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of payable ore were worked on. During the past year operations were limited, the mine being under partial protection ; but it is anticipated that mining will soon be energetically carried on with a large number of men, as some difficulty which had existed between the shareholders is likely to be settled, and a plan of future development decided upon for working at deeper levels. Great Mercury Mine (Area, 34 acres ; owners, Great Mercury Gold-mining Company; minemanager, John Williams). —A considerable amount of work has been carried on in this mine during the year. 1,202 tons of quartz was crushed, for a yield of 1,131 oz., valued at £2,527 6s. 4d. This company had eighteen men employed, thirteen being underground, who were principally engaged in driving and stoping on the Christmas reef, which averages about 18in. in width, and most of the ore sent to the battery was obtained from this lode. Driving was also carried on at the intermediate level, for the purpose of intersecting the Murphy leader, which has been worked on in No. 2 level, and averaged about 6in. in width. The company have a ten-head battery, which was usually kept running ten hours per day. v Irene Mine (Area, 57 acres; owners, Irene (Hauraki) Gold-mine, Limited). —This mine is situated to the northward, of the Great Mercury. During the month of April, 1898, 163 tons of quartz was crushed and treated at the Great Mercury battery, yielding bullion 'to the value of £283, after which operations were suspended and total protection obtained. Handsworth Mine. —This mine, which is adjacent to the Irene, is worked by the owner, Mr. Louis Woodcock, who has driven a main cross-cut 340 ft. in an easterly direction. Several reefs and leaders, varying from 1 in. to 4 ft., have been intersected, but the larger lodes have not so far yielded payable quartz. Work has been confined to driving on the No. 2 leader, which runs north and south, and varies from 1 in. to 6 in. in width. During the year the owner had a parcel of 170 lb. of picked ore treated at the May Queen Extended battery, Thames, for a return of 107 oz. 10 dwt. of retorted gold. Juno Mine. —This mine is worked by a small party of tributers, who crushed 3-| tons of quartz and 2 lb. of picked stone for 10 oz. 5 dwt. gold. Aorere Mine. —This mine has been worked on tribute during the year, and operations were confined to driving and stoping on the Aorere reef. A parcel of 89-J tons of quartz was crushed, for bullion obtained by amalgamation to the value of £246 16s. 7d., and by the cyanide process to the value of £253 13s. lid.; total value, £500 10s. 6d. Prospecting has also been carried on in the Lucky Hit, Eoyal Eose, Moonlight, Phoenix, Ajax, Mint, Golden Anchor, and Prospect Mines. Waitaia Mine (Area, 85f acres; owner, Waitaia Gold-mine, Limited ; mine-manager, C. H. Bennett). —This mine is worked from an adit-level. The greatest depth of workings below the surface is 400 ft. There are ten levels, varying in depth from 40 ft. to 400 ft., the No. 5 level being a cross-cut 530 ft. There are six reefs, composed of hard flinty quartz encased in sandstone rock. The development work for the year has been —driving on reefs, 1,251 ft.; cross-cutting, 202 ft.; rising, 201 ft.; and sinking, 146 ft. Quartz to the amount of 110 tons was crushed and treated by the cyanide process at Great Mercury battery for a yield of 170 oz. ; value, £427. 1 ton of ore was treated at the Thames School of Mines, half of which, by the cyanide, yielded bullion worth Bs. 6d.; the other half, being treated by pan-amalgamation, produced bullion worth £115s. 9d.: total value for ton, £2 4s. 3d. There were sixteen wages-men employed during the year. Moewai District. Some prospecting-work has been carried on by White Brothers in their claim of 30 acres. Two leaders were cut, a crushing from which yielded 6 oz. 14 dwt. from 2J tons of stone. At a lower level a reef 7 ft. in width was cut, the quartz giving fair prospects. The owners are endeavouring to obtain assistance from a syndicate towards the erection of a small battery. Colorado Claim. —This claim adjoins White Brothers. A drive was put in and a 2 ft. reef cut, from which a parcel of quartz, about 50 tons, has been taken out and stacked at the surface. The party have purchased a small battery, which is not yet erected. Mahahirau District. Some prospectors are at work in this district, and some on the kauri-timber lands above Gumtown. Occasional prospecting is carried on in the Haehei and Boat Harbour districts. Remarks on Coromandel District. ~ . The returns show a decrease compared with those of the previous year, but there are strong indications of a considerable increase in the future. The Hauraki Mine still continues to furnish profitable yields of gold. The Kapanga Mine returns are also becoming more substantial. The Eoyal Oak Mine has also yielded rich and profitable returns, with every prospect of their continuance. The Hauraki Associated Mine has given fair yields ; and, as the Kauri Freehold Gold Estates Company's crushing-mill is nearly ready, the returns from this property will also add to next year's yield, as extensive blocks are opened ready for stoping, and a large stack of quartz is also in readiness to be treated. The Kuaotunu district may be expected to furnish continued payable returns. The nature of the deposits throughout Coromandel district is such that hopes may be entertained that fresh finds will follow systematic prospecting operations in many of the mines. Thames Disteict. This district comprises that portion of the Thames County lying between the Eiver and Firth of Thames to the westward and the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side. Progressive operations have been conducted in a vigorous manner in some of the mines, but in general continuous work has not been carried on in the newer mines. The drainage and prospecting of the deep levels is looked upon as being of most importance to that portion of the goldfields included in and adjacent to the Borough of Thames, while the newer developments at Tapu, Waiomo, Tararu, Tairua, and Whangamata districts give promise of extensive additions to future gold-production. The following list of claims will show the number of areas occupied for mining purposes;—-