a—2

6

The discoveries at the Golden Cross, Waitekauri, have also given an impetus to mining in this locality. The large auriferous and argentiferous lodes containing rich ore mark this as a place where considerable sums of money will be expended in prospecting for other lodes, and also where a large mining population will find profitable employment. During the past year 31,221 tons of quartz were crushed, which yielded by amalgamation 16,5720z.,' and by the cyanide process 76,3600z. bullion, while 19,837 tons of tailings were also treated for a return of 17,6650z., and 31oz. bullion by amalgamation, making a total of 110,6280z. bullion, representing an estimated value of £137,699, which is equal to about £1 3s. Id. per ounce, as against 68,6030z. bullion, having a value of £107,001 for the former year, which is equal to about £1 lis. 2d. per ounce, while 538 men have been employed in connection with the mines last year. The recent discoveries last year and the good returns from the mines has given a considerable impulse to mining in the adjacent districts, causing extensive areas to be again taken up. It has therefore been considered advisable to extend the boundaries of the goldfields in the Hauraki District. Waioeongomai. Very little mining has been carried on during the' last year on this field notwithstanding the numerous lodes that are known to exist containing both gold and silver, and which have to a certain extent been proved to contain sufficient bullion to make them remunerative for working if a suitable process were adopted to extract the bullion from the base metals in the ore. Bich patches of auriferous ore have been obtained from the main line of reef traversing the country, and outcropping for some miles along the range. But this main lode has never been tested at any great depth, although this could easily be done by adit-levels. During the last year only about sixteen men were employed on the field, and 891 tons of quartz crushed, which yielded 5720z. bullion, while 250 tons of tailings were treated for a return of 550z. bullion, representing a value of £1,711. West Coast. The principal quartz district of the West Coast is the Inangahua, but unfortunately there has been depression in mining there for some years past. It is, however, gratifying to state that this cloud of depression is likely to be lifted, and things are assuming brighter aspects than they have done for some time past. Many of the mines have been worked to a considerable depth; but, until last year, nothing was found of any consequence to afford encouragement to prospect the lodes at deep levels. The lodes that had been worked from the surface were found in some of the mines to get broken up and cut out, and, even when they were found to continue to go down, the ore became of too low a grade to prove remunerative for working. This being the case, those who were interested in mining properties became disheartened at paying calls without any likelihood of being again recouped for the outlay. This state of things existed last year, when a new lode was discovered in the Keep-It-Dark Mine at a depth of about 770 ft. below the surface, near where the lode on the upper levels cut out. After sinking on this new lode for 100 ft., it was proved to be of a considerable size, from 10ft. to 12ft. in width, and the crushings recently made from this place show the yield to be from lOdwt. to 15dwt. of gold per ton ; also on the adjoining mine, the Wealth of Nations, a new lode has been found at a greater depth than hitherto worked, and promises to give good returns. These discoveries have been the means of directing more attention to quartz-mining on this field, and properties are being again taken up which before were considered of little or no value. There has recently been a considerable demand for mines in the Beefton district. A Mr. Ziman, from South Africa, has lately purchased several mining properties with the view of finding sufficient working capital to open them up at greater depths and to carry on far more extensive operations than heretofore.