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New Magnet Claim (James, manager). —Stoping has been done on the main reef near O'Sullivan's rise from No. 2 level (250 ft.). Four men were employed. Halcyon Mine (E. C. Keven, manager).—Driving and stoping have been done on the reef at the lowest level (250 ft.). In several places good value was obtained, and samples of ore were treated at one of the mills for a return of £77 17s. 9d. Two men were employed. Karaka Mines (Limited) (E. A. Daldy, manager).—ll is proposed to deepen the shaft, and commence prospecting. The Auckland level (80 ft.) has been restored, and a small reef driven on for some distance. A steam winding-plani Lβ being obtained and a change-room and oilier buildings have been erected. Occidental Mine (I. Caisley, manager).—To overcome the ventilation difficulty, the company cleaned up the main level tor some distance, and sunk a winze on the Occidental reef, thereby establishing a connection with the Loyalty reef and the low-level crosscut. The work done (in the Loyalty reef has been very satisfactory, and specimen ore has been occasionally secured. A new change-room, with sanitary arrangements, has been provided. 34 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £413 4s. Gd. Eight men were employed. New Cumbria Mine (W. T. McGregor, manager).— A strong quartz reef has been driven on in one "I i'ne surface levels, with encouraging results. Three men were employed. Lord Nelson Mine (J. Middleton, manager).—Little work has been done, but some rich ore was obtained, which yielded £1,144. Otanui Mascotte (R. Otto, manager). —Several quartz veins have been proved in the main crosscut from the shaft chamber. Work at the low level (100 ft.) proved very disappointing; the main reef either pinched out or was displaced by a fault. Ventilation was dull. Champion Mine (.1. Collins, manager).— Operations m the north section of the claim were suspended early in the year, and the mine was subsequently protected. Towards the end of the year work was started in another section, the battery level being opened. The milling-plant has been reconstructed, and has been working, but no returns are yet available. Twelve men were employed. Kirikiri Consolidated (J. J. Williams, manager). — The low level (250 ft.) has been extended on the reef a further 100 ft., and a rise of 170 ft. has been made. At 70 ft. up the winze an intermediate level was driven 50 ft. on the reef, and the reef was stoped out for some height. The ore, however, proved unprofitable. Six men were employed. Golden Bell Mine (A. A. Adams, manager).— Work has been confined to the main low level (250 ft.), where two rises were made. The place is ventilated by a line of 1) in. air-pipes. Near the rises a winze was sunk on the reef to a depth of 45 ft., and then stopped owing to an inrush of water. The millingplant and aerial tram have been overhauled and repaired. 316 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £807 ss. lOd. Twelve men were employed. Tairua Monarch (Charles Hansen, manager).—At the time of my visit in June four men w< re driving on a reef in the upper level (60 ft.), and the milling-plant was running. The results proved very disappointing, and the company applied for protection. 400 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £304 I Is. Four men were employed. Tairua Oolden Hills (-1. .lobe, manager). No. 3 low level has been driven a short distance to a point \\ hen the reef should be intersected at any time. Owing to a serious defect in the machinery, the milling plant has been idle, and the engineers are reconstructing the greater part of the plant. The mine was in good order. Twenty-nine men were employed. Tairua Mines (Jame.-s Carroll, manager).— The Knight reef has been driven on at the shaft low level (350 ft.), and stoped out for some distance. The ore was treated at the battery, and having proved low grade, the company obtained six months' protection. 750 tons of ore was treated, for £718 15s. 6d. Twenty-five men were employed. West Coast Claim (R. Ross, owner). —The present owner purchased the claim from the trustees of l In , estate of Ihe late John Northy, and has done a limited amount of prospecting. Thames Foreshore Dredging-ivorks (H. H. Adams, supervisor). —The company have energetically worked their claim, but the returns are poorer than those for last year. 9,000 tons of tailings were treated by cyanide at the Moanataiari battery for a return of £881 14s. Id. Ten men were employed. Puhipuhi District. —A metalliferous quartz formation one and a half miles long and 20 chains wide was discovered by Mr. Mitchell about five miles from Whakapara. Picked samples were assayed at the Thames School of Mines, with the following results : Mercury, 8-96 lb. per ton ; gold, silver, and manganese, traces; iron, 54 per cent. A parcel of iron-ore has also been sent to the smelter-works at Preservation Inlet for treatment. Hniiiia ( Waikato District). —A quartz reef was found outcropping on the property of Mr. Morrison, about five miles from the Township of Hunua. 1 examined this reef in July, and found that a tunnel had been driven a distance of 50 ft. on the reef: a lower level was being started to cut the reef at a greater depth. Mr. Morrison informed me that a sample of the ore had been assayed, and gave very results. The drives were timbered, but not securely. Two men were working on contract. I have, &c., B. Bennie, Inspector of Mine.-.

The [nspectob of Minks. Reefton, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir, — Inspector of .Mines' Office, Reefton, 23rd March, 1912. I have the honour to present my report on the gold-mining industry in the West Coast Inspection District for the year ended 31st December, 1911.