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Inglewood-Victoria.—Oi this mine's operations during the year no report is available. It is privately owned. Kirwan's Reward Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. B. P. McMahon, manager of the company, supplies the following report: " During the past year 4,814 tons of quartz-rubble have been crushed, yielding 1,791 oz. 5 dwt. 6 gr. of the value of £7,131 9s. Id. Work at the mine was stopped by a very heavy fall of snow on the 20th June, and was not resumed until the middle of September. The stone is obtained by open quarrying, and consists of quartz mixed with sandstone boulders, and at times a considerable amount of overburden has to be Temoved." Big River Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. Lee, manager for the company, reports as follows : " Operations were commenced at the beginning of the year by driving upon the small gold-bearing leader that was crossed in No. 7 level, about 340 ft. from the main shaft. Branch drives to the southeast and north-west respectively from No. 7 level, were extended along the course of this line of reef. The lode was, however, very irregular in size, ranging in places from 1 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. in thickness, but with walls about 4 ft. to 5 ft. apart carrying a splendid reef-track. After about 150 ft. of driving had been completed without a block of stone of permanent value being discovered, work was stopped in these drives, and the extension of No. 7 level to the north was continued for an additional 120 ft., but without payable result. It was then decided to construct an uprise to No. 6 level, so that an intermediate level between Nos. 6 and 7 could be driven out under the old reef in No. 6, and thus greatly facilitate the tracing of that stone down to the low level; besides such a connection became imperative for the proper ventilation of the mine. 167 ft. of rising and 60 ft. of crosscutting from No. 6to meet the top of uprise were completed, and the two drives thus connected. Halfway up the rise the intermediate level was commenced, and after 40 ft. had been driven, a reef carrying very good gold was cut, which increased to 7 ft. in width, and continued for a distance of about 40 ft. Stoping operations were at once started, and the reef has maintained an average width of 5 ft. to the present stope. This lode is striking back south, and if it continues, will go up into maiden country east of all levels previously worked. As soon as the course of the reef was ascertained in the intermediate level, No. 7 was extended for the purpose of cutting it. After driving about 25 ft. a reef carrying very good gold was struck, and has been proved to live a distance of 57 ft. with an average width of 4 ft. Stoping has also been commenced here, and the reef appears to be striking in the same direction as the reef in the intermediate ; but the stone does not possess the same characteristics as the latter, and judging from its present underlay, it will take it into the hanging-wall side of the intermediate level. This however can only be determined when stoping operations are more advanced, but from the present indications, they look to be two separate reefs. A parcel of 340 tons of stone from the two reefs, which may be considered an average sample, gave a return of 454 oz. 2 dwt. of melted gold, valued at £1,836 18s. 10d., enabling liabilities and current expenses amounting to over £600 to be paid off, and a dividend of Is. per share (equal to £1,200) to be declared." The New Inkerman Mines (Limited). —Mr. Norman M. Dudgeon supplies the following report •' " During the year the following development-work has been carried out: Driving, 40 ft. ; sinking, 72 ft. ; rising, 119 ft. ; crosscutting 6 ft., making a total of 237 ft. Stoping was commenced in April last, and during the year 5,167 tons of stone has been broken out and delivered at the battery, 3,512 tons being stoped from below the main level, and the balance, 1,655 tons from above. Battery : The company's fifteen-stamp battery which has during the year been thoroughly overhauled and put in good working-order, commenced crushing in June, and has crushed 5,247 tons for a return by amalgamation of 1,020 oz. 18 dwt. 3 gr. gold, value £4,086 ss. lid. A cyanide plant, consisting of four treatmentvats 18 ft. 6 in. in diameter by 6 ft. deep, and two sumps 18 ft. 6 in. diameter by 6 ft. deep, and 15 ft. diameter by 5 ft. deep, was erected, and 2,458 tons of coarse sand has been treated during the year for a return of 351 oz. 12 dwt. 9 gr. bullion, value £1,165 16s. A slimes plant, consisting of six canvascovered tables, having a superficial area of 960 square feet, and three small settling-tanks has been erected. Twenty tons of slimes and 50 tons of concentrates have been recovered during the year, and will be shipped for treatment. Future operations :It is the present intention of the company to continue the main level west for about 350 ft., with the object of intersecting the continuation of a large outcrop known as the ' big blow.' " Keep-it-Dark Quartz-mining Company (Limited). —Mr. Hindmarsh, manager of the company, reports as follows : " Mine Department: The year's work has consisted chiefly of stoping out quartz from No. 4 level. The reef in this level, so far as it has been worked up, has not varied much in size. Sometimes a slide of mullock displaces part of the lode and causes a falling-off in the quality. Eleven stopes have been worked up. The crosscut from No. 5 chamber, which was in 120 ft. at the end of last year, has been driven 275 ft., the lode being intersected at that distance, being 300 ft. from main shaft. A block of stone, carrying payable gold, was met with at 252 ft. from shaft. This stone is 30 ft. long and is solid underfoot, but is broken on the top. Up to the present very little work has been done on it, as it is supposed to be the top of a new block of stone making under the level. A winze from No. 4 level was sunk 93 ft., and a rise from No. 5 level was put up 72 ft. to connect. This connection was made about the beginning of November. The reef which has so far been disclosed in No. 5 level is of very good quality, but up to the present time is not proved to be of large extent. The main portion of the reef has not yet been cut in the level. There are indications at top of rise, 70 ft. up from level, that a large part of the lode has taken a set-off into the footwall. Some time yet will be required before the extent of the lode in this level can be determined. During the year 12,568 tons of quartz has been raised from the mine and sent to the battery. The cost of same including all expenditure in connection with the mine and winding plant being £7,567 2s. 7d., an average cost of 12s. OJd. per ton. It has been

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