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The Waihi Grand Junction Company have experienced great difficulty in working the lode in the north drive, owing to the very heavy flow of water. In consequence of this operations have been temporarily suspended. The southern crosscut to intersect the Waihi Company's Empire lode is being advanced, and the work of sinking the main shaft a still further depth of 250 ft. is now in hand. The shaft in the west section is being sunk under very favourable conditions. The shaft has now attained a depth of over 400 ft., and when another 100 ft. has been added it is intended to run out crosscuts. The owners of this mine have spent over £50,000 in its development, but, owing to having so much water to contend with, have received no remuneration for their pluck and perseverance, though good reports as to early success are to hand. Waihi Extended. —This company has held this ground for several years, but owing to want of means no great development-work has been done. For the past twelve months, however, greater activity has been shown, and a shaft sunk to the depth of 280 ft. Twelve men are now employed. The Waihi Gladstone is another mine in which nothing so far of a remunerative nature has been discovered. The company, however, propose exploiting the lower levels by sinking a shaft, the preparatory work for which is well in hand. The Haines Morrin, the Waihi South, and the Waihi Consolidated Companies are at a standstill. So far neither has met with any success ; want of pumping machinery seems to be one of their chief stumbling-blocks. At Owharoa, the Ohinemuri Syndicate have discontinued sinking the shaft; some of their properties are protected. Work, however, is being carried on in the Elliott tunnel. It is a very long time since this company secured anything payable. The Rising Sun Gold-mining Companys' Mine has been pluckily held and worked with a small number of men, with encouraging results. The operations have excited considerable interest owing to recent developments. Three reefs have been found in the upper workings of the mine, two of which have been cut in the lower levels. The low level is about 1,600 ft. in length. The first assay gave the value as £12 per ton, of which £8 represented the gold contents. The reefs discovered were cut about the centre of this company's area of 60 acres. Very little, however, can be done to develop these lodes until better ventilation can be secured; every effort is being made to secure this. Waitekauri. The operations of the Waitekauri Gold-mining Company, which up to the present, has produced £309,768 17s. worth of bullion, are too well known to inquire particularising, suffice it to say that development-works on a large scale are proceeding, and every effort is being made to get new blocks opened up. The Waitekauri Gross is at present under protection, endeavouring to raise further capital. The Waitekauri Extended is producing gold, but the ore is somewhat poor in value. There is, however, a slight improvement in this respect, which has had the result of further capital being introduced for development purposes. It is to be hoped this investment will meet with the reward it deserves. The New Zealand Jubilee (Limited) and Young New Zealand Gold-mining Companies are also operating in this locality. In both mines works of a prospecting nature are being carried on. The change of management has put more vigour into operations of these mines. Karangahake. New Zealand Crown Mines Company. —This company's property, with its sixty-head stamper battery, is producing satisfactory returns of gold each month. The last return was over £6,600. The total yield of bullion from this mine is near £360,000, and there is every prospect of its being one of our permanent gold-producers. Becently this company has acquired a considerable area of ground on the opposite bank of the Ohinemuri Biver, which it intends thoroughly prospecting. For this purpose a long tunnel is to be driven, the length of which will probably be one mile. Men were put on to this work as soon as the ground was secured. The ground in question had been held by several persons at different times for several years, but had been either abandoned or forfeited from time to time. None of the former holders were able to discover anything to make it worth their while to man and work this ground. I shall be pleased to hear of this venture turning out a success, as it will mean maintaining a considerable population in and around this locality. This company is erecting an engine to supplement its water-power for battery purposes, as it finds it has not enough power from the water-races during the dry season to keep all the stampers at work. A new and powerful pump has recently been erected in the mine, and there is nothing now to prevent this company from sinking to any reasonable depth. The main shaft is down about 300 ft. below the Ohinemuri and Waitawheta Bivers. This company has spent about £150,000 in connection with its mining operations in this mine, and employs some 250 men. Circumstances being favourable, I shall expect to see this mine one of the permanent supports of our gold industry. The Talisman Consolidated Gold-mining Company, which is not only carrying on extensive development-works, but is also erecting a new and larger crushing plant, has not made any gold returns for the past few months. It is to be hoped, with a more powerful battery at its command, it will very quickly make up in larger returns of bullion what it has been prevented in putting out while the plant was under construction. Opinions are divided as to whether this company will increase its future returns in proportion to the increased area acquired when amalgamating with the Talisman Extended. It is to be hoped this property may prove one of the permanent goldproducers of the district. Woodstock. —For the past year this mine has produced no gold, its battery being shut down; but the company has been pushing on as expeditiously as possible the various works connected