MINING operations in the Waihi mine began, under the present proprietorship, in the year 1889. Previous to this, and as far back as the year 1880, the presence of reefs in the Martha Hill had been known, and surface working on a small scale had been carried out, without any great measure of success. The only method of treatment in use at this time was the old system of light stamps, amalgamating tables and berdans, and recovery by this method being low; little margin for profit was left, so that the property in these days was not considered of great importance, and work on the area was only carried on spasmodically by different owners. On the transfer of the leases to the present company, calcining, dry crushing, and hot pan amalgamation was adopted as the method of treatment, and this system was continued till the more modern cyanide process was introduced and applied. As the methods of treatment and gold-saving became more efficient with the application of more modern and scientific processes, the importance and future prospects of the mine became more and more pronounced, and mining on a larger and more comprehensive scale was gradually established.