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DUNGANVILLE. The only work of any importance now being carried out is the subsidized tunnel of Irwin and party, and this has been of a slow and costly character, the ground requiring double, timber for safety. The ventilation at times was indifferent, but this has now been remedied by means of a connection with an air-shaft. The other parties working in this district have not been very successful. Kotuku Oilfield. No work of importance has been carried out on the Kotuku oilfield during 1910. Drilling machinery of considerable capacity is being imported for the purpose of thorough}- testing for petroleum the territory held by the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand. ACCIDENTS. Only one accident occurred in my inspection District during the year, and that was not of a serious nature. John Kulsen, while working on his claim at Kanieri, was slightly injured by a fall of clay owing to his own want of caution. A few days afterwards he resumed work. I have, &c., A. H. Richards, Inspector of Mines. [Compiled from the monthly reports of Inspector Molntosh, who, having retired from the Public Service, did not furnish the usual annual report.] Mr. Robert Mclntosh, Inspector of Mines, Clyde, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Alluvial Mining. 11<hih<1 Hill (hld-mining Company, Round Hill. —Owing to the dry season prevailing and the shortage of water, work in No. 2 paddock was suspended during portion of the year. About 16 acres have been worked in No. 1, and there is about six months' work left, after which the plant will be shifted on to the claim upstream. No. 2 paddock : Some 20 acres have been worked by hydraulic elevating, there being some twelve months' work left, after which the plant will be removed to the claim downstream. (Both new claims have been tested by boring prospecting). This paddock has one elevator working only eighteen hours out of twenty-four hours. The average depth of the ground is 45 ft., and elevators are lifting 65 ft. to 70 ft. The auriferous wash occurs in seams chiefly within 10 ft. of the bottom (diorite). In addition to the pipe-lines already in use (main line 64 chains of 27 in. and 26 in. pipes, and other lines of 120 chains), a np\v line of 50 chains of 18 in. 10-gauge pipes is being made at the company's own works. Operations have been conducted on this large claim without serious accident during the past twelve years. Thirty men were usually employed. A magazine was approved for storage of explosives. Ourawera Gold-mining Company, Round llill. -Area of paddock, about 4 acres; face, 60ft. to 70 ft.; and ground very rough, with boulders and buried timber. There has been 574 ft. of new pipeline laid. The wafer-driven aerial stone-conveyor continues to do good work, and without it the claim would be unpayable. As elsewhere upon these goldfields, the extended drought has rendered iniwateiiug of the paddock by hydraulic elevation impossible. Copy of general rules requires to be posted. Luggate Hydraulic Sluicing ('(aim, Luggate. —Work being carried on in the usual manner in the bed of Luggate Creek. McGregor , s Sluicing Claim, Shag River. — Patches of gold have been obtained from time to time mi the upper reaches of the Shag River. An expensive hydraulic plant was installed, but the watersupply was small and the ground poor. Island Block Sluicing Company, Island Block. —After several years' idleness, the pipe-lines and plant are being overhauled preparatory to sluicing operations being recommenced. Michelle and Party's Claim, Glenore. —Some freehold property has been purchased, and the ground is being opened out by hand-stripping. An engine and pump have been installed on the claim for the purpose of dealing with the heavy drainage. On my last visit, early in August, I drew attention to the necessity for making a safe batter on the day-faces, and for the erection of a fence to protect the travelling public. I subsequently wrote to the miners and the County Council on these matters, and received assurance that they were receiving attention. Moen and Party's Claim, Adams Flat.—The excellent proposal to bring Waitahuna water on to this ground was frustrated by the difficulty in arranging with freeholders on the line of the tailings outlet, but this question will be revived. Miller and Stringer, Sluicing Claim, Fourteen-mile Beach. —These men have recently acquired a water-right and are now engaged in preparatory works in connection with their river-beach claim. Last Chance Gold-mining Company. —Claim worked by hydraulic sluicing on high, stony terraces fringing Bald Hill Flat. The claim is owned by a small syndicate, and, I understand, is worked at a profit. P. Jenkins's Sluicing Claim, Three-mile Creek, Cambrian's. —Jenkins purchased a mining waterright and sought for change of purpose for irrigation. This was recommended by the Warden, but not by myself. Jenkins then prospected some ground, proved it payable, and erected an up-to-date hydraulic sluicing and elevating plant thereon. The plant is now at work.