H.—9

6

main cylinder (A) to rise to the top, lifting the plunger-pole, to which are attached the necessary connections to work the lift-pumps. As the plunger-pole moves upwards, the crank motion connecting with it and the piston that works in the octopus (C) closes the supply, and opens the exhaust on the top of the differential-piston (B), which allows it to rise and close the supply-pipe (E) of the main cylinder, and open the exhaust-pipe (F). The weight of the plunger-pole then brings down the main piston, and the same motion again takes place. There are likewise two cocks in the supply and exhaust-pipe from the balance-valve or piston working in the octopus (C), by which the motion of tho differential-piston (B) can either be accelerated or retarded, as may be required, without causing scarcely any concussion. The pumps that this engine works are fixed at different depths, as will be seen on section of shaft where the tanks are placed. The cost of working this machinery is very trifling in comparison with what it cost formerly to pump the water out of this flat about twelve years ago, when a steam-engine working at about 90 horse-power was employed, The weekly expenditure then was from £100 to £120; whereas this machinery can be worked with four sluice-heads of water at say £3 per head per week, or £12, and the other expenses, when the sinking of the shaft is completed, will be about £4 10s. per week: making the total cost of working £16 10s. per week. This company has let some portions of the upper levels or gold-bearing layers to parties to work on tribute, but the results from working them has so far not been successful. In addition to 100 acres which they hold as a mining lease, they have purchased several claims and leases from small mining companies, and are now the holders of almost the whole of Boss Plat. They intend working the upper levels that are above the level of their underground tail-race by hydraulic-sluicing it in a face into a pit, and to erect elevators, to work on the principle of a dredge, to lift the tailings from this pit to the surface, allowing only muddy water from the sluice to. get into, the tail-race. There are two hydraulic sluicing companies on this field, which are conducting sluicing operations on a large scale; but the quantity of water they have at their command is not nearly sufficient to carry away the debris and mullock from the great depth of ground they are working.. These companies are the "Greenland" and "Mount D'Or." The former is working with a "new hydraulic nozzle, which was imported from California, constructed with universal joints in the ordinary manner, and likewise a joint on the mouth-piece of the nozzle, so that the water can be directed, by the aid of a small lever, to whatever portion of the face it is required to strike without moving the main portion of the nozzle. It is certainly a great improvement on the ordinary method, which requires an unwieldy pipe to be continually handled about. The Mount DOr Company is making provision for an electric light, so that the men can work continually, day and night: at present they only work during daylight, as their face is a great height, and the space where the stuff rolls down is in a narrow gully, where the stones have to be broken up before the quantity of water at the company's command can wash them away. This company has rented the portion of the Mikonui Water-race that is constructed, until such time as it is required, for £100 per annum. Donaghue's.—A large company has taken up the old working ground in Donaghue's Plat, and has brought up a tail-race from the sea-beach about three-quarters of a mile in length, and commenced to sluice all the ground from the level of the tail-race, and to lift the tailings with elevators which are fixed on an endless-link chain, on the same principle as a dredging plant. It may be termed a dredge working on a stationary frame, having one end placed at the tailings-pit, and set up at an. angle of forty-five degrees to the surface, and fixed to a frame or trestle-work at the top to carry the dredging appliance some distance above the surface, so as to lift the tailings high enough to get trucks under the shoot where the buckets empty, and run away and stack the tailings on the ground. The buckets are placed about 2ft. 6in. apart, and hold about 7 cubic feet each. The lip or mouth-piece of each bucket has a steel lip or band round it to prevent it wearing away quickly. The company, estimates that the dredging plant is capable of lifting about a hundred tons per hour. The dredge is worked by a turbine water-wheel of thirty horse-power, constructed on the Whitlow principle. The whole of the plant was constructed by Messrs. McQueen and Co., of Dunedin. There is another large company between Boss and Donaghue's, bringing up a tail-race from the sea-beach to work the ground in a similar manner near Swiper's Gully. If these companies are successful with their dredging appliances, and are able to get clear of the sludge which will necessarily lodge to a great extent in the tail-races, it will be the means of a great deal of ground being worked in this neighbourhood. WooDSTOCK.—There is still a considerable number of miners working on this field, but a great number of the claims are worked out, and the population is not so large as it was last year; but some of those that are working are making fair wages. There is very little water on the field : the wash-dirt is driven out, hauled up shafts to the surface by the aid of horse-whims, stacked in paddocks, and when there is water it is box-sluiced. Waimea. —The whole of the workings on this field are principally confined to hydraulic sluicing. The miners in this district chiefly get water from the Government water-race, which enables them to earn small wages. This water-race, although paying but merely nominal interest on the cost of construction, is the means of maintaining a steady population in tho district. The best of the ground has no doubt been worked out, but there is a large area of auriferous country yet left, which, although poor, is expected to pay small wages for working. It was to enable this district to be worked that the Government constructed the Waimea Water-race: its construction up to the present time, not including any branches leading towards the Kumara Gold Eield, has cost about £118,575 15s. 2d.; and the revenue accruing from sales of water, after deducting the expenses of maintenance for the year, is £1,076 3s. 7d., or nearly 1 per cent, on the capital invested; while the population, including the families supported by the mines that it maintains, is about 600. There is about a mile of fluming across two low valleys between the Kawhaka Creek and the Christchurch Boad, which is beginning to show considerable signs of decay. A good number of the trestle-legs and bracing will shortly have to be replaced. There are four different descriptions of timber used in the trestle-work here, viz., totara, kawhaka, silver pine, and rata. The decay is