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The Golden Crescent Sluicing Company, Weatberstone, continues to give satisfactory result. Water under a pressure of 680 ft. is available for breaking up the cement, rendering the use of explosives almost unnecessary, and thereby reducing the working-costs. Efforts were made at the Golden Rise Claim to test the auriferous cement on Weatherstone Flat. Results were disappointing, for, owing to the low pressure of the water-supply, the hard cement could not be satisfactorily dealt with. The Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company, Waitahuna, purchased the adjoining claim, together with water-races and plant, from the Norwegian syndicate. The syndicate's water-supply will be brought on to the claim under a pressure of 600 ft., which will enable operations to be carried on much more advantageously than in the past. The Havelock Sluicing Company obtained satisfactory results during the year. Elevating is in progress on the river-flat below the township. A good supply of water is available under a pressure of 300 ft. Gold won for the year amounted, to 945 oz., valued at £3,619. Dividends amounting to £1.900 were paid. The Ladysmith Gold-mining Company, Roxburgh, continues to be a consistent gold-producer. The year's operations resulted in the production of gold to the value of £4,609, and payment of dividends amounting to £2,481. At the Roxburgh Amalgamated Gold-mining Company's claim operations in Loudens section have not proved as successful as were expected. Very little ground now remains to be worked, and the company proposes to prospect new ground near Commissioners Flat with, the view of shifting the plant thereon if prospects warrant it. The whole of the conduits for sluicing and elevating at the Teviot Molyneux Company's claim on White's Flat have been completed. The length of the race from the intake in the Teviot Gorge to the penstock above White's Flat is 4 miles 61| chains. The dimensions of the open race are 7 ft. on the bottom, 10 ft. on the top, and 3 ft. deep, with a fall of 16 ft. to the mile. Seven ravines on the line of race are crossed by means of inverted siphons 3 ft. in diameter. A rock-tunnel 700 ft. in length was driven at the intake end, and 5,000 ft. of pipe-line 3 ft. in diameter laid down between the tunnel and the open race. The power-line between White's Flat penstock and the claim consists of steel pipes, 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter, laid down over a length of 91 chains. Water will be delivered at the claim, having an hydraulic head of 600 ft. A start has been made to sluice off the surface gravels preparatory to sinking the elevator for the first paddock. A considerable amount of work has also been done on the extension of the race towards the company's claim at Anderson's Flat. At Round Hill Mining Company's claim, No. 2 paddock, which has been in operation for the past two years, is the main working claim, of which about 20 acres has been worked to an average depth of 45 ft. No. 1 paddock is worked on an average two shifts per diem. Water-supply has been very regular throughout the year. Twenty-eight men were employed. Ourawera Gold-mining Company is paddocking in.ltalian Gully, elevating 62ft. Nine heads of water are in use under a pressure of 450 ft. Eight men were employed. The Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company, Waikaia, constructed during 1915 a water-race 92 chains in length, and sluicing commenced in Long Cully, at Ihe southern end of the company's claim. Four faces are kept working when water is available. The depth of the faces vary from 6 ft. to 40 ft. Twenty-four men were employed. The Nokomai Sluicing Company during the year had only sufficient water to keep two elevators working. Nos. 2 and 3 were kept in almost continuous operation, while very little was done with &ho. I. The results obtained were not so good as formerly, owing mainly to the difficulty experienced in locating the main gutter in that part of the claim where No. 3 elevator is installed, and. to the lowgrade wash dealt with by No. 2 elevator in Victoria Cully. Thirty-six men were employed.

Statement showing the Value of Production and Dividends paid by the Principal Sluicing Companies in Otago and Southland during 1915.*

4—C. 2.

Dividends declared. Name of Company or Party. Value of Gold produced. T-, . . „, _ Totals to End of During 1915. 1M5 _ Naseby Sluicing Company Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company Golden Crescent. Sluicing Company Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company Havolock Sluicing Company Ladysmith Gold-mining Company .. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company Round Hill Gold-mining Company Ourawera Gold-mining Company 128 other claims (mostly privately owned) .. £ 665 7,548 2,308 2,197 3,619 4,609 5,129 6,426 2,981 58,436 ' £ £ 250 4,750 3,472 5,335 700 11,200 250 5,000 1,900 ■ 7,400 2,481 13,895 1,200 44,483 565 11,580 300 13,915 Unknown Unknown Totals .. 93,828 93,828 11,118 11,118 Unknown Unknown taid a dividend durin; 1915. * No other alluvial gold-mining oompanie ies in the Dominion i es in the Dominion ptbic d a dividend during 1915,