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Orion Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company erected an aerial tramway about a mile long, with hoppers, &c, and conveyed to the battery about 207 tons of quartz, which gave a return of 59 oz. 3 dwt. only. . Omahu. Sheet Anchor Special Claim. —The well-known prospectors, Tilsley Brothers, took up this claim early last year, and have done a considerable amount of work. A trial crushing at the School of Mines gave an excellent return. A two-stamp battery was erected, and 33J tons of quartz treated for a return of 291 oz. of bullion, valued at £202 ss. sd. It is the intention of the owners to increase their crushing-power by ten stamps. Klondike. —The owners, Messrs. Cumming and Odium, have done a considerable amount of prospecting on the surface. Gold has been found in the loose soil on the surface. A 3 ft. reef was discovered, which contained a fair percentage of gold. Mr. B. M. Myers, of Auckland, has the formation of a company in hand to work the mine, but up to the present has not met with much success. Neavesville. Golden Belt Gold-mining (Limited). —This company own the Golden Belt, Venus, and Arrow Licensed Holdings. The ground has been worked more or less for the last twenty years by the McLiver Brothers, and at times good returns were obtained. The company has been engaged in repairing and cleaning out the old levels. When this has been done it is intended to vigorously work the ground. The reef is of a fair size, and with careful treatment should be made to pay. Tairua. Tairua Broken Hills Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This ground was formerly held by the Broken Hills Gold-mining Company (Limited), formed in London, but, the capital having been exhausted, and London shareholders discouraged by the prospects, it was sold at auction, and purchased by the syndicate who formed the present company. The twenty-stamp battery purchased with the mine was completed and the reef opened up. It was found to be about 26 ft. in width, and from assay-tests judged to be payable. Some 600 tons was put through, but, as the return was only 196 oz. of bullion, it was decided to cease crushing and to erect vats to treat tailings by cyanide. This work is now going on, and will shortly be completed. If this company succeeds, many other claims in the vicinity will be taken up again and prospected. Pakirarahi. Chelmsford Gold-mining Company. —This company is working the Chelmsford Special Claim, situated on the Kauri Timber Company's freehold. During the boom the ground was marked out and applied for, but, the Kauri Timber Company objecting, no titles could be granted. This company has found five reefs carrying payable ore, a trial crushing of 1 ton having given a return of £13, and another ton of £5 10s. Both parcels were treated at the School of Mines, Thames. A ten-stamp mill with grinding- and amalgamating-pans (Fraser's) is now being erected. The prospects of this mine are encouraging, and no doubt more ground would be taken up if the land was subject to the mining-laws. The Golden Hill, Gem, Myosotis, and several other claims are being prospected. In most of them reefs have been found which give good prospects. The ground comprised in the claims last mentioned was the bone of contention for so long between the Kauri Timber Company and the prospectors, and finally surrendered by the former. Now that the land is open for mining there does not seem to be the same anxiety to take it up, while those claims which have been granted are not very vigorously worked. Wharekawa. Whangamata Gold Corporation (Limited). —The company has done an immense amount of work. The mine is well opened up, and good ore is being obtained. The reduction-works were completed and started in June last. Since then 5,495 tons of ore has been crushed for a return of 8,605 oz. of bullion; value, £10,610. The ore is crushed by two Krupp mills, and then treated by cyanide. Ohui. A few men are working in this district, but no payable ore has yet been discovered. The Maori Dream Proprietary went into liquidation, and its claim was forfeited. The Wentworth Mine, owned by the Hauraki Peninsula Exploration Company (Limited), has been well opened up. The reef, which has been cut in four different levels, is said to be payable. An experimental plant consisting of Lamington balls is now nearly complete, and crushing will commence soon. If this plant is not a success stamps wall be erected, provision for which has already been made. A water-race 67 chains and tramway 23 chains have been constructed. Upper Thames. Karangahake. New Zealand Crown Mines.- —This is one of the most important and consistent gold-producing mines in the peninsula. For the past six months its gold return has averaged between £4,800 and £5,350, notwithstanding the fact that the battery has during that time been compelled, for want of water-power, to crush with half its stamp-power. The shortness of water during the long dry season has been very much felt by the miners generally in this portion of the field. The early advent of the railway to Karangahake will prove a great boon to the mining community, as it will enable the company to supplement their water-power with steam. There are very extensive ore15—C. 3.

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