphon, and all the races, and branch races have been maintained, and are now in a thorough state of repair. The claims at the Stafford end of the race have been on very poor ground, and have done very little work. This has to a very large extent reduced the sales of water in that locality, but none of the claims have been abandoned, and fresh efforts are being made to find ground of a more payable character. All the parties using water from the race in the Stafford portion of the district during the past year have been Chinamen, but the ground worked by them has been very poor, and the race-revenue has suffered accordingly. They are still however, persevering in their endeavours to open up ground of a more payable character, and as there is still a large extent of unworked ground, there is a fair prospect of their being more successful in the future. In the Waimea portion of the district, only a limited amount of work has been done during the year, and some of the parties on Tunnel Terrace, where there is still a large area of unworked ground, have done little or no work for some months.

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The JPerry and party, recently taken up, although in good working-order, has done very little work during the past year, as the party has been engaged in constructing dams for storing night water, and in repairing the private race held by them. The small amount of work done by them has, however, proved that the claim is a payable one, and as it will take a considerable length of time to put their own race in order, and as the supply from that source when the work is completed will be very small (except in very wet weather), a considerable amount of water from the Waimea Race must be used by them. The claim commenced at Fox's by Burroughs and party has not yet been properly opened up, and the work of getting the claim in working-order has been greatly retarded by unforeseen cicumstances. On one occasion, a large amount of work done by the party was destroyed by flood-water, and they are still engaged in repairing the damage done, and expect to get on to payable wash in about six weeks. The Waimea Hydraulic Sluicing Company let their claim and plant on tribute. The tributers have been engaged in sluicing on the terrace above the flat, formerly worked by the company, with fairly successful results, and as the tribute agreement expires in May next, the company will either resume possession, or relet the claim and plant on another tribute agreement. Several stoppages of the water-supply occurred during the year on account of damage done to the race by floods, but as in no case serious damage was done, repairs were promptly effected, and the water turned on again. The supply of water was good throughout the year, and no stoppages occurred on that account. The following tabulated statement shows the sales of water and cost of maintenance of the Waimea Race for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, together with the approximate quantity and value of gold obtained by parties using water from the race.

Branch Race to Callaghan's and Middle Branch of Waimea Creek. The total sales of water from this branch race for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, amounted to £917 25., and the expenditure for the some period for gauging, maintenance, and repairs, was £675 16s. 10d., showing a credit balance of £241 ss. 2d. on the transactions for the year. The average number of miners supplied with water for sluicing from this branch race during the year was 18 - 5, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 2,189 oz., having a value of £8,537 2s. The sales of water for the year were £424 10s. lid. in excess of the amount during the preceding year, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained was greater by 964 oz., having a value of £3,759 12s. The average number of mines supplied with water for sluicing from the race was 18 - 5 during the year, while the number for the previous year was 13 - 5 showing an increase of 5. The expenditure on gauging, maintenance, and repairs, during the year was £324 2s. 3d. greater than during the preceding year, but the receipts from sales of water have increased in about the same proportion, and a considerable portion of the expenditure may be reckoned as expenditure on extensions. During the year the branch race has been extended, and water has been laid on to another claim. There are now seven claims in full work in the Middle Branch Creek. A large amount of work has been done at the dam ; the embankment has also been added to, and is now nearly completed to its full height. The work done to the dam has greatly increased its storage-capacity, and will in the future enable a larger quantity of water to be supplied to the claims using water for sluicing in the Middle Branch of the Waimea Creek. The work done in enlarging the capacity of the dam and in the extension and improvements of the races and branch races may fairly be stated as having a value of £250, which sum, deducted from a total expenditure of £675 16s. 10d., leaves £425 16s. 10d. as the amount actually expended in ordinary gauging, maintenance, and repairs for the year. The sales of water have increased from £492 11s. Id. in 1902-3 to £917 2s. in the past year (1903-4), and there is a fair prospect of an increase to another considerable amount during the present year. In Callaghan's proper, no new ground has been opened up during the past year, and the claims at work have only done a very small amount of sluicing, with very indifferent results. There is no doubt, however, extents of payable ground exist in the locality, and that in the future, sluicing on

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received for Sales of Expenditure. Water. Outstanding Number A £P™ X1 " Moneys at the of 0 ,™ nt itv End of each Men Month. employed. 0 «^_ Value of Gold obtained. 1903. April May June July August September October November December 1904. £ s. d. 39 9 4 54 18 6 60 2 6 73 19 2 65 10 7 60 2 8 83 17 1 00 15 0 43 11 3 £ s. d. 39 7 6 28 6 0 94 12 6 42 12 6 78 17 6 76 10 5 59 12 0 35 1 8 65 19 10 £ s. d. 55 4 2 38 14 2 50 6 8 55 14 2 65 9 2 51 14 2 75 9 2 67 14 2 87 14 2 £ s. d. 34 14 9 61 15 8 47 10 8 58 2 4 45 8 7 36 5 3 56 7 5 80 3 8 57 8 3 24 28 30 28 26 27 27 20 26 Oz. 117 165 180 222 195 180 249 201 129 £ s. d. 456 6 0 643 10 0 702 0 0 865 16 0 760 10 0 702 0 0 971 2 0 783 18 0 503 2 0 January February March 29 0 0 51 18 4 36 0 10 25 7 0 59 4 4 25 18 4 05 4 2 59 4 2 45 19 2 61 6 6 53 15 6 63 18 0 20 19 24 87 156 108 339 6 0 608 8 0 421 4 0 Totals 665 5 3 631 9 7 ! I 718 7 6 •• 2541 (average) 1,989 7,757 2 0

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a large scale will be carried out at Callaghan's, as has recently been the case in the Middle Branch of the Waimea Creek, which was considered of very little account a few years ago. One of the drawbacks at Callaghan's is that all or nearly all the ground is held by one or two parties, and the same parties hold all the available water-rights, dam-sites, and other mining privileges under old rights. If the ground and other mining privileges were made use of, and worked as intended by the Mining Acts, a great deal more gold would be got, and many more miners employed. The holders should be made to work their ground, and make use of their mining privileges continuously, or steps should be taken to bring about abandonment or forfeiture. Nearly all the water sold from this branch race was used for sluicing in the flat of the Middle Branch of the Waimea Creek, where there are now seven parties fully at work. The results of the work done have been variable, some claims have turned out well and paid the claimholders considerable dividends beyond wages, but a few have done little more than pay working-expenses, and at least one claim has been worked at a loss, but this loss may be fully made up by future working. Upon the whole the flat in the Middle Branch of the Waimea Creek has been a successful sluicing centre, and the whole of it will eventually be worked. Besides the seven claims now working, four more are held by parties of miners, but no work has yet been done on them, although the holders of one of them have obtained a right to connect their private tail-race with the Waimea Main Tail-race. No extension of the Waimea Main Tail-race has been made during the year ; it has been maintained in very good condition throughout. A grant of one hundred and thirty-three pounds' worth of free water was authorised by the Mines Department to enable a dangerous portion of the main tail-race to be repaired. The work has been satisfactorily carried out. Of the one hundred and thirty pounds' worth of free water, only ninety-eight pounds' worth had been supplied on the 31st March, 1904. The following tabulated statement shows the sales of water and cost of maintenance of the Callaghan's and Middle Branch Race for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, together with the approximate quantity and value of gold obtained by parties using water from the race : —

Kumaea Race. The total sales of water from this race for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, amounted to £1,466 2s. Id., and the expenditure on gauging, maintenance, and repairs, for the same period was £1,612 12s. 10d., showing a debit balance of £146 10s. 9d. on the transactions for the year. The average number of miners supplied with water for sluicing from the race was 33 - 08, showing a decrease of about seven as compared with the previous year, and the approximate quantity of gold obtained by them was 2,934 oz., having a value of £11,442 12s. The sales of water were £62 12s. 3d. less than during the preceding year, and the quantity of gold obtained was less by 122 oz., representing a decrease in value of £475 16s. The expenditure on gauging, maintenance, and repairs, during the year was less by £72 3s. Bd. than during the previous year, and all the dams, races, branch races, tunnels, and siphons, have been kept in a thorough state of repair, and are now in good working-order. There have been no parties sluicing into No. 2 channel during the past year, as all the payable ground for which it was available has been worked out. Four parties have been sluicing into No. 3 channel during the year, but they were not working continuously, as most of them ran out of fall, and could not send away sufficient wash to make the work payable. None of the claims however have been abandoned, and new or partially new tail-races will have to be driven on a lower gradient to work the remaining portion of the claims. In some places the county road interferes with the working of considerable areas of payable ground. About 950 ft. of the No. 3 channel deviation has now been driven, or about one-half of the total length. The whole of the portion driven has been securely timbered and lathed, and most of it boxed. The work so far as it has been constructed is a very creditable job, and the lines and levels have been well kept. Although the ground that will be opened up by this deviation will not be of an exceedingly rich character, a considerable area will be worked that could never have been worked otherwise.

17—C. 3.

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received fiSErtX. H ™ b " for Sale, of Expenditure, M°e'n waI " r ' Month. employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value of Gold obtained. 1903. April May June July August September October November December 1904. £ s. a. 87 19 2 113 0 10 60 18 4 46 16 8 43 3 9 75 16 3 64 15 8 95 9 0 83 10 8 £ s. d. 31 0 0 91 12 6 22 15 0 97 7 6 5] 16 3 74 15 0 48 15 9 40 12 6 96 1 0 £ s. d. 31 5 0 50 17 6 58 19 0 69 16 3 45 18 9 72 5 10 52 15 0 77 12 3 62 I 0 £ s. d. 85 11 6 106 14 10 144 18 2 94 7 4 86 7 4 101 11 1 105 3 6 157 12 6 145 2 2 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 19 Oz. 220 182 152 117 107 190 162 237 210 £ s. d. 858 0 0 709 16 0 592 16 0 456 6 0 417 6 0 741 0 0 631 16 0 924 (i 0 819 0 0 January February March 57 10 10 74 0 0 114 0 10 !18 15 6 23 10 0 74 17 0 34 10 0 48 18 9 70 17 6 117 12 6 158 10 0 193 17 0 18 18 19 142 185 285 553 16 it 721 10 0 ! 1,111 10 0 Totals 917 2 0 751 18 0 675 16 10 18'5 (average) 2,189 8,537 2 0

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In No. 4 channel the original two parties are still at work, and they are both sluicing away a very large quantity of material. None of the ground being worked by them is rich, but the large quantity of wash sent through their sluice-boxes enables them to pay expenses and leave a small margin beyond ordinary wages. Both parties have still a very large area of unworked ground similar to that now being worked by them, so that they are sure to have workable ground for many years to come. Five parties are at work sluicing into No. 5 main tail-race, and all of them are sending away large quantities of wash-dirt, but the ground being worked is of a very poor character, and all have to work long hours in their endeavour to make both ends meet. All the parties are expecting to meet with more payable ground in the future than they have had in the past. The three parties working through private races are not on very rich ground, but they are all making fair wages, and are apparently satisfied with their prospects. There has been more than sufficient water for all requirements throughout the year, and no time has been lost by the miners on account of the supply of water being insufficient. The attached, table shows the number of days in each month on which water was going to waste over the dams, the total quantity lost, and also the number of holidays on which no water was used for sluicing.

Besides the sales of water above referred to, free water was supplied to claims having a succession of poor washings after due inquiry in each case. The usual quantity of water authorised by the Department, was supplied to each of the main tailraces for flushing purposes —viz., No. 3 channel, twenty-three sluice-heads ; No. 4 channel, ten sluiceheads ; No. 5 channel, twenty sluice-heads. Quantities much in excess of the above were as a rule supplied, as water was plentiful throughout the year, and it would otherwise have gone to waste, but no less than the above quantities was supplied at any time. Water was also supplied to the Borough of Kumara for fire-purposes, and to the miners for washing up free of charge. The following tabulated statement shows the sales of water, and cost of maintenance of the Kumara Race for the year ended the 31st March, 1904, together with the approximate quantity and value of gold obtained by parties using water from the race : —

The following table shows the result of working the Kumara Water-race for the twenty-one years from the Ist April, 1883, to the 31st March, 1904:—

Month. Water running over Dam. Quantity , No Water of Holidays. , for Water lost. Channel. Dams empty. April May June July August September .. October November .. December 1903. 1904. Days. Days. Days. Days. 4 3 6.. 10 6 7 3-t 10 24 8 6 4 8 4 40 1 J 10 15| 8 Days. • • January February March Totals 6 7 6.. 3 4| 11 17" 78 135 20

Month. Sales of Water. Casii received for Sales of Water. Expenditure. Outstanding Moneys at the End of each Month. Number of Men employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value of Gold obtained. April May June July August .. September October .. November December 1903. 1904. £ s. il. 81 9 7 142 12 0 115 2 1 159 11 8 144 13 9 132 12 (i 114 10 0 148 0 0 96 13 6 £ s. d. 5 0 0 62 0 0 109 6 6 75 0 0 176 5 0 82 0 0 138 0 0 £ s. d. 111 7 0 143 1 2 126 19 6 155 13 2 139 15 7 127 14 9 112 19 6 132 10 3 124 19 6 £ s. d. 1,049 4 3 1,129 16 3 1,135 11 10 1,220 3 6 1,188 12 3 1,239 4 9 1,215 14 9 1,363 14 9 1,302 8 3 31 29 26 25 40 39 40 32 39 Oz. 164 284 230 320 290 264 230 296 194 M £ s. d. 639 12 0 1,107 12 0 897 0 0 1,248 0 0 1,131 0 0 1,029 12 0 897 0 0 1,154 8 0 756 12 0 158 0 0 January February March .. (Hi 14 9 139 1 0 125 1 3 47 0 0 80 0 0 90 0 0 125 17 0 169 5 3 142 L0 2 1,322 3 0 1,381 4 0 1,416 5 3 32 32 32 134 278 250 522 12 0 1,084 4 0 975 0 0 Totals 1,466 2 1 1,022 11 61,612 12 10 33 08 | (average) 2,934 11,442 12 0

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SUMMARY showing the Result of working the Kumara Water-race for Twenty-one Years, from 1st April, 1883, to 31st March, 1904.

Water supplied. Year. Rate per Sluicehead per Week. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. January. February. March. Total Value j T #£ e V f £ ue of Water sold. : A S£ c r e . Total Value Free for Deviations. Total for Construction of No. 3 Channel. Total Value Water supplied. Average Number of Sluice-heads supplied Daily. Expenditure. Water sold Free 1883-84 1883-84 £ s. d. 3 0 0 £ s. d. 371 16 5 46 2 6 £ s. d. 465 2 1 44 5 0 £ s. d. 700 2 6 183 11 8 £ s. d. 583 9 7 108 19 2 £ s. d. 702 7 6 108 0 0 £ s. d. 626 16 3 85 7 6 £ s. d. 808 10 5 244 7 6 £ s. d. 777 3 9 172 18 9 £ s. a. 774 17 11 63 12 6 £ s. d. 698 2 6 103 9 2 £ s. d. 1,064 0 0 86 5 0 £ s. d. 774 6 0 139 3 4 £ s. d. 8,346 14 11 £ s. d. 1,386 2 1 £ s. a. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d Water sold Free 1884-85 1884-85 3 0 0 417 18 11 509 7 1 883 14 2 692 8 9 810 7 6 712 3 9 1,052 17 11 950 2 6 838 10 5 801 11 8 1,150 5 0 913 9 4 9,732 17 0 46-35 2,153 5 5 580 4 4 92 5 0 937 19 4 56 19 7 667 3 11 78 18 9 906 16 10 55 13 9 882 6 10 149 0 10 997 1 5 18 11 3 919 12 3 145 13 4 1,120 11 10 69 3 9 819 17 3 39 15 0 289 4 2 26 12 6 756 9 2 45 3 9 821 0 10 2 16 8 9,704 8 2 780 14 2 Water sold Free 1885-80 1885-86 2 10 0 672 9 4 994 18 11 746 2 8 962 10 7 1,031 7 8 1,015 12 8 1,065 5 7 1,195 15 7 859 12 3 315 16 8 801 12 11 823 17 6 10,485 2 4 49-92 1,656 0 1 665 16 0 24 13 9 796 6 9 9 2 0 893 5 3 745 19 7 773 19 10 23 15 0 943 13 5 31 3 4 953 15 6 22 1 3 997 7 8 18 11 10 697 13 5 18 7 2 686 4 0 49 1 4 708 15 8 15 0 935 19 7 13 2 6 9,788 16 8 221 3 2 Water sold Water sold Free 1886-87 1886-87 1886-87 2 10 0 2 0 0 690 9 9 805 8 9 893 5 3 745 19 7 797 14 10 974 16 9 975 16 9 1,015 19 6 716 0 7 735 5 4 710 0 8 949 2 1 10,009 19 10 57-20 1,454 19 5 758 0 4 j 6,470 14 4 ' 19 10 8 776 0 11 488 3 9 242 0 11 315 '7 11 40 13 9 599 5 0 120 9 7 643 "7 11 83 15 10 682"8 9 74 5 0 686"7 5 45 9 2 562 '0 10 32 15 0 345 12 7 46 8 9 673 "0 0 49 16 8 747 9 2 36 3 4 1,547 18 11 758 0 4 795 11 7 730 4 8 356 1 8 719 14 7 8,018 13 3 5619 1,398 18 10 Water sold Free 1887-88 1887-88 2 0 0 727 3 9 706 13 9 731 16 7 594 15 10 392 1 4 722 16 8 783 12 6 535 5 10 26 11 8 679 7 8 40 19 2 167 10 10 15 13 9 656 4 7 23 10 0 684 16 1 47 7 11 694 5 0 4 11 8 591 12 1 34 16 8 710 0 0 42 10 0 535 10 10 27 10 0 519 15 5 28 6 8 670 17 6 19 11 8 734 4 5 15 17 3 7,169 10 3 347 6 5 561 17 6 720 6 10 183 4 7 679 14 7 7,516 16 8 53 66 982 12 0 sold ■Tree 1888-89 1888-89 2 0 0 732 4 0 698 16 8 626 8 9 752 10 0 553 0 10 548 2 1 690 9 2 750 1 8 490 6 8 107 17 3 338 7 7 90 18 0 532 1 1 87 1 4 626 19 10 75 1 10 667 8 3 32 10 0 542 8 4 16 9 5 702 12 6 38 1 4 664 1 7 13 0 0 395 12 3 34 9 2 465 2 1 58 6 8 623 18 4 90 10 10 667 8 4 74 13 4 6,716 6 10 492 0 0 227 0 0 598 3 11 429 5 7 619 2 5 702 1 8 699 18 3 7,435 6 10 5310 1,024 1 9 Water sold Free Free, No. 3 Channel 1889-90 1889-90 1889-90 2 0 0 558 17 9 740 13 10 667 1 7 430 1 5 523 9 7 714 9 2 742 1 8 401 13 4 45 15 0 495 16 4 55 3 4 256 16 8 43 0 0 377 16 3 92 15 0 353 4 2 105 15 0 122 19 1 237 7 11 93 1 8 335 1 3 318 10 10 41 10 0 330 11 8 293 8 4 103 18 4 275 8 0 159 18 9 105 13 4 97 13 4 219 15 10 48 17 6 »6 0 0 248 19 7 54 8 4 221 18 1 186 16 8 71 5 0 102 11 5 3,550 4 8 396 2 6 465 0 0 1,492 2 10 447 8 4 550 19 8 299 16 8 470 1L 3 581 18 3 665 10 10 5,903 10 0 4216 1,424 13 3 Water sold Free j?ree, No. 3 Channel 1890-91 1890-91 1890-91 2 0 0 690 12 6 672 14 8 363 5 5 274 13 4 525 6 0 360 13 1 300 12 6 113 5 0 272 11 11 355 11 11 119 14 2 247 3 6 368 3 2 70 7 11 246 17 10 423 9 0 71 17 6 115 2 11 622 17 11 82 9 7 32 2 2 666 7 1 110 16 8 ! 720 16 1 93 13 9 701 5 10 106 0 10 578 1 8 57 5 5 546 17 11 113 6 8 691 17 11 133 2 6 689 11 8 130 5 10 6,665 12 8 409 5 5 793 0 5 913 18 4 686 9 5 722 9 7 685 8 11 610 9 5 814 9 10 8,781 16 10 62-72 1,766 4 3 Water sold Free 1891-92 1891-92 2 0 0 737 9 8 777 3 9 807 6 8 635 7 1 660 4 7 825 0 5 819 17 6 616 5 10 143 11 5 655 4 11 191 16 8 542 9 1 44 3 6 179 11 11 426 10 1 82 16 11 769 15 5 151 14 7 784 13 8 118 10 1 642 4 2 233 1 8 469 10 0 213 11 3 291 3 9 137 0 10 543 7 6 64 11 8 724 8 8 28 9 2 6,645 11 0 996 4 5 413 3 4 759 17 3 847 1 " 586 12 7 179 11 11 509 13 0 921 10 0 8,054 18 9 57-53 1,584 10 11 Water sold Free 1892-93 1892-93 2 0 0 903 3 9 875 i 10 683 1 3 428 4 7 607 19 2 752 17 10 495 17 1 44 18 9 505 12 11 80 2 6 493 5 10 72 4 2 495 13 6 61 2 1 602 2 8 43 5 10 635 1 3 38 2 6 571 1 8 44 0 10 458 7 1 66 2 6 382 2 1 157 6 8 390 19 2 91 4 2 j 450 7 6 77 10 10 308 10 0 64 2 6 5,789 0 9 444 15 8 398 7 8 540 15 10 585 15 5 565 10 0 645 8 6 673 3 9 6,632 4 1 47-35 1,782 11 0 Water sold Free 1893-94 1893-94 2 0 0 556 15 7 615 2 6 524 9 7 539 8 9 485 3 4 527 18 4 372 12 6 451 16 5 101 5 2 480 13 7 119 5 7 541 11 11 99 4 6 542 9 6 110 7 1 575 10 5 92 9 10 486 9 2 147 16 2 539 8 4 112 11 0 402 11 11 164 18 5 451 5 5 82 0 4 303 0 10 112 3 10 415 5 5 132 15 10 392 1 8 70 6 10 5,582 4 7 1,306 0 3 39 4 4 553 1 7 599 19 2 668 0 3 634 5 4 927 9 2 49-48 1,917 8 5 Water sold Free 1894-95 1894-95 2 0 0 640 16 5 652 16 7 651 19 4 567 10 4 533 5 9 415 4 8 548 1 3 462 8 6 477 1 8 76 11 8 437 17 4 98 12 8 501 3 4 103 1 3 482 1 3 92 17 11 513 7 11 413 0 5 83 5 0 122 17 6 413 0 5 122 17 6 213 19 2 96 4 2 375 7 6 105 6 8 428 8 9 81 11 8 298 2 5 74 14 2 198 7 1 72 17 6 308 2 11 86 12 6 4,646 19 9 1,054 12 8 40 0 0 5,741 12 5 4101 1,976 17 7 2 0 0 553 13 4 536 10 0 604 4 7 574 19 2 596 12 11 535 17 11 535 17 11 310 3 4 Water sold Free Free, No. 4 Channel : 1895-96 i 1895-96 1895-96 480 14 2 510 0 5 372 16 7 271 4 7 394 15 5 277 5 10 95 3 4 379 15 0 96 1 8 349 12 1 139 19 2 322 15 10 81 16 3 345 18 354 1 8 76 19 7 77 10 10 5 12 6 39 14 2 354 1 8 77 10 10 39 14 2 351 16 S 110 9 7 62 7 6 336 5 5 114 12 1 56 9 2 331 0 0 67 3 4 65 4 7 315 15 5 92 8 4 32 10 0 336 3 4 90 18 11 36 1 3 406 18 4 86 16 3 34 15 10 4,106 11 3 1,12919 4 33215 0 5,569 5 7 39-78 1,943 8 7 ■ Water sold j 1896-97 12 0 0) |1 10 Of 372 9 2 475 16 8 489 11 3 404 12 1 427 13 9 471 6 8 471 6 8 524 13 9 507 6 8 463 7 11 440 13 9 463 3 6 528 10 5 286 13 4 307 0 0 166 9 6 387 13 8 318 10 7 310 7 4 310 7 4 356 16 4 299 1 8 3,502 17 0 322 8 10 144 13 3 319 1 3 284 1 3 Free Free, No. 4 Channel ! 1896-97 1896-97 100 5 0 15 0 0 99 4 10 14 16 8 22 18 2 4 0 10 31 1 10 18 0 0 12 19 4 22 16 10 7 0 0 18 0 0 22 16 10 18 0 0 13 18 4 9 0 0 12 11 3 12 0 0 12 18 9 7 0 0 51 18 9 6 0 0 58 16 2 10 0 0 39 19 9 13 0 0 479 9 0 13317 6 4,116 3 6 40-41 1,786 15 9 401 18 4 421 1 6 193 8 6 436 15 6 338 9 11 351 4 2 Water sold Free Free, No. 4 Channel ! 1897-98 1897-98 1897-98 379 14 8 347 0 1 164 12 0 377 0 0 352 17 5 352 1 5 243 11 2 29 1 3 240 5 1 39 16 3 204 19 1 18 1 10 210 11 1 29 5 0 266 15 6 147 4 8 29 0 0 51 5 0 296 9 10 49 14 4 213 1 9 52 10 0 255 19 11 38 2 6 2 10 0 208 16 2 29 1 3 14 0 0 415 13 9 185 15 3 48 15 0 2,889 3 3 414'12 5 33 10 0 17 0 0 3,337 5 8 1,841 0 0 1898-99 1898-99 1898-99 272 12 5 280 1 4 223 0 11 239 16 1 295 15 6 198 9 8 346 4 2 265 11 9 296 12 5 251 17 5 432 13 9 234 10 3 ■ Water sold Free Free, No. 4 Channel 160 6 6 28 15 0 194 11 5 59 1 3 171 13 0 30 7 6 226 15 6 42 3 9 224 0 6 251 9 1 45 13 9 54 7 6 202 2 11 33 15 0 233 18 5 37 10 0 258 15 4 28 8 1 196 19 9 28 2 6 320 17 10 37 10 0 270 4 2 44 1 3 2,711 14 5 469 15 7 " " 3,181 10 0 2,174 3 11 189 1 6 253 12 8 j 202 0 6 268 19 3 269 14 3 305 16 7 Water sold Free Free No 5 Channel 1899-1900 1899-1900 1899-1900 1 10 0 235 17 11 271 8 5 287 3 5 225 2 3 353 7 10 314 5 5 227 5 6 44 7 6 312 9 1 52 9 0 251 19 9 46 17 5 244 19 2 55 18 9 196 14 3 157 7 1 43 7 7 40 6 3 196 14 3 43 7 7 218 13 4 46 2 6 129 12 10 44 7 6 177 13 11 40 17 6 122 1 4 41 5 0 193 0 2 45 0 0 36 11 2 226 19 3 42 15 0 93 14 11 2,458 15 8 549 14 0 • 130 "6 1 3,138 15 9 43-60 1,904 7 9 271 13 0 364 18 1 298 17 2, 300 17 11 240 1 10 197 13 4 240 1 10 1900-1901 (1 10 0) U 0 of 264 15 10 174 0 4 224 11 5 163 6 4 274 11 4 363 9 2 Water sold 108 8 6 265 12 4 2a> 6 10 259 2 0 167 4 3 220 5 9 265 12 4 235 19 2 143 2 5 in 0 1 122 2 7 190 2 1 132 5 0 2,181 11 0 Free Free, No. 5 Channel 1900-1901 1900-1901 j 34 7 6 68 18 2 49 6 3 14 1 3 35 18 1 47 10 0 41 5 0 78 18 1 44 4 4 53 8 8 21 14 4 4 4 5 44 4 4 21 14 4 61 14 4 4 4 4 51 3 8 26 11 3 50 17 5 11 17 6 12 15 8 1 12 1 13' 8 1 12 16 8 435 0 11 305 16 2 2,922' 8 1 45-91 2,077 16 10 Water sold Free 1901-1902 1901-1902 10 0 211 14 2 322 9 6 250 12 4 340 8 10 331 11 0 277 19 11 301 17 10 220 17 4 173 15 0 136 10 4 209 10 2 145 1 8 203 18 9 8 12 6 236 8 2 15 15 0 199 19 2 12 15 0 209 17 9 7 17 6 174 8 7 7 12 1 172 4 10 6 5 0 215 9 6 9 7 6 213 17 1 7 3 9 167 15 7 5 6 3 127 11 6 19 17 6 161 15 10 10 10 0 167 5 5 2,250 12 2 111 "2 1 2,361 14 3 480 1,706 10 0 Water sold Free 1902-1903 1902-1903 10 0 212 11 3 252 3 2 212 14 2 217 15 3 182 0 8 178 9 10 224 17 0 221 0 10 173 1 10 147 9 0 172 5 10 167 5 5 116 16 1 I 6 b 4 | 161 7 4 3 ' 2 3 103 12 10 16 7 9 120 2 10 32 7 10 142 19 3 47 17 7 185 11 8 34 10 5 101 9 10 36 5 5 133 2 9 131 17 1 28 & 9 23 2 1 94 8 9 15 5 0 145 0 8 25 15 5 147 5 3 1 10 0 1,528 14 4 271 0 10 1,799 15 2 38 37 1,684 16 6 123 4 5 J 164 9 7 120 0 7 152 10 8 170 2 1 137 15 3 161 11 6 154 19 2 109 13 9 170 16 1 148 15 3 Water sold Free 1903-1904 1903-1904 1 0 0 190 16 10 81 9 7 7 16 3 i 142 12 0 17 7 11 115 2 1 25 8 4 159 11 8 144 13 9 33 6 10 132 12 6 29 7 1 114 10 0 36 13 4 14S 0 0 38 9 6 96 13 6 66 14 9 9 1 3 . 21 0 0 139 1 0 25 10 0 125 1 3 19 3 4 1,466 2 1 263 3 10 1,729 5 11 36-5 1,612 12 10 89 5 10 159 19 11 140 10 5 159 11 8 178 0 7 161 19 7 151 3 4 1S6 9 6 105 14 9 87 14 9 164 11 0 144 4 7 104,172 5 9 13,539 13 8 2,375 15 9 3,308 15 11 123,396 11 1 35,853 15 1

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Waimea-Kumara Water-races. The following tabulated statement shows the revenue, cost of maintenance, approximate quantity of gold obtained, and the number of men employed in sluicing in claims using water from the whole of the Government water-races in the Waimea-Kumara district for the year ended the 31st March. 1904:—

The following is a schedule of claims that have been sluicing on the Kumara Goldfield during the year ended the 31st March, 1904, showing the number of men in each claim, fall and width of boxes in each tail-race, number of sluice-heads of water used in sluicing, number of cubic yards of wash sluiced away per hour, and the name of race from which the water was supplied : —

Kumara Deep-level Tunnel. No prospecting nor work of any kind has been done in the Kumara Deep-level Tunnel during the past year, except the expenditure of the sum of £10 authorised by the Mines Department for clearing out the tunnel and timbering a dangerous portion. Some private parties are however prospecting the deep levels, from the face of the terrace facing the Teremakau, in one instance, with payable results. Wainihinihi Race. The supply of water from the Wainihinihi Race has been good throughout the year, and has been of great service in the Waimea District, but none of the water was required for Kumara, as the ordinary supply was quite sufficient. No breaks or stoppages of any kind occurred, although several very large floods took place during the year, and the race has been maintained in good order and condition. I have, &c, Alex. Aitken, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Manager, Water-races, Kumara,

19—C. 3.

Month. Sales of Water. Cash received Outstanding Number for Sales of Expenditure. » °ney 3 at the »' Water. En * of <"> ch ««» . Month. employed. Approximate Quantity of Gold obtained. Value of Gold obtained. 1903. April May June July August September October November December 1904. £ s. d. 208 18 1 310 11 4 236 2 11 280 7 6 253 8 1 268 11 5 263 2 9 310 4 0 223 15 5 £ s. d. 75 7 6 181 18 6 226 14 0 215 0 0 300 18 9 233 5 5 246 7 9 75 14 2 ; 320 0 10 £ s. d. 197 16 2 232 12 10 I 236 5 2 ! 281 3 7 251 3 6 251 14 9 ! 241 3 8 | 277 16 8 I 274 14 8 £ a. d. 1,169 10 6 1,298 6 9 1,328 0 8 1,372 13 2 1,320 8 2 1,377 1 1 1,377 5 8 1,601 10 11 1,504 18 8 73 75 74 71 85 85 86 77 84 Oz. 501 632 562 659 592 634 641 734 533 £ s. d. 1,953 18 0 2,460 18 0 2,191 16 0 2,570 2 0 2,308 16 0 2,472 12 0 2,499 18 0 2,862 12 0 2,078 14 0 January February March 153 5 7 264 19 4 275 2 11 171 2 6 162 14 4 j 190 15 4 225 11 2 j 277 8 2 ! 259 (i 10 1,501 2 0 1,593 9 6 1,674 0 3 70 69 75 363 619 643 1,415 14 0 2,414 2 0 2,507 14 0 Totals 3,048 9 4 2,405 19 1 3,006 17 2 77 (average) 7,112 27,736 16 0

Number of Men employed in each Claim. Fall to ! 12 ft. in Tail race, NumWidth ber of of SluiceBoxes ; heads m Tail-used in race. ' SluicI in Auriferous Wash sluiced away per Hour. Eace from which the Water is supplied. ! Bemacks. Name of Party. i No. 3 channel— Light and party Rochford and party Brandt and party .. Neville and party .. No. 4 channel — Cullen and party Long Tunnel Co. No. 5 channel Burger and party .. Thomson and party Thorn and party Morgan and party .. Gifiney and party .. Private races — Pascoe and party .. Arnerich and party Stubbs and party .. 5 4 3 2 Inches. 6 8 5 5 Inches. I Heads. 22 10 22 10 22 10 22 10 I Cub. yds. 60 80 50 50 Kumara ,, Sluiced three months. Sluiced six weeks. Sluiced seven months. Sluiced six months. ,, 6 8 7 7 24 20 26 22 140 154 ,, Sluiced twelve months. Sluiced twelve months. Private 5 4 4 3 5 8 8 8 8 7 24 10 24 10 24 10 24 10 26 11 80 80 80 80 77 Kumara Sluiced eleven months. Sluiced twelve months. Sluiced nine months. Sluiced eleven months. Sluiced twelve months. ,, ,, ,, ,, 5 2 3 7 8 8 26 16 24 15 32 22 112 120 176 Private Sluiced eleven months. Sluiced five months. Sluiced three months.

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Mr. R. Mureay, Manager, Mount Ida and Blackstone Hill Water-races, Naseby, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Sir,— Naseby, 7th May, 1904. I have the honour to submit the following report on the Mount Ida and Blackstone Hill Waterraces for the year ending the 31st March, 1904: — Mount Ida Water-race. The total sales of water from the Mount Ida Race during the year amounted to £1,367 16s. lid., a falling-off of £153 19s. Bd. from that of last year. The expenditure on maintenance and repairs for the same period was £1,284 18s. 6d., a decrease of £120 11s. 4d. on that of last year. The total cash received was £1,362 os. 9d. On account of payment in advance, free water to the value of £80 15s. 10d. was supplied, and free water for washing up was also supplied to the value of £120 ss. 4d. The total value of water supplied from this race during the year amounted to £1,568 18s. Id. The average number of miners supplied with water was 44, a decrease of 7-16 on that of last year. The approximate quantity of gold obtained by parties using water from this race was 1,671 oz., valued at £6,434. The season on the whole has been a very dry one. On the 28th May it began to rain, ending in snow ; hard frost immediately setting in, the miners were compelled to knock off on the 6th June. A thaw set in on the 3rd July, and the water was turned on again on the 6th July ;on the evening of the 10th July it began to snow so heavily, that by 7 o'clock next morning there was fully 18 in. on the ground, and it continued all day till evening, when there was 2 ft. of snow on the streets of Naseby, 3 ft. at Hill's Creek, and 3 ft. 6 in. at St. Bathan's. Hard frost set in, when all mining ceased. The maintenance-men had great difficulty in getting away from their huts. The race being in rock for a considerable length from the reservoir outward towards the Wedderburn siphon, I made a start on the 18th August to widen it, as although it was snowing and freezing intermittently, it allowed of this being done. On the 24th August, I started with the cleaning-out of the race, reached the reservoir on the 3rd September, turned the water on from it, and the mines were at work on the 4th. While doing this, I had to side and roof-lath some of the sets in the east Eweburn tunnel. The weather continued so dry, with sharp frosts at night, that the work of cleaning the race was finished on the 19th October, as also the widening to the Idaburn. From the Idaburn inward to Coalpit Gully, a distance of eighteen miles, it has a width of 6 ft. in the bottom. By the middle of November, the supply in the race became so low, that in the reservoir supplementing it was reduced to 9 ft., when rain set in, raining daily for a week with slight falls of snow on the range. The reservoir being closed down, the water rose in it to a depth of 48 ft. Several thunderstorms broke on the two upper sections, filling the race in parts badly, necessitating assistance to the maintenance-men to clean it out. From this date (18th November) to the end of February the weather continued so exceptionally dry and hot, that the miners were on half-time during the latter half of February. Advantage was therefore taken to widen the race from Home Gully dam to Finger-post dam, and to put a larger gauge-box in the latter, and an extra pipe under the Naseby-Palmerston Road ; this had to be done to supply another elevating claim recently started in the vicinity. On the 29th February and the Ist March it rained so heavily, that it caused the heaviest floods along the line of the race from the Idaburn (23 miles) to the head since I took charge, filling in the race at the creek-crossing from the Idaburn to the head creek with rough angular mountain shingle, and causing three of the creeks to shift their course above the race. The men being on their respective sections when the rain began, were able to close down the gates in the race at the creek-crossings, and to open all the by-washes along it, thus saving further damage from being done, other than two small breaks. A large amount of stuff was brought down into the race on the east side of the West Eweburn steep sideling, but this being near home, I was able to get enough strength to clean it out in one day and to put the water on again. Labour in the district being scarce, men had to be obtained from St. Bathan's to assist in fixing up the creeks ; this work being now in progress. The number of days on which no water was supplied to the miners was —Winter, 55 ; Christmas, 1 ; New Year, 1 ; Good Friday, 1 ; also, on account of the water being short, the miners knocked off for the two days of Naseby races. This allowed the supplying-dams to get filled. The total stoppages amounted to sixty days as compared with forty-four last year ; the winter was a very long and severe one. Fourteen hydraulic elevating claims have been at work in the district during the year, ten being supplied by the Government race. Only three parties are now working in the Maori bottom, making small wages. The season has been a bad one (so far as water-supply is concerned) for the private waterrace owners. Blackstone Hill Water-race. The total sales of water from this race during the year amounted to £67 3s. 9d. The total cash received was £67 3s. 9d., an increase of £7 os. 6d. over that of last year. The total cost of maintenance and repairs was £4 Bs., caused principally in stopping leakage from rabbit-holes. Small sandbanks are accumulating in the race, which will have to be cleaned out in the spring ; this can be done at a small cost. Only two parties (the same number as last year) are using water from this race. It, like the Mount Ida Race, was short of water on account of the dry season. R. Johnstone being off for ten days, and C. Rose nine days. I have, &c, R. Murray, Manager. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

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REPORT OF GOVERNMENT GEOLOGIST. Mr. Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Mines Department, Wellington, 31st May, 1904. I have the honour to state that since the date of my last report, for the year 1902-3, I have been unable to prosecute geological examinations in the field, due to the continuance of the disability under which I labour. I have, however, fully employed my time during the yearly interval in preparing original matter, and supervising the printing of this, and the report of Professor Sollas, and in preparing photographic illustrations from rock-slices for the same. The photographs taken to illustrate the report above mentioned are 350 in number. These are of larger size than usually illustrate works of the kind, and are being reproduced 7 in. by 5 in., as fullpage illustrations for the work descriptive of the Rocks of Cape Colville Peninsula. This work, owing to the necessity of forwarding proofs to England and awaiting their return, cannot issue from the press for at least another year, a delay which, however regrettable, is unavoidable. During the present year a meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science was held at Dunedin, and at this a resolution was passed drawing attention to the fact that very large collections of fossils were stored in the Colonial Museum at Wellington, which, in the interests of science, it was most important should be examined and described to enable a right comprehension of the geological work which has already been carried out within these Islands. A committee being set up for the purpose, memorialised the Government on the matter of the resolution. The Government postponed consideration of the recommendation made till after the appointment of a Geologist in August or the months following. This led to a consideration of the condition of the fossils stored in the Museum, and on the appointment of Mr. Hamilton as Curator and Director, it seemed desirable that the stored fossils and rocks should be removed to other quarters. It has been stated that some five hundred boxes of fossils, many of which have yet to be opened for the first time, are stored in the cellars of the Museum. This misrepresents the case, as rocks and fossils taken together in measurement are not likely to greatly exceed 1,000 cubic feet. The stored rocks and fossils require to be overhauled, mainly owing to the fact that they have been packed away in boxes liable to be attacked by the weevil worm, which, as a matter of fact, has done much damage, and rendered many of the boxes insecure, and the pile formed of them unstable, necessitating an immediate repacking of the whole mass—some 250 boxes. Besides these, large collections are stored in the fossil-room, and some thirty thousand specimens are on show in the south wing and gallery of the Museum, all of which must be seen to, lest record of them be lost. That the stored duplicates be made readily accessible it is absolutely necessary that provision be made whereby each box is reachable without interfering with the others, so that exchange collections may be readily prepared, and the whole of any particular collection made available for study. I have already drawn your attention to the fact that a storage-shed is urgently required, fitted with racks in which each box, numbered, and contents known, may be placed conveniently and readily accessible when wanted. Such convenience, owing to want of space in the Museum is more than ever urgently needed, and the work of repacking and arranging, which, during the past month has been begun, absolutely necessitates the providing of storage such as above suggested, otherwise from sheer congestion of space the work must come to a standstill. In the meantime, boxes are being stored under the show-cases in the Museum, a proceeding, which to say the least of it, is most inadvisable, yet under present circumstances is unavoidable. As in future the Government Geologist's office is to be in the new building in Sydney Street, I would suggest that convenient thereto should be erected temporary or permanent storage for the Geological Survey collections that at present overcrowd the Colonial Museum, and are elsewhere stored in the laboratory building and fossil-room. I have, &c, Alex. McKay, Government Geologist. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. WATER-CONSERVATION. Mr. T. Perham, A.M.Inst.C.E., to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Mines Department, Wellington, 14th June, 1904. I have the honour to forward my report for the year ending the 31st December, 1903. North Island. An increased domestic water-supply for the Thames Borough being required, an examination of a proposed site for a new storage-reservoir was made about 50 chains above the present intake-weir the source of supply on the Waikiekie Stream—but on account of the sharp inclination of the bed of the stream, and want of space for a reservoir to impound any useful quantity of water, and also the scheme involving the expense of a high dam for the purpose, it was abandoned, and recommendations made for raising the weir into a dam, the material for building which to be excavated from the space to be occupied by the reservoir, and thus by creating a greater depth, increase the capacity of the conservation. In addition to the above, examinations were made with a view to ascertain the most suitable position for a storage-reservoir, drawing water from the Council's statutory supply from the Thames County

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Water-race of thirty gallons per head of population, provided by "|The Thames Water-supply Act, 1880." Several sites were examined, and one ultimately selected in what is known as the Borough Paddock. Contour-surveys have been made, and plans and report are now in course of preparation. This is the only work undertaken in connection with water-conservation by me for this Department. Reports, etc., for other Departments. Preceding the arrival of Mr. Hancock, electrical engineer from America, to report upon the generation of electricity by water-power from the various falls and rivers in the colony, I was directed by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to gauge and ascertain the volume and capability of the falls and rivers in both the Islands for Mr. Hancock's information and guidance during his personal inspection. The following rivers, falls, and rapids were reported on : Kawarau Falls, Waitaki, Opihi, Rangitata, Rakaia, and Waimakariri Rivers in the South Island, and Wairau, Huka, Taratiatia, Te Reinga, Waikaretaheke Falls, and rapids|at|Hinemapuhia below Waikaremoanajand Waiohine River in the North Island. I was assisted in this work by Messrs. J. Meenan, H. Dickson, A. Ross, and C. E. Armstrong, Assistant Engineers of the Public Works Department. A survey for a high-pressure domestic water-supply, sanitary improvements, drainage of flaxswamp land, and various other matters has also been carried out for the Tourist Department at Hanmer Springs and the Government Spa, Canterbury, and a report and numerous plans have been forwarded to the Public Works Department. I have, &c, T. Perham, A.M.Inst.C.E., Engineer, Water-conservation. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

MINE-MANAGERS' AND BATTERY-SUPERINTENDENTS' EXAMINATION PAPERS. Questions used in Examination of Mining Managers for Certificates. Subject A.— The Laying-out and Construction of Shafts, Chambers, Main Drives or Levels, Adits, Uprises, and Stopes. 1. State fully the names of mines in which you have been employed during the last five years, giving the dates and names of the managers of said mines, with the nature of such employment. 2. Describe fully how you would sink a shaft, (a) through quicksand, (b) through swelling rock, if you had an influx of 300 gallons of water per minute to contend with. 3. If you were sinking a shaft through hard rock and had to use a draw-pump 14 in. in diameter to keep down the water, describe fully how you would continue sinking to allow the work to be done advantageously. 4. If you were opening out a chamber from a shaft in swelling rock, describe fully how you would do the work. Also give the dimensions of such a chamber if there were thirty men employed on the level leading from such chamber. 5. If you were stoping out a lode 30 ft. wide with a bad roof, state fully how you would secure it to insure safety to the workmen employed. 6. What distance apart would you construct passes if the lode was 20 ft. wide ? Give your reasons fully, and state the dimensions of the passes. Subject B. — The Timbering of Shafts, Adits, Main Drives or Levels, Passes, Stopes, and generally the Systems of timbering Mines and filling up Old Workings. 1. Show by sketch how to timber a shaft used for pumping and winding if you had to use three lifts of pumps with a column 18 in. in diameter. State fully how the work is done at the change of lifts, and give the minimum dimensions of the pumping-compartment, also the dimensions of timber you would use in the shaft. 2. Describe how you would fit the timber for a main level for a double line of rails, (a.) Give a sketch of how you would place the timber in the level, (b.) Give the dimensions of legs and cap pieces, and also the width and height of the level inside the timber. 3. In constructing a rise on a lode lying on an inclination of 60° from the horizon when the hanging-wall was soft and formed the roof of the uprise, state how you would put in timber to keep the roof secure. 4. Show by sketch how you would fit the timber for a rectangular shaft (a) if planking were used, (b) if framed sets were used, and state what system you prefer, giving your reasons fully. 5. If you were timbering a main level where the width between the props at the top was 4 ft. 6 in., the cap pieces were 14 in. in diameter, and the legs 6 ft. high, show by calculation the diameter of the props required to be equal to the breaking-strain of cap. 6. Show by sketch how you would timber passes, and give your reasons fully. Subject C.— The Ventilation of Mines and Composition of Gases. 1. What is meant by " ventilation " in a mine, and state fully how it is accomplished? 2. What gases are likely to be found in quartz or alluvial mines, what are their specific gravities, how are they detected, and what effect have they on the workmen ?

