97

G.—'d

Thames.

Moanataiari: The New Moanataiari Gold-mining Company (Limited) becoming disgusted at their want of success decided to give up business, and early in the year sold all their properties at public auction. The purchasers, Messrs. J. J. Craig and C. C. McWilliam, endeavoured to form a company to work the mine in conjunction with the May Queen property (which had also been bought by them), but without success. Later on, Mr. H. H. Adams purchased the properties from them, and formed a company to work the Alburnia and this ground together by extending the Moanataiari tunnel towards the Alburnia. The new owners went to work at once, and let a contract for some 300 ft. of driving. When nearing the end of this contract a reef about 2 ft. wide was met with carrying a little gold. This discovery is looked upon as important inasmuch as it is in unprospected ground, and others more valuable may be met at any time. Tributers have been employed for the most part of the year, and crushed 603 tons of ore, and 51 lb. of specimen for a return of £2,021 6s. 4d. Alburnia : This mine (as I have mentioned), is being worked through the Moanataiari tunnel. It is the intention of the company to extend the drive to the Alburnia shaft at a considerable depth to see if the reefs which existed in the upper levels continue downwards. Tributers took out 478J tons of ore, and 115 lb. of specimens which yielded £2,089 3s. Id. Kuranui Caledonian : A few wages-men were employed during the early part of the year in prospecting about the shaft at No. 1 level, but when the borehole was commenced it was decided to await the result of its operations before putting on paid men, the ground being fully manned by tributers. The bore, the first of a series, was commenced in September, and for a while made good progress, though the country through which it passed for 950 ft. was not of a very good character. As it went down the country improved until at 1,041 ft. it was first-class. The Caledonian No. 1 reef was cut at this depth, but being of a rubbly nature it was decided to continue the hole to 1,500 ft. The rock at the depth of 1,034 ft. was assayed, and valued at 11s. 3d. per ton. At 1,041 ft. the bit stuck, and the hole had to be reamed to 4| in. to envelop the rod and casing, but up to the present the diamonds have not been recovered. Tributers crushed 793§ tons of general dirt, and 825 lb. specimens for a return of 1,735 oz. 7 dwt. of gold; value £4,707 4s. sd. Victoria Mine : A borehole is being put down on the foreshore with the object of testing the country at 1,500 ft. and is now down 380 ft. It is expected that solid ground will be met with at 1,000 ft. The ground has been worked principally by tributers, who crushed 170 tons of ore, and obtained 212 oz. 9 dwt. of gold, worth £586 4s. 6d. Kuranui Mine : This mine has been steadily worked during the year, but nothing payable has been discovered. The tunnel level has been extended 450 ft., and two rises put up 80 ft. Highly mineralised ore was met with in the drive which yielded 12 dwt. to the ton. It was expected that the ore would improve in value as the reef went down, but so far there has been no appreciable improvement. Twelve men have been employed and twenty-two loads of general ore crushed for a return of 14 oz. 8 dwt., value £34 13s. Bd. Waiotahi Mine : This mine has been carrying on its operations on the small leaders with remunerative results. No new works have been commenced, but lam informed that in a few months' time it is intended to sink the main shaft 100 ft., and then open out. If the same class of country continues, a new era of prosperity for this good old mine may set in. A total of 865 tons of quartz was crushed at the company's own mill for a return of £3,856 12s. Of this sum £900 was paid in dividends. Fame and Fortune Mine : This mine has been wholly worked by tributers. Operations have been confined to the hanging-wall of the Golden Age reef, and 300 tons of ore, and 35 lb. of picked stone crushed which yielded 364 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, value £937 Is. This company has a battery which crushes for the public, and there have been six men employed in it. West Coast Claim : Two men have been engaged in driving and stoping on small leaders, and 43 tons of ore have been crushed for a return of 57 oz. 15 dwt., value £155 18s. 6d. Ballarat Claim : This claim has been worked by two men, who took out 28Jj tons of general ore which yielded 97 oz. 14 dwt., value £286 15s. 9d. Nonpariel Mine : Seven tributers have been employed principally on the Liverpool Boys reef, and Wade's leader. The former reef gave fair results in the lower levels but the upper levels were not payable. The reefs vary from 4 in. to 15 in. Picked stone, 7 lb., and quartz, 140 tons, was crushed, and gave a return of £451 6s. May Queen Hauraki Mine : Early in the year this mine was sold by auction to Messrs. J. J. Craig and C. C. McMillan, who endeavoured to float a company, but without success. They then let a contract for driving a crosscut at No. 2 level in the Saxon section for the purpose of cutting the Cardigan Nos. 1 and 2 lodes. The lodes were met with, and driven on for a few feet, and two loads taken out which yielded £13 7s. 10d. In other parts of the mine tributers have been working, but Ido not think they were very successful. A total of 514 tons was treated, and yielded £1,949 13s. sd. May Queen Extended Mine : The main works have been the extension of the crosscut towards the Odd Fellows reef, and driving and stoping on the new reef. The Odd Fellows reef not being met with where it was expected, work was suspended and stoping on the new reef commenced. A block of ground was opened up 115 ft. by 60 ft., the average width of the reef being 10 in. The western drive was extended to 113 ft. Ore from both ends of the drive was treated also a few pounds of picked stone. The general ore occasionally showed gold, and it was expected to go well. About 380 tons was crushed for a return of 298 oz. 17 dwt., value £859 17s. As this return was just about payable, the manager decided to keep on stoping in hopes that the reef might improve. Seven men were employed. Thames Talisman Mine : The mine has been protected for most of the year. Four men have been employed lately in cleaning out and repairing the upper level where the Grand Trunk reef was worked in the early days. The manager is of opinion that this reef has not been worked out.

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