15

C—3a

Thames Dbainage. Big Pump. Pumping operations have been steadily carried on during the year, the water-level being kept 493 ft. from the sill. The May Queen Company was thus enabled to continue the low-level to drain the new block opened from the Saxon workings. No other mine was worked at such a depth. The quantity of coal consumed during the year was 2,500 tons, principally from Hikurangi and Ngunguru Coal-mines. The working expenses were £3,300, or about £280 per month. A new exhaust-pipe was fitted to the top of the cylinder, at a cost of £50. A new 5-Jin. steel-wire rope (breaking-strain, 125 tons), 850 ft. in length, and costing £114, was obtained to replace the round hemp rope used on the capstan. A new pulley for the rope, fixed on the poppet-heads, cost £45. Six men are constantly employed. Genekal Bules. The ventilation of mines and the other rules are generally well complied with throughout the Hauraki district. Dividends Paid. Try Fluke Gold-mining Company, £1,250; Waiotahi Gold-mining Company, £1,500; Komata Gold-mining Company, £1,500; Waihi Gold-mining Company, £40,000. Accidents. No fatal accidents occurred during the year, but the following were reported : —■ Thomas Johnson received injuries about the head, and face from a blast in Victoria Mine on the Bth April, 1894. John Peat was injured by a truck falling over the tip at May Queen Mine on the 25th June, 1894. Fred Booth was caught in machinery at Waiorongomai Battery on the 20th August, 1894. Carlo Blusch was injured by piece of rock falling from hanging-wall ; Queen of the North Mine, on the 16th August, 1894. Thomas Paltridge : Leg broken by rock falling from side of drive, Hazelbank Mine, on the 29th September, 1894. E. A. Daldy : Fingers injured by explosion of a detonator, Hauraki Mine, on the 19th October, 1894. Mark Shea : Leg broken by fall from ladder, Eed Mercury Mine, on the 20th November, 1894. Herbert Eobinson : Injury to hip by fall of mullock on surface, Orlando Mine, on the 18th January, 1895. Edward Moore : Compound dislocation of the toe by foot slipping under connecting-rod of pumping-engine, Hauraki Mine, on the 19th January, 1895. Thomas Smith : Injured by explosion in a hole previously fired, Crown Mine, on the 26th January, 1895. John Egan : Collar-bone broken and severely bruised by fall of rock from hang-ing-wall, Maddens Folly Mine, on the 2nd March, 1895. Thomas Lynch was injured by fall from ladder, Waihi Battery, on the 27th March, 1895. With the exception of Thomas Johnson, all the others are able to resume their ordinary employment. Remarks. The returns show an increase for Coromandel of 11,5390z. This is due to the rich yield from the Hauraki Mine, otherwise there would have been a decrease, owing to the falling-off in the yield from Kapanga and Kuaotunu. In the Thames district there is a decrease of 11,8890z., the falling-off being chiefly in the mines within the drainage area and Moanataiari district. In Comer's, Kuranui, there is an increase of 2420z. sdwt., in the Waiotahi lOOoz. ldwt., and in the Victoria 2820z. 17dwt.; whilst Hansen's, Kuranui, shows a decrease of 7070z., Hazelbank 1,6680z., Moanataiari 1,2230z. Bdwt., Cambria 681oz. lldwt., and the May Queen 3590z. 15dwt., being a total decrease of 4,0150z. ldwt. There has also been a great falling-off in the return from the New Alburnia Mine, the return being 9850z. for 1895, as against 5,9910z. 15dwt. for 1894. In Tapu, Waiomo, Puru, Moanataiari, Waiotahi, Karaka, Una Hill and Te Papa, Hape Creek, and Tairua districts yields are much less than those of last year. The chief prospecting-work during the year has been in the Victoria, Moanataiari, Alburnia, Fame and Fortune, and the May Queen Mines. The ground opened up has not so far been productive, but the workings in the large block opened in the May Queen Mine already show that a material increase in the next year's yield from this mine may be anticipated. The workings lately opened in the New Alburnia will yield payable returns. The general indications in the Thames district are that, unless one of the rich patches for which the Thames is noted be discovered, there is little hope that the yield for next year will favourably compare with the past returns. The returns from Ohinemuri district, with the exception of the Crown Mine at Karangahake, show a material increase, and at Te Aroha the decrease may be attributed to a less quantity of tailings having been treated during the year. In Coromandel district there is every prospect of rich returns being maintained from the Hauraki Mine, and, although a large amount of English capital is to be expended in the Blagrove's, Scotty's, Kapanga, Tokatea, Eoyal Oak, and other mines, there may not be any great addition to next year's yield of gold, as the preliminary work in shaft-sinking, &c, will probably occupy a considerable part of this year. Extensive work in prospecting deep ground in country of a favourable character, but formerly inaccessible on account of water, will, in my opinion, lead to the discovery of a continuation of the rich reefs formerly worked, and there is very little doubt of ultimate success attending deeper exploration. At Kuaotunu, a greater yield may be expected, the Try Fluke, Great Mercury, and KapaiVermont having their mines well opened up, and the reefs yield good prospects of gold. In the Thames district it does not at present appear that there will be any great improvement, as, even in the event of a scheme being adopted to work the low levels, much time will elapse before