C—3.

Upper Nevis.

O'Connell and Graham, Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —(2B/11/1901): Elevating, 35 ft. Working on main bottom, which is clipping steeply towards the river. Pipe-line, 1,200 ft. ; pipes reduced from 18 in. to 13 in. diameter ; pressure, 400 ft. vertical head. Eight men employed. Undaunted Company, Nevis Biver. —(2B/11/1901) : This company has been formed for the purpose of confining and turning portions of the river in the gorge near Scotchman's Creek. The fluming is in position ready for the river being turned into it, and is 5 chains in length by 12 ft. wide by 4 ft. deep, with J in. fall to the foot. McMillan's Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. — (28/11/1901): Ground-sluicing; face, 35ft.; pressure available, 50 ft. vertical. Four men employed. McDonald"s Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Upper Nevis. —(2B/11/1901) : Eace, four miles; twelve heads of water brought in. Pipe-line, 2,000 ft. of 13 in. and 900 ft. of 9 in. diameter pipes; elevating, 30ft.; depth of ground, 14ft. A new race is to be constructed to give a pressure of 375 ft. vertical in the claim. Waikaia. Argyle Sluicing Company's Claim, Waikaia (J. Stewart). —(15/11/1901) : Ten heads of water are brought in nine miles from Argyle Creek. The pressure-line to the claim consists of one mile of 15 in. pipes; pressure, 330 ft. vertical head; depth of ground, 35 ft. ; elevator lifting 32 ft. Venetian riffles and perforated plates, with cocoanut-matting underneath, are laid in the boxes for gold-saving. Nine men employed. Winding Creek Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Waikaia (Eoberfc Hay, manager).—(ls/11/1901) : The length of water-races combined is twenty-six miles; but at present insufficient water is coming to hand to work the elevating plant, the lift being 75 ft. Six men are engaged ground-sluicing. The lower part of the claim was driven and blocked out by miners in the early days. Gow's Creek Gold-mining Company, Waikaia. —(ls/11/1901) : Thirty men are at work on the water-race being brought in from Gow's Creek to work the ground. The race will be about three miles in length, and the company holds a first right to thirty heads of water from the creek. Piano Flat Gold-mining Company, Upper Waikaia. —(ls/11/1901) : The race is cut, but there is no plant on the ground as yet. NOKOMAI. Lion Hydraiilic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Nokomai (D. McGregor). — (15/11/1901) : Eace, twenty-nine miles, brought in from the Nevis Eiver. Owing to its high altitude there is a scarcity of water during the winter months, the country being frozen up. During the working season the water-supply is about twenty-five heads. This is brought on to the claim at an elevation of 800 ft. As the ground is 85 ft. deep, and deepening towards the flat, the high pressure will be all required. Pressure-elevator lifting 103 ft. For gold-saving Venetian riffles, perforated plates, and cocoanut-matting are used in a box run 80ft. in length. Sixteen men, including six race-men, are employed. Victory Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Nokomai (W. Franz). — (16/11/1901) : The claim is situated in Victoria Gully. Owing to poor water-supply preventing constant work, this season is being devoted to the erection of a dam for storage of water. Nokomai Gold-mining Company (Limited), Nokomai, No. 1 Claim (W. Eobinson, manager).— (16/11/1901) : Eace, eighteen miles, carrying eighteen heads ; pressure, 540 ft. vertical; elevating, 70 ft. ; depth of ground, 45 ft. Sides of paddock are well battered for safety of workmen. Ten heads of water are picked up from the creek, and are used for pumping water out of back paddocks. Nokomai Gold-mining Company (Limited), Nokomai, No. 2 Claim (A. Copland, manager). — (16/11/1901) : Eace, five miles, carrying sixteen heads, which command the claim- at an elevation of 250 ft. The ground from the surface to the bottom is heavy and rough. The bottom has been driven on and blocked out in the past. Height of lift, 45 ft. The company's engineer, Mr. L. O. Beal, is at present engaged selecting a site for a large storage-dam on Donkey Flat. Seven Europeans and five Chinese employed. Nokomai. —(l6/11/1901) : Three men are ground-sluicing in Dalton's Gully, Nokomai. Waterright consists of four heads from Fiery Creek. The water is taken across the Mataura Eiver to the opposite range by means of a siphon about a mile in length. Oeepuki. The season having been a good one for water, work has been regular throughout the year. The area of gold-bearing ground is gradually becoming restricted as the claims are worked out. No doubt the water will be diverted, and other payable areas of auriferous ground found in the direction of Pahia and Bound Hill. Beach-combing is still continued, and the claimholders obtain fair returns. A dredging-machine tried on the beach for elevating the auriferous black sand has not proved a success. Three parties of miners at Papatotara, South Waiau, are reported to be obtaining good returns. Eound Hill. • The claims in this district continue working steadily. The Eound Hill Gold-mining Company is putting down a winch plant, driven by a small Pelton wheel, for the purpose of hauling logs and* large stones out of the paddock, and which is expected to be an improvement on the old system of chopping up and burning buried timber. Ourawera Gold-mining Company. —A hand-winch has been erected for log-hauling purposes. Smith Gold-mining Company. —Work is being continued up the bed of the Ourawera Creek. A drive is being put into the terrace with the object of proving whether payable layers of wash are contained in the formation.

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