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Wealth of Nations. —The chief points at which development-work was carried out during the year .:re as follows : No. 8 foot-wall crosscut was extended to the small foot-wall reef, and the reef driven upon a total distance of 132 ft. ; a rise was put through from No. 9 to No. 8 level, and a connection made between these levels on this reef. No. 10 main drive was extended 200 ft. south, but practically no stoping-ground was opened up, the stone encountered being of narrow dimensions and low in value. This level will be further extended to explore the country to the south. The foot-wall crosscut at this level has been driven 152 ft. and the foot-wall reef intersected. No. 9 main drive was extended and a short block of stone located. At No. 7 level a considerable amount of prospecting-work has been done in the hanging-wall country with the object of trying to locate the Energetic body of stone, but without success. In all 1,233 ft. of development was carried out during the year. The quartz required for the battery was produced principally from the stopes over Nos. 7 and 8 levels, while a small quantity came from No. 9. During the period under review 13,479 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded by amalgamation 4,287 oz. 10 dwt. gold, valued at £17,725 Is. At the cyanide-works 11,920 tons was treated for a return of bullion valued at £8,357 os. 3d. Development-work for the coming year will include sinking the main shaft for another level (No. 11). At the battery extensive alterations in the direction of remodelling the treatment plant have been in hand, a tube mill (16 ft. by 4 ft.), five B. and M. tall tanks, and a vacuum basket filter plant are being installed. When completed it is expected the tonnage will be doubled. To obtain power for the increased machinery the head-race has been regraded and the tail-race brought in at a lower level, thereby giving an additional 60 ft. head at the main Pelton. The temperature of the mine at No. 10 level, 1,736 ft. from brace, taken at 3 p.m., gaye —dry-bulb reading, 70° ; wet ditto, 69° : in the shade at surface—dry-bulb, 7.1° ; wet ditto, 59°. An average of seventy-five men were employed. Golden Fleece. —ln the early part of the year operations were carried on by the company, who, owing to the small size of the reef and the low-grade stone coming to hand, suspended milling operations and directed their attention to developing No. 15 level, to which point an incline shaft had been sunk from No. 14 level. As No. 15 did not open up well it was decided to let the property on tribute, and Messrs. J. Oates, N. Lawn, and party started work in August: since then they have crushed 1,386 tons of quartz for a return of bullion valued at £2,464 Is. An average of twenty men are employed. Keep-it-Dark. l —Development-work during the year consisted of 1,339 ft. of driving, rising, and crosscutting. An intermediate level driven from 55 ft. below No. 5 north intersected a large body of stone, which in a length of 70 ft. of driving has maintained an average width of 8 ft. 6 in. This block of stone has also been cut in No. 7 level, while driving is also in progress to locate it at No. 6 level. A crosscut is being driven from No. 7 level towards a blind shaft in the old workings, where it is expected some payable blocks of stone will be met at a depth of 130 ft. lower than any previous workings in this section of the mine. Stoping has been carried on from Nos. 5, 6, and 7 levels. In stoping the 180 ft. block over No. 7 the results attained were not satisfactory, considering the prospects met with while driving the level. Timbering and all requirements for the safety of the workmen have been attended to. Development-work proposed for 1909 will comprise driving the crosscut from No. 7 level and making a connection with the old workings, also sinking on the 180 ft. block of stone below the same level. The temperature at No. 7 level 1,074 ft. from the brace taken at 10 a.m. gave—drybulb reading, 65° ; wet ditto, 63-5° :in the shade at surface—dry-bulb, 65° ; wet ditto, 57°. An average of sixty men were employed. A total of 13,170 tons of ore was mined and milled during the year, yielding by amalgamation and cyanide 3,775 oz. 15 dwt. bullion, valued at £14,058 13s. id. Golden Point. —Two men were employed stoping and sinking on a 3 ft. reef. A hundred tons of ore broken out and treated gave a return of 16 oz. 5 dwt. gold, valued at £61. New Ulster {late Phcenix). —This property was taken over by the present owners in February, and the principal work undertaken has been the extension of No. 2 level south on the reef a distance of 516 ft. This level is to be further extended 70 ft. to connect with a winze sunk from the surface 147 ft. When completed good ventilation will be secured, also improved working-facilities. While driving this level several blocks of stone showing payable prospects, but of limited extent, were passed through. The mine-workings are maintained in good order. At the battery a small cyanide plant has been installed. A hundred and forty-six tons of ore was treated, which yielded 98 oz. 17 dwt. gold, valued at £370 6s. 10d. An average of nine men were employed. Devil's Creek. —Charles Clifford was granted a subsidy of £13 to prospect the right-hand branch of this creek. Nothing of importance was discovered. New Big River. —Operations during the year have been attended with very satisfactory results. Since the intersection of the lode at No. 9 level (1,375 ft.) it has been driven upon a total distance of 160 ft., whilst 40 ft. of driving has been done on the reef-track in a southerly direction. The lode varied from 1 ft. to 12 ft. in width along the level, and was highly payable throughout. A rise was put up and connected with the eastern winze from No. 8 level, thereby securing good ventilation for the whole of No. 9 level workings. A winze is being sunk from the level and has attained a depth of 70 ft. : a good body of stone continued down for 60 ft., below that the reef has been broken : all the stone in this winze has exhibited good values. The stopes over this level have been worked to an average height of 63 ft., leaving approximately 90 ft. yet to work before reaching No. 8 level. In the eastern winze from the south drive a large reef-formation is being prospected. This formation carries boulders of stone and may lead to something permanent being found. At No. 8 level a good deal of prospecting-work in the way of crosscutting and driving has been done, but so far nothing of value has resulted. No. 7 level is being repaired preparatory to undertaking prospecting-work in the-old stopes between Nos. 8 and 7 levels. Prospecting operations from a winze 42 ft. below No. lor engine level resulted in the discovery of a block of stone which is apparently a continuation of what was formerly known as Cosgrove's Block reef. This reef has been opened up for 30 ft. in length, and varies in width from 3 ft. to 10 ft. An intermediate lev" , ft. below No. 1) is being repaired, and will be driven to intersect