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stone was known to have been left. A distance of 18 ft. had been driven when the old stopes were broken into. Here the reef was found to be from 1J ft. to 2 \ ft. in width, which continued for a distance of 20 ft. along the line of reef. The quality of the stone was considered payable. Preparations were then made to start stoping. As usual, we had a considerable amount of timber-work and filling-in to carry out before a start could be made mining the ore. A crushing was then taken out as quickly as possible and the mill started. 140 tons were treated for a return of 55 oz. 5 dwt. 16 gr., or a yield of 7 dwt. 7 gr. per ton. This return we considered fairly satisfactory. Naturally expecting the ore to improve when a greater height was reached, stoping was proceeded with ; to our disappointment we found the ore decreasing in value and becoming less in extent. It did not maintain the usual dip, thus leading us into old workings, which, had the reef taken the usual dip, would not have been come in contact with. In December 135 tons of ore was treated for a return of 36 oz. 16 dwt. 11 gr., or 5 dwt. 14 gr. per ton. This return, under the circumstances, could not be made to pay owing to the great amount of timber which would have been required in dealing with the old ground, which was close by in the foot-wall. The ore procured from the last two stopes was not payable. We then decided to discontinue operations on this part of the reef. Preparations were then made to drive a crosscut from the main adit to cut the No. 2 line of reef at a point about 15 ft. west of where payable stone was found to be going down below the adit level; about 16 ft. was required to be driven, where a pro-specting-shaft would be sunk to strike the continuation of the same shoot downwards that we had been working on a higher level. If the lode continues down we are in hope that better ore may be discovered. Milling : The mill was running steadily one shift per day during the months of November and December with the result above mentioned. 18 oz. 8 dwt. 12 gr. of gold was also obtained from cleaning up the old Sunrise mill. Repairs to the pressure-pipe line : During the early part of last winter a spell of unusually severe frost set in which caused a considerable amount of damage to our pressurepipes, about eighteen of which had to be removed and replaced with others which were got from the Sunrise pipe-line." Later information is to the effect that the mine-manager has been instructed by the London board of directors of the company to close down the mines, abandon the claims, and realise upon the plant to best advantage. Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Gold-mining Company, Macetown (William Patton, Mine-manager).— 1/12/05 : Two men were employed for a short time on prospecting-work, but the mine was idle throughout the greater part of the year pending consideration by the Home board of directors of a policy for future working. New Zealand Consolidated Gold-mines (Limited), Macetown (L. 0. Beal, jun., Legal Manager, Dunedin).—The latest information regarding the flotation of these properties on the Home market by Mr. Farrell (the owner) is that " negotiations are assuming definite form, with every appearance of a successful flotation at an early date." Batch's Quartz Claim,, Caledonian Gully, Macetown (Richard Balch, Owner).—l/ 12/05 : Mr. Balch has continued to work on this property of 5 acres during the year, and has recently completed an adit 150 ft. in length to the reef, giving 55 ft. of backs. As the surface stone has worked out and the adit workings have proved the quartz not to be continuous, the future of the mine depends upon the operations being carried on at a still lower level. This may be done by a cross-country drive about 500 ft. in length, giving several hundred feet of backs, but the owner would prefer to sink from the present adit level and instal an oil-engine for winding purposes. The quartz is treated at McKay and party's (late Tipperary) battery. 205 tons of quartz crushed during the year have yielded gold at the rate of 1 oz. of gold to the ton of stone treated. Four men employed. D. McKay and Party's Quartz Claim, Caledonian Gully, Macetown. —1/12/05 : This party secured an area adjoining Balch's and on the same line of reef. A level has been driven along the reef for a distance of 115 ft., giving 40 ft. of backs. The reef is narrow and the country rock forming the walls is soft. Close on 200 tons of quartz was crushed during the year, yielding at the rate of 1 oz. of gold per ton of stone crushed. This party bought the Tipperary battery, and besides crushing their own quartz they are prepared to crush parcels for the adjoining claim-holders, a small charge per ton being made. Three men at work. Anderson, Hannah, and Party's Quartz-mine, Scanlon's Gully, Macetown (Area of claim, 20 acres). — The attention of the members of this party is divided between this mine and their sluicing claim on Eight-mile Hill. When sluicing-water is slack, operations are carried on at the reef. About 80 tons of quartz has been crushed at the Tipperary battery, yielding at the rate of about 12 dwt. of gold to the ton of stone. Some prospecting and development-work, including track-cutting, has been done during the year. Patrick Barron's Quartz Reef, Arrow River (Area, 4 acres). —Nothing has been done during the year tending towards the further development of the reef. Cromwell. The Cromwell Mine Syndicate's Quartz-mine, Bendigo (W. T. Talboys and D. B. Waters, Trustees).— Active operations are still suspended at this mine, although efforts are being made to provide for the extension of the low-level tunnel. Messrs. Cameron Bros., tributers, have been engaged fossicking for stringers and leads of gold-bearing quartz on the outcrop of the reefs and also doing a little groundsluicing on the claim. Alta Mine, Bendigo. —Operations have been at a standstill throughout the year. The oil-engine formerly in use for driving the battery has been sold to Morven Hills Station to provide power for station requirements. Leaning Rock Range. —Some prospecting was done on this range during the early summer. This is an extensive field well worth the attention of prospectors.