C.—3

98

New Una Mine : This mine is situated at Una Hill, and was many years ago held by the Una Company, and was lately known as the Thames. The present owners are engaged in putting in a low level to test the ground from the Karaka Creek side. It is thought they may come across the German and Royalty reefs. This portion of the field has not been tested at so deep a level, and should payable ore be found, the prospects of the mine paying dividends would be very good indeed. Seven men are employed. Gloucester and George Turnbull Mines : These claims are being worked by the Arrindell Syndicate formed in Glasgow. Two men are at present employed in extending the low level. A five-stamp battery has been brought out from Scotland, and is to be erected at the mine. Fortuna Hauraki Mine : Tributers have been working in the surface-working on leaders, and took out 32J tons of quartz, and 30 lb. picked stone, which yielded 74 oz. 15 dwt. of gold, value £205 11s. 3d. The Weymouth, Otanui Consols, Ethel Reefs, and Anchor Claims have all been more or less worked, but there is nothing of any importance to report. Eclipse Mine : The payable ore found in the upper levels having given out, and the company being without funds, it was decided to sell the mine and battery. Mr. H. H. Adams became the purchaser, and without delay formed a company, and commenced to put in a low level to cut the reef at a depth below the spot where the payable ore was found in the upper level. If the reef is payable in this low level a large block will be available for stoping. The prospects at present are very good. Seven men are employed. The Tararu Creek Mine has been under protection pending the result of a visit to England by Mr. R. W. Powell, the manager, to raise more capital, and confer with his principals. Mr. Powell fully expects to raise more money, and proposes to put in a low level towards the Sunbeam creek. The Golden Drop, Argosy, Temple Bar, and Bullion have had two men each employed, but only small returns have been obtained. Puru Consolidated Mine : This mine has been worked on tribute by P. Maher, who stoped out a block of ground over No. 2 level, and obtained 415 tons of ore, and 100 lb. of picked stone, which yielded £461 14s. 6d. Monowai Mine : I am sorry to have to report that this mine has ceased operations and is to be sold. Up to September the prospects were bright, but about that time the ore becoming less valuable, and of a more refractory nature, the company decided to cease operations. The ore was crushed in their own battery, and the concentrates shipped to New South Wales for treatment. This greatly increased the cost of recovery, so that nothing but fairly rich ore will pay. The company deserves a better fate for it has steadily prospected its ground, and tried many modes of treating the ore. Thirty-five men have been employed, and 1,387 tons of ore has been treated for a return of £1,584. Sheridan Mine : A new company was formed about November, and commenced to sink a winze from No. 2 level on a leader in the hanging-wall of the Sheridan reef. The winze is down 50 ft., and dabs of gold have been seen. It is intended to go down another 10 ft. and then open out. The pass will be repaired, so that quartz can be sent to the low-level for conveyance to the battery. The company crushed 5 tons of ore for a return of £33 Is. lOd. Mahara Royal Mine : The old company having called up all its capital, and finding it difficult to raise more, sold the mine and battery to Mr. H. H. Adams's syndicate. A local company was at once formed, and work begun. A low level was driven 520 ft., and a lode intersected from 4 ft. to 7 ft. in width. It was found to be of poor quality at this point, but improved after having been driven on for 120 ft., where a rich patch was struck below where payable ore had been worked in the top level. A winze on this reef was sunk a few feet, but had to be discontinued on account of water. The company intends erecting a small pumping plant over this winze, which, when in working-order, will enable them to open up a new block, and also test the lode at or below the level. Stoping operations are now in progress on a payable lode of ore found when extending the level, and will be continued until the pumps are at work. Twenty men have been employed. Mananu Mine : This mine is closed down and under protection. A good deal of money has been spent in prospecting the various reefs, but none of them were found payable. During the early part of the year the reef at No. 4 level was driven on for 155 ft., but was found to be not payable. It contains a good deal of mineral and is a hard blue quartz. A good deal of work was done on the same reef at No. 3 level, but with no better results. In the Rapid section the No. 1 reef at the surface has been worked on, but it got smaller as it went down and less in value, so that it was not payable. Six men were employed, and 370 tons of quartz crushed for a return of £333. Tairua-Broken Hills Mine : During the year this mine has been well and carefully worked with satisfactory results, the sum of £10,306 having been paid in dividends. Generally the operations have consisted of driving, rising, and stoping the Blucher, Night, and Puon reefs. The Blucher reef yielded highly payable ore in the intermediate level, and has been extensively worked. From tests made from time to time of the New Year, and Wellington reefs it is thought that they will also pay well. Generally the prospects of the mine continuing to be payable are very favourable. Coronation and Coronation Extended Claims have been worked with from two to six men. At the surface good prospects were obtained, and a level put in for the purpose of cutting the lodes, but up to the present payable ore has not been met with. The Taniwha Mine has had three men employed in prospecting. A large lode at the surface has been worked, and 42 tons of quartz crushed which yielded £190 Is. Id. The lode-formation is mostly rock with small quartz stringer running through it carrying the gold. The crushing-ore has to be selected, so that the results are hardly payable. The Myosotis-Gem and Golden Hills Claims have been prospected, but there is nothing of importance to report.