C.—2.

28

Black's Gold-mining Co., Poolburn. — This company's prospecting-shaft was abandoned owing to difficulty in dealing with running sand and water, which was met between 50 ft. and 70 ft. from the surface. Efforts have been made to locate the auriferous lead known as Black's No. 3by boring. Seven holes, from 100 ft. to 195 ft. deep, were put down, but nothing payable was discovered. Alexandra Deep Lead Gold-mining Co., Alexandra. —This company was formed to work an auriferous lead, which was followed by a dredge into the bank of the Manuherikia River near the Town of Alexandra. Efforts were made to open up the old dredge-paddock and to commence driving therefrom. A 5 in. centrifugal pump driven by electricity was provided for lifting sand and water, but it was not powerful enough to deal with the incoming water. A larger pump is to be installed. Cornish Point Gold-mining Syndicate, Cromwell.—A shaft was sunk 42 ft. through gravel to bed-rock, and drives put out 30 ft. north and 35 ft. south. Cross-drives were also driven to the west from the north and south drives, but no payable wash was found. Clutha Development Co., Ltd., Lowburn. —Drilling operations were in progress in the early part of the year. About three miles of the river-bed have been bored for satisfactory results. Clutha Junction Consolidated Prosppxting and Gold-dredging Co., Ltd. —This company was formed to prospect the Clutha and Lindis Rivers near their confluence. One of the Government Keystone drills has been hired for the purpose. Kawarau High Levels Gold-mining Co., Waitiri. —A tunnel was driven 1,280 ft. through a spur to convey water from Doolan's Creek to the company's claim on the west bank of the Kawarau River. The claim will be worked by ground-sluicing. Barker Bros., Mount Pisa.—This party was engaged in sluicing out deep cuttings in a deposit of quartz drift at Fat Boys Diggings to prospect for an auriferous lead. Nothing payable was found. Nevis.—Returns show that twenty-three men were employed and gold amounting to 569 oz., valued at £2,222, was recovered. Preparations were being made to erect a bucket dredge on S. C. Fache's claim at Upper Nevis. Lake County. Kawarau Gold-mining Co.—The dam at Kawarau Falls was completed during the year. On the 30th August the gates were closed, but at no point along the river did the water fall low enough to expose any virgin ground, consequently the amount of gold recovered by claimholders was very small. The disappointing results are attributed to the lateness of the season and the fact that the tributaries of the river were carrying more water than in midwinter. Big Beach Gold-mining Co., Shotover River. —This company was formed to work a deposit of gravel, known as the Sugarloaf, on the south bank of the Shotover River at an elevation of 150 ft. above the present river-bed. The waterraces formerly owned by J. McMullen are being repaired and connected with a line of 18 in. pipe to deliver eight heads of water on the claim at a pressure of 150 ft. Sandhills Gold-mining Co., Upper Shotover.—Operations were confined to sluicing out an old channel for the purpose of diverting the Shotover River. Sluicing is carried on at both ends of the channel, which is 27 chains in length. Moonlight Mining Syndicate, Moonlight Creek.—This company is working the old bed of Moonlight Creek on a terrace to the west of the present creek-bed. Coarse gold is found in a layer of rough wash 6 ft. thick, which is resting on the schist bottom. The overlying gravel, 130 ft. in height, contains very little gold. Reid and Lynch, Sawyer's Creek.—This party is driving to prospect the Crystal reef at a depth of 170 ft. below their upper workings. Southland County. Nokomai Sluicing Co., Nokomai. —This company was formed to take over the assets of the- Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Co. and to work an area of ground in Nokomai Creek, about a mile below Victoria Gully, from which good results were obtained by boring. Nos. 1 and 2 water-races are being extended to the new claim. The claim in Victoria Gully, which was worked out during the year, yielded 420 oz. gold, valued at £1,578. Athol.—Three claims, employing five men, were in operation in this part of the district. The gold won amounted to 309 oz., valued at £1,235. King Solomon Gold-mines, Ltd., Waikaia.—An engine-room and blacksmith's shop were erected and a site excavated for the shaft-head frame. Electric power for pumping and winding is being supplied by the Southland Power Board. Wallace County. Round Hill Mining Co.—Sluicing and elevating were carried on throughout the year for a yield of 575 oz. gold, valued at £2,276. Orepuki.— Eleven men were employed on this field, recovering 197 oz. gold, valued at £773. New Zealand Platinum, Ltd., West Waiau.—This company has commenced to work an area on the foreshore west of the Waiau River. A 6 in. Thompson's gravel-pump, driven by a 25 horse-power oil-engine, has been installed for elevating the beach-sand, which is treated over tables lined with matting for saving gold and platinum. Dredging. Molyneux Electric Gold-dredging Co., Alexandra.—This dredge has been equipped with electric power supplied by the Otago Central Power Board. The current is conveyed on board under a pressure of 6,600 volts, and is there transformed and stepped down to 400 volts for use on the motors, of which there are three, one of 75 horse-power, to operate the buckets, one of 25 horse-power, for running the pump, and one of 15 horse-power, for the winches. Everything is in readiness to commence dredging in the winter season. Shotover Gold-dredging Co., Maori Point. —This company's suction cutter dredge commenced operations on the Shotover River in October, but, owing to a break in the race supplying water for generating electric power, and several stoppages through the dredge silting up, very little dredging was done. The yield of gold amounted to 10 J oz. Nevis Crossing Dredge, Nevis. —This dredge was idle during the winter season, and operations were suspended in November. New pontoons are required, also renewals and repairs to machinery before dredging can be resumed. Upper Nevis Gold-dredging Co., Nevis. —The company was formed to work S. C. Fache's claim at Upper Nevis by dredging. The Earnscleugh No. 3 dredge, at Alexandra, was purchased and is being removed and re-erected on the claim. McGeorge's Freehold dredge, at Waikaka Valley, ceased operations in March. The yield of gold from this branch of mining amounted to 728 oz., valued at £2,839. Minerals other than Gold. Tungsten.—3 tons of scheelite were produced by the Glenorchy Scheelite Co., Glenorchy, and 6 tons by E. B. Callery, Stoneburn. Platinum. —31 oz. of platinum were recovered with gold from alluvial and sea-beach claims at Orepuki and West Waiau. Accidents. No serious accidents occurred at metal-mines or dredges in this district during the year.