9

C.—6

Collarbone Creek. Peploe and party, Brownlee and party, and others occasionally work in this district, but the returns of gold are not of any great importance. KaraTca Creek. City of Manchester Mine. —This mine is owned by Messrs. Scott and Taylor, who have for the past twelve years been in receipt of excellent returns. The reef is about 15in. in thickness, and has been worked block after block in a systematic manner. On the reef, 70ft. have been driven, and a winze sunk 25ft. A considerable amount of sloping has also been done, and 228 tons of quartz have been crushed, which yielded 5360z! of gold. City of Adelaide Mine. —This mine, which adjoins the City of Manchester, is worked by the shareholders. The reef resembles that described in the City of Manchester. Three hundred tons of quartz were crushed for a return of 4120z. of gold. Six men are employed, and Mr. Andrew Hart is the manager. Lone Hand Mine. —Mr. Thomas Barclay is the owner and manager. The workings, which were chiefly on small leaders, are now nearly exhausted towards the surface, and a low-level tunnel to open up another block is being put in. This level has been driven 675 ft., and a winze sunk 86ft. to meet it. The reef is about lft. to 2ft. in thickness, but nearly all the gold comes from six or eight leaders on the eastern wall of the reef. These vary from lin. to 4in. in thickness, and rich patches of specimens are found where black flinty seams cross these leaders. Twenty-five tons of general quartz and 1151b. of specimens have been crushed for a return of 1360z. of gold. An average of twelve men are employed. Hokianga Mine. —This mine is worked and owned by Jenkins and party, and has been worked for several years with steady returns. The gold is chiefly found at the junction of black seams with small leaders. Twenty-five tons of quartz and 4061b. of picked stone yielded 2860z. 7dwt. of gold. Three men are employed. Claremont Mine. —This mine is also worked on the junctions of flinty seams with small leaders. Eighty-six pounds of picked stone yielded 50oz. 17dwt. of gold. Two men are employed. Auckland Mine. —One hundred and fourteen tons of quartz were crushed for a yield of 3050z. 2dwt. of gold. Six men are employed. Enterprise Mine. —On the reefs, 130 ft. were driven, and 35ft. of a winze sunk. Twelve tons of quartz were crushed by the shareholders for a return of 350z. of gold, and by tributers 27 tons for 440z. 6dwt. of gold. Four shareholders and five tributers were employed. Mr. J. G. "Vivian is the manager. North Star Mine. —This mine is situated in the Te Papa Gully. It has been worked entirely by tributers, and 460 ft. has been driven on the reef, which is only sin. in thickness. Two winzes, of 50ft. each, were sunk, and 390 fathoms of reef stoped out. There were 378 tons of quartz crushed for a yield of 6640z. of gold. The run of gold is very good at the low-level, but until a lower-level is driven the reef cannot be worked on account of the large quantity of water. Sixteen men were employed. Mr. E. Harvie is the manager. Otand: Disteict. Eureka Mine. —The works in this mine have been sinking a winze on No. 1 Eeef for 38ft. and another winze on No. 2 Eeef for 22ft. Stoping has been done from both winzes, the reefs being about 4ft. in thickness. There were 555 tons of quartz crushed for a yield of 3520z. 18dwt. of gold. Six men have been employed on tribute. Mr. John Wilcox is the manager. Pueibi Disteict. Surprise Claim. —Gold was found in this claim about six months ago in a leader Bin. in thickness. The first discovery was made in a creek about a mile and a quarter from the flat. About 200 ft. of driving has been done in the claim, at several places. The principal drive is on the leader which runs about 20° east of north. One ton of quartz crushed yielded 3oz. of gold. A battery of six stampers has been purchased and erected within 3 chains from the low-level. The shareholders are in good hopes that this claim will prove payable when they get it in working order. Ngawhakapoupou Claim. —This claim is situated further up the range from the Surprise claim. A reef about lft. in thickness was discovered in an old shaft, and 28cwt. of quartz crushed for a yield of lOoz. 7dwt. of gold: A low-level has been driven a distance of 150 ft. Several tons of wash mixed with clay taken from a small creek were also crushed for a return of 12dwt. per ton. This claim is worked by a party of ten Maoris. Other claims have been taken up in this locality, and it is probable that further discoveries may be made, as during the early days of mining at the Thames this district was rushed and several of the claims gave very good returns, but Puriri was afterwards deserted in consequence of greater attractions at the Thames. Taieua Disteict. Decide Claim. —This claim is owned and worked by Mr. Pinlay McLiver, who also owns a crushing-machine. Several other parties also have been working in old ground in this locality, and the total quantity of quartz crushed in the district was 365 tons for a yield of 2540z. 2dwt. of gold. Whangamata Disteict. Gold-water Mine. —This mine is situated on a hill about six miles up a creek which falls into Whangamata Harbour. Gold was found in a blow of quartz cropping out near the top of the spur. A drive was put in on the western side of the hill, and the reef cut about 40ft. below the outcrop. The reef was driven on for 30ft. to the northward nd a winze sunk Bft. At the end of this drive 2—C. 6.