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G'M and Silver Mines, Maratoto. —Tho crosscut from the Silverstream low level has been extended 852 ft. Four lodes were interseoted —tho first was 40 ft. in width, the second 4 ft., third 24 ft., and fourth 21 ft. The quartz in the latter has the same characteristics as met with in the Camoola lode. On the level 200 ft. above a vein about 8 in. in width on the footwall carries high silvor-values. Driving north and south on this lode is now in progress. The north drive has been extended 41 ft. and the south drive 103 ft., with no walls showing. Tho values vary from 6s. up to £5 12s. A picked sample. 1 ton 6 cwt. 3 qr. 18 lb., sent to Australia for treatment, yielded 580-667 oz. silver, valued at £95 10s. Gd. Waitekauri. —Several men have been prospecting near the old township. Parker and party found about a ton of quartz boulders, containing high assay values, in an old slip, which was at first thought to be a cap of a lode. A considerable amount of surface trenching and riving was done without finding any sign of quartz. Recently W. F. C. Nicholl, one of the oldost prospectors In this district, reported the discovery of a large reef by boring. Good dish prospects were obtained from the drillings, and finally an outcrop of quartz was located in a small crock. On the lower side of the road adjoining , this creek large boulders of quartz containing values have been found over since the opening of this goldfiold ; shod, no doubt, from the outcrop of a lode. The reef where exposed, and claimed to bo the outcrop of a lode, consists of quartz boulders and rubble lying on a clayey formation. In my opinion it is quite possible that Mr. Nicholl bored on a line of these quartz boulders buried up in a large slip, and until more work is done it is impossible to express a definite opinion as to the value of this find. Great Northern Waihi Gold-mining Company. —This claim is situated at Wharekirauponga. Work done during tho year consists chiefly of driving on a 3 ft. lode at creek-level, and general prospecting. It is stated that the quartz won from the 3 ft. lode contains payable assay values. Seven men are employed. The machinery for a 10-head stamp battery has been carted to site, but no attempt has been made to proceed with its erection. Waiolahi Mine, Thames. —This mine was sold by public auction, and purchased by Messrs. Sawyer and O'Loughlin, who are endeavouring to raise capital to give the Cure and Manaka sections a further trial above spring-tide level. Evening Star Mine. —This claim is situated in Waiotahi Crook. A winze has been sunk to a depth of 130 ft, on the Waiotahi-Oambria reef, and a considerable amount of driving done ; oolours of gold have occasionally been seen in tho ore broken, but nothing payable discovered. Nonpand Gold-mining Company. —A considerable amount of work was done in this mine, but the results proved most disappointing to shareholders. Gloaming Mine, Karaha Creek. —This is ownod and worked by Messrs. Kemp and Agncw, who treated 18 tons of ore for gold valued at £126 17s. 9d. Kwranui Gold-mining Company. —Work was continued driving north on the 2 ft. lode from Magazine level with no signs of improvement, and work has beon temporarily suspended. Waitangi Gold-mining Company. —Work done during the year consisted of driving and rising on tho main reef at Nos. 1 and 2 levels. At No. 1 level the roof is small and values low, but at No. 2 level the ore is heavily mineralized, and gold has been frequently seen in the quartz broken out. Caledonian-Kuranui-Moanalaiari Gold-mining Company. —At the beginning of the year the drive on the course of No. 9 level was rotimbered and extended until the main fault was intersected at a distance of 402 ft. This fault proved to be 46 ft. wide. The crosscut was continued a farther distance of 50 ft. ; at this point the country was firm, with no signs of movement; and, with the object of testing the well-known gold-producing reefs worked on the western side of this fault, crosscuts were started, one to the south to intersect the Caledonian Nos. 1 and 2 and. Waiotahi-Cambria reefs, and another to tho north to intersect the Moanataiari No. 9 lode. Owing to the lack of ventilation tho former was discontinued after driving 15 ft., and labour was concentrated on the north crosscut. At 104 ft. a promising leader, 8 in. wido, was cut, and colours of gold were seen in tho