43
C—3a
EoXBUBGH. The Eoxburgh Amalgamated Mining Company has iad a very successful year, having netted gold to the value of £8,848, which has enabled the directors to declare five 6d. dividends on 30,000 shares. The future prospects of the company are very promising, an old river-bed having been struck, about 4 chains in width, apparently leading up the Plat. During the year considerable additions have been made to the dam at Dismal Swamp, the result of which is the company is seldom short of water. The United Hercules Company's claim is now being worked on tribute, with, 1 am afraid, poor results. Ewing and party in the adjoining claim are working steadily, and are making a profit representing fair interest on the money invested. The Island Block Company, at Horse-shoe Bend, under Mr. Eawlin's management, is said to be getting payable gold, but, being an English company, very little information can be obtained as to actual results. The Island Block Extended Company are still working, but seem to be burdened with considerable financial difficulties. The gold—so4oz.—got during the year was apparently not sufficient to cover expenses. There are several claims on the river-banks from Coal Creek to the Island Block working in a smaller way, and all seem to be satisfied with what they are getting. Dredging. This industry is assuming larger proportions every year, the number of dredges now engaged being fifteen, with promise of an early increase. The Dunedin Dredging Company has not had such a prosperous year as the last, but the 9090z. obtained enabled the directors to return the shareholders £370 in dividends. The Eoxburgh Gold Steam Dredging Company was a little more fortunate, the shareholders getting £1,625 out of the 9900z. obtained. The Edina Dredge, just below, seems to be working steadily, and now and again 20oz. a week are heard of, but what the total for the year is I have not been able to ascertain. The Ettrick Dredge has been working about the same locality all the year. The ground, however, is not very rich, although, I am informed, the returns have been sufficient to clear the company of debt after deducting working-expenses. The Miller's Creek Dredge having failed for some time to clear expenses, this company has gone into liquidation. The assets and liabilities, however, have been taken over by a new company, and the dredge will not remain long idle. The Golden Eun Company, whose dredge is situated at the northern end of the Island Block, has been doing very well for some considerable time. During the year they netted 8140z., and declared dividends amounting to £1,076. The Golden Treasure Dredge, which commenced working about April last year, succeeded in striking good gold almost at once, and since then have been obtaining good, average returns, aggregating for the year 9010z., out of which dividends amounting to £360 have been paid. Pringle and party, Bennett and others, and Brazil and others are, and have been, doing well for some considerable time. The former party, finding their dredge too small to cope with the deep portion of their claim, have determined to build a new one. « Upper Waikaia and Potter's. About the same number are working in the gullies and river in this locality as last year, and with about the same results. The goldfields revenue collected during the year amounted to £826, or nearly £100 more than last year. Ceomwell. Speaking generally, there is very little that is new to record of mining matters in this district during the twelve months ending 31st March, 1895. Death certainly has been unusually busy among us, and, in addition to many less familiarly known, has carried off Messrs. J. D. Menzies, J. McKersie, Michael Larkins, and Charles Tippett, all of whom have been intimately connected with the mining industry from an early date. The summer being exceptionally dry, it followed as a natural consequence that sluicing was dull for a great portion of the year ; yet most of the old hands kept working away, with more or less success. Dredging has again been spoken of, and three new claims have been taken up on the Kawarau, and one on the Clutha. The old dredge (Kloogh and party's) on the latter river has, I understand, made fair wages for the year, although it has struck nothing of a startling nature. Bannockburn and Carrick generally are quiet, and it is feared that, unless a new sludge-channel can be carried up in the direction pointed out to the Hon. Mr. Cadman, many of the present miners will have to seek new fields for their enterprise. Lawrence Brothers, I am told, have done fairly well, whilst McCabe and Sons think they have got something good, which only requires developing. At the Nevis, Eobertson and party and a few others are reported to have done very well, but against this must be placed the fact that the Paetolus Company have thrown up their special claims. Several parties have done well at Mid Eun, but Criffel and 5 the Eoaring Meg are very quiet, whilst the Five-mile and Frazer Eiver are practically dead. The tributers of the Cromwell Mine, Bendigo, have had excellent results for the time they have been at work, whilst at Quartz-reef Point more than one party have had every reason to be satisfied.