MINING.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3644, 15 April 1882, Page 4

MINING.

(FHOM THE "COttOMAHDKI. MAIL, *)

The holidays materially affected the progress of mining matters in every district. Nevertheless the appearance of thinga has . not during the week been at all unsatisfao tory. There are a variety of legitimate enterprises being carried on, not confined to one portion of the goldfield, but in various localities, any one of which, if successful, is calculated to give a g^reat impetus to the whole field. An entirely new mineral has been unearthed by a learned and highly respected member of society, and its revelation at this opportune time is expected to have a most salutary effect _on ._. the prosperity of the place. As critical" tests as to its value are being made, we defer giving details of the same until tho right time comes.

Tokatea.—On Monday we visited this famous mine, and found all Lands busily engaged, though it was holiday time, the importance of the wotks now in hand making it imperative that operations be kept going. In oider to get to the No. 1 winze from the Van level, we have to proceed along the latter a distance of 1270 feet. This winze, which is 200 feet deep,. connects with No. 7 level, The old Van level is in excellent preservation, tho timbers and tramway being sound and in. good order. Descending the winze a distance of 65 feet, we arrive at No. 1 Intermediate, which was driven a distance ol 56 feet in the directieu of the shaft where such good gold was got when the Bhaft was sunk previous to No. 7 level being started. The object of commencing with this level was no doubt begun with a view to facilitate the opening-up of the important section of the reef to be worked, and to strike the bottom of the shaft, which is down the same distance. If it had been carried along simultaneously with No. 2 intermediate, it would by this time have been connected with the shaft, the country being easier. The level carried in a somewhat broken reef, with a soft dig on tho footwall, the leader not being a characteristic feature of the lode, as the soft dig has invariably been found on the hanging-wall. In the face the leader showed improvement when work was stopped, the soft dig apparently giving way to a better class of country, and a strong body of quartz making to the foot-wall side. This level would nave been carried in but for the fact that other wo-ks in progress entailed as great an expenditure as it was deemed wise to incur. Although by pushing it in, it would have hastened the development of the mine, as it would have connected with the bottom of the winze, and drained tho water, allowing the winze to have been carried down to meet the rise from tho No. 2 intermediate. A rise was started last week from No, 7 level which will como with that froji the intermediate.

No. 2 Level,—Descending the ladderway again a further distance of 60 feel, or 125 feet from the van level the No. 2 in-v tcrmediate is reached, this has been driven both ways 90 feet to the eastern boundary witbout any important indication. To the west the face has been carried in from the winze 234 feet, the_ reef more or less broken throughout. During the last forty feet of driving an improvement was noticeable, and gold showed occasionally in the stone, which is very satisfactory in bearing out the hopes of the directors as to the snot of gold going down fioin the winze. The face is now 30 feet from the line of winze, and 60 feet below the bottom. As soon as the level is sufficiently advanced a riso will be started to connect with the same. When this is accomplished the battery v ill at once have a merry start, and there is littlo doubt but the declaration of dividends will one more be made by happy directors. At the time of our visit a few feet of the reefs were broken down, leaving an even compact body of stone in the face, heavily mineralised, and looking likely for gold, which may at any time be announced.

Just in Time.—ln last issue we gave full particulars of the important works being carried on] at this mine. There is nothing further to add this week except that the usual steady progress is being made.

KapANGA.—In this mine gold has been showing itself a little more freely of late. The cfiect of the wet weather has been to prove the necessity for renewed operations b<irjg vigorously prosecuted before winter sets in. On the main road there are some vere bad places, although a number of boggy carts which were almost impassable last winter have been substantially repaired, and the improvement is already much appreciated. It takes a long time and involves great expenditure to construct and keep in good repair an extensive road, way through, broken country. As regards money matters, though there is not much fuss.bein" made there is good work being done, and a good prospect of a lot of gold being turned out during the coming winter.

Blackmore.—This mine is steadily gaining ground in public favour, and was inspected during the week by a number of people. The general testimony is that the works are being carried on to the best advantage, reflecting credit on the mine manager, Blr Straughau. The crushing is also shapiDg well. In glancing at the past there is much to admire in the career of the Home Rule and Blackmorc Gold Mining Companies. They have gone through the ordeal of doubt, distrust, and calumny, and many persons had openly declared that there was no chance of either paying expense?. They, have, however, done much more than that, for in addition the actual outlay in connection with mining operations there is the fact of a good battery having been erected and paid for by the joint companies. Visitors who go to the remote locality in which the two mines are situated cannot but acknowledge that the promoters have accomplished a great work in the face of many difficulties. The ragged heights on >hich the claims are situated have lost their old dreary look, and are now scenes of great mining activity. These mines have conjointly proved the backbone of the Tiki goldfield, works having been kept going on,them when other companies one by one ceased operations, and now the Home Kule Company has given the finishing touch to the encouraging picture by paying a dividend of one shilling per share, at the same time carrying forward a handsome sum to the reserve fund. The total output of gold from Tiki during the last year is over two thousand four hundred ounces, and nearly the whole of it came from the two mines above referred to.