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Waihi Gold-mining Company. The following table shows the returns from this famous mine since 1890 : — Tons. £ s. d. 1890 ... ... ... ... ... ... 21,112 13 6 1891 ... ... ... ... ... ... 23,935 5 11 1892 18,236 44,888 2 4 1893 ... ... ... ... ... 19,805 61,900 10 11 1894 ... ... ... ... ... 24,864 82,827 2 2 1895 ... ... ... ... ... 33,670 120,334 2 2 1896 ... ... ... ... ... 34,400 137,321 8 2 Period ending 6th February, 1897 ... ... 4,140 14,010 14 1 Four weeks ending 6th March, 1897 ... 3,120 10,585 7 4 Four weeks ending 3rd April, 1897... ... 3,150 10,033 2 0 £526,948 8 7 It will be seen from the foregoing comparative results that the chief fallings-off in the yield of gold have been in Coromandel County. The Hauraki Mine has not maintained an output of rich specimens ; therefore it is apparent that the bulk of rich ore from this run has been worked out. At Kuaotunu also the Try Fluke (now Mariposa), the Great Mercury, and the Irene Mines have not been continuously worked. The output of quartz has thus been materially lessened, and the yield of gold consequently reduced. These mines must in future be provided with more suitable crushing machinery for economical treatment of large quantities of quartz, and until this policy is adopted an increase in the yields cannot be expected. The yield from the Kapai-Vermont Mine has also greatly fallen off, consequent on the richer runs of gold having been first taken out, and until additional machinery is erected for treatment, and development work done to provide reserves of ore, there is no likelihood of increased returns. In the Thames district the greatest falling-off has been in the returns from the May Queen Mine, the reason for this being that the lower levels could not be worked pending erection of the Queen of Beauty pumping plant ; therefore, until drainage has been effected and fresh blocks opened on the reef, a steady output cannot be maintained. The indications at water-level are so good that when the water is drained off rich yields will assuredly follow. In the Moanataiari Mine development has taken the place of production, and until the new plant is available no further treatment of quartz will be undertaken. The mine is being well opened up, and continuous yields will in the future be maintained. Another cause of decrease in the yield from Thames has been that, in consequence of other sources of steady employment being available, the tribute system has almost been given up by the miners, and returns from that source are very limited. The improved return in Ohinemuri County has been caused by a slight increase from the Waihi Mine, whilst during the year the. Waihi-Silverton Extended has largely added to the increase. The Crown Mine and the Waitekauri Mine, consequent on greater crushing facilities, have also exceeded their past year's production. The Woodstock and Talisman Mines, at Karangahake, the Komata Eeefs and W T aitekauri Extended, at Waitekauri, with the extensive crushing-power available, will increase next year's yield to such an extent that this district will be far in advance of any other quartz-mining centre in the colony in the value of its gold production.

MIDDLE ISLAND. Attention has been directed to quartz-mining in the Collingwood and West Coast districts, consequent on the introduction of capital to work the mines. Prospecting operations have been carried on and extensive areas taken up in the Lyell, Victoria Eange, and Paparoa Eange districts, as well as in the different localities around Eeefton. The number of claims shown in the following lists as having been registered in the Wardens' offices gives evidence of the keen interest manifested by those engaged in mining pursuits.

Abstract of Licenses for Special Claims, Licensed Holdings, and Gold-mining Leases issued from the Warden's Office, and registered on or before the 31st March, 1897, in the Books of the Mining Registrar.

Date of License. Area. tion. *<><*• Survey District. Name of Claim. Name of Registered Owner. Collingwood: A. E. P. 3/3/87 I 16 2 0 .. 5/7/88 6 3 34 .. 6/10/96 16 0 0 .. 6/10/96 29 3 30 11/1/97 30 0 0 .. 28/10/95 28 3 29 .. VIII. II. Aorere Waitapu .. Johnston's .. Jacobsen's .. Johnston United Mining Co. Johan S. M. Jacobsen. Joseph Jacobsen. Charles Pilliet. John Tyler. VIII. Aorere Pilliet's Tyler's 14/3/92 5 0 0 11 17/2/97 10 0 0 10 13/11/93 22 1 28 91 16/1/96 19 0 0 4 22/5/96 8 1 24 23 17/2/97 12 2 0 100 13/11/93 28 2 16 96 XV. VI. XIII. VII. XIII. Lyell Inangahua Lyell Matakitaki Lyell Lyell. Pennell's Rise and Shine Tyrconnel Tyron United Alpine John Pennell and Robert Perkins. Robert McGregor and William Galvin. James Edge and John Kelly. William White. United Alpine Quartz-mining Co. (Ltd.). United Italy United Italy Quartz-mining Co. (Ltd.).