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Bannockburn. The water-supply being limited, only a few men are at work, and no exceptional finds are reported. Weir and party have a 24-acre claim at Motatapu. Kawarau. Although a number of dredging claims have been taken up, none are at work as yet, the difficulties in obtaining the necessary machinery precluding the possibility of early operations being undertaken. The same remark will apply to the claims taken up on the Cardrona River. Clyde and Alexandra and Molyneux. Several parties of men are working on the shallow ground on the Dunstan Commonage between Clyde and Alexandra, the ground being worked under considerable difficulties. At Springvale Messrs. Gartley Brothers are doing well, and several men on Tucker Hill are also reported to be profitably engaged. Ewing's Claim, Bald Hill Flat. —The plant is now being erected above the Last Chance Claim. The water is obtained from Coal and Butcher's Creeks, and is stored in a dam 100 ft. above the claim. Ten men are employed. Last Chance Claim (Messrs. Simmons and Hesson, owners). —Operations at this claim have been hampered by the scarcity of water, which is obtained from Shingle, Chasm, and Gorge Creeks. There are 3,000 ft. of piping in use. Ten men are employed. Carroll and Lynch's Claim (Area, 16 acres). —A water-race seven miles long from Gorge Creek brings six Government heads of water on to the claim, with a pressure of 200 ft. There is 15 ft. of wash at the face, with an overlay of 5 ft. of clay, which is sluiced off. Six men are employed. Bald Hill Flat. —Wilkinson's claim, of 5 acres, is immediately above that occupied by Mr. John Ewing. This claim has been at work steadily for the past twenty-seven years. The gravel is ground-sluiced. A considerable amount of work is entailed in the maintenance of the tail-race. Manuel's Claim, Coal Creek Flat. —This claim is worked by sluicing, but a hydraulic plant is to be erected. Wallace and Party's Claim. —This claim is situated a short distance above the last-named claim. Here a small hydraulic elevator is used, having an 80 ft. pressure. Two heads of water are supplied. Pleasant Valley Gold-mining Company. —This company is reported to have had a very prosperous year. The claim, which is situated on the bank of the Clutha, above Coal Creek, is supplied with water from Elbow Creek. The water-race has a capacity Of four to six sluice-heads, with 150 ft. pressure. The gravel here being largely intermixed with heavy stones, a 4-ton crane was erected to effect their removal. Ground-sluicing has hitherto been employed, but an elevating plant is to be erected. Wilson and party and James and party are also engaged in sluicing operations, the water being obtained from Cross-reef Creek. Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company. —This claim, which is on the east side of the Molyneux Eiver, near Roxburgh, is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Two nozzles and two elevators are at work, and another elevator is used for drainage purposes. Twentyfive men are employed on claim and race. Hercules Nos. 1 and 2. —This claim is now owned and worked by Mr. John Ewing. Two elevators are at work, one with eleven heads of water and a 480 ft. pressure and the other with thirty heads, having a 520 ft. pressure. The pipes used are 18in., 11 in., and 9in. in diameter. The depth of the gravel from the surface to the bed-rock is 60 ft., and it is elevated to a height of 66 ft. Loudon and party and others, working adjacent to this claim, have done fairly well. Ewing's Claim, Anderson's Flat. —Prospecting operations have been carried on by means of the Vincent County Council's boring-rods, but, the rods not being suitable for the class of country, work has been postponed. Island Block Extended Claim, Miller's Flat. —This company, having purchased the Golden Run Company's claim, has been at work during the year, but the poor supply of water has resulted in a considerable loss of time. It is intended to raise the dam, and with an additional supply of water the company's returns should be materially increased. Gunton Brothers have done fairly well on their claim at Craig's Flat, and several other parties are working the banks of the river, with varying success. Edie and Kirkpatrick's claim, six miles above Beaumont, still continues to be steadily worked. The water-pipes in connection with the water-race give a pressure of 850 ft., the pipes being 22 in., 17 in., 15 in., 11 in., and 9 in. in diameter. The tables used are 3 ft. in width. Angle-iron riffles are laid crosswise over cocoanut-matting. Beaumont Local Industry Co-operative Mining Company (Limited). —This company intends to work the alluvial flats up the Molyneux River by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. A race three miles and a half in length from Beaumont Creek brings twenty heads of water 450 ft. above the claim. Twelve men are employed. Lawrence. Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Consolidated Gold Company (Limited). —Mr. Howard Jackson, general manager for the company, gives the following particulars of work done, &c. : — As the work progresses the central portion of the mine maintains its rate of productiveness, Nos. 1 and 2b paddocks are as good as in the past, while the flanking paddocks Nos. 1a and 2. which represent development and stripping, water down the total output seriously. During the
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