WOODSTOCK G.M. COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 155, 3 July 1896, Page 2

WOODSTOCK G.M. COMPANY.

(FBOM ODB OWN OOERESPONDEKT.)

Paekoa, this day.

Pending the completion of bhe babtery, mining operation* are confined to the development of the old iodw and the opening out of new onet, or rather thosa on wbicb little work has been done an yeb. In the Hauraki or No. I level a crosscut if being extended ease of the Maria lode wibh the view of picking op another parallel lode. The Maria lode in this level has been opened up 300 feet south of the old crosacuD, and 120 feet north* bub work has now been suspended paading the completion of the' connection of the tramline with the kilns. This work' is bow being gone on with, several contracts for different sections being let. U»til this is completed there w no plactt to "tack any further" ore from thU level* Below this level in intarmediabe crosscut is being put in to split the block between Nob. 1 and 2, wbiob are 260f1» apart). This has been extended 140fto, ufld is shorkly expedited to cub a lode, besides which two other lodeu will be mafc before the Maria channel i» entered. The country in the face is a splendid sandstone* and very easily worked. Coming down t-d No. 2 level the main drive has picked up the leading branch of bhe Maria lode in the crosscut bo the eaab, and this has now been driven on 30ft. The are ia being broken oub sft wido with no sign of the hangingwall, and i» of very fine quality. 'This, 1 believe, will prove a very Urge body of ores and ibe value is above the average. From this level a crosscut is going west, to cub the main Woodstock lode, This has been stopped 600 ft wesb, on account of bho ventilation, which is very bad indeed ; and until good air Is introduced nothing farther can be done. Several lodes were cub by thin cross drive, and two of these are being opened ont, with the object of proving their value. They are in splendid country, and are both likely looking bodies of ore. One is nearly itb wide, and bhe other IBin. No. 3 level is over 600f» ift and driving is now being; continued along the course of bho reef, which is over 7fb wide, with no sign of any foobwall. This also is a splendid body of atone, giving an average value of £9 per ton us I am informed. Gold oari be seen very freely in the stone, which should also be heavily charged with silver. A black flinty band is passing down the centre of the lode, and this, the manager informs me, ib a sure inclination of good ore in this locality. At any rate the stone coming from this face is aa nice a sample as one could wish to see. In the orossoub from No. 4 level three reefs have been cut a abort distance aparb and driving ia now confined to the centre one with the belief that the three will shortly come together* The footwall lode is probably the Maria, from its character ; whilsb the hanging wall portion is identical with a similar lode in the upper workings. The thfoe lodes are trending towards a junction so that keeping to the centre one seems the wisest course. It was from this centre lode that (he £25 assay was recently obtained, whilab the other two are of poor quality at present. No. 5 level has just struck a lode, bub whether the right) one or nob cannot be determined yet. Ib was picked up slightly west of where the Maria lode was expected, a croaucub having been put into the wescern wall for that purpose. The manager was having samples of ib assayed to-day, On the other side of the river, in tbo Ivanhoe section, a reef About three feeb wide has been cut in' the crosscut, and driving on ib bas>juet commenced. Ifc is very doubtful if ■" this is the lodo beiin;> sought, bub nothing bub,.driving .along it will determine that. The crosscut was in 40f6 aasb of the level when the reef was met. Then* are the chief developments taking .place, and ib will be evident from the foregoing fcbab each further development only serves bo enhance the value of the property. There are how some tremendous blocks of payable ore ready for stoping out, and by the time the battery is ready, the Company should have their mine more than able to cope with the requirements of the 40 stampers. It is pleasing to note thab the Company sustained no damage by the recenb heavy flood.