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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. (K. A. Birchall, Manager).—The ore produced for the period amounted to 95,804 tons, which yielded 26,975 oz. of gold and 231,753 oz of silver worth £328 316 10s Bd. In New Zealand currency the gold was valued at an average ot £lO 3s. yd per ounce and the silver at 4s. 7d. The heading value of the ore per ton was, gold 5 dwt. and silver, 2oz 11 dwt 3 gr. The extraction was 93-7 per cent, of the former and 82-2 per cent, ot the latter, representing 91-4 per cent, of the full value. The total crushing-time at the mill was 216 days. As in the past, the ore was got chiefly from the Martha, Royal, Empire, Welcome, and Dreadnought Lodes and was raised through Nos. 4, 6, and the Grand Junction shafts and Xo. 7 Footwall t ass Development work amounted to 5,249 ft. of driving and crosscutting and 512 ft. of wmzmg and rising or a total of 5,761 ft. It was all of a secondary nature, consisting mainly of the reopening of former workings, and the driving of sub-levels for the removal of pillars and supporting arche* under main levels. Apart from minor stoppages for maintenance work, the pumps were operates continuously (on night shift and at week-ends), raising to the surface 383,625,009 gallons of water from below No. 11 Level. The tonnage of ore treated and value returned show a reduction when compared with the corresponding figures for the previous year, and the number of men employed fell from 481 to 449. Dividends paid for the year amounted to £12,398. Jubilee Claim, Coromandel (Home and May).—Some 20 tons of ore produced from this property yielded 8 oz. 8 dwt. of bullion, which realized £5l ss. 7d. The stone was crushed at the State mill. The claim was formerly known as the " Success." Charlton's Claim, Kuaotunu.—The treatment of 600 tons of tailings from the old Try Fluke area was carried out and gave a return of 137 oz. 17.dwt. of gold and 91 oz. 9 dwt. of silver, valued at £1,268 18s. Id. and £l7 2s. lid. respectively. The gold averaged 0-625 fine. r I wo men were employed. Prospecting Karangahake.—R: Schulzki and mate did a limited amount of prospecting on their claim without appratent success. Gaghan and Thomson continued their work of reconditioning No. 11 Level old Talisman Mine, but found nothing of importance, and towards the end of the year transferred to No. 8 Level, where they are hopeful of finding good stone. Haszard and Fallon barely got beyond the experimental stage in the treatment of their tailings at Mackaytown. Te Aroha. The Tui property was taken up and investigated for base metals by Messrs. Dunsheath and Bassett, of Auckland, during the year. A certain amount of surface prospecting was done by them and this is reported to have been encouraging, as were also the results obtained from the reopening of No. 3 Level in the old mine. The area was unsuccessfully worked for gold as far back as 1884 and later passed through the hands of several concerns, which met with no better hick. The last crushings were put through in 1932-33, but these were poor, and the ground lay idle until taken up by the present holders. Metallic Ores Copper.— Cloudesley Mine, Pakotai: No ore was won during the year, but there is a possibility of work being resumed in the future. Limonite.— Okaihau Quarries, Ltd., produced 2,896 tons, and W. Whitelaw, Kamo, 1,563 tons, with values of £8,050 and £1,775 2s. 6d. respectively. The limonite was used for various purposes but chiefly for top-dressing. Manganese.— Maning's Mine, Otau, Clevedon: This property was previously owned by Mirandite Products, Ltd., but was taken over during the year by G. M. Maning, who formerly leased it from that companv- A shipment of 488 tons 15 cwt. of ore was made to the Broken Hill Proprietary Steel-works, Newcastle, but 170 tons only of this was obtained during 1948, the balance having been held at Papatoetoe from the previous year, for want of transport by sea. The price, based on £5 per ton for 48-per-cent. manganese, and allowing for bonus and penalty adjustments, was £4 19s. sd. per ton, making the return £2,264 7s. lid. The dry.weight of the ore was 455-3 tons and its average manganese content 49-06 per cent. Sales in New Zealand comprised 36 tons 2 cwt., worth £222 7s. 2d. and total receipts therefore amounted to £2,486 15s. Id. The ore sold in New Zealand was used in the manufacture of fertilizer and for oxidation work in the melting of nonferrous castings.

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