47

G.—B.

ore. Although the reef is poor as far as it has been driven upon, yet the owners are sanguine of coming on a payable shoot of ore. Two men have been employed during the year. Otama Mine. —The work in this mine was carried on by O'Keefe and Ellings, who directed their operations to driving on the Juno Reef to the boundary, a distance of 180 ft, and rising to a height of 45 ft. Finding nothing payable, they commenced driving to the westward on what is known as " Rowes leader," where encouraging prospects were met with, a rise being put up at a point where a few rich specimens were obtained. It was fully expected this ground would prove payable, but results were disappointing, as the gold did not continue up. The party are hopeful of meeting with payable gold as the work proceeds. Ten pounds of stone was crushed for 19 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, valued at £45 2s. 6d. Two men employed. Great Barrier Island. Barrier Reefs Gold-mining Company (in liquidation). —There has been little work done in the mine for some time past; but lam informed work is again to be resumed with a view to proving the value of the reefs, as since operations were stopped it has been found that a large amount of gold was carried away in the tailings which, if properly treated at the time the mine was working, would have gone a long way towards making the property a payable concern. 2,300 tons of tailings was treated during the year for 5,927 oz. of bullion, valued at £1,844 Is. lid. Two men were employed. Sunbeam Gold and Silver Mine. —The work in the mine has been confined to prospecting, and the work on the surface to the erection of a five-stamp battery and cyanide plant. This, lam informed, is nearly completed, and crushing is expected to be commenced early in the year. Rich assays are reported to have been obtained from the quartz treated from this mine from time to time, and it remains to be seen whether it will pay to be treated in bulk at the crushing plant. Three men were employed.

ACCIDENTS During the year six fatal accidents happened in this district.

All other accidents of a serious nature that occurred during the year were duly reported. I have, &c, James Coutts, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Mr. Robert Tennent, Inspector of Mines, Westport, to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Inspector of Mines' Office, Westport, 7th April, 1906. I have the honour to report as follows on the gold-mines in the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast Districts for the year ended the 31st December, 1905 : — QUARTZ-MINING. Blenheim. Wairau Gold-mining Company. —The only development in progress is under the direction of Mr. Linstrom, who is working a section of the property on tribute, locally known as the Small Reef, the chief values of the reef being its high percentage of native scheelite and a low percentage of free gold. In order to test the commercial value of the mineral named, it is the intention of the company to ship a portion of the richest stone, and treat the balance by crushing and concentration at their own works. Mr. Linstrom has also taken the contract to extend the main crosscut, and will commence operations directly on arrival of the drilling plant now under order from America. On the occasion of the Assistant Inspector's recent visit the plant was considered due in Wellington. The Duke of Cornwall lease in the Arm Chair is again taken up, but work was at a standstill when the property was visited. The Mining Registrar at Blenheim informed the Assistant Inspector that a lease was taken up at the Patriarch. Nothing doing when visited. Leases on the dividing-range between Mahakipawa and Waikakaho. —These leases, originally held by the Ravenscliffe and Kapai Companies, are now surrendered. About twelve months ago Mr. J. H. Evans pegged out the ground on behalf of a syndicate, but as the titles were not completed they consequently lapsed. The leases are now open for mining purposes. Have lock. The Golden Bar and Federated Yorkshire.—"No further effort has been made to open these neglected properties. Mining in the Wakamarina Valley continues to be followed by a few old resident miners, who enjoy comfortable liomesteads, and simply make mining a sort of pastime.

Date, Name. Name of Miue. Cause. Jan. 17, 1905 Feb. 17, 1905 „ 25, 1905 June 6, J905 „ 21, 1905 August, 14,1905 Walter Brislin H. J. Peploe H. Penno J. I-oft .. William Richardson V. Y. Gatland Waihi Extended Maseotte Waihi Killed by falling into a truck in No. 1 Chamber. Killed by a fall of rock while enlarging the shaft. Killed while repairing a pass. Killed by fal ing out of cage when ascending No. 2 Shaft. Killed by falling down a pass (died on the 9bh July). Killed by being caught iu belting and carried around on the shaft of machinery. Kotnata Reefs