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3. If a mine were ventilated from two shafts of equal depths and levels, the temperature in one was 60° Fahr. and in the other 80° Fahr., which shaft would be the upcast, and show by calculation the ventilating-pressure ? 4. If an airway 6 ft. by 6 ft., 500 ft. long, was passing 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute, and the air was split in three divisions, namely : — First airway, 5 ft. by 6 ft., 1,000 ft. long ; Second airway, 5 ft. by sft., 300 ft. long ; Third airway, 5 ft. by sft. 6in., 1,200 ft. long ; show by calculation the quantity of air passing through each division, allowing the pressure to be the same. 5. Describe fully, and also show by sketch, how you would ventilate an adit level if it were constructed for such a distance into a hill that the air became too impure for the workmen, if you could not use a fan. 6. In sinking a winze it was found that the air became foul to such an extent that the men could not burn a candle. The cause was a current of air passing through the level. The same current prevented the back of the level being stoped— i.e., over the said winze. What simple, inexpensive method, without compressed air, &c, would you adopt to work both places ? Subject D. — Tapping Water in Mines, and the Mode of constructing Dams in Underground Workings to keep the Water back. 1. Describe fully how you would construct a brickwork dam in a drive 6 ft. by 7 ft. in underground workings, when there was solid rock, to withstand a head of water 200 ft. high. Give the thickness of the brickwork and the pressure in pounds on the face of the dam. 2. If you were approaching old workings with a drive where the water was standing, say, 150 ft. above the level of the drive, what precautions would you adopt ? Give your reasons fully. 3. In sinking a shaft through solid rock a large influx of water was met with in a fissure 100 ft. below the surface, describe fully how you would dam back the water. 4. If you had to dam back water in an underground level the height of 5 ft., state fully the description of dam you would construct. Subject B. — Blasting, and the Use of Explosives. 1. In putting up a rise in compact homogeneous lock, show by SKetch the arrangement of boreholes you would put in the face for blasting, and describe by numbers the rotation in which you would fire them, giving your reasons fully. 2. If you were using dynamite in very frosty weather, what provisions would you make to thaw it if you found it frozen ? 3. At what temperature do nitro-glycerine explosives freeze, and what effect has severe cold on them as explosives ? 4. If you were using dynamite, describe how you would charge the borehole in the bottom of the shaft if the top of it was on a level with water in the shaft. 5. If you were using a pump in a shaft that you were sinking, what provision would you make before firing the boreholes to protect the pump ? Subject F. — A Knowledge of Arithmetic and the Method of keeping Mining Accounts. 1. Make up a pay-sheet in proper form for a fortnight's wages in connection with a mine, a day being reckoned as 8 hours, 9 men at Is. o£d. per hour, 46 men at per hour, 27 men at per hour, and 15 boys at 7-Jd. per hour. 2. The distance between two levels in a mine is 109 ft. vertical; the lode is lying on an inclination of lin If. The length of the lode exposed on levels is 301 ft.; the width of lode on the upper level is 8 ft. at the north end, at 40 ft. along it is 3 ft. 6 in., at 100 ft. it is 1 ft. 6 in., at 250 ft. it is 5 ft. 6 in., and at 301 ft. it is 4 ft. 10 in. On the lower level the width at north end is 10ft. 3 in., at 40ft. along it is 6 ft. 6in., at 100 ft. it is 7 ft. 4 in., at 250 ft. it is 8 ft. 6in., and at 301 ft. it is 6 ft. 7 in. wide. Show by calculation the number of tons the block contains, allowing 15 ft. cubic feet to the ton. 3. From 3,500 tons of quartz 2,769 oz. 9dwt. 14 gr. of bullion was obtained, containing gold and silver. The bullion was 04357 fine in gold. Taking the value of fine gold to be £4 4s. 3d. per ounce, and of silver 2s. per ounce, required the value of the gold and silver in the bullion. 4. A lode was shown by assay to contain 19 dwt. 11 gr. gold and 27 oz. 14dwt. 6gr. silver to the ton. After treatment at the reduction-works 94-4 per cent, of the gold and 477 per cent, of the silver was obtained. Bequired the value of the gold and silver recovered, taking the value of fine gold at £4 4s. 3d. and of silver at 2s. s£d. per ounce. Subject G.— A Knowledge of Part V. of " The Mining Act, 1898." Oral. Subject H.— Pumping Appliances and the Drainage of Mines. 1. Describe how you would place three lifts of pumps of 15 in. diameter in a shaft, and what arrangements are necessary at the change of lifts for balancing the rods, &c. Give full details of all the work required to fix the pumps permanently in position. 2. If you had to use plunger pumps of 15 in. diameter in a shaft to lift water from a depth of 900 ft., the travel of the plunger to be 200 ft. per minute, one-tenth to be allowed for windage,

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leakage, &c, required the number of gallons lifted per minute, and the dimensions of the cylinders of a direct-acting condensing steam-engine to do the work, allowing that the initial pressure of steam entering the high-pressure cylinder was 100 lb. per square inch, and that steam was cut off at half-stroke. 3. Describe fully the difference between an ordinary draw-lift pump and a Cameron pump ; also state the depth that the water can be lifted from below the pump, and the reason for same. 4. Being a watchman in a mine during Sunday, and finding the bucket in the drawing-lift lifting but little water through the failure of the bucket, and no man being available to change it, what remedy would you adopt to keep the lift raising the maximum quantity of water until the men arrived on Monday ? 5. If you had to lift 720,000 gallons of water from a depth of 400 ft. every twenty-four hours, required the diameter of the cylinder of a steam-engine to do the work, if geared 4 to 1 with initial pressure of 80 lb. of steam per square inch, to be cut off at f-stroke and piston-speed 400 ft. per minute. 6. Having completed a sump and wanting to fix a plunger lift before opening out levels, in the event of the water rising in the shaft above the plunger owing to the failure of the clack, what method would you adopt to replace the clack without moving the lift ? Subject I. — The Haulage in Shafts and on Underground Planes; also the Strength of Haulage Ropes and Chains. 1. If you had to haul 500 tons of ore, including weight of trucks, in 8 hours, in 10-ton loads, up an incline of 35° for a distance of 3,000 ft., and if 3 minutes was taken up in stoppages every load, required the horse-power necessary to do the work. 2. How do you ascertain the strength of a haulage-rope ? Show by calculation the breakingstrain and also safe working-load on (a.) a hemp rope 6 in. in circumference, (b) an improved ploughsteel rope 3 in. in circumference. 3. If 40 tons of ore per hour had to be lifted with two cages from a depth of 500 ft., and onethird of the time was occupied in taking trucks off and putting trucks on cage, required the diameter of cylinders of a double high-pressure direct-acting winding-engine to do the work, the initial pressure of steam being 120 lb. per square inch, to be cut off at five-eighths of the stroke, and the travel of the pistons 450 ft. per minute. 4. What provision would you make to prevent an accident taking place from overwinding or from the windmg-rope breaking ? Describe fully the appliance you would adopt. 5. If a winding-engine were placed on the opposite side of hill from the shaft, and the wind-ing-ropes had to pass through a tunnel in which there were two sharp bends, describe fully how you would lead the winding-rope, also how you would ascertain when the cages were landed on the brace. Subject J. — The Effect that Faults, Slides, and Mullock-bars have on Lodes, and how to ascertain the Direction of Slides and Heavals. 1. Give diagrams of faults and dislocations you have met with in New Zealand, and describe fully their effects on lodes, and how to overcome the difficulties met with. 2. The direction of a lode is north and underlying to the east, a break is met with running at an angle from the lode of 25° east which cuts off the lode: describe fully where you would expect to find the lode again. 3. What is meant by " mullock-bars " in lodes, and what are their effect? Subject K. — A Knowledge of Underground Surveying, and of making Plans of the Underground Workings, showing the Dip or Inclination and Strike of the Reefs or Lodes. 1. It is required to prove the accuracy of the underground traverse survey shown on the accompanying diagram. This the candidate will do by computing the co-ordinates of the stations, and then tabulating them (on form herewith) in the usual manner, treating station (1) as zero or origin. The total distances on the meridian and perpendicular of all the other stations are to be shown also with reference to station (1). (Maximum number of marks for question == 50.) [Note. —The distances are given in links.]

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2. Describe shortly (illustrated by diagrams) the most approved manner of ascertaining the dip or inclination and strike of reefs and lodes. (Maximum number of marks for question = 25.) 3. (a.) Describe for either the V pattern or transit theodolite your method of making the line of collimation of the telescope and the level attached to the latter parallel to each other. (Maximum number of marks for question = 12£.) (b.) Describe shortly the tests you would apply to your prismatic compass to prove its quality, and especially to determine the variation or declination of the needle compared with the local triangulation or standard bearing. (Maximum number of marks for question = 12J.) [Note. —The full 100 marks will be awarded for correct and satisfactory answers to the three foregoing questions, but the candidate has the option of substituting question No. 4 below for questions Nos. 3, (a), and 3, (b), above.] 4. How would you ascertain the exact area of the figure delineated in question No. 1 ? (The candidate is not required to undertake the computations, but must indicate clearly the method he recommends and give the formulae.) (Maximum number of marks for question = 25.) Subject. L. — A Knowledge of the Different Rocks, where Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, Zinc, Lead, and Antimony are found, and the Formation of Lodes and Leads. 1. Describe the rocks in New Zealand in which gold and silver, copper, antimony, zinc, lead, and tin are found, and the different forms in which these metals occur. State fully the character of the lodes in which they are found. Questions to be used in Examination of Battery-superintendents for Certificates. Subject A. — The Different Modes of reducing and pulverising Ores. 1. Give the name of the company or employer under which you have worked during the past two years, and the nature of the employment. 2. Describe fully the details of a Krupp and also of an Otis mill. Give your opinion as to the class of ore best suited for reduction in these mills respectively, and state your reasons for same. 3. Describe fully how you would construct a stamp-mill, and the different appliances you would use in connection with such mill to reduce and pulvervise the ore to render it suitable for amalgamation or for treatment by the cyanide process respectively. 4. Required the horse-power of a double-cylinder condensing-engine, also the diameters of the cylinders, having 100 lb. initial pressure of steam on high-pressure cylinder cut off at three-quarter stroke, the piston-spsed to be 450 ft. per minute, to work a stamp-battery of 60 stamps weighing 1,1001b., each making 90 drops per minute with an 8 in. drop. 5. Show by calculation the diameter of a nozzle required to work a pelton wheel under a head of 150 ft., to give sufficient power to work 20 heads of stamps I,ooolb. each with a 7 in. drop, making 96 drops per minute. Subject B. — Amalgamating-machines. 1. Describe fully the amalgamation appliances which you have used, and with the principles of working of which you are thoroughly acquainted. 2. Describe the difference between a Wheeler pan, a McKay pan, and a Watson-Denny pan. Give the speed at which each should be worked, the number of tons of pulverised ore each can treat in eight hours, and the horse-power required to work them. 3. Describe the difference between a Frue and Triumph vanner, also between a Luhrig and a Wilfley concentrator. Give the speed at which each should be worked, the length of stroke, and the horse-power required to work them. 4. State fully the use of concentrators, and the class of ore most suitable for concentration. 5. Explain the use of a settler, the reason it is required, and how it is worked. Subject C.— The Use of Quicksilver, and Methods of using it in connection with the Extraction of Gold and Silver from Ores. 1. What effect has an electric current on quicksilver"; and how would you apply it? Give your reasons fully. 2. How would you purify quicksilver that was sickened with antimony and lead ? Describe fully. 3. Explain step by step how you would coat copper plates with quicksilver, how you would remove the amalgam, and how you would keep the plates always in good condition. 4. After removing the amalgam from plates or from amalgamating-machines, how do you separate the quicksilver from the bullion ? 5. Give your experience in using quicksilver for amalgamating gold or silver, and how you have applied it. Subject D. — Cyanide, Chlorination , and other Chemical Processes of recovering Gold aud Silver from Ores. 1. Describe fully how you would treat slimes with a cyanide-solution, and how you would extract the solution from the slimes. 2. Show by sketch an agitator, and describe fully its use and how you would remove the pulp from it,

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3. Show by sketch a filter-press; describe fully how it is used, how it is filled, and the time occupied in treating the charge. 4. How do you ascertain the strength of a cyanide-solution for the ore you have to treat ? 5. Give the composition of KCN and its atomic weight. 6. Describe fully the remedies you would apply if any workman showed signs of cyanide poisoning. 7. Show by calculation how many tons of a 10-per-cent. solution of KCN would be required to make up 20 tons of a sump solution containing 001 per cent, of KCN to 0-2 per cent, solution. 8. How many tons of 0-25 per cent, solution of KCN would 3-2 tons of "8 per cent, solution make, using a sump solution of 0-09 per cent. K'ylSl? 9. Describe fully, step by step, how the ore is treated with cyanide-solution in vats, how the solutions are extracted, and the number of washes given after the first solution has been drawn off. 10. A vat is 25 ft. in diameter and 7 ft. in depth : if it was filled with ore to within 1 ft. 4 in. of the top, how many tons of ore would it contain, allowing 23 cubic feet to the ton ? 11. Describe fully zinc extractors, how the bullion is extracted from the solution, and how the zinc extractors are cleaned up. 12. Describe fully all appliances required in a complete cyanide plant to treat 50 tons of ore and 20 tons of slimes per day. Subject E.— Sampling and Testing of Ores 1. Carefully describe the various methods with which you are acquainted of sampling ores. 2. In a sample of concentrates containing sulphides of iron, copper, zinc, lead, and antimony what tests would you use to demonstrate the presence of the various metals, and how would you estimate the percentage of each ? 3. How would you detect manganese and chromium (a) when occurring together, (6) when found singly in a rock ? Subject P. — A Knowledge of Arithmetic and the Method of keeping Battery Accounts. 1. If 7 men and 4 boys did a certain piece of work in 30 hours, how long would it take 13 men and 2 boys to do the same work, allowing a man to do If as much work as a boy ? 2. Give the value of 20,000 oz. 9dwt. of bullion containing gold and silver. On assay it contained gold 02416 fine, taking gold at £4 4s. 3d. per ounce and silver at 2s. sd. per ounce. 3. If you had £414 given you to pay 40 men employed at reduction-work—namely, 20 men in battery, 12 in cyanide-works, 3 at water-race, and 4 in assay office—and if each of the men in the battery got £ of the wages of each man in the cyanide-works, and each of the men in the cyanide-works got -J- of the wages of each man in the assay office, and each of the men on the water-race got -f of the wages of each man in the cyanide-works, how much did each man receive ? 4. A pole 100 ft. high is standing in a vertical position, the top of it breaks and touches the ground in a truly horizontal direction, without being completely severed at the break, at 40 ft. from the base : show by calculation the length of the two pieces. 5. Eaise 004537 to the sth power, and extract the cube-root of that number. Subject G.—A Knowledge of Part V. of " The Mining Act, 1898." Oral.

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LIST OF MINB-MANAGEES AND BATTEEY-SUPERINTENDENTS WHO HAVE OBTAINED CERTIFICATES UNDER THE MINING ACTS. THE MINING ACT. First-class Sebvioe Certificates. Issued under " The Mining Act, 1886," without Examination. Adams, H. H., Waiorongomai. Greenish, J., Reefton. Nasmyth, T., Reefton. 'Anderson, P., Thames. 'Greenville, W., Ohinemuri. Newman, W., Naseby. •Andrews, R., Cororaandel. *Hall, J. P. Northey, J., Thames. Andrews, T., Thames. 'Hansen, P. C, Thames. *O'Sullivan, D. E., Thames. Barclay, T. H., Thames. Harris, J., Owen's Reefs. Polton, A., Karangahake. Bennett, J., Alexandra. Harrison, R. H., Coromandel. Porter, J., Waipori. Benney, J., Coromandel. 'Hicks, T. 8., Thames. Purvis, G., Ross. Black, T., Waiomo. Hilton, G. P., Bendigo. Quinn, E., Te Aroha. Bollersley, N., Boatman's. Hodge, F., Coromandel. Radford, T., Thames. Bradbury, M., Reefton. Hollis, W., Thames. Ralph, J. G., Thames. Bray, John, Lyell. Hunter, R., Thames. Ranger, J., Reefton. Burch, W. H., Thames. James, F., Thames. Rasmussen, C. L., Mokihinui. Byrne, J. F., Stafford. Jamieson, A., Coromandel. Rasmussen, C. P., Mokihinui. Cameron, A., Macetown. Jenkins, M., Wakatipu. Reid, P., Coromandel. 'Cameron, E., Te Aroha. Johnstone, H., Bluespur. Resta, L., Macetown. Chapman, J. A., Dunedin. Julian, J., Boatman's. Roberts, E., Ross. Clarke, G. S., Thames. Kelly, J., Lyell. Rooney, F., Reefton. •Comer, R., Thames. Kerr, J., Thames. Scott, T., Waiorongomai. Conradson, M., Lyell. Lawn, E., Black's Point. Searight, A., Reefton. 'Corin, W., Thames. 'Lawn, H., Boatman's. 'Senior, J., Thames. Comes, C. A., Karangahake. Lawn, J., Reefton. Smith, J. E., Thames. Coutts, J., Thames. 'Littlejohn, W., Karangahake. Stone, F., Karangahake. Crawford, T. H., Thames. Lowe, E. W., Thames. Steedman, J. 8., Thames. Crowley, 0., Reefton. Malfroy, J. M. C, Ross. Sturm, A., Waipori. Cummings, W., Reefton. Martin, W. G., Thamee. Taylor N., Thames. Davis, J. E., Queenstown. McCallum, J., Reefton. Todd, C, Heriot. •Davey, C.Ross. McCulloiigh, R., Thames. Treloer, J. S., Reefton. •Donald, J., Cromwell. McGruer, G. N., Karangahake. Tripp, R. S., Arrowtown. Dryden, S., Thames. 'Mcllhaney, J., Thames. Vivian, J. G., Thames. Dunlop, T. A., Thames. Mclntosh, D., Bluespur. Vivian, S., Reefton. Edwards, J., Skipper's. McKay, J., Ross. 'Waite, C. D., Thames. Elliott, J., Macetown. McKenney, J., Reefton. 'Waite, E., Thames. •Evans, F., Skipper's. McKenzie, W., Thames. Walker, J. W., Thames. Evans, J. H., Skipper's. 'McLeod, G., Coromandel. Watson, T., Reefton. ♦Fitzmaurice, R., Reefton. McLiver, F., Thames. Wearne, J. E., Endeavour Inlet. Frewen, J. 8., Queenstown. 'McLiver, H., Thames. Wearne, T., Endeavour Inlet. Gavin, T., Te Aroha. McMaster, J., Reefton. 'Wilcox, J., Thames. Gilbert, J., Reefton. Moore, H. W., Thames. Williams, J., Skipper's. Gilmour, T., Thames. 'Moore, J. H., Thames. Wright, G., Boatman's. Giles, G. F., West Wanganui. Morgan, R., Otago. Wylie, W., Ross. Glass, W. M., Naseby. Morrisby, A. A., Glenorchy. Young, G., Skipper's. Goldsworthy, J., Waiorongomai. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued after Examination, under " The Mining Act, 1886," and Amendment Acts. Adams, 8., Thames. Crawford, J. J., Thames. Hosking, G. F., Auckland. Baker, W., Thames. Cummings, W., Reefton. Kruizenza, W., Reefton. Black, G., Reefton. Donaldson, W., Otago. Lawn, T., Reefton. Caples, P. Q., Reefton. Fleming, M., Thames. Logan, H. F., Wellington. 'Carter, J., Thames. Gardner, W. P., Reefton. Mangan, T., Thames. Casley, G., Reefton. Harris, W., Thames. Mouat, W. G., Dunedin. Cochrane, D. L., Reefton. Horn, G. W., Thames. Truscott, G., Thames. ♦Colebrook, J. D., Coromandel. Home, W., Coromandel. Watkins, W. E., Reefton. Coombe, J., Reefton. Hornick, M., Thames. Wilkie, J., Reefton. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued on Production of Certificate from a Recognised Authority outside the Colony, under " The Mining Act, 1886," " The Mining Act, 1891," and " The Mining Act, 1898." Argall, W. H., Coromandel. Griffiths, H. P., Auckland. Molineaux, H. S., Gore. Beckwith, L. H., Wellington. Hailey, R. C, Dunedin. Rich, F. A., Auckland. Datson, J., Manaia. McKenna, Thomas, Dunedin. Williams, W. H., Auckland. Griffiths, A. P., Auckland. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued after Examination, under " The Mining Act, 1891." Agnew, J. A., Thames. James, T., Thames. Prince, F. H., Reefton. Annear, William, Reefton. Keam, P. E., Thames. Robertson, D. 8., Stafford. Bennett, E. P., Thames. Lane, J., Reefton. Ross, Richard, Thames. Boydell, H. C, Coromandel. Lawn, C. H., Capleston. Russell, Murray, Dunedin. Bradley, R. J. H., Te Puke. Linck, F. W., Thames. Shepherd, H. F., Thames. Bray, E., Thames. Marshall, F., Reefton. Stanford, W. J., Macetown. •Bruce, Malcolm, Thames. Morrison, R., Thames. Steedman, J. G., Thames. Carroll, J., Lyell. McDermott, J., Thames. Sutherland, Benjamin, Reefton Cartwright, E., Thames. McDermott, G., Thames. Tierney, R., Thames. Crabb, J., Reefton. McDermott, W., Thames. Vialoux, F., Coromandel. Dobson, J. A., Auckland. McGregor, W. T., Thames. Warne, George, Thames. Evans, H. A., Wellington. McKenzie, H. J., Coromandel. Waters, D. 8., Skipper's. Fahey, P., Reefton. McPeake, J., Thames. Watt, J., Thames. Flannigan, Francis, Reefton. O'Keeffe, M. D., Thames. White, G. H., Thames. Gilmour, J. L., Thames. Paul, Matthew, Thames. Whitley, A., Thames. Hodge, J. H., Thames. Paltridge, Henry, Thames. Williams, C, Capleston. Hughes, D., Thames.

* Deceased uiuce issue ol certificate,

20—C. 3.

0.—3

138

First-class Service Certificates as Mine-managers— continued. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued after Examination, under " The Mining Act, 1898.' Arsoott, R., Waihi. Evered, N. J., Waihi. Morrison, William, Waihi. Allen, Henry, Waihi. Fry, S., Waimangaroa. Moye, Michael, Reefton. Barker, 8., Thames. George, M. T., Waihi. O'Sullivan, J. W., Thames. Bennie, Boyd, Waihi. Grayden, P., Thames. Rabe, John, Thames. Blenkhorn, 0., Coromandel. Goldsworthy, C, Karangahake. Stewart, F., Waihi. Bolitho, Joseph, Reefton. Hooker, John, Coromandel. Thomson, Thomas, Waihi. Bower, J. W., Coromandel. Hitchcock, W. E., Barewood. Tucker, E. S., Coromindel. Buddie, Frank, Coromandel. Irwin, Samuel, Waihi. Turnbull, B. V., Coromandel. Bull, C. W., Waihi. Jackson, G. T., Waihi. Turner, C. E., Murohison. Carroll, A. M., Reefton. Johnson, J. H., Coromandel. Watson, J. L., Thames. Carter, R. P., Waihi. Langford, G. S., Waihi. Webber, J. H. A., Reefton. Clouston, R. 8., Kaitangata. Lawn, Nicholas, Reefton. Weir, Thomas, Waihi. Cooper, J. H., Thames. McConachie, W., jua., Waihi. Whyte, N. McG. H., Waihi. Cooper, Tbornhill, Waihi. MacDufi, R. B, Thames. Williams, 0., Thames. Cordes, F. M., Karangahake. MacLaren, J. A. J., Coromandel. Wilson, Allao, Thames. Docherty, W. H., Coromandel. McMahon, J. H., Reefton. Wood, P. H., Reefton. Ellery, John, Reefton. MoMahon, T., Reefton. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued under Section 313 of " The Mining Act, 1891." Edwards, George, Westport. Rickard, John, Thames. Trelease, J. H., Thames. Hornibrooke, H. P., Coromandel. Snow, Thomas, Huntly. Williams, John, Kuaotunu. Martin, James, Reefton. Thomas, James, Thames. White, John S., Karangahake. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates of Competency granted to Holders of Provisional Warrants under Sec tion 32 of " The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896." Alexander, Thomas, Deep Creek. Harvey, A. G., Coromandel. Moorecraft, Walter, Coromandel. Argall, A. E., Coromandel. Howard, Samuel, Karangahake. Morgan, William, Owharoa. Battens, H., Corornandel. James, Robert, Thames. Moyle, Thomas, Thames. •Begley, Thomas, Reefton. Jamieson, John, Reefton. Patton, William, Macetown. Bennett, Charles Henry, Kuaotunu. Johns, Thomas, Waihi. Pearce, Francis, Reefton. Bunney, Joseph, Waihi. Kennerley, W. H., Thames. Potter, William H., Thames. Campbell, Alexander, Cullensville. Langford, James, Coromandel. *Rabe, Henry, Karaka. Carlyon, Samuel, Coromandel. McCombie, John, Karangahake. Rillstone, Charles, Waipori. Corrles, C. A., jun., Karangahake. Mac Donald, H., Coromandel. Somervell, John, Thames. Daldy, Edward Arthur, Coromandel. McEnteer, James, Tararu. Stackpole, Robert, jun., Karangahake. Draffin, Samuel, Waitekauri. McFarlane, Charles M., Tokatea. Thomas, Archelaus, Tapu, Thames. Farmer, C. S., Waitekauri. McLean, Benjamin J., Waitekauri. Turnbull, Thomas A., Whangamata. Goldsworthy, Thomas, Tokatea. McLean, Charles, Thames. 'Willets, Henry, Thames. Goldsworthy, William, Karangahake. McLean, James, Tararu, Thames. *Wilson, James R. S., Kuaotunu. Govan, Joseph, Thames. Meehan, James, Westport. First-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued to Inspectors of Mines, by virtue of Office under the Mining Acts, 1886, 1891, and 1898. Binns, G. J., Dunedin. *Gow, J., Dunedin. McLaren, J. M., Thames. Cochrane, N. D., Westport. Green, E. R., Dunedin. Tennent, R., Westport. Gordon, H. A., Wellington. Hayes, J., Dunedin. Wilson, G., Thames. Second-class Service Certificates as Mine-managers. Issued under " The Mining Act, 1891." Adams, W. J., Thames. Gemmings, Charles, Thames. Moorecroft, Thomas, Thames. Agnew, J. A., Coromandel. Gribble, James, Norsewood. Milne, John, Thames. Allen, Richard, Reefton. Guthrie, John, Wellington. Moyle, Thomas, Thames. Argall, A. E., Coromandel. Guy, Robert, Kuaotunu. Naysmith, James, Reefton. Bennett, C. H., Coromandel. Harvey, William, Reefton. Newdick, Alfred, Thames. Begley, Thomas, Reefton. Hardman, James Edward, Thames. Notman, Alexander, Reefton. Beard, W. T., Reefton. 'Harris, R., Thames. O'Keefe, M. W. D., Thames. Bone, William, Reefton. Hetherington, William, Thames. Page, John, Lyell. Bowler, John, Thames. Hicks, W., Thames. Parkiss, Jos. W., Reefton. Blair, Thomas, Kuaotunu. Hill, Alex. Grey, Waikakaho. Potts, W. H., Thames. Bray, Edwin, Reefton. Hore, John, Wellington. Primrose, J., Kuaotunu. Brownlee, Thomas James, Thames. Hollis, Fred. J., Waihi. Pettigrew, Robert, Sydney. Brokenshire, James, Thames. Hornibrook, H. P., Kuaotunu. Peebles, Alexander, Kuaotunu. Bolitho, James, Reefton. Jamieson, John, Reefton. Phillips, W. H., Thames. Brown, John, Macrae's. Johnstone, William, Collingwood. 'Pollock, John, Thames. Bremner, John, Coromandel. Jobe, James, Thames. Rabe, Henry, Thames. Borlase, J. H., Capleston. Johns, Thomas, Thames. Reid, Thomas Groat, Thames. ■ Bunny, Joseph, Thames. Kendall, Henry, Thames. Rickard, John, Thames. Byrne, John, Karangahake. Kerr, George, Kamo. Richards, A. H., Kuaotunu. Caird, Alexander McNeil, Reefton. Kirker, Thomas, Thames. Radford, Thomas, Thames. Campbell, J., Kuaotunu. Laughlin, David, Thames. Rogers, Charles Henry, Reefton. Climo, Noah, Coromandel. Law, John, Thames. Rogers, William Henry, Kumara. Comer, George, Thames. 'Lough, H., Thames. Ross, J., Thames. •Cowan, Hugh, Kuaotunu. Loughlin, S., Thames. 'Rowe, James, Thames. Corbett, T., Paeroa. McLean, James, Thames. Shaw, James, Karangahake. Comer, W. W., Thames. McLean, Alex., Coromandel. Sligo, Alex., Nenthorn. Crabb, Thomas, Reefton. McLean, Charles, Thames. Thomas, James, Thames. Daniel, P. F., Greymouth. 'McCormick, Charles, Coromandel. Thomas, A., Thames. Dobson, John Allen, Kuaotunu. McQuillan, John, Reefton. Thomson, John, Dunedin. Edwards, George, Westport. McNeill, Daniel, Thames. Tregellas, James, Reefton. Ellery, John, Reefton. McNeill, George, Upper Kuaotunu. Tregoweth, William, Thames. Flannigan, Francis, Reefton. McCombie, John, Karangahake. Wells, Charles Lewis, Thames. Foster, Thomas, Wellington. McEwen, James, Reefton. Willets, Henry, Thames. •Gale, C. W., Coromandel. McLoghry, Archibald, Karangahake. Williams, James, Thames. Gill, George, Thames. Mackay, William, Nenthorn. Williams, John, Thames. Glasgow, T. M., Thames. Martin, James, Reefton. Whisker, Charles, Thames. Goldsworthy, Henry, Thames. Meagher, John, Karangahake. White, John S., Karangahake. Govan, Joseph, Thames. 'Mills, George, Thames. Wilson, James R. S., Kuaotunu. Griffin, Patrick, Thames. Mayn, John, Coromandel. 'Wilson, J. G., Thames. Grimmond, Joseph, Ross. Martin, David, Black's Point. Woodcock, James, Thames. Goldsworthy, William, Mauku, Auok- Morgan, William, Upper Thames. Worth, Robert, Waihi. land.

* Deceased since issue of certificate

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139

Second-class Service Certificates as Mine-managers— continued. Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued after Examination, under " The Mining Act, 1891." Benney, J., jun., Paeroa. Evans, H. A., Skipper's. McNeil, A. H., Coromandel. Christie, William, Waitekauri. Gatland, V. V., Coromandel. White, P. H., Kuaotunu. DraflSn, S., Waitekauri. Mathewson, A., Hyde. White, G. H., Thames. Dunkin, T., Coromaudel. Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued after Examination, under "The Mining Act, 1898." Bennie, Boyd, Coromandel. *Cahill, T. M., Upper Kuaotunu. Carroll, John, Upper Kuaotunu. Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates, issued under Section 313 of " The Mining Act, 1891." Connon, William, Thames. Edwards, E., Coromandel. McCormiok, W. J., Waitekauri. Coran, Henry, Thames. Kelso, Archibald, Coromandel. Second-class Mine-managers' Certificates of Competency granted to Holders of Provisional Warrants under Section 32 of " The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1896." Allen, W. J., Coromandel. Gardner, James, Waimangaroa. Martin, William, Tararu, Thames. Barney, Montague T., Waitekauri. Howe, Albion S., Waitekauri. Murphy, Joseph, Coromandel. Brownlee, Henry, Thames. Johnson, Frank H., Collingwood. O'Brien, John, Westport. Collins, Charles, Waitekauri. Kirwan, William, Reefton. Prescott, Arthur J., Coromandel. Curtis, Charles, Taylorville. McDonald, John, Tairua. Radford, Samuel, Waihi. Davis, James, Coromandel. Molnnes, John, Puriri. Ruffin, Richard, Manaia, Coromandel. Battery-superintendents' Certificates. Issued under " The Mining Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1894," without undergoing Examination. Adams, H. H., Waihi. Hope, John S., Waitekauri. Napier, James, Karangahake. Aitken, R. M., Reefton. Hutchison, William, Karangahake. Noble, James R., Karangahake. Banks, Edwin Gripper, Waihi. Margetts, Frederick Ernest, Kuao- Park, James, Thames. Barry, Hubert Percy, Waihi. tunu. Shepherd, Henry Franklin, Waihi. Goldsworthy, Henry, Kuaotunu. MoKenna, T. N., Tararu. Sims, C. F., Tararu. Goldsworthy, John, Kuaotunu. McLellan, William, Waitekuri. Walker, James A., Kuaotunu. Greenway, H. Howard, Auckland. Mellett, Richard Sheridan, Waite- Wilson, Arthur E., Waihi. Heard, G. St. Clair, Waihi. kauri. Wilson, James Kitchener, Auckland. Battery-superintendents' Certificates, issued after Examination, under " The Mining Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1894." Adams, A. A., Thames. Doveton, G. D., Thames. McMicken, S. D., Thames. Alien, F. 8., Thames. Fleming, G. C. S., Thames. Morgan, P. G., Thames. Allom, H. 0., Thames. Fuller, J. P., Kuaotunu. Morrin, W. S., Thames. Ansley, Comyn, Paeroa. Gray, J. W., Waihi. Noakes, H. L., Waihi. Ansley, Walter, Thames. Hayward, F. W., Komata. Raithby, R. W., Reefton. Banks, J. H., Waihi. Horn, G. W., Kuaotunu. Robinson, J. R., Waitekauri. Bowers, W., Thames. Jackson, J. H., Paeroa. Stafford, B. H., Waihi. Brown, A. E., Thames. Jones, Achison, Waihi. Taylor, C. H., Tararu. •Carter, Samuel, Thames. Kidd, F. D., Thames. Thorpe, A. H., Thames. Clarke, J. L., Thames. Laurie, D. 8., Karangahake. Vercoe, R. 8., Thames. Clarke, R., Waitekauri. Lee, J. W., Reefton. Wingate, H. M., Maratoto. Clarke, W. J., Waihi. Macdonald, W., Waihi. Winslow, G., Thames. Day, A. T., Thames. MeKenzie, H. J., Thames. Williams, A. G. R., Thames. Dixon, Clement, Waihi. Battery-superintendents' Certificates, issued after Examination, under " The Mining Act, 1898." Adams, J. H., Thames. Croucher, Herbert, Waihi. Mackay, John, Cruehington. Airey, Hubert, Karangahake. Dawson, 8., Ellerslie. Maltman, A., Reefton. Allen, D. V., Thames. Donnelly, Thomas, Waihi. McEwin, J. A., Reefton. Allen, H. E., Wellington. Draffia, Eugene, Kuaotunu. Montgomery, A. E., Opitonui. Auld, J. 8., Crushington. Ellis, L. L., Waitekauri. Motherwell, Win., Waihi. Baker, W. H., Thames. Empson, J. 8., Karangahake. Moyle, W. T., Upper Tairua. Banks, E. J., Thames. Evans, J., Waihi. Orbell, G. S., Waikouaiti. Barrett, J. J., Karangahake. Evans, W. 8., Reefton. Pond, H. 0., Auckland. Barron, Wm. E., Waikinj. Ewen, H. F., Auckland. Quick, J. N., Thames. Baskett, E. G., Karangahake. Fletcher, H. T., Katikati. Reid, J. E., Great Barrier. Bidlake, A. E., Waiomo. Fraser, J. M., Reefton. Reynolds, E. A., Auckland. Bishop, T. 0., Reefton. Fuller, John P., Kuaotunu. Roberts, H. C, Waihi. Blackadder, Wm., Crushington. Gardner, E. A., Reefton. Rodden, Wm., Lyell. Bradley, R. J. H., Karangahake. Gow, E. A., Crushington. Rosewarne, R. H., Thames. Browne, E., Waitekauri. Grayden, J , Waitekauri. Royse, W. G., Reefton. Burns, William, Waiomo. Grayden, Peter, Thames. Sanford, A. G., Waihi. Bush, E. F., Parawai. Grumitt, P. H., Thames. Stephens, H., Dunedin. Bush, H. R., Thames. Gwilliam, Ben., Karangahake. Thomson, G. W., Bendigo. Brown, F. M., Karangahake. Hargraves, E. P., Waihi. Thurlow, J. R., Coromandel. Brown, J. E., Komata. Hay, Adam, Karangahake. Tomlinson, A., Karangahake. Campbell, Colin, Thames. Hazard, T. R. C, Waitekauri. Tomlinson, W. F., Dunedin. Carpenter, W. E., Karangahake. Hitchcock, W. E., Barewood. Turnbull, E. V., Waihi. Career, S., Waihi. Hogg, 8., Karangabake. Ulrich, G. A. C, Komata. Carroll, John, Kuaotunu. Horn, G. W., Kuaotunu. Ulrich, Herstall, Wbangapoua. Chappell, G. A., Karangahake. Jones, R. D., Karangahake. Watson, A. 8., Waitekauri. Clark, John L., Waihi. Kidd, R. 8., Waitekauri. Watson, A. P., Crushington. Coote, J. M., Thames. Kingsford, A., Karangahake. Watson, J. R., Reefton. Corbett, G. L., Waitekauri. Launder, G. H., Waitekauri. White, A. S. H., Karangahake. Couper, J., Thames. Lawless, L. J., Paeroa. Wilson, A. P., Crushington. Cowles, R. X., Crushington. Lovelock, J. E., Crushington. Williams, A. C. Waihi. Crompton, H., Maratoto.

* Deceased since issue of certificate.

