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the reef is about 3ft. in thickness, and the richest quartz is on the foot-wall, but it is sometimes distributed through the whole of the reef. Gold is seen freely in the quartz, and also sulphides of silver : llcwt. of quartz treated at Fraser and Sons reduction works, Auckland, in November last, yielded 14oz. of retorted gold (bullion). Five men are employed. Mr. James Thomas is manager. Just in Time Mine. —The reef in this mine is on a different line, and situated to the westward of the Goldwater line of reef; it is about 24ft. in thickness, and about 3ft. of rubbly quartz on the hanging-wall side gives dish prospects worth about -|oz. of gold per ton. The reef has been traced about half a mile to the northward, and for a mile in a southerly direction. The average thickness of the reef is sft , and gold is found along the line at different places. The land on both lines of reef in this district has been taken up under licensed holdings, but no great amount of work has yet been done to prove the value of the reefs. A road from the Goldwater Mine to Whangamata Harbour, a distance of six miles, is being made by the Thames County Council, out of grant from Government. This road will enable the miners to forward parcels of quartz to Auckland or to the Thames by sea, and also can be used in transporting machinery to the locality of the mines. Tararu Creek. Norfolk Mine. —Ten tons of quartz from this mine yielded isoz. of gold, and a similar parcel is ready to be sent to the crushing-mill. The reef which was formerly known as the Yankee Doodle reef, runs parallel to the old California reef, which formerly yielded a largo quantity of gold; a winze is being sunk on the reef to be used as a pass to convey the quartz down to the road. At present the owner, Mr. John Bice, is making a road in order to get quartz to the battery. About three hundred acres have lately been taken up as licensed holdings, but mining operations are not yet commenced. Several reefs in Tararu District contain silver ore, and the land has been occupied in anticipation that the ore can be treated successfully by the improved processes that are now being adopted at the Thames. • . ■ •• Waiomo Disteict. Paroquet Mine. —A considerable amount of work has been done in connection with this mine. A battery of twenty stampers has been erected about a mile from the mine, and a sledge-road made to the battery from the mine; 386 ft. of driving and 120 ft. of winzes sunk to open up the reef, which is about sft. in thickness; 70 fathoms of reef have been stoped out, and 250 tons of quartz are stacked at the mine and at the battery. Sixty tons of quartz have been crushed for a return of 2700z. of amalgam, which is calculated to yield one-third gold. The blanket washings and tailings have been forwarded to the Thames for treatment in the Molloy pans, erected at the Herald battery. The chief difficulty that has now to be got over is the transport of quartz from the mine to the battery, as sledging for such a distance is too expensive. Twenty men have been employed, and Mr. James G. Wilson is the manager. Ostrich Mine. —A low level is being driven to cut the Paroquet reef. Appeal Mine. —A trial crushing sent to the Thames was satisfactory, and work is being done to open up the reef. Golden Gem. —This mine is situated near the Paroquet battery. Two levels are driven on the reef and connected by a winze. They are also erecting shoots to connect with the battery. About twenty tons of quartz are ready for crushing. Golden Point. —A tunnel 130 ft. has been driven, but the reef is not yet cut. Golden Drop. —A large reef has been found, and a considerable amount of work done on it. About fifteen tons of quartz are ready to be sent to the battery. Mata Creek. Whitley's Claim. —Gold was found in this claim at the surface in a leader averaging 6in. in thickness. A winze was sunk 30ft., and a drive was made for 50ft. on the leader from the bottom of the winze. Two tons of quartz crushed yielded 16 oz. of gold. A low-level is now being driven through soft country, which will cut the reef about 70ft. below the winze. Birch and Party's Claim. —This claim is near Whitley's, and a reef is found which promises to become valuable. Three tons of quartz crushed yielded over 2oz. of gold per ton. A considerable area of ground has been occupied in this locality, and Birch and party are in treaty for the erection of a battery. Tapu Creek. The claims in this locality have not produced much gold, but there appears to be a revival in the district, and mining matters are more hopeful in the near future. Accidents. Two fatal accidents occurred during the year. A miner named Frank Kneebone was killed at the Kapanga Mine, Coromandel, on the 19th November last. The accident ha2Dpened through a truck falling down the shaft, a depth of 300 ft., and killing him instantaneously. The other accident occurred in the Saxon Mine, at the Thames, on the 28th November last. A miner named Eichard Boden was employed in the stopes, and a fall of rock from a soapy head crushed him to the floor, and life was extinct when he was uncovered. Genebal Eemaeks. The large amount of prospecting in the outlying districts and the improved methods of treating the ore now being introduced will tend to keep up the returns of gold, and a successful future may be anticipated.