13

C—3a

is 3ft. to 4ft. in thickness, has been driven on for 30ft. The quartz is of a brown rubbly character, and fair dish prospects are obtained. Two men were employed. Portsea (Portsea Gold-mining Company, owners). —This mine is situated to the southward of the Grace Darling, and on the same line of reef. A cross-cut was driven for 40ft., and the reef cut 6ft. in width. A low level, which is now in 60ft., is being driven to cut the reef 100 ft. deeper. Two men were employed. A considerable amount of prospecting has been done in this locality, and several licensed holdings have been applied for. Komata Disteict. Komata Mine (Komata Gold-mining Company, owners). —Work in this mine has been steadily carried on during the year. At the No. 3or low level, driving on No. 1 reef, which is Bft., and on No. 2 reef, 6ft. in thickness, were the principal works done. A winze was also sunk on No. 2 reef 48ft. down from No. 3, and a portion of the reef worked by underhand stoping. Throughout the mine 230 fathoms of reef were stoped out, and 169 ft. of driving done. There were 1,708 tons of quartz crushed and treated, for a return of 8,9960z. of bullion. The quartz from this mine is conveyed to the battery by the horse-tramway. The battery consists of thirty stamps, and the treatment is by the wet process. A cyanide plant, in addition to pan-amalgama-tion, is used, and it is probable that a plant for cyanide treatment of all crushed ore will be erected. Thirty men and four horses are employed. There have been no returns from any other mines in this locality, but other parties occasionally carry on prospecting work. Waihi Disteict. Waihi Mine (Waihi Gold-mining Company, owners). —The work in this mine has been confined to the Martha section. Driving on the reef at adit-level has been carried on, and stoping the blocks opened up. Stoping has also been carried on over the Smithy level, and the blocks near the surface worked from an open cutting. The average thickness of quartz worked was 22ft. The stopes are kept well filled with mullock, and the works have been safely carried on. A main shaft, 13ft. 6in. by 6ft., within timbers, has been sunk to a depth of 230 ft. The framed sets are 9in. by 9in. and 12in. by 12in. sawn heart of kauri. At the shaft a steam-engine, 24-horse power, with Cornish boiler, and machinery for both winding and pumping, has been erected. A cross-cut has been driven from the shaft 218 ft. to cut the reef at a depth of 80ft. below the adit. The first quartz cut at that point proved to be a reef about 7ft. in width, but in driving westward the reef increased in width. The quartz from the reef proved payable, being equal in value to that worked in the levels above. This body of quartz is evidently another reef, as the winze sunk from the adit-level proved that the main body is on the foot-wall side of the reef first cut. Additional kilns for roasting the ore have been constructed. A cyanide plant, with one percolating vat 20ft. in diameter, was first erected, and afterwards two additional vats were constructed; and 1,803 tons treated by this process yielded 3,6430z. of bullion. The results were so satisfactory that it was decided to adopt the cyanide treatment and suspend the amalgamation process. A plant of thirteen vats, with all other requisite tanks, &c, is now in course of construction, and will soon be ready. As very little power is required for this process, the whole of the power used for the pans and settlers will be available for driving extra stamps if it should be determined to increase the present plant of sixty stamps, and the prospects of the mine warrant it. This company treated 19,343 tons of quartz for 34,6610z. of bullion; value, £66,294 lis. Id. One hundred and ninety-five men are employed in the mine, at the battery, and in the bush. Silverton Mine (Silverton Gold-mining Company, owners). —Operations were confined to working portions of the reef at the surface, and 115 tons of quartz were crushed and 200 tons of tailings treated for 3210z. Bdwt. of bullion, valued at £424 10s. lid. A contract has now been let to sink a main shaft. Three men were employed. Gladstone Mine (H. Brett and party, owners). —Very litttle prospecting was done during the year, and the licensed holding is to be forfeited. Cassel's Company's Works. —This company has erected a suitable plant for treatment of the tailings and slimes which have accumulated at the Waihi Company's works. These tailings, estimated at from 25,000 to 30,000 tons, were purchased from the Waihi Company for £5,000 early in last year. Advantage was taken of the fine weather to get the materials on the ground and erect the buildings and necessary vats and machinery. A water-race was constructed to bring in water from the creek receiving water from the swamp, and also that flowing from the adit-level of the Waihi Mine. The plant is situated near the river, and below the place where the tailings are deposited. The cost of the plant, Mr. James, the company's manager, informed me, was about £2,500. The first month's run was very satisfactory : 1,425 tons of tailings were run through for 1,1260z. of bullion, worth £1,500. The number of men. employed is two laboratory men, two cyanide plant men, seven contractors to deliver tailings, one carpenter, one labourer, and the manager: total, fourteen men. PIAKO COUNTY. Te Aeoha-Waioeongomai Disteict. Te Aroha Mine (H. H. Adams, owner and manager).—Operations in this mine were carried on in the New Find section of the mine, where portions of old blocks of the reef were stoped out in the Old Coquette section, where the reef was worked near the surface ; and in the Silver King section, where a surface block was also stoped out. 1,284 tons of quartz were crushed and 592 tons of tailings treated, for 2,0010z. of bullion. 45 tons were crushed for tributers, for 31oz. ldwt. of gold. Fourteen wages-men and five tributers were employed. Neivsham's Claim. —In this mine the reef was stoped out near the surface, and 294 tons of quartz crushed for 107oz. lOdwt. of gold. Three men were employed.