c;—2

Crystal Quartz-mine, Sawyers Oully, Shippers (F. A. Tripp, Manager).—Prospecting-operations were continued and the low-level adit was driven to a distance of 250 ft. when the reef was intersected, and levels were then driven 90 ft. to the west and 30 ft. to the east in ore of varying width. The width of stone was from 2 ft. to 7 ft., with values varying from 8 dwt. to 20 dwt. per ton. Pour men were employed at the mine and treatment plant, and 226 tons of quartz were treated. No work has been done by the Ballarat Syndicate, and no deep-level development-work has been carried out on the Macetown reefing systems. Beale and Son have continued to sluice on the terraces above the old Macetown Township during the working-season, and other miners have been sluicing on the left-hand terraces of the Arrow River, about two miles above Macotown. The Upper Arrow Sluicing Co. has gone into liquidation and the plant has been sold. The Hannah Anderson Party continued to sluice and elevate in the bed of the Arrow River, between the township and the Billy or Soho Creek Junction, when river and water conditions were suitable, but the watersupply was limited and the river-bed deposit contains a large percentage of boulders. Sinking operations have been continued on the western bank of the Soho Creek and driving operations on the eastern bank of the Arrow River, below the Billy Creek Junction, but nothing of value has been located. The Hamilton Party, now known as Douglas and Party (J. Douglas, Manager), has continued to operate in the bed of the Shotover River below Seoles Bend, whenever river conditions were suitable, and water was available from the Arrow River irrigation pipe-line. Two men were employed. The Golden Arrow Gold-mining Co., Ltd. (G. Pittaway, Manager).—Active mining operations have been carried on in the bed of the Arrow River, above the Bush Creek Junction, near Arrowtown. The depth to bottom varies from 20 ft. to 40 ft., generally averaging about 27 ft. Pressure water is obtained from the Arrow River irrigation scheme. There were six men employed, and the gold won amounted to 203 oz. 2 dwt. 23 gr., valued at £1,478. Tributers have been operating the Junction Reward Mine at Bush Creek, near Arrowtown. Two men have been working in the Upper Matapu Valley. A total of seventy-seven men (inclusive of the companies) has been employed in the Lake County during the year, winning 1,849 oz. 14 dwt. 11 gr., valued at £13,476 4s. Id. Vincent County. Holm Syndicate, Kawarau River, Cornish Point, opposite the upper end of Cromwell Township (W. Hodson Mine-manager).—Driving operations were continued during the early portion of the year. A small sluicing-plant was then installed, and an attempt was made to sluice the deposit. The plant installed was too small, and sluicing operations were discontinued, as a more powerful plant is necessary for the successful sluicing of this area. After a short cessation driving operations were again resumed. The Bales Party, upstream from the Holm Party, has continued driving operations. They also sank a vertical shaft. The main drive will be connected with the shaft, and ventilation will thus be provided for. Work has been discontinued at the Bell Hooper Mine, and the plant sold. Very little work hag been done at the alluvial mine of the Cairnmuir Sluicing Co. Subsidized and other miners have been employed driving in the Cairnmuir area and at the entrance to the Kawarau Gorge. Nevis Mining Field, Upper Nevis, Stone Huts. —J. Williamson has continued sluicing operations and operated in the shallow ground in Camerons Gully until the gravels were exhausted. The plant was then shifted to the deeper ground, up the valley from the Stone Huts. When the elevating limit was reached the plant was again shifted, lower; down the valley, where the deep ground outcrops. Six men have been employed during the working-season. Mr. Williamson purchased some of the huts from the Nevis Diesel Dredging Co. in order to provide accommodation for his workmen. He has also purchased the Nevis Diesel hydro-electric plant. The other Diesel units have been sold and removed from the Upper Nevis. The dredge is now being dismantled for removal to the West Coast. The Jones Nevis Sluicing Co., Ltd., Whittons Creek, Upper Nevis (J. O. Buckland, Manager).—Operations were resumed at the beginning of the working-season. The returns did not come up to expectations, and operations were discontinued. Six men were employed during the period worked, and the gold won amounted to 82 oz. 11 dwt. 23 gr., valued at £640. The McLean Bros, have carried out active mining operations during the working-season in the old township workings, upstream from the Nevis Township. D. and J. Adie worked the high-level terraces above the old township workings during the early portion of the year, and then moved to the right-hand or western terrace of Schoolhouse Creek, where mining operations were resumed after the winter cessation of work. Nevis Sluicing Claims, Ltd. (J. H. Johnston, Manager).—Sluicing operations have been continued in this heavy deposit during the working-season. Five men were employed, and the gold won amounted to 92 oz. 11 dwt. 4 gr., valued at £691. J. Murrell continued to work the shallow ground over the old workings to the north of the Nevis Sluicing Claim. Reward Gold-mining Co., between Gorge, Creek and Fruitlands.—Two men have been employed in sluicing operations when water has been available. Some driving has been done in the dry season. Sluicing operations were continued in Donnelly's Gully, Matakanui, by the Matakanui Sluicing Syndicate. Shine Again Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Bendigo.—This mine is situated in the Upper Bendigo Creek, about twenty miles from Cromwell. The mine was reopened by the Bendigo Rise and Shine Gold-mining Co.', which, went into liquidation. The mine and plant were purchased as a going concern, and the Shine Again Goldmining Co. was formed. They have erected a five-stamp battery, amalgamating-table, Wilfley table, berdan pans and roaster, and laid down a tramway between the mine and the new mill. Opencast-mining operations were commenced on the north and south ore-body and crushing commenced on the 19th September. Four men were employed, and the quantity of ore treated amounted to 204 tons, yielding 23 oz. 15 dwt. 8 gr. of cold valued at £172. The New Bendigo Gold-mining Go. has gone into liquidation and the plant has been sold. Subsidized and other miners have been working on many of the old mining fields, such as Blackmans and Conroys Gullies, Manorburn, Galloway, Matakanui, and Devonshire, and on the terraces of the Clutha and Manuherikia Rivers. ' A total of 106 men (inclusive of the companies) has been employed in the alluvial mines of the Vincent County during the year. The gold won amounted to 977 oz. 2 dwt. 4 gr., valued at £7,516 ss. Id. Canterbury District. Ashburton County.—Three men have been employed during the year on the Rakaia Mouth and other beaches, winning gold amounting to 25 oz. 11 dwt. 21 gr., valued at £169 7s, Is.

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