a—3a

9

cost of 6d. per ton. This method, if adopted, will enable the company to deal with many thousands of tons which have been left. The company crushed 1,800 tons of quartz for 5,8560z., and the tributers 205 tons for 1350z. 15dwt., of gold. The quartz mined by the tributers was from the Whau and battery levels. Twenty-eight wages-men and five tributers were employed. Dixon's Extended Mine (Dixon's Gold-mining Company, owners).— The work has all been carried on by tributers, seven men being employed. 1,283 tons of quartz were crushed for 3470z. 13dwt. of gold. The owners are in treaty to sell the mine and battery to the New Alburnia Company. New Chum Claim (Harmo and party, owners).—Work was carried on on a rich surface-leader, and 9 tons lewt. 501b. of quartz crushed for 970z. 2dwt. of gold. Two owners were employed. Several other claims were worked, and the quartz from mullock-heaps and surface-leaders crushed, for a return of 2050z. 16dwt. of gold. Geahamstown Disteict. Victoria Mine (Victoria Gold-mining Company, owners).—This mine is worked from the Tookey shaft. About 500 ft. of old drives have been cleaned out and repaired, and a cross-cut, 400 ft., driven at No. 3or 300 ft. level in the direction of the old Golden Gate shaft. Several reefs and leaders were cut, but further prospecting is postponed until the cross-cut is driven far enough to cut the Waiotahi reefs. The reefs and leaders worked on were at the 160 ft. level. 310 tons for 3520z. lOdwt. were treated for the company, and for the tributers 198 tons for 130oz. of gold. Sundry erushings from parcels obtained on the beach, amounting to 200 tons, yielded 1340z. 15dwt., and 13,220 tons of tailings were treated in the tailing-mills for 2,4110z. of gold. Waiotahi Disteict. Waiotahi Mine (Waiotahi Gold-mining Company, owners).—This mine is steadily worked. Driving and stoping is carried on on the reefs and leaders above No. 3 level in the main shaft, and driving is continued to the eastward. On the reefs in the Mary Ann section of the mine, 2,137 tons of quartz were crushed by the company for 2,6670z. 16dwt., and the tributers crushed 70 tons for 50oz. 15dwt., of gold. Thirty wages-men and two tributers were employed. Altogether, 900 ft. were driven on reefs and leaders, and 1,000 fathoms stoped out. Cambria Mine (the Cambria Gold-mining Company, owners) .—Work is confined to driving and stoping on leaders and reefs at No. 2 and No. 3 levels; 1,621 tons of quartz were crushed on company's account for a return of 1,4690z. 17dwt. of gold. Twenty-one wages-men were employed in the mine and battery. Fame and Fortune Mine (E. K. Cooper and owners).—Seven wages-men and twelve tributers were employed during the year. The mine was"chiefly worked on tribute, but the owners have latterly employed wages-men in driving eastward on these reefs—viz., the Golden Age Beef, 2ft., foot-wall leader 6in., and the No. 2 reef, called the Caledonian No. 1 Beef, Bft. in thickness, 2ft!' of which is taken out. The owners crushed 56 tons for 48oz. 9dwt., and the tributers 338 tons for 7990z., of gold. . Mr. Cooper informs me this mine has been sold to an English company during the past year with a capital of £50,000, and work will be conducted on a large scale. West Coast Mine (Carnie and Northey, owners).—Two men have been employed on tribute, and 42 tons and 441b. of quartz crushed for 78oz. 14dwt. of gold. Neiu Fearnought Mine (New Fearnought Gold-mining Company, owners).—Work has been carried on on the reef known as the Great Bepublic Beef, which is 18in. in thickness. Four wagesmen were employed, and 58 tons crushed for 91oz. Bdwt. of gold. Acme (Acme Gold-mining Company, owners). —This mine is situated at Punga Flat, adjoining the Alburnia. A slide, however, has disturbed the country in this quarter, and it is a difficult matter to trace the run of the reefs worked in the Alburnia ground. An old level, 600 ft. in length, has been cleaned out and retimbered, and a rise of 80ft. made for ventilation. The company has not yet crushed any quartz, but the tributers crushed five loads for 88oz. 15dwt. of gold. Four wagesmen and two tributers employed. _ , _, , Sundry claims were worked in the Waiotahi district—the Golden Age, Diggers Friend, Blanche, Mount Edwards, and others. There were also erushings obtained from picking old mullock-tips. The amount crushed was 294 tons for 3450z. Bdwt. of gold. Waiokaeaka Disteict. May Queen Mine (May Queen Gold-mining Company, owners). — This mine now includes the May Queen, Trenton, Hematite, Saxon, and Hand of Friendship. The workings in the May Queen section consisted of driving and stoping out large blocks of reef down to water-level. Three reefs are worked, each of which is about 15in. in thickness. About 550 ft. of driving was done, and 550 fathoms of reef stoped out, for 3,230 tons of quartz, which yielded 3,1390z. of gold. Thirty wages-men were employed. In the Saxon section the return of gold was obtained from tributers, who crushed 328 tons of quartz for 1,2300z. lldwt. of gold. Fifty-seven tributers were employed. Towards the latter end of the year the company cleaned up the No. 6 level, and made preparations to drive a level into the Queen of May section. The distance from the Saxon boundary to the May Queen shaft is 1,361 ft., and some time will elapse before communication can be effected. It was found necessary to pump the water down to the 500 ft. level of the Big Pump before No. 6 level could be used. This is the most 'important prospecting work at present going on at the Thames ; a large block of land will be drained, and the reefs in the May Queen section also drained to a further depth, giving 100 ft. of backs. 2—C. 3a.