0.—3.

71

Pleasant Valley Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, above Coal Creek Flat (McPherson Bros., Owners ; F. Swanwick, Manager), (area of claim, 10 acres). —The plant and water-supply having been placed in good working-order, sluicing operations were continued throughout the year. Four men are employed. Golden Gate Sluicing Claim (Manuel Bros.), Coal Creek Flat (Area of claim, 12 acres). —Four men find profitable employment in this privately owned claim, which is worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. Butterfly Sluicing Claim, Teviot (Weatherall Bros.). —This claim was not worked constantly during the year. When in operation the claim affords employment for two men. Dredging. —There aTe six dredges operating successfully in this district on the Clutha River. Two of these dredges during the year passed into the hands of parties composed mainly of working shareholders, and have since been successfully worked. Bald Hill Flat. Carroll and Lynch's Sluicing Claim. —This claim was worked to a point at which apparently the auriferous ground cut out. Since then the plant has been shifted back to work out blocks of ground left behind by the Last Chance Company. Ewing and Dowdall's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim. —This plant was operating on freehold land, and the available area having been worked out, operations were suspended. Last Chance Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Company (J. MoNeish, Manager). —A large area of shallow ground was sluiced away during the season. Lately the plant has been shifted from the flat to command an area of terrace ground, which is rough, and from which good results are expected. Operations during the year have been conducted with fair success. Ten men are usually employed. Duntulm Hydraulic Sluicing Party, Eraser Basin (W. Nicholson and party, Owners). —The waterrights and claims formerly belonging to the Fraser Basin Gold-mining Company have been acquired by the above party. It is the intention of the owners to equip the claim with a suitable hydraulic sluicing plant, and resume operations in September, 1906. It is apparent that the best portion of the auriferous area of the flat is now worked out. Three hydraulic plants have been operating for many years, and have sluiced away a large area of ground. Any future work must be done on blocks of solid ground and terrace ground. It is considered in this district that when the water-supplies are diverted to command the higher slopes of the Old Man (or Obelisk) Range payable reefs will be discovered, as was the case with the Excelsior and White's Reefs. Sluicing operations are now being conducted with a view to locating extensions of these reefs. There is a large field here for the employment of bona fide prospectors. Dredging. —Although the past season has not been very favourable for gorge-dredging, still the New Fourteen-mile Beach dredge was enabled to win 1,335 oz. of gold. The New Golden River dredge, after continued reverses through high river and travelling drift, was forced to close down, and has been sold and transferred to a claim below Miller's Flat. Naseby. The following short description enumerates the claims at work in this district:— Enterprise Gully. —Henry Moore —4 heads of water from E. and W., Ewe burn creeks ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. Lancelot Hore —4J heads of Government water ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. W. Guffie —4J heads of Government water ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. F. W. Inder and Co. —4 heads of Government water ; elevating 18 ft. ; 2 men. Enterprise Company—4| heads of water from E. and W., Eweburn creeks ; elevating 20 ft. ; 2 men. Marslin and Paisley —5 heads of Government water ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. Brown Bros. —4 heads of Government water ; erecting plant and starting shortly ; 2 men. Hogburn Gully. —John Hore —6 heads of water from Dead-level Company's race ; elevating 26 ft. ; 2 men. Look Lung and party —4 heads of water from Little Mount Ida water-race (renting) ; elevating 20 ft. ; 2 men. Charles Hore —4| heads of Government water ; elevating 20 ft. ; 2 men. Naseby H.S. Company—4J heads of Government water ; elevating 20 ft. ; 2 men. L. J. Hore—4| heads of Government water ; elevating 20 ft. ; 2 men. Home Gully. —Hugh Tait—4 heads of Government water ; elevating 12 ft. ; 1 man. Robinson's Gully. —R. Paisley —4 heads of Government water ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. Spec Gully. —John Hore —4 heads of water from Dead-level Company ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. Inder and Cutten —6 heads of water from the Hit or Miss race (rented) ; elevating 16 ft, ; 3 men. Fred Hore —4| heads of Government water ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. N. S. Reed —4-| heads of Government water ; elevating 16 ft. ; 2 men. Coalpit Gully. —Michael Lenane —1 head of water from E. Eweburn, ground-sluicing ; 1 man. Matthew Young—l head of Government water ; ground-sluicing ; 1 man. Peter Rumble and Son — 1 head of Government water ; ground-sluicing ; 2 men. A. and G. Brown —4 heads of Government water ; going to elevate ; 2 men. Enterprise Gully. —C. Rumble and Son —2 heads of Government water ; ground-sluicing ; 2 men. Hugh Young—2 heads of water from E. Eweburn ; ground-sluicing ; 1 man. Main Gully. —Hugh Young—lJ heads of water from E. Eweburn ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. Lee Gin —1 head of water, private ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. Enterprise Company—2 heads of water, private ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. W, DowdaU—2 heads of Government water ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. R. Moore —1 \ heads of Government water ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. G. Currie— \\ heads of Government water ; groundsluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. J. Moore — \\ heads of Government water ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. Kong Sing—l head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. Kum Gqw—l head of Government water ; ground-sluicing, Maori bottom ; 1 man. Chin Sang —1