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C.—2.

is now being picked up and re-timbered. Repairs have been completed in the low level. The average number of men employed was twenty-three. During the year 42 tons of quartz was treated for a return of 61 oz. 17 dwt. of bullion, valued at £230 ss. The total production since the commencement of operations is 198 oz. 16 dwt. of bullion, valued at £754 18s. Bd. Graceville Syndicate, Neavesville. —In the Golden Belt Extended section a level was re-timbered for a length of 100 ft. with the object of locating a reef said to have been intersected therein and from which good ore was stacked on the tip. This proved, however, to have come from loose boulders, and driving-work was suspended. It is intended to resume operations in an endeavour to find another reef system 250 ft. westward. A large formation in the Remuera section on which little work had previously been done was opened up. This carries small leaders for about 20 ft. in the footwall portion, and it is reported that trial crushings taken out for a width of 15 ft. were highly payable. The company has a ten-head battery in which crushing was commenced in November, but operations suffer from lack of a regular supply of water. A dam is now being built to remedy this. Eighteen men were employed. During the year 279 tons of stone was treated for a return of 152 oz. 5 dwt. of bullion, valued at £671 14s. 3d. The total output since the commencement of operations is 731 oz. 7 dwt. of bullion, valued at £3,402 6s. 2d. Kernick's Freehold, Tapu.—A small amount of work was carried on in No. 1 level. The north rise was taken up for 40 ft. and the other two for lesser distances. Stoping from the rises showed regular values. No. 2 level: Driving on the reef was continued north from the point of intersection in the branch drive for a distance of 45 ft. with fairly regular values. A rise was put up 12 ft. north from the same point, and from this (No. 2) and the south rise (No. 1) the reef was stoped out between the levels. A total of 29 tons of ore was crushed for a yield of 273 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, valued at £1,593 10s. 2d. The total output since the commencement of operations is 880 oz. 6 dwt. of bullion, valued at £5,159 Bs. 9d. Shannon Claim, Tapu (J. Matthews and H. Hemara, Owners). —A total of 130 ft. of driving was done on a narrow reef. Stoping on same resulted in 7 tons of ore being produced, which yielded 137 oz. 13 dwt. of gold, valued at £772 12s. 2d. This is the total output since the commencement of operations. Gem Claim, Tairua (Shea, Hastie, and party).—Some driving and crosscutting was done, and several months were occupied in constructing hoppers and erecting an aerial in connection with the conveyance of ore from the mine to the State mill. The production for the year amounted to 26 tons of quartz, which yielded 17 oz. 10 dwt. of gold, valued at £82 7s. lOd. This is also the total output since the commencement of operations. Wealth of Nations Mining Syndicate, Tairua.—The erection of the ten-stamp mill referred to in last year's report was completed early in 1937. A tramway was laid to the mine entrance, and renovating-work in Nos. 1 and 2 levels was put in hand. Work was suspended during the latter part of the year. The average number of men employed was four. No ore was broken in the mine, but some 40 tons of sweepings, which were obtained in cleaning out No. 2 level, was treated at the battery for a recovery of 11 oz. 16 dwt. of bullion, valued at £49 15s. 10d., which is also the total production since the commencement of operations by the syndicate. Western Claim, Tairua (G. Taylor and party, Owners). —Work consisted chiefly of repairing a road, and constructing an aerial, &c., in connection with the conveyance of ore from the mine to the State mill. Some 27 tons of ore, with a yield of 7 oz. 11 dwt. of bullion, worth £44 14s. Bd., was produced from the property during the year. The total output since the commencement of operations is 16 oz. 2 dwt. of bullion, valued at £64 3s. Monowai Gold Development, Ltd., Waiomio. —Two men were engaged at surface prospecting on this area for a part of the year. Underground work was suspended for the whole period. Mountain King Claim, Puhoi, Thames (Pereiha and Te Moananui). —Stoping operations on a narrow but rich reef yielded 20 tons of quartz from which 66 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, valued at £377 9s. lid., was obtained. This is the total output since the beginning of operations. Hector