a—2.

Coromandel Gold-mine,s, Ltd., Coromandel. —No. 1 bore, of the drilling programme commenced last year, has reached a depth of 410 ft. from the surface. Work was interrupted for some months owing to the drill having to be returned to its owners, the Hikurangi Coal Co., which was desirous of sinking bores on its own property. Reyland and Party's Claim, Coromandel. —This party have won a small tonnage of ore from a reef with erratic widths and values. The production figures are 19 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, worth £105 13s. The total output since the beginning of operations is 33 oz. 16 dwt. of gold, valued at £186 16s. 2d. New Royal Oak Claim, Coromandel (H. W. Chipman and party).—A limited amount of driving, sinking, and rising was done, and the low level was restored for a length of 450 ft. Three and a half tons of stone was treated for a return of 184 oz. 10 dwt., valued at £796 18s. 6d. Approximately half of the bullion was got from 210 lb. of picked ore. The total output since the commencement of operations is 333 oz. 13 dwt., valued at £1,584 12s. lid. Lone Hand Claim, Waikoromiko (W. J. Pearce, Owner). —The intermediate level was advanced a further 52 ft. on a leader about 5 in. in width. The face is now in 150 ft. from the portal of the drive. The bullion won amounted to 8 oz. 12 dwt., worth £46 7s. sd. The total output since the commencement of operations is 130oz. 5 dwt. of bullion, valued at £677 17s. lOd. Waikoromiko Sluicing Co., Waikoromiko.—Sluicing proper was started at the beginning of the year, but the results were not satisfactory and the claim was closed down. Eight men were employed while it was in operation, and 4oz. 3 dwt. of bullion, valued at £22 2s. lid., was won therefrom. The total amount of bullion won by the company is 24 oz. 14 dwt., worth £140 ss. 2d. Northcote Claim, Waikoromiko (Boswell and party).—Two intermediate levels were driven for distances of 20 ft. on the Cuirassier and Eour-in-Hand reefs respectively. The Boswell level was also advanced for 60 ft. Approximately 1 cwt. of picked stone was crushed for a yield of 15 oz. 1 dwt. of gold, worth £82 lis. Bd. The total output since the beginning of operations is 111 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, valued at £620 Bs. Rexman Mines, Ltd., Opitonui.—This company is operating on freehold property which was worked many years ago by Kauri freehold Gold Estates, Ltd. Operations were chiefly confined to surface prospecting and the erection of a five-stamp battery. It is intended to recondition some old levels, with the object of stoping several blocks of ore said to have been left behind by the previous company. The average number of men employed was six. Hardy's Mines, Waiorongomai (M. Y. Hardy, Owner). —Sampling underground by means of a power drill comprised practically the only work done. This was carried out on behalf of an option-holder and occupied a period of several months, during which time about six men were employed. Chain Mines Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Great Barrier Island. —A small amount of work in the way of opening up roadways and clearing the portals of adit levels was carried out on these areas by Rexman Mines, Ltd. Prospecting. As in previous years, the greater part of the prospecting-work done was carried out at Thames and Coromandel under the Labour Department's schemes. The number of men so employed decreased during the year, some of those whose prospects were not encouraging preferring to transfer to other work. On an average sixty-five men were employed in the Thames district and thirty men in the Coromandel area. The subsidized men at Thames won 638 oz. of gold, valued at £3,145 7s. 9d., while those at Coromandel produced 241 oz. of gold, worth £1,106 7s. lid. Production from Oil-wells. Moturoa Oilfields, Ltd. (K. E. Pedersen, Manager).—Operations were confined to repairs and maintenance in connection with the production of Nos. 1, 2, and 4 wells. Throe men were employed. The wells named produced 7,651 gallons, 91,548 gallons, and 33,773 gallons respectively, the total value of the oil being £2,493 4s. 6d. N.Z. Oil Refineries, Ltd. (W. Eossey, Manager).—Three employees. This company purchases and refines the output from the wells operated by Moturoa Oilfields, Ltd. During the year 136,719 gallons of crude oil was stilled with the following recoveries: Petrol, 27,750 gallons; distillate, 8,220 gallons; power kerosene, 20,700 gallons; heavy kerosene, 16,798 gallons ; Diesel oil, 20,255 gallons ; residue oil, 34,891 gallons ; loss, 8,105 gallons. Quicksilver and Sulphur Mines. Mercury Mines (N.Z.), Ltd., Puhipuhi.—A small production was obtained by this company from the New Zealand Quicksilver mine. The figures are as follows : Prom approximately 30 tons of ore treated, 1,344 lb. of mercury, valued at £336, was obtained. Two men were employed. No work was done on any of the sulphur deposits during the year. Accidents. One fatality occurred at the mines in this district during the year, the victim being Mr. M. F. Zenovich, widower, aged 57. The deceased, an employee of the Martha Gold-mining Co. (Waihi), Ltd., was engaged, on 27th August, at installing a new knocker line in No. 6 shaft. He apparently miscalculated when endeavouring to step from a wall-plate on to the top of the cage (where he and his mate travelled), and, missing same, fell to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 75 ft., with the result stated. A verdict of accidental death was returned at the subsequent inquest. Note. —Two Maoris, named Mr. Neliua Toki and Mrs. Tutu Nehua respectively, met their deaths by drowning on the 25th January while sinking a small shaft below high-water mark at the Whananaki sea-beach, North Auckland, with the mistaken object of finding gold. The fatalities occurred outside the mining district, neither of the deceased had a miner's right nor possessed a mining title of any description, and the fact of their being engaged in the work described was altogether unknown to the Department. There were no witnesses to the accident. An inquest was held, at which the Coroner returned a finding of death by drowning. No serious non-fatal accidents occurred in the mines in this district during the year. Prosecutions. A miner was convicted, without penalty, on 17th November, for a breach of section 274 (35) of the Mining Act, 1926. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (G. W. Lowes and A. W. Turner, Inspectors of Mines.) Quartz-mining. Marlborough County. Smile of Fortune Mine, Wakamarina (Luigi lada, Manager). —No gold or scheelite was won from this mine during the year ; operations were confined to sinking 30 ft. on an outcropping lode 5 ft. in width and driving and crosscutting 150 ft. to prove the lode on which the winze was sunk. The low-grade ore encountered did not warrant the erection of treatment plant, and work was discontinued. Golden Bar Mine, Wakamarina. —After driving 50 ft. on the south end of this lode on No. 2 adit level, the grade of ore encountered did not encourage further development. The distance driven proved an ore-body 5 ft. to 7 ft. in width and enclosed between hard walls. After the cessation of underground operations, attention was turned to the treatment of a heap of mill tailings containing low gold-values and a high percentage of scheelite. A Erue vanner and small Wilfley were installed and 1 ton of concentrates produced. The product has been shipped, but the amount realized is not yet known.

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