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gold-producer as there is in the district. The battery, which is working smoothly and well, is of the most modern type, which can be gathered from the fact that the ore is not touched from the time it is put into the kilns until it has finished the entire course of mill. The first return, which is highly satisfactory, was £4,652 from 1,300 t ns treated, and it is expected this standard will be maintained. This company has constructed a water-race, through iron pipes 4 ft. in diameter, at a great cost. This race is to be extended. The Talisman Gold-mining Company is making rapid progress with the new twenty-head battery, which will be finished in three months' time. Great development works have already been done, and the mine has a splendid future before it. The Eavenswood Special Claim has lately been acquired by an influential English company, and vigorous prospecting is being done. A low-level tunnel to cut the big reef is being put in from the Ivanhoe ground. Steady development works have been carried out in the Stanley, Sterling, Ivanhoe, Imperial, Waverley, and Victor Waihou mines, and good results may confidently be expected from them. All the available ground round Karangahake, extending right up the Mangakino and Waitawheta Eivers, also right through the Eotokohu Gorge, has been taken up. Owharoa. —The chief property in this district is owned by the Ohinemuri Syndicate, which holds a large block of freehold ground. Developing operations are being steadily pushed on, and the Government has subsidised the Elliott low-level tunnel, which should thoroughly prospect the ground. In addition to this the company has put down a shaft, for which pumping and winding-gear is now being put in. Here also the Waihi Company is erecting a battery with two hundred head of stamps, with other necessary buildings. A tram-line to connect this battery with the mine at Waihi has already been completed, and a2O horse-power engine now runs on it. A water-race several miles in length is also under construction, in connection with which there are two bridges also being erected, which will cost about £2,500. The tram-line cost about £1,760 per mile. When these works are completed Owharoa will be a busy place, and its population will be considerably increased. Waitekauri. —The Waitekauri Gold-mining Company is at work on a main low-level tunnel, 85 chains long, which will thoroughly prospect the intervening country up to the cross reef, and will also give a double line for a tramway to convey ore down to the battery. At the same time two new shafts are being sunk to connect with this tunnel. Bock-drills are being used, and rapid progress is being made. The battery has worked smoothly since it was started, and good returns have resulted until lately, when some slight difficulty arose in treating the ore. This the company propose overcoming by erecting nine additional steel vats. In addition to the forty stamps in use, a Krupp patent ball-mill, which is said to be equal to fifteen stamps, has been added, and has given great satisfaction. In the Te Ao-Marama section of the mine the company is putting in a large low-level tunnel, of the same size as the Golden Cross tunnel, half a mile long, from the east side of the range, which should thoroughly test and cut whatever reefs traverse the ground. The Jubilee Company is now erecting a twenty-head battery, which should be finished in a few months. The prospects of the company have considerably improved, a better class of ore being obtained from Christie's Eeef. They are putting in a low-level tunnel to thoroughly test the whole property. The Waitekauri Extended Company has made rapid progress, and by next Christmas a fortystamp battery should be in full swing. The company has constructed a large water-race to their machine-site at the junction of the Maratoto and Whakamoehau Streams. The Alpha Gold-mining Company has excellent prospects, and a good deal of developing has been done. This company intends to erect a twenty-stamp battery and full cyanide plant immediately. The Waitekauri United are thoroughly developing their property by means of two main lowlevel tunnels, one from the south-east and one from the north-west. Although the country is very hard, rapid progress is being made, as the company has an air-compre?sor at work, and is using rock-drills. Substantial assay-offices have also been erected. The Grafton, Kathleen, Beehive, Grace Darling, and Central Pilot have done a good deal of work, and should have good prospects. Komata. —The Komata Eeefs Company has erected a fine battery of forty head of stamps, which should be ready by October. The battery is of the most modern type. A large water-race has been laid down the stream. The ground contains several good lodes, and a large amount of work has been done upon them. The Komata Queen, Komata Triumph, Byron Bay, and Key of Komata Companies, have done extensive developing work, and this district promises to rank as a good gold-producing one. Wharekermipunga. —This comparatively new district has flourished in a most remarkable way during the last twelve months, and the country around for miles has been all taken up. This is entirely owing to the splendid find made by the Eoyal Standard Gold-mining Company, and to the energetic manner in which they have pushed on their various works. This company has been employing for months past 180 men. An excavation for eighty stamps has been made, but only forty are to be erected at first, and tenders have already been called for supplying machinery. A water-race three-quarters of a mile long has been finished, and a tramway constructed from the battery site to the Whangamata landing. A large low-level tunnel 7 ft. by 8 ft. has been put in, which will give about 800 ft. of backs. It is expected that shortly after Christmas this mine will be in full working-order. The Sceptre, Tavistock, Wharekeraupunga, Fiery Cross, Gold Stream, and various other companies, are pushing on their works with vigour. Considering the short time this district has been started, the amount of work done and activity shown is remarkable.

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