C.—2

40

Mercury Bay. G. A. Jackson and son are prospecting north of Whenuakite River. South-west of Trig. D, Rangitoto, they have driven ] 00 ft. on a reef formation, without, however, discovering anything of a payable character. New Discovery Claim. This is situated at Mahakirau, and is owned by Cashel and party, who have been receiving prospecting aid. This party are working near the public battery, tracing the source of a small parcel of rich specimen-stone found by them on the surface. Great Barrier Island. Barrier Reefs Gold-mining Company (J. G. Vivian, Mine-manager). Work in this mine has been confined to prospecting at No. 3 level, but, as nothing of a payable nature was discovered, it is now intended to at once proceed with a low-level tunnel to test the lodes at a greater depth. # Mackytown. Ascot Cinnabar Claim. This company ceased operations early in 1911, in consequence, it is stated, of the unsatisfactory working of the reduction plant. It is now proposed to reconstruct, to enable certain alterations to be made to the plant, and a drive carried under the present workings. It is anticipated that a start will be made at an early date. Taranaki. Taranaki Petroleum Company (Limited), New Plymouth. Mineral oil has been known to exist at New Plymouth since 1838, the first bore being sunk in 1866. Several small companies have been formed since that date, but, owing to the want of sufficient capital, the results were practically ml. In 1906 the Taranaki Petroleum Company was formed, with a nominal capital of £150,000. This company put down five wells at Port Moturoa, New Plymouth, and oil was obtained from four of them. This company obtained the Government bonus for 250,000 gallons of marketable crude petroleum of specified quality obtained in New Zealand, and have offered to sell the property to the British Empire Oilfields (Limited), who have proposed to immediately erect a refinery. The total quantity obtained, according to the lastest information, is 421,975 gallons, and from present indications this company will shortly be in a position to claim the second bonus of £2,500 offered by the Government for the production of the first half-million gallons of marketable crude petroleum. The depth of the three bores now flowing is as follows : No. 2 well. 3,000 ft, ; No. 3 well, 3,500 ft, ; No. 5 well, 2,280 ft. Inglewood. A company was formed and registered in London in June last, with a capital of £100,000, to test what is considered by indications to be oil-bearing country situated about a mile from the railwaystation. Some years ago a borehole was started, and put down to a depth exceeding 1,000 ft., but, owing to a mishap, it was abandoned. The present company had this hole cleaned out, and resumed boring, but after reaching 635 ft., owing to the nature of the country, it was considered advisable to suspend boring and procure casing. The management consider the indications favourable, and have acquired options over a large area. ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. Fatal. Waihi Grand Junction Gold-mining Company (Limited). 16th January, 1911 : A. C. Anderson killed by fall of stone in stope. 24th August, 1911 : H. Bullock killed by explosion of gelignite in the bottom of a winze. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). 17th May, 1911 : James Samson killed by fall of stone in stope. k Non-fatal. Waihi Grand Junction Gold Company (Limited). 19th January, 1911 : W. Moran, both eyes destroyed, through drilling into unexploded charge. 15th April, 1911 : T. Franklin, lost his left arm in blasting accident. 30th May, 1911 : Peter Martin, had his leg broken by a fall of ground. 26th July, 1911 : H. McKernon, skull fractured by a rock falling down a pass. 15th September : G. Pitcher, leg broken by a fall of quartz. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). 17th April, 1911 : G. Faulder, badly cut about the back and head by a blasting accident. 18th April, 1911 : D. Smeaton, had his leg broken by a fall of mullock on the surface. 24th May, 1911 : W. Hill, lost sight of one eye, other seriously injured by blasting accident. 24th June, 1911 : Sam Thornally, ribs broken by fall of earth in surface cutting. 18th October, 1911 : W. Cardwell, eyesight injured by blasting accident. 22nd November, 1911 : W. Ridings, skull fractured in the Waihi mill.