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APPENDIX. (a.) REPORTS OK INSPECTORS OF MINKS. Mr. Boyd Bfaxik, Inspector of Mines, Thames, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sir,— Inspector of Mines Office, Thames. 28th March. 1908. 1 have the honour to furnish herewith my report on the gold-mining industry in the Hauraki Mining District, together with statistics, for the year ended the 31st December, 1907. Waihi Gold-mining ('timpani/ (Limited). —The following is a concise report, bearing principally on the mining operations conducted at Nos. 8 and 9 levels, where the most important developmentworks have been carried on during the year. No. 9 level (1,000 ft.): North-west crosscut from No. 5 shaft. -This has been extended a total distance of f2 ft. A dam constructed of brick, with east-iron frame and door, has been erected at a point 24 It. in this crosscut. This dam is large enough to enable trucking to be carried on through it. In case of emergency it can be closed in a few seconds. At 36 ft. in, the north crosscut towards No. 4 shaft has been commenced. At this same point a south crosscut has been started, with the object of intersecting the Royal lode. The country rock is very firm, and is giving out very little water. A cistern measuring I 18 ft. by 7 ft. by 5 ft. has been excavated, also a valve-chamlier measuring S3 ft. by 15J lr - by 15 ft - lor tmnl Phmger of C pump. It is anticipated that the walev will be tapped and pumping commenced from this level early in 1908. No. 8 level (850 ft.) : The greater part of the mine-development during the year Ims been done on this level. Royal lode east of North section junction: The level was advanced 406 ft., making a total ol 772 ft. Everything points to this lode continuing in width and values as further development proceeds. West of North section junction : The level was advanced 363 ft., making a total of 653 ft. from North section junction. No. 4 shaft, north-we-t crosscut : This crosscut has been extended 128 ft., making a total of 703 ft. from No. 4 shaft. At 584 ft. the Martha lode was intersected, and proved to be 110 ft. wide. Kmpire lode : The level was extended westward 657 ft., mating a total of 964 ft. from No. 4 shaft, north-west crosscut. At 964 ft. a crosscut was projected north-west 55 ft., where a connection was made to level on Edward lode. East of No. 4 shaft crosscut : The level was extended 24 ft., making a total of 74 ft. New reef at 226 ft. in No. 1 shaft, north-west crosscut : The level was driven westward on course of this lode 50 ft., and this vein will be explored during the coming year. Martha lode : This was intersected for the first time on this level at 584 ft. in No. 4 shaft, north-we-t crosscut, and proved to be 110 ft. wide. To facilitate the working of this large ore-body, it was deemed advisable to divide it into three sections—namely, Regina section. South section, and North section. A total length of 516 ft. was opened up on the Regina section : a total of 1,176 ft. was driven on South section ; and on the North section 616 ft. was driven east and 336 ft. of the main crosscut. No. 6 shaft crosscut : This has been connected with the Martha lode, No. 6 shaft giving good ventilation. The distance is 143 ft. No. 2 shaft, west crosscut: This was driven a total length of 300 ft. from No. 2 shaft. At 69 ft. the south section of Welcome lode was met, and proved to be 45 ft. wide. At 160 ft. the second part of the Welcome lode is met; the width of this second body at right angles is 20 ft. The Martha lode was intersected at 248 ft. Welcome lode : Owing to the lode being very wide, driving has been done on its course in two places. On the South section driving was commenced at 64 ft. from No. 2 shaft, and at 165 ft. on second portion. The South section drive was driven a total of 226 ft. No. 7 level (700 ft.) : Royal lode : The level was extended on the reef for 588 ft. to west of North section junction, or to 51 ft. west of the Edward junction. Two sloping-blocks on the shrinkage method are in operation. They contain at present 27,750 tons of broken ore. Rex lode : The south end of the level was advanced from 909 ft. to 1,002 ft. from Royal junction. The irregular mass of ore on the Welcome lode of No. 2 shaft has opened up well. No. 2 shaft has been sunk to No. 8 level, and the drives connected through to the other shafts. A new windingengine has been erected at No. 4 shaft. No. 5 shaft has been sunk to No. 9 level (1.000 ft.), where the third plunger set is being erected. No. 6 shaft has been sunk and connected through at No. 8 level (850 ft.). The brace with automatic tipping-gear is erected, and the railway-hoppers under it are nearing completion. The main south-east crosscut has been advanced to 1,300 ft. from No. 5 shaft. The Rex reef was passed through at 779 ft., where it was 6 ft. wide. Nothing else but small quartz veins has been met with as yet. Shafts : Shafts Nos. 2 and 5 have been sunk during the year. The total depths of the six shafts at the close of the year and the depths sunk during the year are as follows : No. I—-total depth, 708£ ft. : No. 2—total depth, 935 ft. ; sunk during year, 39 ft. : No. 3—total depth, 348 ft. : No. 4—total depth, 863] ft. : No. s—total depth, 1,020 ft.; sunk during year, 157 ft. : No. 6—total depth, 856 ft. About