SOME 70 miles, south-east of the city of Auckland lies the town of Waihi--the centre of the Waihi goldfield, at present the mining pride of New Zealand. That the glory of most mining camps is evanescent forms an axiom to which it may be expected Waihi will prove no exception. For the last fifteen years, however, Waihi has been an important gold-silver producer, with an annually increasing output, so that now the area ranks as one of the leading goldfields of the world. Up to the present by far the greater proportion of the bullion exported from the field, and valued at 8,468,134* at end of 1909, has been derived from the Waihi mine proper. Other important claims are the Waihi Grand Junction, which is now happily emerging from the development stage into a steady producer; the Waihi Reefs Consolidated, an area replete with good prospects for the future, but as yet undeveloped; and the Waihi Extended, another hopeful prospect.