C.—3

140

Dredgemasters' Certificates, without examination, issued under " The Mining Act, 1898," and Amendment Acts 1901 and 1902. Allen, Chas., Alexandra S. Hewitt, James, Clyde. O'Leary, D., Waiau. Anderson, L. C, Alexandra 8. Hogg, Thos., Cromwell. Olsen, Chas., Roxburgh. Andrews, Balph, Canvastown. Hoskins, Thos., Maori Point. Parsons, J. D., jun., Clyde. Baker, J. R., Alexandra S. Hoy, Samuel, Alexandra 3. Percy, John, Clyde. Ballantyne, D., Miller's Flat. Inwood, W. J., Rooklands Beaoh. Perkins, A. 0., Dunedin. Barnes, T. J., Beaumont. Johnston, E. A., Alexandra S. Pettigrew, Geo., Nelson Creek. Barry, Thos., Clyde. Johnstone, Alexander, Cromwell. Poulter, G. W., Alexandra S. Bradley, Neil, Alexandra S. Keen, Thos., Clyde. Pringle, John, Miller's Flat. Bennett, Geo., Gore. Kennedy, Angus, Alexandra S. Ray, J. C, TotaraFlat. Bennett, James, Kumara. Kitto, Ed. T;, Miller's Flat. Reeder, Philip, Bald Hill Flat. Blue, G. P., Alexandra. Kitto, Francis, Lowburn. Rennie, Andrew, Roxburgh. Brand, Peter, Waikaka. Kitto, Jno. F., Miller's Flat. Ross, Alexander, Cromwell. Bremen, Philip, Palmerston S. Kitto, W. H., Cromwell. Ross, Robert, Alexandra S. Bremner, A. P., Lower Shotover. Kloogh, N. P., Lowburn Ferry. Richmond, J., Gibbston. Brice, Wm. H., Cromwell. Lawson, Ed., Dunedin. Ritohie, J. S., Waitiri. Bringans, D., Alexandra S. Ledingham, J., Bannockburn. Sanders, H. P., Clyde. Brown, T. G., Ahaura. Lee, George, Collingwood. Sanders, John, Cromwell. Bunting, James, Murchison. Lidicoat, R. H., Fern Flat. Sanders, Thos., Alexandra. Busbridge, P., Gore. Louden, Alexander, Clyde. Schaumann, H., Alexandra S. Butler, Ewen, Roxburgh. Luke, S. J., Alexandra S. Scott, M. G., Alexandra S. Butler, M. J., Kanieri. Magnus, A., Roxburgh. Scott, Robert, Capleston. Cameron, Saml., Alexandra S. Magnus, Olaf, Box 130 a, Ghristchurch. Shore, T. M., Queenstown. Clarke, Ed., Port Chalmers. Mailer, John, Stillwater. Shore, Wm., Gore. Compton, Albert, Dobson. Maitland, A. E., Miller's Flat. Simonsen, Chas., Alexandra S. Cormack, W., Greymouth. Maxwell, John, Dunedirj. Skilton, A. G., Old Diggings. Cowan, James, Nelson Creek. McClure, F. C, Rongahere. Sligo, N. X., Ahaura. Cornish, J. T., Miller's Flat. MoConnell, J., Cromwell. Smoaton, S. H., Inangahua Junction. Coutts, Henry, Miller's Flat. McCormack, D., Kanieri. Smiih, Alfred, Inangahua Junction. Cowan, Alexander, Stillwater. McDonald, E. A., Waitiri. Steel, Archibald, Kawarau Gorge. Crookston, W. L., Three-channel Flat. McDonald, J., Sofala. Steel, Thos., Dunedin. Crowley, J. 8., Edendals. McDonald, Jno., Cromwell. Templeton, Ivie, Rongahere. Cumming, J. C., Beaumont. McGeorge, J., Dunedin. Thompson, J., Alexandra S. Cunningham, Geo., Kanieri. McGeorge, Alexander, Dunedin. Thompson, T., Miller's Flat. Curtis, Chas., Stillwater. McGregor, D., Kanieri. Toohey, J. M., Alexandra S. Cutten, W. H., Dunedin. McGregor, G. R., Alexandra S. Tough, John, Miller's Flat. Deniston, R. A., Cromwell. Mclntosh, D. J., Lowburn Ferry. Troy, G. C, Cromwell. Dewar, John, Alexandra S. McLay, Geo. Cromwell. Turnbull, W. D., Canvastown. Donaldson, J. G. A., Greenstone. McLean, D., Waitiri. Tyson, John, Rongahere. Edmonds, A. R., Nelson Creek. MoMath, D. C, Ross. Yon Haast, J. H., Clyde. Faithful, Wm., Greymouth. McMath, Thos., Alexandra S. Wallace, John A., Miller's Flat. Gibb, Wm., Croydon Siding. McVicar, Peter, Roxburgh. Watt, John, Cromwell. Gibson, A., Island Block. Mills, Ed., Murohison. Weaver, Chas., Alexandra S. Goodger, G. W.. Waenga. Mitchell, D. A., Dunedin. Williamson, R., Millar's Flat. Graham, J. M., Gore. Morel, C. G., Inangahua Junction. Williamson, Walter, Miller's Flat. Grogan, Wm. A., Miller's Flat. Morris, G. S., Cromwell. Wilson, S. W., Waikaka Valley. Hansen, Wm., Alexandra S. Murray, D., Clyde. Wood, R. M., Cromwell. Hay, James, Dunedin. Murray, Madget, Cromwell. Woodhouse, W. S., Roxburgh. Hedley, A., Cromwell. Neilson, S., Miller's Flat. Young, Andrew, jun., Roxburgh. Herbert, J., Beaumont. Nicholson, W. E., Alexandra S. Dredgemasters Certificates, after examination, issued under " The Mining Act, 1898," and Amendment Acts, 1901 and 1902. Baird, William G., Clyde. Hughes, John L., Miller's Flat. Orr, William W., Cromwell. Bardsley, John James, Cromwell. Johnston, John, Maori Gully. Poppelwell, William, Alexandra. Bortbwick, Robert, Alexandra. Johnston, Louis, Beaumont. Rait, Hume, Albertown. Burke, John, Clyde. Junker, Frank J., Berlin's. Ray, J. F., Bannockburn. Briggans, Thomas, Alexandra. Kane, William, Clyde. Reiderer, Kdward, Cromwell. Briggans, William, Alexandra. Kane, William, Cromwell. Rooney, J. 8., Roxburgh. Clark, D., Callaghan's Creek. Kitto, John, Clyde. Rumble, Chas., Ngahere. Coup, George, Albertown. Linney, William, Island Block. Rumble, Joseph, Miller's Flat. Curno, C. 8., Alexandra. Matthews, A. A., Three-channel Flat. Sanders, W. J., Ahaura. Donaldson, John, Lawrence. McDonald, C. J., Waitere. Sawle, J., Cromwell. Eaton, Edgar W., Alexandra. McDonald, G., Alexandra. Taylor, J. T., Dunedin. Elder, D. D., Roxburgh. McGregor, Dougald S., Alexandra. Wathen, James, Miller's Flat. French, T. E. X., Three-channel Flat. McLean, John. Roxburgh. Watson, E. H., Collingwood. Gibson, William H., Cromwell. Mollison, William, Stillwater. Wescombe, Alfred L., Island Block. Gillstrom, Carl A., Berlin's. C. H., Miller's Flat. Williams, Frederick, Alexandra. Guyton, James, Dunedin. Morel, L. H., Inangahua Junction. Wilson, George, Marsden. Harliwick, Matthew, Roxburgh. Murray, H. 8., Cromwell. Wilson, Stephen L., Inangahua JunoHewetson, Sydney, Nelaon Creek. Murray, Robert John, Canvastown. tion. Holden, John, Cromwell. Nelson, Edgar, Brunnerton. Wood, W. W., Cromwell. Hopburn, D. 0., Alexandra. Nelson, George L., Brunnerton. Woodhouse, F., Bannockburn.

Number of Machines employed in Quartz-mining in the Auckland District, and the Value thereof, for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

C.-3.

Statement showing the Whole of the Quartz-crushing Machines and Appliances for treating Auriferous and Argentiferous Ores in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

141

Machinery employed in Quartz-mining. Mining District. Steam-engines employed winding, crushing. <fec. Crushing- . machines. Stamp- Waterheads, wheels. Whips and Pulleys. Approximate Value of all Mining Plant included in this Return. Whims. Derricks. Berdans. Num- Aggregate ber. Horse-power. Waihi .. Ohinemuri North Hauraki .. South Hauraki .. Te Aroha Great Barrier Isl'd 31 16 24 27 1 14 3,914 1,342 706 1,252 20 125 340 305 168 462 10 20 6 10 5 52 1 21 36 49 184 2 3 £ 264,740 149,710 94,896 179,892 5,600 11,125 113 7,359 1,305 74 295 705,963

[Note.—Under heading " Power Employed " the letter H. indi :ate: hand, O. oil, 1 teai . wal ;er-p< iwe CO O .0 co tfi ! 3 £li * X fl ¥ a » 10 ; O 0 I "o u ' u o o J2 ■ ,0 3 a B S !5 K a =s »o u © 'A *s 3 4 a co g 3 +j ca "-1 o h « 4 3 3 m U 3 u o % c M 3 4 3 p u o © 0 u © 4 ~ 3 O M "H CO lH S3 so u a x is " 3 o *l OS 1- In o o tH «(H CO 1 co ; to § aTfl g fl co * * fa. & f © S* © d .O » '.fi £» ajja& 42 g a © o a o o . >*. -w o a oa, 13 M o o P3 ■J: a FN o h v 5 3 •A -3 3> Pi O A I n a o Locality where Machine is situated. Name of Machine. Name of Owners O rn E * D o 3 as Coromandel County. Coromandel Telephone Old Hauraki Gold-mining Co. Frank Shephard 15 8 8 3 1 s Union Beach Tailing Plant Scotty's.. Success Publio battery .. 1 1 3 1 1 1 w F. Hodge 9 10 5 8 4 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 w s 0 Tokatea Waikoromoriki Cabbage Bay Tokatea.. West Tokatea .. Four-in-hand Vizard's Macoronio Opitonui School of Mines Board in trust Royal Oak of Hauraki Gold-mining Co. West Tokatea Gold-mining Co. Four-in-band Gold-mining Co. C. Blasch Macoronic Syndicate Kauri Freehold Gold Estates Gold-mining Co. Ditto .. Kuaotunu Syndicate Thompson and others .. Waitaia Gold-mining Co. Louis Woodoock New Zealand Government 1 15 3 10 4 5 40 1 2 8 2 2 5 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 '2 1 2 w, s s s w o s Opitonui a Kuaotunu Owera Try Fluke Great Meroury .. Irene Handsworth Mahakirau 16 16 10 10 3 3 4 3 1 2 1. 1 2 1 1 2 2 4 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i l S s s s w s Mahakirau Thames County. Gumtown Welcome Jack Kapowai Big Beetle Bullion .. Mahara Royal .. Welcome Jack Syndicate M. O'Conner .. Big Beetle Gold-mining Co. H. Adams Mahara Royal Gold-min-ing Co. Monowai Gold-mining Co. Puru Consolidated A. Trower ; New Alburnia Gold-min-ing Co. Eclipse Gold-mining Co. 5 8 2 15 20 2 3 2 4 18 1 1 2 2 2 1 1. 1 2 2 s s w w w i Tapu 1 Waiomo Puru Tararu Monowai Puru Tararu New Alburnia l 10 10 30 20 1 2 6 7 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 8 l s, w w s, w w 3 2 i l Karaka Eclipse Chicago Claremont Junction Anchor Fortuna.. Kerikeri Puriri George Bryant MoGregor and Taylor .. J. Styak J. Rabe M. Fleming Puriri Gold Estates 10 10 1 5 4 5 4 8 3 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 w w H w w, s w s w Hape i Kerikeri Puriri l

C—3.

Statement showing the Whole of the Quartz-crushing Machines and Appliances for treating Auriferous and Argentiferous Ores in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended the 31st December, 1902— continued.

142

MaSttated. »ame of Machine. M o o M p. a ;/: c iH OD X i 3 E 0) a a. d >H as O o as a ft d CO a =8 ■a & dp m o U as A ft CS A as a coOh O as £ ft cs A V. rH i o rH 0. X § 3 A rH si V, O o rH X 2 3 A o Q X o rH 9 X B 3 A O » HH ** as ii as ° St. .2 OS . ® f! 5 fl to in a. a to HH HO d *rH Ia to fl to u o to . fl CO J5S Ph p ■wife °e |s A I E ■*» fl CO o fl o o . tc ■ot a 6c l.s T3 I O. o r^ u 9 Efi o fe Name of Owners. o as E S.M ,5 <a a « » fe dH° r5 Thames County —ctd Puriri Tairua Hit or Miss Broken Hill J. Mclnnis and party .. Broken Hill Gold-mining Co. Chelmsford Gold-mining Co. Taniwha Gold-mining Co. Mananu Gold-mining Co. Waihui Gold-mining Co. Tillsley Bros. Klondyke Gold-mining Co. "l 20 2 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 s, w s, w * Chelmsford 10 1 1 1 1 1 w Whangamata Ohui Omahu Taniwha Mananu Waihui Sheet Anchor Klondyke ' 1 3 20 2 2 s 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 s, w w s w Thames Borough. Thames Borough .. Kuranui Moanataiari Comer's Kuranui Gold-mining Co. A. and G. Price Kuranui-Caledonian Goldmining Co. Charles Judd May Queen Syndicate .. Waiotahi Gold-mining Co. Fame and Fortune Goldmining Co, School of Mines Board in trust May Queen Extended Gold-mining Co. W. Manning Bank of New Zealand .. 20 60 20 6 21 5 2 2 2 2 G 2 1 1 1 w s, w w i 1 1 1 Judd's May Queen Waiotahi Fame and Fortune 33 21 21 2 8 5 16 9 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 w w s w TH • • School of Mines .. 2 1 1 1 3 3 1 4 1 w May Queen Extended Fairmile Bank of New Zealand Bank of New South Wales 23 14 2 4 1 w 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 w H IT ' ' Bank of New South Wales 2 2 1 1 H Ohinemuri County. Paeroa Bank of New Zealand Crown Bank of New Zealand .. 2 1 1 H Karangahake New Zealand Crown Mines (Ltd.) Woodstock Gold-mining Co. Talisman Extended Goldmining Co. Komata Beefs Gold-min-ing Co. Waitekauri Gold-mining Co. Ditto .. 60 4 2 2 1 1 s, w w • • Woodstock 40 2 2 2 1 1 1 s, w Talisman 60 5 3 3 1 1 1 s, w Komata Komata.. 20 4 2 2 1 1 1 s, w Waitekauri Waitekauri 40 1 6 3 2 1 1 1 s, w Golden Cross Grace Darling Jubilee Waitekauri Extended Maratoto Hikutaia Gold Syndicate Waihi Union-Waihi Waikino Waiorongomai .. Fraser's Barrier Beefs Bank of New Zealand Jubilee Gold-mining Co. Waitekauri Extended Gold-mining Co. Maratoto Gold-mining Co. Hikutaia Gold Syndicate i l 10 10 10 40 2 3 5 3 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 s, w s, w s w w * * Maratoto "l 1 10 5 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 s s Waihi Waikino Piako City of Auckland .. Great Barrier Island Auckland Waihi Gold-mining Co. .. 2 2 4 1 90 40 200 10 5 2 12 4 2 3 1 3 2 3 2 2 3 6 6 2 4 2 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 s, w s, w s, w w s s w E. H. Hardy .. '.'. Fraser Bros. Henry Brett Bank of New Zealand .. i 20 i 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

C—3.

Statement showing Quartz-crushing Machines and Appliances for treating Auriferous Ores in the Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland Mining Districts for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

143

Locality where Machine is situated. Name of Machine. Name of Owner. A a o 95 oj u as »-5 ss * B £ - fe \A i/i s ft s Ss o iB ft cs A rH 5 BD 3 J0 co !h O o h 9 J5 a 3 fc 3 <& rH s w 0 u $ X 3 3 fc CO C o3 fe O rH 3 X S 3 A £ S 0) cd « 3 cc : a t-I j <rH o o - - a a d d 55 r5 HH U o o Th in as oi . o V >H 5 51* fed c oi .3 hnV IhhI W rr| fegl o cj o^ u U CS\u . 41 0) J. OS >' O 30!3< 55 P5 \A St & oa fl £ cd a. * o c •fife °9 o t-i co fl rfe A .2 o tf 9 !h 'ra* dO A 4 g 0 1 5 fl o O -_. i ol ii « a) o a 3 0, *H OJ S o Ph «-2 IS Marlborough County. fop Valley Wellington T. W. Young and P. K. Watty Jubilee Gold - mining Co. (Limited) 10 s Jubilee 10 w CoUingwood County. faitapu Golden Bidge Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited) Golden Blocks (Taitapu) (Limited) 1 w 20 Golden Blocks 8 1 s Buller County Mokihinui Bed Queen Bed Queen Gold-mining Co. (Limited) Britannia Gold-mining Co. (Limited) Stony Creek Gold-mining Co. (Limited) Alpine Extended Gold-min-ing Co. (Limited) w Waimangaroa Britannia 5 w Stony Creek 10 2 2 •2 w Lyell Alpine Extended .. 20 1 1 w Inangahua County. Bourke's Creek Victoria Bange Gardiner's Kirwan's Beward .. W. P. Gardiner and Sons .. Kirwan's Reward Goldmining Co. (Limited) Welcome Gold-mining Co. (Limited) Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited) Ditto .. Keep-it-Dark Quartz mining Co. (Limited) Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited) New Sootia Gold-mining Co. (Limited) Golden Lead Gold mining Co. (Limited) Alex. Fleming and party .. New Inkerman Mines (Limited) Big River Gold-mining Co. (Limited) St. George Gold mining Co. (Limited) Inglewood Gold-mining Co. (Limited) 12 1 2 1 w w 15 1 Capleston Welcome 5 1 1 s Reefton .. Golden Fleece 1 20 ll 1 1 1 s , . TV - • Wealth of Nations.. Keep-it-Dark 20 20 1 4 2 1 2: 2 1 1 1 1 i' w w 1 i Progress Mines 3 65 1 l 1 1 l w » New Scotia 10 1 s Golden Lead 10 w Last Chance New Inkerman 5 18 1 1 l l i l l s s '8 1 Big Biver 10 1 l l w King George 5 w Inglewood 10 s Orey County. Paparoa Banges .. Mount Paparoa Mount Paparoa Gold-min-ing Co. (Limited) Taffy Gold - mining Co. (Limited) w 10: ren-mile Creek .. Taffy 5 1 1 w 6 310 40 4 19 30 9 5 9 1 4

a—B.

Quartz-crushing Machines and Appliances for treating Auriferous Ores in the Southern Mining District for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

144

Locality where Machine is situated. Name of Machine. Name of Owner. oi •g a o as « £ eg -g »• 2 n * a£ a 3.° 3 55 55 BO s -3 K 3 Jh o <D E C -rH c -H X I 00 3 cd Tj E CD 2= o rH ,2 a 3 A CO fl fe C h o a 3 p3 E 3 +j OJ 11-, c rH c rC a 3 fc u aS +H *H o m C h 9 — ft 0 A . i rH o ffi ->H O rH 3 £ 2 3 fc ro 3 S?f o 3 °a *H 7 ~£ s ° go 2h 01 01 o . d oi SS 3 2 JH °rH ss <■ J} <3 7- as cs< 55 o CO CO fl oi ££ o as k2 Ii Io A cd E a 9 o a o *h HH» o d I.* J-3-5 55 ■H 0) >. o "S - CO rl o fe Tuapeka County — Waipori Otago Pioneer Quartz Otago Pioneer Quartz (Waipori) Gold-mining Co. Bella Gold-mining Syndicate 10 S Bella 5 W Bruce County— Waitahuna Burnt Creek Table Hill Quartz-mining Co. Canada Beef Gold-mining Co. 10 w Canada 10 vv Lake County — Queenstown Macetown Invincible Premier Invincible Gold-miningCti. Premier Sunrise, late Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Co. Westralia and New Zealand Gold Exploration Co. Shotover Quartz - mining Co. Achilles Gold-mines Lawrence Bros. James Lawrence Lawrence Bros. Cromwell Proprietary Gold mining Co. Macabe and Son Bendigo Tailings Syndicate Alta Gold-mining Co. .. 1 10 20 7 2| i| 2 ■1 'i i 'i ll 1 1 w w •- Tipperary 10 w Skipper's Shotover 10 w Bullendale Bannockburn Aohilles.. Day Dawn Carrick Star of the East .. Bendigo 1 30 4 10 10 20 6 1 2 1 1 1 w w w w s,w 1 Bendigo 4 4 1 1 1 2 w 1 'll Fiord County — Te Oneroa Alta 4 1 O New Star Alpha Dawn New Star Gold-mining Co. Alpha Dawn Gold-mining Co. Golden Site 10 14 s Vincent County — Bald Hill Flat Golden Site 10 4 w Excelsior White's Beef F. W. Gray B. T. Symes 3 5 l i l l l l w w 1 Waniototo County — Hyde Mount Highlay .. Mount Highlay Gold-min-ing Co. F. H. Perry 12 w Bough Bidge Maihemo County — Macrae's Great Eastern 5 i l l l w Ounce Bonanza Mills's United Golden Point Golden Bar Ounce Gold-mining Co. .. L. O. Beal, jun. H. N. Mills and Son .. W. and G. Donaldson .. Golden Bar Gold-mining Co. A. G. Davies 1 1 8 5 5 10 10 i i i i 2 l l l l i i i i l l i w w s 0 s Stoneburn 1 Taieri County — Hindon Barewood Gilvern 5 w Parker's.. Barewood A. Parker Barewood Gold-mining Co. 4 5 1 1 1 0 s 5 262 2 36 4 2 30 14 6 3 2 12

145

C.—3

21—C. 3.

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

Average Number of Men employed. Gold obtained. Locality and Name of Mine. juartz crushed. Estimated Value. Amalgamation. Cyanide. Q ieat Barrier Island. Barrier Beefs 2 Tons cwt. qr. lb. I 782 tailings Oz. dwt. Oz. dwt. 948 0 £ a. a. 190 2 2 Cabbage Bay— White Star Macaronic 4 4 R 4 4 'oromandel County. 0 0 0 14 55 0 0 5 3 19 I 21 15 | 10 17 3 57 3 2 55 0 0 19 25 14 68 0 5 Waikoromiko— New Tandem Four-in-Hand Whangapoua 8 2 5 1 8 2 5 1 10 6 0 28 0 3 0 10 0 6 1 0 257 11 218 14 2 0 744 5 6 632 13 10 6 0 0 38 16 3 7 478 5 1,382 19 4 Tokatea — Royal Oak Harbour View Sea View I — B 48 7 3 48 7 3 2,331 4 3 7 17 11 1 15 62 0 0 0 1,787 1 185 5 154 19 4,663 13 3 483 5 1 423 0 7 Kapanga— Kapanga S.Q.C. Golden Spark Kathleen Crown — 5 5 1 58 5 5 1 58 468 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 2,410 16 0 22 2,127 5 154 19 3 0 7 8 5,569 18 11 378 18 8 8 12 6 22 4 0 11 470 5 0 0 Hauraki Block— Old Hauraki Bunker's Hill Hauraki Freeholds 11 20 24 10 20 24 10 809 4 0 20 464 12 3 13 60 2 0 15 2,145 5 2,589 6 636 1 165 7 6,556 18 3 7,556 18 3 1,947 3 6 409 15 2 Tiki— Vaughans Progress Castle Book 54 2 2 54 2 2 4 1,333 19 0 20 10 0 3 0 0 6 0 5,370 12 42 3 15 0 16,061 0 0 115 15 6 41 5 0 4 4 0 0 0 57 3 157 0 6 Kennedy Bay— Omoho 1 0 0 1 16 3 16 10 9 0 Kuaotunu — Mariposa Great Mercury.. Waitaia Handsworth 2 6 24 2 2 6 24 2 135 0 0 2 235 0 0 0 1,072 0 0 0 40 0 0 0 195 17 366 18 1,611 14 391 2 440 16 i 871 7 9 4,537 2 3 993 0 0 Opitunui — Kauri Freehold Gold Estates 34 4 34 1,482 0 0 2 2,565 11 6,842 6 4 4,605 3 9 1,857 0 0 0 2,052 0 Sundries 20 ■20 322 11 2 11 403 16 573 8 2 Totals 202 202 7,974 9 1 19 11,197 9 2,052 0 35,680 1 7 Tapu— Mahara-Eoyal Thj 10 Tham: 10 [AM IB County and Boko 1,012 0 16 IGH. 570 0 1,729 0 0 Puru — Puru Consolidated 4 461 14 6 415 0 3 16 171 6 Waiomo — Monowai 35 35 1,387 0 0 0 1,584 8 8 Tararu— Temple Bar Argosy 2 2 2 2 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 45 7 22 7 113 7 6 55 7 6 Totals 4 5 0 1 5 67 14 168 15 0 Moanataiari — Moanataiari New Alburnia Kuranui-Caledonian 54 54 55 603 0 1 23 478 11 0 3 793 17 1 13 744 9 781 6 1,735 7 2,021 6 4 2,089 7 1 4,707 4 5 55 109 1,875 8 3 11 3,261 2 8,817 17 10

C—3

146

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended the 31st December, 1902— continued.

Average Number of Men employed. Gold obtained. Locality and Name of Mine. Quartz crushed. Estimated Value. Amalgamation. Cyanide. Waiotahi— Waiotahi Nonpareil Fame and Fortune West Coast Ballarat Golden Drop We Two 'hames Cod 14 7 15 2 2 2 2 rNTY and Borough— < Tons ewt. qr. lb. 865 0 0 0 140 0 0 7 300 0 1 7 43 0 0 0 28 10 0 0 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 continued. Oz. dwt. 1,428 4 159 12 364 11 57 15 97 14 70 4 16 0 Oz. dwt. £ s. d3,856 15 2 451 6 0 937 1 0 155 18 6 286 15 9 175 10 0 40 0 0 44 5,903 6 5 Kuranui— Kuranui 1,392 10 1 14 2,194 0 12 22 0 0 0 14 8 34 13 8 Grahamstown — May Queen Hauraki Victoria 18 8 514 0 0 0 170 0 0 0 769 7 212 9 1,949 13 5 586 4 6 Karaka— May Queen Extended .. Claremonc Bell Rock 26 684 0 0 0 981 16 2,535 17 11 7 1 1 385 0 0 0 0 1 1 10 0 0 1 22 300 19 98 1 18 15 886 1 11 253 15 6 46 17 6 9 385 1 3 4 Otanui — Otanui Consols.. 417 15 1,166 14 11 0 0 0 20 32 0 70 0 0 Hape— Fortuna Hauraki Waymouth Thames Star Ethel Reefa Summer Hill 2 2 ■A 1 1 32 10 1 15 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 8 74 15 6 0 84 8 3 6 5 0 205 11 3 16 10 0 211 0 0 8 5 0 12 10 0 Puriri — Miner's Right 8 61 10 1 10 173 9 453 16 3 2 54 0 0 0 28 11 78 10 3 Omahu — Klondyke We Three 2 2 125 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 17 6 92 7 41 16 6 37 12 1 Tairua — Tairua Broken Hills Chelmsford Taniwha Chester 60 1 2 1 6,355 0 0 30 0 0 42 0 0 6 0 0 127 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 109 13 27 19 82 1 22 15 12,281 0 12 0 21,146 18 3 47 7 3 190 1 1 51 16 6 79 8 7 Whangamata— Mananu 64 6,433 0 0 0 132 15 12,293 0 21,436 3 1 370 0 0 0 166 0 333 17 1 Gum town — Kapowai Welcome Jaok Big Beetle 4 4 6 276 10 0 123 0 0 235 0 0 0 0 0 233 0 282 4 458 2 547 11 0 539 11 5 1,353 1 7 Sundries (tailings) Sundries 14 634 10 0 0 973 6 2,440 4 0 7 20 7,236 0 0 0 50 15 2 27 812 13 657 7 2,133 4 1 418 7 8 27 7,286 15 2 27 1,470 0 2,551 11 9 Totals 381 22,145 2 3 1 10,763 15 12,293 0 49,845 19 11 Waihi— Waihi 1,120 Waihi Borough. 178,473 0 0 0 677,873 0 519,445 10 1 82,402 6 4 1,319 12 4 115 3 9 Waihi Gladstone 6 400 0 0 0 Concentrates From slag 47 10 Totals 1,126 178,873 0 0 0 47 10 677,873 0 603,282 12 6 Waitekauri— Waitekauri Company Ohinemuri County. 44 947 0 0 0 3,959 0 4,521 14 8

147

C—B

Statement showing the Quantity of Quartz crushed and Gold obtained in the Hauraki Mining District for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903— continued.

Battery Returns from Quartz-mines in the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast Mining Districts for the Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

Locality and Name of Mine. Average Number of Men employed, j Quartz crushed. Gold obtai Amalgamation. Gold obtained. ined. Cyanide. Estimated Value. Ohine: iuri County— contim •,ed. Karangahake— New Zealand Crown Mines New Zealand Talisman .. Woodstock .. I 242 170 40 242 170 40 Tons cwt. qr. 35,289 0 0 47,267 0 0 6,184 0 0 Tons cwt. qr. lb. 35,289 0 0 0 47,267 0 0 0 6,184 0 0 0 lb. 0 0 0 Oz. dwt. 91,918 13 9,809 11 Oz. dw 40,783 0 91,414 11 4,760 14 £ s. d 78,279 12 1 94,134 7 11 9,680 12 1 452 452 88.740 0 0 88,740 0 0 0 101,728 4 136,958 5 ! 182,094 12 1 Komata — Komata Beefs 96 14,780 0 0 u 0 96 14,780 0 0 0 9,079 9 38,439 9 37,110 2 9 Hikutaia— Hikutaia Gold Syndicate 4 312 0 0 0 312 0 0 0 53 13 116 8 169 1 0 Totals 596 596 104,779 0 0 104,779 0 0 0 0 110,861 6 179,473 2 '223,895 10 6 Piako County. Waiorongomai— Empire and Mammoth .. 14 1,561 0 0 0 1,728 9 4,972 18 2 UMMARY. 948 0 2,052 0 12,293 0 677,873 0 I 179,473 2 : 190 2 2 35,680 1 7 49,845 19 11 603,282 12 6 223,895 10 6 4,972 18 2 Great Barrier Coromandel County Thames County and Borough Waihi Borough Ohinemuri County Piako County 2 202 381 .. 1,126 596 14 782 0 0 7,974 9 1 22,145 2 3 178,873 0 0 104,779 0 0 1,561 0 0 0 19 1 0 0 0 11,197 9 10,763 15 .47 10 110,861 6 1,728 9 Grand totals, 1903 1902 .. 2,321 .. 2,646 2,321 2,646 — 316,114 12 0 320,904 3 0 316,114 12 0 20 320,904 3 0 14 20 14 134,598 9 48,588 10 872,639 2 ! 795,218 6 I 77,420 16 : 917,867 4 10 802,927 9 10 114,939 15 0 Increase Deorease '.'. 325 4,789 10 3 22 86,009 19 325 4,789 10 3 22 fumber of men employed on development-wor! goldl [ and prospecting in lave been obtained : ll ;he whole distri 52. ict from which no returns of

Name and Locality of Mine. Quartz crushed. Yield of Gold. Approximate Total Values. larlborough District— Jubilee, Top Valley lollingwood District— Golden Ridge, Taitapu Golden Blocks, Taitapu Vestport Distriot — Lady Agnes, Seddonville Red Queen, Mokihinui Britannia, Waimangaroa jyell District — Alpine Extended, Lyell Lyell Creek ieefton District — Welcome, Capleston Kirwan's Reward, CapleBton Golden Fleeoe, Black's Point Wealth of Nations, Crushington Keep-it-Dark, Crushington Progress, Waitahu Survey District _ .. New Inkerman, Waitahu Survey District Last Chance, Merrijigs United, Merrijigs New Scotia, Merrijigs Big River, Merrijigs Inglewood, Murray Creek rrey Valley District — Taffy, 10-Mile Creek Mount Paparoa, Paparoa Ranges Garden Gully, Paparoa Ranges Tons. 1,711 Oz. dwt.gr. 547 10 11 £ 8. d. 1,957 7 10 5,506 2,409 1,961 6 0 2,170 1 0 8,363 17 5 8,230 0 0 75 86 505 11 0 14 93 3 20 302 4 7 43 12 9 323 6 8 1,167 18 10 428 133 169 5 17 454 6 0 637 5 3 1,787 1 2 1,611 4,814 14,133 12,385 12,568 57,114 5,247 15 211 744 340 172 1,143 12 8 1,791 5 6 6,384 3 9 4,819 14 18 5,282 7 0 27,346 4 6 1,372 10 12 85 0 0 147 7 6 162 7 14 453 2 0 129 0 0 4,431 19 1 7,164 7 8 26,790 17 8 20,422 5 8 20,473 2 2 108,217 4 8 5,252 1 1 344 0 0 535 3 11 567 17 6 1,816 2 10 509 18 9 303 1,000 10 66 6 2 241 15 2 3 19 18 266 0 0 958 2 2 16 8 0 Totals .. 121,520 55,137 13 2 220,276 1 1

C.—3

148

Battery Returns from Quartz-mines in the Southern District for Year ended the 31st December, 1903.

Statement of Value of Gold won from Quartz crushed for all Districts for Years ended the 31st December, 1902 and 1903.

Gross Totals and Value of Gold purchased by Banks for Year ended the 31st December, 1902.

Name and Locality of Mine. 0rd c n rushe Q d UartZ BetortedGold. Value. Tailings j Gold from treated. Tailings. Value. Premier Sunris9 (New Zealand), Macetown Shotover, Skipper's Alta, Bendigo Bendigo (late Cromwell Proprietary), Bendigo Morning Star (New Star Goldmining Company), Preservation Inlet Barewood, Barewood T. Park, Canada Reef, near Milton Sundries Tons cwt. qr.l 2,030 0 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 1,357 2 18 Oz. dwt. gr. 5,442 0 0 Tons. 47 Oz. dwt. gr. 236 17 3 £ a. d. 693 19 2 1,003 0 0 82 0 0 1 127 0 0 464 17 12 28 10 0 103 13 17 1,882 14 0 86 8 4 367 2 3 99 0 0 26 8 0 95 18 0 2,083 0 0 35 0 0 4,876 10 0 1,691 10 0 27 7 0 1,611 12 22 6,535 18 1 97 14 0 6,161 0 0 100 0 0 391 6 5 Total 10,335 10 0 5,311 1 21 20,668 14 8 47 336 17 3 1,085 5 7

Mining District. Year ended the 31st December, 1902. Year ended the 31st Deoember, 1903. lauraki [arlborough, Nelson, and West Coast ... 'tago and Southland... £ 802,927 212,151 24,534 £ 917,867 220,276 21,363 Totals ... 1,039,612 1,039,612 1,159,506* * Total inorease, £119,894.

Bank. Gold purchased. Value. Hauraki Mining District. Oz. dwt. gr. Bank of New Zealand ... ... ... 36,283 2 0 Bank of New South Wales 18,874 7 12 £ s. d. 79,532 17 6 34,873 16 6 Totals i 55,157 9 12 , 114,406 14 0 Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland Mining Districts. Bank of New Zealand ... ... ... 35,470 0 4 National Bank of New Zealand ... ... 32,669 2 9 Bank of New South Wales ... ... ... 9,843 11 9 Union Bank of Australia ... ... ... 2,573 0 0 Private buyers ... ... ... ... 123 1 10 138,106 5 0 127,805 9 11 38,620 17 2 10,129 0 0 415 14 8 Totals ... ... ... ... 80,678 16 8 80,678 16 8 315,077 6 9 315,077 6 9

149

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Gross Totals and Value of Gold purchased by Banks for Year ended the 31st December, 1903— continued.

SUMMARY OP WOEKS CONSTRUCTED. The following statement shows the whole of the different classes of works constructed by the Department, either by direct grants or by subsidies to local bodies, during the last twenty-two years (the votes for this purpose having been under the control of the Hon. the Minister of Mines), for the purpose of opening up the mineral belts throughout the colony, and also for the development of the mining industry : —

Bank. Gold purchased. Value. Otago and Southland Districts. Oz. dwt. gr. (ank of New Zealand ... ... " ... 95,222 11 0 Sank of New South Wales ... ... ... 12,831 5 13 rational Bank of New Zealand ... ... 41,599 13 21 tank of Australasia ... ... ... ... 12,389 13 0 £ s. d. 365,586 13 5 49,622 18 11 160,882 15 5 50,225 0 0 Totals ... ... ... ... 162,043 3 10 626,317 7 9 626,317 7 9 Grand totals ... ... ... 297,879 9 6 1, 1,055,801 ,055,801 8 6 8 6

Nature of Works. ,» Total Cost of Construction, or 'Amount authorised to be expended. (jonstruction, oi Amount authorisi to be expended. Expenditure, by way of Subsidy or otherwise, by Mines Department. Amount of Liability by Mines Department on Works in Progress. lu uu tsxpenueu. Up to Years 1882-83 and 1883-84. £ a. d. £ a. d. 29,252 1 11 21,437 11 2 £ s. d. 14,853 9 5 13,089 16 0 £ s. d. 14,398 11 6 8,347 15 -2 Water-races Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. Works undertaken by prospecting associations, subsidised by Mines Department Construction of drainage and sludge channels, subsidised by Mines Department 29,252 1 11 21,437 11 2 52,841 17 0 13,216 13 4 5,750 0 0 52,841 17 0 21,844 16 7 10,207 15 9 13,216 13 4 3,350 0 0 3,400 0 0 5,750 0 0 2,468 15 4 781 4 8 1884-85. r 122,498 3 5 122,498 3 5 55,606 17 4 37,135 7 1 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. Boads on goldfields Boads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Boads to mines, other than gold, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. Construction of drainage and sludge channels, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. Diamond and other drills .. .. .. 4,846 1 9 13,667 10 1 13,566 14 1 4,594 10 0 4,846 1 9 13,667 10 1 13,566 14 1 4,594 10 0 850 0 0 4,050 0 0 3,600 0 0 14,596 2 9 9,630 9 6 6,293 16 6 111 19 0 4,648 11 6 12,384 15 9 12,739 17 6 2,888 1 0 850 0 0 108 0 0 3,692 0 0 4,050 0 0 3,600 0 0 1,050 0 0 1,858 0 0 1,931 4 8 1886-86. - 45,174 15 11 45474 15 11 33,648 7 9 38,284 10 5 Water-races Boads on goldfields .. .. .. .. Roads undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Roads to mines, other than gold, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations, subsidised by Mines Department Construction of drainage and sludge channels, subsidised by Mines Department ., .. .. Soho ols of Mines 3,660 4 9 27,543 18 8 14,773 2 3 1,551 19 10 11,860 18 0 10,051 14 9 2,160 9 7 6,063 2 3 12,360 14 9 13,043 15 9 4,327 0 10 6,964 4 4 27,567 19 8 12,477 9 2 490 12 S 1,999 5 7 6,389 5 9 3,994 16 6 1,260 9 7 6,995 9 9 900 0 0 71', 602 7 10 43,049 5 3 61,785 1 4 IJ.,OUZ I IV - 1886-87. Water-races Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Roads to mines, other than gold, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Construction of drainage and sludge channels, subsidised by Mines Department Diamond and other drills Schools of Mines 12,468 3 5 12,613 4 8 15,671 19 6 5,549 14 6 422 15 6 3,183 7 1 1,928 14 4 22,229 16 1 7,415 19 6 306 .1 0 3,466 0 8 17,791 7 0 10,455 1 5 110 13 1 4,521 7 3 4,618 4 7 6,207 18 0 422 15 6 3,383 7 1 672 6 10 700 0 0 49,894 4 8 46,415 18 9 37,813 13 7

C.—3

150

SUMMARY OF WORKS CONSTRUCTED— continued.

Nature of Works. Total Cost of Expenditure, by Amount oi Construction, or way of Subsidy or Liability by Mines Amount authorised otherwise, by Department on to be expended. Mines Department. Works in Progress. 1887-88. Water-raoes Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. ... Roads to mines, other than gold, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. .. •. Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Construction of drainage and sludge channels, subsidised by Mines Department Schools of Mines Aids to treatment of ores £ a. d. 6 6 6 6,860 4 3 £ a. d. 6 6 6 6,860 4 3 2,998 15 0 6,456 8 0 1,859' 3 7 1,200 0 0 £ a. d. 6 6 6 17,281 11 3 £ a. d. 6 6 6 17,281 11 3 8,012 5 2 14 5 4 2,703 19 3 1,110 4 11 2,221 19 4 390 18 3 £ s. d. 7,370 0 0 2,998 15 0 8,012 5 2 3,942 4 2 14 5 4 6,456 8 0 2,708 19 3 924 8 0 1,859' 3 7 1,200 0 0 1,110 4 11 2,221 19 4 390 18 3 2,054 10 6 337 4 3 209 1 9 1888-89. 19,380 17 4 19,380 17 4 31,741 10 0 31,741 10 0 31,741 10 0 14,837 8 8 14,837 8 8 Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Construction of drainage and sludge channels, subsidised by Mines Department Wharves, contributions by Mines Department Aids to treatment of ores, subsidised Schools of Mines 10,253 5 3 7,318 1 0 474 0 0 589 19 5 895 16 10 IP, KP.1 9. 6 4,304 3 9 2,466 16 8 236 0 0 54 10 6 96 6 0 209 1 9 1,188 6 10 8 fifiK fi 6 13,218 11 6 5,195 6 1 687 8 0 343 13 5 4414 3 1889-90. iy,531 '2 6 19,531 2 6 8,i>t>D i> b 8,555 5 6 19,489 13 3 Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department.. Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Water-races Wharves Schools of Mines Aids to treatment of ores Tracks to open up mineral lands Diamond drills 3,834 9 7 8,507 15 8 2,200 0 0 1,040' 0 8 142 8 9 1,000 0 0 425 14 5 117 1KO. Q 1 3,834 9 7 8,507 15 8 2,200 0 0 1,040' 0 8 142 8 9 1,000 0 0 425 14 5 9,148 5 9 3,451 17 11 719 0 C 150 0 0 1,034 0 11 142 8 ) 207 3 1 425 14 I IK QI7S 11 5t 9,148 5 9 3,451 17 11 719 0 0 150 0 0 1,034 0 11 142 8 ) 207 3 1 425 14 5 8,005 5 4 5,928 1 3 663 0- 0 681 0 0 193 13 5 50 14 0 792 16 6 1890-91. — 17,150 9 1 17,150 9 1 15,278 11 3 15,278 11 3 16,314 10 6 Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Water-races Wharves Schools of Mines Tracks to open up mineral lands 8,811 14 4 2,703 5 0 5,542 19 8 3,847 10 0 tin nr\n n r\ 8,811 14 4 10,815 14 8 2,252 5 5 6,234' 4 6 39 9 9 3,898 4 0 78 4 7 OQ Q1Q Oil 10,815 14 8 5,201 5 0 2,703 5 0 2,252 5 5 5,027 8 4 663 0 0 5,542 19 8 3,847 10 0 6,234 4 6 39 9 9 3,898 4 0 78 4 7 419 19 5 20,905 9 0 20,905 9 0 23,318 2 11 23,318 2 11 11,311 12 9 1891-92. Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Water-races Wharves Schools of Mines Tracks to open up mineral lands 14,226 5 1 3,162 0 0 1,455 5 5 2,256 13 6 1,37019 9 40 0 0 M 511 Q. Q 14,226 5 1 8,460 0 3 1,720 18 6 336 15 9 2,256 13 6 1,370'19 9 41 16 0 TA 1B7 B • O. 8,460 0 3 11,767 9 10 3,162 0 0 1,720 18 6 4,937 10 2 1,455 5 5 2,256 13 6 336 15 9 2,256 13 6 1,663 0 0 1,37019 9 40 0 0 1,370'19 9 41 16 0 418* 3 7 1892-93. 22,511 3 9 22,511 3 9 14,187 3 9 14,187 3 9 18,786 3 7 Roads on goldfields Roads and tracKS undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Water-races Wharves Schools of Mines Tracks to open up mineral lands Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains .. 15,199 2 4 550 0 0 970 4 9 3,811 1 10 1,232 4 4 550 0 0 15,199 2 4 550 0 0 970 4 9 3,811 1 10 17,325 10 0 1,033 0 0 865 4 3 3,811 1 10 1,232 4 4 281 3 6 17,325 10 0 1,033 0 0 865 4 3 3,811 1 10 9,628 6 10 4,831 9 10 1,768 0 6 1,232 4 4 1,232 4 4 281 3 6 419 19 5 268 16 6 550 0 0 22,312 13 3 24,548 3 11 16,916 13 1

C—3

151

SUMMARY OF WORKS CONSTRUCTED— continued.

