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Mr. Boyd Bennie, Inspector of Mines, Thames, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Thames, 2nd April, 1910. 1 have the honour to present my report on the gold-mining industry in the Thames district for the year ended the 31st December, 1909. Waiotahi Gold-mining Company (Limited), (George VV'arne, mine-manager).—During the year mining operations were carried on at Nos. 4, 5, and 6 shaft levels. No. 4 level (320 ft.) : Driving, rising, and sloping have been done on the main reef and hanging-wall, which is from 6 in. to 15 in. wide. Most of the gold obtained from the mine comes from this hanging-wall. Three stopes in height on this leader have been taken out for a length of 180 ft. The total amount of driving and rising for the year at this level was 1,030 ft. No. 5 level (380 ft.): The main reef has been driven on east and west and a connection made with No. 4 level. Stoping is being carried on on the foot-wall dropper and Cure reef, between Nos. 4 and 5 levels, and an intermediate level from the rise at the junction of the main reef with the hanging-wall leader is also in progress. Fully 739 ft. of driving and rising was done for the year. No. 6 level (428 ft.) : Operations have chiefly been confined to the foot-wall dropper above and below this level. About 342 ft. of rising, driving, and stoping was done for the year. The yearly return shows that the company treated 1,495 tons 1 cwt. 941b. of material for a yield of 3,724 oz. 16 dwt., valued at £10,115 lis. 2d. Twenty-eight men were employed. The mine was inspected periodically, and found to be in good order. Kuranui-Caledonian Gold - mining Company (Limited), (George Horn, mine - manager).-Prospecting-work was undertaken early in the year in connection with several quartz leaders in Nos. 1, 3, and 4 shaft levels, but the work proving unremunerative, operations were suspended at these levels. A surface block in the Kuranui section was then vigorously prospected. Graham's leader being eventually located, it engaged the company's attention for the remainder of the year. The total amount of rising, driving, and stoping for the year was fully 1,100 ft. During the year 9 tons of general ore and 15 lb. of specimen stone were treated, for a return of 22 oz. 2 dwt., valued at £62 Is. 3d. Five men were employed. The mine was inspected on two occasions, and found to be in good order. Rules posted, and reports entered to date. Old Alburnia Gold-mining Company (Limited), (George McNeil, mine-manager).—The rise was continued in the Moanataiari tunnel, and when a height of 550 ft. had been attained a connection was effected with the Sons of Freedom level, which was cleaned up, and crosscuts were then driven through the reef (Sons of Freedom) near the junction of the reef with the rise, and a few colours of gold were secured. A winze is being sunk, and a rise has also been made in order to more thoroughly prospect the reef. The reef in the long rise from the Moanataiari tunnel proved disappointing, very little gold having been seen for the total height risen. Towards the end of the year the 540 ft. level (Alburnia shaft) was being cleaned up and repaired, with a viewto further prospect the reef at a point below a run of gold that was worked in the higher level. During the year 9£ tons of material and 170 lb. of specimen stone were treated, for a yield of 202 oz. 14 dwt., valued at £519 19s. Twelve men were employed. The mine was inspected, and found to be in good order. Moanataiari Gold-mining Company (Limited), (N. Taylor, mine-manager).—On the expiration of their period of protection, early in the year, the company resumed operations in No. 3 shaft level. The drive was extended only a few feet when the Cambria reef was intersected close to the boundary of the Waiotahi Mine. A connection was then made between these mines for ventilation purposes. It is intended to thoroughly prospect the reef from a rise that has already attained a height of 65 ft. on the lode. Saxon Gold-mining Company (Limited), (George Warne, supervisor).—A little driving and stoping have been done on No. 2 reef, No. 4 level. The mine is at present under a period of protection, pending the finality of arrangements in connection with the deep-level-development scheme. Victoria Gold-mining Company (Limited), (Charles Williams, mine-manager). —Mining operations were continuously carried on at Nos. 1 and 3 levels. At No. 1 level a block of ore is being worked, with profitable results. At No. 3 level a reef has been driven on and generally prospected by rising, sinking, and stoping, As but little work has ever been done in this section, it is hoped that something will be located. Thirty-nine loads of general and 23 lb. of specimen stone were treated, for a yield of 70 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, valued at £196 2s. lid. Seven men were employed. Thames Gold-mining Company (Limited), (James Sheehan, mine-manager). —The Cambria reef has been driven on in the Moanataiari tunnel with fairly encouraging prospects. The country incasing the reef is very hard, no timber being required in the first working. Ventilation is produced by an air-compressor. Six men were employed. Thames-Hauraki Pump and Shaft (W. Baker, mine-manager; A. C. MacDiarmid, chief engineer). The initial step in deep-level development was taken by the May Queen Gold-mining Company (Limited) when they sunk the Queen of Beauty shaft to the 1,000 ft, level. They were enabled to undertake this very expensive yet extremely important work through the financial aid rendered by the Government (at the rate of £1 for £1) and the Borough and County Councils. When the shaft had attained the required depth, and the chamber has been made, the permanent draw-lifts were at once installed. This work was completed in June last, and the May Queen Company subsequently commenced work at the 1,000 ft. level. The pumpmg-machmery worked well until one of the couplings of the drawlift-rods broke, fortunately without any serious damage resulting. Scarcely had this difficulty been surmounted when another breakdown occurred. On the advice of the Drainage Board's engineer and head pitman, a thorough examination o) the rods and couplings was made, and revealed the fact that they were of poor quality, and

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