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Accidents.—No accidents were reported from either quartz or alluvial mines, but one fatal accident occurred in quarrying. This was at the Greymouth Harbour Board's quarry at Cobden. Edward Sparks, the foreman, was superintending the shunting of some trucks of stone destined for harbour-protection work when a piece of stone apparently fell off one of them, striking him and throwing him down, with the result that his head came in violent contact with a tram-rail, causing injuries from which death resulted. An inquest was held, and a verdict of accidental death returned. Southern Inspection District (Mr, A. Whitley, Inspector of Mines). Quartz and Alluvial Mining. WAITAKI COUNTY. Livingstone and Maerewhenua.—A few small parties of miners continue to work the alluvial deposits in these localities. The yield of gold for the year amounted to 233 oz., valued at £863. WAIHEMO COUNTY. Mount Moore Gold-mining Syndicate (Stoneburn). —This company's prospecting-shaft was sunk to a depth of 130 ft. from the surface. A chamber has been excavated at 120 ft. and driving commenced to cut the Golden Bar reef. MANIOTOTO COUNTY. St. Bathan's Qold-mining Company (St. Batha.n's). —This company was formed early in the year to acquire the Kildare Hill Claim from the Scandinavian Water-race Company for the purpose of working the Kildare lead by sinking and driving. A vertical shaft to cut the lead at 300 ft. from the surface was sunk 120 ft. Water and running ground proving troublesome at this depth sinking was suspended. A drive was started from the Scandinavian Company's elevating-paddock to drain off the water from the shaft, but after driving 170 ft. running ground was met, and the drive was abandoned. A small shaft was then sunk 50 ft. from the bottom of the paddock, in the foot-wall of the lead, and driving therefrom is in progress to prospect the lead and, if possible, drain the ground to allow the sinking of the main shaft to proceed. Electric-power plant, comprising 135 horse-power generator at 2,100 volts, transformer for reducing the voltage to 230, a 50 horse-power motor for winding and equipment for lighting, has been installed at the main shaft. Water from the Scandinavian Water-race is used for generating the power. Scandinavian Water-race Company (St. Bathan's). —During the early part of the year elevating was in progress on the north end of the Kildare lead with satisfactory results. The Kildare Hill Claim was sold to the St. Bathan's Gold-mining Company, and an agreement was made with the United M. & E. Company to work the latter company's claim on tribute with high-pressure water from the Scandinavian Water-race. 386 oz. gold, valued at £1,524, were recovered. Vinegar Hill Sluicing Company (Cambrian). —Morgan's lead was worked to a depth of 60 ft. by hydraulic elevating, gold valued at £875 lis. 6d. being recovered for the year's operations. The lead continues to carry good values at depth, but it cannot be profitably worked by sluicing and elevating owing to the increasing height of valueless overburden which has to be removed by this system of mining. Nicholson and party were working a deposit of auriferous quartz drift for payable returns. Naseby and Kyeburn.—Twelve sluicing claims employing sixteen men were in operation during the year. The yield of gold amounted to 663 oz., valued at £2,570. A. and G. Brown were the principal producers with 195 oz., valued at £762. Patearoa.—Four men were employed at alluvial mining in this locality. Gold valued at £631 was recovered. TUAPEKA COUNTY. Lawrence Sluicing Company (Blue Spur). —Sluicing and elevating were carried on in a block of auriferous cement close to the boundary of the Gabriel's Gully Claim. As the cement is dipping towards the latter claim a high lift of 102 ft. was required to provide fall for tailings. Six men were employed, and the yield of gold was valued at £1,648. Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company (Blue Spur).—One elevator was employed treating tailings on the south side of Gabriel's Gully, and sluicing was carried on in the cement on the west side of the claim. An attempt was made to work the block of cement on the northern boundary, but this could not be done without encroaching on the Lawrence Company's claim. Towards the latter part of the year the two companies combined for the purpose of working the cement, and as the whole of the available water will be used in this direction it is thought that profitable results will be obtained. The gold won for the year amounted to 572 oz., valued at £2,229. Fourteen men were employed. Golden Crescent and Golden Rise Claims (Weatherstone). —A block of ground at Ballarat Hill on the boundary of these claims could only be worked with high-pressure water from the Golden Crescent Race, and the owners agreed to work the two claims conjointly. The water was brought on to the ground, and sluicing was in progress throughout the year for a return of gold valued at £2,972. Dividends amounting to £787 were paid by the Golden Crescent Company. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company (Waitahuna). —This company is working part of the old Waitahuna Gully Township. A number of sections were purchased and the buildings removed therefrom to sites near Haveloek. The ye-r's operations resulted in the recovery of 508 oz. gold, valued at £1,931. Tallaburn Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Horseshoe Bend). —Operations were resumed in the latter part of the year after having been suspended for a period of about two years. Hydraulic elevating is being carried on in an old channel of the Clutha River. Waipori.—The Dunedin City Corporation having been empowered to construct a dam or weir across the Waipori River mining operations in the locality have practically ceased. All claimholders likely to be affected by the construction of the dam received full compensation for the loss of their mining privileges. VINCENT COUNTY. Advance Mine (Old Man Range). —Driving and stoping were carried on from a winze on White's reef 35 ft. below the battery level. 40 tons of quartz were crushed for a return of 31 oz. gold, valued at £129. The mine is owned and worked by R. T. Symes. Black's Gold-mining Company (Poolburn). —A prospecting-shaft 6 ft. 3 in. by 4 ft. in the clear was sunk 70 ft. through clay and fine sand to prospect for a lead of auriferous quartz drift. At 50 ft. from the surface water was met, which increased in volume until at 70 ft. the flow amounted to 700 gallons per hour. Difficulty in . sinking was experienced after meeting the water, and as no provision was made to deal with running ground the lower 20 ft. of the shaft subsided. Sinking operations were suspended, and the shaft will probably be abandoned. The Clutha Development Company (Limited), (Lowburn). —Prospecting operations were carried on continuously during the year. Tho bed of the Clutha River above Lowburn is being thoroughly tested by drilling, and the results are stated to be satisfactory. Kawarau High Levels Gold-mining Company (Waitiri). —Five small prospecting-shafts (30 ft. to 63 ft. deep) were sunk through gravel to bed-rock. The gravel from the shafts yielded 2J gr. of gold per cubic yard. A contract has been let to drive a tunnel through a spur between the company's claim and Doolan's Creek to bring water on to the claim for sluicing. Varcoe and Party (Cromivell). —This party is sinking a shaft on the south side of Cornish Point to prospect for a run of gold which is said to have been followed into the river-bank by dredges. It is generally considered that an old channel of the Kawarau River will be found in the locality.

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