C—3a

for 150 ft. with prospects improving as the drive proceeded. The lead, after emerging from the gorge, has taken a gradual bend towards the centre of the valley, and is now running in a straight course with the old King Solomon shaft. The solid "barrier" between the old and the new workings is 306 ft. in thickness. Eight men are employed. The drive is securely timbered. (17/1/99) : Owing to a break in the water-race, work was at a standstill. These repairs have been completed, and operations are now in full swing. Wakamarina Gorge Claim. —(4/7/98): At time of visit work was suspended. Mr. Thomas Alexander, manager for the company, gives the following information: From the upper dam— that diverts the Wakamarina river into the main channel —to the pump-well 128,000 cubic yards of gravel was raised from the bed of the Deep Creek Gorge with unprofitable results. The No. 3 Bay, situated between the pumps and the lower-dam, still remains to be proved. (17/1/99) : Operations were at a standstill. Mr. Alexander along with another man makes a living sluicing on the banks of the gorge. A local company are bringing in a water-race from the old reservoir situated on Grimmety Hill, to work the Yukon, Hamilton Flat. Colling wood. Parapara Hydraulic Sluicing Company. —(16/1/99): This company hold an area of 150 acres, with a water-right of 100 heads from the Parapara river. The main pipe is about two miles in length, and ranges from 30 in. diameter at the intake to 18 in. at the works. The upper layers of the wash-dirt are sluiced over two open tail-races, whilst the deeper ground from which the. best results are obtained is lifted by means of elevators to height of 60 ft. Twenty men are employed. Quartz Manges Crushing and Sluicing Company. —This property was not visited during the year. Rocky River Sluicing Company. —This property was also not visited. Mabdia. Hector Sluicing Claim. —(22/11/98) : This company hold an area of 39 acres 2 roods 43 perches, and employ ten men. The wash-dirt is about 70 ft. in depth, with course boulders, and the water-supply depends much on the season. Plush tables are being erected to treat the fine gold. On the Maruia Eiver and its tributaries fifty men find employment. Wbstpoet. Halligan and Party's Claim, Addison's Flat. —(29/12/98) : This private party of six men continue sluicing operations on the east side of the Charleston road. Shamrock Claim. —(29/12/98): Since the extension of the sand-tunnel and the removal of the elevating-plant to the north face were completed, sluicing operations have been carried on by two shifts, with very profitable results. Eleven men are employed. Bendigo Sluicing Claim. —(3o/11/98): This property is owned by the General Exploration Company. The extensive development works are completed, and sluicing operations were being carried on in full swing, but at time of writing this property has ceased work. Fairdoion General Exploration Company. —(24/11/98) : Sluicing operations were carried on with six men. Operations on this property are also suspended. Mackle and Party. —(29/8/98): This party of five men hold an area of six acres, with a waterrace of two miles and a half in length. Its carrying capacity is ten heads, and the intake is the Orawaiti Eiver. Operations consist of sluicing and raising the debris by means of an elevating tramway, worked by a water-balance. The face operated on is a deposit of tailings, 50 ft. in depth, which were deposited into the Caledonia Gully from the upper terraces. Good wages are made. Jamieson and Party. —This party consists of two men. This ground is worked from two tunnels, 1,300 ft. and 700 ft., and water is supplied from Ballarat Creek. Waimangaroa River. —Along the banks of this stream, ten parties make fair wages by driving small drives into the banks, and washing the drift in the stream. Eeefton. Al Sluicing Claim. —(6/2/99) : This subsidised prospeeting-tunnel has been extended to a total length of 1,457 ft., and crosscuts driven west from the main tunnel 200 ft., with unfavourable results. Ahauba. (10/3/99): In this distriot there are eleven claims, which employ nineteen Europeans and seven Chinese. Obwell Cbeek. (9/2/99); The Napoleon Company's old shaft mines are still worked by a few men. Several parties are opening out fresh claims in a gully about three miles east from the village. Nothing of importance was discovered. About thirty miners find employment in this locality. Nelson Cbeek. (1/11/98) : In this old mining district employment for ninety miners is still found. Shellback and Baxter's Creeks are worked by forty Chinese. Moonlight Creek and its tributaries give employment to sixty miners. Callaghan's Creek. —(29/10/98) : This district supports nine Europeans and eight Chinese.

59