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new lode of stone about 18in. in thickness, which yielded nearly 3oz. of gold to the ton. It is this block of stone, or new lode, that they intend to open out on. The jinking of the shaft was suspended at the time of my visit, on account of there being no water to drive the pumping and winding machinery. The manager stated that he had only been able to work in the shaft four clays and a half from the beginning of January to the 21st March, the date of my visit, and was engaged in erecting a small steam-engine to connect with the pumping-shaft, so that he could use steam to work the pumps when water was not available, or could use both water-wheel and steam-engine, as the case might be, when a small supply of water was available. This engine was being connected to the pump-shaft in such a manner as it appeared to me very questionable if it would work the pumps, as the gearing of the engine to the pump-shaft limited the travel of the piston to about 180 ft. per minute, and therefore, unless the steam was kept at a very high pressure the engine would not do the work, the cylinder being only either lOin. or llin. in diameter. The shaft is 12ft. by sft., and close-timbered with 2-Jin. planking. A plunger-pump Din. in diameter is fixed at 250 ft. from the surface, and below this there is a common lift-pump which has a bucket of the same diameter as the plunger, and the quantity of water to lift at the depth the shaft was sunk to at the time of my visit averaged about sixty gallons per minute. The works are lighted at night with the electric light. The pumping machinery is well constructed—all the framing for foundations is substantially put together; but the winding-plant is merely a makeshift, being constructed from old-castings and gear on the ground at the time this syndicate acquired the property. There is also one of Ford's air-compressors for working rock-drills; but the manager does not seem to think that rock-drills are any advantage. The rock is very hard, and he stated that the rate of sinking when, in full work averaged from sft. to 7ft. 6in. per week. He expected to get down the shaft to the required depth in about five months from the time of my visit. Considering the large quantity of gold that has come from the lode running through this syndicate's property, and that the lode can be traced in a northerly direction for a long distance here and there on the surface, there appears to be a reasonable prospect of the syndicate getting well paid for their venture; at all events, it is a mine well worthy of spending money to prospect, even if the new lode that they intend working proves unremunerative. By constructing a level along the course of the lode in a northerly direction, with uprises some distance apart, they are likely to come across another shot of gold in the lode. Skipper's. There has been comparatively little work done in the quartz-mines in this district during last year. The only mine where the workings have been carried on with remunerative results is the Gallant Tipperary. Mr. Evans has clone a considerable amount of prospecting on the Butcher's Gully reef, but the stone did not prove remunerative for working. Although this district has been very rich in alluvial auriferous deposits, the quartz lodes have been, as a rule, very disappointing. No sooner is a rich patch of stone got, and the hopes of the claimholders buoyant with great expectations, than it is found to either cut out, or the percentage of gold in the stone becomes less: at all events the returns from the quartz-workings in this district show that the amount of gold extracted from the quartz lodes is very small in comparison to that obtained from the alluvial drifts. Phosnix Company. —Prospecting has been carried on in this company's mine for the last two years without finding any body of auriferous stone that would pay for working. Indeed, the prospects of finding another patch of stone were beginning to appear hopeless. It will be remembered that the Phcenix Extended Company took up a special claim on the north-west side of the Phoenix Company's ground, and sunk a shaft at the side of the creek to a depth of 150 ft. After constructing a cross-cut to the southward for about 100 ft. the company suspended operations and subsequently went into liquidation, when the Phcenix Company purchased the ground, and have put in a cross-cut in a northerly direction from the shaft for a distance of 90ft., and cut what is considered a continuation of the middle lode. The reef here is about 9ft. wide, and shows a good deal of gold in the stone, the richest portion of the lode being close to the hanging-wall; and, judging from the manner in which the principal gold-bearing stone is found in the lode, there is a probability of it getting richer as it goes down. The company were at the time of my visit erecting a small winding-plant, which is to be worked by compressed air. The air is to be stored in a receiver, and the compressor is to be worked by means of electrical power derived from their plant, which is erected in the right branch of Skipper's Creek. The engine used for winding is very small, and, indeed, the whole of the winding appliances are of a temporary character. They are also constructing a quartz-paddock, and a tramway to convey the stone to the- crushing-battery. This new discovery was only struck on the 6th March last. None of the stone had been tested at the time of my visit, but it was expected to give an average yield of nearly loz. of gold per ton. Gallant Tipperary Company. —This company have got their mine into much better order than it presented on my former visit. They have extended the intermediate level for about 70ft., and are now engaged in stoping out above this, where they have about 175 ft. of backs to the surface. The passes, stopes, and main level are in good order as far as the safety of workmen is concerned, but great carelessness is displayed in having detonators lying loosely about at the side of the main level. The attention of the .manager has been directed to this; with a request for remedy. The lode on the north end in. the intermediate level is split up in two sections,' with a horse of mullock in. between them; but each of these sections is about 4ft. wide, and both contain payable stone. About 1,500 tons of stone have been crushed during the year, which has yielded 9610z. of gold. The extremely dry season has necessitated the crnshing-rnill being stopped for want of water, so that the company at the time of my visit had only five men employed in their mine,