€—2

The average number of men employed during the year was twenty-seven. Blackball Creek Dredge, Blackball.—Despite the comparatively small yardage which was dredged during the year owing to the necessity of devoting much of the working-time to repairs and maintenance, 1,260 oz. of gold were recovered from a small acreage of ground averaging between 35 feet and 40 feet in depth. The removal of a considerable quantity of buried timber had also a detrimental effect on the yardage; consequently, operating-costs at times exceeded the value of gold recovered. Barrytown Dredge, Barrytown.—The dismantlement of this dredge was carried on continuously and is now 50 per cent, complete. Westland County Maori Gold Dredge, Gallaghans.—Early in the year a syndicate represented by Mr. J. S. Langford took over the assets of the Maori Gold Dredging Co. at Callaghans and in May commenced reconditioning the dredge. In July dredging commenced on two shifts, the day shift being devoted to carrying out further repairs required by the Department. By the end of the year the provision of seven water-tight compartments had been made, also a pumping system installed to deal with any inflow of water that might occur through holing of the pontoon. For a recovery of 362 oz. 16 dwt., 112,231 cubic yards were treated. The average number of men employed was thirteen. Rimu Dredge, Rimu. —It is computed from 304 working-days available that 5,655 digging-hours, equal to a percentage of 77-5 per cent., were worked. An acreage of 27-08 acres was dug averaging 43-7 ft. in depth and 1,910,522 cubic yards were handled. The normal turnover of the plant was 6,285 cubic yards per day, equal to 338 cubic yards per digging-hour. Bullion produced was 8,818-21 crude ounces, valued at £91,230. The daily yield was £3Ol, equivalent to 11-45 d. per cubic yard. Operating-costs, excluding export taxes and realization costs, amounted to 6-56 d. per cubic yard ; and the total costs, including the above-mentioned taxes, was 8-34 d. per cubic yard. Except for a shut-down of two weeks owing to a prolonged dry spell, operations throughout the year were normal. Kanieri Dredge (Gold Mines, N.Z., Ltd.), Kanieri. —Digging an average depth of 42-8 ft., this dredge turned over 38-32 acres and the yardage treated amounted to 2,644,000 cubic yards, not including 32,046 cubic yards of tailings, out of a possible dredging-time of 7,296 hours, 78-6 per cent, of which were worked, requiring the services of forty-three employees. Bullion recovered amounted to 13,623-8 crude ounces, which showed a recovery of 2-5 grains per cubic yard. Arahura Dredge (Gold Mines, N.Z., Ltd.), Arahura. —Dredging 28-23 acres of ground of an average depth of 75-4 ft., this dredge dug and treated 3,437,000 cubic yards and won 9,481-9 crude ounces bullion, equal to a recovery of 1-33 grains per cubic yard. Actual dredging-time amounted to 5,954 hours, equal to 81-62 per ceint. of the total time available. An average number of forty-four employees were required ashore and afloat to operate the dredge. Gillespies Beach Dredge, Weheka.—After operating for the first month of the year, work ceased and a final clean-up was made which yielded 34 oz. 3 dwt. gold. The company went into liquidation in March and has since sold the plant, power-station, and transmission line. Alluvial Miking Buller County Addison's Flat Gold-mining Co., Ltd., Addison's Flat. —Owing to lack of suitable labour, the company could only treat 75,000 cubic yards, a5O per cent, drop on the previous year. The yield was 209 oz. 11 dwt. of gold, but, despite the fact that operating-costs on this claim were the lowest in the district, barely covered working-expenses. Shallow cemented beach leads were worked during the year, and one section worked with suction pipe 22£ chains in length between the face and hydraulic elevator delivering to tables. Inangahua County Waitahu Sluicing Claim, Waitahu, Beef ton. —A party of seven tributors took over the claim in August, and after several months preparatory work on main water-race and pipe-lines commenced operations towards the end of the year. Out of three small paddocks worked from a branch of the main run of gold 225 oz. 11 dwt. 11 gr. gold were recovered. The gold was won by ground sluicing where ample fall for tailings was available, and the next year's work will be carried out in deep ground where hydraulic elevating will be necessary. Grey County Moonlight Sluicing Claim, Blackball. —Primarily due to shortage of labour and secondly to underestimation of extent of work required to get the claim into working-order on the new lines adopted by Mutch and party as tributors, virgin ground was not reached until nearly the end of the year, consequently a return of 25 oz. 16 dwt. was the amount recovered from debris and overburden sluiced away when constructing the main and tail race.

28