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lodes will be found in the locality containing ore equally as rich. It has, however, always to be borne in mind that samples forwarded for assay are generally misleading as to the average character of the ore in a lode : the most likely piece is broken out for assay. Very few of those interested in mines would send a sample of pure white quartz to be assayed to ascertain its value. There is always some indication in the ore in quartz lodes to show that they contain mineral. On my recent visit to this district there were large bush-fires in Puhipuhi Forest, and it was feared at that time that the crushing-battery would be destroyed ; but, fortunately, such was not the case. The company's workmen had considerable trouble in combating with the fire and protecting the company's property. The damage done by fire to the kauri timber in this forest is very great. Mr. Alderson, one of the directors of the British Company, states that he saw a green kauri-tree 15ft. in diameter reduced to ashes. This fire has prevented the company from completing a trial crushing of the ore at their mill, owing to the burnt debris coming into the flume which conveys the water to work the mill. COEOMANDEL DISTEICT. In consequence of the rich finds of auriferous quartz in the Hauraki Mine, there has been a revival of mining in this district, and mining properties have been greatly in demand, and all the ground in the vicinity of the Hauraki Company's claim has been pegged out and taken up in special claims and licensed holdings. Some of these may prove remunerative for working if sufficient money is expended in carrying on prospecting operations, but very few of the men who took up the ground have means to do this. It is simply a question of taking up the ground, drawing out a prospectus, or getting reports to show the probabilities of rich auriferous lodes passing through the ground, in order to float a company on the London market to work it. There is no doubt there are several valuable mining properties in this district, and others will prove to be so when properly developed ; but it must always be borne in mind that it is not reasonable to expect that all the properties about which prospectuses are sent Home with the view of floating companies to work them will prove safe investments for capital, as many will turn out to be wild speculations with very little, if any, justification of people placing them on the market. The ground was probably only taken up for the purpose of making money by disposing of it to some one else who might be fool enough to credit all the glowing representations that are set forth in reports respecting it. It must be remembered that at the present time there is a boom in mining in New Zealand, and wherever there is a boom in any industry a reaction sooner or later sets in, and properties become depreciated in value. There is a clear demonstration of this in regard to mining properties in South Africa at the present, where it is said that the values have decreased to the extent of about £120,000,000. New Zealand offers a large field for the investment of capital in mining enterprises, but before investing money in these ventures foreign as well as local capitalists have to use every precaution to ascertain from reliable men of sufficient mining experience that such properties are likely to return fair interest on the capital proposed to be invested for the purpose of developing them. There is a very large extent of country in the Coromandel district where auriferous lodes are known to exist, and no doubt many lodes will yet be discovered that will give good returns for working. Indeed, there is scarcely any portion of the Coromandel County that could be said to be non-auriferous. The formation, which is chiefly propylite, is highly indicative of the existence of auriferous lodes. From the ocean-beach at Preece's Point, Qnion Beach, Tiki, Tokatea, Waikoromiko, Castle Eock, and the whole of the county between this and Mercury Bay, lodes exist containing gold, and the time is not far .distant when extensive mines will be opened, and plants, with all modern appliances, will be erected to treat the ore in a far more intelligent manner than heretofore. The loss in the treatment of auriferous ore in the past has been appalling indeed. Until recent years no one took any trouble to ascertain the assay-value of the ore. The treatment was carried on in the most primitive manner, and notwithstanding this the mill-men were under the impression that they were recovering a large percentage of the gold; whereas, in all probability, if an average was taken of the whole of the ore treated since the field was first opened it would be found that not more than 50 per cent, of the assay-value has been recovered. There is a large extent of country, comprising nearly 37,000 acres, or about 57 square miles, of freehold land belonging to the Kauri Syndicate Company which has now been acquired by an influential London syndicate, for the purpose of developing the auriferous lodes that are known to exist, and for carrying on prospecting operations. This belt of country extends from the goldworkings in the vicinity of Castle Eock and the range dividing Coromandel proper from Whangapoa, and extends to Kuaotunu. It is only of recent years that the Kauri Syndicate Company would allow any one to work any portion of this land for gold-mining, and when they did agree to allow miners to carry on prospecting operations it was under the most stringest regulations, hedged round with conditions, that only a few have ever taken up ground to work within this area. A few years ago Mr. Lanigan found fairly rich auriferous stone upon the Kauri Syndicate's property in the vicinity of Opitonui, where he erected a crushing battery of ten heads of stamps, and carried on mining for some time with success ; but it is well known that only a small percentage of the gold in the quartz was recovered, and that nothing but very rich ore would pay for working by the principle adopted in carrying on operations. There are large lodes in portions of this freehold property containing gold, but unless these contain rich deposits they will not prove payable for working in a small way. When the whole of this property is prospected many valuable discoveries will probably have been made, and there is very little doubt but the present proprietors will be repaid many-fold for the capital they have invested in the enterprise. Where there are large lodes containing low-grade ore, the only way to make them payable for working is to carry