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that it would take £25,000 to extend the head-race for four miles and three quarters to the Arahura Biver, where an unfailing supply can be obtained. About £70,000 has already been expended on plant and claims. The value of gold obtained last year was £2,536 10s. 6d., as against £1,916 Bs. for the previous year. The working-expenses last year were £1,382 6s. 2d., and under the head of management £436 7s. 7d. was incurred, which makes the total expenditure £1,818 13s. 9d., thus leaving a profit on the working of £717 16s. 9d. for the year. The tributers are said to pay the company over 60 per cent, of the gross yields, the company keeping the water-race in repair and supplying the water. There is work for many years in this locality, but the property will not be of any value to the shareholders until a large and permanent supply of water is brought on to the ground, so that different faces and sluices can be kept going. Boss. This place still continues to support a considerable population, but the available ground in the flat above the w r ater-level is gradually getting worked out, or, at least, the best portions of it. There are several terraces high up the range between Boss and Mount Greenland, and even on the top of Mount Greenland, that would pay for working by hydraulic sluicing if water could be brought on to them; but there is no possibility of getting a regular supply of water up to this elevation. The only hope of mining reviving in this locality is to get the workings in the deep levels commenced again. If even the water were pumped down to allow what was known as the second bottom there are a good many pillars, and even some of the ground that was worked in the early days would give fair remuneration for working. There seems to be at the present time a dislike to invest money in mining ventures. Outside capital is required to prospect and develop the deep levels, which are likely to produce a large amount of gold. There is no question that there is rich gold-bearing drifts in the deep levels, but powerful pumping machinery will be required before the ground can be worked. Boss United Company. —This company holds the whole of the ground on Boss Flat, but all mining operations at the deep levels have been suspended for the last four years, and since these workings were stopped the company has been deriving a small revenue by letting the ground on the upper levels on tribute. It is estimated that an expenditure of about £20,000 will be required to erect powerful pumping machinery, sink a new shaft, and open out the ground. At the •time that the mine was flooded out the company were working good ground. In six months they obtained from the deep levels gold to the value of £8,415 15s. 6d., and three companies who worked these levels previous to the present company acquiring the ground obtained gold to the value of £43,865 10s., in an average of thirty-three weeks' work. The same company holds a special claim at Donoghue's, which is being worked with elevators and a tunnel tail-race. In connection with the latter claim, a large water-race is constructed along the face of the range to intercept Squatter's, Blue Gully, and Bedman's Creeks, and carry on until the Mikonui Biver was reached, where there is an unfailing supply of water. There is yet about one mile and a half to construct before the water can be lifted from this river. The supply of water at present is intermittent, and it is only in moderately wet weather that a sufficient supply can be obtained to work the elevators and carry on sluicing operations at Donoghue's. There are also elevators at work at Boss Flat, and a tunnel tail-race constructed to the ocean beach, by which the ground is drained to a depth of about 90ft. The company holds an area of ground comprising 260 acres in special claims. The amount of gold got by the tributers last year, working both sets of elevators and from shafts, was 1,6320z. sdwt. Bgr., of which 7860z. 13dwt. 13gr. was from Boss elevators, 4900z. 14dwt. 18gr. from the Donoghue's elevators, and 3540z. 17dwt. lgr. from other tributers. The amount of gold obtained from the upper levels since the operations in the deep ground were suspended —from 17th February, 1887, to 30th March last—was 6,2620z. 12dwt. 7gr.., representing a value of £23,787 17s. 6d. The tributers working the Boss elevators pay 35 per cent, of the gross yield of gold, and the company gives them water from the upper water-race to the extent of eight sluice-heads, and also the use of the two lower waterraces, which the tributers have to keep in repair. The company also find material for all repairs to machinery and plant, but the tributers have to find the labour. The tributers of the Donoghue's elevators pay 30 per cent, of the gross yield, and get the use of the water-race, and also all material for effecting repairs to the machinery and plant, but they have to supply all labour. The other tributers pay from sto 10 per cent, of the gross yield. During the last year the tributes amounted to £1,730 14s. 6d., and sales of water from the upper water-race to £91 3s. 6d., making the income for the year £1,821 18s., while the expenditure for the same period, was £1,253 lis. 4d. in working-expenses, and £420 Is. 4d. in connection with office-expenses, directors' fees, &c, making the total expenditure in connection with the actual working of the ground £1,673 12s. Bd. This shows a profit of £147 ss. 4d. for the year. Mont dOr Company. —This is one of the most successful mining companies inWestland. Their claim is situated at the head of Sailor's Gully, which now includes the ground formerly held by the Greenland Company. This ground was purchased, in conjunction with the water-races and plant, &c, about two years ago by the Mont dOr Company for about £8,000, and they work both hydraulic plants during wet weather, but in moderately fine weather they confine their operations to the Mont dOr ground. This claim will take a lifetime to work out, and is likely to be a dividendpaying one for many a year. Tdapeka Distbiot. There is very little mining in this district now. The old workings have been turned over again and again in many places, and still some of the Chinese manage to make a livelihood working the old ground. It may be said that, with the exception of the workings at the Blue Spur, there are very few Europeans mining in the district; but there are a good few Chinese scattered here and there in Weatherstone's, Gabriel's, and Tuapeka Flat. The Chinese seem to
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