C—3.

about 2\ acres, and worked to an average depth of 40 ft., gold to the value of £9,300 has been obtained. The yield for the year amounted to 888 oz. 12 dwt. of gold, valued at £3,410 13s. 2d. Ten men are employed.' Workings and plant are maintained in good order. Murchison. Walker Ma ruin Gold-sluicing Company. —Up to July of this year operations were conducted by the company. Since then the claim has been worked on tribute by M. Dwan and party. The total yield of gold for the year amounted to 147 oz. 3 dwt., valued at £557 18s. 3d. Horse Terrace Claim. —Richardson, Beilby, and McXee, owners of this claim, have had a fairly successful year. Water-supply has been regular, enabling a large quantity of material to be treated. Mammoth Claim. —Mr. J. Ritchie has taken up this claim, and proposes to conduct operations on extensive lines. A water right for ten heads from Half-way Creek has been secured. Buller River. Newton Flat Claim (Beilby, "Kane, and Clerk, owners). —This party's operations have only been moderately successful during the period under review. Three men were employed. Thompson's Creek (Ryan and Alborn). —A subsidy of £75 was granted to this party- towards the construction of a tail-race to effect free drainage of the deep auriferous gravels. The completion of the work has enabled the parly to secure profitable employment. Westport. Golden Basin Syndicate. —This syndicate is sinking a shaft at the foot of the terraces between Giles Creek and Fairdown, to prospect for a deep haul of auriferous wash supposed to exist in the locality. The ground to be tested is very wet, and to contend with the water a Tangye vertical sinking pump, capable of lifting 5,000 gallons per hour, is to be installed. When visited the shaft was sunk to a depth of 70 ft. Sinking was then suspended, owing to influx of water. North Beach. —Efforts w-ere made by Millard and party to work a back lead of auriferous black sand. An oil-engine and centrifugal pump were installed for elevating purposes, but unsatisfactory working of plant and want of fall for tailings caused the project to be abandoned. Waimangaroa River. —A subsidy of £60 was granted to the Waimangaroa Miners' Association towards testing the bed of the river above the Beaconsfield reef. A shaft has been sunk 20 ft., and a small centrifugal pump actuated by steam-power installed to deal with the incoming water. It is estimated the shaft will bottom at 40 ft. Giles Greek. —A few parties continue to work the elevated terraces on the banks of the creek, with favourable results. Mokihinui (Stuart and party —three men).---This subsidised party were prospecting the country towards the head of the Mokihinui River during the summer months. Nothing of importance was discovered. Addison's. McCann and Party. —This party's operations were greatly hindered through their storagedam breaking away and blocking the tail-race tunnel with dibris. When visited, clearing and repairing the tunnel was in progress. Senior and Party. —All the available ground in the vicinity of the party's elevator having been worked, a deviation from the tail-race tunnel is being driven prior to removing plant and opening up a new paddock. Neill and Party. —Satisfactory returns are being secured from the new area recently opened, and future success is practically- assured for a considerable period. Carmody and Party. —An extension of the tail-race tunnel has enabled this party to resume sluicing operations, with profitable results. Addison's Long Tunnel Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company's operations have been disappointing. A ridge of cement came in on the lower side of the lead, reducing the payable ground to a very narrow strip. Subsequent cutting out of the cement resulted in the lead widening considerably, with indications of payable ground ahead. Millikin and Party. —Operations are still directed to mining and crushing a deposit of auriferous cement. This deposit extends to a depth of 6 ft. below the surface, and is overlying highlypayable gravels, which will lie treated by hydraulic sluicing and elevating when the cement is worked out. Shamrock Lead. —Messrs. Wright, of Westport, and Lee and Roberts, of England, have undertaken to drive a tunnel tail-race to provide free drainage for working the Shamrock lead. The work, which has been commenced, is one of considerable magnitude, for the tunnel will require to be driven a distance of 113 chains to effect the desired object. The greatest depth below the surface will be 90 ft., and ventilation will be provided by means of shafts sunk along the course of the tunnel. Water for sluicing purposes will be brought on from the Totara River. Charleston. Powell's Elevating Claim. —The front lead having been practically exhausted, the whole of the available water-supply is to be concentrated on to the back lead, where the height to which the auriferous sands will require to be elevated will probably amount to 50 ft. The plant, which is kept working almost continuously, is maintained in good order. An average of ten men is employed.

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