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Karamea. At BTaiamei mining his baen very quiet. Twenty-two applications fot special quaitz claims at Mount Radiant have been lodged, and have been pending several months awaiting survey. About twenty prospecting areas have been taken up in the same locality. Efforts are being made to float a large company to work this field. Lyell and Murchison Subdistrict. Sixty-four licenses for various mining privileges were issued during the year. Early in the year the Alpine Mine was refloated, under the name of " The New Alpine Gold-mining Company (Limited)." Fifty-three men were employed in this mine for a part of the year. A large amount of development has been done, and repairs to tramways and batteries effected. Several rich patches of stone were struck, raising hopes that the mine would again turn out a good dividendpaying venture, but, unfortunately, these rich patches " pinched out." The management, however, is still hopeful of success. The battery has been put into a state of repair, and has commenced to work two shifts. The successful floating of this mine had the effect of causing speculators to take up a number of claims in the vicinity and at New Creek, none of which have been worked excepting Harrison and party's, known as the Victory Syndicate. Alluvial mining is still carried on by small parties, who appear to be making a fair living. Kane and party and Fairhall and party still continue sluicing at Newton Flat. Mr. V. T. Macnamara has secured the lease of the Kohikohi ground and water-race, and after a large amount of " dead " work has at last come to where very rich ground is expected. The House Terrace Company has gone into liquidation, and sold out to Beilby and party, who continue to work two shifts. The Walker Maruia Company has finished the water-Taces, and as many as twelve men have been employed at a time during the year. Dredging has ceased in the Murchison district, and the three dredges are lying idle. In the Lyell district the New Feddersen has gone into liquidation. Smeaton's Dredging Syndicate's dredge has been working good ground, and the syndicate has just taken up a lease of 73 acres. Hansen and Gillstron's dredge at Burlin's is in good repair, and has been working steadily during the year in payable ground. De Filippi's dredge has also been working steadily on payable ground. Mr. De Filippi has sold the dredge to a Greymouth syndicate, which, after repairing it, intend to shift it further up the Buller to a spot opposite Flax-bush Creek. Charleston. A considerable number of minor mining privileges, such as water-races, tail-races, dams, &c, were surrendered during the year. J. M. Powell is still working two extended and one special beach claim with three shifts, with, I believe, good results. The other small beach claims are working broken time. Lavery and Butterworth opened their claim on Constant Bay during the year, and are doing verywell indeed. The cement-crushing claims have not done so well as in previous years, owing to the long spell of dry weather which prevailed during the latter part of the year. Norris Bros, have worked out their claim at Darkies. Rayner and party are still doing well at their claim in Weir's Gully. The quantity of gold sold at Christinas time compared rather favourably with that sold the previous year. I have, &c, E. Rawson, Warden.

Mr. Warden Turton, Greymouth, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Greymouth, Bth May, 1908. I regret to inform you that, having only quite recently been appointed to this district. I have no personal knowledge upon which I can base a report, not yet having visited the mines. You will appreciate how futile it would be, and how misleading to your Department, if I submitted a detail report under these circumstances. I have, &c, R. H. Turton, Warden.

Mr. Warden Acheson, Westland, to the I'nder-Secretahv. Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Hokitika, 29th April, 1908. I have the honour to report as follows concerning mining operations in the Westland District for the year 1907 : — Kumar* District. Sluicing. —Very little alteration in alluvial mining took place. Including Maori Point, Hayes Terrace, Westbrook, and Cape Terrace, this district has not employed more than thirty-four associations and persons. The returns have been slightly better than those of the previous year. The Kumara Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company bought the adjoining claim, owned by Cullen and party, and now has the sole use of the No. 1 Sludge-channel, The money paid for the claim was portion of the profita

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