113

a—3

Tuapeka Flat.

Messrs. Smith, Wallis, and party are about to commence sluicing at their claim near Doherty's Bridge, the water-race having been brought round through the freeholds from the head ofi Gabriel's Gully. Messrs. Harris and party have been carrying on dredging operations in the Tuapeka Biver bed in the vicinity of Fitzgerald's Bridge during the year with fair success. At Labes' Bridge, lower down the Tuapeka Biver, the Taniwha dredge has been working throughout the year, and obtained very good returns, having won 715 oz. of gold valued at £2,750; but the dredge has now closed down, the claim lately acquired not being payable. At a point on the Tuapeka Biver, about ten miles below Lawrence, a new company known as the Tamaiti Gold-mining Company (Limited) has acquired a special claim and licenses to construct a waterrace and dam. The latter is now being constructed across the Tuapeka River at a narrow place. It isa work of considerable magnitude, and will take many months to complete. The estimated cost is about £1,100. Beaumont. On the Clutha Biver above the Beaumont, the Otago Dredge No. 2 has been working with very satisfactory returns; and below the Beaumont at Paul's Beach, Mr. William Adams owns' a dredge, which yields satisfactory returns when the river is suitable. The Tallaburn Hydraulic Sluicing Company, at Horseshoe Bend, has been operating during the year with good results to the shareholders. The Champion Gold-mining Company (Limited), at the Beaumont, during the year •and a new company was formed and took over the property under the name of the Plunket Sluicing Company. Waitahuna. There is very little that is new to report in this locality. ' The Imperial dredge and the Havelock, above the township, have worked steadily for the year, but the Gordon dredge, below the township, ceased operations owing to the returns not proving payable. The following sluicing claims have been working steadily during the year at Waitahuna Gully : viz., Thomson and party, Joseph Ferris, Quilter and party, the Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company (Limited), and the Waitahuna Hydraulic Sluicing Company. The latter company commenced operations on the Ist July last, and by the the year had won 1,121 pounds' worth of gold, which cleared off all debt and paid £100 in dividends, being Is. per share. The Sailor's GullyjCompany paid dividends during the'jyear amounting to ss. 6d. per share. Waipori. The fleet of dredges in this locality is now reduced to seven, and out of this number four are being driven by water-power, under O'Brien's patent. Most of them are private concerns, and the returns are not published, but they are, on the whole, I think, satisfactory. The following sluicing claims have been carrying on operations during the year : viz., Bussell and party (formerly the property of Sew Kew), B. J. Cotton (on tribute from Mr. W. J. Farrell), the Lammerlaw Hydraulic Sluicing Company (owned by Messrs. Knight Bros.), the Golden Point (worked by D. O'Brien and party), the Bakery Flat Sluicing Company, Gare and party (Mitchell's Flat), and Messrs. George and Munro at Post Office Creek. Becently Mr. J. T. Johnson (mine-manager) has been sinking for the deep lead at Waipori by means of hydraulic sluicing ; he is reported as having made good progress with the work, and should his operations prove successful it will probably mean a revival in mining at Waipori. I would also mention that Messrs. F. W. and W. Knight, proprietors of the Lammerlaw Hydraulic Sluicing Company, are at present building a large storage-dam to conserve water in the Nor'-west Creek, Waipori. In the construction of the dam every endeavour is being made to carry out the work in a satisfactory manner. The water from this source is used for hydraulic mining and for driving dredges equipped with Pelton wheels. The undertaking will probably cost about £1,000 ; but the proprietors deem the work necessary to efficiently cope with future gold-mining at Waipori. Holders of waterrights now have to seriously consider the best application of these rights to open up any new alluvial ground. Much of the ground turned over by the present-day steam-driven dredges, it is considered, will pay for working again, provided large plants capable of successfully treating a great quantity of material, and cheaply driven, are used. The Messrs. Knight Bros, are, I think, to be commended for their enterprise in connection with this work. Tapanui. The only mining carried on in this locality consists of one dredge (a private concern) working on the Ardmore Estate, near the men. Gore District. Charlton. During the year four dredges have,! been working on the Charlton Creek, two of which —Nees and Scott, and the Mill Creek Freehold—are private companies. Their returns are not made-public, but I understand both dredges are paying. The remaining two are public companies, and are.doing fairly well, obtaining from 16 oz. to 18 oz. per'week. In this locality the'area of land is limited, being freehold, and the only auriferous deposit being practically the bed of the stream and the narrow valley on either side thereof.

15—0. 3.