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The trouble with the Kauri Timber Company, re the right to mine upon their leaseholds and freeholds at Tairua and Pakirarahi has retarded the opening up of these localities, which are said to contain large payable lodes. At Thames proper a work of great importance that will eventually have a beneficial effect upon the future of the town was commenced —viz., the preliminary operations for the testing of the deep levels. The point chosen is the old Queen of Beauty shaft. It is intended to continue this to a depth of 2,000 ft. The foundations for the pumping machinery are being prepared, and everything pushed ahead. When completed the public will have the right to use the shaft from which to start operations on the low levels. At Great Barrier Island, the latest addition to the mining district, thirteen special claims have been granted, and mining operations of an extensive character are being carried, on. The ore found carries silver principally, and is said to be payable. In the office, the past year has been an unusually busy one, and it is doubtful if ever before it had such a busy time receiving and dealing with applications. The following returns will show how busy the office has been : 1,157 licensed holdings and special claims applied for, 481 granted; 293 water-races applied for, 78 granted; 40 machine sites applied for, 38 granted; 198 residence sites applied for, 69 granted ; and 1,319 different rights and privileges registered. The sum of £36,332 has been passed through the deposit account, and £11,707 paid to Public Account, making, in all, the sum of £48,039 passed through the office. Thames-Hauraki Goldfields (Limited). —This is an English company, formed to develop the Queen of Beauty, Deep Sinker, and Deep Levels Consolidated Special Claims. The old Queen of Beauty shaft is being enlarged, and is to be continued to a depth of 2,000 ft. This shaft will act as a main shaft, from which the deep levels can be worked —in fact, will be the key to the fiat. Powerful pumping and working machinery is to be erected, and the foundations are now in an advanced stage. A shaft is also being sunk in the Deep Sinker section. Efficient pumping machinery has been erected here. A prospecting drive has been driven into the hill in the Deep Levels Consolidated section, but nothing of importance has been discovered. Moanatairi Mine. —This mine has been taken over by the Anglo-Continental Syndicate, which is making large alterations and improvements to the crushing-plant. When finished it will be a most complete and thorough plant, fitted with the latest gold-saving appliances. These improvements will, it is claimed, enable the low-grade ore, of which large bodies are known to exist in the mine, to be treated economically, and thus become payable. The returns for the past year have been good. Kuranui-Caledonian. —This includes Comer's Kuranui, and the Hazelbank ; the latter includes the once famous Caledonian ground. An English company has taken over this property and is going to carry on operations on a large scale. Very encouraging prospects have been met since operations were started. The 20-stamp battery which belongs to the mine has been repaired, and a tramway to convey quartz from the mine to the mill erected. Enough payable ore has been met with to keep the mill going for the last month. Victoria Mine. —Work has been steadily carried on in this mine during the year. A new reef was discovered early in the year which has given good returns. A considerable quantity of ore has been taken out, and the mine well opened up. It is now under offer to an English syndicate and if taken over, capital, which is all that is required to make it payable, will be available. May Queen Mine. —This is another mine that has been worked consistently, with favourable results. Payable returns have been to hand almost every month. The mine has recently been taken over by the Anglo-Continental Syndicate, and we may look forward to further developments which should prove highly remunerative. Waiotahi Mine. —This mine still continues to be the most consistent gold-producer. Operations have been successfully carried on for years past, and payable monthly returns of gold have been banked almost without a break. The prospects, judging from the present, are likely to continue as good as ever. Something like £24,000 has been paid in dividends since 1877. Cardigan Mine. —This company is now sinking a shaft from which to work the mine, instead of working from the May Queen shaft, which it has been doing in the past. The site has been chosen so that the shaft will intercept the reef of the May Queen and Tharnes-Hauraki Companies which strikes across the mine. This should prove a valuable property if gold is found when the Queen of Beauty shaft reaches the deep levels. Fame and Fortune Mine. —This mine has been taken over by the Hauraki Golden Age Company, of London. The new company has commenced to develop the property. An aerial tramway to carry quartz from mine to battery is to be erected, and battery put in thorough repair and improved. Alburnia Mine. —This property is now owned by an English company—the New Alburnia Gold-mining Company (Limited.). Operations have been very satisfactory during the year. The principal works have been the sinking of the main shaft and re-opening old workings. The company looks forward to the time when the developments can be proceeded with at the deeper levels. Plans for the erection of new reduction plant are now being prepared in anticipation of these operations being successful. Adelaide Mine. —This company has during the year carried on work continuously and systematically with fair results. The reef discovered has not proved as payable as was anticipated, but indications are such as to lead one to believe that improvements will shortly be met with. Gloucester Mine. —An English company now owns this property. Prospecting works have been going on for some time, with results such as to induce the company to sink a shaft. Plans of a battery, to cost £850, of the latest pattern, have been prepared, and it is intended to erect this as soon as the prospects met with on the surface are proved when the shaft is finished. Anchor Mine. —This is being worked by an English syndicate and thoroughly prospected and opened up. Parcels of the ore from each reef are tested at the small battery owned by the syndi*