45

C—3

Reefton Subdistmct. This district may be said to extend from Larry's Creek on the north to Snowy Creek on the south. and quartz-mining is being carried on at intervals over the whole of this area. The Caledonian United Company, which lias been carrying on operations at Larry's Creek for some considerable time without finding anything of a payable nature, was obliged to go into liquidation, and the property lias now been acquired by Mr. Robert Duffy. The Golden Arch Gold-mining Company (Limited), at Italian's Creek, between Larry's and Boatman's, has also been obliged to go into liquidation during the year, and the company is now being wound up by the liquidator. At Capleston the old Welcome, Mine has been floated as a limited liability company under the style of the " New Welcome Gold-mining Company (Limited)." and mining operations, chiefly of a prospecting nature, have been carried on during the year. The old Just-in-Time Claim, adjoining the Welcome, has been floated into a limited company, and active work has been commenced on the claim. The shaft, which had been full of water for some years, has been successfully unwatered, and a start, made to clean up the old workings. The Fiery Cross Claim, also adjoining, is held by a syndicate, but no active operations have yel commenced on this property. At Kirwan's (Till, Victoria Range, the old Kirwan's Reward Claim is held by Pettigrew and party, who have been doing some prospecting-work in order to try and locate the main reef. Crossing the Waitahu River, the first workings met with on the south are those of the New Ulster Quartz-mining Company. Very little work has been done on this claim during the year, protection having been granted to the company to enable them to raise more capital. These remarks apply also to the properties held by the Wellington Mines (Limited) at the head of Murray Creek. The option held over these properties by .Messrs. McMahon and Lee was allowed to lapse, and towards the end of the year mining operations were resumed by the company, with a reduced number of men. The Golden Fleece Mine, owned by the Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand (Limited), has been continuously worked during the year by a party of tributcrs, and very good returns have been reported. The Wealth of Nations (or Knergetic) Mine, owned by the same company, lias also given very good returns during the year, and is looked upon as one of the best mines in the district. The old Keep-it-Dark Mine, adjoining the Wealth of Nations, has been continuously worked during the year, the ore being of rather low grade. The largest mine, in the district is tin . Progress, the property of the Progress Mines (Limited). A large number of men are employed at this mine and at the reduction-works, which are situate on the south bank of the Inangahua River. Returns from this mine have been very regular and consistent for a number of years. No work of any consequence has been done on any properties between the Progress .Mine ami the Big River Mine, although a considerable area is held under prospecting licenses, and in some cases a few men have been employed in legitimate prospecting. The Bonanza Syndicate's claim, at the head of Auld's Creek, over which an option had I n obtained by an English syndicate, was prospected with a certain amount of success during portion of the year. The option-holders, however, did not take over the property, and since August the claim has been protected. Thornton and party, at Murray Creek, have had one or two men on their prospecting license during the greater part of the year, as also have the Messrs. Willis and party on their lease at Black's Point, and Kiiwan and party on their claim adjoining the New Big River Gold-mining Company's special claim. Nothing, however, of a payable nature has so far been located on any of these leases. In the Big River district the principal mine is that owned by the New Big River Company ; this is one of the leading mines on the field. It has yielded regular returns during the year, and paid a number of dividends. Further to the south are to be found the Big River South Mine and the St. George .Mine, both ol which have been floated as limited liability companies during the year, and are still in the prospecting stage. Low-level tunnels are being driven on each claim, in order to locate the reefs which outcrop on the surface. In i he Blackwater district the only mine so far producing gold is that owned by the Blackwater Mines (Limited). This has now developed into a permanent and prosperous mine, yielding a large amount of gold, and giving employment to several hundred men. A township, called Waiuta. has sprung up round the mine-mouth, and altogether this discovery has been the most important and valuable in the district for Jiiany years. A large number of prospecting licenses have been taken up in this locality, and some rich leaders of quartz discovered ; but nothing of a payable nature outside the company's ground has so Eai been located. Dredging. Of the five dredges that were at work in this district at the end of 1909, one company has discontinued operations during the current year viz., the Antonio's Creek Dredging Company, all the available ground having been treated. The dredges now at work arc llesse\ and Cameron's dredge at Capleston, Slab Hut Syndicate's dredge on Slab Hut Creek, Worksop dredge on Antonio's Creek, and the Blackwater dredge on the Blackwater Creek. In addition to these, Messrs. Hessey and Cameron are now erecting another dredge on their special claim at Frying-pnn Flat, near Oronadim.