97

C—3

The following is a report as to the work done by the different mining parties in this district: — Virgin Flat Gold-mining Company, Addison's. — This company hold a claim of 100 acres, over which six months' protection has been granted to enable them to make further efforts to raise more capital. During the last year they have done practically nothing. McCann and party, Addison's Flat. —A small claim of 10 acres, situate on a terrace above Dirty Mary's Creek. This party has been working steadily during the year, but, unfortunately, the results have not been up to expectations. They are trying to strike the lead which yielded some very payable patches of stone during the latter part of the year 1903. Fletcher and party, Bradshaw's. —This party engaged in working a 15-acre claim by means of cementcrushing. Results only fair. Lowther and party, Bradshaw's. —An 18-acre claim, worked by cement-crushing. This party is doing fairly well. Jamieson Kemp and party, Bradshaw's. —Working a 14-acre claim with a two-head battery ; doing fairly well. J. Collins, Bradshaw's. —A small alluvial claim, almost worked out. Addison's Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company (Limited) Addison's. — A considerable amount of work is being done on this claim, but the yield of gold last year was not up to expectations, being only 313 oz. This claim is worked as a sluicing claim with an open face. Millikin and party, Addison's. —This party is working a 20-acre claim by means of hydraulic sluicing and cement-crushing. They have a ten-head battery driven by a Pelton wheel. Last year the returns proved very satisfactory, and the prospects continue good. Senior and party, Addison's. —A 20-acre claim. This party were engaged last year in working some old hopperings by means of cement-crushing. They have a twelve-head battery driven by a 30 ft. overshot wheel. Results of last year's work fairly successful, and a good area of fairly payable ground lies in front of them. P. Halligan and party, Addison's. —An alluvial claim of about 10 acres. Returns unsatisfactory ; prospects not good. Carmody and party and Neill and party, Addison's. —These two claims are situate on the Towa Lead, Addison's, and are of an area of 22 acres and 25 acres respectively. They are worked by means of open-faced sluicing, and continue to give very good returns. There is a considerable area of good ground in front of each party. Johnson and party, Cascade Creek. —A small quartz claim of 10 acres. Very inaccessible. Prospects not good. Davis Bros., Fairdown. —Engaged just now in bringing water to claim. Crawford and party, Fairdown. —A small alluvial claim of 6 acres. Making wages. Charleston District. The Charleston Beach Sluicing Company of Auckland (Limited). —This company commenced sluicing operations on their beach claim about March last, and continued working up to the end of the year. The company gave employment to seven or eight men during the whole of the time. The results appear to have been satisfactory, as there is every indication that work on the property will be continued in the future. Powell's Sluicing and Elevating Claim. —This claim was systematically and, I believe, most profitably worked during the greater portion of the year, and there is every prospect of its continuity being maintained in the future, as'the property has been thoroughly prospected. The work provides employment for eight or nine men. The Argyle Water-race. —This property was recently taken over by the Buller County Council, as the previous lessees had failed to keep it in proper repair. As the result of this neglect it was continually breaking away, occasioning thereby loss of work to the miners. The present lessee (Mr. Patrick Walsh) has given the place a thorough overhaul, renewing the flumings, &c, with the result that he is now able to let the other miners in the locality have the water at a reasonable rate, whilst the responsibility of keeping the race in repair rests with himself. The other smaller claims have worked in this locality during the greater portion of the year, with only moderate results. The majority of the miners are old men. The beach claims on the Nine-mile Beach, of which there are about twenty, are each worked by one or two men, who have been doing steady work, with good results. Altogether, mining generally compares more than favourably with the previous year. Lyell and Murchison Districts. Dredging. At the commencement of the year there were six dredges at work on the Buller River, between Lyell and Westport; one on the Upper Buller at Fern Flat; and one dredge at work, and one in course of erection, on the Matakitaki River above Murchison,

13—C. 3.