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favourable, though the size of the boulders hampers operations. James Smith is working at the head of the Waingaro, and is reported to be making good wages. The group of claims adjoining Jacobsen's, at Anahau Eace, has been abandoned. There have been several samples of the ore sent to different places for analysis, but all proved that gold in payable quantity did not exist there. The great drawback to the mining industry in this district is the want of water-races to convey the water to work the higher levels. It is generally believed that if water could be brought on to the terraces the ground would pay. Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing and Mining Company, Limited, Parapara (Area, 150 acres ; mine-manager, W. Peters). —This company holds a water right of one hundred heads from the Parapara Eiver, and has two miles and a half of race, 4 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in., in addition to two miles of steel piping varying in diameter from 2 ft. 6 in. to 1 ft. 6 in., giving a pressure of 2001b. per inch. The wash, which is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating, is very hard and cement-like. During the year 800,125 yards of material were operated on, taking an area of about 4 acres. The gold is of good quality, being valued at £3 18s. per ounce. Twenty men were employed. The company obtained 355 oz., valued at £1,370, for the past year's work. Excelsior Claim, Rocky Biver (Area, 30 acres; manager, A. Trent). —About half an acre of ground only has been worked on during the year, for a yield of 8 oz. of gold. There is two miles of race, with an average of nine heads of water, with a pressure of 150 ft. Five men are employed. Beddan's Claim, Victoria Creek, Eaituna (Area, 5 acres). —This claim has only been worked for a short period during the year, yielding some 12 oz. of gold, valued at £40. Lash and Son's Claim, Appos Greek (Area, 2 acres). —Three to four men have been engaged here. The claim is worked by hydraulic sluicing, and the returns are considered payable. Benson's Claim, MaArtney's Hill (Area, 2 acres). —This cement claim is worked by sluicing, a water-race two miles in length, with 700 ft. of 8 in. steel pipes, gives a pressure of 200 ft. Two men were employed for a yield of 80 oz. of gold, valued at £3 13s. 6d. per ounce. Hawkins's Claim, Lightband's Gully (Area, 2 acres). —A water-race four miles and a half in length, with 1,800 ft. of steel piping, 6 in. diameter, gives a pressure of 50 lb. The results not having proved payable, the owners intend removing the plant about a quarter of a mile from the present scene of operations, and have applied for a 5-acre claim. An acre of ground was worked during the year for a return of 77 oz. of gold, valued at £3 15s. 6d per ounce. Collingwood District. Collingwood Goldfields (Limited), Quarts Banges (Area, 230 acres; manager, F. G. Mace). — This claim, which will, it is anticipated, be shortly in working-order, has some four miles and a half of races, with a capacity of fifty-two Government heads of water, and 3,000 ft. of piping varying in diameter from 13 in. to 30 in., with a pressure of 300 ft. The cost of the races and plant is about £20,000, and seventy men are employed. A most comprehensive account of the preliminary works appeared in my report of last year. The manager, Mr. Mace, gives the following information :— " The company have been in operation for nearly three years. The work of bringing in water from the Boulder Eiver is on a large scale. The flume, which is nearly four miles long, is 4 ft. wide by 3 ft. 3 in. All sills and under-work are of matai timber, bottom and sides of rimu I^-in. thick. Several bridges of considerable size occur along the line of race, one nearly 90 ft. high and 200 ft. long ; also several tunnels. The quantity of timber used in construction of the flume is approximately 700,000 ft. The company own their own sawmill plant. The total cost of timber delivered at commencement of race will not exceed 4s. 6d. or ss. per 100 superficial feet, including haulage up an incline of four miles and a half in length (by tramway, 2 ft. 6 in. gauge). This is exclusive of cost of mill and part cost of tramway, which is chargeable to timber account. Benching for flume was started twelve months ago, and is now pretty well completed. In- addition to the main flume several miles of race are now cut and ready for work to carry water to different parts of the claim. It is proposed to open out in several places, and ultimately to employ eight Giant nozzles. The fall for tailings is ample. The company are constructing a dam, at an altitude of 3,000 ft., to impound the waters of the Boulder Lake, which, when completed, will gave a storage capacity covering 150 acres 16 ft. in depth, or approximately 104,000,000 cubic feet of water. The natural facilities for working the property are excellent —a nerer-failing water-supply, abundance of timber, and washdirt moderately fine and friable. " The following is a description of the improved Giant nozzle : The arrangement of the horizontal joint in the improved Giant nozzle does away with the objectionable king-bolt used in many nozzles, and distributes the friction evenly on the whole joint. The joint consists of an accurately turned groove in casting A, into which is fitted a turned steel ring in two segments; these work freely in groove. Over the half-rings is fitted a solid steel ring, which is fastened to the two half-rings by ten stud-bolts. This then forms the flange to couple with casting B. A leather washer is inserted between the joints of the castings, which is brought up 3 in. on the casting A and trimmed the casting, which also should be turned smooth. This then forms a perfect hydraulic joint. The rifle in the director is in one piece as shown, and completely breaks the centrifugal motion of the water, and gives a solid, direct discharge. The ball-and-socket joint is of the usual pattern." West Coast. Karamea. Several parties still continue to prospect along the banks of the river. A hydraulic-sluicing plant and water-race are in course of construction to operate on some of the terraces. The plant, which is o>wned by Mr. McKerrow, has not yet been completed. Mokihinui. No operations are in progress on the river or its branches, but on the beaches and sand-hills extending from the Mokihinui to the Orawaiti Eiver, near Westport, about a hundred miners are located. The returns from this class of mining are every year becoming more precarious and uncertain.