C—3.

HTEMATITE-PAINT WORKS.

Washbourne Bros.' Parapara Hcematite-paint Works. —The output of dry paint was 75 tons, showing an increase of 15 tons on last return. This energetic company has also recently started the grinding of haematite in oil, and 4 tons of the paint thus prepared, and put up in drums and small tins, has already been put on the market with success. About 2 tons of Kanapa knife-polish has been manufactured during the year, and the sale of this article promises to increase. This company's paint is meeting with a ready demand in the Australian States, and efforts are being made to open a market for it in India. I have, &c, B. Tennent, TheUnder-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

Mr. B. E. Green, Inspector of Mines, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sm,— Office of Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, 7th April, 1902. I have the honour to submit the following report on the quartz-mines, alluvial mines, and gold-dredges visited during the year ending the 31st December, 1901 : — QUABTZ-MINING. Shotoveb. Achilles Gold-mines, Bullendale (P. J. Donnal, superintendent; J. Edwards, manager). — (22/4/1901): The incline shaft has been extended to No. 7 level, which has been driven 218 ft. east and 150 ft. west. At 25 ft. from the shaft a winze has been sunk 50 ft. on No. 7 level east, and at 140 ft. west a winze is down 25 ft. No. 6 level has been driven 579 ft. east and 408 ft. west, a total distance of 987 ft. on the north lode (hanging-wall). ' Almost all recent work has been done on the hanging-wall, north lode. 'The main or south lode lies on the foot-wall. The lode formation is 90 ft. wide, and quartz in sight runs from 5 ft. to 10 ft. in thickness, averaging 7 ft. Very little crosscutting has been done during the past year, the work, as stated, being confined to the north lode. Large bodies of stone have been exposed, but almost the whole of it, after careful assay, proved too poor in quality to pay expenses. The mine is standing in first-class working-order, timbering good throughout, and air-supply adequate, with the exception of No. 7 level, where the water had risen in the winze and closed the return for air; this is temporary. Owing to recent heavy rains the water-race to power-house had broken away, and pumping in the mine had to be discontinued till repairs were effected. Forty "men employed. Owing to the capital of the company being exhausted, and no promising stone in sight in the mine, the superintendent has received instructions from the London board of directors to suspend operations on the 16th May next. All hands have received notice to that effect. Shotover Gold-mining Company, Skipper's (J. B. Davis, manager).—(24/4/1901) : Low-level tunnel on west bank of Shotover River driven through hard schist to cut reef formerly worked at higher levels by the Nugget and Cornish and Gallant Tipperary Companies. The reef was struck at 1,100 ft., and at 1,300 ft. the hanging-wall came in regular and well denned, making 3 ft. of good stone, with pug on foot-wall. At 1,312 ft. a shot put in on foot-wall side exposed stone showing gold freely. The level is now 1,330 ft. from entrance ; 6 ft. of good quartz is showing in the face, gold being visible in the stone. One rise is up 54 ft., on stone all the way. Mr. Davis is confident that a permanent block of stone is being opened up. A,ir good in mine; a small fan driven by a Peltou wheel, using a quarter-head of water, is used for ventilation. 800 ft. of galvanisediron air-pipes 9 in. in diameter, balance 6 in. in diameter, are taken to bottom of rise. Good air will be obtained when communication is made with the high-level workings. The battery (which was formerly the Nugget and Cornish battery) consists of twelve heads of stamps, driven by a Pelton wheel, water for which is brought from Ballarat Creek. The race is two miles long ; the pressurepipes are carried over the Shotover Eiver; the line is 500 ft. in length, reduced from 2 ft. diameter at the head to 9 in. at the battery ; vertical pressure, 250 ft. Seven men employed. Macetown. Glenrock Consolidated (Limited). Premier Mine, Macetoivn. —(W. Patton, manager).—(26/4/1901): The face of the main incline is now 1,370 ft. from the top of the incline. The bunch of good stone recently worked in Nos. 23 and 24 rises has given out, and prospecting is being conducted in the hope that it may make again. Rises Nos. 26 and 27 are up in mullock, giving no signs of encouragement. Air good, and timbering well up to the faces. The sets in main incline are deteriorating very rapidly, and a shift of two men is kept constantly repairing and renewing. The timber used (white-birch) is very short-lived owing to dry rot. The return airway through the passes between the heads of the rises is small in area, and travelling through it is somewhat difficult. There is a heavy pressure on the ground, and, despite filling and liberal use of timber, the passes cannot be maintained full size. A new electric motor has just been landed, and is to be fitted up as a duplicate in the event of the old motor breaking down, the commutator being much worn. The concentrates are treated by cyanide. New Indian Glenrock (Wynaad) Company (Limited). —(22/11/1901) : The main incline face is now at 1,459 ft. from the top of the incline, or 2,959 ft. from daylight. The chute or shoot being worked is almost finished, and prospecting and crosscutting works are being vigorously prosecuted. The extension of the incline is shortly to be proceeded with. Timbering throughout the mine well attended to, frequent renewal being required. Air good in the travelling-ways and stopes. A

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