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the Moanataiari shaft. A large portion of the mine is now let on tribute, and the men employed are doing fairly well. The company crushed 3,102 tons, for a return of 1,367 oz.; value, £3,844. The tributers treated 1,049 tons of general dirt, for 1,811 oz. ; value, £4,588. New Alburnia (New Alburnia Gold-mining Company, Limited). —This company have employed a large number of men, but, unfortunately, without much success. Powerful winding machinery was erected, and the shaft sunk to about 600 ft. A crosscut from the Sons of Freedom level was then driven, at a depth of about 600 ft., to connect with the shaft. This gave good ventilation and saved a considerable amount of pumping. Unfortunately, the results have not been very satisfactory. Quartz crushed, 1,385 tons, and picked stone, 301b., for a return of 255 oz. ; value, £659. Several other small claims have been worked in this locality, but nothing of any importance was discovered. Victoria (Victoria Gold-mining Company, Limited). —This mine has been under protection for six out of the last twelve months; since then only four men have been employed. A drive 270 ft. was driven in a north-westerly direction from the shaft for the purpose of cutting any leaders that might exist, but nothing of importance was met with. The Victoria reef was worked for some time, but the ore obtained did not prove payable. Quartz crushed, 131 tons, for a return of 58 oz. 17dwt.; value, £158. Waiotahi (Waiotahi Gold-mining Company, Limited). —This mine has been working since 1877, and has paid no less than forty-nine dividends ; total, £35,550. It is the most systematically worked and the most consistent gold-producer in this portion of the district. The mine is still looking well, and there is every reason to believe that further dividends will be declared. Quartz crushed, 1,090 tons ; return, 1,653 0z.—£4,571. Nonpareil (Nonpareil Gold-mining Company, Limited). —-This company have employed six men during the year in developing the Wade reef and prospecting generally, with indifferent results. The company crushed 34 tons of general dirt, for a return of 208 oz., valued at £570. Ten tributers have been working also, and have crushed 154 tons, for a return of 234 oz.; value,^£642. Hatiraki Golden Age (E. K. Cooper).—Mr. Cooper, who formed a syndicate at Home for the purpose of taking over this property from the Hauraki Golden Age Company (Limited), started working at once, and took out 2,325 tons, which, on being treated, gave a return of 30 oz.; value, £81. The new forty-stamp battery which was erected by the former owners was never used, Before it was quite completed it was found that the ore discovered was not sufficiently remunerative to warrant the company continuing operations, and the mine was closed down. Mr. Cooper is confident that there exists payable ore in the mine, and is determined to leave nothing undone to prove that such is the case. The old battery is being renovated for the purpose of treating trial crushings from different parts of the mine. The West Coast, Little Maggie, and Little Mabel Claims have been worked, but the gold return has been small. May Queen, Hauraki (May Queen, Hauraki, Limited). —This mine comprises the May Queen and St. Hippo Special Claims. For the greater part of the year the company has been opening up a new reef in the Saxon section at the No. 6 level. At first a fair measure of success was met with, but lately the reef has not been so good, and the whole block was let on tribute. The company intend opening up lower levels, and for that purpose enlarged the May Queen shaft down to the present Big Pump drainage-level—s2o ft. The shaft is being sunk below that level, and is now down 44 ft. It is intended to continue it for another 56 ft. further before opening out. This should give a large block of payable ground to work upon. The country is now perfectly dry in the winze, which is down 25 ft. below the No. 6 level in the Saxon section. This, I have not the slightest doubt, is due to the pumping operations at the Thames-Hauraki shaft. The prospects of this company are particularly bright, as it is known that gold is making downward in the reefs found at the lowest level. Quartz crushed by company, 2,039 tons, for a return of 1,866 oz.; value, £5,167. The tributers treated 199 tons, and obtained 357 oz. ; value, £963. Thames-Hauraki (Thames-Hauraki Goldfields, Limited). —This mine comprises the Queen of Beauty Extended, Deep Sinker, and Deep Levels Consolidated Special Claims. The pumping machinery at the Queen of Beauty shaft has been completed and is now in full work. The shaft has been enlarged and timbered down to 536 ft. A further distance of 94 ft. has to be completed before the bottom of the old shaft will be reached. The No. 8 chamber has been finished, and work will be at once commenced for the purpose of trying the Vengeance reef at this level. In the Deep Sinker section the driving of the north crosscut is being pushed on with all possible despatch for the purpose of meeting the Una and Vanguard reefs. Gloucester (Gloucester Gold-mining Company, Limited). —Very little has been done in this mine. Last year a shaft was sunk, and it was intended to erect winding machinery, but nothin" has been done. Prospecting has been going on, but the results are not satisfactory. Karaka (Karaka, Limited). —The groundJias been well worked during the year. The reef is from about 3 ft. to 5 ft. wide and carries gold at the thickest part. On the whole, the prospects have improved, and are very encouraging. Quartz crushed, 100 tons ; return, 27 oz. ; value, £80. In the locality of Una Hill the Occidental, Thames, and Karaka Queen have been prospected, but nothing definite has been discovered. Fortuna Hauraki (Fortuna Hauraki, Limited). —A considerable amount of work has been done during the year on the different reefs. The indications met with in the Gibraltar reef were considered favourable enough to warrant the company erecting pumping and winding machinery on the old Dark shaft. When complete the water was pumped out down to No. 3. level, at a depth of 200 ft., and work commenced there on the No. 2 reef. This reef varies from 4 ft. to 6 ft., and carries a great quantity of mineral, A little gold was seen at times. A tram-line was erected to convey the quartz to the five-stamp battery. After crushing 110 tons, for a return of 1 oz. 19dwt., the mine was stopped. It is almost certain that this small return was due to some defect in the