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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. Northern Inspection District. (Mr. M. Paul, Inspector of Mines.) Quartz-mining. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited)., —-No. 12 level (1,447! ft. below collar of No. 4 shaft) : The Dreadnought lode was intersected in the north-west crosscut at 86 ft. from No. 4 shaft. Width, 7 ft.; assay value, 13s. 6d. per ton. This lode was followed eastward for 132 ft., the width varying from 3 ft. to 7ft., and westward for 238 ft., tlie width varying from 3 ft. to a few inches. Commencing at 160 ft. west a crosscut is being driven direct to No. 2 shaft. At the end of the year there was still 230 ft. to drive to make the desired connection. A -south-east crosscut to intersect the Royal lode has been driven 348 ft. The lode should be cut in another 50 ft. to 70 ft. of driving. Owing to a very heavy influx of water this drive was suspended early in November. No. 11 level (1,301 ft. below the collar of No. 5 shaft) : The east drive on Empire lode was extended 400 ft., and is now close to the boundary. The width of the lode varies from 12 ft. to 30 ft., and payable ore was disclosed in various places along the drive. Some further work was done on the Martha lode, but no payable ore located. The south branch of the Dreadnought lode was followed east to 503 ft., and a long run. of good ore, averaging 10 ft. wide, opened up. The Royal lode was followed for 100 ft. from Princess south crosscut. The lode was \Z\ ft. wide <tnd of low value. The drive south on the Edward lode was extended 346 ft. in low-grade ore. Shafts: No. 2 shaft was sunk 107ft., and is now 1,373|ft. from the surface. No. 4 shaft was sunk 75| ft.; total depth, 1,546 ft. from surface. Waihi Grand Junction Gold Company (Limited). —No. 8 level (north-west crosscut) : The first 30 ft. is a mixture of quartz and country rock of no value; from 30 ft. to 46 ft. is quartz, low grade; from 46 ft. to 70 ft. is soft country rock. This level, is 1,320 ft. from surface. South-east crosscut, driven 175 ft. : At 116 ft. from the shaft a lode was struck, and from the above distance to 123 ft. is quartz, assay value of which is 19s. Bd. At 147 ft. quartz was again struck, and continued to 163H't. The first 4§ ft, assayed 2s. 10d., the next 4| ft. 195., the next 5 ft. 17s. 6d., next ft. £1 4s. 6d. Drive east was advanced 56 ft. from south-east crosscut; the average value for a width of 58 in. was 12s. 7d., tlie south wall being exposed. Lode cut at 147ft. (Empire footwall branch): Drive west was advanced 22ft. from crosscut; assays average £1 13s. 6d. for a width of 60 in.; south wall exposed. Drive east was advanced 6| ft. A rise was put up 28i] ft., and holed to a winze on the Empire footwall branch from No. 7 level. Assays averaged £2 12s. Id. for a width of 47 in.; south wall exposed. Total depth of main shaft, 1.346J ft. from surface. The Waihi Gold-mining Company recently decided to suspend development-work at and below No. 12 level, which is 98 ft. below tlie Grand Junction No. 8 level. It is intended by the Waihi Company to keep the water low enough not to interfere with development-work now in progress at No. 8 level, Waihi Grand Junction Mine. Thames County and Borough. —Owing to the mine-water rising to the surface all miningoperations below high-water mark have been suspended, and tho only work at present in progress within the borough is the Waiotahi Mine, and a few tribute parties on the north end of the field. In the Thames County the principal producing mines are the New Sylvia, Occidental, and Golden Belt Gold-mining Companies. The gold won, however, is only sufficient to cover working-expenses. Coromwndel. —ln this district, with the exception of a few prospectors, mining operations are confined to the Hauraki Reef's and Four-in-Hand Gold-mining Companies. Oil-wells. Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil-wells (Limited). —No new wells have been drilled during the past year, the drilling staff being engaged in recasing and deepening-No. 2 bore. This well is now 3,045 ft. in 8 in. casing, and at this depth the surface water is being cemented off; 10 in. casing was carried to a depth of 2,223 ft. The old well had only 5 in. casing at this depth. Depths of wells, No, 2, 3,045 ft.; No. 3, 4,019 ft.; No. 5, 2,950 ft.; Rotary, 2,494 ft: Crudeoil production, 1915-16, 121,000 gallons. Taranaki Oil Lands Acquisition and Development Company. —The Blenheim bore at the time of my visit (13th February, 1916) had reached a depth of 4,777 ft. A little petroleum is being obtained from 2,220 ft. This well is in good working-order. Consolidated Oil-fields of Taranaki. —Huiroa bore: This well on the 14th February, 1916, had reached a depth of 4,788 ft. The formation at bottom consists of heavy clay; pump shows strong gas-indications and brine water. For the whole distance this well is cased with 6 in. casing in movement. Fatal Accidents. William Irvine was killed on the 30th June, 1916, at the Victoria Mill. Waikino, by falling into a hopper, where he was suffocated.