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ANNEXURE A SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (E. J. Scoble, Inspector of Mines) Quartz-mining Martha Gold-mining Co. (Waihi), Ltd. (K. A. Birchall, Manager).—The ore produced for the year amounted to 107,845 tons, which yielded 28,533 oz. of gold and 222,264 oz. of silver, valued at £305,657 16s. Bd. and £59,270 6s. 9d. respectively. The heading value of the ore per ton was, gold 5 dwt. 5 gr., and silver 2 oz. 5 dwt. 20 gr., and the extraction, based on assay, was, gold 92-8 per cent., and silver 80-3 per cent. The bulk of the ore was won from the Martha, Royal, Empire, and Welcome lodes. Development work totalled 5,285 ft., made up as follows : drives and crosscuts, 4,535 ft.; winzes and rises, 750 ft. This footage was practically all of a secondary nature, and consisted of the reopening of former workings and the driving of sub-levels for the extraction of ore from supporting arches. During the year a Gardner-Denver mechanical loader was installed on No. 9 level to handle ■ore won by " cave " stoping on the Martha lode. The loader is operated by compressed air and has a capacity of about 3 cubic feet. It can deal with 15 tons of ore per hour under favourable conditions, and has given entire satisfaction. The delivery column of the pump, broken by ground movement in No. 4 shaft during October, 1945, was dismantled down to No. 8 level, then carried along the main crosscut south to No. 5 shaft, and connected to the old "C " pump column in July, 1946. Erom then until the end of the year, 144,553,500 gallons of water were raised to the surface. Dividends for the year amounted to £8,265. The number of men employed averaged 481. Golden Dawn Gold-mines, Ltd., Owharoa.—The treatment of old battery residues yielded 81 oz. ,10 dwt. of gold and 96 oz. 8 dwt. of silver, valued at £873 Is. 4d. and £25 12s. respectively. Grace Claim, Karangahake.—Approximately 200 tons of material were treated from this property for a return of 76 oz. 8 dwt. of bullion, valued at £449 17s. 4d. Morris'' Battery Site, Karangahake.—A final clean-up gave a return of 11 oz. 5 dwt.. of bullion worth £43 os. 7d., after which all plant was sold and transferred to a claim at Komata. Waitawheta Claim, Karangahake.—Production amounted to 26 oz. 16 dwt., valued at £l3l 14s. sd. Sylvia Mines Consolidated, Ltd., Thames.—No development work was undertaken, and entirely unsatisfactory results were obtained from a geophysical survey made of the claim. Following this, the pumps and other equipment were withdrawn from the mine. Operations were suspended at about the end of March. KernicFs Freehold, Tapu.—A limited amount of development work was carried out, but this proved nothing of importance. Two tons of ore that were won and treated gave a return of 2 oz. 14 dwt. of .bullion, valued at £22 12s. lOd. Prospecting R. Schulzki and mate were prospecting both on the surface and underground in the vicinity of "the old Dubbo Mine, Karangahake. Good values were got in places, but the quantity of stone available is yet to be determined. Charlton and party, Kuaotunu, were employed in treating tailings from old mines. The work was largely of an experimental nature. Miscellaneous Mercury.—N.Z. Mercury Mines, Ltd., Puhipuhi: There was no production, but 9 cwt. 2 qr. 12 lb. was sold from stock, and this realized £1,055 ss. The caretaker staff (mentioned in last report) is still uon the property.

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