7

C—3a

Maratoto. Walker's Maratoto. —The Maratoto Gold-mining Company has only lately been formed to work this claim. Good payable ore has been struck, and active work is being done in prospecting and opening up the same. A small battery of ten heads is in course of erection, and the company hope in the course of a few months to keep this continuously employed. Hikutaia. The Hikutaia Syndicate are now erecting a small testing plant, to see if the ore can be made to pay. The ground has been most thoroughly prospected and opened up, and driving on the lode in some eight different levels for considerable distances has proved that the ore is only just payable throughout. Komata. Komata Beefs. —The Komata Eeefs Gold-mining Company is actively employed in driving a low level of some 3,000 ft. This will take some time, and until it is accomplished the mine cannot make much advancement. Regular returns have come to hand evei'y month, and the prospects of the mine are good. COEOMANDBL. . ~-. Mining in this part of the Hauraki district is still progressing steadily. Since the last mining boom very many of the old no-liability companies have ceased to exist, and this being the case has caused no end of ground to become again available to the miners for prospecting. Kauri Block. The Hauraki Mine still continues to produce a regular payable monthly yield, and more favourable results may arise at any time, owing to the development works continuously going on. The Union Beach portion of the Hauraki Company's Special Claim has also turned out some good specimen stone, and its prospects are very encouraging. The Golden Pah Company has had occasional patches of specimens, giving promise of better results later on. The Bunker's Hill Company has had some capital patches of specimens during the year, and it is probable that a good account of this mine may await my next year's report. The Hauraki South Claim is at present, I believe, let on tribute. Very little work has been done lately. The Zealandia Mine is under protection, and very little work has been done during the year. The Albion Special Foreshore Claim, the property of the Hauraki Main Lodes Company, is closed down at present. Much work has been done in the Welcome Find Mine, and the company deserves credit for the way it has carried on operations, which, it is hoped, will prove successful. The Hauraki No. 2 Claim is still in existence, but very little work has been done upon it during the year. The Kathleen Mine is on freehold land, adjoining the Hauraki. A great deal of development work has been carried on ; good reefs are there, and splendid-looking quartz, but payable ore has not yet been discovered. The Kathleen Crown (also freehold) adjoins the Kathleen. Constant work has also been carried on in this mine, and a little gold has been seen from time to time, but so far nothing payable. Blagrove's Freehold, adjoining the Kathleen Crown Mine, is at present closed down. The company is, I believe, being reconstructed. Kapanga Company :At time of my last report several tributes were let in this mine. They have now, I believe, all run out. During the year the company has had some good and payable crushings, and its prospects are satisfactory. Constant work has been carried on in Scotty's Mine, but not much gold obtained. The Harbour View Special Claim is let on tribute, and several nice parcels of specimens have been obtained lately, encouraging to the company. The New Hero Special .Claim is in a good situation, and has lately been taken up under the new Mining Act. It adjoins Scotty's Mine. Hauraki Associated : A good deal of work has been done in this mine, and good crushings have been obtained. A low level has been put in lately, and permanent crushings are expected to be commenced again very soon. The Eoyal Oak of Hauraki Company's mine is now in full swing, and regular monthly returns: are being obtained. The great water scheme mentioned in my last year's report is completed, and the machinery was started by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Banfurly, on the 28th March last, everthing working in thoroughly good order. The Queen of the North Special Claim is still on development work, and its owners are sanguine of ultimate success. The New Four-in-hand Company has lately completed the erection of a new battery, and its, prospects are indeed very promising. Earaka Block. The Success and New Hauraki are the only claims at work on this block. A vast amount of work has been done during the year, but not much gold obtained. The Wonder of the Age is the name of a new claim discovered by Mr. Henry Colfchurst near the Karaka Block. A fine reef has been found, which gives splendid prospects, and it is to be hoped the discoverer (who is an old prospector in the district) may find something in this ground to recoup him for his patience and perseverance.