quartz. Later a distance of 9 ft. was driven upon its course, and at each breaking-down gold was seen. It has beon decided to clean up the main tunnel to a point opposite this crosscut, connect with the north drive, and to rise to the surface, which will provide adequate ventilation and enable tho work of proving any reefs on the eastern side of the Moanataiari fault to bo carried on more vigorously. Sylvia Mine, I'araru Creek. —During the year tlie Norfolk lode was driven upon a distance of 120 ft. from the bottom of the underlie shaft, and stopod to within a few feet of the level above. All ore was sent to tho mill, but no return has yet come to hand. The work at present in progress consists in driving a crosscut 130 ft. north of the shaft to intersect the cross-lode. St. Hippo Gold-mining Company, Karaka Creek. —A distance of 450 ft. was driven at tho low level on tho St. Hippo lode. The reef was cut through in several places, and proved of largo dimensions. Gold was frequently seen in the ore broken out, but not in payable quantities. Four men were employed. Alburnia Gold-mining Company. —An adit level 400 ft. below the collar of the Alburnia shaft is being extended for the purpose of intersecting Dixon's reef, worked with satisfactory results in the adjoining mines in the early days of the goldfield. Bendigd Mine, Waiorongotnai, Te Aroha. —Four men have been employed driving and stoping on the Bondigo reef, which will average 4 ft. in width. Tho ore won was treated by the oil-flotation process, but the results did not come up to the anticipations, and work has been temporarily suspended. Horseshoe Mines (Limited), Neasville. —Work was confined to driving on the Horseshoe lode at No. 2 level, and, although the quartz carried favourable indication, no gold was seen. Golden Hills Mine, Tairua. —Work in this mine has been confined to. stoping on the Puketue reef; 195 tons of ore treated produced gold valued at £534 lls. 9d. Old Hauraki Gold-mining Company, Coromandel. —A considerable amount of work has been done in endeavouring to locate the downward continuations of Legg's reef. It was followed down to within 25 ft. of tho 300 ft. level, whero the displacement was met with, and which appears to be a diorite intrusion parallel with tho roof rising from the footwall side, bending and breaking the reef. In the Welcome Find section some difficulty was met with in draining this portion of the mine : 380 it. of driving has been done at tho 400 ft. level, and this section is now clear of water, Work at present in progress consists of sinking below the 400 ft. level on the new reef No. 1, winze is down 33 ft. and driving on the lode has been commenced ; and, although no gold has been seen, indications are similar to those existing where the gold was obtained in the level above. Mount Welcome Syndicate. —The intermediate level was extended 190 ft., and the Puketutu lode intersected, but no gold was seen. A considerable amount of work was done also at the low level on this lode. A little gold was seen in the ore broken out, but nothing payable was met with. Four-in-Hand Syndicate, Waikoromiko. —Two men have been constantly employed prospecting. 1 ton 30 lb. of picked stone treated yielded gold valued at £30 16s. 10d. Muir's Gold-reefs, Te Puke. —The low level has been extended a total distance of 600 ft. In the face a fault was met with, which cut off the reef, but beyond driving a few feet on either side nothing has been* done to locate it on the other side. The lode will average 5 ft. in width for the whole distance driven, and the ore is said to be payable. A winze was sunk to a depth of 100 ft. below this level with no sign of water. Tho lode maintains its width, and the ore is similar in appearance to that won from the level above. Driving is also in progress at the intermediate level, 100 ft above. Tho south face, which is now well ahead of the" low level, has passed through the fault referred to. Tho battery, owing to the delay in obtaining electric power, did not commence crushing until the end of December. Up to the 17th February, 4,400 tons of ore were treated for bullion valued at £7,47 ■"> 2s. 3d. Quicksilver-mine a. New Zealand Quicksilver-mines (Limited), Puhupuhi. —Operations during the year were principally of a development order. The east and west faces were extended 290 ft. and 100 ft. respectively, from tramway

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