C—3a

50

The first crushing of the two batteries for the month of April, 1898, has been received, which shows that 5,660 tons of quartz has been treated, for 18,361 oz. of bullion, valued at £18,445 2s. sd. There are five hundred men employed by this company; three hundred and ten in the mine, the balance at the batteries and surface-works. Union Mine. —This company has seventy men employed. The operations in the mine are chiefly confined to development-work. The main shaft is 14 ft. by 6 ft. in the clear, and has been sunk to a depth of 300 ft. From this shaft three levels have been opened out, and a large amount of work done in the shape of driving. The principal work is on the Union reef, which varies from 3 ft. to 6 ft. in thickness, and is said to contain a fair percentage of the precious metal. Work is also proceeding on the Amaranth reef, which varies from 12 ft. to 30 ft. in thickness. Assays made of some portions of the reef give payable results. In the Winner section of the mine a cross-cut drive is being driven from the whim-shaft to intersect the Winner reef. Waihi-Silver ton Gold-mining Company. —This company has done a large amount of driving and stoping at Nos. 1 and 2 levels, and the shaft has been sunk to a depth of 250 ft., where a chamber was opened out, and a cross-cut driven to intersect the reef. Driving is now proceeding on the reef north and south. The reef at this level is about 7 ft. in width, and, although it is low-grade ore, yet it is said to contain gold in payable quantities. The shaft is also being sunk below No. 3 level, for the purpose of opening up another level with all possible speed. The fortystamp mill has been continuously employed. 11,253 tons of quartz has been treated for 8,456 oz. of bullion, valued at £16,452 4s. Seventy men have been employed. Waihi-Gladstone Mine. —A large amount of prospecting, &c, has been done in this mine during the year. A shaft 6ft. by 3ft. in the clear has been sunk to a depth of 175 ft. The reef has been driven on for a considerable distance at No. 1 level, and a winze sunk to a depth of 65 ft. The reef is about 6 ft. in width, and, although a considerable. portion of it is low-grade ore, yet samples taken from several places have given good results. The mine is at present protected pending instructions from England. Nine men have been employed. No returns. Waihi Consolidated Company (Favona and Brilliant Mines). —This company have completed the erection of their pumping and winding plant mentioned in last year's report, and are now pushing on with the development of their mine, and the prospects met with are considered fairly satisfactory. At No. 1 (200 ft.) level driving is proceeding on the reef, which is about 4 ft. in width, and is said to give good results by assay tests made of some of the stone. In the northern face the reef is slightly disturbed, but this is probably on account of the workings being so near the surface. Good progress is being made with the sinking of the shaft below No. 1 level, which is penetrating through an excellent channel of country. Seventeen men are employed. No returns. Grand Junction Mine. —This mine comprises two blocks of land. The Grand Junction is situated on the north-east of the Waihi Company's mine, and the Waihi West section on the southwest of of the Waihi Company's mine. The Grand Junction shaft is 503 ft. deep, and a chamber opened out at a depth of 494 ft., and from this chamber cross-cut drives have been driven north and south. In the cross-cut north, at a distance of 411 ft. from the shaft, a large body of ore was met with, supposed to be the Martha lode, but owing to the large amount of water that was tapped when the reef was cut the pumps were not capable of dealing with it, and it was deemed advisable to build a dam in the cross-cut to prevent the water finding its way to the shaft until a larger pump was put in, consequently this drive was stopped pending the alterations. The south cross-cut has been driven a distance of 200 ft., but nothing of importance has been met with. Work at the main shaft has been suspended with the exception of working the pumps eight hours a day. The company decided to sink a prospecting shaft on the line of reef to the north-east of the main shaft for the purpose of intersecting the reef and working it at a higher level to prove its value. The shaft is now down a depth of 250 ft. Two cross-cuts are being driven from the bottom north and south, and are in a distance of 25 ft. both ways. According to the supposed line of reef on the surface it should be intersected in about 30 ft., but should it- not be met with in this drive it is intended to sink the shaft for another level. In the west section No. 2 shaft is being sunk with temporary sinking plant. It is down to a depth of 190 ft., and at 160 ft. connection was made with the crosscut driven from the No. 1 shaft, where the reef met with was supposed to be the Martha, being 18 ft. in width where intersected. It is now the company's intention to sink 100 ft. from the 160 ft. level before opening out, so as to render available a quantity of backs. Thirty-eight men are employed. Waihi Consols Mine. —This company has done a considerable amount of prospecting, and has lately erected a small engine on the shaft for the purpose of proving more fully the ground at a depth. As this mine is situated on the west of the Waihi Grand Junction, or Waihi West, the ground may be considered to be in a favourable position and worthy of further prospecting. Ten men were employed. No returns. Waihi South Mine. —This mine adjoins the Waihi Consols, and is to the south of the Waihi West Claim. A shaft has been sunk to a depth of 220 ft., and two cross-cut drives have been driven from the shaft in a northerly direction towards the boundary of the Waihi Consols Claim, but in both cases nothing of importance was discovered, and the claim is now protected. Thirteen men were employed. No returns. Prospecting operations were carried on to some extent in -the early part of the year on the Waihi Monument, Great Northern, King of Waihi, Mataura, Waihi Golden Pinnacle, Waitete, Waitete Extended, Waihi Proprietary, and Queen of Waihi. Whaebkieaupunga . Boyal Standard Mine.- —This company has done a large amount of work during the year. A tramway has been laid from the landing in the river to the mine, a distance of about four miles and a half, and only requires some ballast in places to complete this great work. An excavation has been made for the battery about three-quarters of a mile from the mine. The construction of a