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C—3a

Fluke Mine (F. McMahon and party, owners) is situated about four miles from the flat. Three different leaders are worked on, varying from Bin. to 18in. in thickness. Four hundred feet of driving has been done, and 25 fathoms of the reef stoped out. The quartz had to be packed and carted to Pepper's battery. 42 tons were crushed for 128oz. lOdwt. of gold. Four men were employed. The owners intend to form a company to work the mine, and erect a small crushingplant near the workings. Great Bepublic Mine. —A party was formed to extend the old low level in this mine, which will give 65ft. of backs under the old workings. About 160 ft. was driven, but the reef is not yet cut. Centennial. —John Burk and party have been washing and sluicing the surface mullock; 5 ton lOcwt. of washings yielded 19oz. 15dwt. when crushed at the battery. This mine is now abandoned. Kelly and party have been working in the Little Jessie level of the Tapu Company's workings in the hopes of picking up the run of gold formerly worked, but as they were unsuccessful the mine has been abandoned. Several other parcels of quartz and mullock were crushed from parties prospecting at Tapu Creek; 90 tons yielded 20oz. 13dwt. of gold. Mata Ceeek Disteict. A settler named Campbell occasionally does some prospecting in the Gentle Annie Creek, and he intends to erect a small crushing-plant. Waiomo Disteict. The Golden Gem and Monowai Mines are under protection. The ore being of a refractory nature, fresh capital must be obtained for the introduction of an improved process of treatment before these mines can be profitably worked. Crocker and Tierney have marked out a claim, and are driving to cut the Paroquet Beef at a lower level. Mr. Andrew Manfred McMahon has also marked out a claim near the Golden Gem, and from surface-workings he reports crushing 7cwt. of quartz, which yielded 1430z. 9dwt. gold. Pueu Ceeek Disteict. Tetley's Claim. —This claim is situated about four miles up from the sea. The prospects obtained were such that a small battery of four stamps was erected. There was, however, a difficulty through insufficient water for power, and the mill could not be worked regularly. 136 tons of quartz yielded 21oz. 6dwt. of gold. Three men were employed. Two other claims were also taken vp —Campbell's claim : 1 ton yielded Boz. 12dwt.; and from the Tui claim 18ewt. yielded 7oz. lldwt. of gold. Tabaeu Disteict. Norfolk (Norfolk Gold-mining Company, owners). —The principal work carried on during the year was cleaning out and repairing the Missouri tunnel for a distance of 1,244 ft., and driving a further distance of 336 ft., making the total length of this tunnel 1,580 ft. A winze has been sunk from the surface to connect with the drive. The depth of the winze is 232 ft. The mine is now well ventilated, and can be economically worked. The reef is from Ift. to 3ft. in thickness, and 43 tons of quartz yielded 1470z. of gold. Six men were employed. City of Dunedin Mine (City of Dunedin Gold-mining Company, owners). —Two men were employed. The workings were chiefly in a block of ground near the surface; 180 loads of quartz were crushed for 15oz. 12dwt. of gold. The mine is now let on tribute to four men, who are sinking a winze from the intermediate level. Seddon Mine (McDermott and party, owners). —The average number employed during the year was six men. Three reefs have been worked on, one 3ft. and the others Ift. 6in. and Ift. in thickness. Mortar tests from each of these reefs give fair prospects of fine gold. About 260 ft. of driving has been done on the reefs, and a winze from the surface was sunk on the largest reef to a depth of 40ft. Mr. McDermott, one of the owners, says : " About a ton and a half of quartz was crushed at the Cambria battery, Thames, for lOdwt. of gold, and, after carefully testing the reefs with pestle and mortar, combined with the dish, prospects, although not rich, were yet fairly satisfactory. We then decided on the erection of a small battery at the claim to treat lowgrade quartz as close to the workings as possible. With this end in view, we took in for partners Messrs. Whitley and Sons. lam pleased to say that a start will shortly be made to test and crush these reefs, and we trust, for our sakes and for the welfare of the field, that they will turn out payable. Our ground is situated at from 1,500 ft. to 2,000 ft. above the sea level, thus putting water-power as a motor out of the question, there being only about sufficient water for the boiler and tables, and in slimmer time not that; so that storage-dams will be required to meet the demand if the claim proves a success. In the absence of water, we decided on the purchase of one of Tangyes' eight-horse power steel tubular boilers, for wood fuel, and that of long lengths of sft. This, with engine to match by the same makers, will give power enough to drive eight stamps and berdans. Our battery at present consists of one box of four stamps, 7001b. each, complete with tables and berdans. The cam-shaft, bed-logs, and columns are complete, so that another box of the same dimensions can be put in at the shortest notice if the ground will warrant it. The battery and engine are under one roof; the size of the building is 35ft. by 22ft., of rimu. This, and the construction of hoppers and tramways, has taken 10,000 ft. of sawn timber." Sylvia Mine. —This mine, after being idle for some time, was seized under writ of sale, and with the whole of the plant sold by order of the Sheriff. Messrs. Darrow and party purchased the