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C—3a

Gallant Quartz-mine. —(14/11/93) : Not working, but it has been taken by tributers, who are going to sink from the surface. This tribute has since been thrown up, as the crushing turned out poor. The company is said by the legal manager to be on the verge of liquidation. Cumberland Quartz-mine. —(12/2/94) : A change in the management of this mine has again taken place, Mr. J. McCallum being now in charge. During the year an incline shaft has been sunk from the No. 2 level a depth of 86ft., and for haulage up which an engine has been fitted up underground. A short cross-cut has been driven from the bottom, of the shaft to the reef, which is, as usual, difficult to follow. The lode will run about 2ft. in width, but it seems inclined to get narrower underfoot. To the south the level face, where three shifts of two men each are driving, carries good gold. The northern end of the level runs right up to the Exchange boundary, with good stone all the way. Ten men, in three shifts, are stoping under No. 2 level; twenty-seven men in all are employed. The plan has been properly posted by Mr. Casley before leaving. Mr. McCallum, having been only recently appointed, had not got his name up as manager, but the report of the examinations of the mine was duly kept. On the sth March a miner named Bobert Woodhouse had his leg broken through not retiring after being warned that a shot was to be fired in an uprise which was rising to connect with the winze in which he was working. He has only himself to blame for such great indiscretion. He states he did not think the places were so near. The prospects of this mine depend entirely on how the reef being driven on turns out. Exchange Quartz-mine. —No work has been done during the year, but at date of writing arrangements have been made with the Cumberland Company to work from their mine. Golden Lead Quartz-mine. —(14/11/94) : Nine stopes, working from the No. 2 level, employing nine men single-handed in one shift. Timber right. Air good. Alow-level tunnel is being driven to prospect the country and cut the line of lode, which is expected to be done at a distance of 1,650 ft. At the above date it was in a distance of 300 ft., and was cutting through a lode which was supposed to be the barren reef met with in the Cumberland Claim. It was good-looking stone, but was said to contain no gold. Where seen it was bedded with the strata, which dips west about 35°. Four men, in two shifts, were engaged in this drive on contract. No timber needed so far, as it is all cross-cutting. Detonators on roadside to be shifted by contractors. The manager, Mr. Benjamin Sutherland, usually keeps the plan well posted, and has since sent me a copy dated 5/11/93. AI Quartz-mine. —(13/11/93) : Lloyd and party, four in all, have recently taken this mine on tribute for two years, and are stoping about 50ft. down the winze. The leader is under in thickness, and lies on the foot-wall, which is clearly defined. From 2ft. 6in. to 3ft. is taken out to allow room for working. As the winze is sunk from the surface to an adit 97ft. lower in level the air is good. Drew Mr. Lloyd's attention to some slabs or flakes on the hanging-wall of the level, and he promised to have them seen to. Dynamite is to be removed farther from the road. No copy of the Act; but one has since been supplied by Mr. Auld, the legal manager. Big Biver Quartz-mine. —(13/11/93) : A fatal accident occurred to George Poole, the boss of shift, on 9th November, in a drive below No. 2 level. He had returned from seeing after the men working in a winze, and had stopped to speak to a miner named Patrick O'Leary, when a block of the wall-rock fell off without warning, killing him instantly. When the mine was inspected further falls had occurred, as the place had not been interfered with, and it then presented a dangerous appearance; but the evidence at the. inquest went to show that the place had been sounded and found safe, and ordinary care exercised. Deceased was an experienced miner, and it was part of his duty to see that the mine was safe. Beport properly kept. Copy of the Act at the mine. No sectional plan. The depth to No. 4 level is 472 ft., and there is 80ft. of cross-cutting to the lode. The block of quartz is 70ft. long. Very good air coming up stopes. Timbering right, but some loose pieces in No. 1 level, to which Mr. Booney's attention was directed, are to be attended to. Twenty-five men in all are employed in the mine, in two shifts. Lord Edward Quartz-mine. —(13/11/93) : This mine has not yet opened out on a payable block of quartz. Two men are usually employed, and have lately been driving on the track of a reef in the No. 3 level, about 200 ft. from the Big Biver Company's shaft. Amazon Quartz-mine. —(13/11/93) : This is a short drive running nearly east with the strike of the country, which is similar to that in the Big Biver Mine. Mr. M. Cullen and another man are usually employed, but had left for the day. Mr. Cullen afterwards informed me that some further driving had been done at a higher level. Boatman's. Fiery Cross Quartz-mine.— {l 4/2/94): This mine was sold by auction, as the old company could not find any payable quartz. A party of six miners purchased it, and are doing moderately well. Twelve men are stoping, in two shifts, about 30ft. above the No. 1 level, on a block of stone that was thought to be too poor to work, but last crushing gave 7dwt. to the ton. Some flakes and old timber in the level are to be attended to. Mr. Lawn, the engine-driver, went forward to the last examination, but has not yet heard if he has got the certificate. Should he not have passed he will resign at once. Mr. Booney, one of the owners, is manager, having left the Big Biver Mine to take charge of this. Eeport kept, but a week behind. The prospects of this mine have decidedly improved. Welcome United Quartz-mine. —(14/2/94) : This mine was inspected three times during the year ; the first occasion on account of a lire having occurred in or near the chamber in the No. 6 level. A fall had taken place some 90ft. from the shaft, which prevented further ingress. At this point the timbering could be seen charred. The only other data bearing on the case were : (1) The manager and another man had been through the level, which was disused, except as a return air-course, a week before the outbreak of fire was noticed, and they state that then everything was right; (2) the chamber in No. 6 has always been very dry and warm, so that the timber would be very easily ignited. There was no evidence pointing to how the fire originated. Mr. Joseph Kilgour subse4—C. 3a.