C—3.

Great Bakeiee.

Barrier Beefs Mine. —Operations in this mine were steadily carried on up to the month of November, but the blocks of ground opened up on the reefs becoming exhausted from the low level upwards, a number of the men were discharged. The battery was stopped, and only a limited number of men were kept on in the mine, pending a reconstruction of the company for the purpose of raising further capital to open up and develop the mine at deeper levels, which will probably necessitate the erection of pumping and winding machinery. During the year the lowlevel crosscut has been extended a distance of 39 ft. southwards, where a large lode 43 ft. thick was intersected, some of the stone being of a very promising character for gold and silver. 100 ft. has also been driven eastward on the course of the main reef, and a total of 220 ft. at the No. 2 and intermediate levels, together with 100 ft. of uprises. Stoping: There has been 695 ft. on the course of the lode, by 330 ft. in height, blocked out on the main lode (the average width of it being about 15 in.), which produced 13,537 tons of quartz for 15,734 oz. of bullion, valued at £23,503. The average number of men employed in the mine and battery was 112, but five men were only employed at the end of the year. New Great Barrier Mine. —This ground, formerly known as the " Original Great Barrier," on which a good deal of work was done by the previous owners, has been taken up and worked during the past nine months by a syndicate, who have employed from two to three men in prospecting and opening up the reef, which averages 14 in. in thickness. A parcel of 4-J tons was broken out at the No. 1 level and forwarded to New South Wales for treatment: this gave a return of bullion valued at £33. The gold contained in the ore is from 5 dwt. to 7 dwt. per ton, the principal value being silver. The work in the mine has been chiefly confined to the No. 1 level, which has been extended a distance of 103 ft., and a rise put up on the reef to a height of 40 ft. It is intended to connect this rise with a surface drive, which has been extended 40 ft. to where it will come through; this, when completed, will give good ventilation, and will partly prove the value of a large block on the reef over the level. Taueanga-Tb Puke. Te Puke Gold Beefs. —There has only been a limited amount of work done in this mine during the year, three men being employed in prospecting the reef at No. 1 level near the top of the hill, and from which 5 tons of ore was broken out and treated for 31 oz. 18 dwt. of gold, valued at £86 14s. lid. This property is still under offer on the London market, and the shareholders are sanguine it will eventually be floated into a company. Clark's Freehold. —Very little work has been done on this property during the year, but negotiations are now on foot with the representative of a Erench syndicate to give them an option over the property till the end of the year, the syndicate to spend at least £100 per month developing the property. If the terms offered are acceptable an expert will be sent to report. The option has to be open to the middle of-May next.

Fatal Accidents.

There were twenty-eight other accidents reported to this office, and, being of a more or less serious nature, the cause of each was inquired into, and with the exception of slight accidents they were duly reported on. There is only one case that requires special comment here—viz., that of James Marshall, who was injured in the Waihi Company's mine on the 3rd December by an explosion of gelignite, and died a few weeks after the accident occurred. I have, &c, James Coutts, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Mr. E. Tennent, Inspector of Mines, Westport, to the Undeb-Seceetaby for Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Westport, 15th April, 1902. I have the honour to report as follows on the gold-mines in the Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast districts for the period ending the 31st December, 1901: — QUARTZ-MINING. Blenheim. Wellington Mine. —The mining development of this property is carried out in a haphazard and slipshod manner. Rising on No. 2 level 165 ft. is the only work in progress. Two men employed.

79

Name. Name of Mine. Cause. Date. ames Bllery New Zealand Crown Mines Waihi Company's mine Killed by balance-beam of pump ... 30th April. iVilliam Beady ... jeonard Boberts ames Carter eremiah Sullivan Eoyal Oak Mine Waihi Company's mine Waihi Company's mine Killed in boiler-shed by a truck with firewood Killed by falling down a pass Killed by a fall of rock Killed by falling down No. 2 shaft from No. 6 to No. 7 level 4th July. 16th October. 17th October. 12th November.