McDonald Claim, Puhoi (McFetridge Bros, and Hemara). —A fair amount of driving and rising was carried out on a reef about 6 in. in width, and 28 oz. 8 dwt. of gold, valued at £196 os. Id. was obtained from 17J tons of quartz. This is the total output since the commencement of operations. Jameson's Claim, Puru (Jameson and Louden). —A low level with about 40ft. of "backs" was driven to cut a reef system from which two parcels of ore were treated. On intersecting the main reef the drive was continued for the purpose of cutting a promising cross reef and the construction of a short rise. Some 29| tons of quartz was treated for a recovery of 8 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, valued at £42 17s. 3d., which is the total output since the beginning of operations. Puru Gold Reefs, Ltd., Puru. —It is proposed to erect a small ball mill, amalgamating table, &c., on this company's property (formerly the Golden Ridge claim held by Messrs. Codd and Harold) during the coming year. A total of 21 tons 15 cwt. of ore was treated at the Thames School of Mines battery for a yield of 25 oz. 10 dwt., valued at £136 18s. 3d., which is the total output since the commencement of operations. Waitangi Claim, Thames (Armstead and Kendall, Owners). —Operations consisted principally of renovating No. 3 level and erecting a stamp battery. The latter comprises a stone-crusher, five stamps, self-feeder, amalgamating and Wilfley tables, three berdans, two 45 ton cyanide tanks, five solution tanks, two precipitation boxes, &c., together with a 75 h.p. gas-producer engine. The production for the year amounted to 201 tons of quartz, which was treated in the owner's battery, and which yielded 15 oz. 3 dwt. of bullion, valued at £36 18s. Bd. This is the total output since the commencement of operations. Virginia Claim, Thames (W. E. Smith and party). —The connection with the winze referred to in last year's report was obtained and the ventilation is now satisfactory. Prospecting by driving, &c., was continued, and 53 tons of ore was produced as a result of this work, the yield being 87 oz. 10 dwt. of bullion, valued at £239 10s. 3d., which is the total output since the commencement of operations. Sylvia Gold, Silver, and Base Metals, Ltd., Thames.—The drilling programme mentioned in last report was commenced in August with the Government C. N. Sullivan diamond drill. No ore was produced during the year. Lucky Shot Claim, Thames (E. S. Keven and party, Owners). —Several small parties operated on different and separate portions of this property, with moderate success in one or two cases. The quartz produced and treated amounted to 40 tons, from which 65 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, valued at £330 os. Id., was obtained. This is the total output since the beginning of operations by the present owners. Progress Claim, Thames (H. W. Lloyd and party).—The main reef has been worked, and driving operations extended to 126 ft. thereon. A block of stone 30 ft. in length was made ready for stoping, and an intermediate level was driven for 54 ft. from a point 25 ft. below the brace on a winze sunk under the stope referred to. During the year 50 tons of quartz was treated for a return of 47 oz. 4 dwt. of gold, valued at £236 14s. 7d. The total output since the beginning of operations is 381 oz. 17 dwt. of bullion, valued at £1,943 15s. Bd. Victoria Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Thames. —The crosscut, begun in the previous year, was advanced to the western boundary of the claim, a distance of 422 ft., with nothing to report in the way of discoveries. The claim was idle for the latter part of the year, and the probabilities are that the company will be dissolved in the near future. Commissioner Claim, Thames.—A crosscut 742 ft. in length was constructed, with the object of intersecting the Waiotahi-Cambria line of reef on which some work was done a good many years ago. The point aimed at was reached at the end of the year, and it is now proposed to recondition the old levels, &c., in order to extract several blocks of ore which should be of payable value. The ventilation is on the dull side, and it will be necessary to install a power-driven fan to overcome this difficulty. Hauraki Mines Consolidated, Ltd., Coromandel. —The only work done was carried out by a party of tributers, who won 6 oz. of bullion, valued at £34 3s. lid. The total output since the commencement of operations is 703 oz. 16 dwt. of gold, valued at £2,559 2s.

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