c.—2,

WaihenuT County. The Ounce Mine, Stoneburn. —-No work has been done at this mine during the year. 4 oz. 16 dwt. 12 gr. gold was obtained by cleaning up the battery ; value, £18 4s. Bd. Golden Poinl Gold and Scheelite Mining Co., Macraes. —This company employed five men on development work for the greater part of the year, driving, rising, and crosscutting. The finances of the company have been strengthened, and a progressive programme of development and equipment has been decided on for 1931. Macraes. —Three small parties of miners were prospecting for scheelite during the first half of the year, and until the price of this mineral was reduced to an unprofitable figure. Eleven tons of ore were treated at Hugh Eraser's battery for returns amounting to 3 tons 6 cwt. 3 qr. of scheelite and 17 dwt. of gold. Maniototo County. Kildare Consolidated Gold-mining Co., St. Bathans.—The small prospecting-shaft commenced last year was sunk to a depth of 70 ft., when the lead was encountered. The wet running sand filled up and wrecked the shaft, which was then abandoned. This portion of the claim was then sluiced and elevated until operations had to be discontinued on account of approaching the main road. Two elevators were in operation lifting the auriferous gravel to a total height of 170 ft. Sluicing and elevating is now in progress on the barrier which was left between the Scandinavian and the M. and E. claims. The gold won for the year amounted to 399 oz. 5 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £1,576 7s. sd. Three small parties at St. Bathan's produced 79 oz. 0 dwt. 22 gr. of gold, valued at £308 Bs. 6d. Cambrian. —Sluicing operations were carried on in this locality by three small parties. The gold won amounted to 60 oz. 7 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £234 15s. Golden Progress Quartz-mining Co., Oturehua. —A winding-engine and boiler were installed, and the main shaft was sunk to a depth of 160 ft. A chamber was constructed at 150 ft. The reef, cut at 67 ft. from the shaft and driven on for a distance of 37 ft. west, averaged 20 in. in width, and samples taken from it gave payable results by assay. At 39 ft. a disturbance was encountered, but the reef has now been picked up and is being driven on to the west in order to connect with the inclined prospecting shaft. A 10-head battery will be erected, and crashing operations should commence about April, 1931. Naseby and Kyeburn.—Twenty-one men were employed hydraulic sluicing and elevating. The gold won amounted to 759 oz. 11 dwt. 2 gr., valued at £2,916 14s. 4d. The largest producers were A. and G. Brown, with 178 oz. 17 dwt., valued at £723 19s. Tuapeka County. Blue Spur.—The Gabriel's Gully Sluicing Co. is still working tailings, which yield enough to pay workingexpenses and a small dividend. When these tailings are exhausted it is intended to work the cement deposits left from previous workings. Probably some form of crushing machinery will be used, and the whole of the auriferous contents will" be extracted in the first working of the cement. The gold won amounted to 563 oz. 7 dwt., valued at £2,196 os. 4d. Golden Crescent Sluicing Co., Wetherstones. —Driving in the auriferous-cement deposit on the schist bottom has been in progress during the year, and a distance of 660 ft. has been driven in an easterly direction for the purpose of proving if the cement carries sufficient gold to pay for working it by driving and blocking out. Values rose steadily during the early part of the year, reaching 12s. per cubic yard, but since then they have been variable. Operations suffered during the winter months on account of the severe weather, but are now proceeding satisfactorily. Golden Rise Claim, Wetherstones (W. R. Smyth, Owner). —A block of ground alongside the Lawrence to Waipori Road is being worked by hydraulic sluicing and elevating. The yield of gold during the year amounted to 178 oz. 15 dwt., valued at £696 6s. 7d. Paddy's Point Gold-mining Co., Forsyth.—Hydraulic sluicing and elevating operations have been carried on steadily during the year. The yield of gold for the year amounted to 427 oz., valued at £1,738. Sailor's Gully Sluicing Co., Waitahuna. —Ground-sluicing was in progress during the year in the weathered portion of the cement deposit. The yield of gold for the year amounted to 439 oz. 6 dwt. 12 gr., valued at £1,735 12s. 7d. H. M. Quilter, Waitahuna. —Sluicing and elevating was carried on during the year in small blocks of ground left by previous miners. The yield of gold amounted to 122 oz. 12 dwt., valued at £528 os. 4d. Tallaburn Sluicing Co., Horse-shoe Bend.—Sluicing and elevating operations have been carried on during the year for a yield of 240 oz. 14 dwt. 12 gr. of gold, valued at £937 15s. 9d. Murchison Bros., Fourteen Mile Beach. — I This party's claim is situated in the gorge of the Molyneux River about half-way between Roxburgh and Alexandra. The ground is very rough, and can only be worked when the river is low. The year's workings yielded 96 oz. 12 dwt. 6 gr. of gold, valued at £425. R. H. Parker, at the Eourteen Mile, secured 60 oz. 6 dwt. 3 gr. of gold, valued at £232 6s. Id., when the closing of the gates at the Kawarau Dam and the scant rainfall caused a low river. Vincent County. Kawarau High Levels Co., Waitiri. —Sluicing operations were carried on for some time, but, on account of the rough nature of the deposit, the claim could not be profitably worked, and operations were suspended. The company has now been reconstructed and is known as the Central Mines, Ltd. Operations will be resumed in Cornish Point Gold-mining Co., Cromwell. —Operations were continued at this mine. The inclined shaft was sunk until it reached the schist bottom. Drives were driven to locate the channel, and crosscuts were driven to locate the rising reef. An electric winch was installed for haulage purposes. Work was discontinued in December, but will be resumed when the river falls to its winter level. 13 oz. 8 dwt. of gold, valued at £55 15s. 10d,. was obtained. Nevis .—Seven parties of men were employed sluicing and elevating for a yield of 220 oz. 9 dwt. 19 gr. of gold, valued at £847 10s. 6d. Graham and party, with 123 oz. 17 dwt., valued at £477 Bs., were the largest producers. Boring operations were in progress on J. Stevenson's claim at Upper Nevis in the early part of the year with the Department's No. 2 Keystone drill. Holes were bored to depths of 15 ft. to 32 ft. The results were considered to be favourable. Lake County. Kawarau Gold-mining Co. —The gates of the company's dam were closed for a period to enable the Cromwell Development Co. to repair its weir in the Kawarau River. No work was done on any of the company's Scheelite Mining Co., Ltd., Glenorchy.—The company's operations were confined to the Glenorchy Mine. During the early part of the year nine men were employed in mining and development work. One hundred and" six tons "of* ore were produced, yielding 6 tons 16 cwt. of concentrates, valued at £630. On account of the heavy fall in the price of scheelite the mine was closed down during the winter months. Two men are now employed on development work. Other parties in the Glenorchy district mined 72 tons of scheelite ore, yielding 13 tons 10 cwt. 2 qr. of concentrates. On account of the present low price of scheelite no work is being done on any of these claims, and much scheelite remains unsold.

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