a—6

24

14. Sir Francis Drake Quartz-mine. —This mine joins the north boundary of the Happy Valley Mine, from which the reef has been traced on the surface of this claim for a considerable distance to, probably, the centre of the claim, where a tunnel has been driven 60ft. into the side of the hill, intersecting the reef 9ft. thick at a level 90ft from the surface. No. 2 Tunnel has already been driven 190 ft., and is calculated to cut the reef at 220 ft., and at a depth of 180 ft. below the surface. At 20 chains down the Valley from the mouth of the last mentioned tunnel preparations are being made to erect the battery, which is shortly expected on the spot. This company has applied for a coal lease, which is within a quarter of a mile of the battery site, and where it is said a 6ft. seam is exposed to view. 15. Gallant Quartz-mine. —This mine joins the north boundary of the Drake. The reef—from 2ft. to 3ft. thick —has been exposed at short intervals along the surface from near the south to quite up to the north boundary, and the stone in every place shows gold. 16. Scotia Quartz-mine. —This mine joins the north boundary of the Gallant, and shows a continuation of the same reef on the boundary for a short distance. Prospecting tunnels are now being put in in search of the reef northward along the line of reef. I was told that the north boundary of this claim joins the Inkerman Mine at Eainy Creek. This would therefore make five leases along this line of reef, and should, at no distant date, give employment to a large number of men. Boatman's. 17. Fiery Cross Quartz-mine (14th December). —This mine has a total of forty men employed. Twenty-six of these are stoping out on the new level, 600 ft. below the surface. I had occasion to find fault with the sluggishness of the air in this level, and stated, as a matter of fact, that complaints had been made about the bad air in the mine. The manager must have been aware of the fact that the air was bad, because there were a number of new air-pipes in the mine which were being fitted and fixed in the main-drive while I was in the mine. The mine appears to be carefully worked. No spring-catches on the cages yet, but the manager has promised to order them at once. 18. Just in Time Quartz-mine (15th December). —This mine is now being worked at 85ft. and 200 ft. levels, which is the lowest depth yet opened in this mine. All winding is done for this and the adjoining company —Eeforin—by a 30ft. water-wheel, w Thich is the joint property of the two companies. The boundary of the two mines is about 30ft. from the shaft. The reef is about 2ft. thick, and there are only twelve men employed at present, but 25 men will be employed when there is more room. The air is good, and the workings are in good order. 19. Beform Quartz-mine (15th December). —This mine is in the hands of tributers just now, but the men were not working on the day of my visit. I learned that they had just finished up a small crushing which they did not consider payable, and were therefore not inclined, to resume work on the same terms. One of the tributers showed me over the workings, and pointed out to me where he had been working, and where he intended to work, provided satisfactory arrangements could be made with the company. This inspection enabled me to point out to him many things he would have to do in the event of his again resuming work. There are no ladders in the main-passes, and much of the old timber in the main-levels will have to be renewed to make the working-places safe. No plan, no weekly report-book, and no copy of the Act kept at the mine. 20. South Hopeful Quartz-mine (15th December). —This mine is situated on the south side of Boatman's Creek, and has been in occupation for many years without finding any stone till quite lately. This late discovery of stone was made in the old main-drive about 33ft. in from the face of the hill, and' only a few feet from the left side of the old drive, which appears to have been driven alongside of, and only a few feet from, the reef. A winze has been sunk about 30ft. on the reef, where it is very good, and about a foot thick. There are only two men employed yet. It is intended to get the stone crushed at the Just in Time battery, which is quite handy to the mine. 21. Walhalla Quartz-mine (15th December). —This mine is being worked by a party of tributers who were not in the mine at the time of my visit. I found the mine well ventilated, but some of the timber in the main-levels is very much crushed, and showed decay. I wrote to the legal manager calling his attention to this, and requesting him to get new timber put in these bad places. 22. Argus Quartz-mine (15th December). —This is a new mine on the south side of Boatman's Creek and east of the Lone Star. As yet only leaders have been found, and a tunnel has been put in to test their value, and in the hope they may lead to a solid reef. The country, as far as it has been driven into, is very loose and exceedingly wet over head. As yet there are only three men employed. 23. Welcome Quartz-mine. —The tunnel from the face of the hill to the mine shaft is 2,600 ft. in length, through which all the timber, stone, &c, is drawn by a horse. A' large quantity of timber throughout this great length of tunnel has to be renewed from time to time, and some of it at very short intervals, where the ground is crushing in, to keep it from collapsing. The workings at the present time arc 1,150 ft. below the surface and quite dry. The reef has lately been very patchy, and one of the working-faces on the day of my visit showed a leader of rich gold-bearing antimony. The slaty-rock along the line of reef is just now remarkably free, and easily removed by the hand from the face and walls. The side pressure shows on the timber a few days after it is put in, and much of the timber in the main-levels has to be renewed every few days in order to keep the working-places open. The main-passes have to be treated in a similar manner to enable the men to get through them. There are no safety-catches on the cages yet. The ventilation is very good and carefully looked after. 24. Eureka Quartz-mine (16th December). —There are only two shifts of two men each below ground driving a tunnel in search of a reef and two engine-drivers. The tunnel now being driven is 600 ft. below the surface, and this depth is reached by an incline-tunnel I,Booft. in length, having a dip of lin 3. This mine, although occupied for many years, has not yet produced any payable stone. I do not think there has been continuous prospecting during all the years the mine has been held. No copy of the Act, no weekly report-book, and no plan kept at the mine.