C.—3.

Quartz-mining Companies engaged in the Reefton District— continued.

It will be seen from the foregoing table that calls have been made to the extent of £315,532 Is., and dividends paid amounting to £537,408 65.; and that 621,064 tons of stone have been crushed, which yielded 462,912'50z. gold, representing a value of £1,700,403 os. 10d. It is difficult to get at the correct returns from the individual mines in the early days of the field. The above table is compiled from a statement published by a committee of the Eailway League at Eeefton, some ten or eleven years ago, with the returns sent in by the Warden added on, year by year, since the statement referred to was made. Old Caledonian. —This mine is situate at Larry's Creek. Some very rich stone was found here about eighteen years ago, and it was looked on at that time as one of the dividend-paying mines in the district; but after working down some distance the lode cut out. In addition to this, there was more water to contend with than the machinery the company had on the ground was able to lift, so that the claim was given up. It lay for many years without any work being done, until Messrs. Duffy Brothers took up the ground, and are now carrying on prospecting operations with the view of picking up another shoot of gold on the lode. Some of the quartz crushed by the original company yielded as much as 4oz. of gold to the ton, and a great deal of quartz which was then considered of too low grade to pay for working was thrown away in the mullock-tip. Messrs. Duffy Brothers have erected a five-head stamp battery, and find that some of the material from the mullock-tip pays to put through, but the present battery is far too small to treat low-grade ore. During last year 20 tons of stone was crushed, which yielded, according to the battery returns forwarded, 28oz. gold, while three men have been employed. Italian Gully. —Some prospecting operations are being carried on in this locality, but nothing of any note has yet been found. Many years ago a lode was found here, and a battery of five heads of stamps and one berdan was erected. The machinery is still on the ground, enclosed in a building, so that if any likely stone be found in the neighbourhood there would be little difficulty in getting it tested. Welcome United. —Prospecting operations have been carried on in this mine for the last two years without as yet meeting with any success. The operations are being carried on from the inclined adit formerly belonging to the Eureka Company. At about 800 ft. from the lower end of this adit a monkey-shaft has been sunk in the side of the level to a depth of 240 ft., and from the bottom of this shaft a drive has been constructed for a distance of 542 ft. Two cross-cuts have been constructed from this drive to the westward; and now the directors propose to extend the main drive for another 50ft., and put in a cross-cut for 100 ft. to the eastward. If they do not meet with success, then it is proposed to open out some of the blocks of stone left in the upper levels of the Welcome, which at the time they were left was considered of too low grade to pay for working. For some time the ventilation in the lower workings has been very bad, but at the time of my visit a small fan was being erected to exhaust the bad air. The men had not been able to get into the lower workings from Christmas up to the date of my visit in April. This company deserves to meet with success. It has expended a large amount in prospecting, and will have yet to expend a considerable amount to open up the mine systematically if a payable lode be found at their deepest workings. Five men were employed at the time of my visit. Fiery Gross. —This mine is now worked by a private company. At first the workings were carried on so as to leave a fair margin of profit, but latterly the stone has been of very low grade, and it is stated that the crushing prior to my visit was very disappointing. During the year ending the 31st March last 688 tons of quartz has been crushed, which have yielded 3250z. of gold, valued at £1,300. Sir Oharles Russell. —This mine is situate on the south side of the Waitahu Eiver, on the top of a bare ridge about 40 chains back from the river. Good stone was got on the outcrop. A cross-cut was put in from the south side of the ridge, and the lode followed for about 200 ft. Another level was driven from the north side of the ridge at 170 ft. lower level. A winze has been sunk down on the lode for a depth of 96ft. from the upper level, and an intermediate level constructed having a pass down to the lower level, which is over I,oooft. in length. The lode is now being stoped out between the intermediate and upper levels. It averages about 18in. in width, and runs in a northwest and south-east direction, underlying to the south-west and striking northerly. Near the mouth of the lower level the quartz is emptied into a large hopper, and an aerial tramway 36 chains in length carries the quartz from this point to the crushing-battery, which is erected on the side of the Waitahu Eiver. The crushing-battery, consisting of ten heads of stamps and four berdans, is driven by a horizontal steam-engine, having a cylinder 14in. in diameter, the ordinary copper-plates and

75

Name of Company. Calls made. Dividends declared. Stone crushed. Yield. Value. £ s. d. £ s. d. Tons. 1,155 919 238 26,886 Oz. 905 586 354 63,465 £ s. 3,506 17 2,077 0 1,396 5 247,817 3 a. 6 0 3 1 Victory ... Vulcan ... Walhalla Extended Welcome Welcome United ... Wealth of Nations Wealth of Nations Extended 1,437 0 0 11,100 0 0 3,600 0 0 13,975 10 0 6,500 0 0 400 0 110,250 0 0 0 35,912 10 0 55,054 4,077 30,866 2,007 119,851 18 7,883 2 7 0 Totals ... 315,532 1 0 537,408 6 0 621,064 462.912J 1,700,403 0 10