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C—3

Monte Christo Mine (F. Jones, Mine-manager). A fair amount of development has been done during the year on several well-known reefs, with very little success. A low-level crosscut is now in progress to intersect the Swedish Crown lode, which was a noted gold-producer in the upper levels. Five men have been employed. Mount Welcome Mine (J. W. Barker, Mine-manager). The main drive on the Mount Welcome reef has been extended 223 ft., and is being continued for the purpose of intersecting its junction with the Blue Peter reef. The prospects met with on the Mount Welcome lode are of a most encouraging character, as gold has been freely seen for the whole of the distance driven. Kapanga Mine (S. Carlyon, Mine-manager). Work in this mine has been confined to unwatering the shaft, and the water at the end of the year had been reduced to 650 ft. Bailing-tanks have been put on to lift it below this level. It is fully expected that the 1,000 ft. level will shortly be drained, as the bailing-tanks are working satisfactorily. The tributers crushed 150 tons of ore, for a return of £239 12s. Scotty's Claim. This is owned and worked by McNeil Brothers. During the winter the surface drive collapsed, and they are now engaged putting in a low level. Twenty-three tons of general ore and 6J lb. picked stone from the top level yielded gold valued at £85 10s. Old Hauraki Gold-minin// Company (H. F. Shepherd, Mine-manager). During the year work has been principally directed towards developing and mining the new reef met with iti the latter portion of last year (1909). At the 400 ft. level this reef has been driven upon for 340 ft., at the 300 ft. level 230 ft., and on the 220 ft. level 170 ft.. Stoping is in progress on these three levels, with payable results. Gold to the value of £13,057 13s. Id. has been won during the year. An average of thirty-one men has been employed. Hauraki Reefs (Limited) (S. G. Baker, Mine-manager). This was originally the Hauraki Freehold, and was formed into a new company at the beginning of the year. Pumping was resumed at the Welcome Find shaft, and when No. 1 level was reached, the Golconda reef was driven upon, with encouraging results. Thirty-nine tons of ore and 120 lb. of picked stone yielded £845 7s. 9d. A contract has been let to drive from the Old Hauraki shaft in order to drain the low level (400 ft.) of this mine, to enable'these reefs to be tested at a greater depth. Golden Pah Mine (E. F. Keynolds, Mine-manager). Work has been confined to repairing and cleaning up the 80 ft. level from the Union Beach shaft. A little gold was found, but so far nothing payable has been discovered. Longford's Syndicate. This claim includes the foreshore of Coromandel Harbour. The results from a series of boreholes put down proved so encouraging that this syndicate decided to buy a dredge, which is now in transit, and will, I understand, commence operations immediately on arrival. Hauraki East Mine. A small parcel of ore treated from this claim produced gold to the value of £18, two men being employed. Union Hauraki Gold-mining Company (A. Jamieson, Mine-manager). This claim, which adjoins the Old Hauraki, was formed into a company in the early part of the year. The Zealandia shaft has been sunk to a depth of 220 ft., and driving for Legge's reef has been commenced. A winding-engine, head gear, and sinking-pump have been installed. Bremnefs Freehold (J. Bremner, Mine-manager). This claim is situated on Tiernan's Freehold. At the beginning of the year it was worked by a syndicate. Work was commenced at No. 1 level, and after driving a distance of 24 ft. a lode varying in width from 1 ft. to 6 in. was intersected. Some very rich specimen stone was obtained, and as the gold appeared to be descending, a winze was commenced and sunk for 12 ft., the lode still showing gold freely. The winze could not be continued further, on account of having too much water to contend with. It was then decided to raise further capital and put in a low level, which is now in progress. Gold valued at £2,238 Bs. 4d. was obtained from 19 cwt. 3 qr. 18 lb. of stone. Lucky Hit Syndicate. This claim is situated at Natawai, and two men are engaged putting in a low level to intersect a lode in which gold was freely seen in a winze sunk from the level above, which winze could not be continued on account of water. C.X.Li. Mine (G. Lindsay, Mine-manager). Four men are engaged prospecting the surface of this property, which adjoins the Lucky Hit.