7 
C.—3c. 
Boyal. 
This is a claim of 21 acres on the line of the Golden Fleece reef. It is at the present time 
worked by a party of four tributers from an adit-level going into the range for a distance of 1,300ft. 
The workings on the lode are carried to within about 18ft. of the boundary of the Golden Fleece, 
while the workings in the Golden Fleece ground are within 9oft. of the boundary, thus showing 
that there is only about 113ft. between the workings of these claims, the lowest adit-level in 
the Eoyal being about the same level as the No. 4 level in the Golden Fleece ground. The lode is, 
however, more broken, and not so well defined as it is in the Golden Fleece. The total quantity of 
quartz crushed from this claim up to the 31st August last has been 918 tons, which yielded 775Joz. 
gold, representing a value of £3,124, thus making the average value of the stone crushed to bo about 
£3 8s. per ton. 
hiangahua Loio Level. 
This comprises two special claims, one of which is known as the Venus, and the other the 
Inangahua Low Level Claim, having an aggregate area of 134 acres. The total quantity of 
quartz crushed from this ground has so far been confined to an area of about 32 acres held by the 
Venus Company, amounting to 10,713 tons, yielding 6,914oz. gold, representing a value of £26,843, 
which shows the average value of the stone crushed to be about £2 10s. per ton. Dividends have 
been paid by this company to the extent of £3,300. 
A scheme was projected some twelve years ago to construct a low-level tunnel through the hill 
from Black’s Point to the Waitahu Eiver; the line was laid off, which was over two miles in length. 
This tunnel was to go near the Golden Fleece shaft, and a connection made with it, so as to secure 
ventilation. A commencement was made to construct this tunnel from the Black's Point end, and 
a subsidy of £1 was given by the Government for every £1 contributed by the company who under¬ 
took its construction. The tunnel is now constructed for a distance of about 2,900ft., still leaving a 
distance of about 2,300ft. to get to the Golden Fleece shaft. This shaft would have to be sunk an 
additional 600ft. to get a connection with this tunnel. 
All operations have been suspended for many years in the tunnel, but recently a company has 
been formed and purchased the Venus Company’s property, and also the right of the Inangahua Low 
Level Company’s rights and special claim, with a view of extending the tunnel to work the lodes 
going through the Venus, Eoyal, and Golden Fleece ground. 
This tunnel can only be carried on from one end, and therefore its rate of progress depends on 
what can bo driven from one face. If compressed-air rock-drills are used the distance to the Golden 
Fleece shaft should be driven in about twelve months. This tunnel will greatly enhance the value 
of the whole of the mining properties on the range between Black’s Point and the Waitahu Eiv'er, 
, as it will not only be the means of opening up the ground in the different claims at deep levels, but 
it will also be a main highway, where the whole of the quartz from the different claims can be 
taken to for treatment. At this place there is a good site for the erection of a large crushing 
battery, with all the most modern appliances. 
Salisbury. 
This is a special claim of 100 acres, and includes ground formerly held in mining leases, known 
as Anderson’s, United Devonshire, and Invincible. The only work done in this ground was in the 
early days of the fields, when 7,355 tons of stone was crushed, which yielded 6,020oz. gold, repre¬ 
senting a value of £23,328, of which £1,525 was paid in dividends. The average value of the stone 
crushed was about £3 3s. per ton. 
There are two lines of reef running through this ground, the one to the eastward being Ander¬ 
son’s line, and the one to the westward the Invincible line. Each party first drove an independent 
level, but those levels were constructed in such a serpentine course that it is hm-d now to say 
whether they were carried on the line of lode or not. The Anderson’s and Invincible Companies 
combined, and constructed a lower adit-level between them; this adit is about 600ft. in length, and 
at about 278ft. lower level than where the first drive was put into the Invincible ground. 
A winze was sunk from the lowest adit-level to a depth of about 100ft., but the lode cut out in 
the bottom of this winze, and no effort was made to look for it at deeper levels. The country rock 
here is favourable for the existence of lodes, but, all working being suspended many years ago, 
nothing has been done to prospect the ground. Some of the men working in the ground in the 
early days have a firm belief that there is a good lode of stone to the westward of the Invincible 
lino, but no cross-cutting has been done in this direction. 
This ground can be prospected at considerably lower levels, by a cross-cut in a westerly direc¬ 
tion from the Inangahua Low Level Tunnel, but, from all that can be learned about the reefs 
worked in this ground, a large amount of prospecting work will have to be done before the value 
of this property can be ascertained. 
Energy and Undaunted. 
These are two separate claims on the same line of country, and comprise an area of 54 acres. 
These claims include the ground formerly held by the Energetic and Dauntless Companies. A large 
amount of work has been done in this ground ; 64,246 tons of stone has been crushed, yielding 
33 230JOZ. gold, representing a value of £128,951, out of which dividends were paid to the extent of 
£21 900. 
’The workings were carried on from an adit-level for the first 150ft., and a shaft was then sunk 
and to a depth of 350ft., being 200ft. below the adit-level. There are two lines of reef running 
throiv’h the ground. These reefs were about 100ft. apart near the boundary of the Wealth of 
Nations, but converged as they went north. The eastern lode cut out at the adit-level, but very 
little prospecting was ever done to see whether it existed at deeper levels. This lode above the 
adit-level was from 5ft. to bft. in thickness. 
