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ANNEXURE A

SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES

NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (E. J. Scoble, Inspector of Mines) Quartz-mining Martha Gold-mining Go. (Waihi), Ltd.—The quartz won and treated for the year amounted to 125,012 tons, which yielded 32,254 oz. of gold and 242,365 oz. of silver, valued at £341,489 and £36,475 respectively. The ore was separated into three products for cyaniding—namely, sulphide concentrate, 1-96 per cent.; slime, 87-13 per cent., and sand, 10-91 per cent.—-while the heading value per ton was : gold, 4 dwt. 23 gr. ; and silver, 2 oz. 6 dwt. As formerly, the Martha, Royal, and Empire lodes were the greatest producers. Development operations comprised 5,836 ft., made as follows : drives and crosscuts, 4,721 ft.; winzes and rises, 1,115 ft. The work was of a secondary character more than anything else, as it largely consisted of reopening blocks of ore previously unmined, and the construction of sub-levels for the extraction of supporting arches left under levels. Pumping was constantly carried out until the 27th October, when the rising main in No. 4 shaft was fractured by ground movement, after which no further pumping was- done. The total quantity of water raised to the surface amounted to 175,067,500 gallons. The company paid out £24,795 in dividends during the year. An average of 480 men was employed. Golden Dawn Gold-mines, Ltd., Owharoa. —The treatment of residues from the battery site was. continuous for the year, but the concentrates recovered therefrom were not dealt with, though reported to contain profitable values. Talisman Battery Site, Karangahake.-—This is now held as the Grace claim by E. C. Roberts. Approximately 100 tons of material were treated for a return of bullion valued at £707. Frewiri's Extended Claim, WaiteJcauri.—Work suspended. Golden Spur Mine, Maratoto. —Work consisted of driving west, then crosscutting south on No. 3 level with the object of intersecting a possible downward continuation of good ore which was stoped at a corresponding point on the level above. The crosscut was advanced for 100 ft. in unaltered andesite when operations were given up, as it was estimated that the stone looked for, if there, would have been met at 40 ft. No other work has since been done on the property.' Sylvia Mines Consolidated, Ltd., Thames. —Driving east on the main line of reef was continued to 437 ft. from the shaft crosscut, No. 6 level, where the stone split and disappeared in the face. Crosscutting and drilling north and south gave no results at this point, and further crosscutting north was then undertaken 20 ft. back from the face, when a reef measuring approximately 5 ft. in width, giving values of 17 dwt. of gold, was intersected at 10 ft. However, neither reef widths nor values were maintained, for development eastwards, which was carried forward to 60 ft., showed that the stone would be unprofitable to work. The discovery is probably a faulted portion of the Sylvia reef, missed on the upper levels, which could possibly be sought with advantage from the lowest water-free point. Development work on No. 6 level exposed about 6,000 tons of ore assaying 9 dwt. of gold. The payable stone exists in short separate shoots, while the non-payable is largely of a sugary character. The latter has been partly leached. Miscellaneous N.Z. Mercury Mines, Ltd., Puhipuhi.—A total of 343 tons of ore which were won and treated gave a return of 1 ton 1 qr. 26 lb. of mercury, valued at £2,294. Formerly the bulk of the production was sold in Australia, but the market collapsed there about September, and this, together with the difficulty of obtaining suitable gear, led to the closing-down of both mine and treatment plant. The ore is won by opencast methods and it will be necessary to provide a modern bulldozer and carryall to make a success of the venture with the prevailing prices for mercury. A caretaker staff only was maintained on the property for the last few months of the year. Serpentine.—The whole of this was again got from Wayby and Kaukapakapa, North Auckland, and amounted to 13,933 tons altogether. The stone was produced by Bitumix Ltd. and Asbestos Mines, Ltd., in proportions of 12,107 tons and 1,826 tons, with values of £3,329 Bs. 6d. and £368 55., respectively. Manganese.—G. Maning, operating Mirandite Products, Ltd.'s, area, Clevedon, under lease, produced a small quantity, but none was sold. When sufficient has been obtained for shipment, it will be disposed of to the Broken Hill Pty. Steel-works, New South Wales. Silica. —A total production of 18,230 tons was recorded by two concerns—namely, the N.Z. Glass Manufacturers Co. Pty., Ltd., Penrose, and Messrs. J. B. Gilberd and Sons, Ltd., Wanganui. The former obtained 17,862 tons, worth £42,870 7s. 3d., from its deposit at Parengarenga, and the latter 368 tons, worth £165 125., from a locality near Aramoho. Fuller's Earth.- —The total produced was 75 tons 13 cwt. 1 qr., valued at £273 2s. Bd. It was won by S. C. Crawford from his property at Kamo.

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