C—3

72

head of Government water ; blocks and pillars, old ground ; 1 man. Mcc Hock —1J heads of Government water ; ground-sluicing, old ground ; 1 man. Robert Baxter —1 head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 1 man. J. McGrath —1 head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 2 men. Mulholland's Gully. —Chinese —1 \ heads of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 3 men. \ Home Gully. —Chinese —l head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 1 man. Robinson's Gully. —Chinese—lJ heads of Government water; ground-sluicing, solid ground: 3 ? men. Spec Gully. —l. Parfitt, jun.—l head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 1 man. Ah He —1 head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 1 man. W. Hendricksen —1 head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, solid ground ; 1 man. Chinese and a few fossickers— old-age pensioners. Little Kyeburn. —Marchant and party —own water ; ground-sluicing ; 2 men. Smith Bros.— own water ; ground-sluicing ; 3 men. Phil. Brown —own water ; ground-sluicing ; 2 men. Upper Kyeburn. —M. and J. Brown—own water ; ground-sluicing ; 4 men. J. Blanchard — own water ; ground-sluicing ; 3 men. Beer's —own water ; ground-sluicing ; 3 men. George Stewart —own water ; ground-sluicing ; 1 man. McLellan's —own water ; ground-sluicing ; 1 man. Parker's —own water ; ground-sluicing ; 2 men. Sluicing is in a healthier condition in Naseby district than has been the case for some few years past. Reduced price of Government water to 10s. per sluice-head per week (one shift daily) has encouraged miners to open up ground which had hitherto been considered too poor to pay wages for working. Mount Buster Gold-mining Company, Naseby (R. Law, Manager).—The old company went into liquidation during last year. The plant and claims were purchased and work continued in the usual manner, the claim being let on tribute to a party of who are doing very well. Dredging. —This form of mining is not now represented in this district. Roberts's Naumai dredge, formerly operating on Church Flat, Kyeburn, has been transferred to Victoria. Hamilton's. A few parties continue to work on this field with the small supply of water available. Patearoa. Patearoa Hydraulic Sluicing Claim (D. C. Stewart, Manager). — Sluicing operations have been steadily conducted during the year. The plant is now operating in the flat on ground about 20 ft. in depth. Good results have been obtained. The proposal to erect a dredge on part of the company's property has not yet been carried into effect. Six men are employed. Drumawhandie Tunnelling and Elevating Company (J. T. and A. G. Crerar, Owners), (area of claim, 6| acres).—Two men find employment driving out and sluicing the wash. There are also a few other parties engaged in mining on this field. Upper Taieri River. Canadian Flat Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claim. —It is now proposed by a large company to acquire this property and water-rights. The water-race will be completed and a large hydraulic sluicing and elevating plant at present in use at the Red Swamp, Teviot district, removed and re-erected on the Canadian Flat Claim. The water-rights attached to this property are taken from the Upper Taieri River, above the Taieri Falls. The claim consists of an extensive area of alluvial ground said to be payably auriferous. Fortification Hydraulic Sluicing Company, Red Swamp, Lammerlaw Ranges (John Claffey, Manager).—This company has held a prospecting license over 100 acres of land, but results have not, been satisfactory. The plant will in all probability be transferred to the Canadian Flat Claim. Serpentine. As indicated in last year's report, mining matters are still very quiet in this district. There is a large field here for the employment of prospectors for alluvial ground and mineral lodes. Deep Stream. Deep Stream Amalgamated Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited), (A. C. Bnckland, Manager). —This claim continues working on the usual lines, but is very difficult to work on account of the uneven nature of the bottom, much of the ground being exceedingly shallow. Two elevators are generally in use. The plant is now opening out on a large area of flat land, which has given encouraging prospects. The ground worked during the year did not afford large returns, hence only one elevator is now in use until better ground is opened out. Fifteen men are generally employed. Sutton. Hibernia Claim, Naturals. —There was no one about on the date of my visit, but drives have been put into the face of the paddock, and evidently one man is engaged driving and blocking out the washdirt. Rock and Pillar. With the exception of prospecting work done by N. Maloney, mining matters are quiet on this field.