45

C—3

9gr. of gold to the ton. In the Irene Claim eight men got out 333|- tons of stone, which yielded 2750z. 17dwt. of gold ; but at the time of my visit work in this claim was discontinued, owing to some dispute as to the ownership. Only one man was at work in the Waitaia Claim at the time of my visit. A new low-level has been constructed, and a small leader cut, on which the man was at work, but, judging from its size and quality of the stons, it will not pay to work. The Otama Claim, on Comers' Block, has been worked principally by two tributers, who got out 19 tons of stone last year, which yielded 3730z. of gold. Taking the whole of the quartz crushed on the field last year—namely, 10,093 tons, the yield of gold was 8,4830z. 13dwt., being an average of about 16dwt.l9gr. of gold per ton. There was also 2,760 tons of tailings treated, which yielded 1,0230z. 4dwt. of gold, being an average of a little over 7dwt. of gold per ton. The following statement shows the area of ground held in mining claims in the Coromandel district; the number of men employed as wages-men and tributers respectively ; the number of tons of stone and tailings treated, and the yield of gold therefrom, for the year ending the 31st March, 1893 :—

Mahakirau. On my former visit to this field some three years ago, Mr. Eeynolds and party were prospecting a small leader of quartz, from which some very rich specimens were obtained. This leader is on the side of the range facing the Mahakirau Creek, about four miles above Mr. Hooker's farm in the Mahakirau Valley, and is about eight miles from Mercury Bay. Since that time Mr. Eeynolds has

Avera of! Empj ige No. den For Owners. For Tribi iters. Tailii lgS. Locality and Name of Mine or Company. Area of Land held. (0 loyei 03 O P rO H Quartz crushed. Gold obtained. Quartz crushed. Gold obtained. jj CO rS V ■a — oo 2 a o Coromandel County. 'okatea Range— Tokatea Royal Oak Bismarck Harbour View Rob Roy Mayn's (Blow) .. W. Mayn's Claim Blue Peter Sundry claims .. A. it. p. Tons cwt. lb. Oz. dwt. Tons cwt. lb. Oz. dwt. Tons. Oz. dwt. 14 2 0 10 2 27 11 1 38 5 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 3 0 0 20 0 0 9 5 3 2 2 85 10 0 105 0 0 2 0 38 8 0 0 50 0 0 23 10 17 1 31 8 10 18 81 19 43 6 0 1 9 20 0 6 106 14 1 162 14 296 0 79 19 16 17 2 2 1 10 78 2 25 15 21 250 10 38 164 16 46 6 15 555 10 Capanga— Kapanga and Coromandel.. Scotty's.. Colthurst's Claim Premier 108 0 3 29 1 20 2 0 0 5 0 0 44 4 1 1 9 5 286 0 0 110 1 38 9 10 0 3 10 0 177 0 97 18 28 7 11 6 40 0 0 127 7 'iki —Castle Rock .. Lopukaitahi—McDonald's .. Vaikoromiko—Dyer „ Lillis's (pitonui—Little's -.. „ Ryan .. .. )wera lahakirau latarangi—Ocean View lundry claims 144 1 23 50 14 409 1 38 314 11 40 0 127 7 3 0 0 6 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 12 0 0 14 2 30 20 0 0 2 1 3 2 3 2 12 4 6 10 0 2 54 0 0 42 1 0 57 2 10 0 0 16 10 0 0 6 1,496 0 0 31 0 5 17 14 11 127 6 15 0 20 5 1,921 0 34' 0 0 25 0 0 100 0 50 0 105 2 30 45 1,559 9 57 2,284 19 Luaotunu— Try Fluke Kuaotunu Red Mercury Great Mercury Just-in-Time Mariposa Irene Otama Black Jack Waitaia.. Invicta Excelsior Sundry claims 19 0 7 15 0 0 14 0 0 28 0 0 8 2 24 4 2 6 7 2 0 20 1 20 10 1 3 30 0 0 8 0 0 9 0 20 20 0 0 32 5 24 33 12 8 2 3 3 2 3 8 5 4,116 0 0 250 0 0 2,291 0 0 2,312 0 0 300 0 0 333 10 0 4 0 0 37 10 0 50 0 0 30 0 0 74 0 0 2,186 0 191 10 2,307 2 2,304 0 171 0 257 17 50 0 154 10 71 7 26 2 19 7 50 0 276 '6 0 321'18 1,542 1,190 550 0 461'11 2 19 0 0 373' 0 "28 11*18 194 2 0 Totals 135 9,798 0 0 7,788 15 295 0 0 694 18 2,760 1023 4 381 1 6 523 0 38 245 42 12,017 1 21 10,553 1 1377 15 2,760 1023 4