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ton by the ordinary battery process, the tailings being saved for future treatment. This company has a small battery of five heads of stamps, situated on the side of the Waitawheta Creek, and the intention is to erect a larger battery with cyanide plant if, after prospecting the various lodes which run through the ground, the value of the ore in them warrants the expenditure. During the last year there were eleven men employed in the mine, and 194 tons of stone was crushed, which yielded 2970z. 12dwt. of gold. Other Mines. —Owing to the rich discoveries in the Crown, Woodstock, and Talisman Mines, there have been a number of claims taken up on this field. There are a number of lodes which have never yet been prospected, and there is no reason why some of these should not be equally as rich as the lodes which have been opened up. It has only been by steady perseverance and persistency that the Karangahake field has been proved to contain ore of payable character. For many years after the field was opened, the ore in the lodes was considered of far too low grade for working, and even when patches of rich ore were found, after it was worked out very little prospecting was done to prove whether another shoot of gold would be found in the same lode. The greatest difficulty heretofore experienced was getting the ore tested at a battery. When the Adeline Company got a rich patch of ore a few years ago it had to be sent by drays to the Thames to be crushed; and the same difficulty has to be encountered at the present time. Although there will be three or four crushingbatteries on the field, these will all have cyanide plants attached to them, and the cost of treating a small parcel of ore at one of these plants would be considerable, owing to the time it takes to clean up. There is very little doubt, however, but that the Karangahake has a great future before it, and that valuable mining properties will yet be found all the way along the range to Waiorongomai. Owharoa. This is a circumscribed locality, where mining has been carried on for many years, and where a considerable quantity of gold ha.s been obtained, although no extensive mining operations have ever been carried on. During the last year the following mines were worked—namely, the Smile of Fortune, Cadman's, and Maddens Folly, in which there were nineteen wages-men and owners and five tributers employed. The wages-men obtained 647 tons of stone, which yielded 113oz. 17dwt. of gold, while 589 tons of stone was crushed for the tributers for a return of 1320z. 13dwt. gold, making a total of 1,236 tons of material crushed for a yield of 2460z. lOdwt. gold, as against 1,286 tons of stone crushed during the previous year for a yield of 2850z. lOdwt. gold. At the time of my visit to this locality last year the miners were crushing the material from the old mullock-tips, which was said to give them small wages for their labour. It is rumored that there is a scheme on foot to take up the most of the mines here and form them into a strong company, and that an English syndicate is getting reports and plans of operations from mining experts in the colony for the purpose of devising a tangible scheme to commence operations. A plan had been formerly proposed, which recommended a shaft to be sunk on the south side of the Ohinemuri Biver, which is on the opposite side to where the mines are situate. Since then another plan has been devised to sink a shaft on the north side of the river, near the present workings. In the Cadman ground the workings were commenced on the south side of the Ohinemuri Eiver, and trenches cut about 6ft. deeper than the previous workings. The lode where operations were commenced was merely a mass of sandstone full of small veins of quartz. A winze was sunk for 30ft., but sinking could not be continued on account of the influx of water. During the past year there were four men employed here, and 439 tons of material was crushed for a return of 82oz. 9dwt. gold. Some rich stone was formerly obtained from the Smile of Fortune, and it is anticipated that by extending the levels and testing the ground at a greater depth there is a likelihood of good returns being again obtained from this mine. Maddens Folly. —This mine adjoins the Owharoa Company's ground. A large lode about 7ft. wide has been found in this claim, and a trial crushing from same gave 6oz. of gold. As the block available for stoping above the level being opened up is about 80ft. in height, the proprietors should be well remunerated for their perseverance and outlay, especially as they will have about 200 ft. to work out on the course of the reef. During last year three men were employed, and 208 tons of material crushed for 31oz. Bdwt. gold. Waitekauri. This is a very old mining locality, and rich returns of gold were obtained in the early days; but for several years past very little work was done in the mines, but they are now beginning to receive more attention on account of the recent discoveries made in this locality. The recent development of this portion of the Ohinemuri Goldfield is due to the energy and perseverance of Mr. T. H. Eussell, who, about three years ago, purchased the crushing-battery and claim on the Waitekauri Eeef from Mr. John Brown, of Auckland. The alterations and changes made by Mr. Eussell show that men with capital and energy can overcome difficulties which would cause many to give up all hope of ever succeeding. No better instance of this can be given than the obstacles which Mr. Eussell had to encounter and overcome. His experience in mining previous to taking possession of the Waitekauri property was only obtained during the time he had charge of the Waihi Company's plant, and, in purchasing the mining property at Waitekauri, he was led to trust in the opinion of others that the large lode there would, if worked on a systematic and methodical principle, with a proper plant for the treatment of the ore, give similar returns to the Waihi ore. He consequently expended a large sum of money in altering the crushing-plant that was formerly used at Waitekauri, consisting of forty heads of stamps, and fitting it up with all the modern improvements. When this was completed, it was found that the ore that had beers left on the upper levels in the Waitekauri Mine, on which