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Karaka Mines. —This claim, situated at the head of the Karaka Creek, was taken up by an English company. Over £20,000 was spent in plant and machinery. Very little work in proportion was done underground. No reef of any importance was met with, and the proprietors being dissatisfied with the prospects have closed down the mine, and are disposing of the plant and machinery. Occidental. —Work has been continuously carried on upon this mine. 100 tons of ore and 5901b. of picked stone was crushed during the year, and yielded £2,710 2s. Bd. A main shaft is being sunk to a depth of 120 ft., and it is proposed to drive from that level. _At Neavesville (Tairua) the only mine at work is the Golden Belt. Work has been carried on in this claim for several years without any remunerative results. Recent developments have proved more encouraging. 215 tons of ore was a short time ago crushed, for a return of bullion worth £665 17s. 3d., and the shareholders, after patient waiting, are looking forward to a prosperous future. The Tairua Mines, better known as the Broken Hills Claim, is not at present at work. After several ineffectual attempts to restore the claim to its former position as a dividend-paying mine, the company went into liquidation and sold the property. This was purchased by Mr. H. H. Adams, of Auckland, whose intention is to resume work under a new scheme of operations which he anticipates will enable the claim to be profitably worked. There is a complete crushing battery and all necessary plant on the ground. The Tairua Golden Hill Claim, which a few years ago was regarded as one of the most promising mines m the Hauraki District, has proved a great disappointment. The company has gone into liquidation, and most of the machinery has been sold for removal off the ground The claini has been purchased by Mr. Agnew, of Thames, who has been engaged for some months in cleaning up the drives and testing the reefs in the claim. The work done has convinced him that the property is worth another trial, and he is now making arrangements to raise sufficient capital to enable him to recommence operations on a moderate scale. Waiomio.— The only claim at work in this locality is the Monowai. A large amount of work has been done in driving and stoping. 1,123 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £2,134 worth of bullion. The company owns a complete crushing battery and plant, and has done a large amount of work in the construction of tramways and water-races. Tapu Creek.— Very little mining of any kind is being done at Tapu. The Portia Claim, owned by Moorcraft and party, carried on operations during the greater part of the year A small quartz leader was worked for a total return of £362. The claim has since been abandoned Mining operations m this portion of the Hauraki District have fallen off very considerablemore particularly towards the end of the year. The old Hauraki Mine suspended 'operations in August, The ore becoming poorer, the returns fell off, and the company, finding it impossible to raise money by calls on the shareholders, ceased operations. The cost of pumping the water from the "shaft adds very largely to the cost of working the mine. Contemplated arrangements between this company and the Hauraki Reefs Company, holding the adjoining property, for sharing the cost of pumping both mines unfortunately fell through owing to a disagreement as to terms. _ Operations in the Hauraki Reefs Mine were continued, and profitable returns appeared to be m view, when the company was compelled to cease working owing to the influx of water consequent upon the cessation of pumping on the adjoining claim. Work of a more or less intermittent character has been carried on in the Four-in-Hand Royal Oak Venture, and Exalt Claims, but the returns have been small. The largest yield was £655 worth of gold, being obtained from the Royal Oak Claim. _ In the_ Mount Welcome the principal work has been driving the low-level tunnel which is being put m to cut at a lower depth the lode which was profitably worked in the upper levels but which could not be sunk upon owing to the large quantity of water met with Gallant Claim.—A syndicate has lately -been formed for the purpose of working this claim A shalt has been sunk and crosscuts driven to intersect at a greater depth the Scottv's and Kapanga lodes, which in former years are said to have produced rich ores v * O n bremner's Freehold work on the claim has been carried on with a small number of men but the total returns have only amounted to less than £300. , T I L tbis . the only claim to maintain continuous work throughout the year has been the JNew Waitaia ; the lodes worked on have proved payable. Gold to the value of £5 955 was obtained during the past twelve months. There is every indication of increased returns being obtained during the ensuing year. g The Mountain King Company worked their claim during a portion of the year, and obtained gold to the value of £1,730 but failing to obtain any fresh payable ore, operations were sus pended for want of funds, and the claim is now under protection no Ba 7 ier lBland COn !! inUe t0 employ a few men < but there are Practically no returns of gold the work m progress being mostly of a prospecting nature. 5 tons of ore from the White Cliffs Claim sent to Cockles Creek, New South Wales, for treatment gave a return Dominio Per " refraotory 1D character, and cannot be profitably treated in this T have, &,c. , Fred. J. Burgess, Warden.

Mr. Warden Loughnan, Blenheim, to the Under-Secretary op Mines, Wellington. SlR '~ T . ~ , Warden's Office, Blenheim, Ist May, 1914 Mining District for iTIT * "" & * industl 7 in

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