C—3.

Westport District. Wellington Old Diggings, Buller Ewer.—Sluicing operations have been suspended during the greater part of the year. Mackle and party continue sluicing the tailing-deposits from the old Caledonia Claim, with favourable results. The terraces and tributaries of the German Creek still afford employment to about twenty miners. Greenhill Sluicing Company, .Rurdowre.—Hydraulic sluicing was continued in the commencement of the year, for a gold-yield of £260 ; but operations are now suspended, pending reconstruction of the company. Waimangaroa River.—- Profitable results are obtained by the parties who continue to tunnel the banks of the river. Ralligan and Party (five). —This sluicing and elevating claim, now skirting the Fair Maid Terraces, affords payable results. The plant is in good order. Moran and Party (four). —Since developments were completed the results from this claim show signs of improvement. Gould and Party (four) continue sluicing as usual, with poor results. Carmody and Party (five).—Profitable returns are still being obtained from this sluicing and elevating claim. Working-conditions of the property are satisfactory. Shamrock Claim.— This property is shut down and flooded. The owner made application for a subsidy to drive a low-level drainage-tunnel from the Dirty Mary Creek, but, as construction of the race was likely to benefit the owner only, assistance was not granted. Virgin Flat Gold-mining Company.— After very considerable expenditure, extending over a period of three years, on gigantic and substantially built water-race and tail-race developments, sluicing was commenced in full swing in the early part of the year, giving a gold-vield of £588 7s. 7d. 8 S S * Cement-crushing. Piper Flat Company .—This company had suspended operations when visited. New Venture.— The present syndicate of eight working-men recently bought this property from the old Venture Company, and continue operations with fair results. It is very regrettable that, under the existing mode of treatment, gold-extraction from these rich auriferous cemented sands is so far very unsatisfactory. Millikin and Party (eight).—Operations were confined to sluicing the south end of the claim. Battery-work suspended. Golden Sand. —This company resumed operations in the commencement of the year, and carried out extensive alterations in connection with the battery and tables, but returns not meeting anticipations all work was shut down. Charleston. Powell's Sluicing and Elevating Black-sand Claim, Nine-mile Beach. —The owners still meet with very profitable returns, the yield being 525 oz. 3 dwt. 15 gr., valued at £1,973 7s. 9d. A number of beach-combers continue to make a fair living in the locality. Lyell. Neville and Perkins's Newton Flat Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company. This company employ about forty men ditching and tunnelling in connection with a large water scheme from the Newton Biver. As the various works are well advanced, it is anticipated that sluicing will commence early. Murchison. The Glenroy, Horse Terrace, and Matakitaki districts employ in all about thirty-four Europeans, and approximately thirty-two Chinese, working in parties of from two to four men. Boring and sinking for dredging purposes forms quite an industry. Boatman's. A few aged miners are making a bare living along the left-hand branch of Boatman's Creek. Ahaura. In the Ahaura, Orwell Creek, Callaghan's, and Nelson Creek districts mining has practically given place to the dredging industry, with exception of a few old resident fossickers and Chinese who earn a bare living by scratching the beds and banks of the creeks. Bellhill.— Sluicing has been almost continuous with improved productive capacities, chiefly due to the increased water-supply and other developments recently carried out by the present company. Realey's Gully (Owners, Republic Sluicing Company).—The effective hydraulic capacities of this property have been largely improved by a series of continuous alterations and improvements recently made in connection with the water-race. Sluicing is well maintained, while returns show a total output of 269 oz. 1 dwt., valued at £1,053 16s. Three Jacks Claim (three).—This claim gives very satisfactory results when water is plentiful.

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