0.-2

36

Southern Inspection District (Mr. A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Glenorchy. . Glenorchy Scheelite-mining Company (Limited).— Glenorchy Mine: All operations connected with mining and treating ore for shipment were suspended on the 30th April. A small amount of development work, comprising the extension of Nos. la, 2a, and 5 levels, was carried out. Junction Mine : Work was confined to the removal of surface overburden from the lode by sluicing. Fourteen parties of miners were engaged in the production of scbeelile from January to April, after which all work was suspended. MACETOWN. I uited Goldfields (Limited). —Operations were confined to the drive on Anderson's reef, which has been extended a total distance of 692 ft. without meeting with any payable ore. Macrae's. Golden Point Gold and Scheelite Company. —The Intermediate and Home levels were connected by a rise on the Home reef, and a block of ore 100 ft. in length, 110 ft. in height, and average width of 3 ft., was opened tip for sloping. A trial crushing showed that the ore contained payable values in gold and also a fair percentage of scheelite. Ounce Mine (Messrs. Callery and Donoghuc, owners). —In this mine a rich scheelite reef was discovered, upon which a winze was sunk 82 ft. and drives extended therefrom a length of 63 ft. The reef averages 1 ft. in width, and is carrying high-grade ore throughout : 20 tons taken from the winze produced 5 tons 4 cwt. scheelite. In addition to the scheelite reef two smaller reefs carrying gold and scheelite have been opened up within the claim. The output of scheelite from this locality for the year was small compared to that of former years owing to the cessation of the demand created by the war. Most of the reefs contain both gold and scheelite, but the gold values are generally too low to enable them to be profitably worked, consequently mining is practically at a standstill. THE REEFS. Pukerangi Mining Company and Betty and party produced small parcels of scheelite in the early part of the year. Marion Mine. —A. Kwart prospected the Marion reef to the west of Betty and party's mine and found gold-bearing ore in a number of surface trenches. The Pukerangi Company has taken an option over the mine, and commenced driving a level to test the reef 130 ft. below the outcrop. BANNOCKBURN. Otago Central Gold-mines. —The Carrick low-level crosscut was extended to cut the Crown and Cross reef at 1,327 ft. from the surface. This reef was driven upon for 89 ft. to the east of the crosscut, but it is small, and disturbed by faulted and broken country. BENDIGO. Come-in-Time and Alto Mines. —Birley and party mined and treated 435 tons of ore during the year. The results were unprofitable, and the mines have been abandoned. OLD MAN RANGE. Advance Mine. —11. T. Symes crushed 40 tons of ore from White's reef at the Battery level for a return of 41 oz. gold, valued at £193 15s. Alluvial Mining. TUAPEKA COUNTY. , Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Lawrence). —This company continues to work profitably the tailings-deposit from Blue Spur. Dividends amounting to £1,840 were paid for the year. Sixteen men were emplo3'ed. Treacy Bros. (Evans Flat). —This party purchased the Ttiapeka Company's watersluicing plant, and are working a section of their freehold property with payable results. Lawrence Sluicing Company (Munro's Gully). —This company is engaged in elevating the old tailings-deposit from Blue Spur. The workings are approaching the cement deposit which was worked by the Cornishman syndicate with payable results. When all the available tailings are treated the company proposes to bring water on at high pressure to deal with the cement. Golden Crescent, Sluicing Company (Weatherstone's). —This company is operating upon the western side of the auriferous cement deposit, which contains very hard seams difficult to break up with water under high pressure. As the value of the cement is only sd. per cubic yard it requires to be readily dealt with to pay for treatment. Golden Rise Claim. (Weatherstone'e). —W. Smyth, owner of this claim, is sluicing off clay and gravel overlying the auriferous cement. Four men were employed. Waitahuna Claims. —The Sailor's Cully and Haveloek Sluicing Companies were operating steadily during the year. The returns from these claims show a decline in the yield of gold as compared with those of former years.