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The Tamaiti Gold-mining Company has adopted a new system : a weir has been constructed, on the crib principle, across the Tuapeka River at a point about nine miles from Lawrence. The whole of the river at its normal flow is conveyed by a flume 8 ft. by 5 ft. on to a horizontal turbine; this develops 200-horse power when using seventy Government heads of water — i.e., 437 gallons per second. The power developed by the turbine is conveyed to a four-stage-high duty pump. When the turbine is developing 180-horse power it throws from 6 to 6| cubic feet per second against a head of 150 ft. This machinery has been working six months. The claim and power-house are lit by electric light. The dynamo, which is a four-pole Westinghouse one, is driven direct off the turbine. A dividend of Is. per share was declared within three months of commencing sluicing operations. An application has been granted to the same company for another dam-site lower down the river, and a special claim has been applied for. Waitahuna. The number of dredges in this locality is now reduced to two. Beaumont. On the Clutha River above the Beaumont the Otago No. 2 dredge has been working, yielding very good returns. ' The Tallaburn Hydraulic Sluicing Company at Horse-shoe Bend has been working throughout the year with good results to the shareholders. Tapanui. The only mining carried on in this locality consists of one dredge (a private concern) working on the Ardmore Estate, near the Pomahaka River, eight men being employed thereon. Waikaia. I have much pleasure in reporting that the dredging industry in this locality is in a very healthy condition, the total number of dredges being eighteen, and sixteen of these have been working steadily and obtaining good returns. Five of the number were erected during the year. The gold won has been considerable, and, from inquiries made, it is estimated that the yield was about 18,000 oz., valued at about £70,000. The working-population of this locality has been increased during the year on account of new dredges starting, and it is estimated that at least 275 Europeans and twenty-five Chinese are employed in the Waikaia and Nokomai districts in dredging, sluicing, and coal-mining. The revenue collected by the Receiver of Gold Revenue at Waikaia for the year 1906 for rent and royalties amounted to £717. The principal hydraulic-sluicing claims in this locality are the Round Hill Mining Company at Waikaia and the Nokomai Hydraulic Sluicing Company at the Nokomai. A fresh start has been made at Gow's Creek, the abandoned water-race and a claim having been taken up by Mr. Hugh Nelson, and a new hydraulic-sluicing plant has been erected. Besides the above mentioned, a number of small parties are carrying on mining operations very successfully throughout the district. Waipori. The number of dredges in this locality is now reduced to five, three being driven by steam and two by water power under O'Brien's patent. The following sluicing claims have been working during the year when water was available—viz., R. J. Cotton (on tribute from W. J. Farrell), the Lammerlaw Hydraulic Sluicing Company (owned by Messrs. Knight Bros.), the Golden Point (worked by D. O'Brien and party), the Bakery Flat Sluicing Company (Gare and party), Munro and George, and a few other small parties. The sinking for the Deep Lead by Mr. J. T. Johnson on Waipori Flat by means of hydraulic sluicing has been successful, and has proved that the lead carries good gold. Goee and Surrounding District. In the several districts round about Gore—viz., Charlton, Waimumu, and Waikaka—there are, in all, thirty-seven dredges. Most of these are payable concerns, and give employment to a large number of men. With reference to the tree-planting on the dredged areas at Waikaka, referred to in my report of a year ago, I have to report that the trees are doing well, and I certainly think that tree-planting might be undertaken more vigorously, with advantage to the district. I have, &c, G. Cruickshank, Warden.

Mr. Warden McEnnis, Naseby, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Warden's Office, Naseby, 18th April, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith the annual mining statistics of my district for the year ended 31st December, 1906. I submit also for your information a few notes on the general position of mining matters for same period.

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