C—B

18

Golden Hi'ls. —The work consists of driving a low level, which will give 600 ft. of backs. When 100 ft. had been driven a lode averaging 6 ft. was intersected, and gave satisfactory results. It is pro-po-ed by the company to prospect the ground in a vigorous manner. An average of eight men were employed. Tairua Triumph. —Seven men were employed driving a low level to intersect the reef system worked in the upper level, with satisfactory results. Gumtown. Kapowai Mine. —A low level has been driven a distance of 540 ft. without intersecting any reef, and it is intended to continue this prospecting drive for some distance yet. The company suffered considerably from the recent bush-fires, and some time will have elapsed before everything is again in order. A summary of work done is as follows: Driving, 1.233 ft.; rising, 145 ft. An average of thirteen men were employed, and 460 tons of ore was treated, for a value of £569 lis. Thames District. Waiotahi Mine. —The company's attention has been directed towards driving and stoping on the main Cure and foot-wall reefs, at the No. 6 level (500 ft.). A winze was sunk for a distance of 80 ft. down to the water-level, and about 100 ft. of driving has been done from the. bottom of it, but nothing encouraging was met with. A considerable amount of»drivin<: was also done on several reefs at that level, and some blocks of ore are now opened up for stoping. The return for the year shows a big falling-away from that of the previous year. Substantial returns were maintained for a greater portion of that time, after which there was a heavy decline. 11,562 tons of ore were treated, for a value of £149,833 lis. Id., enabling the company to pay dividends to the extent of £117.000. An average of 122 men were employed. Kinnnni-Caledonian Mine. —The principal works undertaken during the past year were prospecting the Specimen leader and No. 2 reef between Nos. 2 (203 ft.) and 3 (239 ft.) levels, and driving a crosscut at No. 1 level (130 ft.) to intersect the reef system at a depth of 150 ft. below the Moanata-ari tunnellevel in the Kuranui section of the property. Between Nos. 2 and 3 levels a considerable amount of driving was done both on the Specimen and No. 2 reef ; at several points excellent indications were met with, but nothing of a payable character was discovered. The crosscut at No. 1 level (130 ft.) has now b en extended a total distance of 560 ft. : several ore-bodies have been intersected, and a little gold seen in one of them. The work is almost under the point where it is expected the Kuranui reef system will be intersected. All these lodes gave excellent results where worked in the upper lev Is, consequently the company is looking forward w th confidence to openinu up some valuable blocks of ground in this section of the mine. During the year twenty-s x loads of quartz and 11 lb. of picked 'one were treated, for a return "of 48 oz. 6]dwt. of gold, valued at £125 Bs. lid. An average of ten men were employed. New Moanataiari. —Work has been confined to the development of the Cambria reef, which trathe property from the western to the eastern boundary, a distance of 1,155 ft. The mine was under protection for six months, and with the limit number of men employed. During the remainder of the year the work done was very little. 100 tons of ore was treated, for a yield of 62 oz. 11 dwt., valued at £161 9s. Bd. Eight men were employed. oyd0 y d Alburnia. —Mining operations for the year have been purely of a prospecting character. The main Moanataiari tunnel has been extended a further 253 ft., and at that point a large reef was cut and driven on both east and west. The western drive on the reel was extended 261 ft. The lode maintained its width, and, although the country looked favourable, nothing of any importance was discovered. Driving was stopped. The drive on the eastern course of the reef was continued for a distance of 472 ft. Crosscuts were driven at various points, with a view to finding the width of the ore-body. Sample tests showed the ore to be of low grade, and unpayable. The men who have been working a portion of the claim on tribute have met with better success. 11l tons of ore and 256 lb. of picked stone were treated, for a yield of 377 oz. 19 dwt., valued at £981 18s. Id. Ki<_dil wages-men and twelve tributers were employed. Kuranui Mine. —Work has chiefly been of a prospecting character, conducted on the surface or upper levels, where driving, rising, sinking, and stoping was done on several small ore-bodies in the vicinity of the place in which very rich specimens were found by Hunt and party, and from which remunerative returns were obtained afterwards by a public company. Un'ortunately for the present holders, it appears that all the rich patches have been worked out. It is hoped, however, that by continuing prospecting something of a permanent and payable character may be discovered. 206 tons of ore was treated, for a yield of 351 oz.. valued at £827. An average of six men were employed. Victoria Mine. —Prospecting-work has been carried on during the year at No. 2 level (145 ft.). No. 3 level (243 ft.), and No. 4 level (332 ft.) on various lodes in the way of driving, rising, sinking, and stoping, and from time to time gold was won from the ore broken, but nothing of a payable character was discovered. 73 loads of ore and 1381b. of picked stone yielded 270 oz., valued at £759. Thames Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The principal work for the past year has been driving a crosscut from the Moanataiari main tunnel into the Nonpareil section. When a distance of 730 ft. had been reached, a small leader of quartz was cut through and driven on without favourable results. The main crosscut is being extended, with a view to intersecting other bodies known to traverse the Nonpareil section. 32 tons of ore was treated, for 48 oz., valued at £129. New Saxon Mine. —Work for the year chiefly consisted of prospecting. A considerable amount of labour has also been expended on improving the ventilation, which was faulty in the early part of the year. The company do not contemplate any scheme of development above the present water-