C—B.

main crosscut a distance of 160 ft. An average width of 3 ft. of quartz was taken with the drive. The prospects met with are encouraging. In driving the low-level crosscut, before intersecting the main reef, the Siam reef and several leaders were cut. The Siam reef was driven upon 40 ft. east and 80 ft. west of the crosscut. It averaged 2 ft. in width, but did not produce any payable ore. No. 1 leader, which is a cross-leader running between the Siam and main reefs, was driven upon 60 ft., and a block 40 ft. in length and 20 ft. in height stoped out. The low level is now in 850 ft. from the surface, and is ventilated by means of a suction water-blast. At No. 2 level (100 ft.) 60 ft. of driving and 28 ft. of crosscutting was done upon the main reef, portions of which are said to contain good values. A level 100 ft. above No. 2 level was driven from the surface a distance of 190 it., and the main reef, where cut through, proved to be 8 ft. wide. The ore was of low grade, and no further work was done in this part. _jTwenty-five loads of quartz and 147 lb. of picked stone were treated, giving a return of 147 oz., valued at £500. An average of eight men were employed. Sy via Mine. —Six men were employed driving the low level to cut the Sylvia reef, from which rich ore was obtained in the upper levels. A winze was sunk on the reef, and encouraging prospects were met with. It is intended that the low level should intersect the lode under the winze, and at the time of my visit a further distance of 400 ft. had to be driven. Watchman. —This claim is held by a newly formed company, who have started a low level to intersect the reef system of the Alburnia. Encouragement has been given the company, who consider the prospects bright. Kour men were employed. Magnet. —During the year the main level has been driven some distance and hard country entered, which has somewhat hindered rapid progress. Work was stopped for a time, and towards the end of the year prospecting was done on the reef in the upper level, but nothing important was disclosed. Kour men were employed. Temple Bar. —Kour men were employed driving a low level on a reef averaging 6 in. wide. The ore broken out has not given satisfactory results. A distance of 350 ft. was driven before cutting the reef, and 130 ft. on the course of the lode. Good returns are said to have been obtained by a former company, and the present company intend connecting with the old workings to try and pick up a run of good ore. Miners' Right Claim. —The work principally consisted of driving on several quartz veins near the surface, but nothing of a permanent character was discovered. The ore treated was very remunerative, and the owner believes the prospects to be very encouraging. 100 tons of quartz was treated, for a yield of 381 oz., valued at £816. Kive men were employed. Omahu Mine.—The company holding this property in 1906 was unable to treat the ore broken out at a profit, and failed to discover anything likely to give payable results. Consequently the mine was closed down, and in the early part of the following year a new company was formed for the purpose of developing the property. Favourable prospects were met with, and a new reef was discovered, which gave good results. 78 tons was treated, for a value of £299. Mahara Royal. —This mine has been under protection throughout the year, to enable the company to raise further working capital. Southern Queen. —Six men were employed in general development-work and stoping on the Blue reef. Several small leaders in the hanging-wall were cut, from which 51 tons were obtained and treated, for a value of £177. Work was carried out satisfactorily. West Coast Claim. —This claim is worked by one man, who has met with very little encouragement. From the surface outcrops of a reef 8 tons of ore were treated, for a yield of 5 oz., valued at £12. Highlander Claim. —The party working this claim has met with exceptionally good results, having treated 1 cwt. 4 lb., for a value of £146. Trafalgar Mine. —Two men were employed in prospecting-work, and have unearthed some payable ore, which gave a value of £6. Vanguard Mine. —This mine, which was closed down in the latter part of 1906, has been under protection ever since. The water not having abated sufficiently to allow of any work being done, the company have to wait until a favourable opportunity for continuing operations arrives. Summer Hill Claim. —The owners have been carrying on prospecting-work, without meeting with encouraging results. 1 ton of ore was treated, for a value of £1 3s. Daisy Claim. —Two men were employed prospecting on the various quartz leaders, meeting with very little success, although the small quantity of ore treated was of a highly payable character, 2 tons giving a value of £80 ss. 6d. Moanataiari Extended. —Extensive development-work has been carried out at the lower level, and it was expected that payable ore would be met with when driving on the reef was continued under the place where good ore was obtained in the upper level. The prospects were not encouraging at this point, and the values were disappointing. The company then applied for protection for six months, in order to raise more capital for future development-work. Magnet Mine. —Eowr men have been employed extending the low level. The country rock passed through has been hard, has rendered progress very slow, and is unfavourable to the finding of reefs carrying good values. Mascotte Mine. —Early in the year six men were employed constructing a chamber in the shaft for the 100 ft. level, with the intention of driving to thoroughly prospect the claim. The country rock is of a good class, and is comparatively free from water, so that rapid progress should be made. Halcyon. —Work has been confined to the extension of the low level on the reef to connect with a winze sunk from the surface. It was found that driving had been done on a wrong leader, and a crosscut was then driven to connect with the reef on which the winze is sunk. This work has improved the ventilation, and will greatly assist future development. Two men were employed.

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