C—2

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SHOTOVER CREEK. Between twenty and thirty men are employed in the alluvial claims in this part of the district. The Klondyke, Sandhills, and New Skipper's claims, which are the most productive, are just paying a little over working-costs. MATAKANUI. Undaunted and Tinker's Gold-mining Companies have shifted their plants from the lead near the foothills where the overburden was becoming exceedingly heavy. Elevating is being carried on in blocks of unworked ground on the flat, which vary in depth from 40 ft. to 90 ft. The operations of both claims are considerably hampered owing to scarcity of water. A. combination of interests and water rights would bring about beneficial results. OPHIR. High Levels Sluicing Company. —This company commenced sluicing operations in tht latter part of the year. Water for sluicing is pumped to a height of 250 ft. The pumping plant comprises 85 h.p. Crossley gas-engine and generator, and high-speed turbine pump, 10 in. diameter. One and a half sluice-heads are delivered into a dam situated 140 ft. above the claim. Tho area available for working is small, and the quantity of water inadequate to satisfactorily deal with the wash. Unless the ground is exceptionally rich the company's operations will result in failure. ST. BATIIAN'S. Scandinavian Water-race Company. —Sluicing and elevating was resumed during the year. Operations are being carried on close to -the boundary of the United M. and E. Company's claim, where difficulty will be experienced in working without encroaching on the latter company's ground. To enable the work to be carried on with advantage the two claims should be amalgamated. The United M. and E., Vinegar Hill, Morgan's, and O'llara's claims continue to work on a small scale. NASEBY. All the available water from the Mount Ida race is used by the claim-holders working in Enterprise, Spec, and Main Gullies, most of whom are making good wages. PATEAROA. Three parties of miners are engaged in sluicing operations in the locality. The average depth of ground worked is 30 ft. MAEREWHENUA AND LIVINGSTONE. The deposit of auriferous greensand which has been worked in this district for many years is almost exhausted, and the number of miners employed gradually getting less. The- past year has not been favourable for continuous operations, a spell of dry weather in the early part causing a stoppage of all work for six weeks. WAIKAIA. Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company. —The water-race on the terrace leading from the siphon was extended 36 chains to command Maori Gully, where payable ground 8 ft. in depth was opened up. The shallow gullies running down from -the terrace are evidently the richest parts of the claim; most of these have been worked. There is still a large area of unworked ground on the terrace, but in places it has an overburden of clay and gravel up to 50 ft. in height which has to be sluiced away before the auriferous wash is reached. Gold to the value of £4,265 was produced for the year. Twenty-four men were employed. NOKOMAI. Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —Two elevators have been kept almost constantly working throughout the year. No. 2 claim, in Victoria Gully, has given highly payable returns. The average depth of ground worked in this claim is 30 ft., and hydraulic head available for elevating 300 ft. No. 3 claim, in Nokomai Creek, has not given as good returns as No. 2 owing to its greater depth and the large quantity of non-auriferous gravel that has to be dealt with. Water from the Lion race is used for elevating under an- hydraulic head of 600 ft. The depth of ground worked averages 80 ft. NEVIS. Seven hydraulic elevating claims, employing twenty-nine men, are working in this part of the district. The heights of lift vary from 20 ft. to 40 ft., and pressure for elevating from 300 ft. to 400 ft. As the water-races are frozen up in the winter the sluicing season only lasts nine months. ROUND HILL AND OREPUKI. Round Hill Mining Company. —A flood in the Ourawera Stream on the 28th March swept away the protection bank above the No. 2 claim, filled the claim with water and debris, and completely buried the elevator and plant. Another pumping plant had to be procured for recovery purposes, which occupied four months, sluicing operations being considerably delayed thereby. No. 1 claim has been worked continuously for payable returns.