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Westport. Red Queen, Mokihinui.— Avery and party, tributers in this mine, crushed 67 tons of quartz, for a return of 52 oz. 4 dwt. 14 gr. gold, valued at £203 13s. 9d. Two men were employed. Britannia. —The extension of the tunnel from the old workings on Gardiner's reef in No. 2 section was undertaken during the year, but did not result in the discovery of payable stone. Operations have been again resumed in the Early Bird section, where the prospects are considered favourable. An average of three men was employed; and 89 tons of ore was treated, for a yield of 47 oz. 8 dwt. 18 gr., valued at £154 os. 3d. Lyell. New Mpiue Cold mining Company (Limited). Operations have been confined to No. 14 level, where drives were projected north and south on the reef, and a rise put up to connect with the winze sunk from No. 13 level. The block of payable stone opened up by these works has been stoped out, and produced 5,311 tons, which on treatment yielded 2,048 oz. 19 dwt. 3 gr. gold, valued at £6,765 7s. lid. The extension of No. 14 level north was continued to a total distance of 460 ft., with the view of locating another block of stone, but nothing of a payable nature was discovered. An average of forty-three men was employed. Boatman's. Caledonian United Gold-mining Com jinny (Limited). —This company's main shaft was sunk to a total depth of 295 ft., and a crosscut extended west therefrom intersected a reef-track at 220 ft. This has been driven upon, north 55 ft., and south 310 ft. From the latter drive two crosscuts have been driven out under the old Caledonian Company's workings, but no payable stone has been discovered. Operations have been considerably hampered by the amount of water making in the shaft, which necessitated almost continuous bailing. An average of ten men was employed. Golden Arch Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company's operations during the earlypart of the year did not result very satisfactorily, and the mine was let on tribute to Dunstan and party, who have l>een engaged in stoping out a small block from the low level. A total of 307 tons of ore was mined and milled, for a return of 21Soz. 19 dwt. 6 gr. gold, valued at £790 19s. 4d. An average of ten men was employed. Victoria Range Syndicate (late Kirwan's Reward).— Messrs. Pettigrew and party purchased this mine and battery, and started operations in the early part of the year. A total of 230 tons loose surface stone sent to the battery yielded 39 oz. 15 dwt. gold, valued at £145 13s. lid. The handling of ore could not be successfully carried on, owing to the tramway requiring extensive repairs. This being considered too costly, crushing was stopped, and work confined to prospecting for the reef, which shed the loose gold-bearing stone, so far without success. An average of four men was employed. Welcome. —Subsidies amounting to £50 were granted to the Welcome Prospecting Syndicate to assist them in extending their No. 2 adit level. During the year 496 ft. were driven from the surface, and several reef-tracks intersected, but none carried stone of any value. A company- has been formed to take over this claim. The principal work to be undertaken will be repairing Boatman's low-level tunnel and prospecting therefrom for the Welcome North Block. Just in Time. —Walker and party, owners of this mine, have been prospecting for the western line of reef, which in former years produced stone of high grade. A subsidy of £37 10s. was granted towards the work, which so far has proved unsuccessful. Efforts are being made to raise capital to open tip the Just in Time shaft, and develop the mine at deeper levels. Reefton. New Ulster Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The extension' of No. 2 or battery level south on the line of reef, which was the principal work undertaken during the year, did not show satisfactory results. The country passed through was very much disturbed, consequently the blocks of stone met with were crushed and broken and of low grade. Connection was made with the winze sunk from surface, and a small block of payable stone near the surface stoped out. The quartz obtained from development and stoping operations, amounting to 234 tons, yielded on treatment 140 oz. 5 dwt. gold, valued at £412 Is. 2d. An average of seven men was employed. Golden Fleece. —This mine is being worked on tribute by J. Oats and party, with satisfactory results. During the year 2,813 tons of ore were mined and milled, for a return of 2,495 oz. lldwt. gold, valued at £9,36§ Is. Id. The greater portion of the ore treated was won from the stopes on the north block at No. 15 level, while a small tonnage was also obtained from the stopes at Nos. 14 and 10 levels. Development-work in progress consists of driving No. 15 level south on the reef track to locate and open up the south block of stone. An average of thirty-four men was employed. Keep-it-Dark Quartz-mining Com jinny (Limited). —This company's operations during the year comprise the following works: No. 7 level has l>een driven south 84ft, and north 410 ft, The south drive is being extended with the view of locating the downward continuation of the block of stone which was worked in the upper levels of the mine, with good results. In the north drive stone was met at 90 ft,, and, with the exception of a break of about 70 ft., the whole of the remaining distance (250 ft.) is in stone varying from 2 ft, to 16 ft. in width. To test this block below- the level a winze is being sunk 30ft. back from the north face; 24ft. has been sunk on stone, giving an average assay value of 12 dwt. 3 gr. per ton. The crosscut towards the blind shaft has been driven 363 ft., leaving 191 ft. to drive to the plumb of the shaft, from where a further 175 ft. of crosscutting should intersect the block of stone left underfoot in the bottom

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