147

C—3

Monk's Terrace Sluicing Claim, Skipper's Point (P. Lynch, manager). —This claim is situated on a high point above the Shotover River. The ground is about 60 ft. deep in the back face, with layers of rough wash carrying fine gold, the bottom carrying the roughest gold; pieces ranging up to 28 dwt. have been found. A race three-quarters of a mile long brings about four heads of water into a siphon across the river. This is stored in dams giving a pressure of 100 ft. on the claim. The plant consists of 1,800 ft. of piping ranging from 15 in. in the siphon to 9 in. and 7 in. in the service-pipes. The material is discharged down an open tail-race paved with about 300 ft. of light iron rails. Smith and Son's Claim, Shotover. —This party was busy wing-damming the river below the Shotover Quartz Company's mine, where good gold is expected to be found. As the river was approaching a low winter level, the erection of the wall was being satisfactorily proceeded with. The plant was not in position. Nevis. Our Mutual Friend Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevatiny Company, Nevis (Masters and Adie Bros.). —Several races carry six heads of water to the claim for sluicing and elevating. Ground, 30ft. deep; height of lift, 30ft. Flushing-water for the tailings is brought in from Schoolhouse Creek. Dirt-pipes, 11 in. diameter; size of jet, in. diameter; size of throat, 6 in. diameter. The boxes are 2 ft. wide and paved with stones. There is 5 ft. of gold-bearing wash in the claim, most of which was driven out in the early days of mining on the Nevis. Four men are employed. Bobertson and Party, Nevis. —A race five miles long from Deep Creek brings water into the Commissioner's Creek race, which carries ten or twelve heads of water on to the claim in a full season. Depth of ground, 20 ft.; pressure, 400 ft.; height of lift, 42 ft.; dirt-pipes, 12 in. diameter ; size of elevator-jet, 2f in. diameter. Four men are employed. Keep-it-Dark Gold-mining Company, Galvin's Terrace, Nevis (J. H. Robertson, manager). —This claim has been lying idle for some considerable time. From information received it appears probable that operations will be resumed shortly. The shaft and ladder-ways were in good order so far as could be seen above the water. A prospecting-drive is to be started from the shaftbottom to search for a lead of gold. If this is found the ground will be blocked out. Shortly after this visit a start was made to drive for the wash. An adit has also been started from the fall of the terrace to reach the shaft, in order to lessen the height to which the water requires to be pumped. Upper Nevis. Upper Nevis Sluicing Claim, Cinnabar Flat. —A small water-supply was brought in and a hydraulic plant laid down to test the ground. There is a good area of ground here upon which a large amount of prospecting has been done. In this instance the trouble lay in the fact that sufficient water could not be brought on to the ground. Stony Creek carries a good volume of water some seasons, but, on the whole, this is an uncertain supply. The claim has been shut down all this season. Plant still standing. Joe Park's Hydraulic-sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —Area of claim, 56 acres. Six heads of water are brought in a distance of two miles from German Gully. The pressure-pipes range from 18 in. to 7 in. diameter; pressure, 220 ft.; height of lift, 18 ft.; dirt-pipes, 11 in. diameter; size of jet, 3 in. and less, according to the water-supply. The ground is 10 ft. deep, and is worked down to the false bottom. The gold is very fine, and has cinnabar associated with it in the wash. Gold-saving appliances are ripples and snow-tussocks. There is also an undercurrent at the tail fitted with a quicksilver plate. Four Chinese employed. McMillan's Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —This plant has been shifted from the terrace on to the flat, and an elevator put in. There are 3,500 ft. of pressure-pipes, ranging from 11 in. to 9 in. diameter; vertical pressure, 120 ft.; height of lift, 12 ft. Six heads of water are brought in by seven miles of race from Wright's Creek, and two heads from Drummond's Creek. The ground is shallow and the dirt favourable for elevating. Four men employed. McDonald's Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company, Upper Nevis. —This claim is held by an Invercargill company. At the time of inspection the manager was getting the plant in order again to resume work after the frost was away. Seven heads and a half of water are brought in four miles. A new race, to give a pressure of 375 ft. vertical on the claim, is to be constructed this season. Height of lift, 28ft.; vertical pressure, 200 ft.; dirt-pipes, 12in. diameter; size of jet, 2f in. The gold is shotty in character, the material treated being fine quartz drift. Six men employed. O'Connell and Graham, Hydraulic-sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis. —This claim was not in full working-order, as the resumption of operations has been delayed owing to the lateness of the season. The water was not all in, but with what was available the top material was being sluiced off before the elevator was put in. The ground is about 20 ft. deep. O'Connell stated that the gold-bearing wash does not extend into the flat, but, in common with all the claims on the Upper Nevis, the gold in this claim follows the lay of the terraces skirting the foot of the Remarkables range of mountains. Vertical pressure, 400 ft. ; length of pressure-pipes, 1,200 ft. ; dirt-pipes, 12 in. diameter ; elevator-jet, 2-f in. tip ; size of throat-piece, 6 in. to 8 in. diameter. As is now well known, this sluicing plant secured good returns from ground abandoned as unpayable by a dredging company. The success of this party has induced a company to take up a flat claim above the sluicing claim for dredging purposes, and a dredge is being erected there. Undaunted Sluicing Claim, Upper Nevis (R. Williamson, manager).—This company was formed for the purpose of turning portions of the river in the gorge, near Scotchman's Creek, and working the river-bed. A large flume capable of carrying the water in the river during low seasons has been constructed, and a substantial wing-dam thrown across the river to divert the water into the flume. The dimensions of the flume are: Length, 6 chains, having a total fall