95

C.—B

battery only, and is equal to 1 oz. 0 dwt. 10 gr., or about £4 2s. per ton. The whole of the resulting tailings have been stored on the sand-dump for future treatment by cyanidation and other methods. The operations on the lodes were not so profitable to the company as had been anticipated, owing chiefly to the reef over No. 7 level diminishing in size and quality as the stopes advanced towards No. 6 level, finally giving out about 60 ft. over No. 7 level. Then the intermediate reef, although of good width, got reduced in length as stoping proceeded, and gave out about 30 ft. below No. 6 level. In addition to these drawbacks works in the mine were greatly hampered and, in fact, stopped for a short time last summer owing to defective ventilation, consequently it became necessary to effect considerable repairs to the old air-passages. Altogether 360 ft. of surface tunnel, No. 1 level winze-chamber, and 200 ft. of winze, 400 ft. of No. 2 level winze-chamber, and 60 ft. of uprise were retimbered. Since these works were effected the ventilation is perfectly satisfactory^throughout the mine, and it pated that further outlay in this direction will not be needed for some considerable time. With a view to augmenting the supply of quartz for crushing a large amount of prospecting was done in the east and west ends of No. 7 level and in the intermediate level, but without anything' of permanent value being discovered. In all 116 ft. of main driving, 134 ft. of crosscutting, 94 ft. of; an uprise, and 30 ft. of winze-sinking were done in these prospecting operations. At the conclusion of the stoping works it was decided to open up a deeper level (No. 8), but, before doing so, it was deemed advisable to prove the reef underfoot at No. 7 level by means of a winze. This latter was accordingly sunk on the extreme east end of the reef for a distance of 120 ft. The stone varied from 2 ft. to 4 ft. in width, and carried highly payable gold throughout. Its present size in the bottom of the winze is 2 ft. 6 in. wide. Judging from the indications found in No. 7 level and from the promising appearance of the lode in the winze there is every reason to believe that the extent of the reef in the new level will be greater and more permanent than in any of the upper levels. Contracts were let for sinking the main shaft 150 ft., excavating No. 8 chamber, and driving No. 8 level, all at reasonable prices, and the main shaft has just been satisfactorily completed. It is anticipated that about 400 ft. of driving will be required to intersect the line"" of reef. This should be completed towards the end of May next." Keep-it-Dark Quartz-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. Hindmarsh, the manager of the company, supplies the following particulars : —" Mine Department: During the year stoping out quartz from No. 4 and No. 5 levels has been continued. In No. 4 level the reef has been fairly regular, keeping about the same size ; it is now getting well up to No. 3 level, and about seven stopes (45 ft.) yet remain to be taken out. In No. 5 level, so far as it is worked up, the reef has not been so regular, several breaks having occurred in the lode with mullock in From about 40 ft. up one'part of the lode has taken a strike away to the east, and this accounts for the quartz which was met with 250 ft. from the main shaft when driving No. 5 crosscut the previous year. A winze has been sunk from No. 5 level at this point and the reef was carried down 116 ft. A crosscut to No. 6 level has been driven 328 ft. from the main shaft; a rise has been put up 30 ft. and connected with bottom of winze from No. 5. About the middle of December the reef was intersected in No. 6 level; it is 30 ft. into the foot-wall from where it was expected to be met with. The reef is 9 ft. thick, and shows very fair gold ; it will be some time before the extent of it will be known. For the year 12,313 tons of quartz has been raised and sent to the battery, the total cost of same, including driving of crosscut, two new winding-ropes, and all outlay in connection with the mine and winding-plant (except sinking the main shaft), being £7,904 11s. 10d., equal to 12s. 10d. per ton. The contract for sinking main shaft 300 ft. and constructing two chambers has been completed in a very creditable manner, the total cost being £1,438 16s. 4d., just a small fraction under £4 16s. per foot. The company is now in a position to drive a crosscut from bottom chamber and open up No. 7 level at any time. Battery Department : With the exception of a few days' stoppage early in the year the battery has been running fairly regular, 12,300 tons of quartz has been crushed, yielding 3,641 oz. 15 dwt. 5 gr. of gold, averaging a small fraction over 5 dwt. 22 gr. per ton. The cost of the year's crushing, including maintenance of races and all renewals of crushing plant, has been £1,501 55.; deducting £59 ss. 1 Id., which was expended in building extension of wall at head of the water-race, it makes the cost just a little over 2s. 4d. per ton. All the machinery and water-races are in good working-order, and for some time no stoppage for repairs will be necessary. Two improved Wilfley concentrators have been added to the battery plant. They have been working five months and are giving good results, producing about 2 tons of concentrates per week, assay value nearly 5 oz. per ton. The cost of concentrators, including erection, and shed for drying concentrates, amounts to £351 17s. sd. Cyanide Department: In this department the extraction shows an improvement on the previous year, the amount of bullion obtained being 1,873 oz. 0 dwt. 13 gr., value £5,911 13s. 7d., giving an extraction of a little over 9s. 7Jd. per ton on the gross tonnage crushed. The cost of treatment varies very little from the former year, being £2,270 15s. Bd. This amount includes labour, all materials used, royalty, &c, the cost per ton being a fraction over 3s. BJd., thus leaving a profit of ss. lid. per ton on the gross tonnage. The first shipment of 24 tons of concentrates, together with a quantity of slimes, has been sent to Australia for treatment. The net returns are not yet to hand, but it is anticipated that the result will be satisfactory." Blackwater River Gold-dredging Company (Limited). —Mr. A. Johnston Brown, secretary of the company, submits the following report: " During the year the company put into the dredge an electriclight installation. A workshop was also fitted up, and now includes lathe, drilling-machine, engine, and boiler. These items were all paid for out of profits, as also a new screen of novel construction designed to shake up the gravels by providing a 4 in. drop four times in each revolution. The highest return got in any one week was 87 oz. The dredge is a costly one to run, and the necessity of employing two or three men stumping and clearing ground adds materially to working-expenses. The dredge has lately been overhauled, and being at present on good ground it is hoped that dividends will in future be paid at regular intervals."