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Westland Gcmnty Maori Gold Dredge, GaUaghans.—This dredge was purchased by a syndicate, who intend to makeextensive repairs to plant and pontoons and resume operations early in 1946. Prospecting by shafting disclosed values which, in the purchasers' opinion, warrant the exploitation of the remainder of the claim, which will provide for several years' work with an output of 12,000 cubic yards to 15,000 cubic yards per week. Rimu Dredge, Rimu. —On account of this dredge having a higher percentage of working-time than the previous year, the turnover increased considerably, with a subsequent addition in the total amount of gold recovered. Out of a possible working period of 7,296 hours, the dredge worked 85-8 per cent, of digging-time. An area of 39-7 acres was dug of an average depth of 31*1 ft., and a total of 1,992,542 cubic yards of wash and overburden was treated. The yield per cubic yard averaged 11-7 d., and operating-costs, excluding export taxes and realization costs, totalled 6-97 d. per cubic yard. Total operating-costs, including the above-mentioned taxes, worked out at 8-9 d. per cubic yard. Operation was normal throughout the year. Kanieri Dredge (Gold Mines, N.Z., Ltd.), Kanieri. —A yardage of 2,744,000 cubic yards of solid ground was dredged and treated in addition to 6,996 cubic yards of tailings from 28-2 acres of ground in 5,869 hours, representing 81-38 per cent, of the total possible dredging-time. The depth of ground averaged 60 ft. and a recovery of 1 • 88 grains per cubic yard was effected. Arahura Dredge (Gold Mines, N.Z., Ltd), Arahura. —A total of 3,290,000 cubic yards of ground was dredged from ground averaging 67 ft. in depth, the recovery being 1-99 grains per cubic yard. The total area dredged was 30-164 acres. Hours worked were 6,099, representing 84-57 per cent, of the possible working-time. Gillespie's Beach Dredge, Weheka.—Despite labour shortages and scarcity of replacement parts, this dredge dug 593,338 cubic yards of ground of a average depth of 31 ft. This is a satisfactory performance, considering that lost time totalled nearly 33 per cent, of the available working-hours. The dredge is nearing the end of the payable ground, and unless the present prospecting operations disclose another lead that can be profitably worked, the dredge will cease operations in the near future. Alluvial Mining Butter County Addison's Flat Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Addison's Flat.—The year's operations resulted in the treatment of 150,000 cubic yards of ground derived from cemented gravels averaging 6 ft. in depth. Lack of suitable labour and high cost of pipes, &c., were the chief difficulties encountered by the company during the year, and consequently the margin of profit was reduced considerably. Inangahua County Neither Waitahu Sluicing Claim nor Mount David. Sluicing Claim was operated during the year,, but preparations are being made to commence work in both claims early in 1946. Grey County Moonlight Sluicing Claim, Blackball.—This claim was idle for about ,nine months before being taken over by Mutch and party on tribute in September. Different methods of working are to be introduced which will necessitate relaying of pipe-line and rearrangement of tail-races and stoningplant. It is estimated that six months' preliminary work will be necessary before the producing stage is reached. Golden Sands Claim, Barrytown.—-This claim operated continuously during the year with what labour was available, and although values remained constant, which under normal conditions should be profitable, the restricted output for the year did not allow the payment of dividends. Miscellaneous Minerals Asbestos. —By September the Hume Pipe Co. (Aust.), Ltd., had completed an extensive prospecting and sampling campaign which consisted of driving a comparatively large footage of levels and crosscuts at varying elevations. The work was planned for the purpose of forming an estimate of the quantities of asbestos fibre available and its varying degrees of quality. Now that the data has been acquired it will be possible to proceed with the design of a treatment plant proportionate in size to the amount of rock available and type of fibre contained in the serpentine rock. The quarry and works were placed on a caretaking basis after the crew and managerial staff were transferred elsewhere. Production from prospecting equalled 31 cwt. Mica. —Radio Corporation, Wellington, continued their mica-mining operations in the Matakitaki Range, South Westland, and during the period produced 882 lb. of mica from opencast workings. Owing to the cancellation of Government contracts, the company ceased operations shortly after the capitulation of Japan, and resumption of operations will eventually depend upon the demand for mica at a satisfactory price. Pottery Clay.—The Kaka Clay-pit, in Waimea County, produced 1,294 tons, which realized £1,714-at the mine mouth. The original workings were closed down in June last on account of the remaining blocks of clay becoming too dangerous to extract. A road was constructed to another site where good-quality clay was outcropping, and a fairly extensive deposit had been proved by diamond drilling of Section 7, Block X, Tadmore Survey District, and mining commenced by the driving of a tunnel. Cobledick's quarry, in the same district, produced 100 tons clay frorq the opencast, and the clay is transported to Nelson and processed by a firm of brickmakers.

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