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been realized, however, even within measurable distance. The ground, however, has been heavy, and the dredge is light for the work ; a lot of time was lost through breakage. The material dredged to the 31st December is stated, to be 102,388 cubic yards. Only two dredges paid dividends during the year—namely, Success (£1,500), and Kapitea (£500), Alluvial Mining. MARLBOROUGH. Very little work has been done in this district, only 8 oz. 17 dwt. having been returned. CJOLLINGWOOD. One claim only, the Parapara, produced a little gold. Four men were employed. The total return was only 13 oz. 16 dwt. HOWARD DIGGINGS. No fresh finds have been reported, and the number of diggers has been steadily shrinking as the, older claims worked out. An average of about forty men was employed during the year. The total yield of gold returned from the various claims is 774 oz. for the year. MURCHISON. Only two claims have produced gold in any appreciable quantity during the year — Hunters, at Matakitaki, and Beilby and Richardson's, at Horse Terrace. ADDISON'S FLAT. Williamsons and party and the Addison Flat Sluicing Company are the only two claims that have done any active work. The latter, however, only carried, on sluicing operations for a short period. CHARLESTON. Work has continued steadily at Messrs. Powell Bros.' Beach Claim, eight men being employed, and some 711 oz. of gold were won. This is a big falling-off from last year. Three other small claims, employing seven men in all, were also worked. GREY VALLEY. Lake Hochstetter Sluicing Company. — Construction of water-race is still being proceeded with. An average of thirty men was employed. Apart from this very little alluvial work is being done now in the valley. The Grey Valley Sluicing Company, at Goat Terrace, employed, three men and recovered 182 oz. Donnellan Bros., Nelson Creek, employed five men. Several other small claims were working, but very little gold was produced. ISARRYTOWN. The Barrylown Sluicing Company has employed an average of thirteen men, and produced 287 oz. of gold. KUMARA. The number of men employed has not varied much during the year. Practically the same number of men have been employed around Kumara, Callaghan's, Goldsborough, and Stafford as during 1916. HOKITIKA. Brighton Terrace Sluicing Company.—"Work has been carried on steadily. The return of gold does not appear, however, to have been as satisfactory as could, have been desired. An average of twenty-two men has been employed, and the gold recovered, was 293 oz. 15 dwt. The company had a good deal of trouble to contend with. The old Douglas tunnel, which had been used as a tail-race;, was found much too low to give the sluiced material sufficient fall, and it became necessary to drive another tail-race into the claim. An alteration of the channel of the Hokitika River interfered greatly with the supply of water, the main stream shifting a, considerable distance away and leaving only a very limited quantity of water in the channel at the pumping-station. It became necessary to put in an extra pump to augment the supply from the main channel. It is to be hoped that with the new tail-race in operation, allowing for more rapid work, the company will during 1918 receive the reward that it deserves for its enterprise. The Westland Prospecting Syndicate has carried out very active operations on several areas in the district. At Kanieri Forks the syndicate carried on the work previously started by Mr. H. S. liungerford, sinking three ol' the old shafts a farther depth of from 18 ft. to 35 ft., and sinking twentysix new shafts ranging from 8 ft. to 54 ft. in depth, and totalling 844 ft. of sinking. Some 264 ft. of tunnel were also driven. The prospects, though good in many shafts, did not, however, prove sufficient payable ground to warrant the expenditure of the large sums necessary to bring the water on to it. The syndicate accordingly abandoned the area. It is, however, still actively prospecting by means of the, Keystone drill, an extensive tract suitable for dredging at the Arahura River. Up to the 22nd December seventy boreholes have been put down, ranging up to 50 ft. in depth and averaging 27 ft. The results have been very satisfactory, and a very considerable area has been proved payable. It will be scarcely possible to put dredges on the ground while the war lasts, but the syndicate intends to provide the necessary plant with as little delay as possible.