C.—2

Subsidized Mining and Small-scale Sluicing Operations. In June all subsidized mining operations ceased. This decision resulted in the abandonment of a considerable number of small claims, from Collingwood m the north to Bruce Bay m the South. Miscellaneous Minerals. Aslestos.—The Hume Pipe Co. (Australia), Ltd., from a mineral license situated, m Block I, Flora Survey District, Takaka, crushed 534 cubic yards of serpentine rock for a yield of 42 tons 13 cwt. of asbestos 'fibre. Of this quantity, 39 tons 9 cwt. were sold, and 1 ton 1 cwt. used for experimental mirnoses and samples. The total value of the product was £1,035. Mioa. —Further attention was paid to outcrops of mica on the Mataketake Range, South Westland, and the work of the prospectors disclosed some promising outcrops. A 2 cwt. sample of rough mineral was brought out, and after examination by experts the quality of part of the was considered to be suitable for factory use, consequently further investigation of the deposits will be undeitaken. Petroleum. —New Zealand Exploration, Ltd., completed 793 ft. of structural drilling by rotary rig carried out on license No. 27 in addition to extensive geological survey work on their area. loi New Zealand Oil Concessions, Ltd., holding license No. 20 in Kumara district, the. Superior Oi'' Co- carried out extensive structural drilling operations before deciding on tine site of the hole. the Greenstone Eiver, road construction to the site, and erection of plant were completed in 1 ow No 1 hole being spudded in on 22nd September. The well was abandoned on 10th December, and preparations were made to drill No. 2 hole on a site chosen in the Marsden district. Tungsten.—Operations were confined to prospecting at the Golden Bar Mine, Wak.vmd.iina. Kaka, produced from underground workings 690 tons of clay, which realized £91.4 ss. The demand for this material is increasing, and manufacturers luave placed ordeis that will enable the clay-pit proprietor to double his output. n ™ . m . ltprin i was E. Cobbledick, Tadmor Saddle, produced 50 tons of clay, valued at £3/ 10s. This material was US( 'Vron-ore 1 -—In ' district 408 tons were quarried and reduced by ball mill m readiness ' oi r saarrtrsSK'tf — -,<*»««***«*>, "r,s Marble Co from the Takaka Valley for experimental purposes, and subsequent reports indicate that the material was found satisfactory after being reduced to the necessary fineness at the company's plant at Mapua, Motueka. General Remarks: Mining and Prospecting. With the exceDtion of the search for oil in this district, prospecting has diminished to a negligible quanUty Only holes were bored in alluvial areas. The only prospecting of lodes was small-scale °P er Go7r oetu™se0etu™s e from "alT"'branches of the industry have seriously diminished, dredges bang affected to the greatest extent. The amount of gravel treated during the year was considerably less than when new buckets pins, and other wearing parts were readily obtainable. The shortage of skilled and unski e< la hour had a detrimental effect on the gold yield, and it can be reasonably claimed that the year under Review has been oT of the most dilcult'"that all branches of the gold-mining industry have ever experienced in New Zealand. Fatal Accidents. No fatal accidents occurred in the district during the year. Serious Non-fatal Accidents. On 6th March, 1942, David White, miner, Blackwater Mine, while cleaning out a sump was hit by a sharp piece of mullock which fell off the wall and severed the first finger of the left hand between the first and second ioint. Later the finger was amputated. . xi,.,.,. On Bth April, 1942, Luigi lada, at Deep Creek, when engaged dismantling an old crashing battuy broke his leg while using chain tongs to unscrew a pipe. The tongs slipped off the pipe and struck his e„ On 3rd July, 1942, R. Smith, miner, Blackwater Mine, lost the little finger of the left hand, which was severed bv (in axe when he was engaged on. timbering. / • ■ , On 22nd July, 1942, J. 11. Wearne, greaser, Barrytown Dredge, received concussion when a handle of a hand-winch struck his head during an attempt to operate a trap-door m the tailings chute. Prosecutions under the Mining Act. Nil. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (T. McMillan, Inspector ov Mines). Quartz and Alluvial Mining. WaitaM County. Sluicing operations have been carried out in the "Livingston and Maerewhenua Minefield in the Waitaki County. Waihemo County. Macrae's Flat Gold and Scheelite Mining Co., Ltd., Golden Point, Deep Dell Mine— Six men were eniDloved on prospecting work in the 80 ft. section of the Home reef, but nothing of importance was located and the company ceased to operate in September. A co-operative party then took over the mine Ind carriCd out some further work in the 20 ft. dip reef section, but results were poor, and operations underground Teased altogether at the end of October. Since then surface prospecting and driving m aUml CauTry e party^ a Dell, Macrae's, —Driving, rising, and sloping operations have been carried out on both sides of Round Hill, and 138 tons of ore have been treated at the Deep Dell battery during tlie Innes Freehold, Mine has also steadily, and sinking, driving, rising, and stopmg nTiPTonni hflvf l boon carried out near the Croldon i oint Road , . Macrae's Vial Gold-minmg Co.-The No. 2 plant has continued to operate steadily during the yew, and the depth of the alluvials elevated by the electrically-operated gravel-pump was fiom 8 ft. to - ft. A total of 75,200 cubic yards of previously hand-worked alluvial gravels were elevated. Maniototo County. The alluvial mines at Naseby, Kyeburn, St, Bathans, Cambrians, Vinegar Hill, and Patearoa operated steadily whenever^Sluicing- water $as available. Very little work was done at Earl's quartz-mine, Ophir. Tuapelca County. Minine operations were carried on steadily when sluicing-water available in the Sailor's Gully tribute WaUai^^ounties 6 the°N S WaikMabound Hill'! and Orepuki alluvial mines have operated iteadily,

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