73

c—a

patchy nature, which causes regular crushings or returns to be very uncertain; but with further developments it is probable that an extensive run of payable ore may be opened up. During the year only 8 tons of quartz and 1001b. of stone was treated on behalf of the company for a return of 21 oz. 12 dwt. of gold, valued at £61 lis. 6d. During the same period tributers treated 1 ton 5 cwt. of quartz for a return of 10 oz. of gold, valued at £28 15s. Six men were employed when the mine was working, but at present only two tributers are working on the eastern section of the property. East Tokatea Mine. —This mine is worked on tribute at present by Messrs. Ring and Oliver, who have worked on some of the smaller leaders that have been opened up in the mine, and from which very good stone is obtained at times. During the year 16-J-tons of quartz from the mine at the Hauraki Associated battery for a return of 91 oz. 3 dwt. of gold, valued at £240 2s. 6d. Two men are employed. Hauraki Gem Mine (Area, 54 acres). —No wages-men are employed in this mine, but a party of tributers (Messrs. Gunn and Andrews) have done a lot of prospecting-work in the ground, and have opened up several small leaders, from which some very good stone has been obtained, but of a very patchy nature. During the year 1 ton 15 cwt. of quartz and 46 lb. of picked stone was treated at the Hauraki Associated battery for a return of 49 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, valued at £139 6s. Two men are employed. Prospecting-work is also carried on in the Ruby, Try Again, Miners, and Phoenix Claims by two men on each, some of which have given small returns, but nothing of importance. Scotty's Mine. —Work in this mine has been continuously carried on during the year. The operations have been principally confined to driving, stoping, and developing the Scotty's reefs in the Corby and 300 ft. levels, where at times stone of good quality is obtained. There has also been a considerable amount of work done in other portions of the mine, on the Scotty's and Brewer's reefs, but at present operations are directed to the Scotty's reef in the above-mentioned levels, from which it is anticipated that good hauls of stone will be obtained. During the year 97 tons of quartz was treated from various parts of the mine at the company's battery for a return of 588 oz. of gold, valued at £1,613 lis. 3d. On an average twenty-four men were employed during the year. New Hauraki Gold Properties. —This property, which also includes the claim formerly known as the Success Mine, has been continuously worked during the year. In the New Hauraki section a considerable amount of work has been done in prospecting and opening up the large East and West reefs. They vary from 4 ft. to 25 ft. in width, and have been driven on several hundred feet and cut through in several places, and carry a little gold, but so far not of a payable quality. In the Success section of the property the various reefs and leaders have been prospected and operated on to a great extent, but only a limited amount of payable ore was obtained. During the year 16 tons of quartz was treated on behalf of the company at their battery for a return of 73 oz. of gold, valued at £211 14s. On an average seventeen men were employed in the mine during the year. Buffalo Mine (Area, 10 acres). —This mine, which is situated on Buffalo Creek, is private property, and has been worked during the year on tribute by A. Ross and party, who have done a lot of work in prospecting the ground, their attention being chiefly directed to operating on small leaders, from which picked stone is obtained at times. During the year 6 tons of quartz was treated by the tributers for a return of 48 oz. of gold, valued at £147 ss. Id. Shetland Mine (Area, 17 acres). —Prospecting operations have been steadily carried on in this mine during the year with from three to four men. Two prospecting-levels have been driven (No. 1, 190 ft.; No. 2, 185 ft.), and several reef formations cut, in which a little gold was occasionally seen. At present a small shaft is being sunk from the No. 2 level for the purpose of gaining backs and proving their value downwards. The shaft is at present down a depth of 45 ft., it being intended to sink a further depth of 50 ft. before opening out to drive to cut the reef, which is expected to be met with in about 65 ft. of driving. Should much more water be met with, the company intend to erect a small pumping plant to enable them to prove the ground to the depth mentioned, as they are very of discovering a payable run of ore. No crushings have been recorded during the year. Standard Mine (Area, 30 acres). —Operations in this mine are at present stopped, the mine being under protection. Karaka Block. Poneke Nos. 2 and 3 (Area, 68 acres 4 roods 13 perches).—Little or no work has been done on this ground during the greater part of the year, and it is at present under protection. PUKEMAUKUKU. Aitken's Freehold. —This ground has been steadily worked during the year with three men. The operations in hand at present consist in driving a low level and prospecting the higher workings. A considerable amount of work has been done on the different reefs and leaders which have been opened up, and in some cases very encouraging prospects were obtained, but no quartz has been treated during the year. Preece's Point. —No work has been done in this mine during the year, but it is expected that operations will soon be resumed. lam informed a reconstruction of the company has taken place, and the necessary funds provided to prospect and develop the mine, on which a considerable amount of money has already been spent in erecting powerful pumping and winding machinery and sinking the main shaft. Only a limited amount of prospecting-work was done when the mine was closed down for the want of funds. 10—C. 3.