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Arahura Flat. —K. A. Harcourt has been granted a final payment of £25 to complete his drainagetunnel. Chows' Terrace. —Rimu Miners' Association was granted £50 towards cost of sinking a shaft an approximate depth of 130 ft. Dimensions, 7 ft. by 3 ft. 6 in. Now completed. Fenian Creek. —Lemon and party have driven their prospecting-tunnel 150 ft., at a cost of £15. Arch Creek. —Boyd and party's subsidised tunnel: The balance of this subsidy will be paid for sinking instead of driving. Lark's Terrace. —George Noble was granted a subsidy of £230 to drive his prospecting-tunnel at Lark's Terrace for a distance of 2,000 ft. Driven 1,990 ft. Paid £228 10s. Park Terrace, Ross. —Coughlan and party have driven their prospecting-tunnel 531 ft., at a cost of £87 16s. 4d. The tunnel is now abandoned. Ross. Mont dOr (J. McKay, manager).—Sluicing has been more regular and continuous, chiefly owing to the more favourable wet season. The washdirt in the face gives good promise, while with the advantages gained with the rising bottom sluicing is much simplified and values likely to be enhanced. The varied developments in connection with this extensive working continue to be well ordered and kept in good repair and condition. Yield of gold for the year, 1,089 oz. 12 dwt., valued at £4,249 10s. Value per ounce, £3 18s. Dividends for 1906, £1,800 ; and since registration £42,000. Thirteen men employed. MacLeod's Terrace. —The wet season has favoured sluicing operations; but when visited near the close of the year, sluicing was temporarily ceased for the purpose of effecting some important alterations and additions in connection with the gold-saving appliances. The various works and equipments are in good order. Yield of gold, 25 oz. 4 dwt. 15 gr., valued at £98 Bs. Average value per ounce, £3 18s. Pour men employed. On the Ross field alluvial-mining has been somewhat neglected, owing largely to the demand for labour on the Hokitika-Ross Railway. Repairs to Donnelly's Creek Bridge have been faithfully and creditably effected. Waiho. Waiho Dredging and Sluicing Company (E. B. Mabin, attorney). —This company holds a mining area of 70 acres. In the early part of the year all work was suspended. Application, however, was made by some of the wages-men to work the claim on tribute, and their application was granted. The general working development and equipment of the property are in satisfactory condition. The yield of gold for the year was 110 oz. 18 dwt. 19 gr., valued at £433 6s. sd. The Westland Dredging and Sluicing Company (E. B. Mabin, attorney). —This company holds a mining area of 187 acres, on which operations were conducted by a party of four tributers. Regarding the development and equipment of this property, the various works connected therewith havej"been completed in a substantial and satisfactory manner. Batson and Party (two men). —Notwithstanding the patchy nature of this alluvial deposit, just recently opened, the owners are satisfied with the future prospects. Irwin and Party (two meni.—When this party turn their attention to mining they get an occasional pennyweight of gold. BLACKSANDING. Blacksanding on the Sandfly, Three-mile, and Five-mile Beaches has been a lucrative system of mining during the late stormy weather, as the beaches named were deeply covered with payable drift. One man reported that in four hours black sand was wheeled out for treatment which yielded 4 oz. of gold. It was further reported that on the Five-mile Beach fourteen men had won gold to the value of £300 in nine days, whilst the returns from the Three-mile Beach were considered better. At the Warden's Court, Okarito, Mr. Clouston obtained the right to convert the Alpine Lake into a dam and raise the walls an additional 12 ft. This scheme is calculated to give sufficient hydraulic power to elevate the sands on the Five-mile Beach for open-table treatment. According to information received, the capital necessary to carry out this work is already subscribed. DREDGING. Comparing the values won during the years 1905 and 1906, the total yield of gold for 1906 was 21,961 oz. 9 dwt. 16 gr., valued at £86,082 3s. 6d., against 238 men employed ; this being a decrease on the previous year's operations of 4,708 oz. 4 dwt. 18 gr., valued at £18,709 14s. Bd., and thirty-two men less employed. Dividends paid during 1905 amounted to £25,899 7s. 6d., and for 1906 to £24,275 17s. 10d., the latter being a decrease of £1,623 10s. 6d. MINERALS OTHER THAN GOLD. Copper. Maoriland Copper-mine, Nelson.—Under the management of Mr. E. Bray (late of the Keep-it-Dark, Reefton) the development of this property continues to maintain a more practical and promising character in favour of the shareholder. In the United section the passes between Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 levels have been thoroughly overhauled preparatory for the passing of ore and ventilation. This\latter condition ordered. In carrying forward the leading stope on No. 5 level the orebody''measured 60 ft. in'length, varying in width from 2 ft. to 18 ft. Further extension of No. 7 level

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