C—3

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OWHAROA. Rising Sun Mine (T. Goldsworthy, Mine-manager). .Seven men have been employed in this mine extending the low-level tunnel, which is now in 1,400 ft. A contract has been let to drive a further 200 ft. It will be necessary to drive a distance of over 2,000 ft. north before the reef may be intersected. Veritas Claim. A total of 1,424 ft. of driving has been done on this claim, which is owned and worked by James Liddell. Several reefs were intersected, and one was driven on for 70 ft., the ore being considered of fair value by the owners. Waitekauri. New Waitekauri Gold-mining Company (B. Gwilliam, Mine-manager). Two men have been constantly employed during the year stoping out a block of ore between the Queen and Horn levels, also putting in a prospecting-drive 120 ft., but no value was found in the drive. The battery has been employed at a public crushing whenever required. Considerable damage was done to the water-race by slips, but this has been repaired. During the year 83 tons of ore were treated for a return of £186 3s. Bd. Maoriland Gold-mining Company (W. Christie, Mine-manager). On the Young New Zealand reef, at No. 3 level, a winze has been sunk 74 ft. in ore assaying from 17s. to £11 per ton. An intermediate level has been driven 43ft. from the bottom of this winze, exposing payable ore 12 ft. in width, and stoping is in operation. The low-level drive has been retimbered in places for 400 ft., and a crosscut west has been driven 360 ft., and a drive north from this crosscut 123 ft., to a point under the winze sunk from No. 3 level. A rise was put up from this 57 ft., and holed to winze. An average of thirteen men were employed during the year, and 644 tons of ore treated, for a return of £1,377 18s. Id. Jubilee Mine (F. J. Hollis, Mine-manager). Five men have been employed in this mine, and a total of 140 ft. of rising and 200 ft. of driving has been done, without, however, proving any ore of value. Two tons of ore were sold for shipment to England for £97, and 2 tons were treated by tributers for a return of £27 Bs. 7d. Scotia Mine (P. Grace, Mine-manager). In this mine 156 ft. were crosscut to intersect the No. 1 lode, and 143 ft. driven on lode, which averaged 20 in. in width. A rise was put up 43 ft. to surface drive, and this block is now available for stoping. A new reef was intersected in the crosscut, and proved by 75 ft. of driving. The lode averages 18 in. in width. Golden Cross Mine (¥. J. Butcher, Mine-manager). A level lias been driven 527 ft., and an old level has been retimbered for 300 ft. The prospects of this mine appeal , encouraging. A site for a ten-head battery has been excavated, and half a mile of tramway has been laid. A water-race 5 chains in length has been constructed. Eight men were employed. Prospectors. Four men are engaged prospecting in this district, two in Diamond Gully and two midway between Waitekauri and Karangahake, but so far they have not discovered payable ore. The prospects are encouraging. Karangahake. Talisman Consolidated (Limited) (J. Rickard, Mine-manager). The principal developments in this mine have been carried out on the Nos. 13 and 12 levels during the year. No. 13 Level (550 ft. below Waitewheta drainage level). —The south drive is now 1,530 ft. south of shaft, and is being extended further, with a view of intersecting the Dubbo shoot. The development for the year at this point has proved another ore-shoot 300 ft. in length, varying in thickness from 3 ft. to 9 ft., and carrying good value. A rise on this ore-body has been put up 140 ft., the whole length showing good value. At 140 ft. the rise is connected with a winze sunk from No. 12 level improving the ventilation in the southern section very much. The No. 4 crosscut has reached a point 290 ft. west of main reef without intersecting any further ore. Nos. 5 and 6 winzes, sunk 80 ft., proved the continuation of the ore as obtained at the startingpoint. Nos. 12 and 13 winzes have also been sunk in payable ore. Owing to a fire which destroyed the Woodstock air-compressors in September, all work below No. 13 level was necessarily suspended ; but it is expected that the winzes will be unwatered early in 1911. The north drive is now 685 ft. north of shaft. The reef varies in width from 18 in. to 5 ft., and the value for the whole of the distance is low. From the north drive a rise is being put up to connect with the Woodstock No. 6 level.