c.—3,

Grand Junction Gold-mining Company. —A fair amount of work has been done on this mine during the year. New and powerful pumps have arrived from Home and have been placed in position, and are at present working satisfactorily. The shaft has been widened out for a considerable distance down, and this work is at present being actively pushed on. It is a pleasure to see this company pursuing a more vigorous policy, and at last taking proper steps to test their property, which, it is said, is fortunate enough to contain some of the Waihi Company's reefs. The Waihi Extended and Ohinemuri Special Claims are being worked together. Boreholes have been put down in different parts, and by this means a reef formation has been discovered at a great depth. The directors have now given instructions for a shaft to be sunk to ascertain the value of this reef formation. The sinking of the shaft is to be proceeded with almost immediately. The Waihi South Company have of late been doing some good work, having met with some slight encouragement in the crosscut towards the Consols property, where there are indications of coming on to a reef. Water is coming freely from the face, and the "teountry indications are distinctly favourable. It is to be hoped that their efforts may lead to something substantial being discovered. The Waihi Consols Gold-mining Company have done little work of importance, and are waiting until the crosscut in the South property reaches their boundary, when, as arranged, they propose working from it. In the meantime they have lent their pumping plant to the South Company, which saves the latter company some £300 or £400. In consideration for this they are to be allowed to use the South Company's shaft to drive from. The Waihi Beach claims, which were the cause of considerable agitation during the boom, so far have been disappointing, as such great things were expected from these claims, but very little or no work has been done. The owners took up some eleven special claims over this ground; but, as so little work was being done upon this property, which is a freehold subject to mining, all but 400 acres was surrendered, and is now open for any one to take up. No one, however, seems inclined to mark it out. The claims still existing are under option, but unless greater vigour is displayed in working these mines there is very little prospect of ascertaining their quality. Coromandel. The mining in the Coromandel portion of the Hauraki Mining District is at present very dull. Owing to the closing-down of the Eoyal Oak of Hauraki Mine lately, quite seventy miners have been thrown out of work, and this being one of the mines owned by an English company has caused quite a depression, as many of the miners have had to go elsewhere for work. Kauri Block. The Hauraki Mine is still yielding a regular monthly payable return of gold. The Union Beach portion of this mine has also produced some good specimens during the past year. The Golden Pah Company have had a few crushings of specimens since last report, and continuous development-work is still being actively carried on. The Albion, the property of the Hauraki Main Lodes (Limited), is working with a reduced number of men, but no gold is being obtained. The Bunker's Hill Company is still plodding along. Some specimen hauls have been, obtained, the crushings from which gave most satisfactory results. The Zealandia Claim is still in existence, but under protection at present. The Welcome Find Licensed Holding has been let on tribute, and the tributers have had a few patches of specimens. Freehold Land. —The Kathleen Mine has done a great quantity of work, but so far no payable gold has resulted from the labour expended, which is unfortunate after so much capital has been spent. The Kathleen Crown Mine has been closed down. The Blagrove resumed work some time ago, and is still developing. The Kapanga Mine has had several crushings, the returns from which were satisfactory as to quantity crushed. A lot of work has been done in Scotty's Mine, and it is still being worked. A few good crushings were obtained. The Harbour View Special Claim is still let on tribute, and several small parcels of ore have been crushed, with fair results. The Eoyal Oak of Hauraki Mine has produced a good deal of gold, but latterly the returns fell off, and the mine is now under protection. An immense amount of work has been done in this mine. The Queen of the North Special Claim is still, I believe, let on tribute, but little gold has been obtained. The New Four-in-hand Company is doing well. A good battery has been erected, and payable crushings are being obtained. Everything seems to be in favour of its becoming one of the best-paying mines in the district. It has already paid dividends. The Waikoromiko, Four-in-hand, Holly Branch, Fabulous, and Federal have all been well worked, and some gold was obtained from the Forest Queen, and some small parcels from the others. The Hauraki Associated Company have done a great deal of work, and have had some good crushings up to lately ; now the gold seems to be running out.

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