C—3a

21

carried in from the No. 6 level of the Hercules Mine. For the year £4,200 has been disbursed in dividends, the quantity of stone crushed being 4,295 tons, gold to the amount of 2,4820z., of the value of £9,928, being obtained therefrom. Venus. —On the No. 1 level being worked out to the surface a cross-cut to the west was started on the No. 2 level. After driving 70ft. the reef was struck, about 150 ft. south of the old workings. The reef has been driven on for 70ft., and has an average thickness of 15in., showing good gold. After driving another 80ft. connection will be made with the old workings, when the work of stoping will be commenced. Boyal. —This claim is situated broadside on to the Venus, and end on to the Golden Fleece. When this company first started 500 ft. had been driven by the previous owners —the Result Company. This company, after driving a further distance of 850 ft., struck the reef, which was small. The reef has been driven on about 110 ft., and a rise is now being put up to connect with the upper workings. The rise is now up about 75ft., leaving another 175 ft. before a connection is made. The stone is of good quality, a small crushing during the year of 120 tons having given lOOoz. of gold. This reef is supposed to be a continuation of the old Golden Fleece and Ajax lodes, from which splendid returns were obtained in the early days of the district. Boatman's. Fiery Gross. —This claim has given fair results for some time past. Winzes have been sunk on the reef, and a winding-shaft carried down to a depth of 360 ft. below the 600 ft. level. Levels have been opened and the quartz worked to this depth, the block ranging from 100 ft. to 200 ft. in length and varying very much in value at different levels. In the lowest level at present the ground has shelved away flat to the north, making a break in the lode. The level is now being driven in that direction, with a view of again intersecting it. Dividends to the extent of £5,643 have been paid during the year. The total output from this mine has been 26,469 tons of stone, the yield of gold being 29,6620z., representing a value of £116,568, from which £32,268 has been paid in dividends. Welcome and other Claims. —The amalgamation of the Welcome, Homeward Bound, Specimen Hill, and Eureka, or some of them, mooted, two or three years ago, is again being talked of, and, should it eventuate and work be vigorously proceeded with, it would tend greatly to impart fresh life to mining in the Boatman's district, which has been languishing for some time past. Some exceedingly good stone has been taken from the Homeward Bound during the year. Devil's Ckbbk. Globe. —During the year stone has been stoped between Nos. 4 and 3 levels. On the No. 4 level the reef has been rather broken, and poor in quality. A winze was sunk to a depth of 120 ft. below No. 4 level, and at a depth of 70ft. a cross-cut was put in, proving the reef to be about 12ft. in width. From the appearance of the reef in this winze the stone seems to be solid and of good quality. Work was resumed on the eastern reef on No. 1 level, which has been driven on over 200 ft., having an average width of 6ft. A winze has been sunk on the reef, and is now down about 70ft. from No. 1 level. The reef has been driven on 70ft. in No. 2 level, where the stone averages the same width as in No. 1. Driving for this same reef has been started on No. 3 level, and it is expected the reef will be got in about 120 ft. It will be seen from this that the company have a very large body of stone to operate upon; and, in order to keep the mine thoroughly well opened up, a contract has been let to sink the main shaft to No. 5 level, which it is anticipated will be opened up in about nine months' time. During the year 8,980 tons of stone have been raised and crushed, the yield being 4,5360z. of gold, valued at £18,370, from which shareholders have received £7,200. From the date of the opening of the mine 50,736 tons of stone have been obtained, the gold produced being 26,8260z., of the value of £106,106, out of which dividends have been paid to the extent of £37,300. Progress. —During the past twelve months a main shaft has been sunk from the No. 2 level a depth of 140 ft., at the bottom of which a chamber has been constructed, and from it a drive has been extended to the reef, which was intersected at a distance of 75ft. From this level a connection has been made with the winze which during the past year had been sunk from No. 2 level. This completes a thorough system of ventilation. This No. 3 level has now been driven on over 240 ft., the stone being of the average thickness of about 9ft., and of payable quality. A drive from the chamber already referred to is now in progress, with the view of intersecting the reef known as Smith's Eeef, which may be met with any moment. A complete winding plant has been erected in No. 2 level, for the purpose of hoisting from the deeper workings, the motive-power being compressed air. Six additional berdaus have been erected for the treatment of tailings, and have been found to save a considerable quantity of gold that would otherwise have been lost. About 4,750 tons of stone have been crushed during the last twelve months, the yield being 1,9010z. gold, of the value of £7,719. The total output of the mine has been been 26,350 tons of quartz; yield, 11,7000z. gold; value, £46,537; dividends, £7,200. Big Eivbb. Big Biver. —The stone found in sinking the main shaft, and which was struck in the level afte r driving 65ft., has been operated upon during the year, and has been worked up to the shaft. The length of the block was about 60ft. Stoping was discontinued when the stone was worked up to the shaft, but from that point to the surface will be taken in hand after the mine is opened up. The old block of stone did not extend very far in the level. The main shaft was sunk a further depth of 120 ft. A winze on the north end has been sunk on the new reef to a depth of 86ft., of which 40ft. was on stone. A cross-cut was put in from the winze at a depth of 60ft., and the reef was again struck, and showed good gold. A winze has been sunk on the old block to a depth of 52ft., and the reef appears to be about 2ft. wide, carrying good gold. Levels will have to be opened from the bottom of the shaft by tunnels, which will have to be driven 150 ft. to reach each block, It is ex-