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that generally the mining ventures present a more favourable aspect than they did last year, and, moreover, more improved appliances are beginning to come into use, which will cheapen the cost of working to some extent, and therefore enable ground to be worked that has been formerly abandoned as valueless. The proprietors of mining ventures are beginning to realise the fact that the day£ are fast passing away when they may make money by simply trafficking in shares, and the sooner this is done away with the sooner will the mining industry be placed on a more solid foundation, and be worked on such a basis as to induce capital to develop the hidden wealth that lies beneath the surface. The discoveries made by Mr. Cooper in ground which was for years considered to be worked out cannot fail to attract attention and cause mining to be carried on with more energy, and in a more systematic manner. The large area of auriferous lands in the Hauraki Peninsula where scarcely any prospecting has been done will some day be worked, and many auriferous lodes found that will give returns for the capital invested. Mining ventures have in the past been looked on by many as simply gambling transactions, and many unprincipled people have been connected with mining who had no consideration for the consequences so long as they made a few pounds, their great object being to make money, even if it was acquired by fraudulent representations. And no doubt this particular industry affords a large field for unscrupulous adventurers. Nevertheless, it is an industry that, if carried on in a systematic manner and on purely commercial principles, will gain supporters, and capital will be forthcoming to develop it. Ohinemuei District. Marototo. This field has not turned out according to expectations. There are only three claims being worked, and the prospects of these becoming payable investments are not very encouraging at the present time. There is, however, now a small grinding-plant on the field, where any ore can be taken to be tested, and this may be the means of prospecting being more energetically carried on. There is rich ore in this district, but so far it has been in thin veins, and it takes a long time to get a quantity of it. Some ore forwarded me by Mr. Moore, the manager for the Dunedin Exhibition, assayed as high as 4,3500z. of bullion to the ton—about 50oz. of gold, and the remainder silver. When such rich ore as this is found it gives encouragement to carry on prospecting, and it is likely that some rich finds will yet be discovered in this part of the district. Marototo Mine. —A large amount of work has been done in this mine, and some very rich ores have been obtained. In former years the rich ore was picked out of the lode-stuff, and sold by assay at the mine. During last year the proprietors of this mine erected two McKay or Eraser pans and one settler, and these have recently been started to crush the ore from the mine. They are driven by a Pelton water-wheel 3ft. Gin. in diameter, supplied with water from a head-race from Mcßrinn's Creek. This race is only 5-J- chains in length, and it gives a head of water at the machine-site of 110 ft. The head-race is constructed of boxing, and the water is brought from the end of this race to the wheel with 210 ft. of wrought-iron pipes. At the time of my visit in February last they had a considerable quantity of ore on hand. This ore at the mine is estimated at about 150 tons, and it is graded in three classes. There is about 4 tons of first-class ore, similar to that tested at the School of Mines at the Thames in 1888, which gave bullion to the value of about £600 per ton; about 100 tons gives an assay-value of about £20 per ton; and the balance about £10 per ton. This mine is carefully and economically worked ; indeed, the company has been fortunate in securing a first-class man for their manager. Although the lode is from 4ft. to sft. in thickness, there is not more than about 15 per cent, of this saved. The stuff has to be carefully selected ; it is only the fine material that is worth saving. As the ore is taken out it is screened, and what does not pass through a -|in. mesh is packed away in the stopes. The lode is richer as it gets near the surface; but the gold and silver does not seem to be found in payable quantities at any great depth. However, now, when they have a plant near the mine, they will be in a better position to test the value of any lode-stuff they find. Silver Queen Mine. —This mine has lately been acquired by a Sydney company, who are driving on the course of the reef, and are said to be obtaining fair prospects. Some rich stone has been found in this mine, containing principally sulphide of silver. Arizona Mine. —This mine has recently been taken up again, and two men are engaged in sinking a winze on the lode; but very little is yet known respecting the quality of the ore. A good deal of prospecting will have to be done in this and the other claims before any of them may be considered valuable properties. Kakangahake. This is a field where there are large bodies of quartz containing both gold and silver; but so far these lodes have not proved highly remunerative. Some rich auriferous quartz was obtained from the Adeline Mine ; but the lode did not carry the gold down for any great distance, and very little prospecting has been done to try and pick up the shot of gold-bearing stone again. A good deal of work has been done in prospecting the Woodstock and Kenilworth Mines, and also the Crown Mine, and occasionally ore is found that pays for working; but, to take this field on the whole, it has been very disappointing to all those who have embarked capital for its development. When the second rush set in to this field, seven years ago, great expectations were formed as to its richness—the only thing necessary to make the claims payable was said to be a gpod crushingplant. When Mr. La Monte visited this field at the time be erected the smelting-furnace at the Thames, he caused quite a reaction in mining by drawing attention to argentiferous ore which gave high assays being thrown over the waste-tip as mullock. Indeed, the enthusiam of the people connected with mining properties on this field induced parties to erect a La Monte furnace at Karangahake even before the one at the Thames was tried; but this furnace completely failed to