Total Cost of i Expenditure, by .,„,,„ #,,,„„,,„ Construction, or ; way of Subsidy or Natuieof woiks. Amount authorised otherwise,by to be expended. Mines Department. I ~]~ ~ Amount ot Liability by Mines Department on Works in Progress. 1893-94. £ s. d. £ s. d. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 18,418 19 2 15,056 0 11 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. 5,088 11 6 2,718 17 8 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 2,245 19 4 1,709 18 5 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,271 17 1 5,271 17 1 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. Wharves .. .. .. .. .. .. Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,555 19 9 1,555 19 9 Tracks to open up mineral lands Repairing flood-damages .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 500 0 0 Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains .. .. .. 800 0 0 518 16 6 33,831 6 10 27,331 10 4 £ s. d. 13,013 18 5 5,576 10 7 1,027 7 11 900 0 0 1,000 0 0 33,831 6 10 27,331 10 4 21,517 16 11 1894-95. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 20,908 13 7 15,160 3 5 Roads and tracks undertaken by CountyCounoils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. .. 685 18 4 2,295 9 2 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 10,805 15 4 2,378 18 2 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,80119 7 2,427 10 11 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 1,521 0 0 673 14 10 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 999 8 6 999 8 6 Tracks to open up mineral lands Repairing flood-damages Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains .. .. .. 505 19 11 505 19 11 Diamond drills 40,228 15 3 24,440 19 11 18,752 10 7 1,934 5 7 3,006 13 0 2,151 18 8 3,647 5 2 29,492 13 0 1895-96. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 14,554 0 19,970 6 6 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. .. 4,614 11 1 1,607 8 6 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 3,477 7 0 1,726 4 8 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,820 18 3 5,162 9 2 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. j 5,100 0 0 2,240 5 1 Wharves .. .. .. .. .. Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 999 3 0 999 3 0 Tracks to open up mineral lands Repairing flood-damages .. .. .. .. j Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains Diamond drills .. .. .. .. .. 216 1 6 216 1 6 14,086 4 8 4,290 16 11 10,093 3 0 2,515 7 9 2,657 0 1 35,782 1 5 31,921 18 5 31,921 18 5 33,642 12 5 1896-97. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. ... 57,685 9 6 30,720 12 7 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. .. 11,677 0 0 1,759 6 5 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 1,570 7 3 1,533 6 7 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,090 11 1 3,927 18 0 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 1,409 0 0 j 2,149 3 11 Wharves Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,682 19 5 1,682 19 5 Tracks to open up mineral lands Repairing flood-damage Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains Resumption of land .. .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 300 0 0 Prospecting deep levels .. .. .. .. 25,500 0 0 2,697 14 5 102.9lfi 7 8 44.771 1 4 57,685 9 6 30,720 12 7 35,622 15 3 11,677 0 0 1,759 6 5 4,079 18 3 1,570 7 3 3,090 11 1 1,409 0 0 1,533 6 7 3,927 18 0 2,149 3 11 2,935 14 3 1,678 0 10 .2,516 16 2 1,682'19 5 1,682 19 5 300 0 0 25,500 0 0 300 0 0 2,697 14 5 22,802 5 7 102,915 7 3 44,771 1 4 69,615 10 4 lU2,yio Y 8 44,771 1 4 1897-98. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 71,318 11 7 37,410 14 3 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, sub. sidised by Mines Department ..' .. .. 25,151 9 8 12,158 6 7 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 3,939 8 1 2,357 15 1 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,275 8 9 2,272 5 0 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 4,481 14 0 1,212 14 9 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,780 17 3 1,780 17 3 Prospecting deep levels .. .. .. .. 25,500 0 0 21,520 15 0 Water-conservation .. .. .. .. .. 507 3 9 507 3 9 Construction of telephone-lines .. .. .. 60 0 0 50 0 0 i Compensation proclamation of rivers .. .. .. 5,196 13 10 5,196 13 10 71,318 11 7 37,410 14 3 33,907 17 4 25,151 9 8 12,158 6 7 9,677 14 0 3,939 8 1 3,275 8 9 4,481 14 0 1,780 17 3 25,500 0 0 507 3 9 60 0 0 5,196 13 10 2,357 15 1 2,272 5 0 1,212 14 9 1,780 17 3 21,520 15 0 507 3 9 50 0 0 5,196 13 10 1,581 13 0 1,003 3 9 3,268 19 3 1,281 10 7 141,211 6 11 84,467 5 6 50,720 17 11

C—3

SUMMARY OF WORKS CONSTRUCTED— continued.

152

Nature of Works. Total Cost of Construction, or Amount authorised to be expended. Expenditure, by way of Subsidy or otherwise, by Mines Department. Amount of Liability by Mines Department on Works in Progress. 1898-99. £ s. d. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 48,201 0 2 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. j 21,025 12 0 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. i 2,936 11 8 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,853 16 5 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. -■ 3,539 7 5 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,450 15 2 Prospecting deep levels .. .. .. .. 25,500 0 0 Water-conservation .. .. .. .. .. 12,483 13 1 Construction of telephone-lines .. .. Compensation proclamation of rivers .. .. .. 676 0 8 119.666 16 7 £ s. d. 48,201 0 2 £ s. d. 42,358 8 6 4,191 7 9 2,143 14 1 2,932 12 1 2,426 13 5 1,450 15 2 1,281 10 7 7,893 19 4 676' 0 8 65.355 1 7 £ s. d. 42,358 8 6 £ s. d. 39,825 9 0 21,025 12 0 4,191 7 9 5,914 7 5 2,936 11 8 3,853 16 5 3,539 7 5 1,450 15 2 25,500 0 0 12,483 13 1 2,143 14 1 2,932 12 1 2,426 13 5 1,450 15 2 1,281 10 7 7,893 19 4 1,103 13 1 1,719 6 3 3,802 16 4 676 0 8 676' 0 8 119,666 16 7 65,355 1 7 52,365 12 1 iiy,DOD J.O I 1899-1900. t >- i, OOO 1 I Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 46,442 15 10 1 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. 1 4,625 0 0 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. j 2,549 7 2 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,909 5 11 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 1,090 0 0 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,866 13 3 Prospecting deep levels .. .. .. Water-conservation .. .. .. .. .. G,925 10 9 Resumption of land .. .. .. .. .. 2,812 7 0 Compensation proclamation of river? .. .. .. 811 0 0 Aid towards the treatment of ores .. .. .. 915 1 4 44,258 2 6 2.865 7 4 1,400 9 6 8,430 14 0 1,435 7 5 1.866 13 3 6,92510 9 2,812 7 0 811 0 0 915 1 4 i2,010 2 4 5,011 0 11 1,784 3 0 963 11 10 2,627 14 7 VZ, QA7 1 9 75.947 1 3 75,947 1 3 I 71,720 13 1 52,396 12 8 70,a*/ i o ii,i a i ±a i 1900-1. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 48,835 2 1 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. 1,495 8 2 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companiee, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 2,353 5 10 Water-raoes .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,954 1 6 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 2,058 0 0 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 1,598 2 1 Prospecting deep levels Water-conservation .. .. .. .. .. 2,680 19 1 Resumption of land .. .. .. .. Compensation proclamation of rivers .. .. .. 6,083 18 9 Aid towards the treatment of ores .. .. .. i 778 1 0 44,757 0 1 2,882 6 2 1,266 11 7 4,251 19 8 517 0 4 1,598 2 1 3,787 17 9 6,083 18 9 778 1 0 46,088 4 4 3,133 4 10 1,033 7 9 50 0 0 927 7 3 . '_ r\ A n 4 s"t n f* e f\c\r\ 1 r? f 69,836 18 6 69,836 18 6 65,922 17 5 65,922 17 5 51,232 4 2 1901-2. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. ..! 80,602 9 4 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .. 34,216 16 8 Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 2,578 10 8 Water-races 5,860 3 5 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 1,005 1 8 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 2,087 13 8 Prospecting deep levels Water-conservation .. .. .. .. .. 2,114 12 5 Resumption of land Compensation proclamation of rivers .. .. .. 5,318 2 9 Aid towards the treatment of ores .. .. .. 77 17 0 44,697 10 0 2,847 17 3 1,509 10 9 6,665 15 1 889 4 6 2,087 13 8 942 13 10 5,318' 2 9 27 17 0 35,904 19 4 1,909 0 11 1,826 6 2 1,760 16 1 1,390 3 7 1,171 19 7 50 0 0 133,861 7 7 64,986 4 10 44,013 5 10 1902-3. Roads on goldfields .. .. .. .. .. 62,389 0 5 Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. .• 2,285 0 0 Works undertaken by prospeoting associations and oompanies, subsidised by Mines Department .. .. 1,595 17 0 Water-races .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,122 1111 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. .. 2,896 14 2 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. .. 2,533 14 2 j Prospecting deep levels Water-conservation .. .. .. .. .. 2,535 0 10 Resumption of land Proclamation of rivers .. .. .. .. 13,215 10 8 Aid towards the treatment of ores .. .. .. 50 12 5 50,230 12 3 1,409 0 8 1,131 0 4 5,316 10 3 1,567 13 8 2,533 14 2 2,982 0 5 13,21510 8 50 12 5 48,063 7 6 1,512 1 11 1,821 17 7 2,454 14 9 725 0 0 93,624 1 7 78,436 14 10 54,577 1 9

153

α-s

SUMMARY OF WORKS CONSTRUCTED— continued.

22—C, 3,

Nature of Works. Total Cost of Construction, or Amount authorised to be expended. Expenditure, by way of Subsidy or otherwise, by Mines Department. Amount of Liability by Mines Department on Works in Progress. 1903-4. £ s. d. 60,427 18 6 £ s. d. 45,116 3 0 £ s. d. 23,375 3 0 Roads on goldfields Roads and tracks undertaken by County Councils, subsidised by Mines Department Works undertaken by prospecting associations and companies, subsidised by Mines Department Water-races .. Drainage-channels Schools of Mines Prospecting deep levels Water-conservation Proclamation of rivers Aid towards the treatment of ores 600 0 0 1,994 8 0 883 12 3 2,135 17 0 2,366 9 9 6,099 18 1 1,819 4 5 5,176 17 7 49 10 0 428 10 1 1,088 17 3 683 12 3 1,684 15 9 2,366 9 9 6,099 18 1 1,544 4 5 5,176 17 7 49 10 0 1,380 9 7 200 0 0 458 5 0 81,353 5 7 64,238 18 2 25,413 17 7 Summary. Roads on goldfieias Subsiaisea roaas ana tracks Subsiaisea roads and tracks other than on goiaflelds Prospecting Water-races Wharves Schools of Mines Drainage-channels Diamond drills Treatment of ores Tracks to open up mineral lands Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains Repairing flood damages Prospecting deep levels .. .. .. Resumption of land .. .. .. .. Water-conservation Construction of telephone-lines .. .. Proclamation of rivers .. .. .. 537,324 6 5 174,399 1 5 6,146 9 10 84,077 0 10 101,397 10 11 435 15 9 34,511 7 10 44,949 7 10 5,170 11 4 3,213 10 6 325 8 1 800 0 0 500 0 0 57,099 18 1 3,112 7 0 25,583 10 3 60 0 0 36,478 4 3 513,949 3 5 103,132 2 2 4,759 6 2 32,367 14 2 97,811 18 7 285 15 9 34,511 7 10 29,681 18 11 3,428 11 4 2,563 10 6 325 8 1 800 0 0 500 0 0 31,599 18 1 3,112 7 0 24,583 10 3' 50 0 0 36,478 4 3 23,375 3 0 1,380' 9 7 200 0 0 458 5 0 ,1,115,584 10 4 919,940 16 6 25,413 17 7

C— B

154

List of Works on Goldfields undertaken wholly by the Mines Department, or by Subsidies to County Councils, Local Bodies, and Prospecting Associations, in Progress on the 31st March, 1904.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost, or Amount authorised. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Amount due by Mines Department on Works still in Progress. Works under construction wholly by Mines Department. £ s. d. 731 12 0 100 0 0 2,622 0 0 950 0 0 984 0 0 1,085 10 0 1,633 13 0 5,145 0 0 700 0 0 1,522 11 6 1,703 0 0 1,200 0 0 1,099 0 0 988 0 0 510 0 0 479 18 0 400 0 0 689 0 0 300 0 0 400 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 350 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 2,681 15 3 2,479 15 5 1,756 9 11 1,756 1 11 1,625 5 0 2,261 7 6 1,945 0 0 799 10 0 620 0 0 450 0 0 687 0 0 150 0 0 393 16 5 757 0 0 278 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 499 6 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 3,775 0 0 2,604 0 0 1,107 0 0 946 3 2 1,068 0 0 1,497 10 0 640 0 0 544 2 6 200 0 0 500 0 0 808 0 0 50 0 0 807 0 0 200 0 0 373 18 0 250 0 0 379 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 280 5 8 900 0 0 204 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 1,350 0 0 £ s. d. 608 13 3 2,499 0 0 850 0 0 884 0 0 955 10 0 1,508 11 3 5,080 8 0 600 0 0 1.422 11 6 1.603 0 0 1,066 0 0 946 10 9 838 0 0 430 0 0 429 18 0 200 0 0 589 0 0 250 0 0 236 18 6 300 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 2,554 15 3 2,292 15 5 1,591 15 2 1,606 1 11 1,538 5 0 2,161 7 6 1,845 0 0 649 10 0 444 0 0 350 0 0 585 5 2 100 0 0 343 16 5 700 0 0 178 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 299 6 0 3.423 17 6 2,222 15 0 861 0 0 902 11 2 890 10 6 1,322 17 9 405 13 0 394 2 6 162 12 1 688 0 0 600 0 0 149 19 10 247 18 0 72 5 3 116 14 0 750 0 0 153 19 6 100 0 0 1 , 150 0 0 £ s. d. 122 18 9 100 0 0 123 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 125 1 9 64 12 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 134 0 0 152 9 3 150 0 0 80 0 0 50 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 163 1 6 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 350 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 127 0 0 187 0 0 164 14 9 150 0 0 87 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 176 0 0 100 0 0 101 14 10 50 0 0 50 0 0 57 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 100 (I 0 351 2 6 441 5 0 246 0 0 43 12 0 177 9 6 174 12 0 234 7 0 150 0 0 37 7 11 500 0 0 120 0 0 50 0 0 207 0 0 50 0 2 126 0 0 177 14 9 262 6 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 280 5 8 150 0 0 50 0 6 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 Brunner-Blackball Okarito Cabbage Bay-Port Charles and Cape Colville Tairua-Whenuakite Coromandel-Cabbage Bay Tiki-Kaimarama Tiki-Manaia Manaia-Waikawau Mercury Bay-Whenuakite and Boat Harbour Kuaotunu-Meroury Bay Coromandel-Whangapoua Klkowhakarere-Cabbage Bay Whitianga-Kaimarama Opitonui Road Ohuka Creek Bridge Fonr-in-band Road Opitonui Bridge Kapowai Track Mahaki Goldfields Track Driving Creek School Bridge, Tokatea Road Waitaia Mine to Battery Kennedy Bay-Matamataharakeke Karaka Creek (encroaohment) Ward's Road-Cape Colville Dredging Waiwawa River East side of Range Track.. Scotty's Mine to Battery Kaimarama Bridge Waikawau-McLaughlin's Manaia Goldfleld Road Colville II., Moehau II., and Harataunga I. Blocks Harataunga I. and II. Blocks Thames-Waikawau Thames-Hikutaia Upper Tararu Road Tapu Creek and Extension Turua-Netherton Hikutaia-Whangamata " Wires " Track Omahu-Whangamata Puriri-Neavesville Neavesville-Upper Landing Upper Landing-Tairua Thames—Whangamata Karaka Creek Road Waiotahi Road Waiomo Creek Road Tapu and Mercury Bay Track Tapu-Gumtown Crosbie Settlement Road Kaueranga Bridge Tairua-Broken Hills Goldfields Roads (metalling) Waiotahi Aqueduct (repairs) Hikutaia-Waihi Waitekauri-Golden Cross Waihi-Whangamata Paeroa-Te Aroha Netherton Roads Waihi-County Boundary Komata Creek Road Hikutaia-Maratoto Mackaytown-Rahu Paeroa-Te Aroha Bridge Onamalutu-Wakamarina.. Wakamarina Road and Bridges Fern town-Pakawau Bainbam-Upper Aorere Pakawau-Tamatea Aorere Bridge (repair*) West Wanganui Inlet Bridge Long Plain Road Extension Takaka Hill Road Motueka River Protective Works Wangapeka-Baton .. Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Beach Thorpe-Neudorf Ghandler's-Wangareka Junction Millerton Road

155

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List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost, or Amount authorised. Amount ol Contribution paid by Mines Department. Amount due by Mines Department on Works still in Progress. Works under construction wholly by Mines Department — continued. North Beach-Karamea Westport-Mokihinui .. .. .. - Lyell-Victoria Range Promised Land-Ohinemuri Creek Land of Promise Road Karamea Mud flat Brighton-Grey County Boundary Glass-eye Creek Traok Lyell-Cedar Creek Britannia Mine Road Granity Creek-Ngakawau Seddonville-Mokihinui Mine Coal Creek extension Burnett's Pace-Coalbrookdale Welshman'8 Plat Bridge .. .. . . . s Darkie's Hill Road and Bridge Waimangaroa-Granity Fairdown-Sergeant's Hill via Railway Seatonville-Mokihinui Mine Nile Creek Bridge Seddonville Township to Colliery Millerton Township Streets Mear's Road Denniston-Burnett's Face Mokihinui-Inangahua Junction Reefton-Maruia Matakitaki-Glenroy-Maruia .. • Mangles Valley Road Blaokwater Bridge Just-in-Time Shaft-Victoria Range Waitahu River Bridge Road to Matakitaki River Bridge Maruia Road via Caslani's Kirwan's Reward to Battery-site Inglewood-Painkiller Boatman's Road Blaokwater Road (widening) Blackadders Coal-mine Road Blackball-Healey's Gully.. Maori Creek-Maori Gully (widening) Grey-Dunganville Road Bridges Upper Moonlight Road Hohonu River Bridge to Cape Terrace Teremakau-Paroa Larrikins-Loopline (widening) Big Dam Track (repairs) Duffer's Creek Bridge Lawrence-Waipori Waipori-Waitahuna Waipori Bush Road FitzGerald's Bridge Waipori-Outram Gentle Annie-Clyde Lawrence-Clyde Ophir Bridge Roaring Meg Bridge Nevis River Bridge Arrowtown-Macetown Shotover River Track Garston-Nevis (Lake County) Orepuki-Shale-works Top Valley Road Motueka Bridge Mokihinui-Little Wanganui Inangahua Bridge Roads State Coal-mine Township Kanieri Bridge Orepuki-Preservation Inlet CoUingwood Bridge and approaches Westport-Waimangaroa .. Waimangaroa-Fairdown Taylorville Bridge .. .. .'. £ s. d. 150 0 0 1,900 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 700 0 0 850 0 0 750 0 0 200 0 0 550 0 0 600 0 0 260 0 0 450 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 250 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 3,574 0 0 1,307 15 6 1,143 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 438 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 1,250 0 0 250 0 0 400 0 0 150 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 75 0 0 250 0 0 2,225 0 0 550 0 0 750 0 0 340 0 0 200 0 0 625 0 0 4,725 0 0 1,000 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 1,700 0 0 500 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 729 9 8 1,000 0 0 5,258 7 4 1,512 9 9 250 0 0 950 0 0 3,888 9 4 7,538 9 6 200 0 0 300 0 0 2,053 15 5 £ s. d. 100 0 0 1,850 0 0 200 0 0 550 0 0 600 0 0 650 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 350 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 50 0 0 3,524 0 0 847 15 6 1,091 9 10 313 0 0 177' 4 9 75 0 0 £ s. d. 50 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 460 0 0 51 10 2 400 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 125 0 0 100 0 0 22 15 3 100 0 0 75 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 20 0 0 25 0 0 19 15 0 200 0 0 40 14 0 250 0 0 50 0 0 96 1 0 53 0 4 340 0 0 50 0 0 80 7 6 54 2 6 1,000 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 153 4 6 18 12 0 71 12 6 44 11 9 105 0 0 1,000 0 0 500 0 0 188 16 5 186 18 6 730 7 5 500 0 0 37 19 4 200 0 0 160 12 9 489 6 0 1,200 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 130 0 0 175 0 0 80 5 0 34 6 0 2,175 0 0 453 19 0 696 19 8 150 0 0 544 12 6 4,670 17 6 1,546 15 6 481 8 0 328 7 6 55 8 3 624 9 8 4,758 7 4 1,323 13 4 63 1 6 219 12 7 3,388 9 4 7,500 10 2 139 7 3 1,564 9 5 122,261 7 9 98,886 4 9 23,875 3 0

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156

List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. or Amount authorised. Total Cost, or Amount authorised. Amount of Amount due by Contribution paid | Mines Department by Mines on Works Department. still in Progress. uontriDution pan by Mines Department. Schools of Mines. £ s. d. £ s. d. 23,958 1 8 10,553 6 2 £ s. d. £ s. d. 23,958 1 8 10,553 6 2 £ s. d. Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. 23,958 1 8 School of Mines (Otago University) .. .. .. 10,553 6 2 23,958 1 8 10,553 6 2 34.511 7 10 34.511 7 10 34,511 7 10 34,511 7 10 Prospecting Subsidies. Coromandel County .. .. .. .. 944 0 0 Coromandel County (J. and M. Fitzgerald) .. . ■ 53 1 0 Coromandel County (Home and Mclsaac) .. .. 30 0 0 Coromandel County (Dyer and O'Keefe) .. .. 30 0 0 Coromandel County (A. Kelso) .. .. .. 60 0 0 Coromandel County (New Hero Claim) .. .. 60 0 0 Coromandel County (E. McMillan) .. .. .. 30 0 0 Coromandel County (Hosie and Marshall) .. .. 30 0 0 Coromandel County (J. Sweeney) .. .. .. 15 0 0 Coromandel County (Mayne and Callaway) .. .. 30 0 0 Victoria Gold-mining-Company (Thames foreshore) .. 1,184 0 0 Ohinemuri County (Comes and Gordon) .. .. 32 10 0 Ohinemuri County (W. Tregoweth) .. .. .. 180 0 0 Obinemuri County (Hugh Butler) .. .. ..: 26 0 0 Blackwater Miners' Association (O'Flaherty and Lawrence) 160 0 0 Blackwater Miners' Association (j. Duncan) .. .. 160 0 0 Buller County (McGonagle and Chapman) .. .. 26 0 0 Buller County (Gardner and Bettzeman) .. .. 90 0 0 Inangahua County (Tangey and Hayden) .. .. 26 0 0 Inangahua Countv (Moncrief and Edwards) .. .. 26 0 0 Westland County "(Hoist and party) .. .. .. 28 15 0 Westland County (G. L. Taoon) .. .. .. 24 0 0 Westland County (R. A. Harcourt) .. .. .. 200 0 0 Gill and McDonald, shaft, Rock and Pillar .. .. 25 0 0 3.470 6 0 944 0 0 53 1 0 30 0 0 30 0 0 60 0 0 60 0 0 30 0 0 30 0 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 1,184 0 0 32 10 0 180 0 0 26 0 0 160 0 0 160 0 0 26 0 0 90 0 0 26 0 0 26 0 0 28 15 0 24 0 0 200 0 0 25 0 0 884 10 0 50 2 0 6 0 0 8 5 0 22 19 0 19 10 0 417 10 8 17 7 6 22 10 0 14 16 9 15' 9 0 9 6 6 1.488 6 5 884 10 0 50 2 0 6 0 0 8 5 0 22 19 0 19 10 0 417 10 8 17 7 6 22 10 0 14 16 9 15' 9 0 9 6 6 59 10 0 2 19 0 9 0 0 6 15 0 7 10 10 10 0 15 0 0 15 0 0 7 10 0 15 0 0 766 9 4 32 10 0 90 0 0 13 0 0 62 12 6 80 0 0 13 0 0 22 10 0 13 0 0 13 0 0 13 18 3 12 0 0 84 11 0 15 13 6 1,380 9 7 3,470 6 0 1,488 6 5 o , a i u o u Water-races. 1,400 O O Waimea-Kumara Water-race .. .. .. 51,662 5 7 Mount Ida Water-race .. .. .. .. 11,486 19 4 R5 1/LQ 1 11 51,662 5 7 11,486 19 4 51,662 5 7 11,286 19 4 KQ OAQ A f\ 51,662 5 7 11,286 19 4 200 0 0 63,149 4 11 Drainage and Tailings Channels. Jones Creek Storm-channel .. .. .. 100 0 0 Waimea Main Tail-race .. .. .. .. 1,905 1 8 St. Bathan's Channel .. .. .. .. 3,000 0 0 Kelly's Terrace Tunnel .. .. .. .. 2,667 10 0 Deep Level Drainage Tunnel (repairs) .. .. 10 0 0 63,149 4 11 62,949 4 11 50 0 0 1,794 6 8 1,812 10 0 2,047 0 6 62,949 4 11 200 0 0 100 0 0 1,905 1 8 3,000 0 0 2,667 10 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 1,794 6 8 1,812 10 0 2,047 0 6 50 0 0 110 15 0 187 10 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 7,682 11 8 7,682 11 8 5,703 17 2 5,703 17 2 458 5 0 Water-consebvation on Goldfields. Engineer's salary and expenses .. .. .. 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 2,605 8 9 Summary of Works. Works under construction wholly by Mines Department ..! 122,261 7 9 Schools of Mines .. .. .. .. 34,511 7 10 ! Prospecting subsidies .. .. .. .. 3,470 6 0 Water-races .. .. .. .. 63,149 4 11 Drainage-channels .. .. .. .. 7,682 11 8 Compensation, proclamation of rivers .. .. 36,478 4 3 Water-conservation on goldfields .. .. .. 2,605 8 9 Total .. .. .. .. 270,158 11 2 98,886 4 9 34,511 7 10 1,488 6 5 62,949 4 11 5,703 17 2 36,478 4 3 2,605 8 9 242,622 14 1 23,375 3 0 1,380 9 7 200 0 0 458 5 0 242,622 14 1 25,413 17 7

157

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List of Works on Goldfields constructed wholly by the Mines Department, or by Subsidies to County Councils, Local Bodies, and Prospecting Associations, and completed prior to the 31st March, 1904.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. NORTH ISLAND. Roads (subsidised). Bay of Islands County. Tinwhanga Gorge to Galbraith's Road, Puhipuhi Air-line Road to battery-site, Puhipuhi Tiriwhanga Gorge to Puhipuhi New Bay of Islands Coal Company Road, Taumarere Railway-station to Puhipuhi £ s. d. 237 0 0 73 0 0 800 0 0 500 0 0 482 0 0 £ s. d. 118 10 0 36 10 0 800 0 0 250 0 0 146 0 0 2,092 0 0 1,351 0 0 Coromandel County. Improving road to Iona and Just-in-Time Companies' mines Making and improving track from Tokatea towards Kennedy Bay Golden Belt Track Tokatea Road (repairs) Making and improving track from Golden Belt to Tiki Making road from Ring's Bridge to Kapanga Mine Making road to Kapanga Mine Temporary track from Tokatea Saddle to Waikoromiko Continuation of track from Success Company's mine to top of main range Completion of road from Tokatea Saddle to Tokatea Battery Widening road from Matawai to Vaughan's claim Improving track, Mercury Bay to Waitai Continuation and improving Waikoromiko Track Emily Battery to Rocky Creek Track, Bismarck Battery to Kennedy Bay Road up Manaia Extension of Vaughan's and Vizard's Traoks Vizard's towards Marebel Extending and widening Waitaia Road Makarau to Waiau Waikawau to Tiki Paul's Creek to Cabbage Bay Waikawau Creek Track McLaughlin's Road Manaia to McGregor's New Find Manaia to Tiki Old sawmill towards Matawai Extension of Paul's Creek Track Matarangi Track Thames-Coromandel Road, via Manaia Harbour View extension Kapanga to Paul's Creek Mercury Bay to Kuaotunu Wainara to Kuaotunu Sea-beach to Kuaotunu Just-in-Time Road, extension to Coromandel Road, Waikawau Bridge to McLaughlin's Mercury Bay Road Bridge to Dugend's store, and widening and metalling road from bridge to Log Hut.. Road from junction of Red Mercury battery up Pumpkin Flat to Waitaia To connect road from Log Hut to commencement of contract of Kuaotunu-Mereury Bay Road Road, with culverts and bridge, from Kapanga Hill to Scotty's Gold-mining Company's mine Pumpkin Flat-Just-in-Time Road Lower road from Great Mercury battery to Kapai low level and battery-site Road from main road, Kapanga to Success Mine Cemetery Road and Bridge, Kuaotunu Road from Coromandel-Kennedy Bay Main Road to Wereroa Creek Leading Wind Mine Road Fury's Bridge Carroll's Bridge Home's Bridge Road from Main Kennedy Bay Road to Monte Carlo and other claims Castle Rock Mine Road, Tiki.. Road between Bismarck Battery and Hauraki Associated Gold-reefs Bridge, Warekaho Creek Cabbage Bay to Mines Two bridges and approaches, Kuaotunu Main Road Road from Success Road to workings of Karaka Block Syndicate Widening Waitaia Battery Road Cabbage Bay-Waitete Cabbage Bay-Ward's Track Repairs, bridges, Kuaotunu Main Road Coromandel-Mercury Bay 200 0 0 320 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 239 8 3 150 0 0 132 0 0 50 0 0 80 0 0 50 0 0 357 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 60 0 0 200 0 0 675 10 6 150 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 1,600 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 210 0 0 200 0 0 360 0 0 450 0 0 1,650 0 0 450 0 0 67 10 0 990 0 0 450 0 0 345 0 0 150 0 0 133 6 8 213 6 8 50 0 0 150 0 0 159 8 10 100 0 0 88 0 0 33 6 8 53 6 8 33 6 8 238 0 0 66 13 4 100 0 0 40 0 0 133 6 8 450 7 0 100 0 0 133 6 8 66 13 4 1,066 13 4 333 6 8 133 6 8 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 105 0 0 100 0 0 180 0 0 225 0 0 1,450 0 0 225 0 0 45 0 0 495 0 0 300 0 0 230 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 310 0 0 450 0 0 600 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 240 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 170 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 75 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 225 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 120 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 35 0 0 19.286 3 9 11,455 15 10

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158

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Te Aroha Town Board. Road to connect with railway-station Lipsey's Bridge Repairing flood-damages £ s. d. 120 0 0 64 0 0 150 0 0 £ s. d. 60 0 0 32 0 0 75 0 0 334 0 0 167 0 0 Thames County. Making new road from Ohinemuri River to Karangahake Quartz-mine .. Dray-roaa to connect Otanui Mines with crushing-battery at Maungawherawhera Creek Improving roads from Waitekauri Road to Katikati Road Improving roaa up Karaka Creek to Lucky Hit Company's mine Improving roaa to upper mines, Waitahi Karangahake to battery Ralph's Battery, Waitekauri Otanui Road to mines Road to Wick's Battery Rocky Point Road, Tararu Thames Borough boundary to hsematite-mine Widening road from bridge over Hape Greek to Otanui Mines Track, Karangahake Goiafiekl Kauaeranga Valley to Otanui Tapu Roa3 to mines Tauranga Road to Karangahake Bridge-site Karangahake Bridge Track up Maungakerikeri Creek Thames Borough boundary to Hape Creek No. 2 Upper Karaka Road Repairing flood-damages, Waiotahi, Moanataiari, Karaka, and Collarbone Roads Sea-beach to Waiomo Te Papa Gully Road New Find to Waiomo Battery Rocky Point Road Waiotahi towards Mercury Bay Te Mata Road Waiomo Creek to Tapu Alabama Creek Track Road from Prospectors' Mine, Puriri, to battery Karaka Creek to Lucky Hit Bullion Mine, Tapu, to battery Track to Hikutaia Goldfleld Upper Tararu Road to Sylvia Mine Road to Puriri Battery Thames-Waikawau Road Track from Tararu Creek Road to McDermot's Claim Track to Try Fluke Claim, Tapu Waiomo to Puhoi Creek Waiokaraka Road, Bella Street, and Campbell Street to Moanataiari Creek Moanataiari Creek Road Tararu Creek Road and Tararu Road Hape Creek Roaa Omahu-Tairua Karaka Creek Road Onetai Valley Road Townsend's Road .. Gumtown-Kapowai Footbridge, Pepe Creek Road from Taniwha to fourth branoh Tairua River 650 0 0 710 0 0 250 0 0 263 1 0 ' 258 18 10 | 300 0 0 399 1 0 . 299 18 0 70 0 0 300 0 0 350 0 0 183 17 0 784 1 0 470 7 0 81 17 9 341 5 0 229 6 6 93 4 4 600 0 0 179 13 0 350 0 0 750 0 0 75 0 0 110 0 0 429 11 10 522 11 0 178 17 6 1,499 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 365 0 0 36 5 0 147 15 2 684 7 0 11 13 0 37 10 0 45 0 0 94 15 0 33 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 40 0 0 30 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 433 6 8 473 6 8 166 13 4 175 7 4 172 12 7 200 0 0 199 10 6 199 18 8 46 13 4 200 0 0 233 6 8 122 11 4 522 14 0 313 11 4 54 11 10 227 10 0 152 17 8 62 2 11 300 0 0 119 15 4 175 0 0 375 0 0 37 10 0 55 0 0 214 15 11 261 5 6 89 8 9 749 10 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 182 10 0 18 2 6 73 17 7 342 3 6 5 16 6 18 15 0 22 10 0 47 7 6 16 10 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 75 0 0 75 0 0 42 0 0 68 4 6 12 10 0 26 12 0 196 9 0 51 18 6 100 0 0 Thames Borough. 14,054 15 11 7,934 6 11 Repairing roads Widening and straightening Karaka Creek Metalling goldfields roads Removing debris, Karaka Creek Half-cost damage, Hawk's Btable Repairs, Moanataiari Creek Tunnel Repairs, Moanatairi and Waiotahi Aqueducts Repairs, Waiotahi Creek Bridge Removing debris, Karaka and Waiotahi Creeks Water-tables, Kirkwood Street Clearing debris, Waiotahi Creek .. .. .. .. ..( 975 19 2 300 0 0 800 0 0 300 0 0 96 0 0 100 0 0 620 0 0 50 0 0 350 0 0 20 0 0 225 0 0 600 0 0 150 0 0 672 12 6 150 0 0 48 0 0 52 0 0 375 0 0 25 0 0 275 0 0 11 12 6 112 10 0 Ohinemuri County. Jubilee Mine Track Track up Tui Creek Prospecting-track, Whangamata and Waitekauri Tramway, Karangahake to Riley's reduction-works Strengthening bridges, Waihi Road Paeroa to Hikutaia Repairs, flood-damages Hikutaia River to Marototo Mine 3,836 19 2 2,471 15 0 118 0 0 306 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 34 13 8 180 15 0 59 0 0 153 0 0 166 13 4 200 0 0 133 6 8 200 0 0 17 6 10 90 7 6

159

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List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Ohinemuri County —continued. Karangahake through Gorge (bridge and culverts) Waitekauri Lower Road Metalling Karangahake Gorge Road Karangahake and Waihi Road Karangahake Hill Track .. .. .. .. .. .. I Bridge over Ohinemuri River at Karangahake Hikutaia-Paeroa Road Paeroa-Te Aroha Road Tui Creek Track Waitekauri to Lowrie's and Birnie's .. .. .. .. .. I Road, Karangahake to Waihi .. .. .. .. .. j Lower Waitekauri Road Road, Thames Road to Netherton Punt .. .. .. ... Komata Creek Road Road, Paeroa Bridge to Kuaoti Creek Punt at south end Netherton-Paeroa Road Repairs, Waitekauri Township Road Bridge, Paeroa-Te Aroha Road Karangahake Bridge Drain along Mill Road, Paeroa Road, Te Iringa-o-Pirori Block Road running south on left bank Waihou River Kaimanawa Road .. .. .. .. .. Mangaiti and Waitoa R r ad and Punt .. .. .. .. .. Earl of Glasgow Claim Track Low Level Tunnel, Jubilee Mine (E. Kersey Cooper) £ s. d. 200 0 0 360 0 0 170 0 0 237 10 0 87 4 0 12 11 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 129 18 6 200 0 0 246 12 3 347 13 4 60 0 0 600 0 0 400 0 0 275 0 0 200 0 0 60 0 0 1,032 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 1,500 0 0 £ s. d. 100 0 0 189 2 8 95 0 0 118 15 0 43 12 0 6 5 6 250 0 0 100 0 0 64 19 3 100 0 0 164 8 2 230 16 4 50 0 0 300 0 0 133 6 8 175 0 0 100 0 0 30 0 0 512 16 9 90 2 5 143 0 0 384 19 0 126 2 6 119 7 10 300 0 0 750 0 0 Waitoa Road Board — 10,257 17 9 10,257 17 9 5,687 8 5 Drain, Te Aroha West 200 0 0 200 0 0 130 0 0 Piako County. Extension and completion of Te Aroha Tramway .. .. .. .. : Tramway to Fergusson's Battery, Waiorongomai Road, Waiorongomai Track to claims at Buck's Reef .. .. .. .. .. | Track, Fern Spur to Butler's Spur Tracks up Stony Creek, Te Aroha Goldfield, &c. Repairs, Upper Premier Track and new track towards Waitawheta Repairs, Te Aroha-Lichfield Road Waiorongomai Tramway Gordon-Waharoa Te Aroha-Gordon Murphy's Bridge Repairs, Waiorongomai Tramway Waihou Bridge Repairs, Te Aroha Tramway 18,000 0 0 1,500 0 0 497 17 0 55 5 6 231 17 9 54 0 0 40 0 0 302 0 0 263 2 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 24 0 0 500 0 0 580 0 0 150 0 0 18,000 0 0 1,500 0 0 497 17 0 55 5 6 231 17 9 54 0 0 40 0 0 302 0 0 263 2 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 24 0 0 500 0 0 580 0 0 150 0 0 12,000 0 0 1,000 0 0 331 18 0 36 17 0 154 11 10 36 0 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 175 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 12 0 0 285 0 0 290 0 0 75 0 0 Katikati Road Board. - 22,498 2 3 22,498 2 3 14,691 6 10 Katikati-Karangahake Track Bridge on branch road to Katikati Te Aroha Track 400 0 0 68 0 0 39 19 6 400 0 0 68 0 0 39 19 6 200 0 0 34 0 0 19 18 9 Hutt County. - Road to connect Otorongo Bay with Albion Company's battery, also to connect Terawhiti Quartz-mine with battery Road, Makara Junction to Terawhiti 607 19 6 ! 507 19 6 509 16 6 450 0 0 959 16 6 509 16 6 450 0 0 253 18 9 210 17 0 225 0 0 959 16 6 435 17 0 SOUTH ISLAND. Roads (subsidised). Marlborough County. Track, Deep Creek to Dead Horse Creek Mouth of Gorge to Forks, Cullensville to Mahakipawa Diggings Formation of road at Cullensville, Mahakipawa Havelock-Mahakipawa Road Dead Horse Creek to Sunny side 68 0 0 450 0 0 217 4 0 905 0 0 75 0 0 68 0 0 450 0 0 217 4 0 905 0 0 75 0 0 45 6 8 225 0 0 108 12 0 505 0 0 50 0 0 Waimea County. — Road to open up Table Diggings Punt over Motueka River Repairing Baton to Table-land Track Dove River to Baton Saddle, and from Rolling River to Wangapeka Saddle Repairs, Motueka Bridge .. ., .. 1,715 4 0 260 0 0 100 0 0 40 0 0 120 0 0 939 8 8 1,715 4 0 260 0 0 100 0 0 40 0 0 120 0 0 939 8 8 130 0 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 60 0 0 469 14 4 933 18 8 1,459 8 8 729 14 4

