C.—3.
Neavesville.
A little prospecting has been going on, but nothing of any importance has been discovered. The Golden Belt is held by a syndicate who are trying to raise capital to erect machinery and further develop the mine. I hope they will be successful, for there are many reefs in this locality which I think are well worth opening up and testing. Taieua. Tairua Broken Hills (Tairua Broken Hills Gold-mining Company, Limited). —During the year this property has been well opened up at the deeper levels. The main low-level crosscut has been extended 164 ft.,-and the Blucher reefs intersected. A rise has been put up on the reef to connect with the No. 3 level (230 ft. above the low level). Good ventilation is thus provided, and the company can now vigorously and systematically work the block of ground between the levels, in which good payable ore exists. Tenders have been called for driving and stoping, and it is expected that in a few weeks the battery will be kept going continuously. A ground-tramway 18 chains long has been constructed. This connects the mine with the mill, and it is intended to use a small locomotive to take the quartz to the mill. The water-race has been completed, and now the battery will be run by water-power instead of by steam ; thus the cost of treatment will be reduced. Pakibarahi. Chelmsford Mine (Chelrnsford Gold-mining Company, Limited). —This mine is situated upon the Kauri Timber Company's freehold property, and is held under license issued under section 56 of " The Mining Act, 1898." The battery has been completed, and commenced running in May. Since then 1,365 tons of quartz has been put through for a return of £1,431, and a large quantity of slimes saved for future treatment. These slimes contain a large percentage of the value of the ore, and when treated should add considerably to the returns. It is intended to erect a filteringpress to treat these slimes. Whangamata. Whangamata Proprietary (Whangamata Gold Corporation, Limited). —The upper portion of this mine having been worked out, operations were suspended and protection obtained. The future developments of the mine must be at deep levels, and for this purpose heavy pumping machinery and more capital will be required. The machinery has been obtained, and is now. in Auckland, but the capital is next to be found. A scheme of reconstruction has been decided upon, and, if successful, ample capital will be produced for vigorously developing the lower levels. Good returns were obtained from the upper levels, and there is no reason to suppose the reefs do not continue down. In the early part of the year 150 tons of quartz was crushed, and yielded 255 oz. of bullion, of the value of £224. Mananu Mine (Mananu Gold-mining Company, Limited). —The prospects of this mine are very favourable. It is estimated that 5,000 tons of payable ore are in sight between No. 1 and No. 2 levels. The work of the year has been driving and stoping on the reef (Studholme's) above No. 1 level, and it is from this reef that the bulk of the ore treated has been won. Preparations have also been made for taking out the block between No. 1 and No. 2 levels. An extra ten head of stamps are being erected and auxiliary steam-power supplied, which should be completed in a few weeks. When everything is in working-order the returns should show an appreciable increase on last year's. During the year 2,219 tons of ore was treated for a return of 3,440 oz. of bullion; value, £7,558. Great Babbieb Island. Barrier Beefs Mine (Barrier Beefs Gold-mining Company, Limited). —This mine has now been shut down, and the company (after attempting to reconstruct) has gone into voluntary liquidation. Up to November work had been going on steadily, but then the ore gave out from the lower levels upwards, and the battery was stopped. Any future works must be at the deeper levels, and for this purpose large and expensive pumping machinery must be provided. Up to November the average number of men employed was 112. The total output of gold from the Hauraki Gold-mining District for 1901 was £758,600 14s. lid. This is an increase over the year 1900 of £123,666 15s. Bd. Of the total output, the Upper Thames produced £635,004 17s. 2d. ; Thames County, £54,504 2s. 3d.; Coromandel County, £69,091 15s. Id. The only thing unsatisfactory with these figures is the fact of the reduced amount of gold coming forward from the mines in the Thames and Coromandel Counties. Taken, however, as a whole, remembering that the mining industry was for some months very much disorganized, owing to the miners' dispute, it is a matter for congratulation that the returns are as good as they are. The Thames-Hauraki Company, whose properties some year and a half ago were taken over by the Standard Exploration Company, has carried on no operations during the past year, owing to the Standard Company (which was connected with other larger financial companies) being compelled to go into liquidation in consequence of having to fall with these larger concerns, which were forced to do the same. Communications have, however, recently been received from the Official Receiver in London, stating that the Standard Exploration Company's reorganization scheme had passed shareholders' meeting, and that application for the Court's approval was pending. Further information on the subject is expected by mail. In the meantime there are no funds available even to pay the drainage assessment, for which the Drainage Board has judgments recorded in the Warden's Court. Should the scheme under consideration be approved, no doubt further capital will be forthcoming to continue the work of sinking on this property. The works upon which this company are engaged are of such a costly nature that no one could carry them on unless backed
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