KARANGAHAKE NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 179, 31 July 1896, Page 2

KARANGAHAKE NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

WOODSTOCK.

At the No. 1 or Hauraki level a crosscut is being driven eastward from bhe point of intersection of the Maria lode for the purpose of cutting a largo reef outcropping on the surlace. This reef runs parallel with and oast of the Maria and carries n fair show of gold on the surface. The intermediate level crosscub ia in 270 ft. A splendid class of brown sandstone has been met and is now appearing in the face, and a reef is expected to be cub a few feot further ahead. At No. 2 level driving ia being continued' on the lode, which is four feet wide, of usual quality of ore, with no sign of the hangingwall. The crosscut from No. 2 level ia in 600 feet, and a contract has been let to put in a ventilating, tunnel from the other aide of the spur to secure ventilation. In No. 3 drive the ore appears of very good quality, and shows gold in parts. The men are breaking out five feeb of reef along tha hangingwall side, and there is no appearance of the footwall. No. 4 level is now in 438 feeb along the course of the lode, which is the full width of tho drive. Here alao four.feot on the hangingwall side is being broken out. The reef here carries more free gold than in any other parb of the workings, and almost every other stone shows- gold. It ia also remarkablo thab the counbry carrying. this reef ia the blue andesite, whilst in tho upper levels the brown country obtains, showing that gold is found in Korangahake in both classes, and apparently when it goes down into the'blue the stone carries a lot of free gold. .The same .'blue is found in the Waverley where the rich leader was cub a few weeks ago. Tho crosscut in No. 5 level is now in 230 feet, and they have a large root showing six feeb wide. As yet the

manager is nob quite clear as to its identity, although ib is probably the Maria lode. Several lodes ore running into the hill parallel with each other and ab short distances apart, and until the level is abreast of the reef in the upper ground, one cannot be certain which reef it is. There are several reefs running into the hill parallel with-the Maria, including tho main Wodstock lode, and it is tho intention shortiy to start a orosscub from the Wuibawhefcu level for tho purpose of intersecting and proving these. The hoppers, tramlines, and connections are all well under way, whilst Messrs Seagar Broe. have doubled their staff of. men on the water main, and that should now progress rapidly. Two of the kilns are completed, aud the battery is roofed in. With regard to the 7 tons of oro recently shipped to London, Mr McCombie informs me that it will be experimented on with the object of trying tho various processes of cyanide treatment.