47

C.—3

fairly well, employing six men, and obtaining god valued at £810 4s. Id. ; but the costs of repairs to plant, which were badly needed, deterred the tributers from taking on the risk again at the commencement of the present year. The company, having exhausted its capital, has decided on liquidation. Quartz Ranges (formerly the Collingwood Goldfields). —This hitherto highly payable sluicing claim is now situated somewhat s milarly to those held by the Slate River Company. The tributers, Mr. Diamond and party, who have been operating for some years with satisfactory results, have now to face the problem of heavy expenditure on the extensive fluming which conducts the water-supply from the Boulder Lake, a distance of over four miles, and, in addition to this, the tributers, having just about worked out their present faces, will have to take up new development-work to open up new ground. An average of six men have been employed during the year. I have not been able to ascertain the amount of gold won during the year, but from what I can learn the result ha- been only ordinary, not much more than paying expenses Johnston's United, Bedstead. —Prospecting operations have been carried on during the year on this well-known ground, w'th disappointing results. Slate River Dredging Company's Old Claims and Dredge. —This dredge, which was purchased by Mr. Grant from the above company when it went into liquidation, was worked for a short time in 1907, until it became buried in the river by heavy floods. The special claim has been surrendered and the dredge abandoned. This is the last of dredging in this district. During the time the dredge was working for Mr. Grant the gold returned was satisfactory. Taitapu Gold Estates (Limited). —This freehold property, owned by an English company, is managed by Mr. J. Carroll, Mr. L. N. Buchanan being the company's New Zealand attorney. Prospecting operations lor gold have been carried on during the year without result. The average number of men employed has been ten ; they have been principally engaged in boring for coal. The bore has now reached a depth of 830 ft., and the indications seem good. Six men were kept employed driving on •the principal outcrops along the Paturau River. There are a number of these outcrops; the coal is good, and the seams of a fair size. Gulden Blocks. Ttutu/iti (Limited). —This mine has been steadily worked during the past year, under tin- management of Mr. Giles, and a return of 1.471 oz. of gold was obtained, against 1,202 oz. for the previous year—an increase of 269 oz. There are, on an average, twenty-six men employed in or about this mine. Mining Operations and General Remarks. —lndividual mining has nearly disappeared from this district. There are only a few men now about Rocky, and two or three more about the Slate River. Mr. Kemp has commenced operations at Victoria Terrace, where an extended claim was granted to him during the year. He has also had granted to him a water-race, tail-race, and dam, to be used in connection with his extended claim. Prospecting. —A good deal of prospecting has been carried on during the year in the Collingwood County and some in the Takaka County. Eight prospecting licenses have been registered during the yea r. over a total area of 625 acres : two prospecting licenses were in the Upper Anatoki ; one at Snows, near the Boulder Lake ; two at or near the head Pariwhakaoho River, Parapara Peak ; one at the Parapara Mud-flat; one at Lightband's Gully ; and one at Toitoi Flat. Takaka Subdistrict. Takaka Sluicing Company. —This company, whose property is situated at the Bu-Bu, steadily employs eight men, the work being carried out by eight-hour shifts. No dividends have been paid for twelve months. Upper Anatoki. —In this locality mining is practically at a standstill. There are only three men working. There is great difficulty in getting to the place, on account of the absence of tracks. Lower Anatoki. —Three men are prospecting here, but doing no good. Lower down there are three, men working as tributers. in a claim on Glover's Flat. I understand that they are doing fairly well. Waitoi. —There are two old-age pensioners fossicking in the creek, but doing very little ; and, in addition to these, there are four old men prospecting and fossicking crevices near the Bu-Bu. Their mode of working is very primitive, and they are doing very little good. Motueka. Very little has been done in this subdistrict during the past year, but there seems a prospect of a revival. Three applications have been received for claims on the tablelands of Mount Arthur, and stand adjourned, pending survey. lam informed that other applications in the same locality may be <xpected. Whangapeka. Very little gold has been raised in this subdistrict during the past year, and I regret to say that mining is practically dead. I am indebted to the Mining Registrar at Collingwood for the following information regarding mining operations in that subdistrict: — Mineral Prospecting Warrant (held by Mr. Thomas A. Turnbull, at Anakaka). —The following is an extract taken from the two half-yearly reports and declarations filed at this office, as required by the Mining Regulations, clause 19, since the granting of the warrant, which is dated 2nd October, 19C6 —viz. : During the first six months of the warrant (the prospecting operations were not commenced until Ist January, 1907), men were employed cutting tracks into the bush to various faces o* 'ie iron-