53

C—3

of Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 levels, Maria reef; No. 4 level, Shepherd's reef; No. 3 and Tramway levels, Ivanhoe section ; and sinking a vertical shaft to intersect the Maria reef direct, and from which the other reefs will be reached by crosscutting. These developments are said to be satisfactorily proving the existence of further and valuable ore-bodies. The shaft-chamber in No. 5 level, which is 45J it. long by 37Jft. wide, and 40 ft. high, has been completed, and a connection from it to the surface also made. The shaft is being sunk 8 ft. by 18 ft. in the clear, and has two hoisting-com-partments, 6 ft. by 4 ft.; also a pumping-compartment and ladder-way, 6 ft. by 6 ft. 6 in. The shaft is now down 40 ft. from the floor of the chamber, the collar-set in place, and the concrete work around the shaft-mouth and chamber-floor completed. A small steam-boiler and winch have been set up in the shaft-chamber to expedite sinking until the air-compressor plant is completed. Average number of men employed, sixty. No returns. Talisman Consolidated. —This company has been vigorously pushing on with developments in the mine, besides the ordinary work, pending the completion of the new reduction plant. This will comprise rock-breakers of the Blake type, fifty heads of gravitation stamps, amalgamating, concentrating, and cyaniding plant, and is expected to be completed about the month of April. The new mill will be of the wet-crushing type, and the number of stamps will be gradually increased with the increase of output from the mine. In the mine the crosscut to the Dubbo reef is now in a distance of 400 ft., and is passing through a good channel of country. A few feet more driving should reach the reef. At No. 5 level—Bonanza section—the reef in the south stopes is from 2 ft. to 8 ft. in width. A large tonnage of ore is being broken out here and forwarded to the mill for treatment. The south drive at No. 6 level is now in a total distance of 300 ft.; the reef is split up, and, in case of anything of importance being left, a crosscut is being put into the east to prove the foot-wall portion of the lode. At No. 7 level the south drive has been extended 130 ft. on the course of the lode. Stoping is also being continued over the back of this level in the Talisman section; the reef is from 3ft. to Bft. in thickness, and is producing good payable ore. The crosscut adit at No. 8 level is now in 400 ft. On the Dubbo reef a rise has been started from No. 1 level on the reef, and is up 60 ft. ; the lode is from 1 ft. to 4 ft. thick, the quartz being of a very kindly description. This rise will open up 100 ft. of backs; and from the assays of the stone made from time to time this block should prove highly payable. The crosscut to intersect the No. 2 lode is now in a distance of 135 ft., the country in the face being all that can be desired. The No. 2 level is in a distance of 530 ft. from the point where the reef was intersected. The country has been very hard, but a change for the better has taken place, and with the change the assays made of the quartz shows a great improvement in value. In the Talisman Extended section the north drive on the lode is in a distance of 180 ft. ; the lode is 2 ft. 6 in. in width, and is improving as it is driven upon. 7,961 tons of ore was treated for 29,725 oz. 4 dwt. of bullion, value £21,980 2s. lfd. ; and it is fully expected, with the additional stamps, a considerable increase may be expected next year. 150 men have been employed. New Zealand Crown Mines Company. —This company has been vigorously pushing on with the development-works in the mine in sinking the main underlie shaft, extending the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 levels from this shaft, and stoping out the reef over the back of the levels from the No. 3 level upwards. The No. 1 underlie shaft has been sunk on the reef to a depth of 225 ft., and the reef has varied from 6 ft. to 12 ft. in width. The whole of the ore broken has been sent to the mill for treatment, and has given highly payable results. The No. 1 level from the main shaft has been driven on the reef south a total distance of 1,530 ft., and north it has been driven on for.a distance of 60 ft. The No. 2 level has been driven south on the same reef a total distance of 1,575 ft., and north 225 ft. The No. 3 level south has been driven a distance of 217 ft. on the reef, and 38 ft. north. Driving is also proceeding on a new reef lately discovered in the Waitawheta tunnel, and the prospects of the mine generally are most encouraging. Good payable ore is being obtained from the new lode, and, as the main reef is explored under the Waitawheta (or bed of the river), the outlook is even better than anticipated. The company's works are well supplied with all necessary appliances for economically working the mine; instead of hand-labour, rock-drills are at work in most of the principal places (the motive-power being compressed air), thus reducing the cost of breaking the ore. The company has erected an electric plant, which is used for lighting up the engine-rooms, brace, and shaft, also for firing shots and signalling purposes. The installation of the new pumping plant and the addition to the battery are works of value, and should have an important bearing upon the future prosperity of the company. The tramway between the mine and the battery is undergoing an overhaul, the old rails being replaced with new and heavier rails. 26,130 tons of ore was treated for 26,397 oz. 16 dwt. of bullion, value £52,339 12s. 6d.; and a dividend amounting to £10,000 was paid to the shareholders, making a total of £30,000 paid in dividends. 240 men were employed. Imperial. —The work carried out in this mine has been of a prospecting and development character. Three separate reefs have been operated on, which have averaged 3 ft. in width, and the same has been driven on for a total distance of 390 ft. ; also 90 ft. of crosscutting has been done, 21 ft. of rising, and 37 ft. of sinking. At present there is no machinery on the ground, but the prospects are -such that the board of directors contemplate erecting a small crushing plant. A trial crushing of 9 tons was treated for 12 oz. of gold ; value, £30. Four men were employed. Comstock. —The Waverley tunnel has been repaired and timbered for a distance of 500 ft., and 150 ft. also driven on the course of the lode. As the drive advanced, crosscuts were put in to prove the thickness of the lode, which was found to be 60 ft. in places, and carrying a little gold, but not sufficient to pay. As the reef was apparently better going down, the holders decided to extend the low tunnel, which is 300 ft. lower than the one mentioned. The low tunnel is in a distance of 528 ft., and will require to be extended a further distance of 450 ft. to intersect the reef. As the mine is in a good locality and well situated, the prospects are fairly encouraging. Four men are employed. Crown-Woodstock Junction. —The operations in this claim have been of a prospecting nature. 300 ft. of driving has been done, 200 ft. of trenching and cuttings, and stoping done on leaders to the