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No. 4. Mr. Mining Inspector McLaren to the Undee-Secbetaey for Gold Fields. Shj _ Mining Inspector's Office, Thames, 10th May, 1884. I have the honour to forward mining report for the Hauraki Gold-Mining Districts for year ending tho 31st March, 1884. Haueaki North.—Coromandel. It is to be regretted that the operations carried out in this district during the year have not—except in a few instances—proved payable, the gold returns being only about one-half of the previous year. Last year there were great expectations that the operations carried on at deep levels by the companies working on the flat would prove payable, but this has not been so, and the works in most of these have been stopped. . . Union Beach Gold-Mining Company.— -The works mentioned m last year s report as being in progress were completed by sinking the winze and opening out levels, winch did not prove remunerative. Altogether 1,400 ft. of driving, besides rising, and sinking, and other prospecting work, has been done. Occasionally good specimens have come to hand, which encourage further prospecting. ' . . . . ~ lona and Just-in-Time Gold-Mining Companies both carried on operations with vigour m the early part of the year, but, being unsuccessful, are now in progress of being wound up. Kapanga Gold-Mining Company.—Under the management of Captain James Ikomas extensive underground workings have been carried on during the year, principally at thei 300 ft. and 425 ft levels, giving employment on the average to forty-five men. There have been 000 tons ot quartz crushed, for a return of 6850z. of gold, valued at £1,918 14s. 2d. Against this the expenditure has been over £6,000. The reef in the ground recently operated on has been found to be greatly disturbed, which may account for the high expectations m regard to gold returns not being fully realized. In order to get into good country it would appear necessary either to sink the shaft, say, another 150 ft., or drive southward on the reef at the lower levels, as the ground to the south' appears to be less disturbed than towards the north. _ Corby Gold-Mining Company.—The operations in the deep levels on bcotty s Eeet have not turned out payable, though encouraging prospects have been obtained. The present operations are confined to the surface level, in the vicinity of where rich stone was obtained some four or five years ag°Tokatea District. Queen of the North Mine.— -The principal work carried out in this mine has been sinking a winze, and driving from it towards the slide ; but progress has been very much retarded by a heavy inflow of water. The last small crushing of 2 tons gave 20oz. of gold. Tokatea, Bismark, Boyal Oak, and Pride of Tokatea.- -There is nothing very particular to record in the 'works of these companies during the year, these being principally carried out by small tribute parties. The Tokatea Company, however, purpose extending their low-level tunnel so as to cut right through the main reef and prospect the leaders on its western wall. Pita's Block (Orient).— -This ground has so far been worked successfully ; the future prospects are also good. ~,... -, ~, Success.—A rise has been completed from the low to the upper level, which gives good ventilation, and now allows the mine to be safely worked. Tiki District. This district has remained idle till within the last month, when work was resumed in the Home Eule and Blackmore's Claims, under the management of Mr. Hutchison, a company having been formed to work both claims jointly under the name of the Mariebel Gold-Mmmg Company. Matawai District. This district at present looks to be the most promising one in Coromandel: through the improved prospect of Vaughan's Mine a number of other claims have recently been pegged out, the working of which may lead to other valuable discoveries. _ Vaughan's Mine.— -Three separate runs of gold have been found m the reef in this mine: the width of Nos 1 and 2 have not as yet been proved, they having only been sunk into ; but No. 3 has been proved to extend for a distance of 80ft. along the reef, and is going downwards at an angle of about 25° • the distance apart of these runs is—Nos. 1 and 2, 20ft., and Nos. 2 and 3, 60ft. From appearances on the surface a fourth run may be expected in the low-level tunnel, which is now being extended to test this. Ninety-two tons of quartz crushed yielded over 3ioz. to the ton, the return being 3220z. lldwt. melted gold: there is now about eighty tons of quartz to grass ready for conveyance to the mill. . . Castlerock Claim.—This still remains the most southerly mine in Coromandel, but the owner has not displayed much vigour in working it, though the crushing obtained was more than quartz crushed for the Coromandel District for the year was 1,042 tons 12cwt. 95p)., for a return of 4,0170z. 19dwt. 2gr. Haueaki South. —Thames and Ohinemuri. Prince Imperial.— -Under the management of Mr. George Clark, very extensive works have been carried out in this mine, with good results to the shareholders. The number of men's ground held by this company is 22, but the average number of men employed would be from 120 to 130. The work carried out has been 2,125 ft. of driving, being 1,575 ft. on reefs and 550 ft. of cross-cutting; 240 ft of winzes have been sunk on the reef for ventilation and working purposes. The principal