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C—3

Hector [Sluicing Claim. —This company hold an area of 39 acres 2 roods, and employ ten men. The washdirt is about 70 ft. in depth, with coarse boulders, and the water-supply depends much on the season. Plush tables have been erected to save the fine gold, with satisfactory results. Mitchell, Phillips, and party are also bringing in a water-race from Stockyard Creek, in order to work their claim of 25 acres by hydraulic sluicing. This claim is situated on the opposite side of the stream to the Hector. A few parties are also finding employment by ground-sluicing at the Mangles. Inangahua District, Some Europeans have been prospecting. A number of Chinese are working ground at Coal Creek, besides a number being engaged in sluicing at Winding Creek. Boatman's Creek. Eodgers and party have put a cutting through a point and diverted the creek. They expect about three years' work in the ground from which the water has been diverted. Merrijigs. The Al Company are still engaged in ground-sluicing their claim on the Snowy Creek; their race has a capacity of twelve sluice-heads. There are nine miners sluicing at Big Eiver Creek. i Grey River District. Antoni's Greek. —Twenty-four Europeans and thirty Chinese are engaged in alluvial mining. The washdirt is from 3 ft. to 9 ft. thick. Blackivater Creek. —There is a considerable area of alluvial ground worked in this district. Long-toms are chiefly used in washing the gold-bearing gravels. In some eases the surface is sluiced ofl the washdirt, while other parties work the ground by driving, and very satisfactory results are in many instances obtained. On this creek there are a hundred and twenty Europeans and eighty Chinese at work. Junction and Noble's Greeks. —A few Europeans and Chinese work along the banks of these creeks by ground-sluicing and alluvial mining. A considerable number of miners are employed in ground-sluicing at Brandy Jack's Creek and its branches—the Teviot, Half-ounce, Duffers, and Granville Creeks. Orwell Creek. —This place continues about the same. The old Napoleon Gold-mining Company worked their ground down the flat until driven out by water. The ground is now worked by other claimholders. Graham and party (eight men) have taken up 20 acres in Taylor's Gully. The ground is 70 ft. in depth, and the party have erected machinery for pumping and lifting purposes. This district suffers from the want of water. Ahaura District. A number of parties are engaged in hydraulic and ground sluicing between the Ahaura Bridge and the Gorge. Dunn and party own two claims on the north bank of the Ahaura Eiver, with a total area of 14 acres 3 roods 28 perches. The claims, which are worked by hydraulic sluicing, produced 300 oz. of gold for the year, valued at £1,170. The height of the gravel face operated on is from 12 ft. to 80 ft. The water-race is four miles in length, with 1,500 ft. of pipes, and gives a pressure of 80 ft. The value of water-race and plant is £1,800. Four men were employed. Hargreaves and party are also hydraulic-sluicing about one mile and a half above Dunn's. Their face is about 60 ft. in height, and the tailings are discharged direct into the creek. About a dozen small parties of one and two men each are ground-sluicing near the Junction, and about a mile up the Nancy Creek. Other parties are engaged at the foot of the terraces on this creek. Callaghan's' Greek. German Gully Claim (Area, 30 acres). —This claim belongs to a Sydney syndicate. A tunnel which was driven 29 chains will have to be extended a further 26 chains before the drainage of the claim can be effected. Boring operations have been carried on, to test the depth and value of the wash, under the direction of Mr. Bowman, C.E., who has reported to the owners as to the best methods of future working. Several parties are ground-sluicing in the gully further up than the German Gully Claim. Nelson Creek. In this old mining district employment for ninety miners is found. Some prospecting has also been done by aid of Government subsidy. Shellback and Baxter's Creeks are worked by forty Chinese. Moonlight Creek and its tributaries give employment to sixty miners. A few parties are also employed at Slaty Creek. Healey's Gully. Republic Sluicing Company (Area, 30 acres; owners, Thomas Jones and others; minemanager, John Hay).—This claim is operated on by hydraulic sluicing, and 4500z. of gold was obtained for the year, valued at £1,777 10s. The water-race is two miles in length, with a capacity of thirty-five heads, with 700 ft. of 22 in. and 1,000 ft. of 15 in. pipes. The water-race and plant is valued at £4,000. Sluicing has been very intermittent since Christmas, as the weather has been