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during the half-year ending 31st December last was 535 tons,, which yielded, including the gold got for same period from Berdans, 1,0120z., representing a value of £3,896 4s. Everything in this mine is in good order, no expense is spared in the improvements of machinery, and the manager deserves every credit for the systematic manner in which the mining operations are carried on. The No. 8 level is at present defective in ventilation; but the manager is remedying this by making a connection with the other levels. Fiery Cross Company, Boatman's. —This company are carrying on their mining operations, and have from time to time obtained a large amount of gold from the mine, although they have never paid the large dividends the adjoining company (the Welcome) has done. The total amount of gold obtained from this company's mine is 12,9020z., representing a value of £49,672 14s. Just in Time Company, Boatman's. —-This company and the Reform Company are working from the same shaft, which was constructed, along with winding-gear, &c., at the joint cost of the two companies. This company anticipate shortly to cut good stone, and if so they have every appliance for working it economically. Reform Company, Boatman's. —This is a company that has taken up the ground formerly held by the Imperial Company; and they have been extending the level commenced by the originial company, and also constructed a lower level and cut the reef, which at first did not appear very promising; but recently, after driving on the lode for some distance, good, payable stone was struck, and it is anticipated that they will be able to give good returns. This company has a capital of £12,000, of which £1,289 is paid up. They crushed a hundred tons of stone from a winze on their upper levels, which yielded gold to the value of £422 Bs. lid. The expenditure on getting this mine in order, including the cost of raising the hundred tons of stone referred to, has been, up to the end of last year, £1,691 3s. 7A. Homeward Bound Company, Boatman's. —This is a company which holds the ground adjoining the Welcome Company's lease, and from recent surveys are almost certain to strike the same reef that the Welcome Company are now working. This company has held this ground for several years, but have scarcely done any work beyond contributing to the construction of the low-level tunnel, which has been constructed at the joint expense of several companies to prospect the ground. The amount of capital expended up to the 30th January last was £1,083 4s. 9d. The nominal capital of the company is £12,000, of which £1,078 10s. has been paid up. Eureka Company, Boatman's. —This is a company that has done a great deal of work. They constructed an incline-tunnel for over 2,100 ft. and drove a considerable distance with crosscuts ; but have not been successful in finding the Welcome reef- which was at onetime deemed to go through their ground. This incline-tunnel is sft. wide at the bottom, and 6ft. high inside the timber. It is constructed in a strong, substantial manner, and will make a splendid main roadway if a payable reef is found. This company has suspended operations for the present, and the ground is protected. They have spent nearly £12,000 on plant and labour. Specimen Hill Company, Boatman's. —This company has suspended operations for some time. They have been contributing to the construction of the deep-level tunnel, which, when driven a sufficient distance, will enable them to prospect their ground thoroughly. They have spent about £5,500 9s. lid. on plant and labour in working the mine, and obtained gold to the value of £670 14s. 2d. This company have a nominal capital of £10,000, of which £4,134 is paid up. Keep It Dark Company. Reef ton. —This is one of the best mines in the Reefton district, and one which is extremely well conducted in its underground operations; due regard being given to safety of the workmen employed, the stability of the main adits, passes, and stopes, combined with economy. During the year ending the 31st December last there was 9,949 tons of quartz crushed, which yielded about 6,0640z. of gold, representing a value of £23,571 13s. 9d. The expenditure during same period in working the mine, £8,832 9s. 2d.; while dividends were paid to the amount of 14s. 6d. per share, or £14,500. The capital of this company is £10,000, of which £2,625 is paid up. There is a crushing-battery of twenty heads of stamps adjoining the mine, and this battery is kept continually at work. It is driven with a 30-feet overshot waterwheel ; but this wheel is beginning to show considerable signs of decay, and the company have arranged to erect one of Pelton's hurdy-gurdy wheels, which are now coming greatly into use, and which are the simplest and most effective water-wheels that have yet been invented. This company are working on the No. 2 level, and have stoped out the quartz for about 90ft. in height for the whole length of the lode, which is about 350 ft., leaving about 80ft. yet of backs up to No. 1 level. A winze has been sunk down from No. 2 level, and the lode proved down for a distance of 100 ft., where it continues to be about Bft. in thickness. They are also sinking the shaft to a greater depth to enable a lower level to be constructed and the quartz opened out previous to the present block being worked out. At the time of my recent visit the shaft was down about 100 ft. below No. 2 level. There are eighteen men employed underground, besides four men in sinking the shaft and nine men on the surface. These are able to get sufficient stone to keep the crushing-battery fully employed. Since this company has been in operation—viz., from May 1875, to 31st March last —they have crushed 73,352 tons of quartz, which yielded 4i',6630z. of gold, representing a value of £171,952 11s., and have paid £80,419 in dividends. Wealth of Nations Company, Reefton. —This company has constructed a low-level tunnel for about 800 ft. and cut a body of payable stone, of which 260 tons were crushed, which yielded 1270z. of gold; but in stopingout this block only went up for about 30ft., when it cutout,