C.—3.

Una Hill.

Occidental and Thames Special Claims. —There has been no work done on this ground by the company during the year, but an average of five men has been engaged in tributing. Eight loads of quartz was treated for 28 oz. 2 dwt. of gold, valued at £80 Bs. 9d. The management is endeavouring to raise fresh capital for carrying on development-works in the North Star low level, with a view to intersecting the Lord Nelson reef. As soon as the necessary money is forthcoming driving on behalf of the company will be commenced. Kaeaka Cebek. Neio Gloucester Mine. —This mine has been steadily worked during the year with four men, the operations being chiefly directed to driving and stoping on Cowling's leader in the Nos. 1 and 2 levels. The leader is heavily mineralised, and varies from 2 in. to 6 in. in thickness. In breaking down the leader a little picked stone is occasionally obtained. 44 tons of quartz was treated for a return of 101 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, valued at £306 ss. Gloucester Extended ground, which adjoins the New Gloucester, has been worked with two men, who have directed their attention to driving on the Lincoln lead, from which 2 tons of quartz was broken out and treated for a return of 8 oz. 3 dwt. of gold, valued at £49. Claremont.- -This is a small holding of 1 acre, and is owned by George Bryant, who works the ground on his own account. We are informed rich patches of specimens are obtained where the leaders junction with what is termed " flinties " in the Karaka ; but although we have made frequent visits to this mine, yet we have not been fortunate enough to see any gold in the mine, and the work done appears to be very limited for the large amount of specimens treated. 1,140 lb. of stone was treated for 450 oz. of gold, valued at £1,210 10s. May Queen Extended. —Operations in this mine during the greater part of the year were confined to driving on the Hokianga reef north and south of the crosscut from the shaft. As the reef did not produce as good quartz as expected, and the funds running short, development-work here was discontinued. The work was then directed to repairing the Adelaide low level for the purpose of extending a crosscut to ascertain whether the Adelaide reef makes on the southern side of the break. 120 loads of quartz was treated for 58 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, valued at £167 18s. An average of eight men was employed. Thames-Talisman. —The work carried on in this mine up to the end of July was extending the Cumberland low level to intersect the main reef, which was met with at s, distance of 740 ft. from the mouth of the drive. The reef is from 1 ft. to 2 ft. in thickness, and has been driven on for some distance on each side of the crosscut. It did not turn out as well as expected, and six months' protection was applied for and granted; but work has again been resumed, and the manager contemplates rising on a junction and driving on the reef towards the Grand Trunk shaft. Fourteen loads of quartz was treated for a return of 6 oz. 3 dwt. of gold, valued at £17 Is. 7d. Eight men were employed. Gbahamstown. Thames-Haurahi. —This mine has been under protection, and in consequence no work has 'been done on the property during the year, pending negotiations for the reconstruction of the company to raise further capital to enable the work of sinking the shaft to be proceeded with (as previously arranged) for the purpose of proving the value of the reefs in this part of the district at greater depth. May Queen-Hauraki. —The work carried on in this mine has entirely been done by tributers, some of whom have done fairly well. Their attention' has been chiefly directed to driving and stoping on the various reefs above No. 6 level in the Saxon, May Queen, and Cardigan sections, which were previously opened up by the company, but no important discoveries have been made. 1,340 tons of quartz and 2861b. of picked stone was broken out and treated for 3,503 oz. 3 dwt. of gold, valued at £9,600 12s. 7d. There has been little or no development-work done by the company, but it is fully expected that before long the company will again resume operations, and, it is to be hoped, will direct their attention to proving the value of the property at depth. An average of four wages-men and forty-five tributers has been employed. Victoria Gold-mining Company. —The most of the work in this mine has been done by tributers, who have been prospecting and trying various leaders and the reefs from the No. 3 level of the Prince Imperial shaft to the surface. Unfortunately they have not been successful in finding payable ore, and the work accomplished as a whole has not been of a remunerative character. An average of six men has been employed. They have sent to the mill for treatment 123 tons of quartz for a return of 54 oz. 16 dwt. of gold, valued at £150 3s. Bd. Boring operations on behalf of the Victoria Company (with the assistance of a Government subsidy) have been in progress on the Favourite foreshore section during the last six months, to ascertain if there exists any auriferous country on the west, or what is known as the " seaward side of the slide," and at what depth. One of the bores was put down through made or broken country to a depth of 518 ft., but the country penetrated near the bottom of the hole was of a loose or " sliding" nature; and, as the hole had been reduced to a small diameter through obstacles in the shape of boulders having been met with from time to time, it was deemed advisable to discontinue it, as the borehole would have to be enlarged from the top downwards, and in consequence it has been decided to select a new site for another bore. Waiotahi Cheek. Waiotahi Mine. —Work in this mine is being continued as usual on various leaders above No. 3 level. Although there is still a fair amount of gold produced from this mine for the number of men employed, and enough money is left after the working-expenses are met to pay the usual dividends, yet there is no new or fresh development-work being done to prove the value of this

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