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gave a return of 107 oz. 10 dwt. of gold. The owner now contemplates erecting a small battery, with the object of working the mine on a larger scale. Juno Mine. —This property is being worked by a party of tributers. Two men are employed in driving on small leaders near the surface, and who lately put through the battery a small parcel of 3£ tons of quartz and 2 lb. of picked stone for 10 oz. 5 dwc. of gold. Lucky-hit Mine. —ln this mine two men are employed, who last month put through the battery half a ton for 3 oz. 11 dwt. of gold. Royal Rose Claim. —A small parcel of 4 lb. of picked stone was lately put through the battery for 1 oz. 5 dwt. of gold. Two men are employed. Moonlight Claim. —In this claim two men are employed, and 27 lb. of stone was lately crushed for 14 dwt. of gold. In the early part of the year a little work was done in the Phoenix, Ajax, Mint, Golden Anchor, and Prospect Mines. Meecury Bay. White Brothers' Claim. —This property comprises 30 acres, and is situated about four miles from Mercury Bay en the old track to Opitonui. A good deal of work has been done on this claim during the last five months. A cross-cut drive has been put in from the side of the hill for a distance of 85 ft., and two gold-bearing leaders cut. A trial crushing has been put through from the leader that was intersected 67 ft. in the drive, and from 2J tons of ore treated 6 oz. 14 dwt. of gold was obtained. Those leaders vary from 3 in. to 9 in. in thickness. A low level has also been driven a distance of 40 ft., and a reef 7 ft. in thickness cut through in the face of the drive. The stone when crushed up fine and washed off in a tin dish gives fair prospects of the precious metal. The owners intend to try and get a syndicate to put in money to prospect and open up the reefs before forming into a company. Colorado Mine.— This mine is situated close to White Brothers' claim, and has been partially protected and is worked by two men. There is about 50 tons of quartz stacked at the mouth of the drive, broken from a reef about 2 ft. in thickness, which is said to contain gold in payable quantities. A five-stamp battery was purchased to treat the ore, but it has not been erected yet. There are a few men prospecting in Mahakirau, and some in the Kauri Timber Company's leases above Gum Town, and from the latter place it is rumoured something important has been discovered. Mataeangi Distkict. : Matarangi Mim. —This mine was worked for some time by Noble and party of five tributers, who put through a parcel of 27 tons of ore for a return of 4 oz. 15 dwt. of gold. This not being payable, the tribute was given up, and the battery that was erected on the mine has been sold and removed to Morototo. Tiki. Mining operations during a part of the year were more active than usual, several of the claims being prospected, but so far no payable discovery has been made. The Pahutu and Matawai Mines were worked for some time by the Hauraki Development Syndicate, who obtained fair prospects, gold being frequently seen in the quartz, which gave the syndicate sufficient encouragement to erect a small two-stamper battery to crush the ore on the claim, and thus save carting the quartz a considerable distance ; but after treating some of the quartz, which was not payable, crushing was stopped. It is considered that the best gold will be found on the deeper levels, as the best quartz obtained was from a winze sunk on the lead at the low level; but as there was a large quantity of water here to contend with work was stopped. 50 tons 13 cwt. of ore was treated for 32 oz. 19 dwt. of gold. An average of eight men have been employed. Coromandel Freehold. —Work has been carried on in this mine for the greater part of the year on the different reefs that were operated on some years ago, and from which good payable ore was obtained. The present company have so far not been successful in discovering any rich chutes of ore, although a good deal of prospecting has been done on the different reefs, that vary from 9 in. to 4 ft. in thickness. A trial crushing of 5 tons treated at the Thames gave a return of 1 oz. 15 dwt. of gold. From three to ten men have been employed. Progress Castle Bock. —This mine has been continuously worked, the principal work being the extension of a low level to intersect the reef, which has now been accomplished, and a connection made by a winze sunk on the reef from No. 3 level. This will give good facilities for opening up the block of ground between Nos. 3 and 4 levels. At No. 3 level the reef is about 2 ft. in width, and has been driven on for a distance of 380 ft., and the quartz tested from here is said to be worth from £4 to £5 per ton. The company contemplates erecting a battery near the mine, and a road has been made for the purpose of getting the machinery on to the site. There have been six men employed. The Pukewahau, Eoyal Mint, Prospero, Pride of Hauraki, Magnet, Specimen Hill, and Butterfly have carried on prospecting operations intermittently, but nothing that may be considered payable has yet been discovered in any of the above-mentioned mines. Manaia. The mines taken up in this part of the field are at a standstill at present, but during the early part of the year a little prospecting was carried on in the Golden Hill Extended, British Fleet, and Little Minnie Claims, but, as nothing of importance was discovered in any of the mines, work was stopped. , . . .. .:. Thames District. ■ ■'■' Mata. —There was a little prospecting carried on in this locality in the early part of the year on the Mata and Sisters Ciaiin, but no returns have been made.