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workjng in this manner was very rich in the early days, and was known as the Shotover claim. The quantity of quartz crushed from this mine during last year was 600 tons, which yielded 4400z. of gold. New Alburnia Company. —This company was formed in 1885 with a nominal capital of £20,000, of which £10,000 was declared paid up, and £1,000 has been paid in calls. There are three distinct channels of reef country in this company's ground, divided from each other by bands or dykes of dioritic rock. There is a large body of quartz in the lode at the lower adit-level, which is constructed for 2,600 ft. in length, but has, so far, proved of too low grade to pay for working. The workings are confined to the upper levels, from what is known as the Whau Adit-level, to the surface. A great deal of prospecting has been carried on during last year, and levels opened out. From one of the main lodes occasional patches of specimens are obtained. The present prospects of the mine are very promising, and it is likely to afford employment to a large number of men for a long time. There has been 887 tons of quartz crushed during the year, which yielded 1,5970z. of gold. New Manakau Company. —This company was formed in 1883 with a nominal capital of £30,000, of which £15,000 is declared paid up, and £1,500 has been paid in calls. Their ground adjoins the Waiotahi Company's mine, and is under the same management. It is full of leaders and veins of auriferous quartz, which pay for working. A good deal of driving and stoping has been done during last year, and 400 tons of quartz has been crushed, which yielded 6400z. of gold. Moanataiiari Company .—This company was formed in 1868, and since they have commenced operations dividends to the amount of £121,365 have been paid. Of late years the mine has been chiefly worked on tribute, with but moderate results ; yet some of the ground pays the tributers very well for working. This company has one of the finest adit-levels in this district ; it is constructed into the hill at 30ft. above sea-level for a distance of 2,800 ft. There is a double line of rails laid in this adit-level, and the trucks are hauled out by means of horses. This is really an adit-level which, were it extended, would prospect the ground in the back country at a cheaper rate than it is possible to do otherwise, and no doubt the time will come when the mines at the back will be given up and eventually fall into this company's possession, and become a valuable property. During last year 130 tributers were working in this mine at onetime, in addition to several wages-men. There has been 1,301 tons of quartz crushed, which yielded 3,9010z. of gold. Recently, an English company has been formed, with a capital of £75,000, who purchased this mine, £50,000 being given for the mine and to the promoters, leaving £25,000 to work the mine and pay off the present liabilities. Bcuben Parr Company. —This company's ground is situated near the head of the Moanataiari Creek. They are working from adit-levels and winzes sunk below the lowest adit; but the water here is troublesome, and makes the reefs costly to work. This ground could be worked to good advantage were the Moanataiari adit-level extended, and would pay well. During last year there has been 180 tons of quartz crushed, which yielded 200oz. of gold. Queen of Beauty Company. —There have been no mining operations carried on in this company's mine during last year. Eecently a large area has been applied for as a special claim, with the view of floating a large company on the English market. There has also been a large area applied for by a company in Block 27, which the reef in the Queen of Beauty Company's ground is expected to go through. This block has been under offer to an English syndicate, but I have not heard whether they are likely to take it up. Kaeaka Cebek. A great many of the mines here are held by private individuals, and have been worked for the last thirteen years with very satisfactory results. The City of Manchester Mine is held by two men —Messrs. Scott and Taylor —who work the mine in a very systematic manner. The reef is 15in. in thickness, and during last year 228 tons has been crushed, which yielded 5360z. of gold. The City of Adelaide Mine is also held by private individuals, who have got 300 tons of quartz crushed during last year, which yielded 4120z. of gold. The Lone-hand Mine, which belongs to T. Barclay, is worked pretty well out from the upper adit-levels to the surface. The gold that has been got last year is from small leaders and veins which traverse the county rock. A low-level adit has been constructed for 675 ft., and a winze sunk from the upper level to meet it. The reef in the winze is about 18in. in thickness, but the stone is of rather low grade. There has been 25 tons of quartz crushed during last year, which yielded 1360z. of gold. The Ilokianga Mine, belonging to Jenkins and party, has given steady returns for a number of years. The gold is chiefly found in small leaders and veins traversing the country rock, and some of these are especially rich, where they occur at the junction of black mullocky seams. There has been 25 tons of quartz and some picked specimens crushed during the year, which yielded 2860z. of soldAuckland Company. —This company has been working the mine, with but moderate success. During last year 114 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded 3050z. of gold. This mine was taken up about three years ago, and the company had not started operations long when a payable reef was found; but of late the stone has been of a low-grade character. North Star Company. —This company's ground is situated at the head of Te Papa Gully, at a good elevation. The work has been carried on by tributers, who have stoped out 378 tons of quartz, which yielded 6640z. of gold. Otanui. Some of the claims here are being worked with moderate success, bub the quartz generally is of low grade. In the Eureka Company's mine there are two blocks of stone from 3ft. to 4ft. in