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6th October, 1899. —Frank McDonald, engaged at the Hibernia Claim, Sutton Tanks, near Middlemarch, was accidentally killed by a fall of earth. 20th February, 1900.—John Johnson, a young man employed with his father at Mount Criffel, was accidentally killed by a fall of rock whilst engaged in cutting a water-race. Accidents in connection with dredge-mining are as follows : — 13th May, 1899. —Bobert McKay, employed on the Balclutha Company's dredge, Tuapeka Flat, was drowned off the dredge. At the Coroner's inquest the dredge-master admitted that the provisions for safety on dredges had not been complied with, and he was subsequently charged with this offence in the Magistrate's Court, and fined. 21st July, 1899. —A man named Smith, employed on the Earnscleugh dredge, near Alexandra, was drowned. He and another man were in one of the boats, and it appears the boat took a sheer and began to fill, whereon deceased jumped out and soon sank. A boat was put out from the dredge, but deceased was not seen again after sinking. 6th September, 1899.—Daniel McLeod, a partner on a small dredge at Tuapeka mouth, was killed by a blow on the head by a winch-handle, the fastening of which had slipped or worked loose. 9th September, 1899.—Daniel Carline, engine-driver on the Waipori Consolidated Company's dredge, got his foot crushed.

GOLD-DEEDGING. This branch of gold-mining operations continues to advance, and during the past year a very large number of claims have been offered to and taken up by the public. The keen interest so apparent a year ago does not seem to diminish in any way; if anything, the contrary is the case. This is perhaps accounted for partly by the fact that during the past few years it has been clearly demonstrated that under certain conditions auriferous ground which for various reasons cannot be profitably worked by other means can be made to pay when handled by a well-designed dredge, and also that the bulk of the dredges at work have paid handsomely, while a few, notably the Hartley and Eiley, which is in the Clutha Eiver a little below Cromwell, Otago, have yielded phenomenal returns, and riches have been rapidly acquired by the fortunate shareholders. It is also to be remembered that, unlike the conditions which appertain to underground work, dredge-mining is not saddled with heavy fixed charges which have to be met when work is suspended, the capital required is comparatively small, labour conditions are not onerous, the workingexpenses are practically a known quantity and do not vary very greatly, and, in the event of a claim not turning out satisfactorily after a fair trial, the dredge is a saleable asset; whereas shafts and tunnels, upon which large sums of money may have been spent, can hardly be regarded as such. These are conditions which also tend to make investments in dredge-mining popular, and, judging by the results obtained (in the southern district, at least) during the last few years, such investments have proved very safe and remunerative as a whole. The intense interest which is now being taken in dredge-mining is not confined to one part of the colony. In North Otago the Awamoko and Maerewhenua Eivers have received some attention, and dredges are about to be placed on them. The Kakanui Biver is also pegged out for some miles. At a visit made by me to the Awamoko Biver in November last I saw prospects of fine gold got very close to the surface of the wash, and obtained fine colours of gold from practically surface-gravel at the mouth of the Kakanui when last in the district. The Clutha Biver (misnamed the " Molyneux " for a portion of its length) is largely taken up for dredging from, say, Tuapeka mouth to Cromwell; above this there are several claims between Cromwell and Lakes Hawea and Wanaka, and also in the valley of the Cardrona. The Kawarau Eiver is also taken up from its confluence with the Clutha at Cromwell to practically its source at the foot of Lake Wakatipu ; the Shotover Eiver gives promise of the early addition of more dredging plants, and it is proposed to work the Dart Eiver, at the head of the lake, by dredges. Bannockburn Creek and its tributaries are also to be the scene of dredging operations. Increased activity is being displayed on the Manuherikia Eiver and its watershed by the erection of the Olrig and Springvale dredges in the river, and the Klondike and Blue Duck dredges at Matakanui. In addition to the several plants now at work on the tributaries and watershed of the Taieri Eiver, a small dredge (removed from Lawrence) is being erected at the foot of the Waipori Gorge, above the Township of Berwick, and new dredges are building for the Upper Kyeburn. In Southland new dredges have been started, and others are in course of construction, on the Waikaka Stream, Charlton Creek, Waimumu Creek, and the Mataura Biver. A dredge has been built on the Waikaia Eiver, near Piano Flat; another is building at Dome Creek, Waikaia, also at Lake George, near Colac Bay. At Bellmount, on the Waiau Eiver, a suction dredge has been started, but so far, I understand, its operations have not been financially successful. This dredge contains a lot of the machinery formerly used on a suction dredge at Waipapa. When it was proposed to erect a machine on this principle on the Waiau there were serious doubts expressed as to its being a success, owing to suction dredges tried at Waipapa and on the West Coast in former years not having proved satisfactory. However, the promoters were sanguine, and preferred to have their own way. Since writing the foregoing, information has reached me to the effect that, as the suction dredge referred to has been found totally unsuitable for its work, it is to be converted at once into a bucket dredge, the prospects obtained fully warranting the alteration. It is confidently asserted that the Waiau, if worked by powerful dredges, will become one of the most lucrative rivers in the colony. Prospecting is also in hand at various places on the Waimea Plains. It is stated that the results are encouraging. This being so, the watershed of the Mataura Eiver is likely to become a very important, centre of operations.