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160

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Gollingwood County. £ s. d. £ s. d. 300 0 0 173 14 0 160 0 0 1,597 7 8 200 0 0 250 0 0 600 0 0 400 0 0 £ s. d. 200 0 0 115 16 0 80 0 0 798 13 10 100 0 0 150 0 0 400 10 0 300 0 0 Road, West Wanganui Bridge over Aorere River Extending Anatoki Briaie-track Briage over Takaka River at Pain's Ford Repairs, Silverstream Bridge, ana forming ana metalling Bainham Road .. Kai tuna-Fern town Takaka roaas Collingwooa-Kaituna 300 0 0 173 14 0 160 0 0 1,597 7 8 200 0 0 250 0 0 600 0 0 400 0 0 Buller County. Deviation of road from Candlelight Flat to Deep Creek, Charleston Road from Orowaiti Lagoon to North Terrace Prospecting-track from Razorback to Paparoa Range Track from Seatonville to Larrikin's Waimangaroa to Denniston Road to connect alluvial workings with Charleston Road Track, Four-mile Creek towards Grey Valley Road to connect alluvial diggings north of Deadman's Creek Ngakawau to Mokihinui, via beaches Road to connect Ngakawau Railway with Mokihinui Coal Company's workings Lyell Bluff to Victor Emmanuel Claim Beach, Little Wanganui to Mokihinui Cape Foulwind Road Road up Nile Valley Denniston extension Promised Land towards Motueka Road over Gentle Annie Extension, Lyell Creek to Low-level Tunnel Extension of track 50 chains south of Brighton Continuation of road, Deadman's Creek Ngakawau Railway-station to Mokihinui Addison's Flat towards ranges North Terrace to Oparara Diggings Extension of Croninville Road Waimangaroa to sea-beach Extension of track, Oparara to Fenian Creek Con's Creek to Beaconsfield Addison's Flat to Caroline Terrace Waimangaroa to sea-beach extension Addison's Flat to Gallagher's Lead Road to Swanston's Gold-mining Company Repairs to roads at Lyell Track, Fairdown from North Terrace Improving road to Four-mile Creek, Charleston Bridge, Waimangaroa River Road to Piper's Flat, Addison's Lyell Creek to Gibstown Buller River Footbridge below Lyell Virgin Flat Road Orowaiti Bridge Long Tunnel Road, Addison's Stony Creek-Waimangaroa 3,681 1 8 370 0 0 256 18 6 100 0 0 438 9 6 787 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 278 0 0 100 0 0 193 0 0 650 0 0 300 0 0 450 0 0 56 16 4 850 0 0 380 0 0 200 0 0 60 0 0 140 0 0 437 17 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 80 0 0 100 0 0 80 0 0 200 0 0 390 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 900 0 0 70 0 0 450 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 3,681 1 8 370 0 0 256 18 6 100 0 0 438 9 6 787 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 278 0 0 100 0 0 193 0 0 650 0 0 300 0 0 450 0 0 56 16 4 850 0 0 380 0 0 200 0 0 60 0 0 140 0 0 437 17 0 50 0 0 20 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 1 80 0 0 100 0 0 80 0 0 200 0 0 390 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 900 0 0 70 0 0 ! 450 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 2,144 19 10 246 13 4 171 5 8 66 13 4 292 6 4 393 10 0 266 13 4 200 0 0 185 6 8 66 13 4 128 13 4 433 6 8 100 0 0 300 0 0 28 8 2 425 0 0 190 0 0 100 0 0 30 0 0 70 0 0 218 18 6 25 0 0 10 0 0 333 6 8 50 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 40 0 0 100 0 0 195 0 0 25 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 0 97 8 0 450 0 0 35 0 0 150 0 0 66 13 4 170 0 0 100 0 0 325 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 Inangahua County. Dray-road from Soldier's Creek to Devil's Creek Dray-road from Inangahua to Rainy Creek Battery Dray-road from Capleston up Little Boatman's Creek Dray-road from Capleston up Main Boatman's Creek Dray-roaa from Westport Road to Inangahua River Track from Devil's Creek to Big River Track from Waitahu River to Capleston Survey ana expenses Track from Cariboo to Big River Dray-roaa up Murray Creek to Unitea Inglewood Claim Road from Reefton to Big River, via Devil's Creek Roaa up Big River Continuation of dray-road up Little Boatman's Creek Road from Capleston to Larry's Creek Track to connect Capleston with Lone Star Crushington to Globe Company's workings Snowy Creek Track Reefton to Big River Glenroy to Horse Terrace Devil's Creek to Globe Hill Extension of dray-road to Boatman's via Painkiller Mangles Valley to McGregor's Station Globe Hill to Merrijigs Larry's Creek to Lyell Widening Larry's Creek Road Road up Burke's Creek, Little Boatman's Widening track from Scotia Tunnel, on Big River Road, to Inkermann Mine Widening track from Fiery Cross Battery to Just-in-Time Shaft 11,638 1 4 647 0 0 900 10 0 379 0 0 697 0 0 224 5 0 134 3 6 358 0 0 250 0 0 728 0 0 3,472 0 0 614 0 0 922 19 0 169 7 6 640 0 0 75 0 0 403 0 0 85 15 0 1,792 0 0 254 0 0 917 6 2 53 17 6 600 0 0 1,397 6 0 1,061 15 0 118 10 0 149 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 11,638 1 4 6,600 16 8 431 6 8 606 6 8 252 13 4 464 13 4 149 10 0 89 9 0 238 13 4 166 13 4 364 0 0 2,314 17 4 307 0 0 615 6 0 112 18 4 426 13 4 50 0 0 201 10 0 42 17 6 1,194 13 4 122 10 0 458 13 1 26 18 9 300 0 0 698 13 0 530 17 6 59 5 0 74 10 0 80 9 0 150 0 0 17,552 14 8 10,530 17 10

161

C.—B

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

23—C. 3.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Grey County. Road from No Town to Deep Creek Road from Langdon's to Moonlight Contribution from goldfields vote towards main road Track, Waipuna to Clarke's River Track, Cameron's to Cape Terrace Road, Limestone to Maori Creek Red Jack's to Nelson Creek Barrytown to Deadman's German Gully to Arnold's Flat Baird's Terrace to Lake Brunner Hatter's Terrace Roaa Irishman's to Lake Brunner Hatter's Terrace Track, Baird's Terrace to Irishman's Deep Creek to Bell Hill Track to Blackball Diggings Track from Ahaura, Kopara, Reese's Flat, to new rush on banks of Ahaura River .. Renewal, bridge over Nelson Creek, Marsden-Dunganville Road Repairs (corduroying), Cobden-Seven-mile Road Repairs, Cobden-Point-Elizabeth Road Extension Ngahere-Blackball Road to Blackball Ferry Dray-bridge, Ten-mile Creek Deviation, Moonlight Track .. Repairs, bridges, Marsden-Dunganville Road S:venteen-mile Bluff to Barrytown Removing rocks, Nine- and Ten-mile Bluffs Croesus Battery-site, Paparoa New River Bridge wing River View Road Mosquito Road Road to Totara Flat Dredge Maori Gully Bridge Culverts, Nelson-Grey-Hokitika Road ... Paparoa truck-Garden Gully.. Repairs, No Town Creek Bridge Protective works, Big Grey Bridge £ s. d. 1,100 0 0 1,600 0 0 2,296 6 6 1,200 0 0 700 0 0 800 0 0 601 17 6 2,240 0 0 120 0 0 400 0 0 1,000 0 0 2,400 0 0 600 0 0 250 0 0 1,331 0 0 790 0 0 20 0 0 38 0 0 36 0 0 80 0 0 50 0 0 688 0 0 100 0 0 348 0 0 80 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 500 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 £ s. d. 550 0 0 800 0 0 ■> . 296 6 6 800 0 0 466 13 8 533 6 0 401 5 4 1,493 6 8 60 0 0 200 0 0 500 0 0 1,200 0 0 400 0 0 125 0 0 665 10 0 395 0 0 10 0 0 19 0 0 18 0 0 15 0 0 25 0 0 344 0 0 50 0 0 219 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 79 5 0 80 0 0 140 0 0 252 10 0 25 0 0 75 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 110 0 0 79 8 1 21,019 4 0 12,773 11 3 Westland County. Improving track, Butcher's Creek to Gentle Annie Terrace Bridle-track to Kanieri Lake Bridle-track to Eel Creek Tunnel-track, Galway Beach to Gillespie's Beach Road from Duffer's Creek, Greenstone Road, to fifteen-mile peg, Christchureh Road Continuation of track, Back Creek to Eel Creek Bridle-track, Duffer's Creek, Bowen and Okarito Road, to sea-beach Ross Borough boundary to Mount Greenland Track, Kanieri Lake to Humphrey's Gully Track, Larrikin's to Loop-line Dam .. Rough Wainihinihi to Upper Dam Browning's Pass to Reefs Okarito Forks to Teal Creek Road, Christchureh to Baldhill Range reefs Extension of Tucker's Flat Road to New Rush Hokitika Borough boundary (Reefton) to Shotover Rush Track to New Rush, Back Creek Repairing old track round Wataroa Bluff New Rush, south side of Hokitika River Cedar Cieek Road to Farmer's Creek Road to gold discovery near Blue Spur .. Widening Seddon's Terrace Track Branch Road at Seddon's Terrace .. .. • .. Track up Middle Branch, Styx River Improving road, Seven-mil--Taipo Widening Shallow Rush Track 225 10 0 719 11 0 168 9 0 437 5 0 726 9 0 249 4 0 333 18 0 1,280 15 0 279 2 0 449 11 0 450 0 0 3,311 6 0 600 0 0 500 0 0 170 19 6 120 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 37 18 6 55 7 0 75 0 0 150 0 0 38 10 6 30 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 163 13 4 359 5 6 84 4 6 218 12 6 480 4 6 166 3 4 222 12 0 853 16 8 186 1 4 299 14 0 300 0 0 2,207 10 8 400 0 0 250 0 0 85 9 9 60 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 18 19 3 27 13 6 37 10 0 65 10 0 19 5 3 15 0 0 73 8 6 54 17 3 11,008 15 6 6,724 6 10 Taieri County. Mullocky Gully to Silver Peak 499 15 0 333 3 4 Lake County. Track, Skipper's to Phoenix and Scandinavian Reefs Track to connect scheelite-mine with Lake Wakatipu Arrowtown to Macetown, construction Arrowtown to Macetown, maintenance Invincible Quartz-reef Track, Rees River Rees Valley to company's workings Pack-track, Criffel Diggings Left-hand Branch Road, Skipper's Old Morven Ferry Road Road to workings above Cardrona Piers, Victoria Bridge Skipper's Road Saddle to Deep Creek Road up Dart River Cutting on Homeward-bound Hill Skipper's Bridge .. 292 2 3 225 0 0 225 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 61 7 6 50 6 6 63 9 10 289 0 0 70 0 0 725 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 4,244 0 0 194 14 10 150 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 30 18 9 33 11 0 81 14 11 144 10 0 35 0 0 362 10 0 100 0 0 75 0 0 75 0 0 3,244 0 0 7,145 6 1 4,926 14 6

a—3

162

List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines; Department. Tuapeka County. Making road from top of Terrace to Waipori Bush Road, Beaumont to Remarkable Bush Improving road from Waipori Township to antimony-mines, Lammerlaw Ranges Waipori Township to Waipori Bush Clutha River to Campbell's Waitahuna to copper-mine Road to open up quarry for Waitahuna Bridge Waipori Road, vid Bungtown Miller's Flat Bridge Shelter-sheds and snow-poles Waipori Bridge Metalling, Lawrence-Waipori Repairs, FitzGerald's Bridge.. £ s. d. 300 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 76 9 0 200 0 0 160 9 10 566 8 10 11,242 0 0 100 0 0 800 0 0 550 0 0 1,500 0 0 £ s. d. 200 0 0 200 0 0 133 6 8 133 6 8 50 19 4 133 6 8 106 19 11 283 4 5 6,621 0 0 50 0 0 400 0 0 341 3 6 410 0 0 Cromwell Borough. 16,195 7 8 9,063 7 2 Removal of sand 500 0 0 250 0 0 Wallace County. Track, Col ac Bay to Round Hill Pack-track to Round Hill, Colac, and Orepuki Cutting tracks, Longwood 200 0 0 1,050 0 0 59 6 0 133 6 8 500 0 0 29 13 0 Vincent County. 1,309 6 0 662 19 8 Renewal bridge to Bannockburn 1,532 0 0 850 0 0 Maniototo County. Road to Serpentine Diggings Pig and Whistle to Clarke's Diggings Shepherd's Hut Flat to Vinegar Hill Kyeburn Peninsula to main road 136 10 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 82 0 0 91 0 0 133 6 8 66 13 4 41 0 0 Fiord County. 518 10 0 332 0 0 Dusky Sound, tracks 300 0 0 200 0 0 Waitaki County. Road, Naseby to Livingstone 1,841 12 0 20 16 0 Southland County. Improving tracks from Mataura to Nokomai Improving road, Waikaka to Leatham Improving road from Waikaka Township to Leatham Creek Improving road from Waikaka to Waikaka railway-siding Widening and improving bush-track to Waikawa Waikaka to Switzer's Road near Waikaka Township Waipapa to Six-mile Beach .. .. .. .. Repairing bridges, Waikaia Bush Dray-road to Ferry Terrace, Nokomai Waikaia to Whitecomb Parawa to Switzer's. via Nokomai Track to Switzer's Freehold Gold-mining Company Nevis Road Parawa to Nokomai Waikaia to Break-'em-All Claim Maitland Village-Mining Reserve .. 75 0 0 150 0 0 30 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 175 0 0 38 13 4 100 0 0 511 6 8 150 0 0 175 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 20 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 87 10 0 13 4 0 50 0 0 280 13 4 75 0 0 175 0 0 50 0 0 75 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 Diamond and other Drills. Inangahua County Council (diamond) Springfield Colliery Company (diamond) Westland County Council (tiffin) Diamond-drills for prospecting purposes.. .. • 2,455 0 0 .1,476 7 4 2,000 0 0 1,250 0 0 350 0 0 1,570 11 4 1,000 0 0 625 0 0 233 0 0 1,570 11 4 5,170 11 4 3,428 11 4 Wharves. Repairs to wharf, Coromandel Anikiwi Jetty, Marlborough 300 0 0 135 15 9 150 0 0 135 15 9 435 15 9 285 15 9 Aids to Prospecting. Construction of low-level tunnel, Terawhiti Queen of Beauty Company, prospecting deep levels Caledonian Low-level Company, prospecting deep levels Red Hill Gold-mining Company, prospecting deep levels Caledonian Low-level Company, low-level tunnel Lyell Greek Extended Company, low-level tunnel New Cromwell Gold-mining Company Deep-lavel Association, Waipori 750 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 600 0 0 2,700 0 0 300 0 0 250 0 0 450 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0

a—a

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

163

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Aids to Prospecting— continued. Little Boatman's deep-level tunnel Oterongia Prospecting Association Vincent County Tapanui Prospecting Association Tuapeka County Maniototo County Pullar, Shelmerdine, and Basan Royal Oak Association Star of the East Quartz-mining Company West Coast Prospecting Association McBride and party McLean and party Deep-level tunnel, Tokatea .. Deep-level tunnel, Owharoa .. Deep-level tunnel, Tapu Deep-level tunnel, Cedar Creek Manuka Flat Prospecting Association Red Hill Minerals Company Tuapeka Prospecting Association Cardrona Prospecting Association Cromwell Prospecting Association Coromandel County Thames County Thames Borough Buller County Inangahua County Westland County Grey County Deep-level Prospecting Association, Waipori Waipu Prospecting Association Hokianga County Vulcan Smelting works, Onehunga Ohinemuri County Waitaki County Waihemo County William Fox and party Kirk and party Hodge and party Carey and Hyndman Don, Boyce, and party Quentin McKinnon Bullion Mine deep-level tunnel Sutherland and party Inangahua low-level tunnel Deep-level tunnel, Manaia Waimea Miners' Association, prospecting at Callaghan's Totara Miners' Association, Ross Ross, Cunningham, and another Wm. Thompson, stores from Benmore Station Totara Miners' Association, Ross Harris, Davidson, and party Boatman's Tailings Company Boys's tunnel, Bluespur Totara Miners' Association (Ross, Montina, and party) Gillam's Gully Prospecting Association Deep-level Prospecting Committee, Dillmanstown Westport Prospecting Association Te Aroha Prospecting Association Robert Richie, Kuaotunu Owharoa Tunnel (Lindsay Jackson) Coromandel County (£1 for £1) .. .. ... Mr. G. Rehay, Arahuia Hyndman and party, Callaghan's Flat Lakes Mapourika, Waiho, and Wataroa Miners' Association Kumara Miners' Association Thames Miners' Union Star of Canterbury Miners' Association Miners'Association, Rimu Buller County (Messrs. Negri and others) Johnson and party, tunnel at Callaghan's Flat W. L. Webb, Nelson Kumara Miners' Association (Solberg, Stewart, and party) Buller County, between head of Fox's River, Brighton, and Deadman's Creek Welcome United Gold-mining Company, Greymouth Orepuki Miners' Association Totara Miners' Association (Gagliardi and party) Contingencies .. .. .. .. Hal'igan and party, tunnel at Cedar Creek Totara Miners'Association (Chamberlain and party) Miners'Association. Greenstone Westland Countv (T. Radonicki and party) Waimea Miners' Association (Lot, Keir, and party) Cardrona Prospecting Association Waimea Miners' Association, Stafford .. ., ., ,, £ s. d. 600 0 0 198 17 2 137 9 0 25 0 0 12 0 0 500 0 0 400 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 169 2 2 66 0 0 700 0 0 300 8 0 1,200 0 0 1,207 10 0 200 0 0 437 19 10 277 0 0 800 0 0 500 0 0 550 0 0 309 18 0 200 0 0 146 12 6 488 7 0 1,236 19 4 871 15 2 432 9 8 180 0 0 100 0 0 30 0 0 100 0 0 29 5 0 85 9 0 711 1 8 176 0 10 98 13 8 441 9 4 107 16 0 58 10 0 300 0 0 30 0 0 6,966 0 0 451 4 0 50 0 0 51 3 6 9 0 0 2 1 10 8 6 6 27 7 6 150 0 0 94 12 3 246 10 0 94 15 0 407 0 3 25 0 0 20 12 6 72 3 0 325 0 0 200 0 0 98 15 0 552 14 6 53 12 0 22 10 0 75 15 0 38 5 0 16 0 0 27 0 0 90 0 0 24 0 0 64 15 0 29 5 0 245 12 6 90 0 0 12 10 0 484 15 10 198 1 10 208 10 0 59 0 0 40 0 0 90 0 0 140 5 4 118 1 0 £ s. d. ,300 0 0 99 8 7 68 14 6 12 10 0 6 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 75 0 0 150 0 0 84 11 1 33 0 0 350 0 0 200 5 4 600 0 0 603 15 0 100 0 0 218 19 11 138 10 0 400 0 0 250 0 0 275 0 0 154 19 0 100 0 0 73 6 3 244 3 6 618 9 8 435 17 7 216 4 10 90 0 0 50 0 0 15 0 0 50 0 6 14 12 6 42 14 0 355 10 11 88 4 10 49 6 10 220 14 0 53 18 0 29 5 0 150 0 0 15 0 0 3,000 0 0 225 12 0 50 0 0 51 3 6 9 0 0 2 1 10 8 6 6 27 7 0 150 0 0 94 12 0 246 10 0 94 15 0 407 0 8 25 0 0 20 12 6 36 1 0 162 10 0 100 0 0 49 7 6 276 7 3 26 16 0 11 5 0 37 17 6 19 2 6 8 0 0 13 10 0 45 0 0 12 0 0 32 7 6 14 12 6 122 16 3 45 0 0 6 5 0 242 7 11 99 0 11 104 8 0 29 10 0 20 0 0 45 0 0 70 2 8 56 10 6

164

C.—3

List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Aids to Prospecting— continued. £ s. d. 28 0 0 39 0 0 32 0 0 28 0 0 24 0 0 12 0 0 13 0 0 187 10 0 600 0 0 215 19 9 26 0 0 50 0 0 78 0 0 200 0 0 54 18 0 135 0 0 300 0 0 60 0 0 40 0 0 9 0 0 150 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 200 0 0 120 0 0 112 13 0 100 0 0 19 10 0 22 15 0 19 10 0 50 0 0 45 0 0 7 10 0 64 18 0 40 0 0 27 0 0 40 0 0 20 0 0 200 0 0 97 10 0 180 10 0 162 16 9 250 0 0 15 10 0 96 0 0 40 0 0 40 0 0 220 0 0 56 0 0 43 0 0 39 0 0 124 0 0 58 14 0 57 10 0 75 0 0 600 0 0 58 10 0 432 6 0 120 0 0 60 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 75 0 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 20 0 0 17 4 0 100 0 0 23 5 0 135 0 0 69 0 0 39 0 0 13 0 0 26 0 0 226 0 0 18 0 0 52 0 0 302 10 0 109 7 6 18 0 0 30 15 0 £ s. d. 14 0 0 19 10 0 :6 0 0 14 0 0 12 0 0 6 0 0 13 0 0 93 15 0 291 8 2 107 19 6 13 0 0 25 0 0 39 0 0 6 0 0 16 4 0 61 7 6 137 7 11 25 0 0 15 0 0 12 6 68 13 6 13 2 6 16 13 0 100 0 0 6S 17 0 112 13 0 100 0 0 19 10 0 22 15 0 19 10 0 48 4 0 45 0 0 7 10 0 64 18 0 20 0 0 27 0 0 40 0 0 13 5 0 13 15 0 35 19 2 30 5 0 108 11 2 48 3 9 6 10 0 4 10 0 36 10 6 1 16 0 71 8 6 24 0 0 29 1 3 18 0 0 6 13 6 2 8 o 3 18 9 35 6 6 161 11 3 11 5 0 197 9 0 37 10 0 12 3 0 32 0 0 9 0 0 25 17 6 94 4 9 30 4 3 3 0 0 2 17 9 11 8 0 7 13 3 20 5 11 9 18 0 6 15 0 69 0 0 39 0 0 13 0 0 26 0 0 128 0 0 18 0 0 26 0 0 154 14 0 109 7 6 18 0 0 30 15 0 H. Crossan, Beaumont Prospecting Association, Westport Cape Colville Prospecting Syndicate Port Charles Prospecting Association Totara Miners' Association, Ross Lake Mapourika Miners' Association Lister and Robertson, Karamea Canada Reefs Tunnel Otago Miners'Association Westland County (Goudie and party) Paparata Road Board Tauranga County (Te Puke Prospecting Association) Havelock Miners' Association Oliinemuri County Mr. Olderog, Arahura Miners'Association, Ross (J. Smith and party) Extension of low-level tunnel, Boatman's Prospecting-tunnel. south side Inangahua River Prospecting Association, Mokihinui .. ... Miners' Association, Kumara (John Kane) Prospecting Association, Invercargill Miners'Association, Kuaotunu Miners' Association, Ross (Waylen and party) Prospecting Association, Coromandel (Leahy and others) Adit level. Maungatawhiri Creek (G. B. Osmond) .. Bay of Islands County Prospecting, Pokaka Prospecting Russell's Outcrop Fox's River Prospecting Association (A. T. Bate, secretary) Buller County (Newton and party, shaft, Ballarat Terrace) Buller County (Spence and party) Wairau Miners' Association Miners' Association, Nelson Creek (Thrower and Potts) Miners' Association, Dillmanstown (Turnbull and others) Miners' Association, Ross (Gagliardi and party) Miners'Association, Rnss (Allen and Son) Miners' Association, Greenstone (Black and party) Miners'Association, Cardrona Mineis' Association, Lowburn (E. Murrell) Puhipuhi Prospecting Association Thames County (F. and J. Wallis) Thames County (Sheridan Company's tunnel, Tapu) Cinnabar Mining Company, Auckland (£1 to £1 10s.) H. H. Adam's, Waiorongomai Miners' Association, Ross (Moye and Son) Westland County (J. Staines) Westland Countv (O'Brien and Glynn) .. Upper Moutere Road Board Buller County (Mohan and party) Buller County (Gardiner and McKay) Buller County (Negri and others) Buller County (Scarlett and McHarrie) .. .. Kumara Miners' Association (Scatterini and Anderson) Kumara Miners' Association (Henley and party) Kumara Miners' Association (M. Manton) Kumara Miners' Association (Rogers and Block) Frying-pan Tail race Prospecting Association, Mokihinui (French and others) Prospecting Association, Westport Dyer and party, Kuaotunu Gillam's Gully Prospecting Association (Bramhall and party) .. Miners'Association, Riverton Kennedy-Waikaia Miners'Association, Invercargill Inangahua District Minora'Association New El Dorado Sluicing Company, Fat Boys, Criffel Miners' Association, Greenstone (O'Donneli and party, and J. Pope) Miners' Association, Tinkers, prospecting Matakanui Chatterbox Tunnel (G. Clapton) Port Charles Prospecting Association Miners' Association, Lake Mapourika Pitchers and Kitto, Anderson's Flat Miners' Association, Nelson Creek (Kelly and party) South British Prospecting Association, Lyell Miners' Association, Ross (A. Zala) Miners' Association, Ross (McKay and Muir) Miners' Association, Ross (McKay and Brown) Miners' Association, Ross (McEwen and McEchnie) Miners'Association, Ross (C. Porter) Miners'Association, Riverton Katikati Prospecting Association Cornwall, Walker, and party's tunnel, Boatman's .. Miners' Association, Greenstone (Crawford and party) Mararoa Mining Association Hororata Prospecting Association .. ,.

C.—3

165

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.—continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution | paid by Mines ' Department. Aids to Prospecting— continued. Paparata Road Board (Parker and Piggott) New Bay of Islands Coal Company, prospecting Moody's Outcrop Longwood Sluicing Company Red Jack's Miners' Association (Drummond and McDonough) Kapanga Gold-mining Company (Limited) Kuaotunu Prospecting Association Te Aroha Town Board Bombay Prospecting Association Charleston Miners' Association Buller County (Reaney and Rasmussen) Buller County (Samuel and party) Gold-mining League, Westport (McFarlane and others) Inangahua County (Gabriel and party) .. Miners' Association, Dillmanstown (Black and party) Tapanui Prospecting Association Miners' Association, Lowburn (Tilliman and party) Miners'Association, Upper Waikaia Main and paitv's tunnel, Kanieri Ryan and Son's tunnel, Dillmanstown R. A. Harcouit's tunnel, Blue Spur Miners'Assoc'ation, Ross (Archer and Horseby) Inangahua County (R. Lees) Westiand County (Kebay and party) Red Jack's Miners' Association (Drummond and Raynor) Westland County (McGoveran and party) Westland Countv (N. Johnson's tunnel, Fox's Flat) Min. rs' Association, Ross (Gagliardi and Son) Miners' Associati >n, Ross (Marohesi and Scott) Miners' Association, Greenstone (Dickson and party) Westland County (Patrick and Moynihan) Westlaiid County (Ryan and Son) Westland 0 mnty, prospecting, Kanieri (£1 for £1) Westland County (Dwyer and party, Blue Spur) Miners' Assooiaton, Waiho (Batson and Snow) M'ners' Association, Nelson Creek (Coll and Moran) Miners' Association, Nelson Cie- k (Hurley and party) Miners' Association, Blackball (Keenan and Falc met) Miners' Association, Blackball (McKenzie and O'Brien) Miners' Association, Ross (McLeod and Dunlop) Miners' Association, Rosa (Smith and Began) Miners' Association, Greenstone (Candy, Roberts, and Evans) .. Buller County (Jeffreys and Walker) Buller County (Cnri-tmas and pany) Buller County (Burkitt and pany) Buller County (Stewart and part,) Buller Countv (Robertson a- d Sangwell) Buller County (Ramsey and O'Connor) .. Buller County (Clough and MeGonagle) Buller County (Negri and others) Buller County (Quinn and party) Buller County (Murray and Forsyth) Buller County (Salter and party) Inangahua County (Z. E. Curnow) Culley and Hislop, prospecting, Kawakawa Prospecting Association (Riverton) Tuapeka County (Gabriel's Gully) Nobel, Stenhouse, and Crawford's tunnel, New Chum Creek .. Holmis F,nd party's tunnel, Tucker's Flat Deep Levels, Kumara Miners' Association, Ross (Moye and Son) Mineis' Association, Ross (Paterson and McGowan) Miners'Association, Waitio (Nelly and Murray) Miners' Association, Red Jacks (Drummond and party) Wi st'and County (Boseveri and party) .. Prospecting Mokihinui Mine (Lomas and party) .. Towai-Hukerenui Coal Syndicate Ohinemuri County (P. Prudence) Westland County (Irwin and party) Buller Co intv iBiand and party) WestUnd County, prospecting, Rimu (£1 for £1) .. Miners' Association, Havelock (Kearns and McGusker) Westland County (Patriok and Moynihan) Greymouth Harb ur Board (boring for coal) Westland County (Beroz and Mills) Oh nemuri Coumy (Snanlon and Eyre) .. Ross B rough Council (Smith and party) Johnst m, Bryan, and party's tunnel Blackwater Miners' Association (Banman Bios.) Inangahua County (P. Tangney) Westluid Countv (G. McArthur) Westland County (Rfbay and Rebustitti) We tland County (Ryan and Son) Westland County (W. Roblofski and party) £ s. d. 32 10 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 28 0 0 20,600 0 0 48 10 0 100 0 0 40 0 0 110 0 0 120 0 0 100 0 0 39 0 0 100 0 0 31 10 0 40 0 0 57 10 0 19 10 0 200 0 0 42 0 0 180 0 0 13 0 0 2 10 0 112 0 0 24 0 0 50 0 0 140 0 0 70 0 0 200 0 0 72 0 0 86 0 0 120 0 0 1,228 15 0 800 0 0 9 0 0 160 0 0 164 0 0 5 17 0 43 10 0 63 14 6 164 2 0 100 0 0 8 0 0 4 15 0 13 0 0 12 0 0 26 0 0 4 15 0 8 0 0 12 0 0 34 0 0 9 0 0 6 10 0 6 10 0 125 0 0 25 0 0 400 0 0 240 0 0 400 0 0 3,269 0 0 60 0 0 26 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 160 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 6 0 0 100 0 0 80 0 0 4,692 17 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 32 0 0 70 0 0 305 0 0 81 0 0 2 5 0 6 10 0 80 0 0 80 0 0 150 0 0 .„M3 ; £ -'a. d. |32 10 0 173 4 3 150 0 0 28 0 0 1,735 3 11 26 0 0 37 17 6 16 7 9 33 8 6 30 0 0 5 0 0 13 10 0 11 11 0 12 0 0 18 10 0 42 9 9 13 0 0 188 7 0 21 12 0 90 0 0 13 0 0 2 10 0 56 0 0 12 0 0 37 10 0 59 0 5 17 10 0 153 15 0 15 18 0 45 0 0 60 0 0 614 7 6 758 6 0 9 0o 160 0 0 82 0 0 5 17 0 43 10 0 40 8 6 164 2 0 60 8 6 8 0 0 4 15 0 13 0 0 12 0 0 26 0 0 4 15 0 8 0 0 12 0 0 18 0 0 9 0 0 6 10 0 4 15 0 125 0 0 25 0 0 223 10 10 240 0 0 208 8 0 1,197 10 4 14 19 6 13 0 0 12 0 0 24 0 0 80 0 0 250 0 0 35 2 0 14 0 35 0 0 74 14 3 2,346 8 0 76 0 0 195 5 0 250 0 6 155 0 0 16 0 0 35 0 0 305 0 0 81 0 0 2 5 0 3 10 0 40 0 0 38 15 0 75 0 0

0.—3

166

List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Aids to Prospecting— continued. Westland County (Singer and party) Westland County (Warren and party) Westland County (Hoist and party) Westland County (Smith and party) Golden Basin Prospecting Association Miners'Association, Charleston Miners' Association, NeLon Creek (Kelly and party) Ohinemuri County (Seanlon and Eyre) .. Buller Countv (Glass-eye Creek) Coromandel County, Tunnel Whakaroa Creek Miners'Association. Kanieri (McQuilkin and party) Westland County (Harvey and McDonald) Contingencies £ s. d. 19 10 0 60 0 0 80 0 0 18 0 0 435 0 0 110 0 0 110 0 0 46 0 0 26 0 0 60 0 0 20 0 0 12 0 0 217 5 8 £ s. d. 19 20 0 48 6 0 16 16 0 12 0 0 146 6 0 58 2 3 29 15 9 23 0 0 13 0 0 30 0 0 11 5 0 12 0 0 217 5 8 Water-races. 80,606 14 10 30,879 7 9 Water-main, Bull's Battery Round Hill Water-race Tomkiss's Water-race Cararona Sluage-channel New water-mains, Thames Water-race Nelson Creek Mikonui Water-race Brown and party, Kumara Randall Creek Water-race Thames Water-race Contingencies Randall Creek Water-race Quinn's Creek Water-race Survey, water-race, Ninety-mile Beach Improving water supply, Oamaru Roaring Meg Water-race (Jones, Baxter, and party) Sulky Gully Water-race Gentle Annie Creek, Mata (R. Kelly) Purchase Byrne, O'Hallahan, and Murdoch's water rights Argyle Water-race Bell Hill Sluicing Comnany .. Finlay and McLiver's Water-race, at Measletown .. Mountain Hut water-race 350 0 0 200 19 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 1,479 10 4 957 16 9 14,279 16 4 90 0 0 222 2 3 1,250 0 0 659 12 8 100 15 0 70 0 0 65 6 7 1,250 0 0 1,600 0 0 504 0 0 200 0 0 35 0 0 8,453 15 1 1,000 0 0 400 0 0 4,879 12 0 100 0 0 133 19 4 100 0 0 50 0 0 739 15 2 957 16 9 14,279 16 4 22 10 0 222 2 3 1,250 0 0 659 12 8 100 15 0 70 0 0 65 6 7 1,150 7 2 800 0 0 218 0 0 40 0 0 35 0 0 8,453 15 1 500 0 0 34 5 4 4,879 12 0 Drainage and Tailings Channels. Drainage-channel, Lawrence (total cost, approximate) Subsidy towaras purchase of Messrs. Laidlaw ana Crawford's freehoia in Spotti's Creek, to allow tailings to be aepositea (Tinker's Diggings) Damage by floods, Thames Sludge-channel, Smith's Gully, Bannockburn Round Hill Sludge-channel survey Compensation to J. Costello, damage done by tailings Long Gully Sludge-channel New Pipeclay Gully Sludge-channel Kumara Sludge-channel No. 2 Ophir Tail-race Lawrence Drainage-channel Tailings-outlet, Maerewhenua Ross Sludge and Storm-water Channel .. Kuaotunu Sludge channel (£1 for £1) Branch tail-race to No. 4 Channel Rimu Drainage-channel Kumara S udg»-channel No. 4 Donnelly's Creek Tail-race .. .. .. .. Muddy Creek Channel Drain, Te Aroha West Kumara Sludge-channel No. 5 and extension Waimumu Main Tail-race Cnarlton Tail-race Kumara Sludge-chanel No. 3.. Compensation, Owen Roberta 38,248 6 0 34,862 13 8 3,000 0 0 500 0 0 2,000 0 0 400 0 0 1,000 0 0 1,000 0 0 52 19 7 788 0 0 150 0 0 4,547 18 0 2,762 17 2 2,300 0 0 1,150 0 0 1,595 4 0 1,675 10 6 400 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 1,200 0 0 1,657 0 0 2,000 0 0 200 0 0 5,654 15 11 3,502 13 5 1,362 17 7 92 0 0 75 0 0 500 0 0 251 1 0 52 19 7 788 0 0 100 0 0 773 19 0 2,762 17 2 1.150 0 0 1,092 9 0 1,595 4 0 1,675 10 6 200 0 0 100 0 0 191 19 6 1.151 10 8 444 4 5 1,000 0 0 61 0 0 5,654 15 11 1,502 13 5 362 17 7 92 0 0 75 0 0 37,266 16 2 23,978 1 9 Aid towards the Treatment of Ores. Testing-plant, School of Mines, Thames Testing minerals, Dunedin Exhibition Testing-battery, Mercury Bay Public crushing-plant (Coromandel School of Mines) 1,200 0 0 192 8 9 915 1 4 906 0 5 600 0 0 142 8 9 915 1 4 906 0 5 Aid towards Construction of Telephone-lines. Bannockburn to Nevis 3,213 10 6 2,563 10 6 60 0 0 50 0

167

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List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Water-conservation on Goldfields. Reports on Drainage, Ross Flat Coromandel Harbour and Kuaotunu Sludge-channels Eweburn Reservoir Mackeytown Water-supply Waitekauri Water-supply Karangahake Water-supply Clyde Water-supply Home Gully Dam Thames Drainage Board (contribution) Alexandra Water-supply £ s. d. 284 10 8 80 12 6 .. 16,459 15 10 351 0 0 445 2 5 607 6 5 1,121 13 2 1,028 0 6 1,000 0 0 1,600 0 0 22.978 1 fi £ s. d. 284 10 8 80 12 6 16,459 15 10 351 0 0 445 2 5 607 6 5 1,121 13 2 1,028 0 6 1,000 0 0 1,600 0 0 £ s. d. 284 10 8 80 12 6 16,459 15 10 351 0 o 445 2 5 607 6 5 1,121 13 2 1,028 0 6 1,000 0 0 600 0 0 Works wholly constructed by Mines Department. Construction of road, Arrowtown to Macetown Road to open up Woodstock Goldfield Ahaura to Amuri Waikaia Bush Road Waitahuna Bridge Merrivale tracks Mokihinui to Specimen Creek Wilberforce Quartz-reef Road Opening Mokau River Lyell to Mokihinui Brighton to Seventeen-mile Beach Wangapeka to Karamea Hatter's" Terrace to Bell Hill Cedar Creek Road Owen Valley Road Cobden to Seventeen-mile Beach Cedar Creek Road Bridle-track to Upper Anatoki Whangamata Boad Karangahake through Gorge .. Arthur's Point to Skipper's Tracks to Coal Island Grey Valley to Teremakau Bimu to New Bush Tapu to Waikawau Puhipuhi Road Jackson's Bay to Cascade and Gorge River district Improving roads and tracks, CoUingwood to Takaka and Motueka Tramway from New Find to Waitekauri Havelock-Mahakipawa Dray-road Mokihinui to Wanganui Burnett's Face to Coalbrookdale Deadman's to Christmas Terrace Low-level Alpine Claim, Lyell Bowen Road to Salt-water Beach Repairing damage done by floods, Westland County Deviation of road at Kanieri Forks Road up Dart River Kuaotunu to Mercury Bay Thames to Manaia Cobden to Seventeen-mile Beach Bridge over Mahinapua Creek Track up Waiho River Haast Ferry to Glue-pot Paeroa-Waihi Road Waitekauri to New Find Mahakipawa to Waikakaho Oparara through gorge to gold-workings.. Okira Bridge, at flirty Mary's Creek Lagoon,Bridge Widening Cape Terrace Road Deviation, Granville Road Tucker's Flat Road Dillman's-Larrikin's Road Track at Kanieri Lake and Mcintosh Falls, Lake Mahinapua.. Extension of road, Rimu to Shallow Rush Gillam's Gully Track McKay's Creek, Kokatahi Track Aorere Valley to Karamea and Mokihinui Arrowtown to Macetown Nelson Creek Bridge Cascade to Barn Bay Road Repairs to decking, Tapu Wharf Waitekauri Battery from Junction-Waihi Road Deep Creek, Wakamarina, to Empire City Company's claim .. Track to diggings at Cape Foulvvind Bridge over Fox's River at Brighton Totara Bridge Road from Mokihinui Bridge to gold-workings W2,iJltt 1 b 9,270 6 8 1,000 0 0 2,504 19 7 .. 1,000 0 0 750 0 0 500 0 0 1,238 7 5 .. 1,830 17 7 552 8 0 5,098 8 6 1,789 7 2 2,000 0 0 500 0 0 3,000 0 0 2,208 9 2 3,036 1 4 1,500 0 0 722 8 0 141 10 6 1,000 0 0 .. 12,167 4 1 54 6 3 900 0 0 829 17 9 750 10 0 .. 1,396 17 9 5.310 10 11 .. 10,905 8 11 100 0 0 1.311 9 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 20 0 0 80 0 0 60 0 0 100 0 0 140 0 0 200 0 0 350 '0 0 500 0 0 400 0 0 503 16 10 105 0 0 126 0 0 114 0 0 260 0 0 70 0 0 247 18 7 125 15 0 195 4 6 150 0 0 149 16 0 100 0 0 .. 29,938 1 2 .. j 450 0 0 100 0 0 411 7 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 497 11 0 100 0 0 255 0 0 .. I 75 0 . 0 22,978 1 6 21,978 1 6 9,270 6 8 1,000 0 0 2,504 19 7 1,000 0 0 750 0 0 500 0 0 1,238 7 5 1,830 17 7 552 8 0 5,098 8 6 1,789 7 2 2,000 0 0 500 0 0 3,000 0 0 2,208 9 2 3,036 1 4 1,500 0 0 722 8 0 141 10 6 1,000 0 0 12,167 4 1 54 6 3 900 0 0 829 17 9 750 10 0 1,396 17 9 5,310 10 11 10,905 8 11 100 0 0 1,811 9 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 20 0 0 80 0 0 60 0 0 100 0 0 140 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 500 0 0 400 0 0 503 16 10 105 0 0 126 0 0 114 0 0 250 0 0 183 12 1 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 70 0 0 247 18 7 125 15 0 195 4 6 150 0 0 149 16 0 100 0 0 29,938 1 2 450 0 0 100 0 0 411 7 0 100 C 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 497 11 0 100 0 0 255 0 0

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List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued. Clearing two miles of old track from right-hand branch of Kanieri River to Gentle Annie Terrace Extending horse-track to Blackball Creek Matawai to KaimaramaTiki to Mahakirau Karangahake Gorge to Waihi Upper Tararu Road Red Hill Road Repairs, Nile Bridge Miller's Flat to Skipper's Cobden to Coal Creek Track to New Find, Tairua Cedar Creek Dray-road Road to Matarangi Goldfield Repairs, Manaia Track Upper Township School Bridge Tiki Bridge across Waiau Scott's Bridge Oteau Bridge Mercury Bay-Kaimarama Road Stoney Creek Track Road to mines, Waiomo Upper Hill Track to branch track, Waiorongomai Canadian Gully Bridge, and repairs to tunnel on horse-grade, Waiorongomai Waiorongomai Road Track from Slate River to Rocky Pack-track to Killdevil Repairs, Wangapeka Road towards Crow Diggings Repairing flood-damages, Grey County .. Taipo Track to Seven-mile Repairs, Totara Bridge Repairs, Kanieri Lake Road Mercury Bay to Whenuakite and Boat Harbour Tiki to Gumtown, via Kaimarama Driving Creek to Cabbage Bay, and Driving Creek to Cape Colville Tiki to Waikawau.. Paeroa to Te Aroha Puriri to east side of range Onamalutu to Wakamarina Forks Waimangaroa to Denniston Road to Lyell's Creek Extended Company's tunnel Jaokson's Bay to Cascade .. Bridge over Ogilvie's Creek Gillam's Gully Track Bridge over Kanieri River at Kokatahi Road to Oparara Diggings Millerton Road Waiau to Preservation Inlet.. Hatter's Terrace to Haupiri Grey River to Moonlight Blackball Track .. Ahaura-Kopara Road Mackley's to Waipuna Terrace Footbridge over Blackball Creek Waipapa to Waikawa Waipapa to Six-mile Drain at Adamson's Maruia Track, between Reefton and Maruia Sledge-track to Langdon Reefs Track to Blackball Township, repairs Track, Old Man Range Road to gold discovery near Blue Spur Bartlett's Creek Track Prospecting-track, Brunnerton to Paparoa Extension Seddon's Terrace Track to new claim West Tokatea Road Waitaia Battery Road Preece's Point Road Tokatea-Kennedy Bay Road.. Main Cabbage Bay Road Hooker's to Mercury Bay Opeto Road Blagrove's Road .. Cemetery-Cabbage Bav Road Rails for Coromandel Wharf Culverts, Tiki Road Soldier's Creek Road Road to Barrytown Tracks to western sounds Road to R. Kelly's claim, Gentle Annie Creek Waitekauri to New Find Paeroa Mill Road Owharoa to Waitawheta £ s. d'. 13 0 0 £ s. d. 13 0 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 350 0 0 471 10 3 249 8 1 1,131 2 6 580 0 0 375 0 0 47 11 6 466 11 2 75 0 0 90 0 0 50 0 0 256 0 0 175 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 15 0 0 50 0 0 30 0 0 70 0 0 100 0 0 225 0 0 100 0 0 153 0 7 370 0 0 194 5 8 336 0 0 80 0 0 150 0 0 160 0 0 660 0 0 600 0 0 365 0 0 596 19 6 400 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 1,110 8 1 150 0 0 220 0 0 467 10 10 100 0 0 249 0 3 7,961 19 6 1,650 0 0 530 0 0 1,185 12 5 400 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 30 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 45 0 0 200 0 0 125 0 0 208 10 6 50 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 31 5 0 100 0 0 198 5 0 300 0 0 7,307 17 11 100 0 0 250 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 350 0 0 471 10 3 249 8 1 1,131 2 6 580 0 0 375 0 0 47 11 6 466 11 2 75 0 0 90 0 0 50 0 0 256 0 0 175 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 15 0 0 50 0 0 30 0 0 70 0 0 100 0 0 225 0 0 100 0 0 153 0 7 370 0 0 194 5 8 336 0 0 80 0 0 150 0 0 160 0 0 660 0 0 600 0 0 365 0 0 596 19 6 400 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 1,110 8 1 150 0 0 220 0 0 467 10 10 100 0 0 249 0 3 7,961 19 6 1,650 0 0 530 0 0 1,185 12 5 400 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 30 0 0 40 0 0 50 0 0 45 0 0 200 0 0 125 0 0 208 10 6 50 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 31 5 0 100 0 0 198 5 0 300 0 0 7,307 17 11 100 0 0 250 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0

