C—3.

District op Eeefton Court. Prom the opening of the district to the 31st March last 796,283 tons of quartz has been crushed, from which 537,788 oz. of gold has been obtained, representing a value of £2,112,022, out of which £641,418 has been distributed in dividends. The total amount of alluvial gold raised for the same period is approximately estimated at 140,292 oz., representing a value of £521,714. The total production of the district is, as far as can be ascertained, 678,080 oz. of gold, of a value of £2,633,736. I submit the following table showing the calls made, dividends declared, &c, by various companies in the district during the year : —

Gold Returns, &c.

The following account of the work done, &c, in the principal mines will enable you to form some idea of the state of the mining industry in this district. Keep-it-Dark Company, Grushingion. —The work during the year has consisted of stoping out quartz from No. 2 level, and opening up of No. 3. The battery was started crushing in June last, and has since been continuously running. The greater portion of the stone treated has been taken from No. 2 level. During the last two or three months stoping has been carried out in No. 3 level. Since the striking of the reef in No. 3 level (mentioned in last report) it has been driven on 238 ft. The lode on this level is much longer than it has been proved to be in the other levels, the thickness being about the same—viz., Bft., —and the quality as good. A rise has been put up between Nos. 3 and 2 levels, the height being 174 ft. Three levels are now opened, and from all appearances sufficient stone should be forthcoming to keep the battery going for some years. The treatment of the company's tailings by cyanide has been very successful. All the tailings as they leave the battery are passed through the cyanide-vats, the cost of treatment being, I am informed, about ss. per ton of 27 cubic feet. The company has acquired by purchase the two adjoining claims —viz., the Hercules, and No. 2 Keep-it-Dark. During the year the company has crushed 9,115 tons of quartz for a yield of 2,303 oz. 14 dwt. 17 gr. of gold, valued at £9,217 lis. 7d., and has treated 7,550 tons of tailings for a yield of 1,681 oz. 12 dwt. 6 gr. of gold, of the value of £5,451 10s. 7d. The total output of the mine has been 136,811 tons of quartz, from which has resulted 71,614 oz. of gold valued at £278,062 3s. 9d., out of which dividends to the extent of £114,416 13s. 4d. have been distributed. Big Biver. —During the year the mine has produced 2,093 oz. 0 dwt, 12 gr. of melted gold, valued at £8,494 19s. 3d. ; from 1,685 tons of stone, or an average value of 1 oz. 4 dwt. 21 gr. per ton of ore crushed. Dividends amounting to £4,800, equal to 4s. per share, were paid. The whole of the above stone was produced from a reef between the No. 2 intermediate level and No. 5 level, and for about 60 ft. above the latter. Eecently operations were directed to endeavour to trace this reef down to No. 6 level, but results were disappointing under No. 2 intermediate level, no defined reef showing underfoot. It was then decided to drive No. 6 level, and here a gold-bearing reef was struck under the perpendicular of the upper workings. The stone was of fair size, and carried highly payable gold. Along this level the reef was 18 ft. in length. The usual connections with the workings overhead have been made, and stoping on the reef has been commenced. The extension of No. 6 level north is in progress. In No. 2 level a large amount of prospecting-driving has been done, but so far without payable results. In No. 1 level a new reef was discovered, which is now being developed by a winze. The stone is from 2 ft. to 3 ft. wide, and carries payable gold. A contract for 140 ft. of driving is now in progress from No. 1 intermediate level to intersect this reef about 160 ft. deeper than No. 1 level. The total output of the mine is 16,874 tons of stone, which yielded 23,940 oz. of gold, of a value of £96,471 6s. 2d., out of which £46,200 has been paid in dividends.

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Company. Calls. Dividends. *£* Yield of Gold. Value. Progress Mines Consolidated Goldfields of New Zealand : Wealth of Nations Big Biver Golden Lead Hercules Lord Edward Snowy Creek Kirwan's Reward Keep-it-Dark „ (cyanide process) No. 2 Keep-it-Dark Maritani Revival Boatman's Creek Cumberland.. Dillon Newhaven Private oompany—The Last Chance .. £ a. d. £ 41,250 Tons. 45,132 1,700 Oz. dwt. gr. 19,552 0 0 763 18 4 £ s. d. 80,996 15 6 3,089 11 8 363 0 0 700 0 0 100 0 0 1,754 17 6 3,033 6 8 4,800 1,685 2,093 0 12 8,494 19 3 1,000 9^115 * 2,302'l4 17 1,681 12 6 9,217 11 7 5,451 10 7 162 7 6 33 17 1 450 0 0 600 0 0 3,000 0 0 500 0 0 50 0 0 "40 29' 0 0 115 0 0 160 25 55 11 9 6 0 18 220 6 1 23 14 0 420 210 6 0 846 9 0 Alluvial gold 26,693 3 18 2,772 0 0 108,455 17 8 10,820 0 0 Totals .. 10,747 8 9 47,050 58,277 29,465 3 18 119,275 17 8 * Erorn 7,550 tons tailings.