C.—3

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MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. Copver-niines, Nelson.- Mr. Turnbull, manager, kindly supplied the following information : The company having effected a persistent and general style of prospecting of ore-bodies on this property, have decided to concentrate future expenditure on the United Section, where they have cut three chutes of ore The " Monster," although firstly considered a doubtful and irregular formation, has been ultimately intersected and proved to be a well-defined lode of low grade. The Champion Mine will not be worked in the meantime. Plans and reports have been prepared for Mr. Wood (chairman), who intends to leave for the Home-country in April, and during his absence £1,500 will be expended to effect further development, and if satisfactory results are obtained a larger company will be floated. Mr Turnbull and others have applied for 1,000 acres of copper-bearing country at D Urville Island. Samples of the ore obtained and assayed gave 17 per cent. Cu. Mr. Turnbull intends to closely examine this property shortly, and if the ground is approved a Sydney syndicate will provide the necessary CaPl1^ Hidden Treasure, Takaka.— Comment on the working of this property, either from commercial or scientific standpoints, would be practically useless. To all appearance the works are shut down definitely Inquiries were made relative to infringement of section 193, The Mmmg Act, 1898. Washbourne Brothers , Hcematite-faint Works fail to show their former activity. PROSECUTIONS. 23rd Jane 1904 —Warden's Court, Reefton : The New Inkerman Mines pleaded guilty to breach of " The Sunday Labour in Mines Prevention Act, 1897." Fined £2 and costs. 14th October 1904 —At the instance of the Inspector of Mines proceedings were instituted against the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited) under section 211, Mining Act, relative to housing the slime-tables at the Golden Fleece Mine. The Court (Arbitration) having visited the plant and heard the evidence of the battery-manager and other employees considered the housing complained ot was not necessary, and that the Act did not provide for such. ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Quartz-mines. I regret to record the sad fatality which occurred at the Energetic Mine on the 14th March, 1904, whereby three miners were suffocated by gas liberated from poisonous water whilst rising to hole a winze. As this matter wag fully dealt with at time of accident, further comment may be deemed unnecessary.

Progress Mine.—U/l/0i : Robert Haste, miner, sustained fracture of arm and leg by fall of Inkerman Mine.—3/3/04 : Walter Mattock, miner, sustained fracture of both thighs by fall of quartz in the face. . Progress Mines Cyanide-works.— ll/7/04 : Aubrey Gow had his arm broken in belting. Golden Ridge, Taitafu —4/10/04 : E. McNamara, miner, sustained injury to the eye by an explosion of gelignite while charging a shot-hole. No after effects. Dredges. Mokoia, Buller— -8/6/04 : J. Dalton, dredgemaster, had both ankles dislocated while uncoiling T Reedman's Creek.— 2/4/04 : Fred Cullman, engine-driver, was severely bruised while oiling the machinery in motion. . . Old Diggings, Buller.— 3/6/04 : Albert Gillstrom, master, had arm sprained in belting. There were no fatal or really serious dredging accidents during the year. I have, &c, R. Tennent, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines. Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. gIE _ Office of Inspector of Mines (Southern District), Dunedin, Bth April, 1905. I have the honour to forward the accompanying reports on quartz-mines, hydraulic sluicing, and alluvial mines, and gold-dredges in the Otago and Southland Districts for the year ending the 31st December, 1904. QUA RTZ-MINING. Canterbury. Wilberforce Reefs.—The Wilberforce quartz reefs are situated at a high altitude at the head of the Wilberforce River, on the Canterbury side of tne range of mountains dividing the Provinces of Canterbury and Westland. It is understood that a few tons of quartz had been taken out of a low-level

Date Name. Name of Min Name. Name of Mine. ne . Cause. Date March 14, 1904 George Eslick .. Energetio 14,1904 Thoma-i Lindsay .. "„ 14, 1904 William Kennard .. \ Suffocated by gas liberated from poisoned water whilst rising to hole a winze.