35

C.—2.

In this district (Waiotalii) a number of mines, such as the West Coast, Pinafore, Bright Smile, as well as a lot of small claims not held as licenses, but under miners' rights, still continue working for payable returns. MOANATAIAEI DISTRICT. North Devon. —A large amount of work has been done in this mine ; the reef, which varies from 6in. to 6ft., was driven along for 240ft. from the cross-cut, but the main object was to get over what is known as Garvie's Winze, they are now within 20ft. of this. Whau Mine. —This mine has been worked by two parties of tributers with fair success, but there are no particularly new features to record about the mine. Kabaka Cheek District. This district still keeps up its gold-bearing reputation. Rocky Point Mine. —This mine has just completed some very important, though expensive, " dead work," which was necessary for ventilation before extensive stoping operations could be carried on. Adelaide Mine. —The winzes, &c, necessary in this mine for extensive operations were completed some time ago, but the long dry season has till now prevented these being begun. City of Manchester. —This mine has been in operation for many years, giving its owners excellent returns. A new low level, which will give 70ft. additional backs, is now in progress of being driven in to cut the reef. Lone Hand Mine. —This was formerly the Little Lizzie ground held by Messrs. Prescott and Johnson, who are said to have cleared £1,500 each out of it. The present owner, Mr. Barclay, is even more fortunate. A new low-level tunnel is also in progress here. First. Demon Claim. —A north and south leader, running from two to three inches to a foot in thickness, has been driven on for a considerable distance, the crushings from which went from 1J to 4oz. per ton. A winze is now down on it about 30ft., in which it maintains its quality. A small battery is attached to this mine. There are some other mines in this district, such as the Hokianga, Victory, Bising Sun, and some smaller claims that are all doing very fairly. Hapb Creek District. A fresh start has been made in this district, through a discovery made by Duulop and party. At first this reef was thought to be an entirely new one, or, rather, one unknown before, but further investigation proves it to be a reef that was worked with good results in the early days of the field. A slide in the country suddenly cut it off. This was thought to be the end of it, but now Dunlop and party have picked it up on the other side of the slide. This party, who have named their claim the Little Daniel, have had several good crushings, and have been lately engaged sinking a winze from the upper level for the better development of the mine. The reef has maintained an average thickness of 2ft., and shown gold in abundance whenever broken down. The most reliable test is, of course, the result of the crushing. The last test was seven loads of quartz, which yielded 40oz. of gold. A number of other claims have been taken up in this neighbourhood, such as Grenville and Party's True Briton, Morgan and Party's Little Albert, McCormick and Party's Arrow, and Mcll'haney and Party's Little Nell. These have all started vigorously to work. Just-in-Time Claim. —Wallace Brothers and Party spent 8 months in doing " dead work," but have now a lengthened prospect of highly profitable employment. The crushings within the last few months yielded 2oz. to 2Joz. per load. The operations at present in progress are driving on the reef and working the stopes. Dart Mine. —This mine still continues its operations, and although some of its returns have been very good, yet, like all mines that require pumping, the expenses are very heavy, necessitating frequent calls on the shareholders. Otanui District. —This district was served by a 12-stamper with 4 berdans, driven by an over-shot wheel. During the summer dry season this proved of no use, and would not turn the stampers. The matter was put into the hands of Messrs. Clime and Bowden, local engineers, who have invented a new wheel, on the hurdy-gurdy, or Pelton principle. It is claimed their buckets, with a compound curve, placed on the pheriphery of the wheel, are much superior to the others. These gentlemen recommended one of their wheels (to which I have not yet learned they have given any name), 6ft. in diameter ; also that a new race be constructed, so as to give a fall of 65ft. vertical. This was approved of, and since constructed, with necessary dams, &c. The results have been very good, the battery being now able to crush from 65 to 70 tons per week. The great advantage of this class of water-wheel is simplicity of construction, cheapness, and easiness of repair. This is a very important factor in out-of-the-way districts, no engineer being required ; any ordinary man, without being a mechanic, can see at a glance what is the matter, if anything goes wrong, and put it to rights. The Oriental, Eureka (who own the battery), and Comet Mines have done a large amount of work, but are not yet able to realize on the results of their labours, as immediately after the completion of the alterations to the battery, the wet weather set in, and the road down hill from the mines soon became impassable. However, I hear the County, with the aid of a subsidy from Government, are about to metal this road, after which I hope the shareholders of these mines will reap the reward they so richly deserve. Ohinemuri Gold Field—Waitekatjri District. During the greater portion of the past twelve months this district has been nearly at a standstill. Waiteltauri No. 3 Mine,. —The proprietors having had no success by their ptospecting operations, was in a great measure the cause of the depression. Great things had been expected from the sinking of the winze by this company. This winze was sunk to a depth of 186 feet, or about 420 feet under the outcrop of the reef on the main run ; but this work failed to develop anything payable. IB