MINING SUMMARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 89, 16 April 1896, Page 2

MINING SUMMARY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, Wednesday. The principal feature of the pasb month has been tbe unusually large number of special claims that have been taken up in various parts of the Hauraki goldfields, and more particularly in the Whangamata, Waitekauri, and Tairua districts. There is a universal feeling of the greatest confidence in the future of the mining industry, based upon bho numerous discoveries that have been made since legitimate prospecting operations have been undertakon in real earnest upon hitherto neglected portions of the goldfields, the gradual increase iv tho bullion returns, and the facb bhab foreign capital continues to sbeadily flow in for the thorough development of our mines upon an extensive scale. Under these circumstances there is a general consensus of opinion thab bhe real " boom " haa nob yeb commenced, and bhat aa our mines are systematically doveloped, the results will bo ao satisfactory to investors as to attract even increased attention bo bhe Hauraki goldfielda as a field for the legitimate investment of capital and with bhe certainty of a substantial return. Ib is true, thab a large area of auriferous and argentiferous country is now in bona fide occupation—larger, iv fact, than has ever been the case in the history of goldmining in New Zealand. But, after all, comparatively libtle has been done to unearth our vasb mineral wealth, and there are milea of country unexplored and into which the prospector has not yet penetrated. In moat cases where bona fide proapecting has been carriod on lodes of a mosb promising description havo been unearthed in all directions, showing the immense extent of this gol*.bearing country. Ab bho Thames the moabimporbanb event of the month has been the taking over by Mr Haggard of the Thames-Hauraki Goldmining Company's property, which includes the Queen of Beauty, Deep Sinker, nnd Deep Levels Consolidated special claims. In company with Mr C. A. Harris and Mr T. A. Dunlop, Mr Haggard made a careful inspection of the property, and is exceedingly pleased wibh its prospects. Aa the result of his visib tenders aro called, receivable up till Saturday, for stripping, enlarging, and retimbeting bhe Queen of Beauty shaft for a further depth of 275 feet, which will take ib down to the No. 4 lovol, where it is intended to put in a first Beb of plumpers aa _oon as the new pumpinK machinery arrives. Obher important works are alao to bo commenced ab an early dato, including the sinking of v new shaft in the Deep Sinker section. The fact that auch extensive works are about to be pushed ahead in tho ThamesHauraki Gold Mining Company's property has naturally had the e.l'eob of directing attention to tho adjoining land' on the southern boundary, and it is stated that bhe owners have received a substantial offer for cheir property. Operations are proceeding much the same a3 usual in the various mines, and though uo now discoveries of importance have been mado during the month, the prospects on the whole are most satisfactory. Quartz of excellenb grade is coming to hand from the Moanataiari Gold Mining Company's mine, a»d the recenb cruahiug showed a greab improvement, 4590*. gold being banked. Payable ore is alao being obtained from the May Queen Company's mine, the Waiotahi, Victoria, Cornbria, Tararu Creek, otc, bub in no case ia there any change of importance to chronicle. Good progress ia being made wibh tho sinking of tho Alburnia Company's main shafb, and the Dixon's reef is expected to be mot with any day. A new development hus jusb baken place in bho low lovol ot the New Whau Company's mine, a large body of ore having been mojt with. It has been penetrated over throe feeb, and there is no sign of tho hangingwall. Tho quartz so far broken out is impregnated with splendid minerols. The usual works are proceeding in the dunes, Froedom, Orlando, Moanataiari North, Moanataiari Extended, Alburnia East, Cambria, Kurunui, Puru Consolidated, and other mineß, with encouraging reeulte.

Ab Waitekauri tho erection of the Waitekauri Goldminintr Company's battery is being pushed ahead as rapidly as possible, and good progress is boing mado with the low level tunnel. The mine looks exceedingly woll throughout, and ore of excellenb grade conbinuos to come to hand. Thia property is unquestionably one of tho monb valuable in the Hauraki goldliolds, and in my opinion the bullion returns will surprise most people when tho new reduction works are in active operation. Tho adjoining property on tho norbh-easb boundary, tho Waitekauri Amalgamated, is ju.b now claiming a good deal of abtention from tho fact that tho famous Golden Cross lodo is still trending in a north-east direction, and will unquestionably strike through the Nebraska and Australian sections of thia property. The extension of a level 60Cft in length has been commencod on the recently formed Waitekauri Crosß G.M. Company's mine, which has an excellent future before it and should eventually well repay the Home investors. Negotiations aro proceeding for the purchase of the Waitekauri Queen Couipany'a property by an Engliah firm, while the Wnitekauri Monarch—in which a very promising lode about two feeb thick has been discovered—and adjoining; ground is also about to be placed under offer. Ib is stated thab there is every likelihood of the Waitekauri King being flouted ir- London at an early date. Work is proceeding much the sumo as usual in the Alpha, Komata Reefs. Jubilee, Waitekauri Extended, Byron Bay, Central and tho several other mines with fn'-'ioiQQ oases excellent results.

THe mining industry is progressing satisfactorily ab'Wailii, and the field of operations ie grndully becoming larger.* Tbo Waihi Goldmining Company have obtained a record average return tor the four weeks ended tho 4th ihot. During the period named, 2,220 tons of ore wor6 crushed and treated for a yiold of bullion valued ut £9,208, the average being a fraction under £4 3-* per ton. In tho whole history of the Waihi.Company's mine only twice haa this average been equalled. The Waihi-Silverton Company's new reduction works were recently atarbed, and crushing operations are now in full awing. The results will, in my opinion, bo equal to the anticipations of even bbc mosb sanguine. At Karangahake, bhe various mines are looking well, notably, the Crown, Woodstock and Talisman. There is nothing of importance to chronicle from tbe various otber centres. The following aro tbe principal returns for the month :— Tararu Creek Goldmining Company : 9305* lOdwb gold from '200 tonß, value about £305. Waihi Goldmining Company : £9,208 worth of bullion from 2,220 tons. Moanataiari Goldmining Company : 4590z gold from 541 tons, value £1,214 8s 9d. Wnitekauri Goldmining Company : 6740z bullion, value £66816s 6d, from 136 tons. Cambria : 14oz gold from 16 loads ; value, about £40. Waiotahi : 2050z lOdwb from 196 bonß ; value, about £575. May Queen : 2990z lOdwb from 405 loads ; valne, about £850. Monowai : £126 worth of bullion-from the experimental breatmenb of 46 tons of ore.. Victoria: 1750z gold, value £498 15s, from 78 loads. Crown mines: £2,120 bullion from 486 tons. Hauraki -. £6,361 gold from 380 tons. Kapai-Vermont: £806 from 330 bona of ore. Try Fluke : £673 from 500 tons,

Woodstock: £1,149 bullion from 220 tons.

Great Mercury : £354 from 500 tonß.