G.--2

22

level. Two winzes were also sunk to the dip—No. 1 to a depth of 20 ft., and No. 2 to 9(i ft. The lodoformation is most erratic in its course, and the ore occurs in bunches, and is therefore difficult to follow. To assist the company in carrying out this work a loan of £1,000 was granted. During the year twenty-one flasks (or 1,575 lb.) of mercury (nominal value, £231) were obtained. Mount Mitchell Claim (held by T. A. Black and party).—A considerable amount of prospecting has been done. A furnace and condensing-plant has been purchased, and a portion carted to site, and the owners are sanguine that this mine will prove remunerative. Rising Sun Mine (owned by Messrs. Fearks and Kelly). —About 500 ft. of driving has been done, proving the existance of cinnabar-ore of varying quality. Furnace and condensing-plant in course of erection, which it is reported will bo running about the end of April. Northland Mine. —This is owned by Messrs. Jamieson and Halloway, who have, a small experimental plant, consisting of a Wilfrey table and jig, to try a large deposit of pebbles containing cinnabar. Accidents. 1 am pleased to state that no fatal accidents have occurred in the mines under my supervision during the year. The following is a brief description of the more serious accidents :— 6th January, 1921 : T. Monk received injuries to his arm, and F. Hooker had his collar-bone broken and his ribs injured, by falling off a platform on to a concrete floor, a distance of about 16 ft. These accidents were caused by the guard-rail they were leaning against carrying away. The rail was not rotten, but gave way at the end where it was nailed. 6th January, 1921 : J. Parsons had his face and arms badly burnt, in the Waihi Grand Junction Company's power-house, by failing to comply with written instructions regarding the opening of feeder-switches. 27th June, 1921 : Daniel Harrison received a compound fracture of his right leg and his shoulder injured by a fall of quartz in a stope, 55 ft. above No. 10 level, on the Royal lode, Waihi Mine. 13th October, 1921 : John Shaw lost the sight of his right eye by a blasting accident in the Waihi Grand Junction Mine, due to carelessness on the part of a trucker named J. O'Connor. 13th December, 1921 : Charles Riokard had his back seriously injured by falling 30 ft. down a ladder-way of the Waihi Grand Junction Mine, leading up to H.ickey and party's stope on the Mary lode, above No. 6 level. Tho accident was duo to a small fall of quartz. Rdckard's mates heard it coming and shelte:ed under the timbers and escaped injuiy. Rickard was not, however, so fortunate, as apparently a piece of rock must have struck him., causing him to lose his hold and fall away, a distance of about 30 ft. 20th December, 1921 : John E. Tubman lost the sight of one eye by a blasting accident in the Waihi Grand Junction Mine. The accident was caused by his own candle coming into contact with the fuse, causing it to spit, unnoticed by him, whilst firing a charge on a boulder, blocking the mouth of the pass. Oil-wells. Taramihi Oil-wells Company (Limited). —No drilling has been done during the year. No. 3 well (depth 3,045 ft.) flows about every ten days, and produced during the year 1,350 gallons of oil. Blenheim Oil Company (Limited). —In the early part of the year this company went into liquidation. During the year the Blenheim well produced 3,398 gallons of oil. Waipatiki Oil-wells. —At a depth of 3,600 ft. this well became blocked, and all efforts to free it, up to date, have failed. Four men are employed. Gisborne. —Messrs. Clark and Lysnar have put down a number of drill-holes at Waitangi, near Whatatutu. In No. 1 (depth, 940 ft.) indications are stated to be favourable, but drilling had to be suspended as the casing could not be carried to a greater depth. No. 2 (depth, 343 ft.). No. 3 (depth, 98 ft.), No. 4 (depth, 54 ft.), and No. 5 (depth, 119 ft.) were abandoned. These holes were drilled close to tho first bore, but abandoned without success. Petroleum was not found in any quantity. Prosecutions. 3rd February, 1921 : T. and A. Katterfeldt, manufacturing jewellers, were prosecuted for buying gold without a license ; convicted, and fined £1, and costs £2 2s. 30th August, 1921 : J. Tallentire, mine-manager, was prosecuted for leaving twenty-six plugs of gelignite exposed ; convicted, and ordered to pay costs. 22nd September, 1921 : E. Higgins, miner, prosecuted for leaving gelignite exposed; convicted, and fined £1 and costs. 21st October, 1921 : James O'Connor was prosecuted under section 265 of the Mining Act; convicted, and fined £5 and costs. West Coast Inspection District (J. F. Downey, Inspector of Mines). Quartz-mining. MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT. Dominion Consolidated Mining and, Development Company (Limited). —Work was confined principally to the reconstruction of the treatment plant. The company replaced the old steam-driven air-compressor with a new compressor driven by water-power, and thereby materially reduced the cost of working. The amalgamating and concentrating portions of the plant have been greatly improved and extended, the former being placed away from the stamp-house with a view to better control, and two Frue vanners and two Californian shakingtables have been installed in place of the former ineffective concentrators. No ore was mined, but 430 tons of quartz previously broken were crushed, yielding 98 oz. gold. In addition 186 oz. of gold were recovered from cleaning-up operations about the mill. The total value received for gold won for the year was £1,390. About 15 tons of scheelite. concentrate was saved, but owing to the slackness of the market for this mineral it has not been disposed of. Alford and Party (Mountain Camp). —Owing to there being no sale for scheelite, this property was not worked during the year. NELSON DTSTRICT. Colossus Gold-mining and Developtnent Company. —Practically no work was done during the year, only one man .being employed in general prospecting. LYELL DISTRICT. New Alpine Consols. —The low-level tunnel was advanced about 34 ft. during tho year, making a total of 1,050 ft., and a crosscut was driven from it to the east to a distance of 75 ft., but nothing of any value was met with. New Creek Prospecting and Development Company. —Very little work was done during the year, but preparations were being made to resume active operations. CAPL3SSTON. Boatman's Consolidated Mines (Limited). —Work was carried on continuously, an average of twelve men being employed. The principal mining operations consisted in picking up the old No. 6 Welcome tunnel as far as the northern extremity of the Fiery Cross ore-shoot, and the picking-up and driving of the old No. 1 level, Fiery Cross shaft. Almost immediately after driving was resumed in the latter a small vein of quartz was encountered, which