C—B.

Tararu Mines (lAmited), (James Jobe, mine-manager).—This company took over the Eclipse Claim during the year, and nearly all their attention has been taken up with cleaning and repairing an old level. It is proposed to prospect the Vulcan reef and the Royal Sovereign surface sections. Six men were employed. New Sylvia Gold-mining Company (Limited), (F. Daldy, mine-manager).—The reef has been driven on north-east a distance of 290 ft., and south-west for a length of 190 ft. The lode maintained throughout a uniform width of 6 ft. The main crosscut was advanced through the lode a distance of about 74 ft., when two small leaders of an unpayable character were intersected. The ore is highly mineralised, and necessitates special milling treatment. Nine men were employed. Adventure Special Quart: Claim (Charles Prescott, owner). —The owner, who has done only a limited amount of prospecting successfully, located some good ore, which, when treated, gave a return value of £89 17s. 9d. Scandinavian Gold-mining Company (Limited), (W. McConnell, mine-manager). —In the Xo. ■'! level a rise has been made through the reef to prove the ore-values. In the No. 2 level a crosscut has been driven some considerable distance to endeavour to pick up the reef, and make a connection with the rise referred to above. The development-work is well in hand, and a large block of ore \- ready for stoping. Dixon's Consolidated Gold-mining Com jinny (Limited), (Allan Wilson, mine-manager). — The reef at the low level was found to carry low values, and operations were then concentrated in the higher level, where a good deal of driving has been done. Six men were employed. Mount Zeehan Gold-mining Company (Limited), (L. E. Autridge, mine-manager).—The company have dona a large amount of crosscutting and driving on the main reef. A parcel of ore has been sent to one of the local mills for treatment, and it is hoped that the return will make it profitable for the company to undertake the vigorous development of their property. Five men were employed. Ferguson's Mining and Smelting Company (Limited), (William Cock, mine-manager).—The company did a little prospecting-work in the early part of the year, but the claim has since been under protection. Six men were employed. Monowai Gold-mining Company (Limited), (William Hollis, mins-manager).—The Ferguson's Mining and Smelting Company (Limited) surrendered their option over this property. The present holders intend io systematically work the mine, and are about to expend £7,000 on the erection of an aerial and ground tram-line, which will connect with the mine ; and the old battery will be renovated. Very little work has been done during the past year. The mine was examined, and found to be in good order. Kapowai Gold-mining Company (Limited), (Richard Tierney, mine-manager).—The low level has been extended a total distance of 703 ft., and it is expected that the lode will be cut into when a few more feet have been driven. The ventilation has been bettered since the connection was made with No. 2 level. A small parcel of ore was sent from this level for treatment, and gave a return value of £96 17s. lOd. Five men were employed. Kirikiri Mines (JAmited), (W. Moorecraft, mine-manager).—The company is extending its low level under the old mine-workings, where payable ore was discovered in former years. There yet remains 500 ft. to be driven before this object is achieved. The mine was in good order when inspected. Six men were employed. Champion Mines (TAmited), (E. Cartwright, mine-manager).—Operations have been confined to the Day Dawn and Champion sections of the company's property. The main reef has been prospected, but it carries very low values. Towards the end of the year a little surface prospecting was done on the Champion Xorth section. It has been reported that a reef enters the property from the Golden Belt Mine, and the company intend putting on a few men to pick it up. During the year 900 tons of ore was treated for a return of 175 oz. 4 dwt., valued at £451 15s. lid. Eight men were employed. The mine was in good order when inspected. Phoenix Gold-mining Company (Limited), (J. A. Gordon, mine-manager).—Eight men were employed on work of a prospecting nature, for the purpose of proving the extent and value of the ore-body. A parcel of 13 tons of ore was treated at Thames, for a return value of £31 Bs. Id. Golden Belt Gold-mining Company (TAmited), (A. A. Adams, mine-manager). —Mining operations have chiefly been confined to the Bluffs section, where a large reef-formation intermixed with quartz reins has been worked. Close to this locality a new reef has been located, and driven on for some distance. The ore-body carries very fair values. Work on the quartz boulders section has been abandoned owing to the barrenness of the ore. During the year the company treated 1,175 tons of ore, for a return value of £1.548 6s. 9d. Twelve men were employed. Tninia Broken Hills Gold-mining Company (Limited), (W. Goldsworthy, mine-manager). — The ore reserves in the old section of the mine being nearly exhausted, a crosscut level was commenced with a view of cutting into the reefs existing south-west of the old mine. It is proposed to sink a shaft from the new crosscut, and work the old mine section reefs at a greater depth than has yet been worked. The ventilation will be improved when the new and old crosscuts are connected. For the year, 1,117 tons of ore was treated, for a return value of £1,850 Bs. 6d. Eighteen men were employed. Luck at Jjast Gold-mining Company (Limited), (Samuel Carlyon, mine-manager).—A new low level was commenced late in the year, and at the close it had been driven 150 ft. It is expected that when 1,750 ft, have been driven the main reef will be intersected. Machinery is being erected at the mine, and rock-drills will be used. Five men were employed. Tairna Golden llills Gold-mining Company (Limited), (J. Rickard, mine-manager).—The .development of the reefs at Nos. 1 and 2 levels has been vigorously pushed on, and there are nowseveral blocks of ore ready for stoping. The levels are connected by means of two rises, each 140 ft. high, through the reef. The ore-body is from 3 ft. to 7 ft. wide. The No. 3 lowest level

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