C.—2,

Patearoa Hydraulic Sluicing Co. —Two men were employed during the year, and the gold won amounted to 206 oz. 5 dwt., valued at £1,521 Is. 4d. The various privately owned alluvial mines in the Cambrian, Vinegar Hill, St. Bathans, Kyeburn, Naseby, and Patearoa districts were working steadily during the year whenever weather conditions were favourable, and the chief producers were—Moses and J. H. D. Brown, Kyeburn Diggings ; A. and G. Brown, Naseby ; Carr Bros., Patearoa ; Neil Nicolson, Cambrian ; Roche and George, Naseby. One hundred and eighty men were employed in the Maniototo County, including the companies, during the year, winning 2,193 oz. 12 dwt. of gold, valued at £15,920 4s. 3d. Tuapeka County. New Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Co. (F. F. Boyes, Manager).—Sluicing and elevating operations have been actively carried out during the year in the previously driven cement at the head of Gabriel's Gully. The use of the crusher, installed in 1935, has now been discontinued, as it would have been necessary to introduce a secondary crusher in order to further reduce the cement to sand. The remaining cement conglomerate is very hard. Seven men were employed, and the gold won amounted to 251 oz. 18 dwt. of gold, valued at £2,005. Wetherstones Gold-mining Co. —Prospecting operations were continued until June and the exploratory dip drive was extended to 1737 ft., where indications of faulting were encountered. A winze was sunk to a depth of 70 ft. at the end of the dip drive, and a drill-hole, 15 ft. below the bottom of this shaft, failed to touch the "contact." The company's finances were exhausted, and the operations were abandoned. Twelve men were employed, and the amount of gold won amounted to 2 oz. 6 dwt. 10 gr., valued at £17. The elevating and sluicing operations, in the freehold land of Mr. R. S. Thompson, continued steadily during the year. I. 0. Walker, manager, and four men employed. Paddy's Point Gold-mining Co. (R. Webb, Manager).—The plant and equipment was removed from Paddy's Point to freehold land west of the Waitahuna Township between the township and the river. Since the erection of the plant active mining operations have been carried on. Seven men were employed winning 485 oz. of gold, valued at £3,509. Sailors Gully Sluicing Co. (A. W. Eaton, Manager).—On account of shortage of water very little work was done in the first two and a half months of the year. Since then the water-supply has been abundant, and active sluicing and elevating operations were carried on. About 1 acre of cement to an average depth of 40 ft. and 31 acres of alluvial material to an average depth of 8 ft. were treated. There were seven men employed, and the amount of gold won was 408 oz. 15 dwt. 9 gr., valued at £2,899 15s. 2d. Tuapelca Mouth Sluicing Co. (J. Cartwright, Manager).—Active mining operations were carried on during the year, and a new Rees-Roturbo pump was installed in order to give greater efficiency. The tailings are now stacked in the claim. Four men were employed, winning 360 oz. 2 dwt. 11 gr. of gold, valued at £2,447, being the return from 18,100 cubic yards treated. Fruidburn Sluicing Co. —Work was carried on intermittently during the year. Two men were employed and 9,600 yards were treated, yielding 22 oz. 9 dwt. 20 gr. of gold, valued at £160 15s. The Fifty-five Gold-mining Co., Tuapeka Mouth, has been inoperative during the year. The Molyneux Deep Lead Co., Coal Creek, Roxburgh, has been inoperative during the year. Subsidized and free miners have also carried on operations during the year, the chief producers being A. and R. Brown, Tuapeka Mouth, and R. S. Thompson, Lawrence. Two hundred and three men were employed (inclusive of the companies) in the Tuapeka County during the year, winning 2,389 oz. 5 dwt. 9 gr. of gold, valued at £17,041 15s. Id. Bruce County. E. G. M. Foord, Adams Flat.—Mr. Foord has installed an electrically driven gravel pumping plant, and is now working the old dredge paddocks and the surrounding areas. There were two men employed during the year. The Glenmore Syndicate has also installed a small electrically driven gravel pumping plant on the river flats between Glenmore and Mount Stuart. Two men were employed. Seven men were employed in the Bruce County during the year, the gold won amounting to 108 oz. 6 dwt. 10 gr., valued at £770 ss. Id. Taieri County. Nine men were employed in the Taieri County during the year, the gold won amounting to 9 oz. 1 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £63 os. lOd. Clutlui County. Three men were employed in the Clutha County during the year, the gold won amounting to 23 oz. 19 dwt. 17 gr., valued at £162 18s. 6d. Waikouaiti County. Six men were employed in the Waikouaiti County during the year, the gold won amounting to 18 oz. 6 dwt. 20 gr., valued at £128 Is. Southland County. Nolcomai Gold-mining Co. (C. Sew Hoy, Manager). — Mining operations, consisting of sluicing and elevating, were carried on continuously during the year. The directors decided to instal a "Thompson" gravel pumping plant, consisting of two 12 in. gravel pumps with direct-coupled 175 b.h.p. electric motors, starting-gear, transformer, &c., mounted on a steel pontoon. This plant was in course of erection at the end of the year, and will be ready for operation in May, 1937. Twenty-one men were employed and the gold won amounted to 1,045 oz., valued at £7,328 19s. Id. King Solomon Deep Leads, Ltd. (R. C. Ruffin, Manager).—Work has been carried on during the year in this deep-lead alluvial mine. In April, however, low-grade ground was encountered, and, on account of falling returns, work ceased in the eastern development section, and blocking-out of the auriferous pillars was commenced. No new payable auriferous areas were located during the year, and the known auriferous areas are being rapidly exhausted. The number of employees was further reduced at the end of the year. Fortyeight men were, employed, and the amount of gold won was 1,957 oz. 14 dwt. 23 gr., valued at £14,567 18s. 4d. A. Mutch, Happy Valley, Waikaia. —Active mining operations have been carried out during the year in the mid-section of the Happy Valley. Five men were employed. Dome Creek Syndicate, right-hand terrace in Sutton's Run, Dome Creek. Very little work has been done during the year. Union Mining Syndicate.—The Murchison Bros, have been working this area on tribute. On account of the heavy, rainfall during the greater part of the year, flooding has been frequent, and, as a consequence, work has been very intermittent. Two men were employed, and the gold won was 8 oz. 8 dwt. 3 gr., valued at £58 13s. 2d. Waimumu Sluicing Co. — Pumping, sluicing and elevating operations have been carried on since water became available in March. Good ground was encountered during the first seven months in the lefthand gully, and in a small tributary gully in front of the homestead, occupied by the original freeholder, Mr. Mortimer. A piece of the terrace between these two gullies was also sluiced until the barren overburden became too thick. An electrical Blackstone gravel pump is to be installed in order to speed up mining operations. Seven men were employed, the gold won amounting to 465 oz. 16 dwt. Bgr., valued at £3,367.

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