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169

List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

24—C. 3.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued. Deviation Road, Earl's Hill Waihi to Katikati Bridge over Slate River Pack-track to Glover's Flat, Lower Anatoki Clearing Karaka Creek of flood-damage Track up right-hand branch of Cullen's Creek Footbridge, Waimangaroa River Track up Callary Branch, Waiho River Converting Wilson's Lead Track, Addison's, into a dray-road Cabbage Bay to mines Coromandel to Kuaotunu Manaia to mines Whitianga to Mahakirau Whangapoua Mill Road Kuaotunu Bridge Granity Creek to Ngakawau Crow Diggings Track .. • • Road to diggings, Cape Foulwind Ngahere to Blackball Fencing land, Blackball Road Prospecting-track, Greek's Gully to Kanieri Forks Repairing Jones's Creek and Donohue's Storm-channels Deviation, Pleasant Creek Track Road-works at Ohaeawai Mahakirau Creek Road Puriri to mines Katikati-Waihi Road ■ .. Pack-track from Kerikeri Track to Waitakohe Goldfield Repairing bridges to mines, Te Puke Helena Bay to Whakapara Railway-station Gordon Settlement to Waharoa Waiorongomai Road Approach to railway-bridge, Te Aroha Upper Waitekauri Bridge Junction Waihi Road to New Find, Waitekauri .. .. Repairing bridges, Doctor's and Staunton's Creeks Four-mile Bridge Fox's Bridge Charleston-Nine-rnile Beach.. Road, Promised Land-Karamea Karamea Bridge and approaches Approaches, Matakitaki Bridge Snowy Creek Bridge Big River Road Footbridge across by-wash, Ngahere-Blackball Ferry Track to Healey's Gully Track, Lancashire Flat to head of Clearwater Creek Granville Road Footbridges, Blackwater and Greenstone Brown's Terrace to Arnold Protective works, main Grey Bridge Extension, Tucker's Flat Road Butcher's Creek Bridge, Kanieri Lake Road Kapitea Creek Bridge, Lamplough Track Widening Milltown Track to Humphrey's Gully Pack-track, Seddon's Terrace to Eel Creek New bridge, Kapitea Creek, Loop-line Road Stribbing's Creek Bridge Widening Seddon's Terrace Road extension Compensation, Larrikin's Road Garston to Nevis.. Nevis Valley Road Okarito River Bridge Drainage, Stafford Township Wangapeka Track, Rolling River-Kiwi Creek Tracks, Stewart Island Widening Lake Mapourika-Waiho Road Roads, Great Barrier Riversdale-Waikaia Prospecting-track, Lyell-Larry's Track to New Find, Victoria Range Extending road into bush, Addison's .. .. •. Clearing rocks and easing curves, Nine- and Ten-mile Bluffs Repairs flood-damages, South Westland Hungerford's Bridge Waitangi Bluff Track .. .. •• . •• Track from Cedar Creek Road to Ford and Thompson s olaim Repairs Mount Greenland Track Ross Road, towards Ranges Repairs pack-track, Cedar Creek Kinsella's land, taken for Blackball Road Maratoto to mines £ a. d. 200 0 0 75 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 70 0 0 400 0 0 400 0 0 2,070 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 527 8 2 100 0 0 600 0 0 110 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 600 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 328 8 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 550 0 0 3,565 19 8 279 15 0 300 0 0 4,571 0 0 210 0 0 90 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 191 0 0 103 2 6 129 17 6 118 0 0 600 0 0 246 17 6 30 8 7 70 8 11 199 0 0 56 0 0 1,965 17 2 400 0 0 300 0 0 399 17 5 149 19 10 718 7 8 782 6 8 604 4 2 200 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 129 6 11 100 0 0 444 11 5 99 18 9 20 0 0 50 0 0 199 12 6 100 0 0 5 11 0 149 5 6 £ s. d. 200 0 0 75 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 70 0 0 400 0 0 400 0 0 2,070 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 527 8 2 100 0 0 600 0 0 110 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 600 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 328 8 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 550 0 0 3,565 19 8 279 15 0 300 0 0 4,571 0 0 210 0 0 90 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 191 0 0 103 2 6 129 17 6 118 0 0 600 0 0 246 17 6 30 8 7 70 8 11 199 0 0 56 0 0 1,965 17 2 400 0 0 300 0 0 399 17 5 149 19 10 718 7 8 782 6 8 604 4 2 200 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 129 6 11 100 0 0 444 11 5 99 18 9 20 0 0 50 0 0 199 12 6 100 0 0 5 11 0 149 5 6

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170

List of Works on Goldfields, &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued. Hatter's Terraee-Haupiri Upper Waiotahi Road .. Inland from Omahu Gannon's to Painkiller Netherton Road Repairs, Tapu Creek Road Repairs, Karaka Creek Road.. .. Gravelling road through Mr. Adams's property Gravelling Onamalutu Track Road to Fenian Creek, Karamea Westport and Mokihinui Railway-line to Jones's Creek Footbridge, No Town Creek Wood's Creek Bridge Maori Creek Bridge Main South Road to Mikonui Beach .. .. ... River-protection works, Te Aroha Drains, Maratoto Repairs, Mata Bridge Roads, Tauranga County Re-metalling Wakamarina Road Pakawau Bush Road Scott's Creek Bridge Richmond-Collingwood Deadman's Creek-Christmas Terrace Denniston-Cascade Creek .. Big Totara River Bridge Little Totara River Bridge Twins Road .. .. . • Track up Four-mile and Nile Rivers Culverts, Devil's Creek Moonl igh t-Paparoa Footbridges, Cobden-Seven-mile Road Grey River-Moonlight Bridge, Brandy Jack's Creek Track up Ten-mile Creek Road, Cobden to Warren's and Ten-mile Bluff to Barrytown Cape Terrace Road continuation Lake Brunner Road to Maori Creek Hampden to Horse Terrace Track to Adamstown Brunnerton-Paparoa Waikupakupa Ocean Beach to Main Road Totara River to Farmer's Creek Doughboy Road Widening and repairing Lamplough Track Extension, Gillam's Gully Track Adair's Track, Mahinapua Road Mahinapua and South Terrace Track .. Veronica Creek Track Waipori-Berwick Road Roxburgh-Clyde .. Orepuki-Block I., Longwood Tableland horse-track Landing Creek Bridge Walker's Creek Bridge Greenstone-Teremakau Bell Hill Road Bridge over Kanieri River Main South Road to Mikonui Beach Deviation, Larrikin's Road Pine-tree Road Wire Bridge, German Gully Track Road formation, Waitekauri to Cross Road Bridge, Mariposa Battery Road Crosbie Settlement Road Waitaia Battery-site to Low Level Repairs, Tauranga-Te Puke Roekville-Slate River Aorere Main Road, gravelling Femtown footbridges and gravelling Swamp Road, Ferntown Clearing slips, Seventeen-mile Bluff Clearing slips, Nelson-Grey-Ross Road Bridges over Raleigh Creek (3) Hampden Cemetery to Schoolhouse, Murchison Squaretown Bridge over Little Grey River Berwick-Waipori, repairs Beaumont-Miller's Flat Track to Police-station, Seddonville Improving track, Sealer's Creek Kiripaka to Coal-mines Waiorongomai Road Tiki-Opitonui £ a. d. 200 0 0 492 10 0 400 0 0 196 10 6 28 14 6 66 0 0 40 0 0 1C0 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 80 0 0 50 0 0 15 15 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 1,226 17 5 500 0 0 425 0 0 170 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 350 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 342 10 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 3,450 18 6 375 4 0 50 0 0 100 8 0 194 13 0 300 0 0 145 15 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 1,976 18 9 500 0 0 500 0 0 199 9 3 289 16 6 214 12 2 240 0 3 199 9 4 94 5 0 84 15 0 1,375 4 2 45 10 7 89 19 6 271 11 11 24 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 2 6 51 0 0 60 0 0 48 0 0 30 0 0 150 0 0 115 0 0 324 10 0 345 1 6 75 0 0 75 0 0 250 0 0 37 19 2 49 12 8 80 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 £ s. d. 200 0 0 492 10 0 400 0 0 190 10 6 28 14 6 66 0 0 40 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 80 0 0 50 0 0 15 15 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 6 1,226 17 0 500 0 5 425 0 0 170 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 350 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 342 10 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 3,450 18 0 375 4 6 50 0 0 100 8 0 194 13 0 300 0 0 145 15 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 1,976 18 0 500 0 9 500 0 0 199 9 0 289 16 3 214 12 6 240 0 2 199 9 3 94 5 4 84 15 0 1,375 4 0 45 10 2 89 19 7 271 11 11 24 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 25 2 6 51 0 0 60 0 0 48 0 0 30 0 0 150 0 0 115 0 0 324 10 0 345 1 6 75 0 0 75 0 0 250 0 0 37 19 2 49 12 8 80 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0

171

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List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Amount of it, r , rr„ = * Contribution Total Cost. pai(J by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department — continued. Taumatawahine Bridge Cemetery Road, Kuaotunu Tiki-Matawai Puriri-Tairua Beach Road, Thames Puru Creek Road Tararu Creek Bridge Turua-Netherton Te Aroha Bridge .. Bartlett's Creek Road Mount Patriarch Road Takaka River Footbridge Karamea Track Bainham-Upper Aorere Shaggery Road Seddonville-Mokihinui Mokihinui to Reefs, widening Mokihinui to Wanganui, improving Lyell-Victoria Range Nile Saddle-Maori Creek Seddonville-Cardiff Painkiller-Murray Creek Little Grey River Bridge Improving crossings, Waitahu River and Road, up Kirwan's Creek Fagan's Creek, Barrytown, to Paparoa Nelson Creek Bridge Callaghan's Creek Bridge Mosquito-Maori Creek Deviation, Westbrook-Teremakau Bridge, Cobden-Brunner Road Moonlight Track, deviation Totara River to Constitution Hill Teremakau-Paroa Back Creek Road, deviation Blue Spur Creek Bridge .. .. ■ • Young Hill Creek Rgad Repairs to road between Sections 17 and 45, Waikaka Skippers-Bullendale Wangapeka-Wanganui Okuru River Ford Track Gillespie's Bluff Track Maori River Road Clifden Bridge, Waiau Whangamata Harbour to Wentworth Waiorongomai-Gordon Easing grade Kahika Hill Bartlett's Creek-Cat Point Bridges, Dead Horse and Walker's Creeks Black Creek Bridge Wharton's Dam to Deep Creek Piano Flat Company's Track Waikaia-Whitecomb (repairs) Mangles Bridge Karangarua Bridge Repairs Donnelly's Creek Bridge Waiau Bridge to Old Mill-site Donnelly's Bridge Sullivan's Creek Bridge Rings Road Bridge Railway-stations Roads Matatoke Outfall-drain Komata Reefs-Paeroa Grace Darling Road Komata Creek Road Waitekauri Creek Bridge Papamoa-Te Puke Tauranga-Te Puke Slate River Road Motupipi Bridge Tracks, Wakamarina and Mahakipawa Promised Land-Ohinemuri Creek Fairdown to Beaoh Paparoa River Track Capleston-Larry's Blaokball-Paparoi Coal Creek Bridge Totara Flat Road Dowling Creek Bridge Granite Creek Bridge Blackball Road (improvements) Sunny Bight Track (widening) Callery Track and Wire Bridge Mikonui River approaches .. £ s. d. 300 0 0 100 0 0 45 0 0 1,135 14 6 100 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 449 4 7 200 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 920 0 0 500 0 0 600 0 0 450 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 844 7 6 400 0 0 450 0 0 425 0 0 950 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 125 10 0 140 0 0 123 1 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 29 8 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 2,324 17 2 342 18 8 151 14 1 149 19 6 1,115 3 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 75 0 0 200 0 0 25 0 0 75 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 4,323 4 8 448 13 6 440 1 3 150 0 0 136 10 0 164 0 0 325 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 392 0 0 150 0 0 160 0 0 275 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 46 16 6 400 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 415 0 0 1,686 10 0 538 0 0 100 0 0 175 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 £ s. d. 300 0 0 100 0 0 45 0 0 1,135 14 6 100 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 449 4 7 200 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 920 0 0 500 0 0 600 0 0 450 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 844 7 6 400 0 0 450 0 0 425 0 0 950 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 125 10 0 140 0 0 123 1 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 29 8 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 2,324 17 2 342 18 8 151 14 1 149 19 6 1,115 3 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 75 0 0 200 0 0 25 0 0 75 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 4,323 4 8 448 13 6 440 1 3 150 0 0 136 10 0 164 0 0 325 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 500 0 0 392 0 0 150 0 0 160 0 0 275 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 46 16 6 400 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 415 0 0 1,686 10 0 538 0 0 100 0 0 175 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 100 0 0

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172

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid bv Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued McKay's Creek Bridge .. ... Haast-Blue River Road Arawata Track Turnbull and Okuru Rivers Traok Waitahuna-Bruce County boundary Clyde-Ophir Nokomai Road Skipper's-Gallant Tip Beale's Hill Road deviation Gore-Waikaka Riversdale-Waikaia .. Charlton Road Orepuki-Shale-works Havelook-Mahakipawa Dee Creek Bridge Cook's River Flat (widening).. Gal way-Bluff Traok Kokotahi Road Donoghue's deviation Mason's Bay Track Granity Creek Bridge Mount Heroules deviation (Great South Road) Bridles Point-Deedwater Waitaia Mine to battery Gumtown Landing to post-office Repairs, track, Thames Road to McLaughlin's Maratoto Road Thames River-Whangamata Cullensville-Waikakaho Boad to Golden Bar Mine Tuamarin a-Kai tuna Neudorf-Ngatimoti Graham Biver Bridge Takaka Bridge protective works .. Takaka Hill Road Cobden-Barrytown (repairs) Brown's Terrace-Kotuku Blackball footbridge approaches Twelve-mile Bluff-Fourteen-mile Bluff Cobden-Point Elizabeth Nelson Creek-Bell Hill Big River-Slatey Creek Big River-St. George Kanieri River Bridge Arrow-Matatapu Bridles Point-Deepwater Blind Bay-Whangaparapara Karaka Creek Road Lower Tairua-Broken Hill Waitekauri-Wharekiraupunga Mill Road Waitekauri-Hill Track Repairs, Kaituna Bridge Lloyd's Valley Road bridges Glenrae-Tadmor Brooklyn Valley Road Oparara River Road, Karamea Bradshaw's Lead Road Fenian Creek Track Karamea River Protective Works Coalbrookdale-Cedar Creek Nile River Bridge, Charleston Deadman's Creek, Brighton .. Caroline Terrace Road Mulliky Creek-Karamea Murray Creek-Waitahu Black's Point Road (widening) Blackball Footbridge (Brunner-Moonlight Road) Barry to wn-Paparoa Eight-mile Creek Bridge Granvilie-Grey River Middle Branch-Styx River Kumara Beach Road-Teremakau Robs Cemetery Road Table Hill-Canada Reefs Beaumont-Rankleburn Clyde-Queenstown White's Reef-Fraser Basin Hawea-Lindis Pass Alexandra Bridge Dairy Creek-Coal-pits Waimumu Claims Road Croydon dredging claims £ s. d. 270 12 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 191 5 1 538 3 10 396 13 6 147 15 10 451 2 5 229 18 6 150 9 6 431 12 0 1,119 4 6 250 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 199 13 10 200 0 0 55 0 0 83 3 0 184 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 1,572 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 249 14 0 30 15 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 844 1 5 100 0 0 150 0 0 98 8 6 200 0 0 100 0 0 81 3 6 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 550 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 360 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 568 16 6 1,051 3 3 520 0 0 200 0 0 442 16 10 150 0 0 400 0 0 976 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 1,100 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 750 0 0 88 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 £ s. d. 270 12 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 400 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 191 5 1 538 3 10 396 13 6 147 15 10 451 2 5 229 18 6 150 9 6 431 12 0 1,119 4 6 250 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 199 13 10 200 0 0 55 0 0 83 3 6 184 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 150 0 0 1,572 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 100 0 0 249 14 0 30 15 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 844 1 5 100 0 0 150 0 0 98 8 6 200 0 0 100 0 0 81 3 6 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 550 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 360 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 568 16 6 1,051 3 3 520 0 0 200 0 0 442 16 10 150 0 0 400 0 0 976 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 250 0 0 1,100 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 750 0 0 88 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0

173

C.—3

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued. Glenary Bridge Colac-Round Hill Ross Creek Bridge.. Wangapeka-Kiwi Larry's Creek Bridge (extension) Belgrove-Westport-Reefton Glenroy Bridge Warwick-Maruia Bridge Stafford-Awatuna Stewart Island Road to Mines Roads, Preservation Inlet Tracks, Cromarty Roads, Stewart Island Lake Hochstetter Track Ahaura-Haupiri Ahaura-Orwell Creek Deadman's Creek Bridge Saltwater Creek Bridge Mercury Bay, Hospital Road Coromandel-Mercury Bay Omahu-Whangamata Track to Klondike Mine Rooky Point Road Waitekauri Hill Track Golden Cross Road (repairs) Protective works, Main Road, Karangahake Karangahake-Rotokohu Aorere River Bridge (repairs).. Burning coal-seam, Boatman's Paroa-Teremakau Doolan's Coal-pit Road Ahaura Bridge .. .. .. .. Orwell Creek Bridge Dredging Titri Canal Whakapara-Puhipuhi Macaronic Mine Road Owera Bridge Driving Creek School Bridge Matatoki Road Wharepoa Settlement Road Crosbie Settlement Road Peel's Creek Road Karangahake Track extension Waihi-Tauranga .. Mangakara Creek Bridge Karangah ake-Mangakara Anatoki Track Vants to Bubu Protecting Bridge, Waitapu Milnthorpe Read Pakawau-Puponga Chandler's-Waugapeka Junction Chandler's-Rolling River Tableland Track Lyell-Eight-mile (widening) Canaan Road Addison's Road Virgin Flat Road Blaokwater Traok.. Welshman's Terrace Track .. Fairdown-Waimangaroa Coal Creek Extension Warwick-Maruia Bridge Fairdown Station-Waimangaroa (widening) Justin-Time Track Road to Matakitaki River Bridge Glenroy River Road Waipuna Road Cape Terrace Road Hatter's Terrace-Bell Hill Nelson Creek Bridge, Grey-Marsden Road Nelson Creek Bridge-Hatter's Terrace Maori Creek Bridge Eight-mile Creek Bridge Approaches Moonlight Road Kokatahi Road Doughboy Road Humphrey's-One Mile Milltown Track Deviation Lamplough Track.. Blue Spur Road Bridge Tuoker Flat Road Three-mile Bluff-Okarito Metalling Awatuna Road £ s. d. .. ! 400 0 0 .. 400 0 0 84 18 11 381 0 0 627 11 1 .. 9,393 6 11 916 19 8 7 15 6 2,329 3 11 219 8 2 442 16 8 216 6 3 113 15 1 178 19 7 1,247 18 4 668 9 3 147 7 4 105 14 4 50 0 0 165 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 5 0 0 34 14 6 94 18 8 307 10 0 100 0 0 69 10 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 3,314 14 3 185 12 2 12 0 0 585 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 200 0 0 467 10 0 1,059 1 5 100 0 0 100 0 0 105 0 0 197 3 4 150 0 0 132 7 10 250 0 o 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 40 0 0 750 0 0 250 18 8 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 200 0 0 198 2 10 300 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 925 0 0 400 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 250 0 0 255 0 0 210 2 9 238 8 6 342 15 0 257 0 0 50 0 0 88 15 9 150 0 0 100 0 0 £ s. d. 400 0 0 400 0 0 84 18 11 381 0 0 627 11 1 9,393 6 11 916 19 8 7 15 6 2,329 3 11 219 8 2 442 16 8 216 6 1 113 15 7 178 19 3 1,247 18 4 668 9 1 147 7 1 105 14 4 50 0 0 165 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 5 0 0 34 14 6 94 18 8 307 10 0 100 0 0 69 10 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 3,314 14 3 185 12 2 12 0 0 585 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 200 0 0 467 10 0 1,059 1 5 100 0 0 100 0 0 105 0 0 197 3 4 150 0 0 132 7 10 250 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 40 0 0 750 0 0 250 18 8 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 350 0 0 200 0 0 198 2 10 300 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 925 0 0 400 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 130 0 0 250 0 0 255 0 0 210 2 9 238 8 6 342 15 0 257 0 0 50 0 0 88 15 9 150 0 0 100 0 0

174

C—B

List of Works on Goldfields, &c.— continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost. Amount of Contribution paid by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued. Johnston's Creek Road Extension Waimumu Road Stoney Ford Bridge-Nokomai Waikaia Goldfield Road Waikaia-Whitecomb Waikaka Township-Little Waikaka Parrawa-Nokomai Bridge Stewart Island Road to Mines Karamea Bridge (rebuilding) Westport-Waimangaroa Waipuna Bridge Boatman's Creek Bridge Sawyer's Creek Bridge Potts' Creek Bridge Opitonui Footbridge Gumtown Road Paeroa-Waihi Komata Drain Thompson's Track Waihi-Katikati Caledonian Terrace Track Boatman's Valley Road Bridge Repairs Kaituna Bridge Approaches Moonlight Bridge Repairs Upper Callary Track Lower Ford Track, Wataroa Humphrey's Road Wataroa Bluff Track Gillam's Guily Track Back Creek Road and Bridge Milltown Road Tucker Flat Road Clarendon-Berwick Repairs Great South Road Campion's Road Garvie Burn Road Mataura River Bridge repairs Edge's Coal-pit Road Burke's Creek Bridge Big Ohika Creek Bridge Prospecting-tracks, Rimu Denniston Hill Road Tokatea-Kennedy Bay Coromandel-Kuaotuni via Matarangi Whitianga-Gumtown Wharf Road Extension, Coromandel Mahakirau Goldfield Road Tiki-Te Koumu Waiwawa River Bridge McColl's Creek Bridge Driving Creek-Tokatea Opitonui-Mercury Bay Bridge and approaches, Waitaia Mine Road Swamp Creek Bridge Whangamata-Wentworth .. i ■ Hape Creek Road.. Moanatairi Road Upper Tairua Bridge Kaueranga Suspension-bridge Maratoto Road Paeroa-Waitoa Komata Reefs-Waitekauri Hikutaia-Waitekauri Grace Darling Road Tui Mine Track Karangahake Mountain-track Dividing Range Track Karangahake Hill Track Waitawheta Road deviation Waitekauri Hill Track Waitekauri-Jubilee Te Aroha-Karangahake-Waitawheta Havelock-Tuamarina Cullensville Road and track Bonny Doon Road Kaituna-Ferntown Takaka-Collingwood " Inland " Road Taitapu boundary Track Bainham Bridge Slate River road Thorpe-Churchill Shaggery Road Motueka Valley-Baton £ s. d. 450 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 311 7 6 4.044 6 4 1.045 0 1 260 12 10 3 19 0 246 17 8 330 0 9 90 0 0 824 0 0 570 0 0 100 0 0 4,723 19 11 2,199 16 0 100 0 0 435 0 0 68 16 6 35 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 18 16 6 571 16 1 799 19 7 99 18 1 58 15 6 11 4 3 400 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 245 3 0 886 7 4 75 0 0 5,213 2 7 1,085 0 0 1,921 0 0 859 6 6 1,578 12 6 400 0 0 400 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 440 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 250 13 4 100 0 0 2,135 13 4 405 0 0 1,095 0 0 47 8 9 599 14 0 136 0 0 225 0 0 210 0 0 408 0 0 100 0 0 92 10 0 199 14 0 679 0 0 50 0 0 1,785 17 7 300 0 0 3,773 19 11 200 0 0 578 10 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 & s. d. 450 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 250 0 0 311 7 6 4.044 6 4 1.045 0 1 260 12 10 3 19 0 246 17 8 330 0 9 90 0 0 824 0 0 570 0 0 100 0 0 4,723 19 11 2,199 16 0 100 0 0 435 0 0 68 16 6 35 0 0 50 0 0 50 0 0 18 16 6 571 16 1 799 15 7 99 18 1 58 15 6 11 4 3 400 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 150 0 0 245 3 0 886 7 4 75 0 0 5,213 2 7 1,085 0 0 1,921 0 0 859 6 6 1,578 12 6 400 0 0 400 0 0 500 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 440 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 250 0 0 250 13 4 100 0 0 2,135 13 4 405 0 0 1,095 0 0 47 8 9 599 14 0 136 0 0 225 0 0 210 0 0 408 0 0 100 0 0 92 10 0 199 14 0 679 0 0 50 0 0 1,785 17 7 300 0 0 3,773 19 11 200 0 0 578 10 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0

C—B

175

List of Works on Goldfields &c. — continued.

Locality and Nature of Works. Total Cost Amount of Contribution Paid by Mines Department. Works wholly constructed by Mines Department— continued. Stanley Brook Bridge Lyell Bridge-Ryan's Wilson's Lead Road Granity Creek southwards Costello's Hill Road Addison's Road-Buller Road Mokihinui end of Westport Road Fairdown to Beach Chariest: n-Brighton Millerton-Mine Creek Mokibinui-Ngakawau Waimangaroa-Birchfield L\ell-Denniston Hill Mountain Creek-Addison's Cascade Creek Road Eight Mile-Mokihinui Cedar Creek-Denniston Blackwater-Big River Snowy Crt ek-Reefs Reef ton-Progress Seven-mile Creek-Nine-mile Bluff Moonlight-Blackball Kotuku-Bell Hill Teremakau Bridge-Payne's Waipuna-Mosquito Nelson Creek-Bell Hill Paroa-Teremakau Brown's Creek Bridge-Old Marsden Road Saltwater Creek Bridge Adair's Track (widening) Seven-mile Creek-Taipo Browning's Pass Track Seddon's Terrace Track (extension) Ogilvie's Beach Track Kanieri Forks Boad Duffer's Boad (widening) Kanieri Lake Boad Dillman's Boad-Nos. 4 and 5 Channels Larrikin's Boad Saltwater Track Whitcomb Valley Road Lawrence-Roxburgh Waitabuna-Lawrence Lawrence-County Boundary Beaumont-Rankleburn Beaumont-Miller's Flat Waitahuna-Round Hill Wataroa Gorge Track Nevis Valley Road Cromwell Borough-Lowburn Clyde-Cromwell (repairs) Cromwell-Nevis Crown Terrace-Cardrona Queenstown-Gentle Annie Arthur's Point-Moke Creek Cardrona Coal-pit Road Arrow Falls Road Arthur's Point-Arrowtown Sawyer's Gully Road Road to dredging claims, Waimumu Garston-Nevis (Southland County) Nokomai Saddle Road Waikaka Valley Main Road (repairs) Central Charlton Boad Waikaka to Coal-pit Picton-Grove Hokitika-Jackson's Reefton-Hokitika-Ross Solberg's Hill Upjohn's Hill Main Grey Bridge (repairs) Moonlight Creek Bridge Great South Road Okarito Forks-Waiho Contingencies £ s. d. 300 0 0 1,100 0 0 1,100 0 0 1,550 0 0 1,050 0 0 1,250 0 0 1,050 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 545 0 0 1,050 0 0 600 o 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 600 0 0 750 0 0 300 0 0 1,950 0 0 350 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 500 0 0 1,141 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 430 0 0 1,150 0 0 485 1 0 500 0 0 1,122 9 8 450 0 0 300 0 0 430 0 0 210 6 0 296 1 7 138 9 10 174 13 0 600 0 0 500 0 0 725 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 136 1 10 600 0 0 200 0 0 500 0 0 250 0 6 449 17 0 425 0 0 260 0 0 250 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 3,278 16 3 2,391 11 4 18,474 9 10 49 18 4 174 9 3 2,414 9 11 800 15 7 18,752 18 0 1,960 13 8 1,242 9 3 £ s. d. 300 0 0 1,100 0 0 1,100 0 0 1,550 0 0 1,050 0 0 1,250 0 0 1,050 0 0 200 0 0 400 0 0 545 0 0 1,050 0 0 600 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 450 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 600 0 0 750 0 0 300 0 0 1,950 0 0 350 0 0 500 0 0 200 0 0 150 0 0 500 0 0 1,141 0 0 250 0 0 250 0 0 '130 0 0 1,150 0 0 485 1 0 500 0 0 1,122 9 8 450 0 0 300 0 0 430 0 0 210 6 0 296 1 7 138 9 10 174 13 0 600 0 0 500 0 0 725 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 136 1 10 600 0 0 200 0 0 500 0 0 250 0 0 449 17 0 425 0 0 260 0 0 250 0 0 300 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 300 0 0 200 0 0 200 0 0 100 0 0 150 0 0 3,278 16 3 2,391 11 4 18,474 9 10 49 18 4 174 9 3 2,414 9 11 800 15 7 18,752 18 0 1,960 13 8 1,242 9 3 1415,062 18 8 415,062 18 8

C—3

176

Summary of Works.

Locality and Nature of Works. Amount of Tnt.nl c.nst, Contribution lotal cost. paifl by Mines Department. Total Cost. Roads to open up Mines other than Gold. Aniseed Valley to Champion Copper-mine Richmond Hill to copper-mine Track, Ohinemuri Coal-seam Road, Kanieri Coalfield £ I., d. £ s. d. 4,963 10 6 ' 4,116 10 C 315 16 0 209 4 0 267 3 4 133 11 8 600 0 0 300 0 0 6,146 9 10 I 4,759 6 2. Tracks to open up Mineral Lands. Glory Harbour to Kopaok .. .. .. .. Port Pegasus Track Removing snags and felling timber, Mokau River Ngakawau Footbridge 50 0 0 155 7 6 40 0 0 80 0 7 50 0 0 155 7 6 40 0 0 80 0 7 325 8 1 325 8 1 Repairing Flood-damages. Thames Borough 500 0 0 500 0 0 Artesian-well Boring. Maniototo Plains 800 0 0 800 0 0 Prospecting Deep Levels. Thames-Hauraki Goldfields (Limited), Queen of Beauty shaft Thames-Hauraki Goldfields (Limited), Queen of Beauty shaft, Inspector's fee Purchase of plant, machinery, and properties of Thames-Hauraki Goldfields (Limited) 50,500 0 0 500 0 0 6,099 18 1 25,000 0 0 500 0 0 6,099 18 1 57,099 18 1 31,599 18 1 Resumption of Land for Mining. Resumption of J. Holmes's land at Kumara for a tailings-site Resumption of O'Neil and McCormack's land at Back Creek.. Purchase Cassrell and Bennett's leaseholds, Paeroa Township 300 0 0 562 7 0 2,250 0 0 300 0 C 562 7 0 2,250 0 0 3,112 7 0 3,112 7 0

Roads (subsidised) — Bay of Islands County Coromandel County Te Aroha Town Board Thames County Thames Borough Ohinemuri County Waitoa Road Board Piako County Katikati Road Board Hutt County Marlborough County Waimea County Collingwood County Buller County Inangahua County Grey County Westland County Taieri County Lake County Tuapeka County Cromwell Borough Wallace County Vincent County Maniototo County Fiord County Waitaki County Southland County £ s. a. 2,092 0 0 19,286 3 9 334 0 0 14,054 15 11 3,836 19 2 10,257 17 9 200 0 0 22,498 2 3 507 19 6 959 16 6 1,715 4 0 1,459 8 8 3,681 1 8 11,638 1 4 17,552 14 8 21,019 4 0 11,008 15 6 499 15 0 7,145 6 1 16,195 7 8 500 0 0 1,309 6 0 1,532 0 0 518 10 0 300 0 0 1,841 12 0 2,455 0 0 £ s. d. 1,351 0 0 11,455 15 10 167 0 0 7,934 6 11 2,471 15 0 5,687 8 5 130 0 0 14,691 -6 10 253 18 9 435 17 0 933 18 8 729 14 4 2,144 19 10 6,600 16 8 10,530 17 10 12,773 11 3 0,724 6 10 333 3 4 4,926 14 6 9,063 7 2 250 0 0 662 19 8 850 0 0 332 0 0 200 0 0 20 16 0 1,476 7 4 Diamond and other drills Wharves Aids to prospecting Water-races Drainage and tailings channels Aid towards treatment of ores Roads wholly constructed by Mines Department Roads to open up mines other than gold Tracks to open up mineral lands Repairing flood-damages Artesian-well boring, Maniototo Plains .. Resumption of land for mining Aid towards construction of telephone-lines Prospecting deep levels Water-conservation on goldfields 174,399 1 5 5,170 11 4 435 15 9 80,606 14 10 38,248 6 0 37,266 16 2 3,213 10 6 415,062 18 8 6,146 9 10 325 8 1 500 0 0 800 0 0 3,112 7 0 60 0 0 57,099 18 1 22,978 1 6 845,425 19 2 103,132 2 2 3,428 11 4 285 15 9 30,879 7 9 34,862 13 8 23,978 1 9 2,563 10 6 415,062 18 8 4,759 6 2 325 8 1 500 0 0 800 0 0 3,112 7 0 50 0 0 31,599 18 1 21,978 1 6 677,318 2 5

177

r\ _ a

Return showing the Value of the Sales of Water, and Expenditure on, and Collateral Advantages derived from, the Working of the Water-races constructed and maintained by Government during the Year ending 31st March, 1904.

25—C. 3

Name of Water-race. Value of Sales of Water Expenditure on and Maintenance. Channel-fees. Profit or Loss. Cost of Construction. Total Cost of Construction Average Approximate Number of Amount of Men Gold employed. obtained. Value of Gold obtained. Average Weekly Earnings of Men after deducting Value of Sales of Water and Channel-fees. £ a. d. I £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Oz. £ s. d. £ a. d. Waimea Kumara - ■ I 655 5 3 1,466 2 1 718 7 6 1,612 2 10 63 2 3* 146 0 9* 147,463 7 49,741 12 5 1219,169 18 421,964 18 2 J 25-21 33-08 1,989 2,934 7,757 2 0. 11,442 12 0 5 8 0 5 16 3 Kumara Sludge-channel Callaghan's 90,722 10 8 90,722 10 8 Nelson Creek 15,151 15 3 15,151 15 3 Argyle Mikonui Mount Ida Blackstone Hill 1,867 16 11 67 3 9 917 2 0 1,284 18 6 4 8 0 675 16 10 82 18 5 62 15 9 241 5 2 25,927 4 6 25,927 4 6 I 73,123 14 3 73,123 14 3 - 44-00 2-00 1,671 120 6,434 0 0 2 4 2 462 0 0 8 17 3 6,027 15 6 6,027 15 6 18-5 2,189 8,537 2 0 8 6 0 !_ i Totals .. •• i 1,473 10 0 4,473 10 0 4,295 13 8 4,295 13 8 ! 177 16 4 430,122 18 6 j 430,122 18 6 8,903 34,632 16 0 I ;i Loss on working.

C.^-3

178

WARDEN'S COURT TABLES.

No. 1. Statement showing the Revenue of the Goldfields collected in the several Districts of the Colony of New Zealand, for the Period from 1st January to 31st December, 1903.

Business Miners' Licenses, District. I SiSfJL Machine and Bights. Eesidence Sites. Wa.ter- Gold-mining races, Leases, Rents, RegistraSluices, and tion. &c. Royalties. Fees and Wardens' Miscellaneous. Courts. , Totals. Auckland. £ s. d. ■ £ s. d. Coromandel .. 55 15 0 79 0 0 Te Aroha ... 60 0 0 760 9 11 Ohinemuri .. 80 10 0 109 7 11 Thames .. 205 0 0 103 3 5 Whangarei .. 2 10 0 2 5 0 Tauranga .. I 3 15 0 0 2 0 Waihi .. .. \ 138 0 0 £ s. d. 79 0 0 760 9 11 109 7 11 103 3 5 2 5 0 0 2 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. I 280 17 9 j 9 11 0 19 10 0 39 15 8 11 1 0 625 3 0 1,343 5 2 25 15 0 3 15 0 0 6 0 24 10 7 0 6 0 1,660 7 4 31 10 0 19 16 0 ! 3,977 14 6 78 3 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. 31 8 0 2 2 0 14 11 0 2 19 1 59 6 0 875 4 6 56 10 0 I 247 1 11 7 8 14 9 0 13 0 53 12 0 j 415 9 5 |i £ s. a. 458 18 9 908 6 is 11,749 11 5 1,985 15 6 17 11 9 29 12 7 !2,298 18 9 Totals .. I 545 10 0 1,059 8 3 1,059 8 3 215 14 0 1,552 4 8 7,448 10 5 Nelson. Motueka .. 0 10 0 Collingwood .. 16 10 0 10 0 Westport . . ; 90 5 0 3 16 0 Charleston ... 20 0 0 Ahaura .. .. 70 0 0 Reefton.. .. 57 5 0 Wangapeka ,. 3 15 0 Lyell and Mur- ! 22 15 0 0 3 0 chison Takaka .. 2 0 0 11 15 0 10 0 16 0 382 9 11 3 16 0 4 10 0 1,011 11 3 36 7 9 1,737 19 10 2,040 4 8 93 18 9 0 3 0: .. 493 3 10 1 2 0 4 8 0 25 15 0 29 13 0 23 8 0 49 12 0 50 19 0 42 1.6 0 18 0 33 16 0 2 6 0 30 18 0 51 1 6 2 17 0 1 6 3 103 4 11 15 13 0 465 18 11 1,236 10 9 59 4 9 1,889 18 1 2,243 10 7 99 10 9 648 1 7 0 9 0 98 3 9 ! 0 5 0 28 17 2 0 6 0 2 15 0 34 3 2 Totals .. ; 283 0 0 4 19 0 6,692 11 7 283 0 0 4 19 0 6 0 0 5,836 8 2 61 13 0 .201 19 0 298 12 5 i Marlborough. Havelock .. 14 5 0 [ 1 10 0 Blenheim .. 9 0 0 14 5 0 9 0 0 1 10 0 0 15 0 42 3 7 283 13 2 0 15 0 1 14 0 10 0 8 10 0 2 4 0 7 3 3 62 12 7 310 0 5 Totals .. 23 5 0 1 10 0 23 5 0 0 15 0 325 16 9 325 16 9 2 9 0 372 13 0 1 10 0 9 10 0 9 7 3 Westland. Hokitika and Ka- 59 5 0 nieri Greymouth ' .. 116 10 0 Ross .. .. 18 0 0 Stafford.. .. 24 10 0 Okarito .. .. 14 5 0 Kumara .. 59 15 0 59 5 0 116 10 0 18 0 0 24 10 0 14 5 0 59 15 0 1 0 0 761 12 4 1 10 0 1,666 15 2 1 0 0 524 13 8 5 0 0 443 7 2 761 12 4 1,566 15 2 524 13 8 443 7 2 109 9 5 ! 704 4 9 16 14 0 12 17 6 0 18 0 2 8 0 15 7 0 24 > 0 74 10 6 '• 9 8 0 j 34 4 0 6 4 0 28 10 0 2 2 0 2,669 10 10 11 13 0 864 15 4 4,428 16 6 577 12 2 507 14 2 140 7 7 808 15 1 109 9 5 '8 1 2 0 18 4 704 4 9 Totals .. 292 5 0 292 5 0 8 10 0 4,110 2 6 j 47 19 6 176 18 6 12,692 5 4 7,328 0 10 Canterbury. Ashburton .. j 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 Otago and Southland. Middlemarch . . 1 15 0 Tapanui .. 2 10 0 Hindon .. .. 25 5 0 Naseby .. .. 58 15 0 . 16 4 9 Black's .. V Alexandra I I lQQ lg 0 u n 2 Clyde .. Roxburgh j j Cromwell ..I 62 10 0 12 2 0 Queenstown .. 40 0 0 3 10 0 Arrowtown .. 17 5 0 4 0 0 Lawrence .. 56 15 0 0 19 0 Orepuki .. 40 15 0 Riverton and 26 0 0 Longwood Pembroke .. 5 10 0 Waikaia .. 7 5 0 10 4 0 Wyndham .. 2 5 0 Gore .. .. 6 5 0 1 15 0 2 10 0 25 5 0 58 15 0 : 100 15 0 62 10 0 40 0 0 17 5 0 56 15 0 40 15 0 26 0 0 16 4 9 14 11 2 12 2 0 3 10 0 4 0 0 0 19 0 0 5 0 0 9 0 12 10 0 31 5 0 12 10 0 0 10 0 10 0 4 15 0 3 10 0 19 6 6 70 16 Ll 535 12 10 1,688 17 10 ' 785 10 7 482 15 3 276 10 6 944 6 5 7 10 6 443 18 6 0 3 0 0 8 0 0 16 0 0 3 0 30 15 0 21 6 0 0 2 0 0 10 13 0 0 0 6 0 0 8 0 5 14 0 55 9 0 54 1 0 40 15 9 45 2 0 19 7 0 23 7 0 14 3 0 6 4 0 1 11 0 53 14 0 889 2 11 j 259 4 7 10 4 6 8 17 0 7 12 0 17 11 0 16 15 0 5 19 0 23 1 6 104 2 11 732 8 7 2,806 7 U 1,193 18 11 582 3 9 327 0 6 1,050 14 5 79 19 6 492 17 6 5 10 0 7 5 0 2 5 0 6 5 0 10 4 0 1 4 0 0 5 0 0 15 0 4 0 6 329 3 3 23 15 0 248 6 0 1 10 0 0 10 2 14 0 9 15 0 18 2 6 9 10 6 377 3 9 26 6 0 267 19 0 9 14 0 0 5 0 Totals .. 453 10 0 61 10 11 453 10 0 61 10 11 65 8 0 |5,861 0 7 ! ! 70 19 0 284 5 9 1,282 19 6 8,079 13 9 Grand totals .. 1,598 0 0 1127 8 2 100 9 0 20,111 2 6 J261 3 6 888 7 3 1,598 0 0 1127 8 2 5,835 9 2 29,921 19 7

179

C.—3

No. 2. Statement showing the Revenue of the Goldfields collected in the several Districts of the Colony of New Zealand, for the Period from the 1st January to the 31st March, 1904.

