C—3a.

1895. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT ON GOLDFIELDS: WARDENS' REPORTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. Mr. Warden Kenny to the Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. S IBj Warden's Office, Thames, 14th May, 1895. I have the honour to forward herewith statistical returns for the Hauraki Mining District for the year ended 31st March last; and also the following report on the mining industry for the same period: — COEOMANDEL. A really amazing revival has taken place in this sub-district during the past year. A rich reef was discovered by a party of tributers in the Coromandel Mine, and the Kapanga Company was in consequence induced to sink a new shaft to work the reef at a greater depth. This mine has been disposed of in England to the Hauraki Company, who now own it. The tributers' term expired on the 31st December, 1894, and up to that date 5,2070z. of gold, valued at £15,621, had been obtained by them; whilst since the Ist January, 1895, 9,7540z. of gold, valued at £29,262, have been won by the company. The Kapanga shaft has been sunk to a depth of 800 ft. A tunnel is being driven to cut the reef at that level, and a borehole is being continued in the shaft to ascertain the nature of the rock at a greater depth. Vigorous measures are to be taken to sink shafts at Blagrove's freehold, lying to the southward; and at Scotty's mine, to the northward of the Kapanga, extensive works are about to be carried on by companies incorporated in England. A shaft near the Hauraki Mine is about to be sunk by a local company in a mine called the Welcome Find. A company has been floated in London to work the Eoyal Oak Mine, in the Tokatea Eange. The other mines in this range are worked by tributers, who are meeting with varying success, but the absence of convenient crushing machinery prevents the treatment of other than rich quartz. Prospecting is going on at Waikoromiko, Pukemaukuku, Tiki, and other places in the main range ; which at any moment may lead to fresh discoveries, whilst at Manaia the Golden Hill Company has been formed to work the old Victoria Mine. Altogether, the developments in this portion of my district may be regarded as most satisfactory and encouraging, and it is interesting to observe the contrast presented here by the years 1894 and 1895 —between the full life now and the feeble flicker then—another instance of the surprising fluctuations of this important industry. Kuaotunu. There has, I regret to state, been a considerable falling-off in the yield from this sub-district. The Great Mercury and Bed Mercury Mines have been for a time idle, but operations have been resumed, and there is every indication that work will be carried on energetically during the current year. The Kapai-Vermont promises to add largely to the returns, as the reef is rich, and there is a crushing-mill with cyanide plant now erected at the mine. The Try Fluke has been steadily worked during the year. Very little work has been done in the outlying portions of this subdistrict. I—C. 3a.