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ment-work as much as possible, with the result that 2,393 ft. of driving, 1,069 ft. of crosscutting, and 350 ft. of raising has been done, besides which the main shaft, comprising three compartments, has been started from the low level and raised to a vertical height of 310 ft. This shaft has to reach No. 6 level, a vertical distance of 460 ft. from the low level, at which point a Lidgerwood hoist (geared double drum) will be stationed and operated on by compressed air. The shaft contains two compartments for hoisting, and one pipe and ladder-way, the overall dimensions being 13 ft. 2 in. by 6ft. 2 in. A twenty-five-stamp mill is in course of construction, and will be driven by steam, the engine being of the compound undertype pattern, by Eobey and Co., Lincoln. Alongside the mill engine will stand a duplex Eand drill compressor for ten drills, also another of five-drill capacity, giving the equivalent of fifteen drills for all purposes. Steam for the engine and compressor is to be generated by two Eraser and Chalmers 60 in. by 16 ft. multitubular ex-terior-fired boilers, and by one locomotive type boiler by Eobey. The battery is of the same pattern as the Progress Mines. Concentration will be performed by Wilfley tables, after which the material will be cyanided. The battery is situate about 27 chains from the mouth of the tunnel, on the opposite side of Murray Creek, connecting which is a tramway crossing over a bridge about 60 ft. in height. Wealth of Nations Group. —The principal work in this mine has been confined to opening up the 600 ft. level, sinking the shaft to the 700 ft. level, and opening up the 700 ft. level, besides making the necessary connections by means of winzes and raises from the 500 ft. down to the 700 ft. level. In all 1,450 ft. of driving and cutting has been done, 416 ft. of raising, 159 ft. of winze-sinking, and the incline shaft sunk 103 ft. Practically no stoping has been done in this mine during the period under review, the quartz milled having come from development almost exclusively. The work now engaging our attention is sinking the shaft to the 800 ft. level, driving north on stone on the 700 ft. level, and driving south on the same level. The result of the mill runs during the past twelve months show that 2,172 tons of quartz yielded 930 oz. 2 dwt. 3gr. of gold, valued at £3,760 16s. lid., or Bdwt. per ton. An experimental cyanide plant on a working scale has been erected, in which 292 tons of tailings has been treated, yielding 49 oz. 15 dwt. of bullion, valued at about £184 ss. Bd. The results of these experiments prove the material to be somewhat refractory, causing a large consumption of cyanide and only a fair extraction of gold, but the gold is very readily precipitated when once in solution. Welcome Company. —A small amount of raising was done from No. 5 Level, Welcome, after which our attentions were diverted to Specimen Hill, where, after repairing the low-level tunnel for the first 1,600 ft., we proceeded to drive south from this tunnel, and have driven 937 ft. towards the Welcome, looking for that company's line of reef. At the Just-in-Time shaft a hoisting-engine was installed, the poppet-legs strengthened, and the water drawn from the shaft, a steam-pump placed at the 200 ft. level, and the shaft sunk a further distance of 200 ft. Since then we have started, drifting to try and intersect the stone worked by the old Imperial and Eeform Companies. Before doing this it was necessary to divert the course of the creek to prevent it in flood-time cutting into the tip-head in close proximity to the shaft timber. Mr. G. G. Dixon, general manager and engineer of the New Inkerman Mines, supplies the following information concerning his claim : — New Inkerman Mines. —For the months of March, April, May, June, and July, of 1899, the mines were closed down during the general manager's visit to England. On the 7th August, 1899, work was proceeded with, and a No. 5 drive south from the low-level tunnel (1,033 ft. from mouth of tunnel) was started in order to pick up No. 2 Supreme reef to the south. The reef sought was struck on the 23rd November, at 989-J-ft. from the low-level tunnel, the average driving per week by the rock-drillers being a record—viz., 66-95 ft. per week. On the reef struck, in drive south No. 5 from low-level tunnel (just referred to), drives east and west were opened up, and at the 31st March these had been extended on the reef 182 ft. and 203 ft. respectively, An uprise on the lode from the drive west has also been started. An uprise from drive west to No. 5 winze, No. 2 Supreme, for the purpose of ventilation, and to facilitate the working of ore-bodies in Golden Gully was begun on the 23rd February last, and had been risen 134fft. up to the 31st March last. A drive from Golden Gully tram to connect with workings just referred to was started on the 23rd March, and at the end of the month had been driven 30 ft. The work of renewing the thirty-stamp battery was taken in hand in October last, and fifteen heads were completed and started crushing in April. A considerable amount of ore accumulated from driving operations on reef struck in drive south No. 5 from low-level tunnel. The company have been' developing the property for four years without any return, and with the exception of the five months referred to at the beginning of this report the work has been carried on continuously. The company have expended £35,000 on the property in development-work, which includes some 12,000 ft. of driving, 1,300 ft. of sinking, and 300 ft. of uprising. General. The gold yield from the mines during the past year is greater than for some years past. The greater portion of the yield was obtained by the Progress Mines, demonstrating the advantages to be obtained from the proper development of a mine and the use of the most improved machinery and scientific treatment of ores. The company is now producing about eight thousand pounds' worth of gold monthly, and this will be increased when the cyanide plant starts operations. The Keep-it-Dark is now in full swing, and is profiting by the adoption of the cyanide process. The New Inkerman Mines have been crushing for a short time, and should the trial prove successful (as I beMeve it will) doubtless a much larger milling plant will be erected. The mill of the Consolidated Goldfields (for Golden Fleece Group) is nearing completion, and possibly may be working in three or four months' time. The Kirwan's Eeward Company and Snowy Creek Company will shortly