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Golden Pah, Hauraki (Limited). —This company is engaged developing the 193 ft. level, which is the present depth of the shaft. A new reef is being developed, which promises well. A cross-cut is being driven to communicate with the 180 ft. level from the old Union Beach Mine. In making that intersection it will well ventilate the mine, and also prove two reefs which are ahead of the present forebreast. In the 130 ft., 80 ft., and adit levels, considerable development work is now being pushed ahead, and, from present indications, is likely to yield well. The value of gold sold by this company from 48 tons has been 1480z., worth £453. The mine is equipped both for pumping and winding on a permanent basis. This company has every prospect of success. Hauraki Main Lodes Mine (Area, 98 acres; owners, Hauraki Main Lodes, Limited). —This mine is situated on the foreshore at Kauri Block, and adjoins the ground owned by the Hauraki Gold-mining Company. The whole of the workings are carried on below high-water mark, and in compliance with the conditions imposed for mining under the sea. Operations have been energetically pursued. Twenty-five men were employed, and the following works carried out: — Main shaft: The shaft, which measures 11 ft. by 7 ft. within timbers, was sunk an additional distance of 40 ft., making total depth 180 ft., water being lifted by a Tangye pump of vertical type, and capable of raising 7,000 gallons per hour. This pump was substituted in place of a smaller one which we found inadequate to cope with inflow of water. A main chamber has been formed at 180 ft. level, size 10 ft. wide, 9 ft. high, and 13 ft. long. On completing chamber main cross-cuts Nos. 1, 2, and 3 were started, and up to the 31st March measured respectively 264 ft., 240 ft., and 71 ft. In driving No. lat 214 ft. a large broken quartz lode was met with, bearing north-west and south-east, dip north-east. Drives 4 and 5 were at once commenced on this lode, and up to the 31st March had been driven 51 ft. and 120 ft. respectively, the reef varying in size, being much broken, and not bearing the character of a true reef. The rock encasing this lode is rotten andesite, while beyond it to the south, north-west, and west we have met very hard black rock in each cross-cut. A roadway to ladders a length of 25 ft. has also been driven. Permanent ladders with sollars have been placed the entire depth of the shaft. Cage compartments have been securely divided from pumping-shaft, and the main shaft made a thoroughly secure and permanent work. Surface : The portable winding plant has been removed, and a 10-ton Tangye boiler of Cornish type, with a pair of Tangye's horizontal winding-engines, 16-horse power nominal, together with a pair of Howard's patent safety-cages, with patent safety detaching-hooks, have been supplied and erected. The cages have been fitted with winding-ropes of best crucible steel. Main poppet-heads 60 ft. in height have been erected on a concrete base, and fitted with a pair of 8 ft. pit-head pulleys, to suit winding-rope. Large corrugated-iron shed has been erected over machinery. Shed over temporary winding plant has been converted into a miners' change-room, which, with carpenter's shop, office, and blacksmith's shop and engine-shed, form an efficient working plant. In order to insure the thorough drainage of old workings around the foreshore, our small Tangye pump has been swung into the old Golden Pah shaft, and is working periodically. All the old workings are thoroughly drained. Preece's Point District. Preece's Point Mine (Area, 200 acres, freehold; owners, Preece's Point Proprietary, Limited). — During the year the operations in this mine have been of a somewhat limited nature, in consequence of the finances of the company being at rather a low ebb. The mine has been kept free from water, and efforts made to reach the old workings by means of the drainage drive, which is about 30 ft. above sea-level. It was thought that in these old workings the leader might be picked up from which it was reported the former tributers obtained some rich ore. On the 23rd July these workings were reached, but, the air being so bad, it was necessary to procure thorough ventilation before any examination could be made. This was eventually accomplished, and it was found that, while the main reef runs close by these workings, very little work has been done on it, the former tributers confining their work to the small specimen leader. This leader and also the main reef have been driven on for a considerable distance, also a winze has been sunk on the reef, and although strong colours and dabs of gold have been seen nothing of a payable nature has come to hand. A few pieces of stone were found showing strong leafy gold. Several other reefs have been found and prospected by means of shallow workings on the surface, and colours of gold often seen. The country is of a good class, heavily charged with arsenical and iron pyrites. An average of sixteen men were employed. Golden Shore Special Foreshore Claim (Area, 137 acres; owners, Golden Shore Gold-mining Company).—A shaft was commenced near high-water mark, and sunk to a depth of 12 ft., of the full size of 16ft. by 6 ft., but from this depth it has been reduced in size to 6 ft. by 4 ft., and continued to 85 ft., where it is opened out for the purpose of driving a level to cut the reef. Karaka and Pukemaukuku B'.ocks. Mining operations have not been very energetically carried on in Aitken's Freehold or the adjoining claims. In the Karaka Block a discovery of rich quartz was made by the company who now own the claims lying between the Success Mine and the Pukemaukuku. The manager, Mr. A. J. Prescott, gives the following account of the work done :—- -" The title under which this mine is worked is the Karaka Block Syndicate. It is situated on the western watershed of the main Tokatea Range, being bounded on the north by the Success Mine and on the south by Aitken's Freehold. The name of owner or owners is the Karaka Block Syndicate, and the name of the mine-manager Arthur Joseph Prescott. The area of land held is 450 acres, or thereabouts, comprising Poneke Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Exchequer, Alameda, Standard, and Gordon. Description of mine : Quartz reefs. I may state that during the year the description of the work carried on has been of a prospecting nature, as a result of which several reefs have been discovered, some of which are of a promising nature. The following is a detailed account of the