C—3a

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ago, at which time miners generally, when stripping the top 'gravel off, threw behind them much stuff containing fine gold that was at that time thought to be too poor to wash with the appliances then in use. Living in those days was more costly, tools "more costly, and miners could not afford to waste their time gathering up stuff that it is now thought should pay handsomely by the dredge system. Some of the ground to be worked at the township is said to be from 16 ft. to 18 ft. deep only. Much of the wash, however, is coarse, flat schist, which is not the best for dredging. lam told the bottom varies very much, and that it is not all through in favour of the dredge. It consists of coal, white wash, clay, and schist-rock; I think the bulk of it will be the latter. lam told there are several dredging claims pegged off at the upper end of the gorge above the township, with a view of prospecting the ground at an early date. Pactolus Sluicing Company. —(19/4/96) : This mine is situated about four miles above the Nevis Township, and is on the west side of the stream at the foot of a high made terrace, in which there appears to be a little gold, but not sufficient to pay for sluicing. The flat at the base of this terrace, where hydraulic sluicing is now being carried on by the company, is from 16 ft. to 18 ft. deep. There is a very good head-race constructed to, say, within half a mile of the workings, but the head is only 80 ft. There are a quantity of good-sized pipes on the ground, but Ido not think the ground is paying. Accidents on Southebn Goldfields. Symes's Quartz-mine, Bald Hill Flat. —(2oth March) : 0. E. Jones was killed while working on the surface, and when stripping the surface off the outcrop of the reef. Jones was working alone at the time. The owner appeared on the spot very shortly after the accident, but too late to save life. Achilles Mine, Shotover. —(6th June) : W. McLellan was injured by a runaway truck as he was approaching the flat shut with a full truck. Livingston. —(11th August) : James S. Yeoman was killed while working in a tail-race, which caved in on him. Twenty minutes elapsed before he was got out, and he was then quite dead. Fidelity Claim, Lawrence. —(4th October) : James McFarlane, manager of the claim, was killed in the open paddock by a fall of cement striking him from behind. It rolled over him. No one was to blame. I have, &c, J. Gow.

No. 17. Mr. Albxandeb Aitken, Manager, Waimea-Kumara Water-races, to the Undeb-SecbetaeY for Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Kumara, June, 1897. I have the honour to forward the following report on the Waimea-Kumara water-races for the-year ended 31st March, 1897 ; —■

iETUBNS, ;c, :rom !uabtz-: :inb8 lor the Jjist: 31st December, 1 tfCT O: 396. ITAGO 'or t: ,i eni [ing Name of Company. Quartz crushed. Produce of Amalgam. Retorted Gold. Melted Gold. Eefined. ■rlenrock Consolidated ?ipperary Gold-mine ... Vestralia and New Zealand Gold Explorers tchilles Goldfields L T. Symes's Lode "he Barewood Quartz - mining Company Jonanza Mine (Phelan Brothers) Iromwell Mine V. and G. Donaldson ... lenry Symes (Alexandra) 'he Morning Star Gold-mining Company '. A. Lyders ... Tons. 549 101 554 Oz. dwt. 561 0 167 10 434 13 Oz. dwt. gr. 209 16 0 63 18 0 138 0 0 Oz. dwt. gr. 207 13 0 60 17 5 136 10 0 Oz. dwt. 5,534 206 1,357 6,221 0 558 0 2,694 0 2,113 0 0 238 7 0 899 7 12 2,741 0 0 232 0 0 272 488 300 2 3,018 1,679 10 238 0 3 6 8,912 0 250 0 0 683 8 12 63 12 0 1 10 0 3,003 5 0 252 0 0 1,661 15 0 3,149 0 146 43 10 0 rlenrock Consolidated tailings ... Iromwell tailings 12,527 21,468 19 7,644 4 0 5,335 5 5 3,149 0 36 10 0 44 0 0 35 10 36 10 0 44 0 0 35 10