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was then driven in the foot-wall 80 ft., and a rise put up 30 ft., which connected with the intermediate level. This intermediate was then driven west a distance of 110 ft., and a crosscut put in the hanging-wall 25 ft., but, as nothing payable was met with here, driving was discontinued, and all work was centred in prospecting the reef from No. 3 level. A drive was started on the footwall, and continued for a distance of 210 ft. to the junction of the Red Queen leader. A short block of ground was taken out on the main reef for a length of 50 ft. by 50 ft. high. At present work is confined to stoping on the foot-wall of the reef at this level. About 100 ft. of driving was completed at this level, on the course of the Reuben Parr reef, in an easterly direction, and 25 ft. of crosscutting in the hanging-wall. At the 100 ft. level a crosscut, which is now in progress from the foot-wall of the Reuben Parr reef to intercept the Golden Age reef, is now in a distance of 65 ft. The block of ground at the Point Russell level, immediately above this point, was broken out by the old company, with highly remunerative results. The present company has expended nearly £48,000 in prospecting and developing the ground above the 400 ft. level, in all parts of the mine, but the results have been very disappointing and discouraging. Some 250,000 tons of ore was opened up by the late management, but the battery trials proved it to be too low grade to pay even the cost of breaking. The value of the great bulk of this immense ore-reserve varies from 1 dwt. to to 5 dwt. per ton. A large number of tribute parties are employed in the Moanataiari Mine, working on small branch leaders and veins which could not be profitably worked by the company. From the tabulated statement of the gold return it will be seen that the gross average earnings of the tributers did not amount to the rate of current wages in the district. The gold obtained by the company during the year was 519 tons for 553 oz. 9 dwt., of the value of £1,529 18s. 4d. ; and by the tributers, 1,140 tons for 2,117 oz. 4 dwt., valued at £5,807 18s. 9d. An average of twenty men was employed by the company on wages, and fifty-five tributers. Kuranui-Caledonian Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The only work carried on by the company on wages for the year has been the sinking of a winze on the Cambria reef, near the Moanataiari boundary, at No. 3 level. When sinking was commenced the reef was large, compact, and the quartz promising in appearance; also, as a number of small veins of quartz on the hanging-wall, all carrying gold, were dipping into the reef, it was expected, where they junctioned with it, an important discovery of gold would be made. The winze has attained a depth of 45 ft., and, as nothing payable has been met with, this has been discontinued, and has been rather a disappointment. Five loads of quartz and 19 lb. of picked stone, broken from the leaders on the hanging-wall of the reef in sinking the winze, when treated gave a yield of 19 oz. 7 dwt. of gold, valued at £53 4s. 2d. Seven wages-men were employed. The tributers crushed 467 tons for 2,768 oz. 10 dwt., valued at £7,658 7s. Bd. An average of fifty-eight men were employed tributing on the various reefs and leaders that traverse the mine from the 400 ft. level upwards. Waiotahi Creek. Waiotahi Mine. —This mine continues to keep up its reputation, and has during the year paid two dividends amounting to £900, making a total of £36,450 since commencing operations. The leaders and reefs vary from J in. to 5 ft. thick. 955 tons of ore has been produced, which has given a return of 1,493 oz. 1 dwt. of gold, valued at £4,110 19s. sd. The work is confined to working the various leaders from the No. 3 level of the company's shaft upwards. Sixteen men are employed. Nonpariel Mine. —Operations in this mine were carried on till the month of August by the Nonpariel Gold-mining Company, who did a considerable amount of work in prospecting and developing the various reefs, but, not getting sufficient returns to pay the expenses in connection with tlie mine, the shareholders decided to sell the mine, which was accordingly done, and was purchased by Mr. A. Greenslade on behalf of a syndicate, who have since carried on operations in the mine, with tributers, whose attention is directed to prospect the Wade, Liverpool, and other reefs, from which a considerable amount of gold has been obtained. 69f tons of quartz and 26 lb. of picked stone was treated from the mine for a return of 126 oz. 19 dwt. of gold, valued at £348 Is. lOd. Nine men are employed. Fame and Fortune Mine (Limited). —When Mr. Kersey Cooper took over this property from the Hauraki Golden Age Mines (Limited) in the early part of last year he first carefully examined the different sections of the property, with a view of discovering the best way of systematically developing the mine, and has since done a great amount of prospecting. A crosscut from the low level in the Waiotahi Creek has been driven a distance of 455 ft. under the Pinafore Blow, and connected with the Point Russell level in the Moanataiari Creek, which has given good ventilation. A good deal of work has been done on the hanging-wall leader of the Golden Age reef, and from here a payable quantity of ore was obtained. A rise has been put up on this leader from the crosscut level to the Gladstone level, a distance of 100 ft., and now that good ventilation has been secured prospecting operations on this leader are being more advantageously carried out. The No. 3 reef between the Golden Age and Waiotahi reef has been driven on a distance of 230 ft., two winzes having been sunk on it 70 ft. apart. No. 1 winze is down a depth of o3 ft., and No. 240 ft. The latter is being sunk to meet a crosscut drive that is being driven from the Point Russell, from which 70 ft. of backs will be available. The ore that has been treated from the winzes gave a return of a little over 1 oz. to the load. The gold appears to be dipping in a north-east direction, this being partly proved by the improvement that has taken place in the reef as it is being driven on from the crosscut. The country is all that can be desired, and a patch of stone containing the precious metal may be obtained here at any time. 860 tons of quartz was treated during the year for 699 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, valued at £1,889 Bs. 3d. An average of twenty-six men have been employed. A limited amount of gold has been obtained from other small claims in this district —viz., West Coast, Infant, Little Muriel, Little Maggie and Ballarat Claims, which have had from one to two men employed on each.