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the shaft to reach the top of the rise, and driving and stoping are being carried on in favourablelooking country. Five men were employed. Zealandia Mine. —Very little work was done during the year, and the claim is now under protection. Bunker's Hill Mine (Area, 3 acres and 12 perches ; owners, the Bunker's Hill Gold-mining Company).—Driving and stoping have been carried on at the different levels on various reefs and leaders, averaging from 2 in. to 2 ft. in width ; and 21 tons of quartz was crushed, for a yield of 139 oz. 5 dwt., valued at £410 2s. 4d. Fourteen men were employed. Haurahi North Mine (Area, 25 acres; owners, Hauraki North Gold-mining Company, Limited). —During the year the main shaft was sunk a further distance of 64 ft., and is now 223 ft. in depth. Two levels are opened, and the two reefs worked on those levels are from lft. 6in. to 2 ft. in width. The quantity of quartz mined and sent to the battery was 241 tons, which yielded 173 oz. 3 dwt. of gold ; value, £360 15s. The number of men employed was seventeen in mine and battery. Kathleen Crown Mine (Area, 95 acres). —The freehold of this mine is owned by the Kathleen Crown (Limited), an English company. During the year a considerable amount of work has been accomplished in the mine. Argall's reef has been developed by driving the north and south levels, and, though traversing country favourable for gold, no payable returns have been obtained. The reef has been risen on also in two places where it appeared, 10 in. in width, encased in a congenial class of andesite, with a good hanging-wall. The ore, however, was only low grade. No. 1 reef at bottom level has been driven on for a distance of 381 ft. in a southerly direction, at times passing through very indifferent country, and not long since through a hard belt of diorite rock. The reef has varied in size from 3 ft. to 10 in., and, although not unpromising in appearance, tests have only disclosed traces of gold in the quartz. A drive to the northward on this reef is now in 254 ft. Sandstone and mineral veins have been met with, and considerable disturbance in the country. Though the reef has averaged 2 ft., it is now split up into small stringers largely consisting of calcite. A. rise was made on this reef, with a twofold object in view—viz., fetching the old workings known as Quail's drive and prospecting the reef, and to secure better ventilation, as well as to be a second means of exit from the workings. This is now accomplished, and thorough ventilation provided. Several small leaders are here running parallel to the reef, and will probably drop into it. In the month of July operations were started in what is known as Thompson's section, where a drive was put in and two small leaders intersected, carrying prospects of gold. These have been driven on almost to the boundary of the property, and are evidently the same veins that have been developed in the Blagrove's Mine adjoining, from which a fair crushing was obtained. In this mine they give good dish prospects, as well as small pieces of stone showing gold, which is coarse in quality. Two crushings of general stuff were treated at the Kapanga battery, for returns of 7 oz. retorted gold from 6 tons and soz. 9 dwt. from a similar quantity. This section of the company's property adjoining Blagrove's is looked upon with much favour, though the two reefs or leaders referred to are dipping into that ground. The company, with the assistance of the County Council, has improved the approaches to the mine, by forming and metalling a dray-road, and the mine is well equipped with all appliances. The shaft has been continued to a depth of 280 ft., and two levels opened, named the 60 ft. and 200 ft. The pumping-engine is an 80-horse power, with two 7-ton Cornish boilers. The draw-lift working-barrel is 13 in., and the plunger-pole 12 in., in diameter. The value of the gold obtained was £35 3s. 6d. Forty-one men were employed. Britannia Mine (Area, 40 acres; owners, Britannia Hauraki Company, Limited). —Operations in this mine were continuing the level opened at the 220 ft. level of the shaft. A reef 1 ft. in width was cut about 280 ft. from the shaft, and driven on for 100 ft. A level was then opened 90 ft. from the surface, and the same reef cut and worked on. The reef, which is gold-bearing, is of sufficient importance to warrant further exploration-work being carried on at this and the low level. Twenty-three men were employed. Hauraki South Mine (Area, 17 acres 1 rood 35 perches; owners, Hauraki South Gold-mining Company).—The shaft commenced last year was sunk to a depth of 150 ft. At that level a chamber was opened out, and a drive commenced which will be continued to the westward to cut the Auckland, Nelson, and Magazine reefs, which are known to run through the ground. The quantity of water was too great for the Wortm'ngton pump, and prevented the management from sinking to a greater depth. Fifteen men were employed. Blagrove's Freehold Gold-mining Company. —This company have thirty-eight men employed. The principal works are carried out on the eastern section of the ground, where a small shaft has been sunk to a depth of 125 ft. This shaft is worked by steam-winch where driving, stoping, and rising operations are being carried out on the No. 1 leader, which averages about 6 in., and promises very well. Four tons from this leader were treated some time ago, for a return of 32 oz. of gold. In the main shaft there are only six men employed underground, driving south from the main cross-cut at the 200 ft. level to connect with the eastern shaft. The main cross-cut is in a distance of 540 ft., there being 120 ft. to drive south to make the connection between the two shafts. There has also been a considerable amount of work done on the No. 2 reef, which averages 20 in., and from which fair prospects have been obtained. Kathleen Gold-mine (Limited). —This company has done a considerable amount of work and discovered a number of reefs from their 200 ft. level cross-cuts driven north and south. The objects of this company are, by prospecting with the available capital in hand, to expose as many reefs as possible, and ultimately to give them a thorough development. Having this in view, the company should eventually turn out a success. It is adjacent to the famous Hauraki Mine, and in line of the belt. The mine is well equipped with permanent plant, so that on this account no more large expenditure will be necessary. The reefs already discovered on the property are some nine in number.