C.—3.

Karangahake Mine. During the past year 1,500 ft. of driving in crosscuts, 250 ft. of driving on reefs, 90 ft. of rising, and 40 ft. of sinking has been done in this mine. The ors treated (45 tons) produced gold to the value of £39 7s. 6d. Crown Royal Mine. Operations on behalf of this company were started on the 24th August. Since then an adit level has been driven 240 ft., and at this point the hanging-wall of No. 1 reef was intersected and penetrated for 9 ft. without sign of foot-wall. Three assays taken gave the following results: 9s. 9d., £1 10s., and £8 Is. per ton. An average of six men have been employed. Komata. Komata Reefs (Limited). The return from this mine shows a considerable falling-off as compared with last year. Very little development-work has been done, and operations have been chiefly confined to stoping at Nos. 5, 6, and 8 levels. Ar. average of seventy men have been employed during the year, and 13,391 tons of ore treated at the battery produced bullion to the value of £24,417 Is. 7d. Te Aroha. Murphy's Find Syndicate. During the year the crosscut was extended to a total distance of 446 ft., but as yet there is no sign of the lode in vyhich the rich specimen stone was found on the surface. At the mouth of this tunnel a rsef 6 ft. thick has been driven on a total of 40 ft., carrying no values. Four men have been employed. Nardil's Minis (Limited). Operations by this company were commenced at the beginning of the year on what is known as the east branch of the Hero lode, at No. 5 level. This lode was driven on in a northerly direction for a distance of 105 ft., and also southerly for 100 ft.. without disclosing anything of a paxable nature. Work was therefore discontinued, and crosscutting resumed. After driving a distance of 10 ft. the west branch of the Hero lode was intersected, and proved to be 12 ft. in width, 5 ft. of which is high-grade ore. At 165 ft west of the Hero lode the Colonist lode was passed through, and proved to be 25 ft. in width. An average of ten men have been employed. Bendigo Mine. Work has been principally confined to surface prospecting on several reefs outcropping on this claim, with satisfactory results. Owing to lack of capital, the oxvners have been unable to frilly develop these lodes. Besides work done on the surface, the drive on the Silver King lode has been extended 100 ft., and a leading stope carried along. The ore is refractory; 5 tons treated by cyanide, however, produced gold valued at £17 10s. A small crushing plant is now in course of erection. Coromandel. Four-in-Hand. In June last this company was reconstructed, the chief object being the development of the lower level in the Waikoromiko Creek side of the range, in order to intersect the Four-in-Hand Reef, which was worked in the upper levels with high payable results. The level is now in 1,007 ft.. and the country being penetrated is of a very hard nature. Another 50 ft. should see the reef sought for to hand. Stoping and sinking has also been carried on in the upper levels. There was 35 lb. of picked stone treated, which produced gold to the value of £83 2s. 6d. » Royal Oak Mine. The principal work carried out in this mine during the year has been prospecting the Tributers' leader through the "hard bar." 150 ft. of driving and 70 ft. of rising has been done on this reef, with satisfactory results. Gold to the value of £1,791 Bs. 3d. was obtained. An averags of thirteen men have been employed. Pride of T oka tea. A new company was formed, and work commenced on this property in July last. The No. 3 or low level was cleaned out and repaired for a distance of 700 ft., and a block on what is known as the cross lode opened up for stoping. The lode averages 4 in. in width, and produces a little picked stone occasionally. In all, 3 tons of general ore and 2001b. of picked stone was crushed for a return of 56 oz. 17 dwt. of gold, valued at £160 12s. Monte Christo. An average of seven men have been employed during the year, and work has been principally confined to the extension of the low level. A considerable amount of surface prospecting has also been done on several leaders, with encouraging results. Mount Welcome . This company was formed in July last to work the property on the western slope of the Tokatea Range, the object being to drive a low level to intersect several known gold-bearing lodes lying to the east of the big rsef, better known as the " Blow." Up to date a distance of 230 ft. has been driven, and the Pukatutu reef intersected, which gives promise of payable results, as gold has been freely seen.

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