C. —2.

Addison's Flat Sluicing Claim (J. M. Powell, manager).— This company mines by hydraulic elevating and sluicing the cemented gravels on Addison's Flat. Employing nine men 130,000 cubic yards of material was treated, from which 466 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, valued at £3,577 19s. 7d., was recovered. Since commencing operations a total of 1,435'0z. 2 dwt. 8 gr. of gold, worth £10,594 17s. Id., has been won, and £2,795 paid in dividends. Charleston Sluicing Claim (S. Powell, manager).—This company, which employs nine men, treated 114,200 cubic yards of gravels for a recovery of 234 oz. 12 dwt. 20 gr., worth £1,710 2s. 7d. In October operations were suspended owing to the difficulty experienced in handling boulders and the disposal of tailings. The total yield of gold since the commencement of operations amounts to 721 oz. 18 dwt. 2 gr., valued at £5,015 os. 7d. Five hundred and sixty-one men were employed in the Buller County, winning 2,086 oz. 8 dwt. 16 gr. of gold, valued at £15,177 9s. Bd. These figures include those dealing with operations conducted by the Giles' Terrace Sluicing Party, the Addison's Flat Gold-mining Company, and the Charleston Sluicing Company. Inangahua County. Waitahu Sluicing Claim (P. P. Thomas, manager).—This company, employing fourteen men, mined, by a combined ground sluicing and hydraulic system of working, 311,000 cubic yards of wash and overburden for a recovery of 762 oz. 4 dwt. 10 gr. of gold, valued at £5,790 lis. The total quantity of gold won since the commencement of operations amounts to 1,323 oz. 10 dwt. 2 gr., worth £9,985 ss. 6d. The construction of a dam during the year has proved beneficial in conserving the water-supply, arid the increased yardage handled is the result of more water being available. Mount David Sluicing Claim (R. Parker, manager).—During the year this claim was taken over by the debenture-holders, who employed five men at shifting plant, repairing races, &c., for a short period. Sluicing operations yielded 174 oz. 8 dwt. of gold, which realized £1,308. The total yield of gold from this claim since the commencement of operations amounts to 458 oz. 5 dwt. 22 gr., worth £3,103 15s. 4d. Snowy River Sluicing Claim (J. Aynsley, manager). —After cessation of operations by the company, the claim was worked by the manager, who recovered 5 oz. 7 dwt. 10 gr. of gold from an unstated yardage. Difficulties, which put the company out of business, could not be overcome by the manager, who had the claim free of rent or tribute charges, and production from the claim has practically ceased. Blackwater Creek Sluicing Claim (A Moore, manager).—This company installed an electric-motor and 10 in. centrifugal pump for the purpose of ground sluicing the wash exposed in the claim. The installation did not function satisfactorily, and a steam shovel was installed. The new method of handling wash dirt has proved successful, and 40,000 cubic yards was treated for a return of 162 oz. of gold, which realized £1,166 Bs. Five men were employed at the claim during the year. Two hundred and twenty-three men were employed in the Inangahua County, winning 1,975 oz. 14 dwt. 23 gr. of gold, valued at £14,160 12s. Id. These figures are inclusive of those connected with work carried out by the Waitahu Sluicing Company, the Mount David Sluicing Company, the Snowy River Sluicing Company, and the Blackwater Creek Sluicing Company. Grey County. Deep Lead Elevating Claim (T. Donnellan, manager).—This claim worked steadily during the year, and elevated 73,000 cubic yards of material for a return of 457 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, which realized £3,304 Bs. 9d. The total quantity of gold won since the commencement of operations amounts to 973 oz. 13 dwt. 17 gr., worth £7,085 7s. 6d. Dividends amounting to £500 have been paid, and employment given to nine men. Golden Sands Sluicing Claim (J. M. Dennehy, manager).—This company operating on a blacksand deposit at Barry town, mined by hydraulic elevator 68,000 cubic yards, and recovered therefrom 650 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, which realized £5,284 Is. Bd. A total of 2,066 oz. 9 dwt. 13 gr. of gold, valued at £15,439 2s. 3d., has been won by the company since commencing operations. £700 was paid in dividends during the year, making a total of £3,200 distributed to shareholders. Ten men are employed by the company. Six hundred and seventy-two men were employed in the Grey County, winning 4,231 oz. 5 dwt. 8 gr. of gold, valued at £30,707 19s. 6d. These figures include the yields from the Deep Lead Elevating claim and the Golden Sands Sluicing claim. Westland County. Hohonu Sluicing Claim (J. A. Peever, manager).—Operations during the year were carried out on the company's eastern area. 120,000 cubic yards of material was treated, for a return of 137 oz. 5 dwt. 6 gr., which realized £1,002 12s. The value of the gold won to date equals £16,932. Five men are employed by the company. Lawson's Flat Sluicing Claim (H. Lowther, manager).—This company, employing nine men, treated 142,000 cubic yards of material and recovered 658 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, valued at £4,746 14s. The total yield of gold since the commencement of operations amounts to 2,011 oz. 10 dwt. 22 gr., worth £10,583 13s. 6d. Mahinapua Sluicing Claim (A. F. Downer, manager).—Mining operations at this claim were suspended, as the gravel pump installed for the purpose of elevating the wash proved unsatisfactory. Boring has been carried out on the claim in order to determine the area of payable ground, with a view to adopting a more suitable method of mining if the values on the prospected area justified further expenditure. The total yield from this claim amounts to 75 oz. 15 dwt. 2 gr. of gold, worth £555 Is. 7d. Stafford Sluicing Claim (E. J. Mitchell, manager).—This company, employing five men, worked intermittently during the year and treated 10,876 cubic yards of gravels for a return of 89 oz. 14 dwt. 6 gr. of gold, which realized £675 2s. Since its inception the company has won 201 oz. 19 dwt. 18 gr. of gold, valued at £1,520 18s. Four hundred and fifty-seven men were employed in the Westland County, winning 3,662 oz. 5 dwt. 10 gr. of gold, valued at £26,238 2s. 4d. These figures are inclusive of those pertaining to operations carried out at the Hohonu, Lawson's Flat, and Stafford Sluicing Companies' claims. Collingwood County. Rocky, Aor ere, and Slate Rivers, &c. —One hundred and [ninety men were employed, winning 761 oz. 6 dwt. 2 gr. of gold, valued at £4,902 17s. Takaka County. Anatoki, Leslie, and Takaka Rivers, &c. —One hundred and fifty-three men were employed, winning 357 oz. 2dwt. 18 gr. of gold, valued at £2,264 15s. Id. Waimea County. Wangapeka, Baton, &c. —Ninety-three men were employed, winning 181 oz. 12 dwt. 12 gr. of gold, valued at £1,242 2s. sd. Minerals other than Gold. Onakaka Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (In Liquidation) (J. A. Heskett, Manager).—Smelting operations were carried out at this company's works from the 2nd January to the 29th May, when work was suspended. During the period stated the output amounted to 10,646 tons of crude ore and 4,902 tons of pig-iron. The average number of men employed at the works was seventy-five.

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