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I submit for your information the following account of the work done by the principal mines in the district during the year : — Big Eiveb. Big River. —During the past twelve months No. 6 level, which is the lowest level in the mine, being 930 ft. below the surface, has been driven to intersect the block of stone left underfoot in No. 5 level. After driving 270 ft. without striking stone an uprise of 60 ft. was put up to connect with the winze which had been sunk 90 ft. on stone. , From the bottom of the winze a prospecting drive 150 ft. in length was driven along the track of the reef, which contained broken stone of good quality. A good deal of prospecting has been done on the low level, but unfortunately without success. A tunnel has been started from the shaft in a south-east direction with a view, if possible, of picking up the old block of stone worked so successfully some years ago. An intermediate level has been driven between Nos. 1 and 2 levels. After driving 100 ft. a small block of rich stone was struck, but it soon cut out again. This intermediate level is now being continued on a good reeftrack, and payable stone may be discovered at any time, as at a higher level a block of stone worked yielded near 3 oz. to the ton. The company sold a heap of tailings, containing about 9,000 tons, to a Mr. McDonald, of Johannesburg, for Bs. per ton. He erected a plant and treated the tailings by the cyanide process. He treated about 3,970 tons, and obtained gold worth £2,480. The company are now treating the remainder of the heap. During the year 480 tons of stone has been crushed, yielding 390£ oz. gold, valued at £1,582 6s. Id. The total output of the mine is 14,459 tons of stone, yielding 20,327 oz. gold, valued at £81,822 19s. 9d., out of which dividends to the extent of £40,500 have been declared. Mekkijigs. Cumberland Extended. —The Cumberland Exchange and Success Companies were amalgamated in December last under the title of the Cumberland Extended. The operations of late, with the exception of repairs, renewals, &c, necessary to maintain good ventilation, have been of a prospecting character, with the object of proving the bottom level for a continuance of the stone worked in the upper levels. Since the formation of the new company the low level has been extended 211 ft. in a northerly direction, the ground driven through being of a promising character, carrying a reef formation, pug, slate, and loose quartz. It is considered that some little distance will yet have to be driven before the point will be reached where stone may be expected. Inkerman Combined Mines. —At the new Inkerman workings on the western slope of the main ridge between Bainy Creek and Devil's Creek sinking the main shaft was proceeded with and 87 ft. sunk by the 15th April, making the total depth of the shaft at that date 423 ft. At this depth a chamber measuring 16 ft. by lift, by 8 ft. was constructed, and No. 4 level was driven eastward a distance of 605 ft. From this level a drive north on a reef-track was produced for 125 ft., with a cross-cut to the west of 87 ft. To facilitate driving this level (which will ultimately connect with the low-level tunnel coming in from the other side of the range) a dam was constructed in No. 3 level, and all water accumulating from the old stopes and from surface percolation was stored behind it, a Tangye pump being employed to lift the water some 319 ft. to the surface. In the surface tunnel north and works (to the eastward of the main shaft) 504^-ft. of new country has been opened up, representing driving ft., a winze of 104 ft., and an uprise of 17 ft. The winze, stopes 53 ft., and a cross-cut of 34 ft. have been opening on stone. At the surface winze, north of Eevival Gully, 46J ft. has been sunk, 23 ft. driven, and 16-J- ft. stoped ; 63 ft. has been on stone. In the old Inkerman Mine 818 ft. has been driven in new country and 212 ft. in sinking and rising, and of these distances 314 ft. has been opening on stone. To ventilate this portion of the mine an air-shaft was sunk 102 ft. and connected with an old uprise. The No. 2 Inkerman block has been driven on 75 ft. and a winze sunk on it 6 ft. In the Supreme Mine 822 ft. has been driven and 147 ft. sunk ; 514 ft. has been opening up on stone. The Low-Level tunnel from Eainy Creek was commenced in February, 1897, and on the 25th March had been driven 2,089 ft. The first 221 ft. was driven by hand-drills and took twelve weeks, and the balance, 1,868 ft., was driven by rock-drills and took forty-six weeks, the respective averages per week being 1841 ft. and 406 ft. The tunnel is ventilated by air-boxes which are worked by an exhaust with compressed air obtained from the receiver at the mouth of the tunnel. The power is obtained from a Cornish boiler situated at the battery, which drives a Eand air-compressor. The total amount of ground opened up represents 6,157 ft. The average number of men employed for the year was sixty-five. For the fifteen months ended the 25th March last the company expended £11,324 in wages. This does not include amounts paid for contracts or official salaries. The company recently obtained six months' protection of their properties on the grounds that they had spent over £20,000 thereon and that such expenditure had exhausted the capital of the company and they required time, &c, to raise further capital. Golden Lead. —The driving of the low-level tunnel has been proceeded with and it is now in 1,100 ft. Most of the driving has been through very hard ground. Better country, however, is now showing in the face. The tunnel will have to be driven another 160 ft. before it reaches the perpendicular of the surface lode and into the reefing country. This company has shown much energy under adverse circumstances. Ceushington. Keep-it-Dark. —The principal work carried out during the year has been the opening-up of No. 7 level. The total depth from the brace of the main shaft to No. 7 level is a little over 1,000 ft. The depth of the main shaft from the brace on the surface to No: 3 level is 486 ft., and from the