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ANNEXURE A. SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES. NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (E. J. Sooble, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. Markka Gold-mining Co. (IVaihi), Ltd. —Including 862 tons of battery tailings from the old Waihi mill, 154,010 long- tons of ore were treated, the principal producers being the Martha and Royal lodes. Compared with the previous year, this yield shows a decrease of 12,374 tons. There was a corresponding drop in the amount of silver won, but a slight increase of gold. The total driving, rising, &c., carried out amounted to 7,528 ft., as compared with 8,042 ft. for 1941. No shaft-sinking was undertaken, and development work generally was much curtailed owing to a shortage of labour. The number of men employed fell from 506 for last year to 511 for this. A total of 164,870,000 gallons of water was pumped for the period. Golden Dawn Gold-mines, Ltd., Ov:}wroo.. —YY ork suspended and plant being sold for removal. Ta-hsman-Dub bo Gold-mines, Ltd., Karangahake.—The company has been dissolved, and all privileges struck off the register. New Maoriland Mine, Waitehauri. —The material won at this mine comprised 200 tons of ore and country rock, all of which was treated ati the owner's mill. Golden Spur Co., Ltd., Ma/ratoto. —Very little work has been done on this property apart from the treatment of some parcels of ore for experimental purposes. New Maratoto Mine, Maratoto. —This was formerly known as the " Tasman United Mine," and the new owners have cleaned out and repaired the old levels, &c., and erected timber for stoping". A small ball-mill has been installed, and it is proposed to put down an oil flotation plant, wherein the ore will be treated. Labour is a problem here, as at other mines. KermoWs Freehold, Tapu.—Driving and stopping has continued on the reef in tin© Gully level, and old working's were holed in a sloutherly direction. The reef is inclined to pinch in the north, and values won from this source have so far not come up to expectations. Prospecting has given favourable results for possible low-grade developments in some portions of the property. Una Hill Consolidated Gold-mines, Ltd., Thames. —Work was continuous, and resulted in the employment of nine men at the mine and two in the battery for the year. The good ore which was being mined up to the end of 1941 cut out early in the new year. The drive north was carried to 185 ft., and stoping was done above the intermediate level, bat without success. Half-way through the year a new plan of development was started, consisting of the driving of a level south and the sinking of a winze below the low level. By thje end of the year the southerly development had been carried to 170 ft. and crosscuts put out, but nothing was located. Gold was' found scattered through the reef and stringers met in sinking, and a new level is being opened up at 250 ft., or approximately sea-level, where the appearance of both quartz and country promises an early location of favourable values. A total of 472 tons of ore was won and treated for the period. Sylvia Mines Consolidated, Ltd., Thames. —The sinking of this company's shaft was resumed in June or thereabouts, and reached a depth of 162 ft. at the end of the year. ' Fourteen men were employed on an average. Green Hill Gold-mines, Ltd., Coromandel. —The crosscut from No. 2 winze was advanced to 55 ft., where it encountered blue pug containing a few isolated pieces of quartz. Crosscutting was suspended' and the sinking of a second winze was then undertaken and carried down on ore to 26 ft., but the results were unsatisfactory. Driving north was also put in hand, but this likewise proved valueless, and did not proceed beyond 8 ft. Five men were employed for the period. The mine is now shut down, and will continue so for the duration of the War. Kwaotuna Gold, liecoveries Syndicate, Kuotuna. —Operations suspended, and the plant is open for sale. Hardy's Mines, Waiorongomai.—The ore won for the year amounted to 5 tons 3 cwt. 2 qr. It was picked or reduced in bulk, and then shipped for treatment to the Electrolytic Refining and, Smelting Co.'s plant at Port Kembla, New South Wales. The ore is complex and was obtained from the Hero level, which is situated at an elevation of 1,400 ft. One man was employed. Boring Operations. Drilling Prospectors, Ltd-, Thames. —No holes were sunk for the year. Gold Prospecting. Six men are engaged at independent work on their own claims, but nothing is now being done under the Department's scheme, which ceased to operate in June. Miscellaneous. Mercury Mines, PuhipvM. —Some 2,500 tons of material were won and processed during the first half of the year, when a fall of ground occurred and buried the whole of the workings, A small bulldozer and | yard excavator have since been employed at removing the fallen ground (estimated at 40,000 cubic yards), but it is evident that' the production stage will not be again reached until May or June of this year. An average of eighteen men was employed. Ascot Cinnabar Mine, Karangahalce.—Development, is proceeding and a small quantity of good ore has been proved, and this will be concentrated for shipment and subsequent treatment. Two men were continuously employed for the period. Serpentine.—This is got in thie Waiwera and Mahurangi Survey Districts, North Auckland, and amounted to 31,248 tons. Manganese.—Cloudesley Mines, Moumoukai Valley, South Auckland: Production amounted to 246 tons of metallic and 34 tons of dioxide ore, and this was sold, for £984 and £546 respectively. Mirandite Products, Ltd., from its area near the Ness Valley, Clevedon, produced 41 tons, which was hand-sorted and is worth £164. None was sold. Silica. —The following was produced: Chemical and Colour Industries (N.Z.), Ltd., from its area near Totara North, 62 tons 17 cwt., worth £251 Bs.; A. C. Tucker, 4 tons, worth £12; and Messrs. Gilberd and Sons, 396 tons, valued at £675 10s. Messrs. Tucker's and Gilberd's mines are situated at Aramoho, Wanganui. Pumice. —None was obtained. Fuller's Earth —The quantity obtained was 138 tons, worth £434. It was all got from the estate of the late A. Crawford, Kamio, Whangarei. Diatomaceow Marth. —Some 321 tons, valued at £361, were produced by Mr. S. C. Crawford, of Kamo and 23J tons, worth £111 12s. 6d., by Mr. W. Brake, of Ngongotaha. Bentonite. —Mr. H. F. Stoddart, Porangaliau, produced 500 tons, which were sold for £2,134. Sulphur.—No deposits were Worked. Limonite. —Okaihau Quarries, Ltd., Okaihau, and Reyburn's Lime Co., Whangarei, produced 1,725 tons, valued at £4,802, and 300 tons, valued at £1,060, respectively. Ten men were employed in one case, and two in the other.

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