C—3.

Tararu. Eclipse (Limited). —This mine has been systematically worked during the year. A shaft was sunk 120 ft., and the main reef driven on for a considerable distance, and fairly good ore taken out. The ten-stamp, water-race, and aerial tramway were completed and crushing commenced in November. The winding-engine and gear erected at the shaft are working well. Chicago. —This mine has been let on tribute, but I do not think the tributers have been successful in finding anything payable. Iron Cap. —A quantity of quartz has been taken out and stacked, awaiting the construction of a road by which to convey it to the battery. The ore is said to be payable, but so far no large quantities have been treated. The small parcels gave encouraging results, and no doubt if a good road existed we should hear more of this mine. Tararu Creek Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The mill belonging to this company has been worked constantly during the year treating ore obtained from the mine. Some 16,000 tons of quartz has been treated for an average yield of £1 per ton. The method of treatment is by wet crushing, amalgamation, and cyanide. It is intended to increase the number of cyanide-vats, with the addition of a filtering process, which should increase the percentage saved. The company deserve to succeed, for, ever since it commenced operations in 1895, it has always employed a large number of men, besides having erected a new mill in place of that burnt down. Up to date the company has treated 31,114 tons of quartz for a return of £32,163. Kuranui Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The mine owned by this company has been prospected during the year, and some parts let on tribute. The company has been engaged in opening up Barry's reef in the direction of the Deep Levels section. The prospects are such as to lead the manager to hope that an important development may be met with later on, as the drive is now nearing the spot where good gold was discovered in former days. New Alburnia Gold-*mining Company. —This company has had protection for its holding for the past twelve months. Work would have been continued, but the capital of the company was well-nigh exhausted. Some large shareholders are indebted to the company in something near £8,000 for unpaid calls, and proceedings are being taken in England for the recovery of the same. Should this amount be recovered it is intended to continue operations. This is looked upon by most old miners as a most likely piece of ground, and many would like to take it and the battery on tribute. The Tudor, Golden Drop, and Darwin Claims have been at work with two men each, but nothing of importance has been found. New Whau Gold-mining Company (No Liability). —Prospecting-works have been going on during the year. The Sons of Freedom reef has been opened up, and in some places quartz showing gold has been found. The old Sons of Freedom tunnel has been repaired, and a new truck-road laid down a distance of 1,250 ft. Driving operations on the reef at this point are being carried on with encouraging prospects. New Moanataiari Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company has expended some £48,000 in opening up and developing the ground above the 400 ft. level. The results have been very disappointing and discouraging. Numerous reefs were opened up, but the great bulk of the quartz proved unpayable, varying from 1 dwt. to 5 dwt. per ton ; and, as the cyanide process proved a failure, the extraction by amalgamation did not pay for treating the dirt. A large number of tributers are working on the small branch leaders, of which a great number exist, and which it would not pay the company to work; but, although some parties have done fairly well, the majority have not earned current wages. Kuranui-Caledonian Gold-mining Company (Limited). —The company has been doing very little work itself, but a large number of tributers are employed in the ground from the 400 ft. level upwards, and some of the parties have done very well indeed. The tributes are worked under the sliding-scale, which at first caused considerable agitation, but it is now working satisfactorily, if the number of agreements entered into is any criterion. Waiotahi Creek. Waiotahi Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This old mine still continues to pay dividends. During the year £900 has been divided, making a sum of £36,450 paid since its formation some twenty-three years ago. The reefs are small, and it is by systematic and careful working that this very satisfactory result has been achieved. Nonpareil. —The Imperial Gold-mining Company were working this ground until August last, but the returns were not sufficient to pay, and it was decided to sell the ground by auction. The mine was purchased by Mr. A. Greenslade on behalf of a syndicate of local people, who have let the ground to tributers, who have been doing fairly well. Fame and Fortune Mine (Limited). —This mine has been taken over by the above-named company, formed in England. A considerable amount of prospecting-work was done by Mr. William Vincent, whose attorney in New Zealand is Mr. Edward Kersey Cooper. The mine has been carefully examined, with a view to determining the mode of future operations. A good class of country has been opened up, and payable ore may be found at any time. Other small claims have been worked, but little gold found. Victoria Gold-mining Company, No Liability (Victoria'and Favourite Special Claims). —This company have lately acquired the Favourite Special Foreshore Claim, which adjoins it on the seaward side. It is intended to put down a bore in the latter for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the country on the seaward side of the Moanataiari slide. It is thought that the Shotover, Kuranui-Caledonian, and Prince Imperial reefs carry out to the sea through the claim, and if the class of country found in the bore is favourable the company will work it by means of drives

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