0-—3

76

Ophie.

There is very little mining now in this district. Charles Wilson and party have an alluvial claim of 2 acres at German Gully, Black's, in which two men are employed. At Black's No. 3 the attempt to locate the seam of payable wash by deep sinking did not prove a success, and the undertaking was abandoned. Springvale. Springvale Sluicing Claim, Springvale, near Alexandra South (J. Gartley, manager).—Sluicing operations continue to be conducted in the gullies on terraces in the neighbourhood of Springvale. Alexandra South. Alexandra Bonanza Gold Dredging and Sluicing Company, Galloway Flat. —The operations of this company gave promise of assuming proportions of some magnitude. A splendid water-race was cut in and a dam built at Greenland Swamp, capable of storing a body of water two miles in length by half a mile in width, but, unfortunately, the sluicing plant erected on the claim proved altogether inadequate to deal with the barren overburden standing 60 ft. high in the face. Operations have been at a standstill during the greater part of the year. The annual report of directors to the shareholders says : "It is to be regretted that the gold-earnings have not yet covered working-expenses, but this is to a large extent due to the dipping of the bottom, which involves much extra time in driving away the wash, and has involved unexpected delay and expense in bringing up a deeper tail-race to facilitate its removal. It will be apparent that in working low-grade gravel, of which the overburden largely consists, what is to be aimed at is that the stuff should be put through in quantity. The directors are pleased to say the race is proving itself to be an efficient job, and may be relied upon as a permanent asset, as it commands a large area of auriferous ground which cannot be worked without it." Tucker Hill Sluicing Company, Alexandra South (Rivers and Gartley, owners). —During the year a large dam has been built and the water-race improved in order to bring in an increased water-supply. This was rendered necessary, as the owners had entered into an agreement to supply the Borough of Alexandra with one head of water. Ground-sluicing operations are being conducted on the terraces between the foothills and the eastern bank of the Lower Manuherikia River. Manorburn Gold-mining Syndicate, Galloway Station. —-This syndicate, having taken over Edward Appleton's claim, is arranging to bring in a water-race with a carrying-capacity of ten heads to work the property by hydraulic sluicing. Golden Bend Gold-mining Company, near Alexandra South. —The syndicate, having purchased a steam-boiler, engine, and 10-in. diameter lifting-pump, sunk a shaft on the property to the auriferous wash traced into the terrace by the Golden Link dredge. Operations were subsequently interfered with by a heavy flood which unseated the boiler, engine, and pumping gear, and filled up the shaft. Operations have since been at a standstill. J. Kane and F. McCarthy, Blackman's Gully. —This is a ground-sluicing claim in Blackman's Gully. The ground is fairly shallow, and five heads of water are brought in from Blackman's Creek. Operations have hitherto been successful. Robert Prophet's Claim. —One man finds employment in this sluicing-claim of 2 acres. Several other parties are ground-sluicing in Blackman's. There are about twelve men engaged mining in the district, including Conroy's Gully. Clyde. Keleher's Sluicing Claim, Clyde. —Ground-sluicing at head of Waikerikeri Creek with water brought in from Leaning Rock Creek. One man at work. Buckley and Joe. —Doing a little ground-sluicing on a terrace at Shepherd's Flat, Fraser River. Hookey and McConnell. —The high state of the Fraser River has prevented the bed of the river being worked for a considerable time. Cromwell. Quartz Reef Point. —Several small parties are prospecting and sluicing in this locality; also, behind Cromwell Township a party of Chinamen have a sluicing claim on the bank of the Kawarau River, from which good results are obtained. Around Lowburn a few parties of miners are engaged ground-sluicing on the terraces. Bannockburn. A. T. Aitken's Claim. —A ground-sluicing claim of 2 acres, in which two men find employment. Crabb Bros.' Claim. —Water for ground-sluicing is brought in from Shepherd's Creek in the Wealth of Nations' water-race. There is a heavy overburden of 60 ft. to 80 ft. to sluice' away in this claim. Three men are at work. /. Lawrence and Hancock. —Ground-sluicing claim. Two men. Gair and Murray. —Sluicing claim of 2 acres, near Adam's Gully. Two men. There are a few other miners in this locality, each holding ordinary claims of 1 acre in area. Kawarau Gorge. Robertson's Terrace. Prospecting operations have been carried on for the greater part of the year on Robertson's Terrace, at the back of Gee's Flat. James Robertson, having struck gold-bearing wash in the terrace, took up an extended alluvial claim of 5 acres. After driving out a good area of wash the owner sold out to T. Craig, who is now actively engaged mining.