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from the shaft in the Victoria Claim. There seems to be no reason why the reefs mentioned, as well as many smaller reefs, should not continue out to sea and carry gold.. The developing of the foreshore under the sea is of very great importance to this portion of the field. The company has done little work, but there has been a fair number of tributers employed. May Queen Hauraki (Limited). —A large amount of important work was done in this mine during the year. The Thames-Hauraki Company having commenced operations in January, the company was enabled to commence sinking winzes on the new lode in the Saxon section at the No. 6 level. Work was also resumed at the sinking of the main shaft, which was sunk to a depth of 709 ft., when it was found that the new pumps no longer drained the ground, consequently work had to be stopped. Although the Hauraki pump-shaft is 292 ft. below the level of the May Queen water, so dense is the country between the shafts that the water from the May Queen does . not find its way into the Hauraki shaft. In December last it was found necessary to erect a Cameron pump for the purpose of keeping the water down and preventing the flooding of the No. 7 level. This pump has been constantly at work since. At first the water was easily kept down, but when the No. 7 level was connected with No. 6 the water from the latter level found its way into the former, and at present it is working two hours every shift. In the May Queen section the main shaft has been sunk 190 ft., a crosscut to No. 4 and north-west lodes driven a distance of 366 ft., the chambers at No. 6 enlarged, the No. 4 lode driven on 350 ft. east and 110 ft. west, the north-west lode driven on 150 ft., and a winze on No. 6 level sunk 120 ft. A block of ground 460 ft. by 110 ft. high has been opened up, and some 900 odd tons of good ore taken out. A shaft in the Saxon section has been sunk 94 ft. Two winzes on the No. 1 lode and one on the new lode have been also sunk. No. 2 shaft was sunk from a chamber on the Saxon No. 1 lode. The headgear and pulleys are placed in a rise above, and the winding-engine in a crosscut. The engine has two high-pressure cylinders, and is driven by compressed air supplied by an air-compressor at the May Queen shaft. In the Cardigan section highly payable ore has been found in the drive on No. 2 lode. The company has made arrangements with the Thames-Hauraki Company to construct a drainage crosscut to connect with the Queen of Beauty shaft. The work will commence as soon as the drainage-assessment difficulty is settled. When this work is completed the May Queen Company can cease pumping on their own account and start at their No. 8 level. It will also reduce the cost of pumping from the old pump, by causing the water to flow to the new one, without materially increasing the costs of pumping from it. Thames-Hauraki Goldfields (Limited). —The Queen of Beauty shaft has now been enlarged and cleaned out to the bottom of the old shaft, 750 ft. For the future the sinking will be in new ground. The crosscut at the 540 ft. level is being retimbered and cleaned out, and operations on the large reef known as the Vanguard will be commenced as soon as it is completed. The crosscut is 950 ft. long, and of this, 620 ft. have already been put in repair. When this company get fairly to work on the Vanguard reef—which, when the old company ceased operations through the breaking-down of the pumping machinery, was giving handsome returns—l have no doubt that a new era of prosperity will set in at the Thames. On the successful development of the deep levels of this portion of the field depends, to a large extent, the future of the Thames proper. Karaka (Limited). —The reefs in this mine, called No. 1 and No. 2, have been driven on a distance of 200 ft. and 450 ft. respectively. The ore found is of low grade. Adelaide Mine. —Two men have been employed during the year repairing and cleaning out the old levels, and three men on tribute have been working on small leaders. A little gold has been won. May Queen Extended Gold-mining Company (No Liability). —During the early part of the year work was principally confined to putting in prospecting-drives, but nothing was found. A shaft is now down 100 ft., and it is intended to sink it another 70 ft., and then to open out. Several reefs traverse the ground, from two of which good returns were obtained in the upper level. A small plunger pump keeps the shaft dry. Occidental Gold-mining Company (No Liability). —This company is engaged driving the North Star tunnel, which is now traversing a good class of country, for the purpose of testing the reefs at the low levels. It is intended to continue the drive 1,500 ft. Good returns were obtained from these reefs in the upper levels. Fortuna Hauraki (Limited). —The company did a great deal of work during the first few months on the reefs at No. 2 and No. 3 levels, but the ore broken out was found to be unremunerative, and operations ceased. The mine is now under protection, pending advice from Home as to what shall be done in the future. Ethel Beefs Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Work has been principally in the Anchor Special Claim, through which several reefs run. The largest, the Jupiter, is 40 ft. in width, and contains quartz heavily charged with iron-pyrites, antimony, and zincblende, but of low grade. There are also several small but rich leaders from which specimens are obtained. The Mascotte Special Claim is under option to this company, and two men have been constantly engaged in prospecting. I understand the company intend to purchase the claim. Kirikiri. The Horse-shoe, Filly, and Chester Special Claims have been all worked by Mr. M. Fleming and party. A four-stamp mill was erected, and 54 tons of quartz from all parts of the mine treated for a return of 139 oz. 8 dwt. Puriri. Furiri Gold Estates (Limited). —A considerable amount of work has been done in this mine, but no payable ore has yet been discovered.