a—3

36

three nun. one being employed to pack provisions, <fee. As the present track is being improved, it, is intended bo form a strong party to proceed to the gorge during the coming winter, if the weather is ;ii all favour.ihie. Five-mile Beach. The Dominion Gold-mining Company. —This company have so far employed or an average two men clearing tracks and the pipe-line. They propose to raise the level of Lake Alpine by means of a small dam, and lay a pipe-line to the Five-mile Beach, and there install an hydraulic-sluicing plant. Arrangements have been made to transport to this claim from Waiho portion of the hydraulic-sluicing plant of the defunct Waiho Company, which has been purchased by the Dominion Company. Okarito District. Three prospecting-areas are held on the Okarito River (or North Beach). No work has so far been done bhereon, but the proprietor informed me that he proposed to form a company to carry on active mining operations at an early date. Forks (South Westland). Willi the exception of a few aged men, this once promising gold-producing locality is practically deserted. These Eossickers, however, manage to win a few pennyweights each year. Ross District. McLeod's Terrace. —After a long cessation of work, some shareholders in the old company decided to give this property another trial. With that object in view W. R. Ramsey (of Wanganui) took charge, and, aided by four men, repaired the races and tunnels, and prepared another face upon which to start hydraulic sluicing. Unfortunately, when everything was in readiness for sluicing, the water-supply gave out. Lucky and party, Redman's Creek, have sunk their shaft and erected a substantial elevating plant mi the water-balance principle. A promising alluvial Clear Creek has been developed by John Smith. This claim is supplied with an abundance of water for sluicing purposes, and should pay well. During the dry season the owner is improving his dams for the conservation of water in the wet seasons. Mont cTOr Gold-mining Company.- —The new tail-race, which has been under construction for some time past, is now completed. The first washing was very yioMinpt 340 oz. gold for three weeks' operations. The payable nature of the gravels has since been tunnel proved by a yield of 144 oz. for five days' water. The tunnel connecting the water-race and claim subsided during the year, causing considerable delay and expense. At the beginning of the year a new pipe-line was commenced on the Greenland side of the claim. When this is completed good returns should be obtained, if the rainfall is normal. (The rainfall recorded during 1910 was 156 in.) The water-races are maintained in good order, at an expenditure of about £550 per annum. Ross Goldfields (Limited). —The cost of development has exceeded the capital available, hence ihe necessity of the liquidation of this company. During the brief period the mine was worked it was fully proved that the power generated at Kanieri Forks was ample for pumping and winding purposes at Ross Flat. Trent and Eves have started development at their claim on Donnelly's Creek. All water-races have been constructed, and California pumps are on the ground. Winding-gear is ordered, and preparaliiins made for its erection. This ground is believed to be payable if sufficient power is available Cor pumping. A. Aitkin holds 1 acre in Coal Creek, which he worked from a small prospeeting-shalt until water became too heavy for hand-labour, when operations were suspended. Mahinapua Gold-mining Company. —This company's operations during the past year have, been principally of a development character, consisting of the construction of a long water-race and the laying of a pipe-line to supplement their present supply, which has been found inadequate at some periods of the year. The works are all in good order. Glass Brothers, having taken up a prospecting-area on the Blue-bottle Terrace, are now, with 1 wo men, prospecting the same. Thomas Brown and Son during the past year put in their low-level drive, and restored their v paces and dam. They should be in a position to commence sluicing operations at an early date. John Beiciz continues to get gold on his claim. The want of a good water-supply is a considerabli obstacle. Brown and Howatt for the first six months of the year did a good deal of prospecting and develop nient. The gravels mi their claim are much cemented, and take a very heavy pressure of water to break i hem down. S. E. Harcourt continues to carry on prospecting with two men. So far no profitable returns have been obtained. Minerals Syndicate. —Operations during the past year have been carried out successfully. Since ihe syndicate purchased the property they have been able, owing to the better water-supply, to work for longer periods. Sweeney and Party. —This party of five still continues to obtain payable returns. Strict attention has been given to the high faces of gravel, to secure which they are well battered. There are also a few aged men fossicking about in the creeks, who obtain a few pennyweights of gold every year.