C.—2

There has been a decrease in the quantity of alluvial gold won amounting to 175 oz. 17 dwt. 7 gr., with a decrease in value of £2,039 lis. 3d. The gradual exhaustion of the auriferous sections of the King Solomon Deep Lead Co.'s mine at Waikaia has been partly responsible for the decrease in the alluvial output. The number of men employed in alluvial mining decreased by 558. Dredge mining has been carried on steadily during the year, and an increase of 391 oz. 12 dwt. 7 gr., with an increase in value of £2,852 17s. Bd., is recorded. The number of men employed on dredges decreased by six. The subsidized mining scheme in the Vincent, Lake, Tuapeka, and Maniototo Counties, and the No. 5 subsidy scheme in other parts of the inspection district, have continued to operate, but with a very considerable reduction in the number of subsidized men. No discoveries of importance have been recorded, but returns of gold in many cases have been obtained; many areas are being tested both for reef and alluvial gold, with a result that definite records are being obtained and unpayable areas gradually eliminated. Areas considered to contain leads or to be auriferous are being tested thoroughly by drilling, driving, or sinking. The Waenga area has been proved to be unpayable, and operations have been abandoned. The Branch Creek and Luggate areas have been drilled and further work will be carried out on the Luggate area. Preliminary testing operations have been carried out in the Devonshire Deep Lead area, and as a result further work will be done there. Prosecutions. There were no prosecutions during the year. Boeing Operations. Southland County. The Burma Malay Tin, Ltd., using two machines, Brown's Nos. 2 and 3, with 6 in. casing, bored twenty holes to a total depth of 1,870 ft. on the property of the Nokomai Gold-mining Co. at Nokomai. Mr. R. Pengelly was Drill Superintendent. The Argyle Mining Go. completed boring operations at Waikaia. The Government No. 2 Keystone and Nos. 4 and 6 Alluvial machines were used, with 4f in. and 6 in. casing. Eleven holes were bored to a total depth of 3,136 ft. Mr. George Bisset was Drill Superintendent. The Austral Malay Tin, Ltd., using the Government No. 2 Alluvial drill, with 6 in. casing, bored thirteen holes to a total depth of 660 ft. at Edendale. Blocks I and VI, Lothian Hundred. Mr. W. A. Pullar was Drill Superintendent. Vincent County. The. Labour Department (Employment Division) using the Government No. 4 Alluvial drill, with 6 in. casing, bored seventy-two holes to a total depth of 1,957 ft. on Crown Lands at Luggate, Run 631, Block 6, Tarras Survey District. Mr. W. H. Gibson was Drill Superintendent. N.Z. Prospecting and Mining, Ltd., using two machines, Keystone No. 6 and Government No. 6 Alluvial, with 4f in. and 6 in. casing, bored seventeen holes to a total depth of 1,699 ft. on Cromwell Plat, Sections 24 and 28, and Lot 48, Block I, Cromwell Survey District. Drill Superintendents, Messrs. G. Bisset and S. Vickers. Austral Malay Tin, Ltd., using the Government No. 5 Alluvial drill with 6 in. casing, bored eight holes to a total depth of 687 ft., on Section 16, Block XIV, and Section 36, Block XVI, Tarras Survey District. Mr. D. D. Smart was Drill Superintendent. The Labour Department [Employment Division) using the Government No. 2 Keystone and No. 4 Alluvial drills, completed the boring operations on Run 238 d, Block XVIII, Leaning Rock Survey District, a total of twenty-nine holes being bored to a total depth of 1,183 ft. Mr. W. H. Gibson was Drill Superintendent. Austral Malay Tin, Ltd., using two machines, No. 1 Keystone and an A. and T. Burt machine, with 5| in. and 6 in. casing, is conducting boring operations at Lowburn. Mr. D. Brigstocke is the Drill Superintendent. The Labour Department (Employment Division) using the No. 7 Niven drill, with 4 in. casing, is conducting boring operations at Devonshire on Run 2230, Block VIII, Lauder Survey District. Mr. B. P. Bowden is Drill Superintendent. Clutha River Gold-dredging Ltd., using three machines, Nos. 15 and 16 and the Government No. 6 Alluvial drill, with 6 in. casing, is conducting boring operations at Earnscleugh and Alexandra. Mr. A. Williamson is Drill Superintendent. Tuapeka County. Clutha River Gold-dredging, Ltd., using two machines, Nos. 1 and 16, with 5£ in. and 6 in. casing, bored sixteen holes to a total depth of 1,047 ft. at Lake Onslow, Run 644, Long Valley Survey District. Mr. A. Williamson was Drill Superintendent. Bewick, Moreing, and Co., Ltd., using Stewart's No. 1 machine, with 6 in. casing, bored thirty-five holes to a total depth of 1,956 ft. at Island Block, Block 2, Benger Survey District. Mr. B, V. Barton was Drill Superintendent. N.Z. Prospecting and Mining, Ltd., using Burt's Keystone No. 5 machine, with 6 m. casing, bored fortytwo holes to a total depth of 3,330 ft. at Ettrick, Blocks 1 and VI, Benger Survey District. Mr. G. E. Logie was Drill Superintendent. The above Company, with Burt's No. 5 machine, with 6 in. casing, bored fifteen holes to a [total depth of 780 ft. at Mitchell's Flat, Waipori. Mr. G. E. Logie was Drill Superintendent. Lake County. The Labour Department ( Employment Division) using the Government No. 4 Alluvial drill with 6 in. casing, is boring at Branch Creek, Cardrona, part Run 340b, Block 2, Cardrona Survey District. Mr. G. A. Baker is now acting as Drill Superintendent in place of Mr. W. H. Gibson, who sustained a serious accident during the year. Maniototo County. N.Z. Prospecting and Milling, Ltd., using a Keystone machine, with 5 in. casing, bored fifteen holes to a total depth of 710 ft. at Cambrians, Block I, St. Bathans Survey District. Mr. G. Bisset was Drill Superintendent. Waitalci County. N.Z. Prospecting and Mining, Ltd., using Burt's No. 2 Keystone machine, with 5 in. casing, bored six holes to a total depth of 334 ft. in Block VII, Maerewhenua Survey District. Mr. R. McDonnell was Drill Superintendent. The same company, using Burt's No. 4 drill, with 5 in. casing, bored three holes to a total depth of 137 ft. in part Block VI, Maerewhenua Survey District. Mr. A. Eaton was Drill Superintendent. 7—C. 2.

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