C.—3.

Jubilee. —Since this company resumed operations development has been chiefly confined to driving a low level on No. 2 reef. Several parcels of outcrop stone yielded 136 oz. 6dwt. 10 gr., valued at £502 6s. 3d. The aerial tramway has been generally overhauled. Working-conditions of the mine are good, and it is well ventilated. Ten men employed. Luck at Last. —This recently opened property employs two men driving on a very large lowgrade formation, but the manager anticipates a payable run as developments extend. Baden-Powell Syndicate (Thomas Fowler, secretary). —A winze is sunk to a depth of 30 ft. on a 4-yard formation. The contract is let for 60 ft. Havelock. Golden Bar. —lnquiries in respect of road-construction have recently been made to facilitate the transit of milling machinery. Watei - -race construction and preparing timbers for battery-founda-tion are the only works at the mine. The machinery awaits transport from Havelock Wharf. CoLLINGWOOD. Golden Eidge (Taitapu Gold Estates; Mr. James Carrol, late of Croesus, Paparoa, minemanager). —Mining developments are confined to the low level, while a new roadway connecting the Ant-hill section of the mine with the aerial terminal is under construction to facilitate transit to the mill. Twenty-three men employed. Golden Blocks, Taitapu. —Developments are kept well in advance in order to avoid shortage of ore-reserve. The low-level crosscut is now driven 510 ft., and according to the favourable country indications the main ore-body is early expected. Stone for milling purposes stoped between Nos. 1 and 2 levels yielded 3,081 oz. lOdwt., valued at £12,122 Bs. Id., from 2,364 tons. The mine and battery works are kept in good order. Thirty men employed. Westpobt. Britannia. —The lucrative returns maintained from No. 1 reef during the year have encouraged the company to extend developments on the north section of their property, where a reef recently discovered —4 ft. to 5 ft. in width —promises to give fair average yields. Eight men employed. Stony Greek. —This property, formerly owned by the old Bepublic Company, was recently acquired by a local syndicate, who work under the title of " The Stony Creek Gold-mining Company." Since possession was taken the several works have undergone a general overhaul, and the discovery of a fresh ore-body has strengthened the position. Battery operations are hampered owing to scarcity of water, but steps are being taken to remedy this defect. So far returns are not yet to hand. Fourteen men employed. The Mokihinui Beefs have recently attracted the prospectors' attention, but beyond the old known bodies there are no fresh disclosures to note. Lyell. Alpine .Extended. —Active developments in No. 7 and No. 11 have been steadily pushed since dperations were resumed at the commencement of the year. But, with the exception of a small leader which yielded 30|- oz. to 4 tons stone, No. 7 has unearthed no fresh discoveries of importance. However, a high-grade ore-body, varying in width from 2 ft. 6 in. northward to 12 ft. southward, was struck while extending No. 11 south. Unfortunately the stone pinched out in the south face, but continues strong in the north one, which runs almost parallel with the main drive. Driving continues in the south face, but the higher values of this new ore-body will depend on deeper sinking. Tyrconnel. — Kelly and party continue to work this property as a private concern, with highly payable results. The mine is kept in a workmanlike manner and well ventilated. Boatman's. Kirwan's Beivard. —Practically developments of importance are nil, except quarrying the large bodies of quartz located on the crown of the hill, which, according to the volume of broken stone in sight, assures the investor that profitable returns will continue for a considerable time to come. Twenty-two men find employment in quarrying the stones and clearing the surface debris. Welcome. —During the past year only a small amount of exploratory work has been done, as all practical effort failed to trace the stone down to the low-level tunnel, Specimen Hill. Therefore all that remained was to mine and mill the quartz in sight, which amounted to about 240 tons. The company erected a very rough five-stamp mill, and a free-gold yield of £1,923 13s. 9d. was obtained, besides several pennyweights being left in the tailings. To make the quartz-treatment complete a small cyanide plant consisting of two 20 ft. diameter by 5 ft. wooden treatment-tanks was erected, together with an additional stamp. These tanks were nearly finished at the end of the year. Meanwhile stoping was continued by eight wages-men, it being the intention of the company to take out all payable quartz in sight. Eebpton. Wealth of Nations. —Attention has been chiefly directed to develop the bottom or 800 ft. level, the face of which at the end of the year was standing at 547 ft. north of the shaft. While driving this distance ore-bodies of considerable magnitude were met with, including one of very strong medium grade, 12 ft. in width, at 142 ft. from the shaft. Eising at 500 ft. to connect with the 700 ft. level, a very nice quartz band 3 ft. in width, carrying very fair gold, was followed the whole distance. Extending north towards the Energetic shaft, the battery level was driven 156 ft., leaving 192 ft. yet to connect. The total footages amount to 591 ft. of driving and 156 ft. of sinking and raising. The necessity for sinking a main shaft has been rendered urgent owing to the present

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