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Bonanza Mine (W. J. Adams, mine-manager). —The Beach level (400 ft.). in passing through the claim, cut through several lodes, the largest of which was 2| ft., heinji a hard well-defined body of quartz containing colours of gold. It is proposed to prospect this and other lodes believed to exisl in the property. New Day Dawn and Norfolk Mines (W. J. McCormick, manager).— The drive on the City of Dunedin reef was extended 500 ft., making a total length of 4,300 ft. ll is estimated that the California!) and Norfolk reefs will be met with when another 800 ft. has been driven. If reefs are encountered (here may be a large block of ore for stoping up to the old mine levels. At a point 350 ft. from the lace a rise was made connecting with the old level driven in from Tinker's Gully which permitted ventilation by a section of 9 in. air-pipes and exhaust air from the rock-drills. The drives are all in good order, and well timbered. 390 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £308 1 Is. 9d. Twelve men were employed. Dixon's Consolidated Mine (Christie, manager). —Mining has been carried on al Nos. I and 2 levels. No. 1 level (100 ft.) : 120 ft. of driving was clone, when a strong lode formation was eul into and driven on some distance, when the Watchman boundary was reached. No. 2 level (180 ft.) : A rise was put up to a height of 50 ft. on the reef. It is proposed to conned thet wo levels and improve the system of ventilation. Some general prospecting has been done, bul no important discovery has been made. The claim is now under protection. 30 lb of stone was t reated, for a return of £3 15s. 7d. Four men were employed. New Sylvia Mine (S. G. Baker, manager). —Battery level (350 ft.) : Rising, driving, and stoping have been done on the Sylvia reef for a distance of 360 ft.. the width of the ore-body varying from 4ft. to 6ft. The quartz is soft and friable, and the stopes require close timbering. Stoping has also been done on the Cross reef for a distance of 60 ft. No. 3 level (200 ft.) has I n repaired and the old mine-shaft relined. Low level (450 ft.): The total length of this level is 1,109 ft., towards the Sylvia reef. In order to reach a point under the battery level, a shaft will lie necessary to conned the two levels. The low level will then be used as a drainage and ventilation drive. The company was prosecuted early in the year for the defective ventilation i>l the mine. The ventilation is still inadequate, but the manager is making an effort to improve it. 4,395 tons of cue was treated, Eor a return valued at £7,946 15s. 10d. Thirty-six men were employed. Ajax Mine (E. O'Sullivan, manager).—An adit has been driven a distance of 120 ft.. with a view to cutting into one or more of the reefs believed to exist in the claim. At the time of my visit the drive was passing through altered andesite rock. Several valueless stringers have been cut. Shortly alter my visit the mine was closed down, and no work has been done since. Two men were employed. Tararu Mines (J. Jobe, manager).—A considerable amount of work was done at the low level. The Vulcan reef was driven on for some distance, but the value was too low to meet working-expenses, consequently the mine was closed down. Monowai Mine (J. Sheehan, manager).—No. 4 level (300 ft.) : Stoping was done on the huge reef No. I level is being extended (in the reef, which is strong and highly mineralized. The mine ventilat ion was good. 1 examined the surface tramway and the milling-plant, and found them in good order, the machinery being well fenced and [adders provided where necessary. 2,000 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £1,226 16s. 6d. Twenty-five men were employed. Zeehan Consolidated (A. E. Plummer, manager).—The winze has been deepened, and a connection made between the new low level and the upper level. At the low level the reef had split into two strong veins. The quartz is highly mineralized, and said to carry good value. The company, having exhausted their capital, have been granted protection, with a view to reconstructing. Four men were employed. Crown and Golden Crown Mini- (S. T. Williams, manager).—The Big reef. 10 ft. in width, has been driven on for several hundred feet, and stoped to a height of 50 ft. The work proving disappointing, a cross-cut was driven about 200 ft., but the reefs were proved to be of little value. In the Consolidated section, which was worked by a previous company, Nos. I and 2 drives were cleared out and retimbered for about 500 ft. A winze was sunk from No. 1 level (70ft.) to a depth of 30 It. The reef will be prospected at No. 2 level (120 ft.) Several large trial samples have been put through the mill —270 tons of ore returned £50. Nine men were employed. /'iirliii Special Quartz Claim (W. Moorecraft, manager). —The reef is well defined, ami varies in width from il in. to 15 in., carrying fail- value. The ore is conveyed from the mine to the battery by aerial tram, one man keeping the battery supplied with material. 50 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £459 17s. 3d. Two men were employed. Kapowai Mine (R. Tierney, manager). —The reef was cut into several times by driving, and 21 tons of payable ore was secured and treated, for a return valued at £62 ss. 3d. The c pany is now in liquidation. Nonpareil Mine (A. Sawyer, owner). —The owner did a fair amount of prospecting-work and secured 20 tons of ore, which gave a return of £833 10s. 2d. Ballarat Claim (M. Britt, manager).—The owner, by diligent prospecting, secured 3 tons 1 cwl . 8 lb. of ore, which gave a return of £310 19s. Golden Drop Mine (G. Fisher, owner). —The owner lias commenced a new adit level on the southeast of the claim, and hopes to cut a reef at a greater depth. (rood Hope Claim (C. A. Taylor, manager). —Work on the O'Sullivan reef at the Karaka level (250 ft.) having proved unprofitable, a winze was sunk on the reef a few feet when colours of gold were seen. The mine shaft has been cleaned and drained, and operations have been started at the low level. where the O'Sullivan reef has been driven on for some length. The drive will be continued on the reef until a point under the winze in the creek is reached, when rising and sinking will be done to connect the levels. At present the low level (350 ft.) is ventilated by a line of 0 in. air-pipes assisted by a water blast. 68 tons of ore was treated, for a return of £222 lls. Bd. Six men were employed.

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