a—6.

shaft, the object sought was to test these reefs at the lower or No. 3 Level of the new shaft, this depth giving 80ft. of backs on all the reefs previously worked. Pour of these reefs were passed through in a cross-cut driven in a north-easterly direction at No. 3 Level, but so far none of them has come up to expectations. While this prospecting work was in progress, a reef called the Shaft Beef No. 2 was being worked from the No. 2 Level. From this 2,563 loads of quartz have been crushed for a yield of 9960z. of gold. From April to November, 1886, a distance of 380 ft. was driven along the course of this reef : 140 ft. in length and 75ft. in height was stoped out, but, not proving payable, the company let it and the upper levels of the mine on tribute, and confined its operations entirely to prospecting-works. The average number of men employed in this mine, including battery-hands, is forty. The amount of work done on the company's account during the past year has been crosscutting 750 ft. at various levels, and 456 ft. along the course of the reefs. This company's machinery consists at No. 1 Shaft of a horizontal steam-engine with 16in. cylinder and 4ft. stroke, one Cornish boiler 30ft. by 6ft., and usual winding-gear; at No. 2 Shaft, a horizontal steam-engine, lOin. cylinder, with 2ft. 7in. stroke, a Cornish boiler 16ft. by sft. diameter, and winding clutch-gear, all in good repair ; also a twenty-stamper battery, with nine 4ft. 6in. diameter berdans, which are driven by a sft. Pelton water-wheel. Moanataiari Mine. —Under the management of Mr. Thomas Radford, a very large amount of work has been done in this mine during the year, principally by tributors, the average number of whom and wages-men employed being about a hundred. The principal works were —a winze sunk 84ft. on Darwin Eeef, a cross-cut driven from Golden Crown shaft for a length of 334 ft., a cross-cut in the Redan section driven for a length of 82ft., and various other drives in Redan section, on Darwin Reef, and tunnel or adit level; the total driving and sinking being 923 ft. The total crushings from this mine were 1,392 tons of quartz, which yielded 2,0640z. of gold. New Prince Imperial Mine. —A great portion of this recently dividend-paying mine is now let on tribute. The operations on behalf of the company are being principally carried on at the loOfc. and 250 ft. levels, on a large reef known as the No. lor Mariner's Reef. Good payable prospects have been recently met with in this reef, and, as there is a very large extent of ground to prospect both above and below the 250 ft. level, the prospects of this mine again coming to the front as a dividend-paying one are very favourable. This mine has also a crushing-plant which consists of twenty-three stampers and sixteen berdans. This is kept constantly employed, as it crushes also for the public. The average number of men employed in this mine, including tributors, is fifty. For the tributors 1,761 tons of quartz has been crushed, for a yield of 2,0930z. gold ; the produce of the company's men being 644 tons, which gave 5170z. gold : the total being 2,405 tons, for 2,6100z. Waiotahi District. Waiotahi Mine. —The principal work in this mine during the year has been the opening-up of the new No. 4 Level, and connecting same with No. 3. This has been an expensive and rather a difficult work, owing to the hard rock met with, and water and gas (carbonic-acid gas) to contend with. The work is now going on in a more favourable channel of country, and the prospects are now good that gold will soon be met with. Forty wages-men are constantly employed breaking out quartz, prospecting, and. opening up new levels. During the year I,oooft. of driving-work has been done, and about the same number of fathoms of quartz stoped out, 2,175 tons of which has been crushed at the company's own battery for a yield of 2,5400'<5. of retorted gold. Mr. J. E. Smith is in charge of this mine, as well as the New Manukau. Cambria Mine. —This mine has paid dividends during the year amounting to £4,500. This, with the £72,600 previously paid, makes a total dividend for this mine of £77,100. The mine is under the management of Mr. 11. W. Moore, who has constantly some sixty-eight men at work under his charge. The principal prospecting-works during the year have been a cross-cut driven north from No. 4 Level, for a distance of 350 ft. from the shaft, and another cross-cut is now being driven southward at the same level 760 ft. from shaft. The ground in the latter is exceedingly hard, and the compressed-air rock-drills have been used all the way. At Nos. 2 and 3 Levels a large amount of driving and stoping work has been done, from which 4,120 loads of quartz has been crushed, for the return of 5,3390z. gold. There is a crushing-plant in connection with this mine, which has twentyone stampers and fifteen berdans, the whole being driven by water-power. Pinafore Claim. —This claim is now under the charge of Mr. Daniel Sullivan, formerly manager of the Cambria and Darwin Mines. On the surface or top level a cross-cut has been driven southward for 50ft. This cut several small veins of quartz showing gold, which have not been yet opened out on. In the two lower levels no work has been done; but the principal work during the year has been carried on in the large reef, where it is exposed on the surface. This reef is about 20ft. wide ; but only the best portion of it is taken, being about 6ft. on the foot-wall side. The returns from this claim are a little over half an ounce to the ton. This, though small, pays well, as there is a good system of working, also of tramways and shoots for conveyance. Five pennyweights to the ton can be made to pay. Bright Smile. —There have been only tributors employed during the year in this mine, which is under the charge of Mr. Senior. These tributors have not been opening up any new levels, but have been beating out the old blocks, which had been left previously, being considered too poor to take when wages-men were employed. There are a number of other claims working in this district, such as the West Coast, Morrison's Wilcox's (late manager of the Eureka Mine), and others, which have been doing fairly well; but there are others, such as the Fearnought, Shamrock, Fame, Moanataiari Extended, &c, which, after expending considerable sums in prospecting-, have ceased operations. If work is not resumed soon in these, they will be forfeited for non-working, in accordance with the Goldfields Regulations.

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