89

C.—3

Abstract of Licenses for Special Claims, Mineral Leases, and Licensed Holdings issued from the Wardens' Offices— continued.

Maelboeough. Mining in the Marlborough District, so far as quartz is concerned, is practically at a standstill. The Ravenscliff Company at Waikakaho, and the Golden Bar Mine, at Wakamarina, not having been worked for some considerable time. Collingwood Disteict. West Wanganui. Golden Ridge Mine (Owners, Taitapu Gold Estates, Limited). — Mining operations were vigorously carried on. The battery of one Blake stone-breaker, twenty stamps, four berdans, and one pan was erected. The machinery is driven by a 6 ft. Pelton wheel, with a head of 450 ft. pressure, the water-race being one mile in length, including a tunnel of 1,000 ft. The amount of capital expended on mill and machinery was £10,000, and on the water-race £4,000. A parcel of quartz crushed yielded 49 oz. of gold ; value, £160 ; but, as a considerable tonnage was treated, the result was not profitable, consequently no great amount of work is now being carried on, and no other return has been made. Sixty men were employed. Red Hill (Area, 100 acres, situated about six miles from Collingwood; owned by a syndicate).— A tunnel about 680 ft. in length had been driven some time ago, but no work has been done during the year. Messrs. Washbourne have haematite-works on the Parapara Stream; there is a crushing-mill of six stamps and four berdans used in reducing the ore. The yield is 80 tons a year. It is put up in canvas bags containing 28 lb. or 56 lb., and is worth £12 per ton in Nelson, where it finds a ready sale. Preparations are being made to produce a knife-polishing powder. Taitapu. The Australasian Gold Trust Company and the New Zealand Pioneers Company, both of London, hold prospecting rights from the Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited), which enable them to prospect for gold and other metals and peg off and lease certain-sized areas of lands within that company's freehold of 88,350 acres. These companies commenced operations in May, 1896, and have continuously since then been engaged in prospecting and proving reefs. Two areas of ground, each of 50 acres, were pegged off immediately south of the Golden Ridge (the proprietary claim), in each of which the reef was found to outcrop. On the area next to the Golden Ridge, named Block 11., a shaft was put down on the reef for a distance of 150 ft.; then a drive was put in 200 ft. south to cut the lode on level of bottom of winze. This drive cut the reef at 180 ft., and was then connected with the shaft by driving along the reef. The reef was also followed 200 ft. south of drive, making, in all, 400 ft. driven along the reef. Operations then ceased for a time, and work was concentrated on the next area, Block 111. The country here is precipitous, varying from 45° to 60° in an easterly direction. A drive was put in at 70 ft. below outcrop, cutting the reef at 115 ft., the underlie being west, at an angle of 49°. Drives were then put in north 130 ft. and south 200 ft., disclosing a large quantity of quartz, a parcel of which of

Date of License. Area. Locality. Block. Survey District. Name of Claim. Name of Registered Owner. Greymouth--continued. ./9/94 A. R. P. 32 0 0 V. Mawheranui Julian Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) Paparoa Go 1 dmining Go. (Ltd.) Ditto Walter E. Church. 1/9/96 . 88 2 27 II The Paparoa Gold-mining Go. (Ltd.). il/12/96 11/12/96 ./3/97 ./3/97 ./3/97 99 0 0 99 0 0 100 0 0 99 0 0 100 0 0 James Creagh. T. W. Tymons. Jeremiah O'Donnell, jun. W. H. Kelts. James L. Doogan. 40 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 50 0 0 100 0 0 10 0 0 Bald Hill Farmer's Creek Cedar Creek .. Donnelly's Creek Cedar Greek .. Between German and Sailor's Gullies Ditto Mt. Greenland Lake Ianthe .. Redman's Creek Donoghue's .. Head of Sailor's and Blockade Gullies Jones's Flat .. VII. R< )SS. !l/10/95 S5/4/96 15/4/96 13/12/96 13/12/96 i/10/89 II. VI. II. Totara United Helvetia .. Helvetia Alpha Captain Russell .. Cedar Creek Mount Greenland . f Antonio Zala. William D. Versohoyle. Antonio Zala. W. D. Verschoyle and party. Mont D'Or Gold-mining Co. Totara 1/10/89 .4/2/91 710/93 1/12/94 ./3/83 ,/3/84 21 1 32 7 0 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 60 0 0 25 0 0 XV. I. Waitahu .. Totara Mont D'Or Extd. .. Mont D'Or Benford and Go. Chamberlain's Ernest Denia and party. Robert G. Chamberlain. Ross United Gold-mining Co. Mont D'Or Gold-mining Co. II. 75/84 13/12/96 13/12/96 i/8/97 43 0 3 100 0 0 50 0 0 60 0 0 Redman's Mikonui River i'. Mont D'Or No. 2.. Star of the South .. Kohinoor.. Ross United Gold-mining Co. Mont D'Or Gold-mining Co. E. Harris. Charles Holley and W. Thomson.