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Waihi Reefs Consolidation (Limited). —Favona shaft, No. 3 level (300 ft.) : In the west crosscut a lode 20 ft. in width was intersected, but owing to lack' of funds it was found necessary to ask for six months' protection, which was granted. Work was recently resumed, five men being employed. Rising Sun Gold-mining Corn-pang, Owharoa. —Work in this mine has been confined to stoping above the low level on lodes varying in width from 6 in. to 3 ft. 6 in., but owing to the hard nature of the quartz and the scarcity of labour, and pending the insta.lla.tion of a rock-drilling plant, work has been temporarily suspended. Talisman Consolidated (Limited). —No. 16 level (1,130 ft.) : Driving north and south has been carried on continuously, and a considerable, amount of crosscutting has also been done, the results proving disappointing. At No. 15 level the south drive was advanced into the Dubbo section, connecting with No. 19 winze from No. 14 level, but failed to reveal anything of value. New Zealand Crown Mines (Limited). — This mine has been in the hands of tributers, twenty-one men being employed. Waihi-Paeroa Gold-extraction Company. —During the year this company retreated 147,700 tons of river-sands for bullion valued at £51,300, which enabled the directors to pay a small, dividend. Komata, Reefs Gold-mining Company.- Work was confined to prospecting at No. 2 and bottom level. United Gold-mines (Limited), Maratoto. —The 10-head stamp mill is almost completed. No workwas done in the mine during the year. Bendigo, Hardy's, and Waitawheta Mines, Waiorongomai. —Five men have been employed. Work was confined to prospecting. 200 tons treated produced bullion valued at £158. Thames Borough- The only work within the borough boundaries is at the Waiotahi Mine (four men), and a few tribute, parties in the Kuranui Caledonian Mine. Sylvia Reefs (Limited). This company was reformed in. March, 1917 ; since then work has been confined to developing the Norfolk lode, which averages 9 ft. north and south of the low-level crosscut. In the north end a block 150 ft. in length, and in the south end a block 170 ft. in length, has been opened up on payable ore. Wailanga Consolidated, Gold-mining Company. During the year 150 ft. has been driven at No. 2 level on the main reef, the average width being 5 ft. A leading stope was advanced 85 ft. 583 tons treated produced £328 Bs. Bd. Mount Zeehan Gold-mining Company, Waiomio.- A considerable amount of development has been done at the different levels of this mine. The lode varies from 2 ft. to 7 ft. in thickness. Several short blocks said to contain payable ore have been opened up. A 10-head stamp mill is in the course of erection, which it is anticipated will be ready to commence crushing before the winter. Golden Bell Gold-mining Company, Nevesville.- Work- was confined to driving and stoping on a lode, which varies from 1 ft. to 12 ft. in width, at No, 1 level. Fourteen men were employed. 284 tons treated produced bullion valued at £1,651 13s. sd. Occidental Consolidated Gold-mining Company. —During the year five men were employed driving and stoping at No. 6 level. The results, however, proved disappointing,, and this mine is now under protection. Nonpareil Gold-mining Company. - This mine is owned by Mr. F. Sawyer ; a portion is let on tribute. Gold to the value of £1,380 6s. was obtained during the year. Coromandel. —Mining in this district is confined to a few prospectors. All the principal claims are held under protection. Barrier Reefs Gold-mining Company, Great. Barrier Island. During the year a lode was intersected at low level, the values being low. A winze is being sunk from the upper level for ventilation, and to further test the lode. Muir's, Gold-reefs Gold-mining Company (Limited), Te Puke,— This mine is situated about eighteen miles south of Tauranga on the eastern fall of the Te Puke Range. About; three years ago the freehold of this property was purchased by Mr. G. Muir, who employed an experienced prospector named R. Worth. At No. I level 200 ft. was driven upon the footwall of a lode 50 ft. in width, the quartz and country rock being similar in appearance to that of the Martha lode in the Waihi Mine. It is said that assays taken over the distance driven gave an average value of £2 per ton. Whilst this work was in progress loose boulders of quartz were found farther down the spur, which on being assayed proved to contain high values. A crosscut was started, and after driving 170 ft. a 2 ft. leader was intersected, of assay value averaging £5 per ton. This was driven on for 87 ft., when it junetioned with a, lode Oft. in width, running almost north and south. 40ft. has been opened up south and 297 ft. north on the latter ; values satisfactory. It was then decided to put in a lower level giving 200 It. of back's. After driving about 800 ft. a lode was intersected, which on my visit (18th February, 1918) had been driven upon 47 ft. south ; width in face, 3 ft. ; said to be highly payable. An up-to-date 10-head stamp mill and cyanide plant has also been purchased, excavations cut out, and a start made with its erection. # Oil-wells. • Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil-wells (Limited).- No new drilling has been done during the past year, the drilling staff having been employed repairing No. 5 bore and recasing No. 2 bore. No. 5 bore stopped yielding oil during 1916, but No. 2 bore still continues to be intermittently productive. No record has been kept of the yield, which has been small, and can only be ascertained when the storage tanks are gauged. Depth of wells : No. 2 bore, 3,045 ft. ; No. 3 bore, 4,019 ft, ; No. 5 bore, 2,950 ft. ; rotary £2,494^.