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Westport. Swastika Mines (formerly Red Queen Mine, Mokihinui). —This property is being further tested under a new name. On the steep hillside south of the Mokihinui River there are several small leaders in hard greywacke country which have been worked intermittently for many years, and have proved just about good enough to keep a working-party of men. About 100 ft. lower down the hill, and probably connected with these leaders, there is an outcrop of quartz about 20 ft. wide and 30 ft. deep, hard, glassy, bluish-looking quartz. A drive is being put in along the top of this mass, and some old drives on the leaders are being extended. Some small parcels of stone have been put through the battery. A sample of quartz carefully taken by me right across the face of the drive on the big reef on the 10th March, 1913, and representing a width of 5 ft., assayed 1 dwt. 7-4 gr. (value, ss. 2-|d.) gold per ton. The annual return furnished by the secretary to the syndicate, however, stated that the value of the small crushings taken from the leaders was about £2 ss. per ton. If the large outcrop was traced down the hill and opened out at two levels—say, 100 ft. and 200 ft. below the present drive on the cap—-its value or otherwise could be easily and cheaply proved. The leaders do not appear likely to be of value, excepting, as in the past, to a party of working miners or tributers. No other quartz-mining has been carried on in the Westport district during the year., Gapleston. Just-in-Time Mine. —Driving north and south on the reef-track and crossoutting east and west therefrom at the 400 ft. level have been carried on during the whole year, with no result. A reef found outcropping on the surface near the north boundary of the claim was also sunk on, but proved able. At present the north drive at the 400 ft. level is being extended. Welcome and Fiery Cross Mines. —Although the Government offered a subsidy of £10,000 for deep sinking on this property, the owners (Messrs. W. J. Morris and others) failed to raise their proportion of the cost, and work was not started. A cancellation suit against them in the Warden's Court was successful. Victoria Range Syndicate. —This party has let a contract for a low-level crosscut 2,000 ft. long to intersect several lines of reef on Victoria Range, and they hope to find the solid portion of the reef which was so much crushed and broken in the Kirwan's Reward Mine. There is a reasonable chance of success, and the drive is in solid and favourable country. Reef ton District. New Big River Mine. —Stoping above the No. 10 level (1,575 ft.) has been carried on for the whole year, and the ore mined has been of high value, and very profitable. The only development of import ance has been the sinking of a winze for 50 ft. below No. 10 leyel, and this has been in rich ore for the whole distance. On the surface a large new boiler, air-compressor, and winding-engine are in course of erection, and a new adit level is being driven to connect the mine with the timber and coal supply in Deep Creek. On completion of the new plant the main shaft will be deepened, and a new level opened up in the mine. Dividends for the year amounted to £15,600, or 13s. per share. St. George Gold-mining Company. —The development of this property has proceeded continuously throughout the year, seven men being employed. Some small boulders of quartz have been struck in driving along the reef-track, but nothing of any value. The company has acquired an optio-n over the adjoining Big River South property, and the drive will be continued north into this ground. Cumberland Group of Mines, Merrijigs (Consolidated Groldfields Company, owners). —The Cumber land, Industry, and New Scotia Mines have been acquired by the above company, and six men have been employed in cleaning out some of the old tunnels during the year. The Cumberland yielded a small quantity of rich stone some years ago, and no doubt an attempt will be made by the present owners to find a continuation of the block. Progress Mines. —-This mine, together with the Blackwater and Wealth of Nations, was idle for eight months, owing to a labour dispute. Development in the mine was practically confined to the search for ore-bodies south of the main fault, which cuts off the reefs at No. 11 (1,420 ft.) level, and up to the present has not been successful in adding anything to the ore-reserves. An important discovery has been made of a conglomerate deposit situated between the mine and the battery, and though very little work has been done upon it, what has been accomplished shows it to contain a large amount of gold, and it can be mined and landed at the battery very cheaply indeed. This mine certainly contains possibilities for the future. There is a lot of low-grade ore in sight, and, taken with the deposit just mentioned, much of this may yet be worked at a profit. And taking into consideration the fact that no change of country has been met with, and that the huge ore-body of No. 11 level has been interrupted by a simple fault, there is a very fair hope that it will be picked up again by means of the work now in progress. The company also has considerable accumulation of valuable concentrates and slimes on hand. Bonanza Claim (W. J. Morris and party).—An old tunnel on this property was cleaned out and retimbered for a length of 200 ft. There is a small stringer of quartz showing in places in the tunnel, but the face is blank, and there is no encouragement to continue driving at this point. No work has been done since the end of July. New Discovery (W. 0. Bierwirth, owner). —No further development-work has been done in this claim. A small crushing of 9 tons was taken from the leader, and yielded gold to the value of £64. Work is stopped at present. Keep-it-Dark Mine. —Early in the year the reef was struck in No. 8 level, and for the year's work has yielded 10,180 tons of ore. Development, consisting of driving at Nos. 7 and 8 levels and sinking