OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 2 April 1895, Page 2

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

UPPER THAMBS MINING

{BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day. GOT.DEN CROSS a Waitekauri). Never, perhaps, since bhe opening of bhe Waitekauri disbricb as a goldfield has the districb abferacted the attention of outside capitalises and obhers to Buch an extent as atpresßnb. This is no doubb due to the wonderful success attending the Golden Cross G.M. Co's operabions. A large amounb of capital has been expended by bhis company in opening up and systematically developing tbeir extensive area, and also in tbe erection of machinery • which has been kepb continually going on to meet the "output of ore from bhe mine. From what can be seen the mine is capable of keeping four- times bhe number of stamps working if bhey were available. Ib is bhe intention of bhe company to erect machinery on a very exbensive scale. Probably 100 bead of Bbamps will be erected on a moro suitable locality, when, ib is bhoughb, the one monster reduction works will serve bwo purposee, viz., to treat all the ore broken from the Company's large in the Waitekauri section, and also do the samo for the Komata section of the company's properby. This could nob be obherwise than a step in the righb direction, and bo further poinb oub the necessiby of erecbing a monsber reduction works ib is as well to give a description of bhe different works,' size of the lodes, etc. So far, the work done in the lower (section of bhe minis has boon confined to, blocking out thab portion of the reof discovered by the prospectors. • From this section ore of a ■very -high class has been milled, and has yielded1 some excellenb returns. This block, which was opened up by a very shallow drive, eventually gave oub, consequently the Company decided to drive a lower level, which would give backs bo a height of about W feet, aba poinb under where bhe firsb section was worked oub. However, as this low level advances hillward, a greater beio-hts of backs will be atbtiinable. After driving this level, a distance of 760 feeb, the lode was intersected, and showed a thickness of 8 to 23 feeb. For a distance of 230 feeb ore of a high-class character was meb with. This level is now forward 1,300fb, and 540fb of thab distance on the reef, thus showing tho wonderful permanency of the lode and the stretch thereon. As this is nob bhe only parb of bhe mine being opened up, ib is necessary to go higher up the hill to a levol known as Cerbetb's level. Here the same reof has been opened up tor a considerabls distance, being over 200ffc from the surface entrance to the presenb face. From bhe firsb poinb of intersection, the level was carried along the foobwall for a length of loOft^ the ore coming to hand being first-class. Thinking that the hangingwall would bo the besb ono* to drive on, ib was decided to cut through bhe reef. This was done. The lode proved bo be fully 23fb bhick, carrying an abundance of manganese silica, and oxide of iron. This is a great feature in this stone—and wbich carries one back to the old days of tbe Waitekauri blow—viz., the beautiful wavy Bbreaks of blue and lead coloured seams, which _at that time was looked upon as the richest ore in the district. Such is the class of ore now showing in this large and defined reef. To jiisb show the system that is adopted by tho company's manager (Mi H. W. Moore) throughout the 200fb driven on the reef—viz. : I mighb explain thab crosscuts have been cub into the foobwall ab every 50fb to test bhe size and quality of ore being stripped. This I consider a splendid idea, and gives a rough estimate of the tonnage of ore in eight aud bhe probable yield of ib. Mr Moore informs mo bhab assays are regularly taken from all points being opened up on tho reof, and the average has-' been from" £5 upwards,' and portions of the reef have given much higher returns; still, the above is about- bhe general average of the bulk. Higher up tbe spur, another level has been driven for ventilation in this level. Two large-sized lodes were intersected prior to meeting wibh the main body. The first lode was mob with in 40fb, and proved te be 18fb in thickness. Tho ore carries gold, still ib is nob of tbe quality meb wibh in bhe main reef. Twenty-five feeb further ahead tbe curosscub passed through another promising looking ore body, which also shows large dimensions, being 14. feet in thickness', and carries gold. After driving a total distance of 140 feet, the main reef was intersected, showing a similar thickness to that on Corbett's level. Here the ore apparently is of a superior clasß to any yeb met with, thus showing thab as the reef is opened up hillwards and in bhe direction of the Taranaki ib appears bo improve in quality, A winze is now being annk from this level to Corbett's, the depth attained set far being 20 feeb on the hangingwall swJie. This winze will meeb bhe rise being pub up from Corbett's, and when connected will' be 80 feeb in depth. Ib will be seen that thva resources of the mino are very extensive, and that the present crushing plant is quito inadequabe bo cope with the large outpu-.i. It has therefore been decided bo dirive a long tunnel, which will bo a very greab undertaking, The starting point will be Jfrom what is known as Donnelly's camp—distant about 50 chains, or in round figur.Bß 3,300 feet. This project is undoubtedly a very bold one. However, in bho evenb of. it being put through the tunnel would thoroughly prospect all the intervening country and intersect the company's main reef aba greater depth of 300 feeb. The entran.ee to this tunnol would then be bhe maam oubleb from the mino, and would be in a splendid position for the transit of all ores bo either bhe Waibokauri battery, where there are 30 head of stampers available, or bo any obhor poinb decided, on. The presen b. aspecb. of. the Golden Cross classes ib as one of our best mines. In conclusion, ib only remains bo be eaid thab the company possess an exceedingly valuable Wine, and its future prospects are such as' to warrant bhe belief thab the ore bodies they have in hand are of that class bhab bhe receipt of regular dividends,-I think, can. be lpoked fotward to with confidence.