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of 2 tons of general ore and 2 owt. of selected stone was treated for a return of 76 oz. 5 dwt. of gold, valued at £217 ss. 2d.; and an average of six men was employed. West Tokatea Mine. —Operations in this mine have been principally confined to driving and stoping on the No. 3 leader at the No. 2 level. The leader varies from 2 in. to 6 in. in thickness, and has been driven on a distance of 827 ft. at this level. In breaking down the leader a little picked stone is occasionally obtained. The small three-stamp battery that was in course of erection at the latter end of the previous year has been completed, and crushings have since been intermittently carried on. A portion of this mine was let on tribute, and some of the tributers were successful in getting nice little patches of picked stone near the surface. 63 tons of ore was treated for the company and the tributers for 234 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, valued at £667 15s. 4d. An average of six men was employed. Harbour View Mine. —This mine was worked for a short time by tributers in the early part of the year, but as they were not successful in getting anything payable they gave it up. Owing to the company not being in a position to work the ground for want of funds, and not employing men on it for a time, another party applied for the ground in the Warden's Court, and got it forfeited. New Tokatea. —Work in this mine is carried on by J. Kennedy and party, their attention being directed to prospecting and driving on some of the small leaders which have been intersected in the different levels, and from which 1 ton of ore was crushed for a return of 5 oz. 10 dwt. of gold. Neiv Hauraki Gold Properties. —There has been a large amount of money expended in develop-ment-works in this mine, but unfortunately with no success, and in consequence it has been closed down, and is now in liquidation. Buffalo Mine. —This mine has been worked during part of the year by A. Eoss and party, who have been principally engaged in prospecting on small leaders. From 2 tons of ore and 1 lb. of picked stone a return of 8 oz. 13 dwt. of gold was obtained. ■ Works of a prospecting nature have also been carried on in the following claims in this locality, all of which have had small returns of gold : East Tokatea, Last Chance, Josephine, Golden Lead, Eoyal, Golden Spark, and Old Britannia. Waikokomiko. Four-in-hand. —Operations in this mine have been steadily carried on during the year, and with very satisfactory results. 793 tons of ore was broken out and treated at. the company's mill for the good return of 1,421 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, valued at £4,112 15s. 4d., which left a good margin of profit after all expenses were paid, and enabled the directors to pay to the shareholders £2,250 in dividends, making a total of £4,500 in dividends since commencing work. In the mine work has chiefly been confined to driving and stoping on the Pour-in-hand reef at Nos. 1 and 2 levels, also intermediate level. The reef varies from 16 in. to 3 ft. in thicknesSj and, as will be seen by the returns, the stone is of very good quality. In the Cuirassier section an adit level has been driven in from the side of the hill, where the Cuirassier reef has been intersected at a deeper Jevel than those previously opened up by the original owners, who obtained several good returns. The manager is sanguine of again picking up the chute of gold at this level. An average of sixteen men was employed. A limited amount of prospecting-work has been done by several parties from time to time in this locality, but no fresh discoveries reported. Kennedy Bay. Macoronic Mine. —This mine has been steadily worked during the year. Six different reefs or leaders have been intersected in this property, and some of them which give encouraging prospects are now being operated on with a view to proving more fully the value of the property. Some of the shareholders contemplate erecting a small battery on the ground if the ore continues to be as good as that already tried. 8 tons of general ore was treated for 6 oz. of gold, valued at £16 4s. Baden Powell Mine. —This mine was worked for a short time in the early part of the year by W. McNeil, who had a crushing of 901b. of picked stone for a return of 40 oz. of gold, valued at £110. Cabbage Bay. Extended Quartz Claim. —This mine has been steadily worked with two men. The work has consisted chiefly in prospecting on small leaders varying from 1 in. to 1 ft. in thickness. 1 ton of quartz was treated for a return of 5 oz. 14 dwt. of gold, valued at £15 13s. 4d. Tiki. Progress-Castle Bock Mine. —Operations in this mine have during the year been directed to driving and stoping on Reynold's reef, which is about 1 ft. thick, and is carrying that class of mineral which is considered a good indication for a patch of gold, but so far only little dabs of the precious metal have been seen in breaking the quartz out. With a view to proving the reef at a lower level, a crosscut is to be started 70 ft. lower than the present level. 73f tons of ore was treated for 182 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, valued at £434 11s. Aiken's Freehold. —-Two men have been constantly employed in prospecting on this property, on which a good deal of work has been done, but so far the reefs operated on have proved to be lower grade. 15J tons was treated at the Coromandel public battery for a return of 3 oz. 4 dwt. of gold. Prospecting-work has also been carried on in the Prospero and Pukewhau Mines, with two men in each, but no important find has been reported. No returns.

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