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construction of the plates or gold-saving apparatus. Trial crushings were then -made "at other batteries with more favourable, though not remunerative, returns. Quartz crushed, 349 tons ; return, 61 oz.; value, £158. Ethel Beefs (Ethel Eeef Gold-mining Company, Limited). —This company has been engaged in prospecting and opening up reefs in various levels. The majority of the reefs are small, but the Jupiter reef is 20 ft. thick. Encouraging prospects have been met with in most of these lodes. The company has a four-stamp battery, which has been engaged in treating small parcels from the different reefs for the purpose of ascertaining the value of the mine. If satisfactory, a twentystamp battery (which has already been purchased and stored near the mine) will be erected. Quartz crushed, 665 tons of general dirt from all parts of the mine, for a return of 176 oz.; value, £467. Kirikiri. Fleming's (Malcolm Fleming).—Mr. Fleming has done a considerable amount of work. His battery, which consists of four stamps, has been running almost continuously on payable ore. The reefs opened up look well, and give promise of better returns than have previously been obtained. Quartz crushed, 77 tons, for a return of 108 oz.; value, £292. Several other claims have been taken up in the locality, the result, no doubt, of Mr. Fleming's success. Puriri. Puriri Gold Estates. —This property has been worked with a small, number of men, and a trial crushing is to be made at its small battery, which has been repaired. No returns have as yet been given. Empress of India. —During the early part of the year a good deal of prospecting was done, but the results obtained were not sufficiently good to induce the owners to continue. The license was, therefore, surrendered. Lately a party was formed to further prospect the ground, and they are now at work. I have not heard of anything being discovered. Neavesville. Little has been done here, but last month a party of tributers took the Golden Belt property on tribute, and are doing fairly well. Tairua. Broken Hills (Broken Hill Gold-mining Company, Limited). —A large sum of money was expended in constructing water-races and foundations for a battery. All these works have now been discontinued, and the mine closed down. Nearly all the claims which were in existence last year have been surrendered or forfeited, and the district practically deserted. Ohui. The only claims at work here are the Last Chance and Golden Hill. These are let on tribute. A small battery was erected, and a trial crushing of 25 tons put through. The return was not satisfactory, being only 15 dwt. Whangamata. Whangamata Proprietary. —This mine has been vigorously worked during the year, and a large amount of quartz, said to be payable, stacked ready for treatment. A battery-site has been excavated, and the battery buildings are now in course of erection. A water-race to supply power for driving the mill has also been constructed. It is anticipated that the return from the ore on hand will pay for the battery. I trust the company will not be disappointed. Wentworth. —-This mine is now worked by the Hauraki Peninsula Exploration Company (Limited), of England. During the year a large amount of work had been done in opening up the mine and saving quartz for treatment. Foundations for a battery are being made and water-races constructed. Almost all other claims have been abandoned. Ohinemuki County. Karangahake. New Zealand Crown Mines. —This company have very considerably increased their output. A lot of very expensive work has been done, and an additional twenty head of stamps is to be erected. Capable management has made this one of the foremost mines in the district. One hundred and eighty men are employed, and large sums have been spent on water-races and aircompressing machinery. The management deserve great credit for the position this mine has attained. Woodstock. —The Woodstock Company appeal, to a great extent, to have overcome the difficulty they had in treating their ore. The vanners introduced seem to have fulfilled expectations, as the returns from this company show a marked improvement, and I have no doubt that in the near future the mine will be made a payable one. The company employ 161 men. Talisman. —The Talisman Company have exceeded all expectations, whilst their ore has continued to run over £4 per ton. That this mine will prove a highly payable one there is no room for doubt. It is unfortunate that they are so cramped for room on their machine-site, and that there is so little available space for enlarging their mill, which, I believe, they desire to do. The London and New Zealand Exploration Company have recently acquired the Victor Waihou and Talisman Extended Special Claims. There is every reason to believe that the Talisman and Crown reefs run into these properties. Large and extensive development works are to be inaugurated at once, and a large number of men are being put on. This company has