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gully, making it necessary to remove the connecting-pipes from Robinson's Creek side of the range to Jones's Creek side. This proved an expensive work, and prevented the use of the rainfall for a considerable time. Immediately the work was finished between three and four months of very dry weather was experienced. The expenditure on svater-racea lias been heavy for the year. The washdirt in the faces is looking well. With a good supply of water a good return for the coming year may be expected. Ross Goldfields. —No work was done this year, the company being in liquidation. Trettl mill lives. —After continuing their water-races and erecting Californian pumps they excavated a large paddock of washdirt considered to be highly payable ; a drainage-tunnel was driven 250 ft. (assisted by Government subsidy), when some soft decomposed sandstone was met with, also a continual discharge of water. Driving is now suspended, pending the drainage of the water. Richard and Denia, assisted by subsidy, drove a tunnel 700 ft., and passed through three different layers of payable wash. Having connected with the shaft, there is ample ventilation for driving and blocking-out. Although the surrounding ground has all been applied for, real development has not been started. Rimu and Back Creek. Hiudman and Thorpe still continue to be very successful, each washing giving a nice profit. J. E. Wells and party of three, after doing a good deal of preliminary work, have been sluicing satisfactorily. Cooper and party, four men. still continue to work, blocking-out with payable results. All works are in a satisfactory condition. Brooks and party, of four men, are working with profit, and could do much better if a better supply of water for sluicing purposes was available. These remarks apply to all the sluicing claims on this field. Messrs. Boyd and party have been successful in opening up a payable body of washdirt. At present there are four men employed. All works are in a satisfactory condition. Bryant and Party. —The development in this subsidized tunnel has been encouraging. Six men omployed. All workings are in uood order. Knowles and party (four) were engaged developing an area of 114 acres. There are several other areas held in this district, where development is now being carried out. Kanieri and Tucker Flat District. Marks and Culson, G. Head and party, and Macluggage and party are still driving their subsidized tunnels, which should soon reach their respective washdirt. Hutcheson Bros, continue to carry on sluicing operations with profit. The Kanieri Gold-mining Syndicate have taken up a claim of 42 acres and sunk three shafts, obtaining good prospects. They propose to further test the ground by Keystone drill, which, if successful, will greatly encourage other mining in the locality. The Mahinapua Gold-mining Company have been engaged sluicing and elevating on their claim between the lake and ocean-beach. Blue Spur District. Feeney and party, of five men, still continue to obtain payable returns when water is available for sluicing. Every precaution is taken to prevent any sudden falls from the high faces. Humphrey's Gult,y. J. Harris and party, of six men, are working on tribute, with fair results. A costly item is the maintenance of their very long tail-races. There are still a few aged men fossicking about in the creeks and low terraces, who obtain a fewpennyweights every year. The Old Montezuma Claim has been taken up again by Lincoln and party, who have installed a Kirshaw pump. They have ample table-accommodation, and plenty of water for washing. Stafford axd Goldsborough Districts. Red Jack's. —This ground is worked by Inge and party, of seven men. The returns have been indifferent. The great drawback is the want of a sufficient water-supply. Munday's claim continues to employ three men. Operations at this claim have been badly hampered by inadequate dams for the storage of water during the rainy season. Pimpernell and party employ six men, with profitable results. The extension of Government water-race has been a great success in the development of German Gully. Sullivan and Party. —This party of five men worked for the first nine months of the year successfully, but, owing to some friction with the shareholders, work has been suspended for some time. The drainage-tunnel has just received a thorough overhaul by the Westland County Council; it is now in very good order. James Shannon has had a successful year's sluicing. Being the only miner now sluicing into the Waimea main tail-race, he finds the upkeep a very serious item. Coronation Claim. —Mr. Carmini has completed his long tail-race, and obtained three very successful washings.