0.—3

20

ing up the block of ground under the present workings, and "should this prove as good as anticipated it will considerably enhance the value of the property. Six men were employed. Highlander. —This mine has only been worked for a short time, the owner's attention being directed to fossicking on small leaders on the surface, and judging by the returns obtained he has met with good results, having treated 68 lb. of stone for 22 oz. 14 dwt. of gold; value, £54 9s. 7d. Ballarat. —This claim is owned by Mr. Britt, who has held it for a number of years. The claim was under protection for six months, and, unfortunately, the owner found very little gold during the other six months of the year. Seven loads were treated for a yield of 10 oz. 7 dwt. ; value, £29 3s. 9d. West Coast. —There is little new to report from this mine, the work being confined to trying small leaders cut through in the intermediate level. 10 tons yielded 8 oz. 12 dwt. of gold ; value, £21 10s. Golden Drop. —This mine has been worked by one man, who extended a low level to intersect a leader worked in the upper levels with payable results, but after driving on it for some distance he did not succeed in rinding sufficient gold to pay him for the outlay incurred in opening up this level. 3 tons was broken out and treated for 7 oz. of gold ; value, £18 11s. Moanataiari Extended. —Since commencing operations a distance of 300 ft. has been driven on what is known as the Moanataiari Cross reef from the Point Russell level, and, although favourable indications were met with, nothing of a payable character was disclosed. A crosscut was then driven for a distance of 660 ft. through very tight country for the purpose of testing a large reef worked in the upper levels with satisfactory results ; when this lode was intersected the quartz had a very promising appearance, but after driving 70 ft. upon it very hard ground was again encountered, and the ventilation being unfit for men to work in, it was decided to try a large reef found outcropping on the surface. Up to date, a distance of 258 ft. has been opened up, and this lode will average fully 10 ft. thick. From time to time strong colours of gold have been seen in the quartz, and as this reef is heading to where a considerable amount of gold was taken out in the early days of this goldfield, there is every reason to believe that a payable block of ground will be opened up in the drive now being extended in this direction. During the year the average number of men employed was four. Mascotte Mine, Otanui. —The owners of this mine erected an oil-engine to pump the water and hoist the stuff out of the shaft, which has been enlarged down to a depth of 50 ft., and from the depth named the shaft is being sunk a further depth of 50 ft., where another level is to be opened out. The prospects met with in sinking have been encouraging, as the country is all that can be desired. A little gold was obtained in one of the leaders cut through in sinking. An average of three men were employed. Day Dawn and Norfolk Mines (Limited), Tararu Creek. —There has been very little work done in this mine during the year ; it has lately been reconstructed, and the name changed in the early part of the year. 182 tons 20 lb. of ore was treated for 76 oz. 5 dwt. of gold ; value, £170 14s. Bd. An average of four men were employed. Neiv Eclipse. — : Very little work was done on this mine during the past year. A party of tributers worked it for a time, and after treating a parcel of 2 tons for 1 oz. 3 dwt. of gold, valued at £3 2s. Id., operations were stopped, as this yield was not sufficient to encourage their proceeding further. Two men were employed. Waitangi Mine, Shellback Creek. —The first work undertaken was directed to extending the No. 2 level on the reef for a distance of 180 ft.; a crosscut was then driven through the reef to the foot-wall, where it was found to be 24 ft. in width. The prospects met with are said to have exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the company ; consequently this drive on the reef, which was very crooked, was straightened, and a low level commenced with the object of cutting the reef, which will give 125 ft. of backs to the No. 2 level. The low level will be connected with No. 2 level by a winze, where the quartz will be put down and trucked direct to the hopper at the road-level, and from here the quartz will be carted to the battery. A level to be known as No. 3 level has been commenced 100 ft. above No. 2 level, and from here to the surface there will be 120 ft. of backs on the reef. Samples of ore assayed from the reef as it was driven on at No. 2 level have, I am informed, given assay values of about £3 per ton, which is considered will pay handsomely when the mine is opened up. Six men were employed. Sylvia. —This company has continuously carried on operations during the year. In the early part work was directed to driving on the reef from a winze immediately under the rich shoot of ore worked by a former company. The prospects met with were most encouraging ; but as all the stuff had to be hoisted out of the winze and trucked about 1,000 ft., and water had also to be contended with, the company decided to drive a low level, which will give 100 ft. of backs on the reef. This drive was in a distance of 300 ft. at the end of the year. Six men were employed. The Bonanza and Watchman have lately been formed into companies to work the ground in the neighbourhood of the Waitangi, but the amount of work done on these mines at the end of the year was very limited. Monowai Mine, Waiomo. —The company's operations have been confined to extending the low level on the course of the large reef for the purpose of prospecting or discovering any payable shoots of ore, also with a view to connecting with the winze sunk to a depth of 60 ft. on a rich run of ore by the previous company. This work has now been accomplished, and has opened up a block of ground of 180 ft. between the two levels, and as a rich run of ore passed through in the low level 800 ft. outside of the winze named, the prospects may be considered highly encouraging. The crushing plant has been thoroughly overhauled, and tenders called for the carting of 600 tons from the mine to the battery; should the ore when treated give anything like as high a percentage of bullion as that obtained by assays, a large number of men will be employed in the mine and mill, to the mutual benefit of the shareholders. Nine men were employed. Waiotahi East, Karaka. —The principal work done in this mine was directed to extending the No. 2 level a distance of 240 ft. As the country passed through was of a favourable description, it was