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Milton. The Canada Beefs. —A large amount of work has been done on these reefs, which are situated on a spur leading up from the Woolshed Eiver. There are several lodes in this locality, but the two principal ones are what are termed the Canada and the Ocean View lodes, which are about 300 ft. apart, running parallel to each other, having an easterly and westerly course, and dipping to the northward. The Canada lode has been worked from an adit-level which gave about 100 ft. of backs; and the Ocean View lode from a shaft which has been sunk to a depth of 160 ft., the average thickness of the latter for a considerable distance being Bft. The Canada lodes had not such a great width as this, but, on a recent examination of these lodes by Mr. James Coutts, he saw gold in the stone in the face. During the last twenty-seven years several parties have at different times worked these mines. Three crushing-batteries have been erected, two of which consisted of ten head of stampers and the other of fifteen heads; but two of the batteries were eventually removed from the field, and the other was burned down. The Bruce Quartz-crushing Company took up the ground and worked it continuously from 1874 to 1877. The returns were not particularly large, but still they showed that such a large-sized lode should, with proper appliances for working, have been made payable. During the time that mining operations were carried on by this company 9,110 tons of quartz was crushed, which yielded 2,0970z. 12dwt. of gold, giving an average of 4'32dwt. per ton. During the last year in which the company was at work 4,579 tons of stone was crushed, which yielded 8540z. of gold. This gives an average of a little over 3-J-dwt. of gold per ton, or a value of about 145., whereas, taking the average value of the whole of the quartz-crushing, it would be about 17s. per ton. It is to be borne in mind that the company suspended their operations about eighteen years ago, when the improvements for quartz reduction and gold-saving appliances were not so perfected as at the present time ; therefore, in view of the large body of stone which is in these lodes, with the recent improvements in gold-saving methods, there is a fair probability of these lodes being yet worked'at a'profit. To open this mine up again and work it in a systematic manner a low-level adit would have to be constructed. Mr. Coutts states that one has been constructed from the face of the hill, about 40ft. above the level of the Woolshed Creek, and is now in for a distance of about 400 ft. This has been driven on nearly the same course as the lodes, and to any one unacquainted with the same it would appear that it would have been more advisable to pick up one of the lodes and drive on it to the desired point; but the lodes did not show in the face of the hill above the level of the adit on account of what appears to be a hard belt of country, which has pinched them out. Mr. Coutts is of opinion that it would be better to extend this adit 300 ft. farther, to a point where the lodes have been worked on the upper levels, before putting in a cross-drive to intersect it. There is plenty of water here, and every facility for working this lode, and there is a good site for the erection of a crushing-battery, which can be driven by water-power. If after the lodes are prospected at a greater depth, and similar ore found to that which was crushed in the early days, there is a fair possibility of making these lodes remumerative for working, if a reduction plant is erected with all the modern appliances for saving the fine gold. Waipori. There are a large number of quartz lodes in the Waipori district, but for some years past the returns from these have been very disappointing, and at the present quartz-mining operations may be said to be in abeyance. My other duties prevented me from visiting this district last year, and. no reliable information has been afforded me with reference to quartz-mining in this locality. However, the battery returns do not show that any gold has been obtained from the quartz-work-ings in this locality last year. If any work is being done it is of a prospecting character. The Bella Quartz-mine, including crushing-battery, with water-race and all appliances, was sold last year to Mr. i\ W. Knight for £85. The battery and plant originally cost the company, it is said, about £200, and the water-race about £300 to construct, while about £1,600 was expended in the construction of adits and opening up the mine. It is stated that Mr. Knight intends to further prospect this mine, as he believes that good stone will be found to remunerate him amply for his outlay. Old Man Bange. This is a locality where there are a considerable number of quartz lodes, and leaders, and occasionally some fair stone is obtained. No doubt in future years more discoveries of auriferous lodes will be found here, not only on the side of the range facing the Clutha Valley, but also on the top of the plateau near the head of Campbell Creek and its tributaries, and also about the head of the tributaries of the Waikaia Eiver. The gold found in the alluvial drifts about Campbell's and the Waikaia has a great deal of quartz adhering to it, and it does not show that waterworn appearance that gold generally has that has been carried away some distance by streams. A considerable quantity of the gold found here in the alluvial drifts is derived, no doubt, from the concentration of a large quantity of material resulting from the denudation of the quartzose-schist formation in this locality; at the same time there is reason to believe that quartz lodes will yet be found here that will prove payable for working. The high elevation of this locality, being about 5,000 ft. above sea-level, is greatly against prospecting being carried on here, for it is only during the summer months when any work near the surface could be done. White Beef. —This is now worked by E. T. Symes, who purchased it some years ago from the White's Company. The mine is situated on the face of the Old Man Eange above the Bald Hill Flat. The first adit-level constructed here went through a very broken, disjointed rock ( showing