C—3.

Messrs. T. Jones and party took over the Old Republic Company's property at Healey's Gully, and are engaged opening up their two claims. The party's water-race is the principal source of trouble, as it is constructed on steep sidelings along Roaring Meg Creek, and is subject to slips which carry away chains of the race at a time. The Montgomery Terrace Company were engaged working their claim below the Old Republic, but the returns from their work are only fair. Aynsley Brothers bought the claim and water-rights formerly held by Joseph Shrives, and have been working the ground below the Montgomery Terrace claim and are said to have done well. The fall in the bottom has, however, given them some extra work, and they are now going to open up from the Grey River again with a new tail-race. At Garden Gully, Paparoa Mountains, a considerable amount of prospecting for quartz was carried on by Curtis and party, and they have had a small battery at work, but the results are not known. Duffer's Creek. —There were about a dozen miners working in this locality during the year, but most of the alluvial wash is worked out. Baybutt and party are the only ones working new ground, a.nd they are making good wages. Noble's. —There were very few miners working in Noble's Creek during 1908, as all the easy alluvial ground is worked out, Cowie and party had their dredge working in Mosquito Creek, and got a fair amount of gold during the year. Orwell Creek. —There are still a few miners working in this creek, but there is plenty of payable ground which would give employment to a considerable number of men. The only new claim opened up during the year was one at Napoleon Hill, held by J. McAuley, who got good returns during wet weather. Callaghan's Creek. —About the same number of miners worked in this creek, and the Callaghan's Creek Company's dredge has almost worked out their claim. No Town Greek. —No new ground has. been opened up in this locality for some time, but there are about the same number of miners working. The No Town Creek Company's dredge, which is working in the creek, had a good run right through the year, and averaged about 35 oz. per week. Reefton Subdistrict. Quartz-mining. Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited). —The properties owned by this company in the Reefton District consist of two groups of mines-—viz., the Wealth of Nations group, which includes the Plnergetic and Wealth of Nations claims, situate at Crushington ; and the Golden Fleece group, which includes the Golden Fleece, Royal, and Ajax claims, and is situate at Black's Point and Murray Creek, about two miles from the Town of Reefton. The Wealth of Nations group has been continuously worked during the year, and a large amount of development-work has been carried on in the mine, and improved equipment installed in the crushing plant. New tube mills and agitators have been installed. The Golden Fleece group has not developed so well, and, after a great amount of prospecting to try and locate a payable ore-body, the company decided to let the mine on tribute. A party of twelve tributers and a number of wages-men are now employed in this mine, and so far have obtained payable returns. The Progress Mines (Limited). —This well-known mine is by far the largest in the district. The mine is situate on what is known as the Globe Hill, about five miles from the Town of Reefton, and the crushing plant is erected on the bank of the Inangahua River opposite the Town of Crushington, the ore being conveyed from the mine-mouth to the battery along an aerial-tram line. The mine, and crushing plant have been kept constantly going throughout the year, and a very large quantity of ore has been treated. This company are the owners of several special claims of a total area, of 740 acres, besides a coal lease of 48 acres, from which coal is obtained to drive the engines at the mine. The crushing plant is driven by water-power, which is obtained from the Inangahua River by means of a water-race some ten miles in length. No new developments have taken place in this mine during the last twelve months. The Blackwater Mines (Limited). —This mine is situate in the Blackwater - Snowy Creek district, and consists of a group of five special claims aggregating 390 acres, and includes what was originally known as the Snowy Creek Gold-mining Company's special claim, which the Blackwater Mines Company purchased from Mr. G. Batira, after acquiring Mr. KingsweU's interest in the newly discovered reef at Blackwater. During the year a very great amount of work has been carried on in connection with this mine. The crushing plant was completed about the middle of the year, and crushing operations were commenced in the month of July. The mine and battery have been kept continuously at work ever since with payable results. The crushing plant is worked by water-power, obtained from the Snowy Creek by means of water-races constructed on a higher level. A long adit tunnel and tramway lead from the mine to the battery-site, which is situate in the bed of Snowy Creek. The New Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This mine is situate about twenty miles from Reefton, and is reached by a main road traversing the gold-bearing area, which extends all the way from Reefton to the Big River district. The company possesses two special quartz claims of a total area, of 100 acres, and a prospecting license of 80 acres, together with water-races, special sites, and aerial tramway, all situate at Big River. It has also recently acquired the machine-site and water-rights in Deep Creek recently owned by the Gold Lead Company, now defunct. A coal lease of 53 acres on the Deep Creek fall has also been granted to the company. During the year steady work has been carried on in this mine, and very good returns have been obtained. Several dividends have been declared. A ten-stamp crushing-machine (water-driven), two Wilfley concentrators, and a cyanide plant, formerly owned by the New Scotia Company, constitute the battery department of the mine, and have been kept constantly employed during the year.

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