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Battery Returns, Nelson and West Coast District. The following statement, compiled from the monthly returns furnished by owners of quartz-crushing machines, shows the quantity of stone crushed and the yield of gold from the various mines for year ending the 31st March, 1899: —

Bemaeks on Quaetz-mining in the Nelson and West Coast District: The return of gold from the Progress Mines has been most gratifying, and shows that the resources of this district are by no means exhausted. The quantity of ore operated on was 37,500 tons, which yielded gold to the value of £63,593 3s. 7d.; and the further treatment of 344-5 tons of concentrates by the chlorination process yielded gold of the value of £5,315 15s. 10d. : total value, £68,908 19s. sd. A fair proportion of the ore was obtained from the deepest levels of the mine, the reef at No. 7 level improving in appearance and in the value of the quartz as operations are being extended. It is therefore apparent that deep mining in this district has so far proved a great success, and this, with the recent discoveries made in other mines, gives promise of a continuation of further dividends. The returns from the Aorangi Mine, which forms part of the Taitapu Estates Freehold Property, show that, with the conduct of extended exploration, future satisfactory yields may reasonably be expected. In the Lyell district the consolidation of the Alpine Extended Mine has led to more systematic development, which will probably result in future success. The fresh developments in the Keep-it-Dark have been the means of an increase in the return from that mine. In the Big Eiver Mine highly profitable yields have followed the recent development works. On the whole it may be assumed that the large returns for the past year will be equalled, if not exceeded, by the produce from next year's operations, especially as the prospects in other mines are of a very favourable character. Otago and Southland Disteicts. Quartz-mining is carried on in those localities which in the past have yielded the bulk of the gold obtained from this source. There is no large centre of quartz-mining, and there are few places where more than three or four mines are being worked in the vicinity of each other. The yields of gpld have not come up to the previous year's returns. There are, however, indications of an improvement when the development-works now in progress are fully completed in North Otago and at Preservation Inlet. The following list shows the special claims and licensed holdings in existence on the 31st March, 1899:— 13—C. 3.

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Ordinary Quartz. Tailings. Concentrates. Name of Mine. Tons Yield to Tons Yield to Tons Yield to crushed. Amalgamation, treated. Cyanide. treated. Chlorination. Approximate Total Values. lollingwood District — Australasian Gold Trust (Limited) jyell District — Alpine Extended Kelly, Edge, and Smith leefton District — Progress Welcome Keep-it-Dark No. 2 South Dark Golden Lead Sir Francis Drake Merrijigs (Fleming and party) .. Last Chance Big River Cumberland ,. .. Al tributers Sundries 'aparoa District— Croesus Julian Victory 177 11,286 76 37,500 60 2,184 12 24 1,573 20 350 730 Oz. dwt. gr. 510 15 0 3,245 7 0 14 10 0 15,563 10 17 33 0 0 911 9 0 4 7 0 29 18 0 562 15 0 24 3 0 148 16 0 1,355 5 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 1019 0 314 Oz. dwt. 1,271 14 £ s. d. 2,043 0 0 12,981 8 0 58 0 0 68,908 19 5 132 0 0 3,645 16 0 17 8 0 119 12 0 2,094 16 0 96 12 0 595 4 0 7,703 7 5 6,802 0 0 23 0 0 588 0 0 3,734 6,335 823**1 11 1,700 10 0 4 515 0 *800 147 0 0 750 110 77 589 12 0 129 19 0 82 19 0 2,358 8 0 519 16 0 331 16 0 54,933 23,212 0 17 10,869 2,681 10 11 314 1,271 14 109,019 2 10 Estimated value for 1898 27,030 15 0 Increase for 1899 £81,988 7 10