C—3a

55

■ ••■■■*•■• .. • ■ Lybll. ■ ' • ■ " ■ - j ;-•■'' Alpine Extended. —(23/10/98) : Active operations on this property still continue to be carried on very satisfactorily, but the general character of the stone throughout the mine is poor, with occasional patches of better quality. No. 10 main level south has opened out two blocks of stone, which average from 60 ft. to 80 ft. in length, and vary from 4 ft. to 20 ft. in width. No. 1 block is stoped to No. 9, and No. 2 block is raised 78 ft., leaving 28 ft. yet to be taken out. No. 10 prospecting drive north has been enlarged, and re-timbered 192 ft., preparatory to sinking a winze at the face. The country passed through was a mixture of broken quartz and slate for the first 50 ft., when a solid stone was struck about 2 ft. in width, and for the next 30 ft. it varies more or less in size. At a depth of 80 ft., a crosscut intersected a solid reef that was lying on the hangingwall. Work was then suspended pending the extension of No. 11 level north. The shaft from No. 10 level has been sunk to a depth of 110 ft., and fitted with winding machinery actuated by compressed air. Eopes, cages, and all other appliances, are safe and in good condition. No. 11 south has been driven 249 ft., making a total distance of 409 ft., of which the first 170 ft. was on a reef from 4 ft. to 5 ft. wide. Afterwards the country was hard, and of a more unfavourable character; for the last 50ft. a small body of good gold was passed through. " During this course, several crosscuts were put in on both sides without favourable results. Stoping at the back of No. 11 level has been carried to a height of 39 ft. The reef varies from 2 ft. to 8 ft. A small body of stone about 20 ft. further south has also been worked. No. 9 was driven north 111 ft. on a reef which varies from 5 ft. to 8 ft. It then pinched to lft., but shortly afterwards widened to between 6 ft. and 7 ft., which width was maintained to the end of the drive, when the reef dipped underfoot. Since September, stoping has been vigorously carried on, the reef ranging from 4 ft. to 7 ft. in width, and the stopes averaging 111 ft. in length. At the commencement of the year, prospecting was done on the upper levels, but, beyond a few occasional gold-bearing quartz boulders, quartz of a solid character was not found. In order to intersect a parallel line of reef at the north end of the level, a crosscut was put in 41ft., but without making any development of importance. Eeports up to date. Fifty men employed. United Italy. —(l 6/5/98) :At the time of visit, operations at this mine and the Golden Crown ■were suspended. Crcesus, Lyell. —(l6/5/98) : At this property, driving on a track of reef 2 ft. wide was being vigorously pushed forward by six men working three shifts. Lady Agnes Quartz-mine. —Operations on this property have ceased. Eed Queen, and also the Swanson Claims have ceased operations. Twins, late Beaconsfield. —After a lapse of several years, this property was lately taken over by a British syndicate, of which Mr. Charles Lempfert, of Westport, is attorney, and Mr. George Edwards mine manager. The development-works are situated on the east bank of the Waimangaroa Stream, about a quarter of a mile south from the foot of the Denniston incline. Water for motive-power and other purposes is conveyed over a race half a mile in length, which carries fifteen heads, its intake being the Waimangaroa Eiver. Its construction is chiefly fluming, with 300 ft. of tunnelling. A substantial and complete ten-head battery (by the Greymouth Foundry Company) with one berdan attached, is driven by a 6 ft. Pelton, under a pressure due to 46 ft. The ore delivered to the battery is raised through a shaft 110 ft. in depth by means of a 24 ft. diameter water-wheel, with 8 ft. diameter drums attached. The shaft, which has three equal compartments, is fitted, with substantial poppet-head gear and all other safety-winding appliances. A 10 in.-diameter hollow plunger, with 3 ft. stroke, driven from a 30 ft.-diameter water-wheel, raises the water direct to the surface. Mining operations are chiefly confined to the west side of the stream, the mine being entered by an adit 20 ft. above ordinary stream water-level. The quartz is passed down to the low level which connects with the shaft, a considerable amount of prospecting in cleaning out and extending old tunnels and rises has been done, but, up to the present, developments have proved nothing of importance. At time of writing, all work has been suspended for some time. Britannia Quartz-mine. —So far as the auriferous character of this property has been proved, the formation is broken; consequently the reef is found under similar conditions. The reef varies from 6 in. to 18 in. in width. In view of treating a quantity of ore that is already brought to grass, and to carry on mining operations on a small scale, with the stone in sight, the company has decided to erect a small battery, driven by water, near the mine. Water is available from Beaconsfield Creek, and can be conveyed over a flume-race 5-J chains in length. The battery site excavation is well forward, and, to facilitate the carriage of the plant to its position, a saddle-track is under construction. Six men are employed. Eeefton. Low Level Tunnel. —(2s/3/99): At the commencement of last year, when the winze which connects with the Golden Fleece was completed to a depth of 581 ft. work was suspended for several months. Operations are again resumed, and driving and crosseutting with rock-drills actuated by compressed air are being vigorously pushed forward on the Golden Fleece track, in view of proving the existence of this reef to deeper levels. The average cutting for each machine is 54ft. per week. On the 27th instant, iv terms of section 206 of "The Mining Act, 1898," complaint was notified to the superintendent of the Progress Mines that better ventilation on the working faces must be provided. Thirty-two men employed. Reports up to date, and other provisions of the Act strictly complied with. Progress Extended Quartz-mine. —(23/3/99) : This property is opened and mined from A and B shafts. A shaft is used for winding the ore from Nos. 4 and 5 levels, and upcasts from the whole workings ; B shaft is the main downcast, and is used for winding from Nos. 6 and 7 levels. The capacity of this mine, as the second gold-producer of the colony, is confined to the milling power of