COROMANDEL MINING NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 125, 29 May 1896, Page 4

COROMANDEL MINING NEWS.

(FROM our own correspondent.)

Coromandel, Thursday. TRIUMPH (HAURAKI).

Operations in the various sections of this mine are progressing favourably, and are being pushed ahead with all possible speed in view of bhe early exploiting of tbe various reefs being driven for. The forebreasb or face of the main low level crosscut, which is being driven in a northeasterly direction, is now in a distance of 250 feet. The country appears to be getting harder again, bub- bhese- changes are characterisbio of bhe localiby, and alternate with channels of country very much more conducive to rapid working, albhough lat all times of a shoobing description, and, conßequenbly, requiring little or no-bimber. I may say thab in addibion to the fact that this crosscut is being driven to cub the well-known Waverley reef, ib will serve ab the same time to thoroughly pro.pecb the groußd ab this depbh—the greatest yeb attained in bhe localiby—and will also, when completed, allow of the complete and effective development of the upper levels, and give every facility for working the same at a low cosb. The Evenden level crosscub going, in the same direction is now in 380 feeb. The country is improving considerably in the face, is better grained and more amenable to shoobing, while silica seams are making in bhe rock, which is also carrying favourable mineral Judications. The. No. 2, or Three Brobhers, level, pub in to cub bhe reef of bhe same name, or whab is supposed to be it, has been advanced twelve feeb during bhe week, or 300 feeb in all, and should now be in close proximiby to the Waverley reef alluded to above, aba point higher up the spur; indeed, ab the present bime waber is making in bhe face, evidencing a quartz body in the vicinity, and, doubbless, ib may be ab hand in a few feeb of driving. The drive on the Brobhers reet intersected in this crosscub is in 110 feeb. The reef itself is rabher: pinched up ab presenb, bub some distance furbher back was a large body of quartz some bhree feet in tbicknese, consequently ib may be looked for to make again shortly. Tbe Btone broken from ib is _of a favourable nature for gold, Bhowing good mineral, and is being paddocked outside the level in readiness for the starb of the battery when erected. Ib will be remembered that gome nice gold was obbained in a leader in the old Hutfa level, which is, comparatively speaking, of surface nature. Aba point in bhe drive where the best prosDects were visible, a rise was pub up and the lead followed upwards for a distance of 42 feeb—indeed, until it pinched

out—gold being seen in the stone nearly bhe whole way. Now, at a point 15 feeb above bhe root of the drive, an intermediate level is being driven on the leader in order to fcesb its value in both directions, vrhile the drive is also being pushed ahead beneath. In tbe No. 2 Hutt level, another leader, measuring two inches in thickness and ehowing coarse gold, has been intersected, and this is being opened up, wibh every prospect of coming upon some good specimen stone, as bhe counbry is all that could be desired for gold, and is analogous to bhe ground hereabouts, in which shots of the precious metal were discovered, Albogebher, things in bho mine have a very hopeful appearance, and ib is nob boo much to say that once bhe main reefs are well in hand, we ought bo hear of favourable resulbs from the developments of the same. Owing to the unsettled weabher experienced lately, and bbc fearful state of the roads, bo adequately describe which words would übberly' fail—bhey require to be actually seen—progress with bhe carting of the machinery up to bhe battery site has been necessarily slow. The requisite excavations are going on as well as possible under the circumstances, and will soon be completed. A smithy and office have been erected on the site, and work is now proceeding on the construction of bhe water race, which, when finished and in working order, will provide an ample supply of waber for bhe boiler and babies, etc., all bhe year round. As showing the density of the undergrowth and timber hsroaboute, I raighb mention bhat 150 tons of firewood for the battery have been cub in clearing the site alone, while many tons more of inferior sbuff were bhrown over bhe bip inbo the gully. The foundation timbers are now being cub, and when once bhese are in position and the ro3t of the machinery up, ib is expecbod much moro rapid progress will be made. EAST HAURAKI. This property adjoins bhe Norbh and Now Tokatea G.M. Companies'properties on the main Tokatea range, and is under the supervision of Mr Skrine, representing bho English Company to which the mine belongs. At presenb work ia of an opening up character, and consists in driving a main low level crosscut, going nearly due east, in ordor to cub a number of wellknown and payable reefs which were formerly extensively worked on the surface. The firsb of bhese, which may be called No. 1, come bo hand lasb nighb, bub ib has nob yeb been broken through, and consequently I am nob in a position to speak aa to its size or quality yeb. I believe, however, bhat in the next level — bhe Comstock —102 feeb abovo the preSenb point ot intersection, ib prospected very well. The encasing country in the face of the low or main crosscub is of a splendid auriferous description, and ib will be strange indeed if the reefs ab this depth do not carry good gold, as overy indication exists in the country and points in this direction. A winze was sunk on Dunn's leader from the Comstock level to a depbh of 57 feet, bub work had bo be discontinued on accounb of the bad air. The prospects in the bottom were, I understand, very favourable, gold being seen in the atone, and when the presenb low level comes under thi3 point, bhe intention is to rise up, effect a connection with the winzo, and thereby secure good ventilation and open up a large block of ground giving 102fb of blacks for sboping. From all appearances tho company can, I bhink, congratulate bhemselves on having secured a good property and one which yielded a largo amounb of gold in the early daye—Dunn's, tho Comstocks, Colonial and Curnabic leads especially being well known for bhe runs of gold they contained. In view of bhia ib ia only reasonable to suppose that with systematic working and development, equally remunerative and payable results will accrue from operations attending bhe opening up of bhe ! above leads at the existing low level.