55

C—B

CoLLINGWOOD. Golden Ridge (Taitapu Gold Estates. James Carroll, Mine-manager).—Operations on this property comprise two separate mines locally known as the Anthill and the Golden Ridge. The surfaceblocks having become partially exhausted on the Anthill section of the property, operations are directly confined to driving No. 3 level from the bottom of No. 2 winze to connect with No. 1. Stone for milling purposes will be available on completion of these drivings. Steam-driven hoisting and pumping installation is nearly completed. On the Golden Ridge section, all work is suspended, with the exception of a few miners driving and stoping in the New Find. Developments at Anthill comprise driving and crosscutting 140 ft. and sinking 40 ft. ; Golden Ridge, crosscutting 1,000 ft. ; and New Find, crosscutting and driving 700 ft. The twenty-head stamp mill is in good condition under the charge of Mr. F. Giles. The mines throughout are carefully timbered and ventilated. Golden Blocks (Taitapu. Frank Johnson, manager).—Mining operations have been steadily maintained during the year, and the stone milled (2,409 tons) yielded a gold-value of £8,230. Practically all the milling-ore was mined from Nos. 1 and 2 levels, but chiefly from No. 2, as operations on No. 1 are confined to the employment of two men ; while the work in connection with No. 3 low level is strictly of a development character. The reserve of milling-ore has been specially kept in advance of requirements during the past four years, but the recently extended explorations have not been favoured with the success anticipated. An extended'privilege adjoining the now operative property, having been recently acquired from the Taitapu Gold Estates, systematic prospecting is actively proceeding, and the results so far obtained exhibit favourable promise. Developments comprise driving and crosscutting 1,600 ft., and raising and sinking 850 ft. Timbering and ventilation receive special attention, and the operative plant is strictly kept in good order. Westport. Red Queen (Mokihinui). —This property is worked by a party of tributors (three men), who, at the date of inspection were sinking a winze on a small leader from the surface-level. The ground was securely timbered. Lady Agnes (Mokihinui). —As the result of unsatisfactory crushing further operations were suspended, and prospecting was commenced on an outcrop 200 ft. above the old working. Britannia Mine. —Mining operations have been actively carried on during the year ; the stone milled (504 tons) maintaining an average yield of 11 dwt. 3 gr. per ton, which gave a small profit over working-expenses. The stone milled was chiefly won from Nos. 4 and 5 levels which are driving on a thin vein overlapping the original reef. The extension of these drives is considered to junction with the rich stone formerly worked on the upper levels. With the increased water-supply for motive power now available, it is intended to increase the milling-power, and treat the large bodies of low-grade ores now exposed. The ground is carefully timbered and well ventilated. Stony Creek. —The operations formerly carried on by this company are suspended, and Mr. Thornhill Cooper and another miner are doing some surface-prospecting. Alpine Extended (Lyell. William Prince, mine-manager). —Notwithstanding the varied mining operations that have been persistently carried out north and south at depth on the No. 12 levels, the development so far attained has been rather of a disappointing character, and must fail to meet the anticipations of the shareholders. In driving northward irregularity in width and position of the reef were the chief characteristics met with, while the values obtained were not of a high standard, but as the face is extending the prospects assume a more favourable promise. In driving southwards on No. 12, a block of stone 46 ft. in length and varying in width from 1 ft. to 3 ft. was intersected at 280 ft. from the shaft, but was eventually cut out by a decided break in the country, and was replaced by a narrow lead 2 ft. wide and carrying fair gold. Driving was further continued on this stone for 91 ft., the result being that it thinned down to 12 in., and during the last 40 ft. of driving, the lode maintained no permanent change. In taking a review of the general conditions and contour of the auriferous country recently developed north and south on the No. 12 level, the irregularity of formation met with in the varied drivings, risings, and sinkings, indicates that movement of considerable magnitude has taken place, and unless unforseen developments occur in the geological formation of the lode at depth, the future prosperity of this mine cannot be regarded as encouraging under the existing conditions. The workings generally are in good order, securely timbered, "and well ventilated. The Italy Syndicate (late Tyrconnel). —This property is now owned and worked by a private party of four men, under the title of Kelly and party. Since taken possession of by this syndicate, working conditions have received strict attention, and development has been kept well in advance, but progress is much retarded by the very unsatisfactory means of conveying material by road. There was crushed 133 tons of ore which yielded a gold-value of £1,787. Boatman's. Kirwan's Reward. —Respecting the progressive operations in removing and milling the broken quartz from this peculiarly intermixed formation, subject-matter of importance is practically nil, and so far as clearing the crown of the Victoria Range is concerned, indications of the " parent reef " have not been discovered. The fifteen-head stamp mill has been actively worked during the open season, with a gold-value of £7,164 fron 4,814 tons treated. Lady of the Lake. —Not visited. Welcome. —Operations were confined to stoping the quartz exposed above the low-level tunnel, Specimen Hill, and the No. 5 level, Welcome, besides which, a winze was sunk 115 ft. to connect the intermediate and low levels with the object of locating the position of the stone northward. During the first nine and a half months of the year the company mined and milled 1,445 tons of quartz, which yielded