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Barry town. McKay and party continue working, with profitable results. No other work of any magnitude is being done. GENERAL REMARKS. Quartz-mining. The quartz-mining industry has been carried on under much the same conditions and with about the same results as last year. In the CoUingwood district the output from the Golden Blocks Mine has ceased, while in Marlborough an improved return lias been obtained from the Dominion Consolidated. In Lyell and Buller districts there is no activity except some prospecting-work at the old Red Queen Mine, Mohikinui, now known as the Swastika. Boatman's field is practically dead, and in the Reefton and Blackwater districts the number of miners employed is about 100 less than in 1911. The year 1912 cannot be taken for purposes of comparison, as the mines were idle for eight months on account of labour disputes. Accidents. Fatal. —On the 2nd January, P. McMamone was killed at the Dominion Consolidated Mine while helping to build a trestle bridge, through a stringer falling upon him. Gold-miners' Belief Fund. One hundred and eight applications in respect of accidents were dealt with, and the sum of £305 6s. 4d. was paid out, while nine claims for total incapacity from miners' complaint were recognized, and a payment of £50 made in each case. Alluvial and Dredging. The returns from alluvial and dredge mining have fallen off slightly during the year, but the number of men employed remains practically the same. A large sluicing proposition is being developed in the Ahaura district —viz., the Lake Hochstetter Goldfields Company's property —and if it proves successful it will no doubt lead to other equally large undertakings being commenced in other parts of the West Coast. The fate of the deep-level mining at Ross is hanging in the balance, and on the result, no doubt, depends the opening or otherwise of other similar claims. Accidents in Alluvial Mines. Fatal. —F. Carmini, fractured skull, owing to fall of gravel at his Coronation Claim, Goldsborough, on the 2nd July, 1913. Non-fatal Accidents in the Inspection District. 4/4/13. —G. Stott, Progress Mine : Right leg broken by fall of quartz. 24/4/13. —F. Griffon, Progress Mine : Left hand blown off by explosion of detonators. 27/5/13. —J. McCarthy, Blackwater Mine: Broken leg, through fall of stone. 10/7/13. —A. Hepburn, Progress Mine : Right ankle broken by fall of timber. 14/8/13. —J. Douglas, Shamrock Claim : Broken ribs, through fall of stone. 22/8/13. —W. Beckman, Blackwater Mine: Broken leg, through fall of timber. 2/9/13. —W. Morgan, Progress Mine : Leg broken by timber falling out of cage. 31/10/13. —J. W. Butler, own claim: Fractured ribs, through fall of gravel. 25/11/13. —C. Cooke, Progress Mine: Left leg broken. W. Sullivan, Progress Mine: Wounds on head and neck. W. Thorns, Progress Mine: Severe shock. Above three men injured through being thrown out of cage in overwinding accident. 3/12/13. —T. Robbins, Energetic Mine : Crushed and bruised by fall of stone.

SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT. Mr. T. Thomson, Inspector op Mines. QUARTZ-MINES. A. G. Buckland and Ewart, Barewood. —A level 100 ft. below the outcrop was driven in at an angle, and picked up the reef. Driving was continued some distance along the strike, but prospects were not sufficiently encouraging to work being continued. Mount Highlay Gold and Scheelite Mining Company, Hyde. —Several months' prospectingwork was done on this property during the year. A large amount of driving and rising was done, the quartz being stacked at the surface. A trial crushing was made of this ore, and it is understood that the company propose removing the mill, which is three miles distant from the mine, up to the original battery-site close to the mine. Highlay Tungsten Mine, Mount Highlay (the Gold and Scheelite Proprietary Company, Limited, owners). —All work has been stopped on this property. During the greater part of the year the mine was worked by a tribute party. This party worked on what is known as Gilmour's reef. Results were payable while operating on the surface stone, but as the cost became greater the tribute was abandoned,