7

C—3c

Royal.

This is a claim of 21 acres on the line of the Golden Fleece reef. It is at the present time worked by a party of four tributers from an adit-level going into the range for a distance of 1,300 ft. The workings on the lode are carried to within about 18ft. of the boundary of the Golden Fleece, while the workings in the Golden Fleece ground are within 95ft. of the boundary, thus showing that there is only about 113 ft. between the workings of these claims, the lowest adit-level in the Eoyal being about the same level as the No. 4 level in the Golden Fleece ground. The lode is, however, more broken, and not so well denned as it is in the Golden Fleece. The total quantity of quartz crushed from this claim up to the 31st August last has been 918 tons, which yielded 775J0z. gold, representing a value of £3,124, thus making the average value of the stone crushed to be about £3 Bs. per ton. Inangahua Low Level. This comprises two special claims, one of which is known as the Venus, and the other the Inangahua Low Level Claim, having an aggregate area of 134 acres. The total quantity of quartz crushed from this ground has so far been confined to an area of about 32 acres held by the Venus Company, amounting to 10,713 tons, yielding 6,9140z. gold, representing a value of £26,843, which shows the average value of the stone crushed to be about £2 10s. per ton. Dividends have been paid by this company to the extent of £3,300. A scheme was projected some twelve years ago to construct a low-level tunnel through the hill from Black's Point to the Waitahu Eiver; the line was laid off, which was over two miles in length. This tunnel was to go near the Golden Fleece shaft, and a connection made with it, so as to secure ventilation. A commencement was made to construct this tunnel from the Black's Point end, and a subsidy of £1 was given by the Government for every £1 contributed by the company who undertook its construction. The tunnel is now constructed for a distance of about 2,900 ft., still leaving a distance of about 2,300 ft. to get to the Golden Fleece shaft. This shaft would, have to be sunk an additional 600 ft. to get a connection with this tunnel. All operations have been suspended for many years in the tunnel, but recently a company has been 'formed and purchased the Venus Company's property, and also the right of the Inangahua Low Level Company's rights and special claim, with a view of extending the tunnel to work the lodes going through the Venus, Eoyal, and Golden Fleece ground. This tunnel can only be carried on from one end, and therefore its rate of progress depends on what can be driven from one face. If compressed-air rock-drills are used the distance to the Golden Fleece shaft should be driven in about twelve months. This tunnel will greatly enhance the value of the whole of the mining properties on the range between Black's Point and the Waitahu Eiver, as it will not only be the means of opening up the ground in the different claims at deep levels, but it will also be a main highway, where the whole of the quartz from the different claims can be taken to for treatment. At this place there is a good site for the erection of a large crushing battery, with all the most modern appliances. Salisbury. This is a special claim of 100 acres, and includes ground formerly held in mining leases, known as Anderson's, United Devonshire, and Invincible. The only work done in this ground was in the early days of the fields, when 7,355 tons of stone was crushed, which yielded 6,0200z. gold, representing a value of £23,328, of which £1,525 was paid in dividends. The average value of the stone crushed was about £3 3s. per ton. There are two lines of reef running through this ground, the one to the eastward being Anderson's line, and the one to the westward the Invincible line. Each party first drove an independent level, but those levels were constructed in such a serpentine course that it is hard now to say whether they were carried on the line of lode or not. The Anderson's and Invincible Companies combined, and constructed a lower adit-level between them; this adit is about 600 ft. in length, and at about 278 ft. lower level than where the first drive was put into the Invincible ground. A winze was sunk from the lowest adit-level to a depth of about 100 ft., but the lode cut out in the bottom of this winze, and no effort was made to look for it at deeper levels. The country rock here is favourable for the existence of lodes, but, all working being suspended many years ago, nothing has been done to prospect the ground. Some of the men working in the ground in the early days have a firm belief that there is a good lode of stone to the westward of the Invincible line, but no cross-cutting has been done in this direction. This ground can be prospected at considerably lower levels, by a cross-cut in a westerly direction from the Inangahua Low Level Tunnel, but, from all that can be learned about the reefs worked in this ground, a large amount of prospecting work will have to be done before the value of this property can be ascertained. Energy and Undaunted. These are two separate claims on the same line of country, and comprise an area of 54 acres. These claims include the ground formerly held by the Energetic and Dauntless Companies. A large amount of work has been done in this ground ; 64,246 tons of stone has been crushed, yielding 33,230J0z. gold, representing a value of £128,951, out of which dividends were paid to the extent of £21,900. The workings were carried on from an adit-level for the first 150 ft., and a shaft was theu sunk and to a depth of 350 ft., being 200 ft. below the adit-I'evel. There are two lines of reef running through the ground. These reefs were about 100 ft. apart near the boundary of the Wealth of Nations, but converged as they went north. The eastern lode cut out at the adit-level, but very little prospecting was ever done to see whether it existed at deeper levels. This lode above the adit-ievel was from sft. to 6ft. in thickness.