C—3.

32

Parapara Iron Lease (held by Messrs. Turnbull and Jones ; James Scaddon, in charge).—The works so'far done on these leases have largely consisted in the formation of tracks and exposing outcrops, whilst the bush has been cleared in order to ascertain the extent and qualities of surface ores preparatory to tunnelling or ranking. Kour men employed. Oil. Boring for Petroleum Oil at Kotuku (13th June, 1907). —The No. 9 borehole on the 2,000 acres mineral prospecting warrant at Kotuku had attained a total depth of 770 ft. the casing varying from 8 in. to 5 in. in diameter. The records kept by the manager show that the first 253 ft. directly overlying the sandstone formation was 163 ft. gravels and quicksands carrying artesian water and 91 ft. hard clays; sandstone rock. 152 ft. ; limestone carrying heavy pressure of salt water and carbonic-acid gas, 110 ft. ; and conglomerates, 254 ft. At end of the year the total depth had attained 1.000 ft. Altogether the total borings on this field have attained a depth of 3,092 ft., at an approximate cost of £5,500. Antimony. Mr. James Dunn has made application to the Warden at Blenheim to surrender his mineral-pro-specting warrant, dated 10th January, 1907, over part Section 49, Block VII, Gore Survey District, Endeavour Inlet, Queen Charlotte Sound, on the conditions that at present pries of antimony the ore cannot be worked at a profit. Application is also made for a refund of the balance of his deposit. Resolution Bay Point An'imony Company (Limited) (R. E. Clouston, in charge).—The various developments so far carried out on this property comprise 320 ft. of driving, securely timbered sinking. 43 ft. ; while trenching forms a large part of the work done. The ore-bodies exploited maintain an average width of 3 ft., and, according to the analysis by Dr. MacLaurin, an average assay-value of 40 per cent, is obtained. Exclusive of the manager and timber-contractor, there are seven men employed. Prospecting License held by Wearne and Party. —In the old antimony-mine, the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 leve's have been repaired, in view of further extension, and a low-level tunnel is being driven in order to pick up the ore-body on a level 150 ft. below No. 5. Preservation Inlet (Phantom and party's prospecting-area ;W. Lire, in charge).—A parcel of 23 tons of crude antimony, sluiced from a slip, was sent to Sydney for treatment. The yield was estimated at 40 per cent., but when visited returns were not to hand. On the south-eastern section of the lease an outcrop showing good ore was exposed for 150 ft., and intersected to give 60 ft. of backs. At the point of intersection the formation is 14ft. wide, of which only Ift. is of good quality; and from the samples treated at the Government Laboratory, average values of 48 per cent, are reported. About 300 ft. further to the south-east another outcrop of good ore is shown, but so far has not received attention. 'I.Golden Treasure Mine, Murray Creek, Reef ton. —Prospecting for antimony was carried out for some time on this'property, but owing to the sudden fall in market values operations are meanwhile suspended. ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Quartz-mines. Fatal. Keep-it-Dark Mine. —9/1/1907 : Jeremiah Grant, shift-boss, killed by fall of roof while renewing timber. Non-fatal. Blackwater Mines. —7/11/1907 : W. Smith, labourer, had leg fractured by piece of stone rolling off the sideling while excavating battery-site. Alluvial Mines. Fatal. Slate River, Collingwood. —2B/5/1907 : Llewellyn John James was killed by fall of rock whilst working in tail-race. Non-fatal. Saunders and Party, Maori Gully. —28/5/1907 : Solomon Kittelty sustained compound conimunated fracture of right leg by a piece of rock rolling and crushing his leg against a bench of sandstone on the side of the tail-race. Dredging. - Fatal. Prince of Wales Dredge, Ross. —5/10/1907 : John Johnson, winchman, was drowned through sinking of punt in which he was cross ng to shore. Non-fatal. Mosquito No. 1 Dredge, Ahaura. —l9 5/1907 : J. G. Paul, contractor clearing timber for dredge, sustained amputation of first finger of left hand, and portion of fourth finger of right hand through his hands being caught in sheaves of snatch-block whilst hauling timber. I have, &c, R. Tennent, Inspector of Mines,