C.—3

48

g;:-k\;- ■:j :::': y■■ ..■...■.:..■.-■-■> ■ -; "::■ Collingwood..' -[■::,. z;t\ cv; •-■■;-.■:':-.--; ■ .'.:■■.",•'■■..-":- : K ~■-<." Anatoki Ranges. —Storey, Flowers, and party of four, having, pitched a camp at the Blue Heffer, adjacent to the Boulder Lake, intend to carry but an effective system'of prospecting over this highly elevated mountainous region, arrangements being completed to take their food and other mining supplies from Collingwood by way of the Quartz Ranges. ''. Johnston's United (quartz), Bedstead Gully (Or. T- Fell, Attorney).—The Golden Blocks Goldmining Company having acquired certain legal rights to prospect the deeper levels of this property, it is proposed to push prospecting development below the original adit, and, providing sufficient induce"ment is afforded to warrant the expenditure of increased capital at depth, the underlie of the reef will be intersected by a main vertical shaft. All workings are securely timbered and well ventilated. Already six men are engaged sinking a winze from the low-level adit. ... Golden Ridge (Taitapu Gold Estates; James, Carroll, Mine-manager). —After a continuous series lot unsuccessful prospecting on the Ant Hill and Golden Ridge sections of this property, operations were suspended towards the end of August last, the yield of gold being absolutely nil since December of the previous year. At present eight men are engaged driving a prospecting drive in No. 4, east block, south of the Golden Blocks mining-area ; but, having driven a distance of 270 ft,."Values are unimportant, bunches of quartz only being found so far. Golden Blocks, Taitapu (C. Y. Fell, Attorney, Nelson). —The mining operations on this propertycontinue to maintain their previous standard in values,, while development is consistently kept in advance of battery requirements, the average values showing no depreciation against the stone milled, the balance of profit being in favour of the shareholder. Mining has been chiefly confined to extending 'Nos. 1 and 2 intermediates and No. 2 level south, while stone for milling purposes was taken from stopes on Nos. 1 and 2 levels, the total drivings contributing an aggregate of 737 ft, raisings 1,061 ft, and the areas stoped 5,410 square feet. The various works are faithfully maintained in good order, securely timbered, and well ventilated. The company having acquired the mining rights over a further adjoining area, prospecting is in active progress east of Block 13. The gross tonnage milled, 2,387 tons, yielded 2,796 oz. 7 dwt. melted gold, valued at £11,108 3s. 6d. Westport. „• •_■ ■■ •-;,. ... - . Red Queen, Mokihinui (Owner, A; W. Mills, Westport). —A tribute party of three men continue to maintain their consistent energy, while with the more, reliable prosnects ahead and the encouraging increase in values the property is likely to pay fair wages for a considerable time to come. The stone crushed for the year was 118 tons, yielding 134 oz. 17 dwt. 1 gr, valued at £528 ss. 3d. : ~ " Lady Agnes. —Nothing further has been done on this property. Britannia Mine. —Stone for milling purposes is still actively worked on Nos. 4 and 5 levels, the formation being more defined as the base of the hill country is reached. In view of extending operations and to determine the probahle existence of the main ore-body on the higher levels of the range country, a new adit was recently started, but the distance so far driven is not estimated to cut the ore in situ. To meet the requirements of the property, a suitable site for the erection of additional battery-power and cyanide plant has been prepared.on.a low-level flat near the head of Stony Creek, the foundations and portion of the plant being now in a forward stage of completion. The milled stone —889 tons— yielded 848 oz. 16 dwt. 7 gr, valued at £3,348 13s. sd. Compared with the previous year, this is an increase of 83 tons crushed, yielding an increase in value of £841 19s. 7d. in favour of 1905. Lyell. * > ? Alpine Extended (Frederick Prince, Mine-manager).—During the year mining operations have been pricticiilly confined to development, of which the most important may be considered the connection effected between Nos. 10 and 7 levels, the total distance raised being 336 ft.. This connection not only provided ample ventilation to meet the requirements of future development, but offered facilities whereby the value of the lode could be easily proved at suitable and convenient distances as required. However, after an extended series of short drivings north and south of the main, rise, unprofitable values were the invariable results throughout the whole range of this block, whilst No. 10 north was further extended 32 ft. on a leadeT without success and subsequently abandoned. No. 7 level has been repaired 100 ft. north of incline shaft, and crosscut east 40 ft. with four men, and west with two men. During the year thirteen men were employed until November, when this number was reduced to seven. The total drivings were 280 ft, and risings 310 ft. It is evident that the numerous short drivings and risings executed throughout the various districts of the mine conclusively prove that, with the exception of holding the direct line of intersection between. Nos. 10 and 7 levels, the company has failed to successfully carry out any effective system of prospecting. In collecting all the millingstone produced from the various drivings 444 tons yielded 54 oz. 6 dwt. of retorted gold, valued at £207 Bs. The various workings are in good order and well ventilated. New Creek Syndicate (Henry Crumpton, Secretary).—When visited, Adam Nahr and W. Sloan were the only party of prospectors found in this isolated region, they being engaged in driving a tunnel through a section of slide country, while the only prospects obtained were bunches of highly auriferous crushed quartz, the natural aspect of these elevated lands showing favourable promise of reef-forma-tion. The tunnel was timbered in a very creditable and workmanlike manner.for a driven distance of 60 ft. Further down the hill a continuation of crushed and broken quartz was intersected by a lower 1 eyei, the stone in the drive showing very nice prospects. Work suspended.