C.—2

36

BANNOOKBURN. Carrick Gold-mining Company. —The low-level tunnel was extended 104 ft. during the year. This tunnel was started for the purpose of developing the lodes on the Carrick Range at a low level, and the work was subsidized by the Mines Department at the rate of pound for pound up to £500. Although the work is important to the company and the district generally, no energy has been shown in carrying it out. Alluvial Mining. LAWRENCE. Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Company. —Sluicing and elevating the tailing-deposit from Blue Spur has been continued with payable results. The value of the gold won for the year amounted to £7,615, and dividends paid £3,760. Cornishman Claim. —A sluicing company has recently been formed to work the Cornishman Claim at Blue Spur formerly owned by Kitto and party. Since commencing operations several miles of water-race have been cleaned out and enlarged, and the pipe-line shifted to bring water on to the tailing-deposit in Munroe's Gully, which will be elevated. Golden Crescent Sluicing Company (W ether-stones). —An area of about 2 acres of low-grade cement was sluiced off to an average depth of 20 ft. preparatory to elevating the lower and richer part of the deposit resting on the schist rock. Water under an hydraulic head of about 700 ft. enables the company to deal effectively with the hardest of the cement, WAITAHDNA. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Com'pany. —New pipe has been laid down over a length of one mile and three-quarters, and water for sluicing and elevating is now delivered at the claim under an hydraulic head of 600 ft. The company is working auriferous cement similar to that at Blue Spur. Tho height of lift is 70 ft. Havelock Sluicing Company. —This company has had another successful year. Gold valued at £3,335 was obtained, and dividends paid amounted to £1,900. The ground being worked is river-flat, consisting of clay and gravel resting on a pipeclay bottom. WAIPORI. The principal alluvial claims in this part of tho district are Munroe and George, Post Office Creek; R, J. Cotton, Lammerlaw Creek; and Gare Bros., Pioneer Creek. These claims employ an average of four men each, and are giving payable returns. ROXBURGH. Teviot-Molyneux Gold-mining Company. —An area of about 12 acres was sluiced off to an average depth of 20 ft., and a paddock three-quarters of an acre in area sunk to a depth of 30 ft. To save the fine gold contained in the gravels the sluice-boxes are so arranged that the fine gravel, after passing over ripples, is discharged through perforated plate into a trough at the side of and below the boxes, from whence it is elevated and distributed over a set of tables having an area of 1,080 square feet lined with coconut matting. Numerous large schist boulders, which require to be broken up by explosives, occur in the upper gravels; to deal with these a jackhammer drilling plant has been installed on the claim. During the greater part of the year the plant has been employed stripping off overburden without attempting -to save any of the gold-contents. The claim is just entering the producing stage, and this year's operations will prove it definitely. Roxburgh Amalgamated, Gold-mining Company. —This company's new claim at Mervyn's Flat has been tested by boring, and the prospects were sufficiently encouraging to warrant the directors in recommending the incorporation of a new company to raise the capital required to take the water and plant on to the claim. The results obtained from tlie block of ground known as Louden's area have been disappointing. Ladysmith Gold-mining Company. —This company has had another successful year. Gold to -the value of £4,249 was won, and dividends amounting to £2,481 paid. The average height of lift is 50 ft. Most of the gold is obtained from a seam of tight stony wash about 6 ft. in thickness resting on the schist bottom. Commissioner's Flat. —Coulter and party brought water tor elevating purposes across the Clutha River from Manuel's water-race at Coal Creek Flat. The water is delivered at the elevator under a pressure of 150 lb. per square inch, and has enabled the party to work the deep ground. CROMWELL. Roaring Meg Sluicing Company. —After repeated efforts bottom was reached at a depth of 52 ft. in this company's claim, the prospects being valueless. The company is now in liquidation. Gordon and Party. —This party's efforts to locate a payable lead on a high-level terrace in the Kawarau Gorge resulted in failure. ARROW RIVER. Sluicing operations are being carried on by the Maeetown and Shamrock Sluicing Companies and Anderson and Son. Paterson Bros, failed to locate a payable lead in Billy Creek, and work has been suspended.