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Boxburgh. Louden and party, consisting of four men, occupy a, claim of 30 acres situated at Roxburgh East. The drift, which is about 60 ft. in depth, is washed away by sluicing, but in order to more effectually deal with the bottom wash a small hydraulic-elevating plant has been erected. The Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Company (Limited) still continue to profitably work their claim. The secretary of the company has supplied the following information respecting the claim : — " This company owns a property of about 100 acres, situated on the banks of the Molyneux, opposite the Township of Roxburgh. The claim is being worked under the management of Mr. William Peters on the hydraulic-elevator system, running four elevators continuously (two being second lifts), using in all forty-five heads of water. During the past dry season work at the claim was stopped for about six weeks, owing to the scarcity of water. The company suffers from the disadvantage of having to submit to prior rights drawing water from the Teviot Creek, notwithstanding the fact that the supply is obtained from the dam at Lake Onslow, built at the expense of the company. The company employ about thirty men, the average wages being about Bs. per day per man, exclusive, of course, of the manager's and assistant manager's salary." i Golden Bun Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Area, 100 acres). —This claim is situated at Miller's Flat. The workings are on a large alluvial flat, and the hydraulic elevators are worked with fifteen sluice-heads of water, having a pressure of 300 lb. per square inch. Sixteen men were employed. Island Block. Island Block Gold-mining Company. —Operations have been carried on in elevating from the workings on the flat, and also in prospecting on private property on the eastern side of the Molyneux River. No return of gold obtained has been made. Eadie and Kirkpatrick's claim, of 30 acres, is still being worked by hydraulic sluicing. Ten men are employed. No return of gold recovered is obtainable. Tuapeka. Blue Spur and Gabriel's Gully Consolidated Gold-mining Company (Limited). —This company's claim still continues to be most successfully worked by Mr. J. Howard Jackson, to whom I am indebted for the following extract from a report to the directors, dated the 15th March, 1897, as well as the drawings (which are reproduced with this report) illustrating the latest improvements in the hydraulic-sluicing plant:— " Total net value of gold won during the year 1896-97 — i.e., from the Ist March, 1896, to the 28th February, 1897—3,523-69 oz.; value, £13,919 2s. Water used in hours' sluicing-time : No. 1 division of mine, 3,985-5 hours ; No. 2 division of mine, 3,931 hours : total, 7,916-5 hours. " The two main items of expenditure are wages and explosives, and the cost under these heads is as follows :—Wages: No. 1 division of mine, £1,575 4s. 7d. ; No. 2, £2,375 19s. 2d.: total, £3,951 3s. 9d. Explosives : No. 1 division of mine, £266 13s. 4d.; No. 2, £406 6s. 4d. : total, £672 19s. Bd. Grand totals: No. 1 division of mine, £1,841 17s. lid.; No. 2, £2,782 ss. 7d.: £4,624 3s. 6d. " Roburite was used almost exclusively, and proved satisfactory both in regard to the work done and comparative cost. The largest blast fired contained 1,6501b. of roburite, which I estimate to be equal in effective force to not less than 3 tons of best blasting powder. Roburite has been used at the mine for some years now, in many instances by men having no special knowledge of the use of explosives, and no accident of any kind has occurred in connection with it. " Statement of Work, &c, for the Twelve Months ending 28th February. Hours Sluicing. (OubicYardst ol< * won ' Value per Yard. Oz. Gr. d. No. 1 division ... ... 3,985-5 106,412-8 1,743-59 7-865 15-53 No. 2 division ... ... 3,931-0 122,048-0 1,780-10 7-000 13-16 7,916-5 228,460-8 3,52369 " During.the latter part of the twelve months a very serious drought prevailed, which greatly interfered with the water-supply. December, January, and February show a falling-off of 124-5 hours' sluicing-time as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. During February less than in. of rain fell in this neighbourhood. " The average number of men employed during the year has been forty-one, at wages ranging from 12s. 6d. to 7s. per diem. Of this number, six were constantly employed on the head-races." The Local Industry Claim and Mill's claim are both being worked in this locality, with satisfactory results. Weathers tone's. Golden Bise Claim (Area, 33 acres). —Messrs. Smyth, Doulan, and Adams are working the claim, with satisfactory results. The pipes have been extended and altered,, at a cost of £300. A hydraulic-elevating plant is used, the height to which the wash is raised being 15 ft. About five sluice-heads of water are used, at a pressure of 190 ft. Five men are employed. Waipori. Waipori Deep Lead Claim (Area, 130 acres). —This claim is owned by the Amalgamated Waipori Deep Lead Gold-mining Company (Limited), and is worked by hydraulic elevating. Twelve sluice-heads of water are used, with a pressure of 290 ft. The quantity of drift-wash put