C.—3.

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spent on these races. A contract has been let to Seager Brothers for fixing a line of 24 in. wroughtiron pipes from the receiving-tank at the end of the water-races to the machine-site, it being the intention of the company to generate power by means of electrical dynamos, which will be driven by a Pelton wheel. This power will be transmitted to the mine, a distance of two miles, where it will be used for sinking the shaft on the reef, as power for hauling, pumping, and crushing when required. The electrical machinery for the above is now on the road to New Zealand from England and America. The average number of men employed during the year is twenty-nine, wages and contract. Te Aroha District. This district is situated to the southward of Ohinemuri County, and includes portions of the Tauranga and Ohinemuri Counties, but the largest area lies in the Piako County. Operations are being conducted with a view to the treatment of the refractory ores with which the district abounds. The following list shows the claims in this district:—

Abstract of Licenses for Special Claims and Licensed Holdings issued from the Warden's Office at Te Aroha, in the Hauraki Mining District, and registered on or before the 31st March, 1898, in the Books of the Mining Registrar at Te Aroha.

Piako. Aroha Gold-mines (Limited).— -The following work was done on the Aroha Gold-mines property for the period commencing the Ist April, 1897, and ending the 31st March, 1898. The principal work carried on was the driving of the main low tunnel. This tunnel is now in 1,230 ft. The size has been reduced from 12 ft. by 8 ft. to 8 ft. by 8 ft. It is being driven along the western wall of the main reef, the course being about due north. Up to the present it has been driven on contract by hand-labour. The tunnel is closely timbered with 10 in. by 8 in. sawn rimu, with split slabs. A 20 in. by 9 in. rimu box-drain is carried along the centre of the drive underneath the tram-line, which is a single line with pass loops, laid of 14 lb. steel rails on 6 in. by 4 in. sleepers. The cost of the tunnel per foot when completed will be about £3. Three cross-cuts have, been put through the reef, and a fourth is being put through at present in the face, where there is a strong reef. It has been broken into 4 ft., but so far, while carrying a little gold and silver, is not payable. The air is good, though a little warm, and is being kept cool by means of a water-blast and fire-draft, which are both temporary, being connected with the 2 in. and 7 in. pipes laid for the rock-drills which it

Date of License. Area. Locality. Block. Survey District. Name of Claim. Name of Registered Owner. ./6/95 ./6/95 .3/9/95 .3/9/95 18/6/95 16/9/95 15/10/95 A. B. P. 26 2 32 10 1 2 60 0 0 Waiorongomai X. Aroha New Find No. 1 .. New Find No. 2 Sceptre Aroha Gold-mines (Ltd.). « 99 0 0 28 1 25 20 0 0 10 2 34 Te Aroha Waiorongomai f 1 ( 1 XII. II. X. IX. XII. X. XL IX. "n Y Katikati j Aroha Sceptre Extended Loyalty Palace .. Mount Morgan .. Welcome w P. Snewin. J. Williams. R. Burke. .3/11/95 18/11/95 .0/1/96 ./2/96 ./2/96 17/1/96 10/4/96 10/4/96 10/4/96 .9/5/96 19/6/96 100 0 0 Katikati J Aroha Empire Aroha Gold-mines (Ltd.). 29 3 10 49 1 20 43 2 23 50 0 0 29 3 11 99 0 0 99 0 30 50 0 0 17 0 0 94 0 0 Te Aroha Tui Te Aroha Waiorongomai X. Golden Crown Montezuma Day Dawn Grand Junction .. Plutus (L.H.) .. Gentle Annie Great Western .. Plutus .. Plutus No. 2 New Munster J. Williams. J. A. Pond. E. Griffith. W. T. J. Bell. W. Steele. T. Gavin. G. F. Bell. W. T. J. Bell. New Munster Gold-mining Co, (Ltd.). Aroha Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.). G. B. Osmond. J. Wallace. R. Kelly. A. E. Langley. R. Dovell. T. Mclndoe. R. Dovell. W.Shaw. A. A. Lockwood. A. B. Millar. Ethel Reefs Gold-mining Co. G. J. Sanderson. R. Lohest. Tui IX. X. Waiorongomai .6/7/96 .6/7/96 19/4/96 .6/10/96 .6/10/96 10/10/96 14/10/96 10/11/96 10/11/96 .1/12/96 .3/1/97 .3/1/97 11/1/97 12/3/97 12/3/97 12/3/97 14/3/97 .0/5/97 16/6/97 '/10/97 19/12/97 14/3/98 14/3/98 100 0 0 50 2 16 94 0 9 100 0 0 100 0 0 99 1 21 99 0 17 46 3 32 99 0 0 27 2 0 100 0 0 96 0 4 19 1 0 79 2 0 99 2 16 98 1 6 93 0 0 27 0 15 99 0 0 96 1 12 98 2 32 78 1 34 30 2 0 Tui XII. X. IX. IX., X. a Trident .. Silver King Waitara.. Merchant of Venice Gipsy King Te Aroha Grand Result Te Aroha Extended Mount Ryan Manchester . .. Waitara Extended Ethel Reef Ballarat.. Ajax Ajax Extended .. Tui Loyalty Extended Edendale Mount Ryan Ext. Hot Springs Wallaby.. Cadman.. Montezuma Ext. IX. X. V, IX. X. Tui IX." X. X. Tui Waiorongomai Tui Te Aroha XL X. IX., X. Katikati .. Aroha Tui Gold-mines (Ltd.). W. Newsham. J. Campbell. W. Shaw. Inland Reefs Gold-mining Co. John Phillips, jun. J. Mills. J. Campbell. Waiorongomai XII. Aroha