«*** RiMs.' Business Licenses, Machine and: Residence Sites Waterraces, Sluices, fte. Gold-mining-Leases, Rents, and Royalties. Registration. Fees and Fines, Wardens' Courts. Misi'».l In neons. Totals. I i Auckland. £ s. d. Thames .. 75 0 0 Te Aroha .. 3 15 0 Coromandel .. 8 5 0 Ohinemuri 19 5 0 Whangarei .. 0 10 0 Tauranga .. 10 0 Waihi 52 10 0 £ s. d. 35 5 9 124 9 8 20 2 0 78 8 0 0 4 0 £ s. d. 0 2 0 £ s. d. 264 1 5 {25 19 2 82 16 4 404 3 6 : 39 7 & t 562 15 7 £ s. d. 6 7 0 2 4 0 1 19 0 0 2 0 12 10 0 £ s. d. 14 1 0 1 3 0 5 10 16 7 0 0 3 0 14 19 0 £ s. d. 67 11 0 0 10 0 1 1 0 240 0 3 4 2 3 1 124 17 7 £ s. d. 462 6 2 158 0 10 119 4 4 758 3 9 44 2 9 1 8 0 767 12 2 Totals .. 160 5 0 258 9 5 258 9 5 0 2 0 1,379 3 6j 23 2 0 51 14 0 438 2 1 2,310 18 0 Nelson. CoUingwood .. 3 10 0 Westport .. 24 15 0 Charleston .. 9 15 0 Ahaura .. 15 10 0 Wangapeka .. 2 10 0 Reefton .. 12 15 0 Lyell and Mur- , 5 10 0 chison Motueka .. 0 5 0 Takaka 0 17 0 0 10 0 1 15 0 178 3 9 190 11 1 13 8 9 472 17 5 47 7 6 539 15 5 61 10 6 1 0 0 4 9 0 0 10 0 3 13 0 3 13 0 10 14 0 11 8 0 0 3 0 13 19 0 4 19 0 4 8 0 10 14 0 17 0 6 50 6 3 191 4 9 249 15 7 23 13 9 503 8 5 50 0 6 583 9 11 122 8 9 o"2 0 0 10 6 0 0 4 8 9 0 2 0 0 5 0 6 5 0 4 15 9 Totals 74 10 0 0 19 0 2 5 0 1,514 3 2 9 15 0 44 16 0 88 14 3 1,735 2 5 Marlborough. lavelock ilenheim 2 15 0 15 0 1 10 0 11 0 3| 54 7 9j 0 7 0 0 10 0 1 12 0 0 8 6 0 5 0 16 0 9 57 19 9 Totals 4 0 0 1 10 0' 65 8 0 0 17 0 1 12 0 0 13 6 74 0 6 Westland. Hokitika and Kanieri Greymouth Ross .. Stafford Kumara Okarito 17 10 0 23 15 0 6 0 0 7 5 0 12 10 0 1 10 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 0 2 5 0 243 7 6 701 12 11 37 17 6 93 11 3 335 15 8 16 1 Oi 4 18 0 5 5 0 0 10 2 6 0 0 12- 0 17 1 0 18 19 6 1 6 0 8 7 0 5 10 0 0 5 0 563 13 8 0 11 1 286 1 6 1,308 0 1 52 19 7 111 9 3 356 1 8 18 3 0 Totals .. 68 10 0 7 10 0 1,428 5 10 13 2 0 51 3 6 564 9 9 2,133 1 1 Otago and Southland. Tapanui .. 0 5 0 Hindon .. 9 5 0 Naseby .. 10 0 0 Roxburgh ) Alexandra , r „ . Clyde 17 ° ° Black's J Pembroke .. 15 0 Cromwell .. 16 15 0 Queenstown .. 6 5 0 Arrowtown .. 5 10 0 Lawrence .. 15 10 0 Waikaia .. 1 15 0 Orepuki .. 7 10 0 Riverton and 6 15 0 Longwood Wyndham .. 0 15 0 Middlemarch .. 0 10 0 Gore .. . . 2 5 0 3 13 0 0 5 0 11 16 0 0 5 0 1 10 0 0 7 0 3 12 0 0 10 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 32 15 0 116 1 5 631 12 11 292 16 5 115 19 11 88 13 8 426 13 2 33 4 3 8 11 0, 167 7 6 0 6 0 0 2 0 6 3 0 0 12 0 3 2 0 10 12 0 21 7 0 6 4 0 3 15 0 3 13 0 6 18 0 5 0 0 1 17 0 0 19 6 0 15 0 10 0 0 167 12 8 302 4 0 1 13 6 18 3 0 0 11 0 42 17 0 150 16 5 847 0 7 1 17 0 634 17 5 127 18 5 117 10 8 452 18 2 46 14 3 22 12 0 179 15 li 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 7 0 2 10 0 4 14 0 4 13 0 0 2 6 3 4 6 118 5 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 11 0 0 2 0 2 10 0 0 5 0 0 18 6 3 18 6 125 16 t) Totals 101 5 0 21 8 0 6 6 0 2,035 7 3 16 7 0 62 17 6 512 10 2 2,756 0 11 Grand totals ,. 408 10 0 282 6 5 16 3 0 6,422 7 9 63 3 0 212 3 0 !l,604 9 9 9,009 2 11

C.—B.

No. 3. Comparative Return of Revenue derived from the Goldfields in the several Districts of New Zealand during the Years 1903 and 1902, showing Increase or Decrease under each Head of Revenue.

180

District. Miners' Rights. B „.i.„. Water- Gold-mining Fees and ieeiisfis raoe9 ' Leases, Regis- Fines, Miscel- '&!• Sluice s, Rents, and tration. Wardens'! laneous. &c. Royalties Courts. Gold Totals Duty. 10tals Auckland— £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Year 1902 609 579 8 4,675 57 167 1,045 22,012 3,01: 12 | 29,152 Year 1903 545 1,059 20 3,978 78 216 1,552 23,475 },47i 15 j 30,923 Increase 480 12 21 49 507 1,463 L,46 53 j 1,771 Decrease 64 697 Nelson — 364 5,388 28 128 832 Year 1902 6,719 21 8 28 Year 1903 283 5 6 5,836 62 62 202 298 6,692 Increase 498 34 34 74 | Decrease 81 16 2 534 27 Marlborough— 395 Year 1902 3 10 8 439 22 1 3 Year 1903 23 2 1 326 2 2 10 9 373 Increase 1 1 1 1 Decrease .. 69 1 1 66 Canterbury— 1 Year 1902 K 2 Year 1903 1 1 Increase Decrease 1 1 Westland— 381 19 4,586 Year 1902 53 3,206 8,401 53 156 Year 1903 292 9 4,110 48 48 177 2,692 7,328 Increase 21 Decrease 89 10 476 5 5 514 1,073 Otago— 379 45 Year 1902 6,538 89 ; 301 1,232 8,639 55 Year 1903 454 62 65 5,861 71 284 1,283 8,080 Increase 75 17 10 51 Decrease 677 18 17 559 Total increase .. 482 11 31 i 127 1,463 ' 45 Total decrease .. 158 1,422 489

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No. 4. Comparative Return of the Total Amounts of Goldfields Revenue (exclusive of Gold Duty) collected in the several Districts during the Years 1903 and 1902 and the Quarters ending 31st March, 1904 and 1903 respectively, showing the Increase or Decrease in respect of each District.

No. 5. Return of Gold Duty credited to Local Bodies for the Year ended 31st December, 1903, and Quarter ended 31st March, 1904.

181

Years 1903 and 1902. Quarters ending 31st March, 1901, and 31st March 1903. District. 1 1908. 1903. Increase. Decrease. 1904. 1903. I Increase. Decrease. Auckland. £ £ £ £ Coromandel .. .. 459 801 .. 342 Te Aroha .. .. 908 574 334 Thames .. ... 1,986 2,076 .. 90 Whangarei .. ... 17 69 .. 52 Ohinemuri .. .. ! 1,749 2,658 .. 909 Tauranga .. -I 30 .. 30 j Waihi.. .. .. 2,299 962 1,337 ] £ 119 158 462 44 758 2 768 £ 165 166 683 6 747 6 759 £ i 165 166 683 6 747 6 759 ! £ £ 46 8 221 38 11 4 9 £ "38 11 9 £ 46 8 221 4 Nelson. Motueka .. .. 16 10 6 .. CoUingwood .. 466 529 .. 63 Westport .. .. 1,236 1,369 .. 133 Charleston .. .. 59 94 .. 35 Ahaura .. .. 1,889 1,849 40 Reefton .. 2,244 2,114 130 Wangapeka .. .. 100 49 51 Lyell and Murchison .. 648 705 .. 57 Takaka .. .. 34 .. 34 6 191 250 24 503 584 50 122 5 7 156 345 23 477 845 35 132 7 156 345 23 477 845 35 132 1 35 95 1 26 261 15 10 5 35 1 26 15 1 35 "95 1 26 15 261 10 5 Marlborough. Havelock .. .. 62 181 .. 69 Blenheim .. .. I 311 308 3 16 58 17 80 17 80 1 22 1 22 Westland. Hokitika .. 1 865 633 282 Kanieri .. ) Greymouth .. .. 4,429 5,567 .. 1,138 Ross .. .. 577 814 .. 237 Stafford and Goldsborough 508 341 167 Okarito .. 140 27 118 .. Kumara .. .. 809 1,019 .. 210 286 1,308 53 112 18 356 309 1,712 235 153 24 141 309 23 404 182 41 6 215 23 1,712 235 153 24 141 215 404 182 41 6 215 Canterbury. Ashburton .. .. 1 2 .. 1 Otago and Southland. Hindon .. 104 106 .. 2 Naseby .. . . 732 614 118 Alexandra .. \ qI " [ 2 - 806 3 > 080 •• 274 Roxburgh .. ) Cromwell .. 1,194 1,358 .. 164 Arrowtown .. .. 327 490 .. 163 Queenstown .. .. 582 519 63 Pembroke .. 10 8 2 Lawrence .. .. 1,051 1,249 .. 198 Waikaia .. .. 377 346 : 31 Tapanui .. .. 23 30 1 7 Orepuki, Preservation,!; - 73 45Q 123 Longwood, and Riverton j Wyndham .. .. 27 69 .. 42 Middlemaroh .. 6 4 2 Gore .. . . 268 316 48 ' 43 151 847 635 117 128 1 453 47 1 202 1 4 126 41 218 1,037 369 151 166 2 429 63 18 220 17 2 150 41 218 1,037 369 151 166 2 429 63 18 2 67 190 266 34 38 1 24 16 17 18 16 2 24 2 266 2 266 24 67 190 34 38 1 24 16 17 220 18 17 2 150 2 16 2 "24 Totals.. .. 29,922 31,340 2,816 4,234 9,009 9,009 - — ! 1 10,106 10,106 649 1,746 649 1,746 Net decrease .. .. .. .. 1,418 1,097 1,097 Net increase I i

Local Body. For the Year ended | For the Quarter ended 31st December, 1903. 31st March, 1904. lOUNTIES — Coromandel Ohinemuri Piako .. Tauianga Thames Whangarei Soroughs— Te Aroha ,. Thames Waihi £ s. d. £ s. d. 968 15 9 2 16 0 5,434 12 11 1,058 15 0 111 14 1 15 0 0 5 9 1,077 14 6 277 19 2 0 5 0 0 13 423 1 1 124 17 6 15,458 17 6 3,716 1 9 Totals .. 23,475 7 10 5,181 14 5

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182

No. 6. RETURN of the Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Duty* for Exportation from New Zealand from 1st April, 1857, to 31st December, 1903.

No. 7. Comparative Return for the Years ended 31st December, 1902 and 1903.

Produce of the Goldfields in During the j Quarter ended 31st Dbobmber, 1903. Entered for Exportation to the 30th September, 1903. Total entered for Exportation from New Zealand to the 31st December. 1903. County or Borough. District. lounty of Thames .. , Ohinemuri.. „ Coromandel „ Piako .. >Auckland iorough of Thames .. 1 Waihi Ireat Barrier Island .. ' j Quantity. Value. 07.. £ , 2,937 12,541 14,451 51,846 4,834 20,354 h 270 1,138 1,091 4,526 11 35,983 125,954 1 26 91 Quantity. Value. Oz. £ Quantity. Value. Oz. £ 59,592 216,450 3,182,104 11,850,727 3,241,690 12,067,177 Wellington Wellington 188 706 18* 706 lounty of Marlborough Marlborough Marlborough 88,626 345,324 88,620 345,324 lounty of Collingwood I NeUol) Waimea .. I I Nelson ! ( 1,373 5,489 (I 6 24 ( 1,373 tl 6 5,489 24 1,379 5,513 1,379 5,513 1,698,738 6,734,205 1,700,117 6,739,718 lounty of Buller .. , Inangahua.. „ Grey Westland .. j-West Coast iorough of Kumara .. j Hokitika .. Ross .. / l-West Coast I , 1,083 4,346 I 16,941 67,765 9,471 37,885 i\ 2,651 10,605 i 19 76 » 495 1,979 1,083 16,941 9,471 2,651 4,346 67,765 37,885 10,605 19 495 76 1,979 30,660 122,656 30,660 122,656 4,870,255 19,381,988 4,900,915 \ 19,504,644 4,900,915 Canterbury 99 Canterbury 99 387 99 387 lounty of Taieri Tuapeka Vincent Maniototo .. Waihemo .. Waitaki Lake .. L,.„ I Wallace .. > 0ta «° Waikouaiti . . Bruce Clutha Fiord Southland .. Stewart Island .1 611 2,47212,764 51,594 13,820 55,045 1,372 5,522 896 3,639 548 2,212 / 1,128 4,581 \ 2,283 9,214 527 M13 3 13 20 81 6,521 26,451 611 12,764 13,820 1,372 896 548 1,128 2,283 2,47251,594 55,045 5,522 3,639 2,212 4,581 9,214 i r •Otago 527 3 20 6,521 2,113 13 81 26,451 40,493 162,937 40,493 162,937 6,133,480 24,327,430 6,133,480 24,327,430 6,173,973 24,490,867 6,173,973 Unknown Unknown 207 824 207 824 207 824 207 Totals i .. I 132,124 507,556 132,124 507,556 15,973,697 62,641,591 15,973,697 62,641,591 16,105,821 63,149,147 16,105,821 63,149,147 * Gold duty abolished in the South island on 3 .st Mirch, 1891, by " The Gold Duty Abolition Act, 1 190."

During the Quarter ended — Totals fo of the Goldfields — in the . 31st March, I 30th June, j30th Septem- ( 31st Decern- n ,. District of ] 1903. 1903. ber, 1903. ' ber, 1903. quantity. Totals for Year 1903. Totals for Year 1902. Value. Quantity. Value. Auckland Marlborough.. Nelson West Coast .. Canterbury .. Otago Oz. 46,447 861 33,623 37,021 i Oz. 68,215 3,916 20,725 46,390 Oz. 58,427 972 1,806 40,233 | Oz. 59,592 30,660 Oz. 232,681 972 7,962 125,241 £ 832,334 3,845 31,710 501,090 Oz. 201,583 601 5,947 118,796 2 181,116 £ 721,977 2,404 23,649 475,272 7 728,124 42,554 40,493 166 ', 458 668!852 Totals for 1903 117,952 139,246 143,992 132,124 533,314 2,037,831 'otals for 1902 98,727 133,676 140,444 135,198 508,045 1,951,433 ' Gold duty abolished hi the Si ith Island on the 31st March. 1891, by "Trie Gold Dut Abolii Sion Act. 1890,"

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183

No. 8. Return of the Quantity and Value of Gold entered for Duty* for Exportation from New Zealand from 1st April, 1857, to 31st March, 1904.

No. 9. Comparative Return for the Quarters ended 31st March, 1904 and 1903.

Produce of the -OLDFIELDS IN During the Entered for Quarter ended Exportation to the 31st Mar., 1904. 31st December, 1903. Total entered for Exportation from New Zealand to j the 31st March, 1904. County or Borough. District. Qu'ntity Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. County of Thames Ohinemuri . . Coromandel .. Piako Borough of Thames Waihi Great Barrier Island .. I ) ( I i Oz. 1,879 9,725 28 13 470 34,922 £ 7,358 34,120 93 40 1,651 121,975 Oz. Oz. £ Wellington 47,037 165,237 3,241,696 12,067,177 3,288,733 12,232,414 County of Marlborough 188 88,626 706 345,324 188 88,933 706 346,552 Marlborough 307 1,228 County of CoUingwood . . Waimea t Nelson I 1,102 19 4,385 72 1,700,117 6,739,718 1,701,238 6,744,175 1,121 4,457 County of Buller Inangahua .. Grey Westland Boroufih of Kumara Hokitika .. Ross - [-West Coast J 3,890 15,320 10,230 4,908 15,517 61,280 40,922 19,633 19,642,868 218 872 Canterbury 34,566 1138,224 4,900,915 19,504,644 4,935,481 County of Taieri Tuapeka Vincent Maniototo .. Waihemo Waitaki Lake Wallace Waikouaiti .. Bruce Clutha Fiord Southland .. Stewart Island 99 387 99 387 i- Otago f 502' 10,219 15,793 2,452 1,161 424 2,087 1,786 2,027 41,352 63,824 9,867 4,687 1,715 8,463 7,196 24,660,335 132 '.538 42 7,454 170 30,129 42,052 i 169,968 6,173,973 24,490,367 6,216,025 Totals .. Unknowu 207 824 207 824 !125,088 479,114 | 16,105,821 63,149,147 16,230,904 63,628,261 iland on 31 st March, 1891, by "The rold Duty Abol ition Act, 1890.' * Gold duty ab dished in the South Ii

Quarter ended list March, 1904. Quarter ended i list March, 1903. District. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Auckland Wellington Marlborough .. Nelson West Coast Canterbury Otago Unknown Oz. 47,037 307 1,121 34,566 £ 165,237 1,228 4,457 138,224 Oz. 46,447 861 33,623 £ 163,501 3,348 184,469 42j 052 169,968 37^021 148,679 Totals 125,083 479,114 117,952 449,997

184

6—B.

No. 10. Statement showing the Price of Gold per Ounce, Price charged per Ton for crushing Quartz or Cement, and Prices charged for Water per Sluice-head per Week, during the Year ending 31st December, 1902.

District. Auckland—Thames .. Coromandel .. Paeroa Pviee n,f finifi Price charged per i Price charged for tier oViru-B Ton lor crushing '. Water per Sluiceper uunce. Q ua rtz or Cement. | head per Week. ._ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 2 16 0 0 5 6 £3 to £4 £2 10s. to £3 2s. 6d. 0 10 0 4 4 0 ; Remarks. • Te Aroha Puhipuhi Tauranga 4 4 0 No public batteries; no water sold. No public batteries. None sold on field. Marlborough—Havelock Blenheim 3 17 0 £3 12s. to £3 15s. 10 0 Nelson— Wangapeka Motueka.. .. .. | Charleston Inangahua CoUingwood Takaka Westport .. Murchison .. ) Lyell .. .. | £3 12s. to £3 15s. 3 14 0 3 19 0 016 250 £3 18s. to £4 4s. 3 14 6 3 14 6 3 17 10 3 17 6 0 10 0 r Westland—Hokitika, Kanieri, and) Waimea .. j Totara and Ross Stafford Greymouth Kumara 3 18 0 .. 2 0 0 3 18 0 3 18 0 .. 1 10 0 3 18 0 0 12 0 0 10 0 3 18 0 .. 10 0 40 in. 20 in. by 2 in. opening. Ahaura Okarito 3 18 6 0 10 0 100 3 18 0 Otago and Southland —Hindon Tuapeka Longwood Preservation and Waiau .. Orepuki and Round Hill .. Arrow (Wakatipu Goldfield) and Queenstown Mount Ida .. \ Macrae's, Hyde .. Hamilton, Serpentine Maerewhenua Cromwell Waikaia Tapanui Wyndham Roxburgh .. ) Clyde and Alexandra Black's .. .. J Gore 3 17 0 3 17 6 .. 3 0 0 3 10 6 3 15 6 3 18 6 3 17 0 080 040 3 17 0 .. 10 0 4 3 17 0 .. 10 0 ! 3 17 0 080 040 3 17 6 .. 1 15 0 3 17 6 £3 16s. to £3 18s. 3 17 0 .. .. J 4 0 0 20 in. by 2 in. 40 in. by 1 in. 20 in. by 2 in., 4 in pressure. I Water used by | owners.

185

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No. 11. Return showing the Average Prices of Provisions and Live-stock for the Year ending 31st December, 1903.

26—C. 3.

Livh-stock. Meat. I a at m | CQ i-s 1 I -a .0) - o as o g XI O is O ft OD t 00 a o o Ph tH IB c rC District. m X 2 x as 1 ' Per 1001b. Per head. Per lb. — Per lb. Per. hhd. Per gall. Per lb. I | Per lb. I Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per Im. bushel. Per head. Per head. Per head. Per head. Per lb. Per lb. Per qt. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per lb. Per gallon. Auckland — Thames Paeroa.. Coromandel Tauranga Te Aroha Waihi .. Marlborough — Blenheim Havelock Nelson — Wangapeka CoUingwood Takaka Inangahua Lyell .. ) Murchison .. J Westport Charleston Ahaura Westland — Stafford .. 1 Waimea .. . f Hokitika and Kanieri Ross Okarito Kumara Greymouth Otago — Hindon Tuapeka Tapanui Cromwell Clyde .. I Alexandra Roxburgh Black's .. j Queenstown Wyndham Arrow (Wakatipu Goldfield) Mount Ida Nenthorn .. J Waikaia Riverton and Orepuki Gore 90/ 80/ 90/ 90/ 80/ 95/ till 17/ 25/ 30/ 17/ 27/6 d. 14 2J 2 2 If /9 1/1 1/ /10-/1 1/1 1/1 /6 /9 /8 /6 /74 /6 /74 /8 1/10 1/6 1/10 1/3-2/ 1/6 1/-1/10 10/6 15/ 14/6 13/6 15/ 14/3 4/ 5/9 4/ 5/6 5/9 4/9 £ 6 6/10-9 6 7-9 6/10-9 7 12/ 10/ £ 9 12-40 15 10 12-40 20-40 15/ 15/-20/ 10/ 17/ 15/-20/ 15/ 40/ 40/-60/ 20/ 30/ 40/-60/ 10/ d. 5 5 4 3-9 5 5 d. 4 44 4 34-6 5 d. 6 6 6 5-8 6 6 d. 3 4 3 3 4 4 d. I 34 24 3 3 24 3 d. 1 1 1 1 1 1 d. 24 3 34 24 24 2/6 1/6 2/ 1/-2/10 1/6 1/-3/ 6/ 5/6 6/ 5/6-6/6 5/6 5/6 15/-20/ 18/ 12/ 18/ 18/ '/9 1/ 84/ 90/ 30/ 28/ 1* 2 /10 /10 /9 /7 n 1/9 I 2/ 10/6 13/ 3/ 6/ 7 5-15 20-40 10-40 10/ 18/ 25/ 5 6 5 6 3 4 3 34 1 1 3 3 1/10 2/ 5/6 6/ 18/ 20/ 95/ 90/ 90/ 30/ 25/ 25/ /6-/7 2 3J 2 /9-/10 Al /H 1/1 /9 /7 /H /9 /8 /8 1/8 1/9-2/6 1/9 2/ 14/ 15/ 11/ 15/ 15/6 il 5/6 4/ 4/6 5-7 6/10-7/10 7 7/10/0 15-30 10-50 7-50 7-70 8/-13/ 12/ 12/ 20/ 10/-60/ 10/-25/ 15/-30/ 50/ 50/ 6 6 5 5-7 5-6 5 6 7 6 5 6 4 4 4 5 3 3 4 3 1 2 1 1 3 4 3 3 2/-3/ 1/10-2/6 2/ 2/ 2/ 1/9 1/10 2/ 7/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 16/ 12/ 15/-24 10/ 110/ 26/ 2J I 1/2 1/ /9 « I 7/ 5/10/0 7/10/0 7 6-12 20 16/ < H 6 4 4 2 34 20/ 80/ 80/ 112/6 26/ 26/ 25/ 2 2 1/ 1/ /9 : 1/ /9 /7 /8 /8 2/ 2/ 2/ 12/6 12/9 16/ 5/ 5/6 6/ 15/ 5/ 5/ 25 15 15-60 16/ 20/ 15/ 60/ 50/ 20/-60/ 6 6 5 5 6 5 6 6 7 5 6 4 3 4 3 1 1 2 2$ 3 3 5/6 6/ 5/6-6/6 16/6 16/ 15/ 100/ 85/ 120/ 120/ 85/ 90/ 30/ 2 1/ /8 1/6-/2 7/ 5/6 9 5/ 20 17/6 40/ 40/ 50/ 6 6 8 6 3 l 3 24 3 3 3 24 2/ 2/6 2/4 3/ 1/9 2/ 5/6-6/6 26/ 25/ 25/ 30/ 23/6 26/ IS 2 3 2 /8 1/3 1/6 1/3 1/2 /7 1/ ii 1/1 /7 /8 /9 /8 /7 1/6 4/ 1/9 1/6 1/9 11/6 13/6 17/ 17/ 11/ 4/ 5/ 6/6 6/ 5/ 7 8 7-9 8-13 3-9/10 10/ 35 10-60 16-45 9-40 9-43 15/ 15/ 20/ 19/ 9/-15/ 45/-100/ 18/-65/ 4 8 54 8 4-8 5 6 64 8 4-7 7 10 8 7 6 6 6 4 24 24 5 24 24 l 2 2 1 li 5/6 6/ 5/ 15/ 20/ 15/ 16/6 90/ .. I 26/ 2 14 14 2 1/3 1/ /8 1/3 /10-1/ /io /8 1/ /9 /6 /74 /9 1/3 1/10 1/H 1/9 16/ 9/ 10/6 - 10/ 3/6 3/ 3/6 6-12 6 7 9 12-40 20-50 35 15-60 12/-16/I 10/ 16/ 12/6-25/ 30/ 40/ 40/ 4-8 6 4 7 44 4 4 6 o | 44 6 4 ' 31 34, 4 34 2 3 3 14 1 1 34l 3 I 2 34 2/ 1/10 1/10 2/ 6/ 5/6 5/10 5-7/6 18/ 100/ 27/ 18/ 100/ 28/ 2 1/3 1/ /7 1/9 12/6 5/6 3-8 10-50 14/ 45/ 5 7 5 i4' 3 2/ 57-7/ 18/ 85/ 90/ 90/ 29/ 35/ 30/ 1| 14 1J 1/ /9 1/ /io /8 /io /8 /7 /9 1/8 1/7 1/6 13/ 11/ 14/ 14/ 2/6 3/ 3/ 4/ 5 8 7 15-40 25 20-45 18/ 15/ 18/ 60/ 20/ 60/ 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 8 4 4 4 3 4 1 1 1 3 24 3 2/ 1/9 2/ 7/ ' 5/6 7/ 26/ 20/ 26/ 102/ 90/ 83/ 27/-42/ 34 1/2 /H /8 1/9 2/ 2/ 1/8 7-10 12-45 15/-20/ 12/6-21/ 16/ 17/6 50/-60/ 2S/-45/ 45/ 40/ 64-74 5-6 6-7 4; 3 2 3 1/6-2/4 5/3-8/ 18/-25/ 30/ 86/ 2 14 ii I 1/ IS AO /8 /6 /9 /8 /8 7/ 11/ 11/ 3/6 6-10 5 10 10-40 25 50 7 5 6 6 4 5 6 6 44 4 3 3 4 24 24 2 l 4 3 24 1/9-3/ 1/9 2/ 6/ 5/ 5/ 21/

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186

No. 12. Table showing the Average Rate of Wages per Week for the Year ending 31st December, 1903.

District. General Managers. Legal Managers. Mining Managers. Engineers. Enginedrivers. Stokers. Blacksmiths. Carpenters. Miners. Labourers. Boys. Agricultural Labourers. Domestic Servants. Chinese. Auckland— Coromandel Thames Te Aroha Paeroa Tauranga Waihi £ s. d. £410s. to £9 £500to.£1000 500 0 0 .£150tOnei200 £ s. d. £l/10-£2/10 £1 to £2 £ s. d. £3 to £4 £3 to £5 5 0 0 £4 to £10 4 10 0 £4 to £S £ s. d. 3 0 0 £3 to £3/10 4 10 0 £4 to £8 3 10 0 £4 to £6 £ s. d. 2 14 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 £2/10 to £3 3 0 0 £2/10 to £3 £ s. d. 2 5 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 £2/5-£2/ll 2 5 0 £2/5-£2/ll £ s. d. 2 14 0 2 8 0 3 3 0 £2/14 to £3 2 10 0 £2/14 to £3 £ s. d. 2 14 0 3 0 0 3 3 0 £2/17 to £3/10 3 0 0 £2/17 to £3 £ s. d. 2 8 0 2 5 0 £2/11 to £3 £2/8 to £3/10 2 14 0 £2/8 to £3 £ s. d. 2 5 0 2 2 0 2 8 0 £2 to £2/10 2 2 0 £2/5 to £2/8 £ s. d. 14 0 5/ to 30/ 1 10 0 £1 to £2 0 15 0 1 10 0 £ s. d. £ s. d. 1 10 0 1 16 0 £1/10 to £2 10/ to £1/10 15 0 1 16 0 9/ 5/ to 10/ 10/ to 15/ 10/ to 17/6 12/ 12/6 £1 to £2 £1 to £2 Marlborough — Havelock Blenheim 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 14 0 2 8 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 2 8 0 £2/2 to £2/8 12/ to £1 £1/15 to £2 £1 and found 12/ to 20/ 8/ to 20/ Nelson — CoUingwood Takaka Inangahua Charleston Westport Lyell and Murchison .. Ahaura ! £8 to £10 £8 to £10 5 0 0 £4 to £10 5 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 £3/10 to £4 3 0 0 4 0 0 3 12 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 £3/10 to £4 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 2 10 0 3 6 0 2 8 0 £3/10 to £4 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 10 0 3 6 0 2 14 0 £3/10 to £4 3 10 0 3 12 0 3 5 0 3 12 0 2 17 0 2 11 0 £2/17 to £3 3 0 0 2 14 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 £2/2 to £2/8 2 11 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 15/and found 10 0 15/ and found 1 10 0 10 0 1 10 0 £2/5 to £3 £1/5 & found £1 to £1/5 £1/ & found 10/ to 20/ 7/ to 10/ 5/ to 20/ 10/ 12/ to 20/ 10/ 12/6 £1 to £2 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 2 15 0 3 0 0 10/ to 20/ £1 to £1/5 4 0 0 4 0 0 015 0 15 0 10 0 Westland — Waimea and Stafford .. Hokitika and Kanieri .. Ross Kumara Greymouth 8 0 0 6 0 0 3 0 0 1 10 0 17 0 2 0 0 £1 to £1/10 5 0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 £4 to £6 3 10 0 4 0 0 4 10 0 3 10 0 £3 to £5 4 0 0 3 0 0 3 12 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 10 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 £3 to £3/15 4 4 0 3 0 0 4 4 0 3 0 0 £3 to £4 £3 to £3/18 4 4 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 £2/10 to £3 2 8 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 2 18 0 £2/2 to £3 2 14 0 0 15 0 1 16 0 1 10 0 10 0 8/ to 20/ 2 8 0 1 16 0 15 0 1 16 0 10/ 10/ 9/ 7/ to 20/ 7/6 to 20/ 10/ 2 10 0 20/-30/'found £1/2 & found 25/-30/ found , Otago and Southland — Hindon Tuapeka Tapanui Cromwell Clyde .. | Alexandra Black's Roxburgh .. ) Waikaia Orepuki and Riverton .. Arrow Queenstown Mount Ida Gore Wyndham 5 0 0 £4 to £6 4 10 0 I 1 10 0 2 0 0 £1 to £4 15 0 5 0 0 3 10 0 4 10 0 4 10 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 10 0 4 10 0 4 0 0 2 14 0 2 10 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 2 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 3 0 0 £3 to £3/12 4 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 £3 to £3/10 4 0 0 £2/8 to £2/14 2 2 0 2 15 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 £2/8 to £2/14 2 8 0 0 10 0 10 0 15/ to £1/10 10 0 10 0 £1/5 to £1/10 15 0 10 0 2 2 0 15/ to 35/ and found £1/5 & found 10/ to 14/ 13/ 6/ to 20/ 12/6 to 15/ 5 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 1 13 0 2 10 0 2 10 0 4 0 0 3 3 0 4 10 0 4 10 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 2 10 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 3 10 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 14 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 1 10 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 £2/2 to £2/8 2 8 0 2 2 0 0 15 0 10 0 15 0 15 0 10/ to 15/found 10 0 0 6 0 18 0 18 0 £1 and found 10 0 12/6 10/ 14/ 14/ 7/ to 12, 10/ 15 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 2 8 0 1 10 6 1 10 0 20/-25/ found 2 2 0 2 2 0 •• •• 0 15 0 • •

No. 13. Number of Machines employed in Alluvial and Quartz Mining, and the Value thereof, for the Year ending 31st December, 1902.

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187

.chi emplo; red Ln Allu ial Bull lg. Machii lery em] iloyi id i; Qui lini Ing. iner; DUtrict. Steamengines employed winding, crushing, &c. 8 fl cd 3 M 3 -O -3 3 Ph 3 in S ca 6 '3 $ as a * cd ag °-? _ as S'3 .S3 a 3 CD I rH 0 IS v ■ o W 3 I >. w ■sis a-o ca cd So la c§a Ji CO 3 . "a Trt Hi 3 £ m a-3 a 02 0"! 8 .5 rO q 2 ir> a "d o 'X Steamengines employed winding, crushing, &c. CO* 1) a 1 s 2 CO 3 6 CO 'd al CD XI i EG ED % 9 X S 9 ea fe cc >, 9 a rH 0 VI 5. X is Approximate Value of all Mining Plant included in this Eeturn. AggreNo. gate P-P. to ft I Vl Pi 3 a fc CO 9 5l <s o H Q CO o 1 9 fi AggreNo. gate 09 3 ,4 CO -id o E 3 Q fl cS h3 fa 9 n .UOKLAND — Paeroa Coromandel Thames Te Aroha Waihi ••! •• 16 24 27 1,342 706 1,252 11 305 168 462 10 5 £ 149,710 94,896 179,892 154 25 3,594 6,894 "4 345 9 257, 640 682,138 Totals 92 15 1,280 24 154 Iarlborough— Wakamarina Cullen's Creek Waikakaho Blenheim 20 1,000 2 1 ] 1 2 20 7,000 Totals 22 1 I 1 1 2 20 8,000 ,elson — Wangapeka CoUingwood Takaka Inangahua Charleston Lyell Murchison Westport Ahaura 4 .. 94 88 455 35 700 "4 1 10 3 71 6 8 20 500 1 'fi 16 2 30 16 800 2 22 2 "28 '440 "30 i 28 2 3 65 10,000 55,000 216,362 650 30,000 20,000 11,500 120,000 1 5 1 4 22 17 3 2 14 11 3 2 .. Totals 11 619 38 33 32 816 31 521 34 2 3 651 463,512 i 1,366 Vestland — Stafford Ross Hokitika and Kanieri Greymouth Kumara 3 81 : 8,000 20 60 160 155 7 i 100 13 4 6 8 3 40,000 29,300 10,000 68,210 25,050 609 90 28 ■1 9 14 1 2 1 4 2 Totals 1 4 3 8 8,395 10 812 32 21 20 1 8 2 3 172,560 •• •■ I Itago and Southland Tapanui Hindon Tuapeka Cromwell Clyde and Alexandra Roxburgh Black's Orepuki, Riverton, and Preservation Waikaia (Switzers) Arrow Queenstown Naseby Kyeburn and Clarke's Hamilton's and Sowburn Hyde and Pullerton's Macrae's, Strath Taieri, and Shag Valley Serpentine St. Bathan's, Ida Valley, &c. Gore 1" 2 1 •■ I 27 4 2 500 1,590 275 150 20 400 "I 5 40 10 25 8 28 12 50 2! 2 2 22 25 53 1 10 2 2 i 1 1 3I "s i 16 16 30 32 4 8 1 3 4 1 5 5 15 30 15! 20 "io! 15! 2 l l i 3,000 710 90,000 150,000 320,000 6,000 40,000 6,000 45,000 117 52 64,815 41 67 47I 31 72,000 7 •• i •• Totals 38 i 3,052 5 151 1 I 2 I I 17 153 28 162' ! — 11 1 1 1 797,525 41i 240 SUMMARY. .uckland .. Iarlborough lelson Vestland )tago Totals '.. i 4 ..4 38 ..5 42 I 41 .. .'.' "22 .. .. 1,366 3 8 8,395 .. 2 3,052 3 1012,835 11 10 7 l .. 619 .. 812 32 240 5 1 38 21 151 .. 92 ! 6,894 ..: l .. .. .. .. .. .. 33 .. 32 816 20 1 8 2j .. .. .. 1 .. 2 17 153 20 8 41 4141 7,863 I I 15 1,280 24 .. 1 20 .. .. 31 523! 31 2 .. .. i 3 .. 28 162; 11 1 76 1,985' 69 3 3 i i 154 65 682,138 8,000 463,512 172,560 797,525 41 28 1,672 37 211 4 |219 2,123,73!

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No. 14. Table showing approximately the Number, Description, and Value of the Water-races, Tail-races, Dams, Reservoirs, and Ground-sluices in Operation during the Year ending 31st December, 1903.

188

Wal :er-races. Tail ■races. D, ims. Hesi irvoirs. G-roum [-sluices. Distriot. Approximate Total Cost. No. Length in Miles. No. of Sluiceheads. Approximato Cost. I No. Approximate Cost. No. Approximate Cost. No. Approximate Cost. No. Approximate Cost. Auckland — Coromandel Thames.. Te Aroha Paeroa .. £ 4,500 58,000 3,000 120,946 £ 510, 770. 200 5,000 1 £ 50 5,000 £ £ 5,060 64,130 3,200 129,946 6 19 1 166 6 25 3 197 21 160 15 2,451 '7 360 3 70 1 35 3 2 1 1,000 3 3,000 Totals 192 8,050 202,336 231 2,647 186,446 1,360 109 6,480 Marlborough— Blenheim Havelock 27 11 21 7 128 21 3,300 500 9 165 6 2 : 3,465 640 "51 '20 90 Totals 38 28 149 3,800 165 50 20 90 4,105 Nelson — Wangapeka, Baton, and Sherry CoUingwood Inangahua Charleston Westport Lyell Murchison Ahaura Motueka Takaka 2 106 506 102 241 109 243 175 2 7 4 127 403 131 164 99 188 400 2 5 2 1,079 3,640 480 1,308 280 943 1,500 2 45 250 139,116 162,113 29,504 16,753 9,400 6,750 150,000 50 2,250 2 70 544 117 186 24 72 75 100 7,995 52,935 10,337 24,347 2,425 2,575 17,400 75 623 297 396 22 60 75 2 6 •• 10,984i 23,336 9,297; 13,480 2,250l 3,750| 2,709: 10 60J 1 6 86 50 380 400 158,095 238,384 49,518 54,580 14,075 13,075 170,109 60 2,410 6 ioo 6 Totals 1,493 1,523 9,279 516,186 |l,09l 118,214! 1,556 65,876; 99 430 700,706 Westland — Hokitika & Kanieri Ross Kumara Greymouth Okarito Stafford.. 308 143 200 498 13 220 200 115 109 435 10 310 646 520 466 2,005 87 500 152,000 59,505 60,033 16,957 5,300 31,000 129 160 193 817 1 220 3,400 1,500 1,550 19,333 24 10,100 312 76 69 1,025 1 310 3,140 2,050 4,750 13,821 20 5,400 ii 7,000 6 30 TOO 600 158,540 63,755 73,933 50,111 6,844 52,500 10 2,000 1 2 1,500 4,000 Totals 1,382 1,179 4,224 324,795 1,520 35,907 Jl,793 29,181 21 9,000 39 6,800 405,683 Otago and Southland — Hindon Tuapeka Tapanui • .. Clyde, Alexandra, Black's, and Roxburgh Arrow Cromwell Waikaia Riverton and Orepuki Queenstown Naseby Kyeburn & Clarke's Hamilton's and Sowburn Hyde & Pullerton's Macrae's, Strath Taieri, and Shag Valley Serpentine St. Bathan's and Ida Valley Wyndham Gore 25 325 2 630 97 564: 230i 122! 144! 25 910 1,500 176 1,459 400 194 234 100 1,830 8 2,680 196 2,262 900 607 883 5,000 17,800 185 90,000 13,971 104,440 40,000 22,811 56,455 5 430 340 132 312 200 10 159 70 9,000 16,000 4,773! 14,688, 2,000[ 5,045 9,950| 3 315 150 25 239 120 45 42 351 8,000 17,500 14,000 11,280 240 1,087 1,745 2 7,500 20 5 31 60 5,452 34,800 185 131,000 32,744 130,408 42,300 28,943 68,150 20,010| 770 |l,927 2,777 '77 57,772 7581 23,470 366 101,252 21 2 16 7 33 1,900 9 350 "l 1,900 390 40: Totals ,932j 6,852 12,285 410,684 2,3461 84,996 il,306 74,253 7,500 25 m 577,524 sum: ARY. Auckland .. Marlborough Nelson Westland .. Otago .. 192 231 .. ! 38 28 .. 1,493:1,523 .. 1,3821,179 .. j 2,932 6,852 2,647 186,446 8l 149 3,800 9 9,279 516,1861,096 4,224 324,7951,520 12,285 410,684 2,346 [ 1,360 109 165 8 118,2141,556 35, 793 84,9961,306 6,480 50 65,876 29,181 74,253 8 21 2 8,050 20 .. 99 9,000 39 7,500 25 90 430 6,800 91 202,336 4,105 700,706 405,683 577,524 .. j 6,037 28,584 1,441,911:4,979 240,642 4,772 4,772 175,840' 31 24,550 I 183 Totals 9,813 28,584 7,411 1,890,354

189

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No. 15. Return of Cases in the Wardens' Courts, and Costs awarded, for the Year ending 31st December, 1902.

