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extraction. Beyond unwatering and clearing up the mine, little or no work had been done at time of visit. New poppet-head gear was under construction. Big River Quartz-mine. —The gold-production from this property for the past year has not been encouraging. Active prospecting was carried on in No. 6 level and other sections of the mine with unsuccessful results. A small pocket of stone, which pinched out with a yield of 74 tons ore, was worked on No. 2 level. Rising was continued on the track, but the prospects were considered unfavourable. The plant is in good condition. B>g River No. 2 Quartz-mine. —This property adjoins the original Big River Mine, and is held by a local company, who opened and extended an old tunnel to a total distance of 350 ft. So far the country-rock shows no favourable reef indications, but I was informed that a 6 ft. quartz outcrop was unearthed on top of the hill. Last Chance Quartz-mine.- —The Al leader having pinched out, the party were obliged to turn their attention to a more profitable section of the property, where they are now working the quartz leaders in the sandstone formation. Golden Lead Quartz-mine. —Under-crossing the Big River Road at a vertical distance of 50 ft., two miners have driven a tunnel south 350 ft. This intersects several gold-bearing leaders, but so far the prospects are not considered payable. New Inkerman Mines (Locality, Merrijigs and Rainy Creek; B. Sutherland, mine-manager).— Mining matters on this property have been rather quiet lately. In the early part of the year the leading stope in No. 2 Supreme low-level reef was driven north and south to the face and securely timbered for ventilation. Afterwards a chute of stone, considered to branch from the main orebody, was discovered a few yards westward from the Supreme south face. To prospect this offshoot downwards a winze has been sunk on the stone to a depth of 100 ft. below the Rainy Creek level, and a crosscut is being driven at that depth to prove the existence of the main lode. The manager intends to sink the winze to a further depth of 200 ft. or 300 ft., with a view of developing the ore-bodies to greater depth and increasing the supply of stone in sight. A batterysite is being surveyed on the west bank of the Inangahua River, two miles above its confluence with Rainy Creek ; also a tramway to convey the ore from Rainy Creek tunnel to the battery. Cumberland Quartz-mine. —After a lengthened period of unsuccessfui prospecting by the late proprietors the property was sold by public auction, and bought by a local company. No effort has yet been made by the new company to develop the mine. Paparoa Ranges. Crasus (Paparoa). —For battery purposes stoping is continued on Nos. 1 and 2 levels. The contractors in No. 3 low level ceased work after driving 6 ft., pending an advance in footage price or a concession in explosives. Taffy Quartz-mine. —This open-face slate formation, intermixed with quartz leaders, is worked 35 ft. in width by 15 ft. in height, the ore being crushed by a five-stamp battery driven by waterpower. According to the percentage of gold obtained from the large body of material crushed, the veins show a fair gold average, and give profitable returns. Ten men are employed. The Garden Gully, Minerva, and Roaring Meg are all idle. Accidents. There have been no serious accidents reported from the quartz-mines during the year 1900. General Remarks. The present and future success of the gold-mining industry in the Reefton district must inevitably depend upon the productive capacities of the Consolidated Goldfields and Progress Mines of New Zealand ; for, considering the extensive unexplored gold-bearing areas held by these companies, the high stage of development which these mines have recently attained, the large reserve bodies of ore in sight, and the scientific and newly erected, up-to-date crushing and gold-saving appliances, these gold-producing properties should not only maintain their past output, but show a substantial increase on previous returns. Next in productive importance is the Keep-it-Dark Mine. The marked success of this property has depended wholly on the more modern and systematic mine-developments, the improved crushing machinery, and the scientific system of treating the low-grade ores by cyanide. Under these conditions a continuance of profitable returns may be looked for. Should the New Inkerman Mines carry out their proposed extension— i.e., to build an up-to-date sixty-five-stamp battery, with modern appliances, capable of treating successfully the extensive low-grade ores characteristic of this property—a large field will be opened for employment, and payable returns may be anticipated. ALLUVIAL AND HYDRAULIC MINING. Mahakipawa. King Solomon Mine (Alexander Campbell, mine-manager). —Mining operations are suspended since the Cullensville Creek flood-water filled the new shaft to the surface (in July last), and carried away 10 chains of flume-line which supplied the motive-power for pumping and winding. However, the flume is rebuilt in a substantial manner, and arrangements are being made to start two direct 9 in. bucket lift-pumps, worked from quadrants, to unwater the old shaft. Four men employed. Mahakipawa. —About twenty-five miners find a living along the Cullensville Creek and its tributaries,