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The Flossie Claim was also worked for a time by a party of tributers. In the Evening Star Mine prospecting was for a time carried on by two men. The Morning Star Claim was also prospected by a party of two men. Other claims were also prospected for a short time. Paul's Greek District. In the Golden Lead Claim prospecting operations were carried on for a short time, a crushing of 10 tons yielding 4oz. 14 dwt. of gold, valued at £13 12s. lid. Waikoromiko District. Forest Queen Mine (Area, 50 acres). —This mine is owned by Messrs. F. Home and P. Johnson. The work so far is principally of a prospecting nature, and a number of leaders and reefs have been located on this property. The principal development work has been carried out on the Forest Queen reef. This reef varies in size from a few inches to 2 ft. 6 in. A level has been put in for about 200 ft., giving 30 ft. of backs. One ton of ore from this gave a return of 15 oz. melted gold. Another cross-cut has been driven about 70 ft. below, and cuts the reef at 190 ft. in from the mouth. It is then driven on for 140 ft. to the north-west. A crushing from this portion at the Thames School of Mines gave a return of 7 oz. 12 dwt. melted gold from half a ton of ore. The general run of the reefs in this property is north-west and south-east, varying in size from 3 ft. in width to small veins. The Forest Queen reef traverses a kindly class of country, being decomposed andesite or propolite. It is found to carry gold for over 100 ft., some of the stone yielding 1 oz. to the pound. Another old level which was cleaned out showed eleven reefs and leaders mostly running parallel to and dipping the same way as the Forest Queen reef—to the southward. As it is a pack-track which leads to the mine it is only the richest of the ore that can be taken to the battery. The gold won from this mine is valued at £2 17s. 6d. per ounce, and, with a crushing plant, the owners are confident that the mine would soon become remunerative. Four-in-Hand Mine (Area, 30 acres). —Work has been carried on on the reef opened in this mine, seven men being for some time employed. Work has also been done in the Tandem, Fabulous, Waikoromiko, Cuirassier, and other claims, but in most instances the claims in this district have been abandoned. Tokatea District. Royal Oak Mine (Owners, Eoyal Oak of Hauraki, Limited). —This company is getting good returns between the No. 5 and above that level and to the No. 6 level on No. 1 tribute leader, while a cross-cut is being constructed to cut the same reef at the No. 7 level, which will give a further 160 ft. vertical. At the same time a winze is being constructed to go down at the end of the crosscut. Also, a large section of fair-grade ore is being opened up between the No. 9 and No. 8 levels, on the main Tokatea reef. This is a considerable depth, being over 1,000 ft. below the crown of the hill. This section of ground is very valuable also to the development of No. 1 tribute leader, as it is proposed to construct another cross-cut from the bottom of this shaft (which is 160 ft. below No. 7) to again intersect that reef. A new ten-head battery, all complete, with stone-breaker, is being erected at the battery-site, to be got in readiness by such time as the reserves from the Tokatea reef are laid open. The whole developments are concentrated, so that all the ore shall be delivered from the No. 7 level to the battery. A considerable amount of work is being done to concentrate all the water available in the locality, in order to pump from the shaft, to work the battery, and to work rock-drills. This is now well in hand, the machinery being ordered. The cost of this scheme to the company will be not less than £7,000. With this completed, the mines, which are extensive, will have every facility for working on an economical scale. The total quantity of quartz crushed by the company is 200 tons of general ore and 10,590 lb. of picked stone, which gave a result of 9,702 oz. 4 dwt., of a value of £24,441 10s. 2d. This company has recently declared a dividend on a million shares at 3d., which has been won since August last; and it is hoped, by the large scheme in hand, and the way in which the mines are being worked, to well pay the shareholders for their perseverance and outlay. West Tokatea Mine (Area, 30 acres; owners, the East Hauraki Company).—This mine has been fairly opened up in the past. The main adit or low level is driven 460 ft., which now gives 250 ft. of backs. There are two other levels opened above, giving respectively 80 ft. and 130 ft. of backs. The reefs principally run north-east and south-west, and vary in size from 4 in. to 2 ft. The quartz is of a hard and flinty nature. During the past year the mine has been closed under protection, awaiting further capital, until last February, when a small capital was promised for further development. Since then four men have been employed in the upper levels driving on a reef that has not yet been intersected in the low level, with a view to obtain sufficient ore for a trial crushing; and, if it proves satisfactory, no doubt further capital will be available for systematic development. At jDresent no machinery is employed. Harbour Vieio Mine (Area, 65 acres; Harbour View Gold-mining Company, owners). — Operations have been carried on in a desultory manner, and during a considerable part of the year the claim was under protection. At the present time two wages-men and six tributers are employed. Hauraki Associated Mine (Area, 68 acres; owners, Hauraki Associated Gold-mines, Limited, an English company).—The mine is well opened by three levels, the nature of the country being very favourable for working from tunnels. No. 1, 500 ft. in length, is 200 ft. below the top of the range; No. 2, 600 ft., 100 ft. below No. 1 ; and No. 3, 150 ft., is 100 ft. lower than No. 2. Two lodes—the Rainbow arid Foot-wall leaders—are being worked at No. 1 and No. 2 levels, the principal portion of the quartz treated having been derived from those reefs. There are other reefs and veins of various width. The gold obtained is chiefly derived from the smaller veins, about 2 in. wide. There is no machinery required at the mine, but a battery consisting of one stone-breaker, twelve