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West coast inspection district. Mr. T. 0. Bishop, Inspector of Mines. QUARTZ-MINING. Marlborough. Dominion Consolidated Developing Company. — Operations were carried on continuously during the year, and developments in the mine have been satisfactory. The yield of scheelite for the year was 59 tons 19cwt., value £6,491 13s. 5d.; and of gold, 1,421 oz. 6 dwt., value £5,428 ss. 3d. Jubilee Top Valley Mine. —Work was entirely suspended for a time, but has been resumed, and two men are again employed in driving, in the hope of striking a reef in the low level. There is nothing new to report. No other quartz-mining is being carried on in Marlborough. Nelson. Golden Blocks Mine. —This mine was closed down, at the end of June, all the developed orebodies having become exhausted. I am informed that further development-work will be undertaken in the coming year. The Johnstone's United Mine. —No work has been carried on during the year, but there has been an attempt made to obtain capital for further development-work in this property, but so far it has not been successful. During the years 1893, 1894, 1895 this mine treated some 12,000 tons of ore, the yield of gold being a little under 4 dwt. per ton, and the Inspector's reports for those years are not at all encouraging for future work. Mount Arthur. —No further prospecting for reefs has been carried on during the year, and nothing of value has been discovered. Murchison. The Murchison County Council had some prospectors out in the Maruia and Matakitaki Valleys searching for reefs, but nothing of any value was discovered. Lyell. New Alpine Mine. —No work has been carried on during the year, and it appears that this mine will now be finally abandoned. Victory Mine. —Nothing has been done during the year. Westport. Swastika Mines. —Development has been carried on throughout the year, six men being employed. 22 tons of quartz from this work yielded 7 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, valued at £31 2s. 6d. A company has now been floated to develop the mine more fully. No other quartz-mining has been carried on during the year. Capieston. Just-in-Time Mine. —Prospecting by driving on the line of reef has been carried on during the whole year, but without any profitable result. It is probable that work will cease early in the new year. Welcome and Fiery Cross Mines. —This property is still idle, and occasionally forms the subject of a suit in the Warden's Court. It does not appear likely that any work will be undertaken on the property at present. Victoria Bange Syndicate. —This party is still pushing on the low-level crosscut, which has now been driven 1,400 ft. in solid country. The present intention is to drive it 3,000 ft., and thoroughly prospect the country beneath the old Kirwan's Reward workings. ' Big River. New Big River Mine. —The new winding-plant and air-compressor have been completed, and this is the most modern, plant on the field. The boiler is a Babcock and Wilcox of ample horsepower. The winding-engine by Robey is capable of winding from a depth of 3,000 ft., and is fitted with modern automatic overwind-prevention gear, and the air-compressor is capable of more than will be required of it in the present stage of development of the mine. Ore has been mined from the stopes above No. 10 (or 1,575 ft.) level during the whole year, and the 4,970 tons crushed have yielded at the very satisfactory rate of £5 12s. per ton. The winze below No. 10 level has been sunk 70 ft, in a strong reef all the way, and gold is freely showing in the stone. A new block of ore has also been struck in No. 10 level north, and is opening up well; so that ore-development is being kept well in advance of requirements. The working-conditions of the mine have been improved by the installation of compressed air, and water-sprays and a roomy and well-designed change-house have been provided for the workers. Beef ton District. St. George Gold-mining Company. —Development-work was carried on till the end of April, and then discontinued, the drive having reached the point where it was expected to strike a reef. It is proposed to carry on further work early in 1914.