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by the Cassell Company, it is placed in cast-iron cylinders, having hollow trunnion axles in the centre, similar to the cylinders of an oscillating steam-engine. These cylinders are placed in an upright position on a frame. The tank containing the cyanogen solution with other salts is placed adjoining the cylinders, and a force-pump is used to force the solution up through the ore and return it into the tank ; thus the same solution is used over and over again, and if it is found that the slimes tend to make the ore too compact, the cylinder is reversed on its trunnions, and the solution again easily forced through the ore. Mr. Bohm has kindly given me tracings and descriptions of his plant, which will be found in this report under the heading " Mining Machinery." Silverton Company. —This company has purchased the crushing plant formerly belonging to the Martha Company. They have altered the crushing-battery so as to make a battery of five stamps act as a stone-breaker. There is a very coarse grating in this battery, to admit of the quartz being reduced to the size of small peas. The reduced ore passes into a battery of ten heads of stamps, and there pulverised to sufficient fineness for amalgamation, the ore being treated by a similar process to that used by the Waihi Company. The mine which adjoins the Waihi Company's property has an entirely different lode from that either going through the Martha or the Union and Eosamond Mines. At the time of my visit they were quarrying the lode on the surface, where it is in some places 12ft. in width, and suddenly narrows in to 3ft. in other places; but where the lode widens out there is generally a large portion of it containing very low-grade ore. They were, however, getting very good ore at the time of my visit. The lode is stoped for a considerable distance up from the level first constructed ; but, as the outcrop of the lode contains a great many loose boulders, the manager considered it more prudent to quarry the top portion instead of stoping it from the level. They have also commenced to construct a new level 75ft. below the present one, but this will take a good while yet to complete, as they have about I,Booft. to drive before cutting the lode. Waitekauri. Mining operations have not been carried on here successfully during last year. It was anticipated, when Mr. Eussell purchased the crushing-battery and affected such alterations as to make it similar to the wet-crushing plant constructed by the Waihi Company, it would revive mining in this locality; but the result has proved very disappointing. It is evident from the returns of the crushed ore last year that Mr. Eussell had not tested the value of the lode in his Waitekauri property before commencing to expend money on his crushing-plant, as during last year 1,500 tons was crushed for a yield of 131oz. lldwt. of gold, which would be an average of about Idwt. 18gr. of gold per ton. This ore had to be brought about two miles by tramway to the battery. The loss on working, therefore, must have been very considerable. During last year a new lode was discovered at Komata by some of the former students of the School of Mines at Thames, and it is said that Mr. Eussell gave them £3,000 for their property. The lode varies from 3ft. to 12ft. wide. A level has been constructed about 120 ft. below the outcrop, and about 70ft. driven on the lode. Mr. Eussell estimates the average assay-value of the ore will be from £5 to £6 per ton. He constructed a sleigh-track, and brought 100 tons of the ore over the range to his battery, which yielded 4500z. of gold, being an average of 4-Joz. of gold per ton. He is now constructing a tramway to connect the mine with the battery, at an estimated cost of about £2,000. Te Aroha District. The mining industry in this district has not been in a prosperous condition for the last few years. Nevertheless, it is a goldfield that promises yet to come to the front and be capable of supporting a large mining population. The Te Aroha Gold and Silver Company suspended operations, about three years ago, and owing to their holding a large area of ground, it was virtually kept locked up for a considerable time, until all their property was sold by the liquidators. This prevented the mining population which was then in the district from carrying on work on the land held by the company, but which was afterwards thrown open to the public by the purchaser of the company's property. When once a state of depression in a district sets in it takes in many instances several years to recover. There is not a goldfield in the colony that offers better facilities for prospecting, but to carry on prospecting operations systematically would entail a large capital. Several years ago, when Messrs. Firth and Clarke held the Waiorongomai crushing-battery, and mines in that locality, Mr. Firth prepared a scheme to test the ground, and one which there was every reason to believe would prove a successful venture. This scheme was to drive an adit-level on the main lode, which can be followed on the outcrop for a distance of about three miles. This adit was to be started a little distance above the level of the Waiorongamai Flat, and to be carried on along the lode, with uprises here and there at certain distances apart. The Te Aroha Gold and Silver Company also proposed another scheme before they suspended operations, which was to construct a cross-cut from the level of the tramway to cut the main lode, and afterwards to drive along it for about 2,000 ft. ; but before undertaking this work they wanted a subsidy from the Government of about £15,000, which was declined, consequently the work was never undertaken. The greater portion of the gold got in the district has been obtained from this mam lode, and in some places the whole of it, for a width of 12ft., w r as taken out and sent to the crushing-battery. Shots of gold have been found in this lode in several of the mines, and a considerable distance apart; and there is every reason to believe that if systematic prospecting operations were carried on further rich discoveries would be made. There were four gold-producing claims in this district last year, in which twenty-one men were employed, exclusive of eight tributers. There were 1,597 tons of quartz crushed, which yielded 6700z. 7dwt. gold ; and 1,125 tons of tailings were treated, for 308oz. sdwt. gold. The following is a statement showing the number of tons of quartz crushed in the Ohinemuri and Te Aroha Districts during last year by the several companies, with the area of ground held by each, and the quantity of gold obtained: —