C—2

64

A considerable amount of work was done on a drainage-tunnel by Luckie and party, which had to in- abandoned owing to lack of sufficient capital to complete it. A dredging claim held by Robertson and party was prospected by means of a Government Keystone drill, but apparently proved too poor to warrant providing a dredger to work the ground. A number of small claims have been taken up at Squatter's Creek, but little work has been done there except perhaps by Denia and Richards, who are reported to have "been handling good wash. Trent and Eves have worked steadily at the development of their claim at Donnelly's Creek, but have experienced considerable difficulty in driving a drainage-tunnel, which they have been compelled to abandon on account of the nature of the country met with in their driving operations. Other means of draining this claim are to be adopted, and the success of any scheme brought forward is hoped for, as there is a considerable area of ground in the vicinity of the claim which will doubtless be worked if the drainage difficulty is overcome. The Ross Goldfields (Limited) completed the unwatering of their mine in the opening months of the year, and carried on mining operations for a short period. These were, however, brought to a close by a mishap to the company s power-line, which culminated in the flooding of the mine. The company subsequently went into liquidation, but has since been reconstructed. Additional plant [a to !»• obtained, and mining operations recommenced as soon as this is erected. Okarito Subdistrict. Mining operation in this district are practically at a standstill. There are several individual miners working at different places along the beach, who appear to be making little more than a bare living. At Omeroa some work has been done, but whether profitable or otherwise 1 have no knowledge. Prospecting operations have been carried on at the Haast, but the result of these is not known. Stafford and Goldsborough Subdistrict. Mining has proceeded steadily in this district, the value of the gold won being at least equal to the return for the year 1910. A new claim at Goldsborough was opened by Messrs. Carmine and party upon the completion of the construction of a costly tunnel tail-race early in the year, the actual mining operations having produced satisfactory results. Two claims have been succesfully worked ai Middle Branch Flat. The deviation of the main Hokitika Kumara Road, which passes through the middle of this flat, was commenced during the year. the deviation being taken over worked ground. This will render the ground occupied by the original road available for mining : and as the claims lying along each side of the road formerly provided good returns, the miners who secure the ground thrown open m consequence of the deviation are assured of profitable employment in mining it. Mining has proceeded steadily at all claims ;it Callaghan's with the exception of that of Manzoni; where the construction of an extensive tunnel has rendered the suspension of mining operations necessary. Mining has proceeded at Tunnel Ten-ace and German Gully so far as the limited water-supply available would permit. The claims in this f:«l<l draw their water-supply from the Government water-race ; but the quantity of water available is not sufficient to enable all the claims to be vigorously and continuously worked. The Wheel of Fortune Company has proceeded with the mining of its claim at Kelly's Terrace. Operations in this locality by Sullivan and party have been suspended for the present. The Stafford dredger has been working throughout the year, but I have no knowledge as to the results. KI'MAKA SUBDISTBICT. Alluvial Mining. Tin; Kuniam Long Tunnel Company carried on sluicing operations during the firsi nine months of the year, when, as a result of a break in the Xo. .'i channel, mining operations were suspended, and the men were engaged in effecting the repairs to that channel. McGrath and parly sluiced for the first six months of the year, when attention had to be given to the timbering of No. i channel, through which the company will proceed to sluice, in consequence of their having ran out of fall with their original tail-race. The party has also completed the tunnel tail-race at the head of Larrikin's, and will be actively mining again by the end of March, 1912. The party has a huge claim, and provides work for a%iumber of miners. The result of Garner and party's operations during the year is not known. Mining has been carried on since May. At Westbrook and Quinn's Terrace eight new claims have been taken up. and some of the existing claims in the locality are being worked, others being held pending the completion of the extension of the Government water-race across the Taramakau River. Some twenty-six miners have been profitably employed at Cape Terrace and Westbrook, where mining is still proceeding. Dredginr/. Dredging operations have been confined to Greenstone Creek, where little work has been done, owing to the extensive repairs to the one remaining dredger. The Keystone drill has been used for prospecting both in Greenstone Creek and Taramakau River with the object of employing some new dredgers.