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It is ferther alleged that it is by far the quickest borer, and is capable of putting down a 7-inch bore-hole over 6,000 ft. in eighteen months. This department communicated with the AgentGeneral in London to obtain full particulars respecting this kind of drill; but the answers obtained to inquiries made of commercial firms in different parts of Germany go to show that, whilst the German drill would be a useful machine for boring in alluviums for water or for deep leads of gold, where basaltic rock had not to be penetrated, it would not be suitable for such work as the diamond drills have hitherto done in Victoria. Water-boring Machines. In addition to the diamond drills the department employs two descriptions of water-boring machines namely, the Tiffin machines and those known as Wright and Edward's. A short synopsis of the work done by these machines will be found in Appendix B. I have, &c, 0. W. Langtebb, Acting Secretary for Mines and Water Supply. The Hon. the Minister of Mines, Victoria.

Synopsis of Boeing done with the Diamond Drills up to 30th June, 1884. Total No. of Bores Aggregate Depth put down. of Bores. Ft. in. Surface-Drill No. 1 ... ... ... 32 ... 8,920 9 Surface-Drill No. 2 ... ... ... 43 ... 14,105 0 Surface-Drill No. 3 ... ... ... 31 ... 11,596 8 Surface-Drill No. 4 ... ... ... 8 ... 2,793 8£ Surface-Drill No. 5 ... ... ... 8 ... 2,700 0 Surface-Drill No. 6 ... ... ... 9 ... 3,668 9f Surface-Drill No. 7 ... ... ... 19 ... 7,495 1 Surface-Drill No. 8 ... ... ... 4 ... 2,154 6 Surface-Drill No. 9 ... ... ... 5 ... 4,409 10 Surface-Drill No. 10 ... ... ... 2 ... 2,210 0£ Totals ... ... ... 161 ... 60,054 4f Total No. of Bores Aggregate Depth put in. of Bores. Ft. in. Underground-Drill No. 1 ... ... 13 ... 5,593 4 Underground-Drill No. 2 ... ... 3 ... 1,111 1 Underground-Drill No. 3 ... ... 6 ... 1,938 5 Underground-Drill No. 4 ... ... 3 ... 1,221 8 Underground-Drill Nc. 5 ... ... 11 ... 4,447 9| Totals *... ... ... 36 ... 14,312 3J Ft. in. Miles. yds. ft. in. Surface-Drills bored ... ... 60,054 4f, or 11 658 0 4f Underground-Drills bored ... 14,312 4-J-, or 2 1,250 2 3£ Total boring done ... 74,366 9£, or 14 148 2 8J Note.—The appendices and contracts referred to in Mr. Langtree's report are attached to the Victorian Eeport on Diamond Drills.

By Authority: Geobgk Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBs. 9—H. 9.