o.—3a

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Messrs. Mills "and Browne, known as the Tuapeka Sluicing Company, at the foot of Munro's Gully, have again increased their area, and with their elevating plant have been doing very well. Tuapeka Mouth. The dredge on Messrs. McLeod and party's claim in this locality has been working on the flat during the year, but the returns have not come up to expectations. I may mention that two dredging claims have been applied for on the Clutha River, just above the Tuapeka Mouth, but the applications have not as yet been finally disposed of. ■ . . Manuka Cbeek. . Two fairly good sluicing claims are now being worked in this locality, viz. : Messrs. J. D. Stewart and party and W. and J. Sutherland. The scarcity of water on. account of the high altitude is the only trouble. Sutherland and party have a good hydraulic plant on their recentlyacquired special claim of twelve acres, and are working with about six heads of water; results satisfactory. Waitahuna. There is very little to report on in this locality. Another dredge has been started, under the name of the Imperial Dredging Company, on a special dredging claim on Waitahuna Plat above the railway-line, and the prospects are good. The Waitahuna Dredging Company (Kirby and party) are still working their ground below the railway-line, but are making arrangements to put on a more powerful dredge. The sluicing claims at Waitahuna Gully belonging to Charles Thomson and party (employing thirteen men), Sailors' Gully Company (seven men), Ferris and party (four men), Hagan and party (two men), and Quilter and party (three men), have all been working much the same as in former years. The claim formerly owned by Messrs. W. Baker and party has been taken over by a company styled the German Plat Hydraulic Sluicing Company (Limited), with a capital of £1,300, and now that the company have good storage accomodation for water, and plenty of pressure, I think the claim is likely to turn out a success. Glenore. The dredging claims in this locality are still doing well, and have been working constantly throughout the year. The following are the dredges, viz. : Messrs. J. Nelson and party, the Golden Bank Gold-dredging Company, the Stirling Gold-dredging Company, and the Woolshed Dredging Company. The former one, I understand, has been on rather poor worked-ground for some time, but the three latter have been on good gold, some of the weekly returns from the Stirling and Woolshed being as high as 40 oz. The Mining District has been extended in the direction of Milton, taking in the bed of the Tokomairiro River. One other claim has been taken up, and it is probable others will follow. The new one taken up is the Riverbank Dredging Company, and they are now preparing to build the dredge. - Waipobi. The mining enterprise in this locality is still going ahead and attracting public attention. Nearly all the ground available or suitable for dredging purposes has been taken up. There are six dredges working, and they are all doing well. Two more are being built; one will start work shortly, and the other in a month or two The one mentioned as starting shortly belongs to the Gold-dredging Company, being the second dredge built by the company. As they hold two special claims, a dredge is required for each claim. This dredge is being built at a cost of about £3,300, and fitted up with all the latest improvements. The dredge put on this company's claim less than twelve months ago has done exceedingly well; the weekly returns have been good and regular, and dividends of Is. per month have been paid, since last July. The Success dredge has continued to work throughout the year with very satisfactory results, having won 843 oz. of gold, and paid dividends amounting to £240. Messrs. McNeill and party (private party): The dredge is an established success, and the returns have been good throughout the year. 1 The Jutland Mat (Waipori) Company have worked steadily for the year, and have won 1,226 oz. of gold, and dividends amounting to £1,500 have been paid. The Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold-dredging Company (Limited) have also been working for the greater part of the year; the yield of gold was 850 oz., and dividends amounting to £600 have been paid. Mr. W. J. Farrell, the mortgagee of the Amalgamated Deep-lead Company, took over the plant, water-races, &c, and has been working the claim on Cotton's Freehold, and has been getting very good returns. ■ The Golden Key Gold-mining Company has recently been formed, and has taken over the sluicing claim formerly held by Messrs. H. H. Eaton and party. The capital of the new company is £2,000. . - The Bakery Flat Sluicing Company have a good hydraulic elevating plant on their special claim of 80 acres at Bakery Flat, and have done fairly well, having won 328 oz. of gold during the twelve months. . _... .

,The Post-office Creek (Waipori) Gold-mining Company (Limited) has been formed during the year. Part of the ground was formerly held by Mr. James Parker ; the ar.ea now held, by .thecom-