0.—3

38

to the westward ; and this would add considerably to the value of the property. Generally, the work accomplished during the year has been the sinking of the shaft a further 134 ft, the driving of crosscuts for a distance of 734 ft, and the necessary repairing-work. An average of fourteen men have been employed in the mine during the year. It is the intention of the company to continue the present crosscut in the 500 ft. level until the Grand Junction Company's workings are met with, so as to provide good ventilation for the mine. Pride of Waihi Mine. —This mine (being under protection) was idle during the first six months of the year. Two men have been employed during the latter part of the year driving on one of the quartz-formations met with in the west-north-west crosscut in the Waihi Extended Mine with a view of tracing it into the Pride of Waihi Mine ground, in which direction it is running. If the results arising from this work be of an encouraging nature, the work of sinking a shaft on the property will probably be commenced. Waihi Syndicate (Limited), (Waihi Consolidated). —The syndicate holding an option over this property commenced operations in August last. In conjunction with the Waihi Grand Junction Company the sum of £3,000 was raised, the syndicate providing £2,000 and the other company £1,000. The work proposed to be carried out was the sinking of a new shaft to a depth of 900 ft, or drainage level This shaft is some distance to the westward of the Flavonia shaft and southeast of the Waihi Extended. The first work undertaken was the dismantling of the-machinery and plant erected at the, Flavonia shaft, and the removal of it to the new site, where the sinking of the shaft was commenced and at the end of the year had attained a depth of 25 ft. It is not intended to open out any levels from the shaft until the depth named has been reached. Should no reefs be met with in sinking, crosscutting drives will be put in to intersect any lodes that may traverse this part of the property. An average of eight men were employed during the year. Walker's Gigantic Mine. —The work in this mine was directed first to the sinking of a shaft, but when a depth of 60 ft. had been reached a large quantity of water was met with which could not be raised by the, temporary appliances erected, consequently the stoppage of work was inevitable. Operations were then directed to driving a level from the side of the hill at a depth of 150 ft. below the collar of the shaft, with the intention of connecting the level with the bottom of the shaft by a rise when the drive is in the distance required. Should the shaft (which is divided into three compartments and timbered throughout with 8 in. by 8 in. sets and slabbed all round) then be further sunk, the level named will be used as an adit water level. Eight men have been employed during the year. Waihi Beach United Mine. —The company has vigorously carried on operations in the mine during the year. The shaft having been sunk to a depth of 356 ft, a crosscut drive was put in at that level and the reef intersected at a distance of 1.50 ft. The reef, where cut through, was of considerable width, and has been driven on for 33 ft. Although there are ribs of mullock running through it, yet some of the quartz has a very promising appearance, and. I am informed contains a fair amount of the precious metal. It is fully expected that as the reef is driven on rich shoots of payable ore will be met with. The shaft being sunk near the sea, it was expected a large quantity of water would have to be contended with, but so far this is not the case, as the workings are, comparatively speaking, dry. Thirteen men have been employed during the year. Ohinemuri River Syndicate. —There has been little work done on this property since the early part of the year on account of the gold extracted from the tailings not being sufficient to meet the workingexpenses. This is somewhat disappointing to the owners, who have spent a large sum of money in trying to make the concern a payable one. lam informed an Australian syndic-ate is likely to take it over, and hopes of making it a success are entertained. With the exception of the properties already mentioned, very little work has been done during the year in the Waihi Gold Reefs Mine, the Waihi Consols, Waihi South, or any of the claims in the vicinity of Waihi. Katikati. The Eliza Claim. —A syndicate was formed of Waihi and Katikati residents with the object of proving the value of the reef formerly worked on the surface, which was said to contain rich pockets of quartz. Aid for prospecting was applied for and granted, a level was commenced 100 ft. lower down the hill with a view to intersecting the lode at this depth, and, when inspected, was found to have been driven 140 ft. Two men employed. Owharoa. The Rising Sun Claim. —This mine was protected during the early part of the year, and when protection expired three men were employed in driving on the reef and making a connection with the surface levels for ventilation. The reef in the face of the level when last visited was about 15 in. in width, and is said to carry payable gold. There are two other parties prospecting in this locality, but they have not discovered anything of a payable character up to the present. Waitekauri. Waitekauri. —Very little work has been done on this property during the year, the company having abandoned the greater portion of it, and for some time there was only a caretaker in charge ; but latterly a tribute was let to Grace and Collins in the old Waitekauri section. They are reported to be meeting with encouraging prospects, and possibly arrangements may be made with them as to the purchase of this section of the property. Maorilander. —This mine has been worked continuously during the year by a Waihi syndicate. On their funds becoming exhausted and being unable to get in calls to erect a crushing plant, they ap-