60

C—3a

CEMENT-MINING. Addison's Plat. Golden Sand. —(3o/3/97) : This property is largely owned by an Auckland syndicate, who have erected a ten-head battery. The stamps and all the machinery, which appear to be substantially built, were manufactured at the .Despatch Foundry, Greymouth, had a very successful start. The cement is brought up to the mill on an incline tramway, the motive-power being supplied by a 12 ft. water-wheel, and for the battery by a 6 ft. Pelton. The cement to be operated on is of large extent, the area being about 300 acres, and in the present face 8 ft. thick. Twelve men are employed. * Venture Claim. —(3o/3/98) : This property is largely owned by a local syndicate, who employ eight men. The battery, which consists of twelve stamps, 4 cwt. each, has been at work for some years, a water-wheel, 30 ft. diameter and 2-Jft. breast, supplying the motive-power. The cement lead is 4 ft. thick, and is connected with the battery by a horse-tramway. Milligan and Party. —(30/3/98) : This party hold an area of 50 acres, employing eleven men. The cement lead, which is from 7 ft. to 14 ft. in thickness, is connected with the battery by a horse-tramway. There are ten heads of stampers, 6 cwt. each, driven by a 6 ft. Pelton. Chaeleston. Dublin City Cement Claim (9 acres). —(19/10/97) : The cement is 7 ft. to 9ft. thick, and is conveyed to the battery by a ground-tramway 3 chains long. The battery consists of eight stampers —weight, 350 lb.;. motive-power, water-wheel 30 ft. in diameter, 3 ft. breast; crushing 16 yards per day of nine hours. Average value of gold, £3 19s. per ounce. At the time of last visit they had recoppered the tables, as the previous ones had been stolen. This claim is being worked by the four shareholders. Morning Star Cement Claim. —This claim is owned and worked by four shareholders. The cement-bed is 5 ft. thick, and is connected with the battery by a chute 40 ft. long, and a wooden tramway 3 chains long. The battery consists of four head, weight 400 lb.; motive-power, waterwheel 35 ft. in diameter, 2 ft. 6 in. breast. About sixteen loads of cement is crushed every day of nine hours. Average yield, 2 dwt. per load; value, £3 19s. per oz. Enterprise Cement Claim. —This claim is owned and worked by four shareholders, who are working it over for the third time—viz., first, they sluiced away about 4 ft.; second, they sluiced away about 1 ft.; third, they are taking everything except granite boulders. This averages from 4 ft. to 5 ft. in thickness, and is worth about 2s. 6d. per ton. This cement-bed is connected by a wooden tramway 7 chains long to the battery (four heads, weight 5001b.); motive-power, waterwheel 30ft. in diameter, 2 ft. 6 in. breast. (19/10/97): Owing to heavy rains Birch and party's cement claim was not visited. Their returns show: Crushed, 2,600 tons; yield, 51 oz. melted gold.

Eetdens from Cement-mines, 1897 and 1898.

DBEDGING. Philips Dredging Company, Mahinapua Creek. —(29/1/98) : The dredge was floated on to this creek in November, 1897. Since that time work has been of a preparatory and prospecting character. The ground where operations are commenced is on a swampy flat, which forms a large bend of the creek, about one mile from the lake. The pontoons, which are built of steel plates T s T in. on the bottom, are 90 ft. long by 20 ft. wide and 3 ft. 9 in. deep. The ladder is 72 ft. 6 in. long from centre to centre of tumbler shaft, and carries forty-three buckets, each having a capacity of 2-J- cubic feet. The buckets deliver the debris into iron-grated sluice-boxes, through which the wash falls into a distributing-box ; from thence it is run over a3O ft. spread of plush-tables. The engines are of the compound type, with horizontal cylinders, 7 in. and 13^-in. diameters, with 12 in. stroke, and 7 in. and in. with 16 in. stroke. Water for washing purposes is supplied by a 13 \ in. centrifugal pump, and the engines are worked at a pressure of 90 lb. from a Cornish boiler, 5 ft. diameter by 15 ft. in length, consuming 15 cwt. of Brunner coal in eight hours. The plant is placed between decks, occupying the stern-end behind the ladder. A good boat is provided, but no life-belts were on board; these have since been provided. Five men are employed on two shifts. Accidents. Ahaura, 25th June, 1897.—George Barnes was caught by a fall of wash-dirt while working by himself. He was taken out alive after being held by the legs for thirty-six hours, but died shortly after being released.

Name of Mine. Ordinary Cement crushed. Retorted Gold. Approximate Value. Charleston and Brighton Dublin City T. M. Norris and Tyther Patrick Dyer and party Golden Sand Tyther and party William Millikin and party ... ! Tons. 4,700 3,300 3,234 931 9,792 Oz. dwt. gr. 62 0 0 48 0 0 11 6 12 246 1 0 94 16 18 29 9 0 406 0 0 £ s. d. - 3,526 19 6 Totals ... I ' 21,957 897 13 6 3,526 19 6