TANDEM (WAIKOROMIKO.)

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 294, 11 December 1896, Page 4

TANDEM (WAIKOROMIKO.)

Coromandel, this day.

Naxb to the Fourin-Haad this claim must rank in importance, both on account of the discoveries actually made and the amount of work done since operations were first commenced. It would now appear that as the reefs hero are opened up they materially improve in quality, and several which when discovered oq the surface only gave fair prospects have upon being driven on in the levels burned oub to be fine welldtfiaad bodies of stono, which upon being tested yielded very encouraging results. The main reef in. ha»d in this mine is called the Tandem reef, which is being worked at the precenb time at two'different level*. At the No. 1 level fche reef was cut in 35ft of cfoascuttinrf, where ib was found to bo about lft in thickness, Ib ia running nearly eusb and west and has been opened up either way from the point of intersection a distance of 70f6. Going east it appears to best advantage, the country being of a more >efcfc!ed and conducive description for gold, and iti haa moreover widened out to betweeu 2 and 3ft, maintaining this average all the way. Tho etone coinpoping tha lode is for th'o mosts part of a kindly nature, rubbly and heavily oxidoßtained, aud it has carried gold by pounding and also ab times v;sibly in the stone right up to the eastern face. Going west it is nob so favourable, bub should undoubtedly improve as driven upon. Twenty feeb east of the crosscut a rise ia being put up on the reef to hole through to theßurlace, and thua open up a block for stoping and secure ventilation. From this rise, which is now up over 2Ot"b, stoping is proceeding, three stope9 #o far having been boaten oub, from which a fair class of general crushing dirt is being obtained, the eamo being paddocked ready for treatment outride the level. Fifty fees of backs are available above the No. 1 level for scoping. No. 2 level, which is between 40 end 50 feet below No. 1, was driven in on the outcrop of She reef. The face is now in over 30fb, going west, and the lode is a strong body of stone, averaging 2ft 6in in width, of much tho same character as at. No. 1 level, carrying gold by pounding and occasionally in the stone visibly. The intention istodrivealongand tbßn riteupand connect with No. 1 level, when a fine block will be opened up which should provide a good supply of general and fair grade ore. Some distance above No. 1 agaiss a drive is in process of extension on a small and promising 2in leader, which is running apparently to junction with the Four-in-Hand main reef. In any case this lode it has been determined to take in hand, and ib is calulated that in about lOOfb of driving ib should be intersected,when, should ib maiabain its character as known in the adjoining claim, the Tandem Company will have reason to be well satisfied ; 60it of backs will be obtainable from this level upon ib. The manager intends pubtinjj on another man shortly to prospect tbe proparty still further on the surface, where numerous other reefs are known to exist, consequently, we should hear in due course of other important finds. Taking the prospects of the mine genarally, ib may bo said thab ib has a very encouraging oublook, and wken further opened up and provided with a crushing planb, should render a very satisfactory account. Ib is undoubtedly a genuine proporby, warranting sysbomaUc working.