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this space. There are seven large wooden tanks, capable of holding about 800 tons of sand and pulp—four for the pulp, and the others for the sand. The crushed ore or pulp is taken direct from the front of the stamper-boxes and elevated by a wheel 26ft. in diameter, which works automatically with buckets on the inside of the circumference, which delivers the crushed ore or pulp to flumes running into the different tanks. Water, crushed ore, or pulp —everything that goes through the stamper-boxes—is passed through these wooden tanks, and the water, after running through the last one, is then carried back into the stamper-boxes to pass round again. It would seem almost impossible for any mineral capable of amalgamation to escape. This company are further extending their buildings to allow of a trial being made with the Bohin process, which is akin to the Cassell, the agent used for extraction being cyanide of potassium. The Silverton Company have renovated and reconstructed a portion of the old Martha battery, which they are fitting up with all the latest appliances, and, as their mine has the appearance of being a very good one, they should have a very bright future before them. There are several other holdings here, but as yet none of them have cut any reefs worth noticing ; but as they are sinking, and the country appears pretty deep, they may at any time open out on something good. If so, and it is proved that the Martha, Union, and'the Silverton lodes go clown, this part of the field has a prosperous future before it; as it is, the population has increased very largely, the township that was laid off by the Government surveyor proving too small already ; houses are going up, and this is a general test of the progress of any district. Te Aeoha. During the past year very little mining has been carried on here. Mr. H. H. Adams, who bought the large reduction-works at Waiorongomai, has at different times had some men employed, and, with one or two other parties and. a few tributers, constitute all the men mining in this locality. This is little doubt that a few small parties will be able to make a good living for a considerable time, and in fossocking about something good may yet be found ; otherwise mining here, on anything but a small scale, is over so far as we at present can see. The Tui Company has plenty of ore, but no method that they can treat it by, as it contains a very large percentage of zincblende. Applications Geanted. Coromandel. —Special claims, 2 ; licensed holdings, 29 ; ordinary quartz claims, 71; occupation licenses, 11; machine sites, 2; residence sites, 57; business sites, 8 ; water-races, 3. (Licensed holdings forfeited, 47.) Thames. —Special claims, 4; licensed holdings, 45 ; ordinary quartz claims, 20; occupation licenses, 64 ; machine sites, 4; residence sites, 70 ; dams and water-races, 27 ; other applications (tunnels, &c), 20 ; licensed holdings forfeited, 44. Miners' rights issued : Coromandel, 373 ; Thames, 431. I have, &c, H. W. NoiiTHOEOPT, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

No. 4. Mr. G. Wilson, Inspector of Mines, to the Under-Secbetaby of Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Inspector of Mines Office, Thames, 14th May, 1892. I have the honour to forward the following Eeport on mines in the Hauraki Mining District for the year ending 31st March, 1892. There is a considerable increase in the value of returns of gold and bullion, compared with that of last year, chiefly due to the yield of the Kuaotunu and Waihi Districts. COEOMANDEL COUNTY. Tokatea Bange (Coromandel). Tokatea Mine, 30 acres (Tokatea Gold-mining Company, Limited, owner; Mr. John Benny, manager). —Working in this has been carried on by thirteen tributers, chiefly on the surface veins, and eight tons of quartz crushed yielded 114oz. lOdwt. of gold. This mine was well opened up in the past, and, as the different levels are in hard rock, it may be said that they are available for use at any time at little expense. There are seven main tunnels, varying from 500 ft. to 3,000 ft. in length, the lowest level being 860 ft. below the surface of the top of the hill where the chief work is now being carried on. There are four main reefs and dozens of smaller leaders. A fifteen-stamp mill, with 10-horse power steam-engine, is situated at the entrance to the low level, but they are out of repair, and have not been used for about ten years. There is little doubt but that many thousands of tons of payable quartz could be obtained from this mine if only cheap crushing was available, and the only hope for success for mining in the Tokatea Bange is in constructing water-races for water power on the eastern side of the range. Queen of the North Mine, 3 acres (Mr, Carlo Blasch, owner). — One ton of quartz was crushed for a return of 18oz. lOdwt. of gold from workings on surface-veins. Royal Oak Mine, 30 acres (Mr. William Home, manager; Eoyal Oak Gold-mining Company, Limited, and J. H. Witheford, owners). —Three tributers were employed, and 1260z. of gold obtained from one ton of quartz. Bismarck Mine, 12 acres (Dunn and party, owners). —Mr. Benjamin Dunn has worked the mine on tribute. Four men were employed, and two tons of quartz crushed yielded 1340z. of gold. Harbour View Mine, 30 acres (Harbour View Gold-mining Company, Limited, owner). — Two tributers only were employed, and two tons of quartz were crushed for a moderate yield of 19oz. Bdwt. of gold.