District. Number of Mining Disputes adjudicated on. Aggregate Amount of Value. Claimed. j Kecovered. Amount of Costs awarded. S OStrs) fA ills sill Auckland — Coromandel Thames Te Aroha Paeroa Waihi 5 12 11 41 19 £ s. d. 27 4 0 802 0 7 65 1 11 283 1 6 471 9 6 £ s. d. 8 16 0 707 13 4 12 3 11 244 18 10 13 11 3 £ s. d. 14 7 0 19 4 0 0 11 0 38 6 9 39 16 8 •j i Marlborough 6 4 12 6 4 12 6 9 6 0 2 Nelson— Inangahua CoUingwood Lyell and Murchison Westport Charleston Takaka Wangapeka 5 5 31 35 1,084 0 0 142 17 5 360 9 3 941 10 10 82 13 0 131 0 5 42 9 3 653 14 4 14 3 4 11 14 6 15 1 0 76 14 2 4 1 1 ioo'o 0 9 17 6 917 6 Westland — Kumara Greymouth .. Hokitika and Kanieri Stafford Ross Ahaura Okarito 17 27 37 6 214 6 2 1,170 8 1 196 11 2 275 0 0 200 6 2 803 2 1 50 0 0 6 6 5 13 7 0 29 16 0 21 17 0 11 1 77 24 449 15 6 427 - 8 9 22"6 4 3 Canterbury— Ashburton .. ' Otago and Southland— Tapanui Hindon Tuapeka Cromwell Roxburgh .. .. \ Black's .. .. .. I Clyde and Alexandra .. j Waikaia Orepuki, Longwood, and Riverton .. Arrow (Wakatipu Goldfield) Queenstown Gore Mount Ida Wyndham 1 6 18 38 20 0 0 45'10 0 491 3 6 1,133 19 11 30 0 0 254 2 6 380 9 6 2 10 0 18"3 0 22 8 0 97 0 6 1 5 4 12 19 10 20 80 0 0 669 9 0 83 14 6 265 16 3 430 0 0 360 18 5 40 0 0 55 10 9 83 14 6 57 10 9 180 0 0 190 13 7 14 0 0 6 7 0 5 3 0 7 12 0 12 13 0 84 0 5 4 3 2 7 Totals 446 10,178 17 6 4,664 8 11 602 14 121

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190

No. 16. Return of the Number of Mining Leases or Licenses in Force on the 31st December, 1903, the Extent of Ground leased or held under License, and Rental per Annum.

lining leases. District. No. Gross Acreage. pe Xnum. Auckland— Coromandel Thames Te Aroha Paeroa Puhipuhi Waihi .. 107 130 7 72 14 59 4,001 0 0 6,479 0 2 283 1 27 3,451 1 7 426 0 0 4,593 0 3 £ s. d. 448 1 6 1,267 2 6 61 19 0 1,006 14 0 56 10 0 1,215 12 6 Marlborough— Havelock Blenheim 6 16 652 2 19 865 0 5 82 5 6 267 12 6 Nelson — Collingwood Inangahua Charleston Ahaura Lyell .. Murohison Westport Motueka 6 105 35 38 38 34 938 3 4 5,355 0 2 1,031 1 37 1,258 2 31 1,148 3 23 1,346 2 1 234 15 0 1,076 1 0 122 18 10 343 2 6 305 7 6 404 5 0 Westland — Hokitika and Kanieri Kumara .. Greymouth Ross Okarito 61 51 93 38 16 1,655 2 1 699 1 38 3,946 0 0 1,866 0 0 886 0 0 330 2 6 227 4 0 613 3 6 481 17 6 154 16 6 Otago and Southland — Cromwell Wyndham Black's Clyde and Alexandra Roxburgh Naseby Arrow (Wakatipu Goldfleld) Queenstown Riverton and Orepuki 16 5 [ 130 418 3 6 99 0 0 4,977 0 0 335 13 7 34 7 6 1,606 2 6 137 544 541 44 1,846 0 33 2,122 3 1 3,315 1 22 2,137 0 0 491 4 3 203 2 6 463 4 6 72 11 6 Totals 2,343 55,799 3 22 11,905 17 8

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Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Mining Companies Acts, 1891, 1894, and 1900

191

Name of Company. T?om-tt™ Subscribed Ee tfdn a " Capital. Amount Value of Scrip Oanitftl Si yen to Sharecapital ho)ders on W hich paid a u!p y -Cash paid. Number of Shares allotted. Amount paid up per Share. Number Arrears of Calls. present. Number of Men employed Quantity and Value of Gold or Silver produced since Total ExpendiRegistration. ture since j "" Registration. Quantity. Value. Total Amount of Amount of Debts owing Dividends by paid. Company. Quantity. Value. auck: LAND DISTRICT. j£ s. d. j £ £ I £ £ 6,000 5,000 14,250 18,000 18,750 & I £ I 18,000 100,000 95,000 80,000 150,000 Oz. £ £ 1,300 2,923 3,965 24,327 11,335 Arrindell Syndicate (Ltd.) Big Beetle Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) Broken Hill Gold-mining Co. (Ltd,) Bunker's Hill Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Coromandel Freehold Proprietary Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) Eclipse (Ltd.) Golden Belt Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Golden Spark Gold-mming Co. (Ltd.) Harbour View Gold mining Co. (No Liability) .. Hauraki Freeholds (Ltd.) Hauraki No. 2 Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) .. Kuranui Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Mahara Royal Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) May Queen Extended Gold - mining Co. (No Liability) New Eclipse Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) New Four-in-hand Hold-mining Co. (Ltd.) New Una Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Old Alburnia Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) .. Old Hauraki Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Pride of Waihi Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Puru Consolidated Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Rising Sun Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) Sunbeam Gold- and Silver-mining Co. (Ltd.) Tairua Broken Hills Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Thames Talisman Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Victoria Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) Waihi Beach United Gold - mining Co. (No Liability) Waihi Consolidated (Ltd.) Waihi Consols Gold mining Co. (Ltd.).. Waihi Extended Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Waihi South Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Waihui Gold mining Co. (No Liability) Waiotahi Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) White Star Gold-mining Co. (No Liability) 30/6/03 31/7/01 16/1/95 21/6/95 11/11/95 2,077 3,554 11,000 10,312 250 6,000 0 0 5J 0 0 9| 112 5/ & 3/ 10 0 0 0J 16 89 121 315 172 7 9 5 503 4^820 1,507 14|688 1,303 50 17 71 15 115 19/11/98 12/8/02 17/11/03 15/4/03 25/1/99 10/7/95 12/9/95 9/4/03 12/11/95 7,500 16,000 2,000 1,925 20,000 12,000 15,000 5,132 15,000 6,750 4,976 750 5,250 150,000 160,000 80,000 77,000 400,000 80,000 60,000 102,637 95,000 0 10 Various 909 11 65 44 87 375 16 67 188 108 12 5 8 10 2 7 20 6 15,393 23,014 3,462 117 1,260 1,325 7,460 6,846 5,328 8,124 625 "22 642 1,275 7,151 6,369 1,513 6,688 0 0 2 0 0 9 0 2 6 0 2 3 165 l/&5d. 0 17$ 185 483 1,999 27 767 2,273 1,423 618 66 6 368 1,949 348 1,818 i 1,500 749 _ 9/9/03 30/6/98 10/9/03 25/7/03 31/3/03 15/1/01 17/7/97 16/10/95 30/6/99 12/7/99 28/6/00 2/9/90 12/10/98 10,000 24,567 3,901 11,000 12,500 50,000 24,563 18,000 7,039 14,550 2,900 25,600 6,529 2,717 789 485 2,524 5,000 22,500 125 100,000 131,347 52,010 110,000 100,000 100,000 65,500 89,484 93,850 145,500 58,000 128,000 130,587 6d. & 7d. 200 5/ & 3|d. 65 3d. & 1/0J 41 0 0 5J 226 83 160 93 123 80 163 132 6 5 14 30 2 4 2 2 60 5 10 7 5,989 17,445 2,549 16,445 266 2,487 7,896 1,134 11,339 4,206 1,443 41,441 2,489 26,783 3,173 4,500 104 15 6 1,100 231 27 55 31 290 336 75 1,250 8,000 1,250 7,915 1,900 2,500 0 06 '.'. 0 5 6 956 0 1 2ft 0 10 0 2 0 0 0 8 45 0 3 3J 252 0 0 6 1,352 4^36 1,547 1,250 1,316 14,550 1,883 16,260 71 141 23 143 113 25,753 48,015 19,254 1,600 3,265 13,110 I 92 23/3/00 27/5/03 12/8/95 13/6/95 7/12/00 1/8/71 13/12/03 25,000 12,500 149,967 19,800 2,250 18,000 2,500 597,723 1,042 1,122 15,407 11,348 1,542 15,000 208 15,000 2,500 5,498 7,350 100,000 100,000 149,967 132,000 60,000 6,000 50,000 0 3 2J 3d.,2d.,ld. 112 0 2 9J 28 0 2 10 3 0 7 0 27 2 10 0 0 0 4 22 161 79 396 185 50 47 47 6 4 10 6 6 17 1,928 572 15,764 12,817 1,492 154,177 695 1 115 69 8 33 3 189*715 11 40,200 4 Totals 149,750 99,971 409,882 67,132 6,236 •• 3,550,382 3,173 3,964 293 39,355 312,539

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192

Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Mining Companies Acts, 1891, 1894, and 1900— continued.

Name of Company. Amount R D egist°rl Caftal tion. capital. actua n y paid up. Number Amount >,S5t™ nn wMM, °* Shares paid up holders on wnica „u~«.+„,i „„„ gv..t,5« no Cash paid. allotted, per Share. Number Arrear, of Calls. jfoMers'lt present. Number of Men employed Quantity and Value of Gold or rp . , . . , Silver produced since Total Expendl- .„„?,„+„, „ m , ou •„, t-jg. Snd° f Debt bv ° w,ni Value. **»'"*><»■ paid. Company. Quantity. Value. Al Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Addison's Long Tunnel Gold-mining Oo. (Ltd.) Aldinga Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Alpine Extended Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Amikitea Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd) Atlas Prospecting and Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) .. Belle Vue Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Bignell's No Town Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Big River Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Blaokwater River Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Boatman's Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Britannia Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Buller Junction Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Callaghan's Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Charleston Beach Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Cornwall Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Craig's Freehold Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Daylight Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Feddersen Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Fourteen Mile Beach Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Garden Gully Gold mining Co. (Ltd.) Glenroy Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Bay Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden United DredgiDg Co. (Ltd.) Greenstone Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd) Greenstone Junction Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd. .. Greenstone Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Hokitika River Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Keep-it-Dark Quartz mining Co. (Ltd.) Kells'Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Kirwan's Reward Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Kohikohi Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Kohinoor Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Macleod's Terrace Sluicing and Water-distri-buting Co. (Ltd.) Minerva Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Mokoia Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Mont d'Or Gold-mining and Water-race Co. (Ltd.) Montezuma Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Montgomery's Terrace Hydraulic Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Moonlight Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) Mosquito Gold-dre dging Co. (Ltd.) Mosquito No. 2 Gold dredgiDg Co. (Ltd.) Nelson Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Commissioners' Flat Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Fairdown Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Scotia Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) 13/11/99 24/9/98 23/5/00 25/8/97 20/3/01 4/8/02 17/10/02 10/4/00 11/4/91 27/4/00 28/8/02 3/3/99 8/6/99 25/5/00 18/4/03 18/6/00 20/8/00 15/5/00 5/3/01 25/10/98 8/8/01 4/7/02 13/3/01 7/4/00 10/10/99 22/9/99 22/1/89 31/8/99 2/3/74 7/4/02 8/3/98 27/5/00 15/2/00 4/4/03 £ 8,500 1,457 6,750 25,000 12,500 21,000 3,400 9,000 12,000 9,475 13,180 10,000 8,125 7,500 6,000 9,800 6,500 6,000 11,000 22,000 1,483 2,250 17,930 6,500 9,000 7,500 7,000 12,950 20,000 2,475 56,000 14,667 14.975 12,000 £ 6,700 1,362 6,750 9,377 8,411 394 3,160 4,840 8,845 8,892 6,100 1,934 8,125 5,750 4,938 9,765 4,071 4,243 9,000 19,400 1,286 1,073 11,157 5,503 8,976 7,500 2,702 12,950 6,208 2,475 3,092 11,265 12,474 2,760 NELSON £ 1,800 83 2,250 2,500 1,000 4,160 3,000 7,060 1,250 1,875 1,200 2,500 2,000 2,000 2,600 8,518 850 5,500 7,500 2,000 1,500 2,300 3,000 10,000 1,250 DISTRICT (INCLUJ £ s. d. 8,500 10 0 1,457 Various 9,000 10 0 50,000 0 3 11 12,500 0 18 0 21,000 0 0 44, 3,400 0 18 0 9,000 10 0 24,000 0 7 6 9,475 0 18 0 13,180 Various 20,000 0 7 If 12,500 0 15 0 12,500 0 11 6 12,000 10/ 7/6 & 5/ 11,000 10 0 9,000 0 14 0 8,000 10 0 11,000 10 0 22,000 10 0 10,000 Various 3,100 0 10 0 17,030 10 0 14,000 10 0 10,976 10 0 12,000 0 15 0 7,000 0 11 6 13,000 10 0 20,000 0 16 2J 3,725 10 0 56,000 0 1 1J 14,667 20/&13/ 15,000 10 0 12,000 10 0 )ING WEST COAST) i 120 12 24 185 414 171 589 104 19 108 12 96 64 114 20 71 19 134 75 1,063 16 108 464 116 177 66 86 376 89 64 200 19 67 275 309 123 160 129 29 232 53 17 84 121 114 1 170 750 27 9 4 10 27 8 20 9 10 9 7 6 8 12 Oz. 2,798 1,186 1,463 9,576 646 24,073 1,281 226 1,648 3,809 1,820 1,331 978 £ 10,862 4,680 5,746 37,016 2,517 96,773 5,195 900 6,431 14,865 7,225 5,125 700 £ 15,247 5,973 13,859 49,606 12,833 399 249 4,983 61,495 13,496 7,490 6,017 18,932 11,265 4,753 14,851 4,862 3,707 10,884 24,787 1,300 1,085 11,257 6,592 16,376 17,333 15,011 13,804 368,340 2,914 22,640 17,513 20,122 1,022 £ 2,125 177 47,366 1,421 2,258 3,438 1,250 £ Nil. 402 1,829 1,454 2,278 9 547 59 610 310 126 3,020 298 1,972 2 1 5 1 1 8 7 9 477 802 4 1,825 3,089 16 319 1,595 9 30 160 519 354 1,113 20 1,120 65 389 110 1,887 409 57 4 31 16 8 6 15 287 1,700 2,390 4,036 999 88,283 14 8,502 1,222 2,062 56 1,090 6,706 9,262 15,868 4,061 340,410 50 34,036 4,696 8,090 1,925 132,167 2,500 2,500 14 |000 500 24/2/90 21/4/99 25/7/82 27/8/02 28/9/00 12,000 9,000 12,000 3,800 17,500 6,428 7,750 10,800 3,800 11,714 400 1,250 17,285 0 6 3 9,000 10 0 12,000 0 18 0 5,000 10 0 22,900 20/& 1/ 18 219 30 56 10 149 1 8 18 10 6 821 3,746 27,862 99 223 2,947 14,158 106,558 387 878 11,080 19,228 80,539 5,005 17,745 1,925 38,400 9 561 750 1,364 754 5,500 7/5/00 24/4/00 24/4/01 1/7/99 8/6/03 17/11/03 22/5/00 7,750 10,000 8,000 6,000 2,000 1,618 1,200 7,574 7,800 5,600 6,000 2,000 1,288 6,200 2,250 2,200 3,000 2,500 9,783 10 0 10,000 10 0 11,000 0 14 0 8,500 10 0 2,000 10 0 6,139 10 0 24,000 0 7 4J 27 108 99 16 79 26 109 39 99 8 11 9 14 8 237 2,876 390 8,228 399 177 1,287 936 11,197 1,495 32,283 1,603 703 4,102 10,199 18,141 9,281 32,831 1,807 2,130 10,877 1,500 15,880 1,697 799 2,671 423 386 692 515 1,830 3,000 4 A i

193

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to CO

Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Mining Companies Acts, 1891, 1894, and 1900— continued.

Name of Company. Date of Registration. Subscribed Capital. Amount value* Scrip Nnmber Amount Number N Quantity and Value of Gold or Total Silver produced sinct Total Expendi- .„„ i t Registration, ture since nt , of Registration. Dlv 5 ™ ds Quantity. Value. pam - Amount of Debts owing by Company. Quantity. Value. NELSON DISTR JCT (INCL iUDING WEST COAST)—continued Newton River Hydraulic Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) New Woodstock Dredging Co. (Ltd.) North Beach Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd) No Town Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Pactolus Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing and Mining Co. (Ltd.) Premier (Buller) Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Prince of Wales Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Reeves's Proprietary Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Rocklands Beach Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Shetland Terrace Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Slate River Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Stafford-Waimea Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Stoney and Mosquito Leads Gold-mining and Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Sullivan's Lead Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Takaka Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Three-mile (Greenstone Creek) Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Totara Plat Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Wans>amii-Wataroa Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Wangapeka Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Watterson's-Ahaura Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Welcome Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Westland Water-supply, Electric Power, and Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.).19/12/02 25/7/03 27/2/00 9/3/00 30/8/99 18/6/92 9/3/00 17/10/99 19/10/99 1/9/99 18/6/01 26/7/00 14/5 00 £ 14,115 2,000 6,225 S,500 8,125 50,600 10,585 10,000 12,200 11,672 8,025 14,680 7,000 12,000 £ 3,515 1,918 0,225 8,500 8,125 26,360 8,654 9,900 9,700 9,872 5,806 14,647 6,878 5,499 £ 10,556 2,100 3,500 1,250 20,000 1,500 4,000 2,500 1,800 2,050 1,200 2,000 6,000 14,115 2,000 8,325 12,000 12,500 40,600 10,585 14,000 12,200 11,672 8,025 13,480 9,000 12,000 £ s. d. £ 20/ & 10/ 44 10 0 82 10 0 10 0 1 15 0 VaiiouB 150 Various 89 10 0 101 10 0 10 0 20/ & 1/ 10 0: 33 10 0 1 1 0 0 j 303 7 18 97 134 107 61 140 94 236 125 118 85 80 43 14 9 8 10 20 20 9 8 8 8 10 7 7 11 Oz. 647 86 3,174 4,941 6,403 6,403 1,496 1,298 2,363 1,411 £ 2,480 334 12,334 19,259 25,289 24,554 5,882 5,002 9,271 5,538 £ 5,202 1,838 16,450 2,914 19,134 8,677 30,224 2,500 51,634 15,724 262 15,376 23,856 16,288 6,369 14,706 9,299 9,264 £ 166 299 421 652 265 1,236 330 3,350 955 435 549 875 924 3,578 1,890 611 ' 8/5/00 28/1/01 15/9/99 21/2/03 22/6/01 19/9/00 18/8/02 3/5/00 8/10/00 11,500 5,395 6,500 5,007 6,975 15,000 3,305 j 9,900 3,838 8,611 5,395 6,500 583 10 |042 3,191 9,747 3,003 2,650 3,725 1,500 2,411 2,000 6,000 13,500 9,120 8,000 5,007 6,975 21,000 4,446 9,900 15,611 10 0 2,229 10 0 10 0 0 13 0 130 10 0 295 0 14 0 304 20/ & 5/ 113 10 0 0 16 0 67 131 47 104 52 123 221 150 120 31 11 10 11 1 6 8 10 1 46 1,712 2,552 498 10 18 385 1,730 179 6,415 9,880 1,930 40 1,490 6,827 8,429 11,824 2,280 15,953 400 2,166 7,566 11,422 5,000 16,933 4,103 1,338,620 281,365 596 81 87 2,223 1,185 655 225 1,170 2,750 12,000 727,032 471,103 197,318 899,678 8,400 6,809 599 245,494 948,367 48,466 Totals .. OTAGO distric: (inclu: ING SOUTH: .ND). Alexandra Bonanza Gold-dredging and Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Alexandra Eureka Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Alexandra Lead Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Alpine No. 2 Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Arrow Falls Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Bakery Flat Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Barewood Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Consolidated Gold Co. (Ltd.) Cairntrodlie Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Central Cliarlton Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Central Mataura Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) 5/9/99 27,000 16,954 3,000 21,393 10 0 462 140 24 209 123 33 28 41 51 111 225 6 14 9 1 11 20 30 7 8 8 854 18,945 •■ 327 14/11/99 26/7/99 1/5/99 4/4/98 10/9/96 24/12/03 1/2/88 12,000 17,521 6,220 30,000 2,500 8,000 91,266 14,521 6,220 2,125 1,888 7,000 37,622 12,000 3,000 825 27,750 300 6,000 60,000 12,000 17,521 6,220 30,000 2,500 8,000 91,266 10 0 10 0 10 0 20/& 19/9 0 17 6 0 10 0 10 0 5,200 5,935 2,373 1,164 2,347 1,792 40,583 20,309 22,981 9,175 4,497 8,876 6,927 159,480 13,055 21,390 10,659 7,336 9,869 5,604 27,910 7,350 14,032 3,416 l^063 2,800 28,721 70 1,045 71 229 414 357 300 27/3/00 8/12/99 30/6/00 4,000 5,300 27,000 2,341 5,300 11,114 2,000 1,700 7,000 6,000 7,000 27,000 0 13 0 100 Various 753 2,617 2,080 2,978 10,177 7,699 5,554 14,697 22,132 286 1,050 187 550 1,508

a—3.

Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Mining Companies Acts, 1891, 1894, and 1900— continued.

194

Name of Company. JStSL " Arrears of Calls. Jg*J, Jf Capital. I .„.*,, holders on which ,, H d nei-Shsre holders at Uon - 52S™ no Cash paid. allotted, per bhare. present. j pain up. Number of Men Quantity and Value of Gold or Silver produced since Registration. Registration. Dmdends Amount of Debts owing by Company. Quantity. Value. OTAGO DISTRICT■continued. Champion Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) .. Charlton Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Chicago Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Clyde Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Crewe Gold-dredging Co (Ltd.) Cromwell Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Davis Bend Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Deep Stream Amalgamated Hydraulic Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Doctor's Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Dunstan Lead Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Earnscleugb Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Electric Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Empire Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Enfield Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Enterprise Gold-dredging Co. (Lta.) .. Enterprise Water-race Co. (Reg.) Ettrick Gold Steam-dredging Co. (Ltd.) First Chance Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Gabriel Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Garden Gully Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Bed Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Crescent Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Golden Gate Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Horseshoe Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Lion Mining Co. (Ltd.) Golden River Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Run Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Golden Treasure Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Gordon Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Happy Valley Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Hartley and Riley Beach Dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Hessey's Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Inchdale Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Inch Valley Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Island Block Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.).. Junction Electric Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Junction Waikaka Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Jutland Hydraulic Dredging Co. (No Liability).. Kia Oia Victoria Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Lady Roxburgh Gold-dreaging Co. (Ltd.) Ladj smith Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Last Chance Hydraulic Sluicing, Elevating, and Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Lawrence Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Livingstone Creek Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) 30/12/98 5/5/99 1/11/99 17/5/95 7/9/02 10/10/98 1/5/00 4/2/97 £ 10,000 I 4,000 j 2,500 6,000 2,500 5,300 11,000 8,500 £ 4,382 4,000 6,750 5,850 1,515 5,300 4,440 8,500 £ 1,000 2,500 150 3,000 1,700 2,500 3,500 £ £ s. d. 10,000 0 10 0 5,000 10 0 5,000 2 10 0 6,000 10 0 5,600 0 16 0 7,000 10 0 11,000 Various 12,000 10 0 IS ' 85 65 79 62 81 14 147 159 57 15 9 7 8 7 16 2 15 Oz. 2,075 3,958 3,459 11,213 672 8,889 1,024 5,444 7,935 15,314 13,495 43,183 2,585 34,324 3,905 20,971 £ 13,534 18,375 10,453 31,121 3,348 21,986 9,713 28,747 £ 500 3,869 746 19,550 16,625 7,447 £ 639 36 232 185 211 318 1,552 186 753 11/2/01 31/5/99 15/7/01 2/9/99 13/7/97 31/10/99 24/8/91 7/2/67 29/8/90 23/6/02 12/6/00 14/8/03 5/5/99 26/11/98 13/3/95 16/1/00 28/10/01 7/8/99 29/6/91 11/7/93 27/2/03 24/2/00 14/7/97 22/7/02 8/2/00 15/9/98 26/2/00 2/9/99 10/10/00 13/6/01 10/8/01 3/3/00 19/4/00 27/7/99 60 17,500 8 26,000 5,000 5,000 7,000 4,800 9,000 3,500 3,350 2,250 11,000 3,500 2,500 10,000 3,000 10,000 9,000 1,500 14 5,050 6,500 3,700 5,500 5,000 24,030 26,000 5,100 4,100 9,100 9,000 12,000 9,950 30 14,489 8 5,000 5,000 3,500 4,800 8,366 3,500 2,315 2,002 10,694 3,500 2,500 6,963 2,991 9,064 9,414 1,384 14 4,667 6,300 3,700 5,023 2,600 11,991 3,000 10,992 26,000 2,000 3,500 2,000 3,500 2,150 2^000 2,000 1,600 1,600 1,500 1,000 2,450 200 1,300 1,500 2,400 12,000 26,000 1,900 900 602 0 1 0 17,500 Various 11,000 10 0 26,000 10 0 5,000 10 0 7,000 10 0 7,000 10 0 16 300 0 0 10,500 10 0 7,000 10 0 4,590 10 0 2,250 10 0 12,794 10 0 3,500 10 0 2,500 10 0 10,000 10 0 3,000 10 0 40,000 0 5 0 11,000 10 0 3,000 10 0 1,014 10 0 7,500 10 0 6,500 10 0 5,000 10 0 7,000 10 0 5,000 10 0 25,000 10 0 26,000 10 0 7,100 10 0 5,000 10 0 9,100 0 13 0 9,000 0 10 0 14,500 0 10 0 9,950 0 14 0 30 248 31 8 206 9 281 40 62 145 7 110 153 56 25 210 28 51 119 42 332 150 43 7 89 347 77 86 70 83 322 42 8 34 88 87 103 9 27 18 15 7 14 3 7 2 7 8 7 7 16 1 8 7 7 7 9 8 7 7 20 10 8 16 8 8 11 3,425 10,299 21,317 9,199 2,207 14,790 7,320 6,888 1,757 2,253 2,857 2,611 11,493 268 982 11,830 9,719 362 2,095 25,724 647 1,960 3,281 2,944 11,744 762 3,515 787 1,265 1,297 13,268 39,888 83,123 35,678 8,902 57,277 27,867 26,510 6,801 8,704 11,145 10,119 44,260 958 3,792 45,543 37,419 1,428 8,000 99,536 2,533 7,400 12,584 11,425 45,439 27 2,860 14,242 3,026 4,871 3,650 30 24,413 25,141 24,920 28,775 12,868 37,655 28,517 31,367 6,788 11,017 1,474 13,699 9,455 23,580 8,213 5,071 11,715 49,710 26,276 1,722 11,725 24,419 5,712 9,890 11,961 18,179 27,177 4,038 8,602 16,522 6,943 8,603 6,366 2,622 13,750 57,193 12,010 900 20,862 13,581 3,673 3,138 444 4,200 22,000 1,000 5,744 14,596 '702 78,000 750 321 2,500 18,850 2 j 957 495 498 12 224 320 907 355 87 282 250 120 88 74 308 36 90 212 514 740 262 545 339 555 129 100 1,211 432 960 712 160 127 8 39 4,140 4,100 5,915 4,561 3,962 4,655 960 2,000 3,000 3,300 3 11/10/99 22/12/02 1,500 3,500 450 3,456 1,050 1,500 10 0 3,500 10 0 21 28 7 8 2,302 300 8,859 1,108 7,392 5,082 1,350 180 4

195

a—3

Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Mining Companies Acts, 1891, 1894, and 1900— continued.

Name of Company. Date of Registration. Amount Value of Sorip Subscribed r , 0 „, TQ , given to ShareCapital. „ p ,„ holders on which paid up 5 h° Cash paid. Number Amount of Shares paid up allotted, per Share. Arrears of Calls. Number 01 bnare- „* -.,„„ holders at °' J*?" present. employed Quantity and Value of Gold or Silver produced since Registration. Total F*r,pndi- Total I Amount of t^L . JK .» Amount of j Debts owing ■MSI -idendsj Quantity. Value. otago d: tSTRICTcontinued. Local Industry Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Loch Lomond Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Lone Star Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Lower Enfield Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) MacCharlton Gold-dredging Co (Ltd) .. Matakanui Gold mining Co. (Ltd.) Manorburn Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Manuherikia Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.).. M«ori Point Gold-dredging Co (Ltd.) Majestic Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Matau Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Molyneux Falls Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Molyneux Hydraulic Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Molyneux Kohinoor Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Monte Christo Dredging Co (Ltd.) Mount Buster Mining Co. (Ltd.) Mount Morgan Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Muddy Creek Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Mystery Flat Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Naseby Dredging and Hydraulic Sluicing Co. (Limited) New Alpine Consols Dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Bendigo Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Golden Beach Hydraulic Elevating and Dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Half-way House Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. New Paul's Beach Dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Prince Arthur Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Roxburgh Jubilee Dredging Co. (Ltd.) New Royal Maori Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd. New Skipper's S'uicing Co. (Ltd.) New Teviot Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Ngapara No. 3 Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Nugent Wood Gold-dtedging Co. (Ltd.) O'Brien's Patent Hvdraulic Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Oceanic Steam Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Olrig Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Otago Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Ourawera Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Paterson's Freehold Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Perseverance Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Phcenix Dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Phcenix Water-race Co. (Registered) Point d'Or Gold-dredging Co, (Ltd.) .. £ 21/10/91 ' 1,500 20/2/03 2,455 15/3/02 720 5/3/00 6,000 3/12/00 6,000 22/1/02 7,000 28/1/96 3,000 1/8/99 6,000 2/9/01 3,200 31/7/99 : 6,500 16/10/97 6,200 12/2/03 3,540 25/5/00 5,896 27/1/00 7,325 7/6/99 8,500 20/4/96 6,480 800 16/7/00 4,512 2/11/01 1,120 16/10/07 5,000 3/7/02 3,098 3/2/03 6,500 12/12/02 : 3,000 25/11/01 ! 4,000 14/11/02 900 4/9/03 2,306 22/1/02 2,500 4/8/02 3,738 16/9/02 3,414 19/12/02 : 13/9/99 i 5,000 26/3/98 i 24,000 24/11/02 3,000 18/3/00 750 5/3/00 5,000 13/3/99 7,000 20/5/95 I 5,000 23/5/95 : 3,000 15/7/99 8,000 19/4/99 14,000 27/9/02 1,500 12/10/67 1,500 26/3/00 I 10,575 £ 1,300 1,773 600 5,732 2,911 7,000 3,000 6,000 3,200 5,700 6,200 1,218 5,890 5,059 8,500 £ I £ s. d. 0 17 4 Various 0 16 8 10 0 Various 10 0 10 0 1 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 £l&5s. 10 0 £l&13/6 10 0 |20 0 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 0 15 3 £ 4 10 7 8 7 8 7 7 7 1 7 8 3 4 4 7 9 6 Oz. 3,800 1,083 324 1,063 870 3,634 9,046 1,385 2,415 7,887 12 7,112 1,518 1,573 2,218 168 2,225 1,909 2,967 £ 14,627 4,218 1,216 4,104 3,279 14,497 34,546 5,311 9,335 30,409 45 26,916 5,871 5,981 8,540 646 8,704 7,445 11,471 £ 14,286 1,782 8,603 7,877 8,603 3,038 16,343 19,254 9,660 18,706 19,911 1,192 32,909 8,483 12,617 3,346 2,060 11,315 7,359 13,055 £ 2,138 £ 500 1,500 1,000 7,000 6,000 1,300 800 800 2,302 495 1,100 4,320 2,000 1,000 725 2,000 1,500 2,455 720 7,500 7,000 7,000 3.000 12,000 3,200 6,500 7,000 3,540 5,896 9,130 9,600 216 2,800 5,512 1,845 5,000 183 26 13 67 15 112 37 8 7 182 48 102 123 19 91 172 171 13 8 107 26 24 495 175 2,250 20,400 450 1,300 14,875 178 179 973 1,548 900 632 90 385 206 98 1,200 310 157 378 215 224 "20 5,602 1,370 1,920 5,292 800 4,512 1,120 2,288 1,378 738 2,500 137 219 3,098 4.400 2.470 2,200 6,195 6,600 3,000 I 0 10 0 '10 0 10 0 "56 98 181 55 7 1 9 828 351 52 3,118 1,363 5,528 5,138 2,591 927 152 3,075 4,000 900 923 2,500 1,806 811 4,000 100 5,000 811 3,500 2,000 17,000 550 250 8,000 1,000 9,225 7,500 7,268 3,414 3,500 7,000 2,400 3,000 1,000 10 0 110 0 i 0 2 0 j 0 12 6 10 0 10 0 I 1 0 0 10 0 10 0 0 10 0 10 0 162 11 121 169 73 24 162 78 40 38 7 5 7 7 7 6 8 7 38 8 7 8 13 11 16 18 7 978 556 3,340 519 208 654 1,686 9,003 218 148 202 3,424 7,634 5,398 10,875 1,118 565 3,790 2,167 12,970 2,017 797 2,541 5,989 34,428 840 568 780 13,345 31,257 21,337 13,179 42,101 4,473 2,172 3,034 2,912 825 7,200 3,756 3,175 2,917 10,985 28,402 3,118 2,057 800 100 7,491 133 334 1,453 165 1,052 140 425 444 5,000 7,000 2,450 750 350 12,684 200 4,433 6,000 2,000 3,000 5,730 14,000 1,500 1,500 3,098 1,600 1,000 3,000 4,000 6,000 2,200 7,000 7,000 5,000 3,000 12,000 14,000 30 1,000 10,575 10 0 1 0 0 10 0 10 0 0 14 6 20/and 50/ 50 0 0 I 1 10 0 0 9 0 91 83 74 18 29 135 15 18 145 5,606 15,833 26,980 19,238 19,202 40,352 5,615 2,782 6,000 5,215 1,500 16,100 2,025 7,237 506 150 1,087 70 5,168 541 135 446 4,756 181

a—3

196

Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as published in accordance with the Mining Companies Acts, 1891, 1894, and 1900— continued.

Name of Company. Amount v.i nD «f c.,.iv. v„«,k q .. Quantity and Value of Gold or rn~.~i A ~. *. * »£- Suited Capita, JSSh MS " L-- «* {SSL «■ *SUSS* fcSgtf t10 "- ' ME) a "° tted - PerShare j ROg ' Stmt °"- Con^any. Quantity. I OTAGO DISTRIC '— contimied. Premier Sunrise Gold-mining Co. (Lta.) Reliance Gold-credging Co. (Ltd.) Revival Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Riley's Beach Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Rise and Shine Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) Rising Sun Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Round Hill Mining Co. (Ltd.) Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Royal Waimumu Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Sailor's Bend Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Sailor's Gully Gold mining Co. (Ltd.) .. Sandy Point Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.).. Sheddon's Waikaka Freehold Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Sbotover Quartz-mining Co. (No Liability) Smith Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Spec Gully Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Success Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Sunshine Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Taniwha Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Tinker'3 Gold mining Co. (Ltd.) Tuapeka Dredging Co. (Ltd.) .. Undaunted Gold-mining Ci. (Ltd.) Unity Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Victoria Gold mining Co. (Ltd.) Vinegar Hill Hydraulic Sluicing Co. (Ltd.) Voltaic Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waikaia Gold dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waikaka Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waikaka Queen Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waikaka Syndicate (Ltd.) Waikaka United Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waimumu Extended Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waimumu Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waimumu Queen Gold-dredging Co. (Ltd.) Waipori Consolidated Gold Dredges (No Liability) Waitahuna Dredging Co. (Ltd.) Zealandia Syndicate (Ltd.) 11/4/02 30/10/99 27/8/03 22/2/01 24/2/00 16/2/01 30/7/92 2/3/89 £ 2,500 3,600 2,000 8,625 10,000 8,000 28,245 29,153 £ , 2,500 3,000 775 7,311 9,753 5,452 6,753 12,737 £ 2,500 600 600 4,500 2,000 2,500 15,000 £ s. d. 2,500 0 2 0 3,600 10 0 2,600 0 8 0 9,000 1 15 0 12,000 10 0 8,000 10 0 5,649 5 0 0 29,152 18/&20/ £ 25 247 49 147 54 13 106 188 83 180 160 30 7 8 8 10 10 30 22 Oz. 3,103 2,072 50 2,331 3,565 235 18,102 19,421 11,877 7,977 192 8,998 13,723 906 72,109 75,452 £ 10,437 10,996 880 16,006 25,381 8,259 84,291 67,570 £ 625 900 300 £ 105 240 600 90 2,258 1,831 239 21,498 6/10/00 1/9/99 3/6/96 20/2/03 26/4/00 5,500 8,000 2,000 8,000 4,318 5,318 6,500 100 8,000 4,318 1,500 1,800 2,182 5,500 Various 8,000 10 0 2,000 0 10 0 8,000 10 0 6,500 10 0 21 92 •90 128 49 191 10 76 25 43 18 88 23 166 8 15 44 32 112 82 8 12 57 30 57 100 17 26 50 91 62 7 23 59 10 3 4 9 7 19 5 7 7 8 7 8 7 10 7 9 7 5 8 8 7 16 8 8 10 7 2,065 2,387 1,590 1,282 3,355 8,082 9,235 5,816 4,381 12,997 12,661 12,555 5,005 12,642 18,589 783 2,791 1,050 800 4,875 54 94 71 271 180 9/3/98 19/10/98 28/6/99 16/7/97 24/8/03 19/12/02 10/6/02 31/7/97 1/3/98 8/8/00 3/9/89 29/4/03 7,245 1,700 6,000 2,400 6,212 1,700 4,400 2,400 700 i 15,000 2,500 15,000 4,200 5,950 750 ! 6,000 2,410 528 4,628 5,493 1,801 4,700 2,000 6,000 4,682 2,275 1,380 4,000 1,500 300 1,600 8,000 15,000 300 5^000 "so 1,600 1,050 4,000 6,500 4.500 1,000 1,800 225 3,000 28,980 0 5 0 2,000 10 0 6,000 10 0 2,400 10 0 8,000 700 1 0 0 15,000 10 0 2,800 10 0 1,500 10 0 0 10,500 10 0 4,800 0 8 6 1,000 0 15 0 6,000 10 0 2,500 Various 1,800 0 7 6 6,500 10 0 6,560 Various 7,000 0 12 0 11,200 1 0 0 6,500 10 0 7,000 1 0 0 7,000 0 18 0 2,500 10 0 1,380 10 0 7,000 10 0 1,009 784 1,771 6,786 46 647 1,228 3,430 6,467 3,891 15,117 4 128 2,021 834 4,671 2,960 4,931 2,969 2,735 605 3,843 3,097 7,067 26,159 178 2,489 13^204 25,067 14,960 57,858 16 2,163 492 9,022 8,337 3,286 17,986 11,443 19,366 11,867 10,306 2,330 8,947 4,847 12,384 18,825 1,131 2,841 4,549 1,721 13,800 8,972 46,719 3 2,833 3,526 108 11,618 14,439 5,848 20,421 11,794 21,904 15,376 12,093 3,760 3,786 715 22 184 227 198 165 214 154 331 9 428 9,964 28/3/02 20/10/03 9/5/00 6/7/99 20/12/01 11/2/99 25/4/99 29/11/97 21/6/99 22/3/99 22/2/02 21/10/99 700 15,000 2,800 15,000 4,200 4,000 1,000 6,000 2,500 1,750 4,900 5,510 3,000 4,700 6,500 6,000 5,200 2,275 1,380 4,000 420 1,875 3,290 9,750 5,575 12,360 1,549 639 5,938 381 194 828 1,200 98 212 93 359 180 2,240 1,625 3,238 2,625 1,625 483 268 "95 Totals .. 607,854 60,285 987,449 634,278| 433,427 1,105,958 4,684 10,902 1,139 503,662 1,963,181 1,833,581 Grand totals 2,312,284 1,255,131 730,716 5,556,018 16,257 21,675 2,031 788,511 3,224,087 3,582,083 956,351 114,987

C—3

197

Statement of Affairs of Mining Companies, as defined by Section 2 of "The Mining Companies Acts Amendment Act, 1897," and published in accordance with "The Mining Companies Acts Amendment Act, 1897."

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.— 1903. trice, it.}

28—C. 3

Name of Company. t>„+o n t Amount Amount ■RoSi? ° T of Value of Scrip Number p*id up tin, nf Subscribed Capital given to Share- of Shares per Ofnpp in Capital, actually holders on which on Colonial share: >,„,„„,, paid up no Cash paid. Register. Colonial olon y- in Colony. Register. I ,1 Quantity and Value of Gold or _ Number Number of' Silver produced since Total Amount of Arrears of Calls: of Share- Men Registration. Total Expeudi- Amount if D6 v, LS ow i n - Colonial holders on employed | ture since Dividends b fe Register. ■, Colonial in Registration. paid in n . mn y „„.. Register. Colony. Quantity. Value. Colony. company. Value. AUCKL AND DIS' TRICT. Kauri Freehold Gold Estates (Ltd.) Komata Reefs Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) .. Mananu Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) New Zealand Crown Mines Co. (Ltd.) .. Waihi Grand Junction Gold C >. (Ltd.) Woodstock Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) 23/3/00 ' 250,000 16/10/00 200,000 18/10/02 60,034 27/6/96 200,000 22/12/97 178,500 5/2/02 149,750 £ 2,824 314 2,260 3,879 I £ 100,000 112,500 8,903 173,932 1,827 44,189 7,504 22,702 259,057 £ s. d. 10 0 0 5 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 £ s. d. j 21 16 138 43 67 8 94 5 252 25 5 Oz. 23,159 98,462 193 j 026 £ 46,308 75,706 463,844 £ 117,947 65,599 2,681 429,064 79,133 35,260 £ ! 2,852 8,797 £ 3,326 634 1,462 3,163 150 1,072 .. 9,727 19,454 • Totals 9,277 212,500 1 285 389 324,384 605,312 729,684 11,649 9,807 11,038,284 •• NELS SON AND WEST Cl •AST DISTRICTS. Taitapu Gold Estates (Ltd.) Greymouth Lagoons Gold-dredging Co. (No Liability) 16/12/95 : 149,276 -/7/01 i 17,740 "65 8,000 2,580 0 10 0 6 48 13 4,984 865 19,295 3444 51,050 14,421 •■ I 646 ! 167,016 I 8,000 2,580 I 6 i , 291 61 5,849 Totals 65 22,739 65,471 646 ,i: . 330,233 628,051 795,155 11,649 10,453 Grand Totals 1,205,300 9,342 220,500 261,637 •• 450