H.—9

28

The United Victory Company. —Operations in this mine, both as regards work inside and crushing, have been somewhat limited during the last twelve months, and at present all operations have been discontinued: the reef has been wrought from the intermediate up to the surface, and the result has nod been a payable one. Since crushing operations were discontinued the company has been prospecting in No. 2 level south, with the object of ascertaining if the reef lined in that direction. So far nothing beyond a track has been found, but a better estimate may perhaps be en some cross-cutting has been done ; for the present, operations are likely to be confined to prospecting. Lyell Creek Extended Company. —This company's ground has been lying unworked for the greater part of the last year. A contract for driving the main level 250 ft. farther is now in progress, and at the present time the full distance driven into the range is close upon 800 ft. The nature of the ground is very hard, rendering progress difficult. Tyr-Connell Company. —The ground held by the company comprises the greater portion of that formerly occupied and worked by the Break o' Day Company at Eight-Mile some few years ago. The present company recommenced operations some two months ago, and the work now in progress is 1 iding No. 5 level wdth the view of striking the stone which was worked overhead, and some of which gave a highly remunerative return to the shareholders. ■ Thei lion of the road from the junction of tho Lyell Creek Eoad to the Eight-Mile will he completed in about two months, and will greatly facilitate the mining operations in that vicinity. Owen lieefs. —There were nine leases transferred from Nelson Office to Murchison in September, 1883, from tho Owen District. Of these, five have had certificates of occupation granted to them, and the balance are awaiting survey. At the present time there is only one of these leases being worked by a. party of four men, and, according to their prospects, the inducement, I believe, is not sufficient to warrant the other lessees to do any prospecting; whilst four or five applications ar«' standing over until the surveys can be effected. Tho following table shows the amount of calls made, dividends declared, and quantity of quartz crushed, and yield of gold therefrom : — Table showing Amount of Calls made, &c, in the Buller District from tho Ist April, 1883, to 31st March, 1884.

Name of Company. Calls made. Quartz crushed. Yield. Westport District. Tn -Again Gold-Mining Company (Limited) South Pacific Extended Gold-Mining Company (Limited) Re< Iron Gold-Mining Company, No. 1, (Limited) Great Republic Gold-Mining Company (Limited) linn Gold-Mining Company (Limited) Guiding Star Gold-Mining Company (Limited)... Queen Quartz-Mining Company (Limited)... i Crown Gold-Mining Company (Limited)... Mokihinui Moruing Star Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Buller Gold-Mining Company (Limited) Christmas Eye Gold-Mining Company (Limited) £ s. 312 10 225 0 d. 0 0 Tons. lb. Oz. dwt. gr. 75 0 1,841 13 1,150 0 1,800 0 2,700 0 600 0 300 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 Lyell Sub-District. United Alpine Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Croesus Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) United Italy Quartz-Mining Company (Limited Victor Emanuel Quartz-Mining Co. (Limited) Day-star Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Time-will-Tell Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Cosmopolitan Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Bendigo Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Aulxim Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Uiui.od New South Wales Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Great Wonder Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Ballarat Quarl z-Mining Company (Limited) Republic Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) No. 'I Alpine Gold-Mining Company (Limited) ... South Britisli Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Caprern Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) Sydney Quartz Aiming Company (Limited) Tyr-Counell Quartz-Mining Company (Limited) United Victory Quartz-Mining Company(Limited) 4,533 6 2,625 0 1,200 0 450 0 200 0 184 7 25 0 83 6 50 0 170 0 8 0 0 0 0 6 0 8 0 0 1,250 1,200 150 0 0 0 509 0 0 577 0 0 84 0 0 100 0 233 6 200 0 33 6 166 13 87 10 166 13 200 0 2,100 0 0 8 0 8 4 0 4 0 0 380 0 285 0 0 21,812 14 2 2,980 0 1,455 0 0