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formation. This description applies to the further south point in which the cement has been found. In a branch creek to the north alluvial gold was obtained, evidently derived from cement of a similar character. In this neighbourhood several holes and drives were made, and gold was said to be obtained from these, but I judged that the excavations were made in the solid rock of a rhyolyte type. i\lso in this branch creek is exposed a small reef containing traces of cinnabar." ■ j Remarks. There does not appear cause to expect any great returns from Te Aroha or Tauranga districts, although from the former field small returns continue to come to hand. Haueaki Disteict. The amount and extent of operations carried on throughout the whole of the Hauraki district, the vast quantities of valuable quartz in sight, together with the erection of new batteries and improvements in treatment of ores, clearly indicate continued prosperity. The development of deeplevel mining may be also an important factor in the future success of the field. Wellington Disteict. The party or company formed to prospect some ground near the water-reservoir at Karori did a considerable amount of work in driving tunnels, but, although a little fine gold was sometimes obtained in soft seams running through the slate rock, the veins were so small as to be of no value; the ground was therefore abandoned. Prospecting-work to a small extent was carried on at Terawhiti, but, beyond a little gold being seen in small veins, nothing of any value was discovered, and the ground has been for a considerable time abandoned. The ground on which prospecting has been done at Karori and Terawhiti is owned by private individuals, and is not included in any mining district. Machineey. Mr. John Chambers, of Auckland, who supplies most of the mining machinery, has afforded the following information, and also gives a list of plants erected by his firm during the year :— The following batteries have been fitted up with electric light by our company during the last year: Tararu Creek Company, forty lights; Waikino Battery, Waihi Gold-mining Company, 180 lights; Whangamata Gold Corporation, sixty lights; Kauri Gold Estates (not finished"), 200 lights. The Waitekauri Cross Company have put down an electric motor installation. The following batteries have been put down : A five-stamp battery, complete, for the Four-in-Hand Company, with an aerial tramway connecting battery to mine. The Mahara Eoyal Company have added another ten stamps to their battery at Tapu, making it twenty stamps. The Alpha Company's battery, of twenty stamps, is almost finished (at Waitekauri). The Maratoto Company have a fifteen-stamp battery in course of erection. This has been removed from Whangapoua. The Hikutaia Syndicate are erecting a Dodge crushing plant, equal to a ten-stamp battery. The Premier Company have about finished their new ten-stamp battery. The Whangamata Gold Proprietary are erecting a large crushing plant, with three Krupp mills and cyanide. The Kauri Freehold Gold Estates have completed their forty-stamp mill, but their cyanide plant is not finished, and it will take some six weeks to finish. This is a really first-class plant. The Eoyal Standard Company have sold their plant and mine, and the same has been bought by Captain Hodge, who intends to give it a further trial. The Waitekauri United plant (compressor, &c.) has been sold, and is being removed by Mr. Sorrenson to the Great Barrier. The Grand Junction Mine is now under protection, but the company has put down during the year two 120-horse-power water-tube boilers and air-compressor plant, and now has a large pumping plant on order, 150-horse power. The Woodstock Company have put in wet-crushing plant, and should be putting through at least 1,800 tons per month. The Eoyal Oak, Coromandel, have put down a compressor plant of 40-horse power to drive their battery and pumps, &c. It is working well. During the year very few large orders have been given for mining plant, but we are expecting an improvement as soon as these new batteries are turning out the gold. Our business has been good during the year, but it has been in minor matters—fittings and small machines.