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and the industrial disturbance of last year happened at a time when confidence in the goldfield was being slowly re-established. Several promising ventures in different parts of the district had been taken in hand, and seemed likely to result in mining operations being resumed on these properties; but on the occurrence of the general strike at the end of last year all promises of support were withdrawn, and in most cases the project lapsed. The continued absence of any success in the Thames Low Levels crosscut has had a depressing effect upon mining at Thames generally. Some little prospecting is being done in the Thames and Coromandel districts, but nothing of any importance has been discovered. The total yield of gold for the whole of the district during the past year (compiled from official returns) amounts to £865,617. There has been an increase over last year's production in the following places • Waihi Borough, £111,971; Piako County (Te Aroha), £54; Coromandel County, £2,437: and a decrease at Thames of £5,821, and at Ohinemuri County of £24,739. The decrease in the Ohinemuri County is accounted for by the fact that the Talisman Company was compelled to suspend operations for two months owing to the strike at the Huntly coal-mines. These figures give in the aggregate an increase of £73,902 in the value of gold and bullion produced m the whole, district as compared with last year; but it must be borne in mind that for several months during the strike of 1912 work in the Waihi mines was suspended, and the returns for that year consequently decreased much below the average. The following companies have paid dividends to their shareholders during the year • Waihi Company, £99,181; Waihi Grand Junction Company, £19,219; Talisman Consolidated Company, £133,687; Waihi-Paeroa Extraction Company, £6,226; New Waitaia Company, £1,875: total, £260,188. The Waihi Company's mine still retains its position as the premier mine in New Zealand 164,971 tons of ore was treated, for the return of £323,345 worth of bullion. This exceeds last year's return by £6,622. There are no fresh developments to record in the mine. Work is being carried on to a depth of 1,300 ft., and a large output of payable ore is still being obtained Prospecting-work is being carried on by means of the Scorpion south-east crosscut, the Sole a south-east crosscut from the Edward lode, and by the Reptile drive, which is being driven 'by the diamond drill working horizontally. Profitable work has been carried on in the Waihi Grand Junction Company's mine adjoining The company treated 87,842 tons of ore, for a total yield of £180,020 worth of bullion. Highgrade ore has been obtained from the Empire reef east. Additional stamps are being added to the battery to cope with the increasedx)utput of ore from the mine. The Waihi Extended Company have suspended operations owing to shortness of capital. The Pride of Waihi are in the same position. The Waihi Reefs Consolidated has been taken over by a new company floated in the Dominion, and active operations are being made to resume work in the mine. "The intention is to sink the shaft, which is now down 900 ft., to a further depth of 1,250 ft. or 1,300 ft. Work at Owharoa is confined to the Rising Sun Claim, the owners of which during the past year have been driving a low-level tunnel. At Waitekauri the Maoriland Company are carrying in an extension of their low-level tunnel which is now in a distance of 1,384 ft. The prospects met with are encouraging. £2,286 worth of gold was obtained for the year. The Golden Cross Company has kept steadily at work driving the mam tunnel, and putting in crosscuts therefrom. Large bodies of low-grade ore have been met with, and present developments point to profitable operations during the coming year. Talisman Mine.— This well-known mine still maintains its reputation as a steady goldproducer. Last year, however, the returns were unfortunately somewhat reduced owing to the company being compelled to suspend operations in consequence of the strike in the coal-mines at Huntly. The gold produced for the year suffered a reduction of £30,927 compared with the previous year's return. During the year the Woodstock shaft was sunk to the random of the 14th level, and active development-work has been carried out in No. 14 level. The south drive on this level proved the existence of a fair-grade ore in the Dubbo section. The south drive m No. 13 level showed no payable ore, but the south drive in No. 14 revealed payable ore under the section of No. 13 where only low values were obtained. The results of lower developments in the mine show that, the high-grade ore is going down, and is becoming more extensive in the deeper level. New Zealand Crown Mine.— During the year considerable improvements have been effected by the erection of a tram-line from No. 4 to No. 7 levels, by the erection of hoppers and by the alterations to machinery and plant, No great amount of 'development-work has been carried out but the company having been reconstructed, more capital is now available for expenditure in the mine, and, as a consequence, development of the lower levels of the mine will be undertaken There are several small claims at work in and near to Karangahake, but none of them have progressed beyond the prospecting stage. Waihi-Paeroa Extraction Company's Works, Ohinemuri Biver.— The work of the company has during the past year been much hampered by the low river making it difficult for the treated material to be carried away. A bridge has now been erected over the river and a flume con structed to carry away the treated tailings nearly a mile farther down the river A Priestman dredge has been obtained, and has proved most useful in removing old timber from the river-bed the works have now been connected with the Government railway by a steel tramway by which all coal and goods are taken to the mill at a greatly reduced expense. ' At Komata no work is at present in progress. The Komata Company's claim is at present under protection, having decided to suspend operations owing to the falling-off in the value