THE KARANGAHAKE GOLDFIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 189, 9 August 1895, Page 4

THE KARANGAHAKE GOLDFIELD.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER,)

Thames, yesterday.

CROWN.

This mine is gradually bub surely coming to the front as an aspirant to bbo tirab rank, and will, ore long, become one of our leading bullion producers. Work in tbe mine up to date has proved to be of the most} satisfactory character. The results attending these operations have been very encouraging, arid the work since my lasb viaic i found to bo in a very forward condition. Tho No: 6 level ia ateadily advancing in a southerly direction, and the drive upon tho YVslcomelodeisentoringallnewand permanent country. A peculiar foaturo in connection with this quartz body is that only at very distant intervals has ie been found on the surface from works carried up on tho various levels. The lode in places does nob exist, to within 200 feet of the surfaco, and I for a considerable length going south there :is no sign or even trace of the lode having ! existed on the surface. It ie shown by the worku that are now in progress at a greater depth to any that have hitherto been performed on the lode, that in deep-level mining in this district the quartz bodies apparently are tnoro permanent and denned, and appear to be much richer in quality, than on the higher levelu. i I visited this tnino in March last, I and since then the level has been advanced upon tho lode 150 feet further south. Throughout that distance it has kept its course, and shown un average thickness of fully 10 teet. Ib was pleasing to notice the improvement both in the quality of the ore, which shows free strong gold, .and also that the lode, for tho last 150 feet, is more settled and inclined to continue permanent as tho level advances upon ie southward. Mr McGruer, tho Company's ekiltul manager, informs me that irom the present faco to the surface ia fully 1,400 feeo in height, and tho length of tho tunnel ia 1,350 feet, thus showing tho enormous extent) of backs at this level, as there is fully 1,300 feeb to drive in this direction before meeting with the boundary. Tho backs available) at that point bliouhl bo close on to 1,550 ft. It may be aa well to mention that no eboping has so far been carriod on ia this new development. The other important work at this section is rising by the aid of a powerful rock drill to ellect a connection witoh tho No. 4 level for the purpose of securing good ventilation. The rise has now attained a height of 30ib, leaving a further distance of 130 ft to rise the required dietnnco to the No, 4 level, which is also being vigorously pushed ahead. So far, this last-mentioned level has been extended a total longtn of I,ooßft from the eurfaco entrance. The laat. lCOf& or so has not been driven on the reef on account of its irregular course. The manager saya another 1201b of driving should meoc with tho lodo ofc a point directly over where tho lode assumed its richness at tbe No. 6 level, and from that point south this block nhould also be responsible for tho production of a rich clasß of ore. I may mention thab the lodo on tbo No. 6 level produces 26 tonw of raw ore to the fathom, so it will be seen that ifc keeps up its size very consistently. With a view to oxtonsive stoping operabiona over the last mentioned loyal, Mr McGruer h putting in substantial sawn heart of kauri etull sets sizes 12 x 12 and 10 x 14, the length of each etull being lv to 18 foot. The object of using stulla is that tho walls are perfectly hard and reliable standing country, while it also enables future stophig operations beneath this level to bo carried on withoub having to secure leg sets. Operations aro still in progress at the No. 7 levol. This work ib carried on from a winzo sunk from the No. 4 on the richest shoot of ore a8 yob opened up in the mine. Drives north and south aro in progress from the winze. On the north side fully 65fb has been driven on the lodo, which showa splendid ore sfb thick. Soubhward 60 feob has been driven, and in this direction ore of (.ho same quality has boon m6t with, bub in the face of the drive the reef lias shrunk intoafootin thicknesa. This, according to the peculiarcharacteriatics of this quartz body, may at any foot driven again assume its usual largo dimensions. In my last report on this tnine I mentioned that Mr McGruer had prepared plane and estimates of the cost of sinking a shaft to a depth of 400 feet. These he forwarded home to Glasgow, bub up to the present no information has been received to proceed with the work. This information he expects daily. From tho ; scheme prepared by biro ho eays'bo inbended to sink tho shaft to a depth of 400fb by the aid of motive power, which can bo done without any great cost. Water power thoCompany havoioabundanco, and I expect before long to hear of this important work being proceeded with. Everything in connection with the Company's reduction works) in working aa smoothly aa can be expected. Amplo provision has been rnado for saving all Che refuse tailings by the excavation of largo and commodious pita. Perhaps ib is ns well to mention thab alter the tailings leave the vata they have to pass over a series of copper plates, then tho pits receive them to await their furtlior treatment by either pan or bcrdan process, whichever method decided on. This will, no doubt, bo attended to almost) immediately. Regarding the losa sustained prior' to manipulation of their present additional accjuiromonte, ib is r.s well to state thab that loss was nob under the present manageiiaent. Ho doubb, a parb of the loks was sustained in tho opening part of their term of office, bub they have siuoo discovered tho defect, and I feel confident that after the Crown Company have treated the accumulated concentrates they have on hand, tho loss, if any, will bo comparatively ftraall. I cannot speak too highly of the Company's mina manager, Mr McGruer, from what) 1 have scon ol t,he work performed by him, and bite skilful tactics displayed in keeping the lode in view and tracing ib through the various displacements which ib has undergone. He is deserving of praise nob only from bhe company he represents, bub the community ab large, for without hia persistent efforts bhe Crown miue might) have passed into oblivion,