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C—3

Coromandel Freehold. —Beyond a little prospecting, no work of any consequence has been done on this property for some considerable time. Prospero Mine. —The work in this mine is still being directed to extending the low level for the purpose of intersecting the reef. Two men are employed. There have been a few men engaged intermittently on some of the other mines in this district, but I have heard of nothing important being discovered. Manaia District. There have been a few men employed prospecting on the Leading Wind, British Fleet, and Golden Hill Mines. No returns. Opitonui. Kauri Freehold Estates Gold-mining Company. —Operations in this mine have been vigorously carried on during the period under review, the operations chiefly consisting of opening up and developing the reefs at the various levels. In the Carvall section the shaft has been sunk a further distance of 100 ft., and a chamber opened out at what may be termed No. 2 level. From the chamber a crosscut drive is being put in to intersect the reef, which should be met with in about 80 ft. of driving. When the reef is cut it is the manager's intention to drive north and south on it and open up the blocks as expeditiously as possible. There is every reason to believe that valuable blocks of ground will be opened up here, as good payable ore was obtained in driving on the reef in the No. 1 level from the shaft. Maiden section : Sinking operations are proceeding in the main shaft, which is down a depth of 62 ft. below No. 2 level, and the intention is to sink it a further distance of 40 ft. before opening out for the No. 3 level, when a chamber will be opened out and a drive put in to cut the reef, which should be met with in 112 ft. of driving from the shaft. The No. 1 and No. 2 levels—■on the reef north of the shaft—are also being extended to open up ground to be ready for stoping, so as to enable a constant supply of ore being obtained to keep the battery constantly crushing when the slime plant is completed. This is now under construction, and is expected to be finished in the course of a few weeks. There has been very little stoping done on any of the reefs for some time past, and the ore that is obtained from the drives now being extended on the reefs is about sufficient to keep the battery running eight hours a day. This will be continued until the slime plant is completed. Lanigan section : Operations in this section at the deep levels have been suspended for some time, and the water has been allowed to rise in the shaft to the surface outlet, pumping having been dispensed with for the present. The main adit-level on the surface is being extended towards the Hilda on the reef, and some work is also being done on the reef in the surface-levels at the Hilda. 11,923 tons of ore has been treated for 6,636 oz. of bullion, value £13,322 ss. 2£d. ; 165 men have been employed. Kuaotunu District. Mining operations on this part of the goldfieid have been very limited, owing to the Mariposa and Kapai-Vermont Mines having been closed down during the year pending arrangements for the amalgamation of the two companies for the purpose of raising capital to enable them to develop the mine at deeper levels. This, lam informed, has been arranged, and it is anticipated that systematic operations will soon be resumed. Great Mercury Mine. —This mine has been steadily worked by a party of seven tributers during the last nine months. Their operations have consisted in driving and stoping on the No. 1 and Red Mercury reefs on the eastern section of the property. Their time expired in December, but they have retaken the mine on tribute for another term, and have commenced to open up the Try Fluke reef and hanging-wall lead at the No. 2 level on the western side of the hill, where a payable chute of ore was previously worked by the company. 346 tons of ore was treated for 212 oz. 16 dwt. of gold; value, £507 15s. 9d. Irene Mine.— This mine is owned by an English company, and has been worked for some time past by White and party (tributers), who have done a considerable amount of work on the different reefs, and especially on the Try Fluke reef, where they have stoped out a large block of ground over the No. 2 and No. 3 levels. The work at present is confined to extending the drive on the reef in a north-east direction—with three shifts —for the purpose of opening up a block of ground. The country-rock in the face of the drive is very tight, and the reef is a little split up, but it is expected that it will improve in thickness and quality as it is stoped upon from the level. 512 tons of ore was treated for 392 oz. 10 dwt. ; value, £803 16s. 6d. An average of seven men were employed. Waitaia Mine. —This mine has been worked steadily with from three to six men, who have been employed in driving on and developing the reef in No. 3 level. The reef has varied in size from 6 in. to 4 ft. in thickness. A limited amount of stoping has been done over No. 5 level. The mine is well opened up on the various reefs, and the company are considering the advisability of erecting a crushing plant near the mine to enable them to treat a large quantity of ore that is in sight which would not pay under present arrangements, but is said would pay handsomely if the company had a battery of their own and a cheaper mode of conveying the ore from the mine to the mill. 371 tons of ore was treated for 448 oz. 6 dwt. of gold ; value, £1,279 15s. sd. Juno Mine. —This mine is worked by Campbell and party (tributers), who have directed their operations to extending the low level a distance of 120 ft., and stoping out the leader from the back of the level for some distance upwards. The leader that carries the gold varies from £in. to in thickness. 5i tons of general ore and 1191b. of picked stone was treated for 252 oz. 5 dwt. of gold ; value, £579 15s. 3d. Handsivorth Mine. —This mine is worked by Mr. Woodcock, who has completed the erection of a three-stamp battery, and has crushed 56 tons of quartz. He only saved the gold that was caught on the plates; the tailings were collected, and will be treated when he gets berdans erected. The