C.—3.

The following table gives the quantity of ore stamped, the tailings treated, and the gold produced for the year:—

Sunrise Mine. —This mine is situated on Advance Peak, at an elevation of 4,600 ft. above sealevel, and is on a different line of reef from the Premier, and about a mile from it in a north-easterly direction. It was worked by a small local company for about four years, during which time some very good returns were obtained, as high as 3 oz. per ton ; but, like all the other lines of reef here, the stone was in small blocks, and not easily traced. When worked to a depth of 180 ft. from the surface the ore became much poorer, and only 9 dwt. per ton was obtained. This return would not pay, as the ore had to be conveyed on sleighs from the mine to the mill, a distance of about a mile and three-quarters. This company then sold the property to the Glenrock Consolidated (Limited) for the sum of £750, who then carried on prospecting-works during the summer for three years. I understand it is the intention of the company, as soon as possible, to construct a deeplevel tunnel at a probable cost of £8,000 so as to work the mine cheaper, and am informed that there is no doubt that the locality is a very promising one, and is likely to pay. From this mine about 1,200 tons of ore was treated, for an average yield of over loz. to the ton. Nothing is being done here at present. Tipperary Mine (Westralia and New Zealand Gold-explorers Company, Limited). —The mine was shut down at my visit. Mr. Stanford, the general manager of this and the Premier Mine, had gone to England to consult with the directors of both companies as to future developments, and was expected back early in 1900. The following account of this property will no doubt be of interest :— " The Tipperary Mine is on the same line as the Victor Emmanuel, and belongs to the Westralia and New Zealand Gold-explorers (Limited). When first taken up it was worked by a company called the ' Tipperary,' and for six years gave rich returns. The width of the reef was from 3 ft. to 6 ft., giving an average yield of 1-Joz. per ton. The works were carried on by tunnelling and stoping down to the creek-level. Afterwards, when all the available ore from the back of the levels was worked out, a winze was sunk from the then low level to a depth of 280 ft., the haulingpower being a water-balance. The gold returns from this part of the mine were very good to a depth of 180 ft., when the ore gradually got poorer. The ore-body still continued, but was found to be too poor to pay, owing to the very expensive mode of working. The mine was then closed down for a time, as it was found that a deeper level would have to be put in, which would cost a large sum of money. It was therefore decided by the shareholders to put the property on the London market for flotation, which was successfully carried out, and was taken over in 1893 by the present company, who carried the required deep level through, and also a very large amount of prospecting-work and stoping, which, however, proved unsuccessful; consequently the mine was closed down about twelve months ago. It is the intention of the company to resume work as soon as sufficient capital can be procured, as there is a very promising body of stone known to exist underneath the floor of the low level, which may yet prove valuable. The crushing-power in connection with this mine is a ten-stamp battery worked by a turbine. The mine and mill are connected by a tramway, and the ore is delivered at the mill by horse-haulage." Mr. W. J. Farrell holds several properties at Maoetown. Nothing is being done at any of them at the present time. lam indebted to Mr. W. Patton, whose local knowledge and experience is to be depended on, for the following particulars : — " Golden Link. —This claim, which is on the east boundary of the Premier Mine, was worked by a tunnel from the Sawyer's Creek level. Here only one small block of stone was discovered (about 70 tons), the yield of gold being about 2 oz. to the ton. This being only a surface block was soon worked out, and after a little further prospecting was abandoned. A short time afterwards Mr. Farrell included this with the Ladye Fayre and Homeward Bound in his lease. " Ladye Fayre. —This mine is on the same line, and has been worked by tunnelling and stoping to a depth of 150 ft. The ore-body varied very much in size—from 3 ft. down to 6 in. The total output of stone when the reef cut out was (approximately) 700 tons, and the average yield per ton was 1 oz. 5 dwt. After the reef floored very little prospecting was done, and the claim was

2?

Month. Quartz stamped. Bar-gold extracted. Produce per Ton of Quartz. Tailings by oyaniding. Total Value. J anuary February ... March April May June July August September... October November ... December ... Tons. 240 390 455 265 325 315 155 205 255 130 90 Oz. dwt. gr. 190 8 0 181 4 4 306 12 12 152 1 15 219 17 10 165 12 21 71 12 4 91 11 20 129 13 18 51 2 0 101 13 18 Oz. dwt. gr. 0 15 20 0 9 8 0 13 11 0 11 11 0 13 12 0 10 12 0 9 5 0 8 22 0 10 4 0 7 2 1 2 13 Tons. 42 20 Oz. dwt. gr. 19219 12 83 13 3 £ s. d. 764 15 9 1,365 14 2 1,236 11 0 903 4 2 888 7 8 668 6 9 282 13 11 368 17 4 522 9 1 205 4 5 408 13 1 Totals 2,825 1,661 10 2 276 12 15 62 7,614 17 4