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Island Block.

Island Block Gold-dredging and Sluicing Company, Island Block (D. Weir, Manager). —The company's dredge has been idle throughout the year, and I understand it is not the intention of the company to resume dredging operations at present. The sluicing plant has continued to work steadily, with profitable returns, and prospects were bright at the end of the year. The claim and plant are in good working-order. Fourteen men are generally employed. Tallaburn Hydraulic Sluicing Company, Tallaburn (John Whelan, Manager), (Area of claim, 86 acres). —The greater part of the claim consists of shallow ground with very uneven schist-rock bottom. A start was made in the winter to work up the river-beach portion of the claim while the river was low. The claim is being worked economically and systematically, and shareholders are receiving good dividends. The claim and plant are in good working-order. The electric light is provided for use during night-work. Six men are employed. Cooper and Party's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim. —This party purchased Robert Stewart's claim on the bank of the Clutha River. The original water-race and fluming are considerably out of repair, and pending their reconstruction the dam is filled with by-wash water from the Island Block Company's pipe-line. This supply enables three men to work day shift in the claim for six days in the week. There is a gutter running through the property from which the auriferous wash requires to be elevated. Gunton's Beach Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Horseshoe Bend (Madden and Myers, Owners). —This claim affords remunerative employment to two working shareholders and one wages-man. Owing to the water-supply being light, the plant has been shifted from the deep run of ground, and the shallow ground is now being worked. Dredging. —The Otago No. 2 dredge has continued to work throughout the year with good results. Johns and party have taken up a claim above and adjoining the Otago Claim and are removing the New Golden River dredge thereto. The Island Block dredge has been idle all the year. Miller's Flat. Golden Run Hydraulic Sluicing and Dredging Claim. —As indicated in last year's report, the pressurepipe line has been continued across the Clutha River. Two masonry piers were erected and the pipes suspended from wire-ropes. The water is now used for sluicing off the loam overlying the heavy river wash. This relieves the dredge from the problem of dealing with a large body of silt which involved maintenance of special machinery and consumption of power. The company employs an average of thirteen men on the property. Dredging. —Nine dredges are in operation round about Miller's Flat, on the Clutha River. The older type of dredge is being gradually superseded by up-to-date machines. As the river portions of the several claims reach the point of exhaustion the dredges are undertaking the heavier task of working the river-bank portions of their holdings. That the auriferous ground continues into the banks is assured by the returns from the Golden Bed, Golden Run, Golden Treasure, and other dredges, the two first-named having secured as high as 90 oz. of gold per week. Thus, there is evidently a long life before the dredging industry in this district. Kelso. McKenzie and Party's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Lower Pomahaka. —The plant on this claim was idle for the greater part of the year and has recently been sold to the Duntulm Hydraulic Sluicing party. The claim will be given a further trial, and should the test not prove successful the owners intend to remove the plant to their property on the Fraser Basin, Obelisk Range. Dredging. —The Ardmore dredge continues to work profitably at Greenvale. The Happy Valley dredge (Wetherstone's) has been removed to a claim on the Pomahaka River below Kelso. This district is attracting some attention as a dredging-field. Roxburgh. Hercules Sluicing Claim. —Apparently no advance was made during the year with the proposal to further utilise this plant and water on Anderson's Flat. The plant and claim are still idle. Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company (Limited), (J. H. Waigth, Manager). — A large body of good wash was exposed in an ancient river-bed further back in the flat than had previously been found, and operations at the claim have been carried on profitably during the year, enabling a dividend to be declared. The mine has been worked on the usual lines, having due regard to the efficient working of the property and to the safety of the men employed. Large blocks of ground are stripped ahead from time to time, and the bottom wash sent through the elevators. There are generally two elevators in position on the claim. The workings are lighted at night by electricity. Eighteen men are usually employed. Mr. Waigth, mine-manager, has invented and applied a simple elevatorthroat protector or regulator to prevent the passing of large-sized stones and consequent choking of the lift. Lady smith Gold-dredging Company (Limited), (W. Donnelley, Manager). —The plant has. been transferred from the old position to the upper end of the claim, where a large paddock has been taken out. With the increased water-supply and pressure better work is now being done. Twenty-four heads of water are brought on to the claim under a vertical pressure of 158 ft. Height of lift, 30 ft. ; dirt-pipes, 18 in. in diameter ; throat, 11 in. ; jet, 4| in. Nine men are employed. Commissioner's Flat Sluicing Claim, Coulter and party (R. George, Manager). —Sluicing operations at this claim are being continued on the same lines as formerly with successful results. Four men are employed.