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battery, which was completed in December. The company have driven 150 ft. in their No. 3 level, and lsoft. in No. 4 level. A shaft has been sunk 100 ft., and connected with Nos. 3 and 4 levels. A rise of 123 ft. was put up in No. 3, and a crosscut of 120 ft. connecting with No. 4. About 500 tons of ore are on hand ready for crushing, and-the battery will start work as soon as sufficient water is available. A dam has been constructed, and it is hoped will be sufficient to hold all the water required. An average of eleven men has been employed during the year. Ohinemuri Biver Syndicate. —This company has pegged out several claims in the bed of the Ohinemuri Eiver, and intend to work the tailings known to exist there. For this purpose they are erecting a plant by the Waihi Company's dam, which is expected to be ready for working about the end of March. This is a private enterprise, and the promoters have spent between £3,000 and £4,000 on the plant alone. It is estimated that ten men will be sufficient for the work. About 20,000 tons of tailings are supposed to have accumulated in the dam alone, so that if they are payable the syndicate should be successful in their enterprise. About 50 tons will be treated daily. Waihi Beach (Limited) Gold-mining Company. —The properties of this company have been under option to a London syndicate, who have failed to raise capital to work the ground, so the company have decided to start operations themselves, and work will be commenced immediately. Boyal Standard Special Quartz Claim. —This claim is situated at Wharekiraupunga, between twenty and thirty miles from Waihi. A parcel of ore was sent to the Thames School of Mines and assayed £3 per ton, consequently about 60 tons was broken out, and the owner of the claim is now trying to raise capital to erect a small battery so that he can treat the ore on the ground. Waihi Consolidated (Limited). —Boring operations were continued without much success on this claim. The company intend to further prospect the ground by the same methods. There are a number of other claims in the district, but practically only prospecting-work has been done on them, and that not with any great success. I have, &c. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. E. S. Bush, Warden.

Mr. Warden Eoberts to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir, — Warden's Office, Tauranga, 10th March, 1903. I have the honour to report for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Mines that very little progress has been made during the past year in developing the mining industry in this district. Work on the field has been confined to prospecting on Te Puke gold reefs and other properties. The prospects of Te Puke Mine are reported to be most encouraging, and the new owners are very sanguine that the development-works to be put in hand immediately will thoroughly warrant a fair expenditure of capital, as the lode is an extensive one, and though the ore is of low grade it is considered payable. Prospecting has been carried on at Clarke's Freehold, Fahey's Freehold, the Ben Lomond, and the Sisters' Claims, but the whole future of the field depends on the successful development and exploitation of the Te Puke Gold Eeefs Company. I have, &c, J. M. Eoberts; Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.

Mr. Warden Smith to the Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Blenheim, 14th May, 1903. I have the honour to forward herewith statistical returns for the Marlborough Mining District covering the year ended the 31st December, 1902, and beg to report as follows on the district: — It may at once be said that no very important developments, viewed from a mining standpoint, have occurred during the year under review. In the Upper Wairau dredges were placed on two claims —the Pride of Marlborough and Omdurman —but were not successful, and operations were in consequence discontinued. Both dredges have since been sold, and it is, I understand, intended to try some of the other claims with them. In the Jubilee Quartz-mine operations have been directed towards developing the mine, the total extent of driving, sinking, and rising amounting to 492 ft. During the year 645 tons of ore was crushed, yielding 151 oz., the average number of men employed being twelve. Some work has been done on a few of the other quartz claims, but nothing has occurred calling for special mention. In the Havelock portion of the district sixty-nine miners' rights were issued during the last twelve months, there being about that number of men engaged in mining pursuits. The only claim calling for special mention is the Golden Point Dredging Company of Wakamarina, whose operations have been fairly successful, a well-equipped dredge being kept constantly at work, the returns from which have reached as much as 30 oz. for a hundred hours' work. Other dredging claims have been granted, but dredging machinery has not yet been placed on them. I have, &c, T. Scott Smith, Warden. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.