KOMATA BEEFS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 305, 23 December 1896, Page 2

KOMATA BEEFS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Duriag tbe last month driving on Argail a lode north of the crosscut bas been suspended in order to timber the ground, form passes, and otherwise prepare to commence gfcoping operations when the battery is ready for treatment of the ore. A rise is under way on this lode, 26ft having been completed, aad when holed through to the surface will ventilate the workings, and will also be used as a mullock pass to fill the stopes i« as the lode ia broken away, the entire ore body on this north side of the crosecut being of payable duality. South of the crosscut the drive has been extended 31ft, but during the last fortnight the ore hao been low grade. I his drive is in 95 feet, and until the last fortnight the reef had an average width ot Sit, and was of payable quality throughout. At present the encasing country is hard and tbe reef is somewhat pinched and of low grade, Lavington'a lode has been driven on north a distance of 76ft altogether, through a very laree body of stone, the drive carrying aboub 6ft of the hacgingwall sides. The ore coutinues of very low grade. The full width of the lode is 25ft and fairly good-looking quartz. Ihe low level crosscut has been advanced a total distance of L9oft through exactly the game class of hard country and progress is necessarily slow. Tho new track from the lower camp to the mine is completed for a distance of 80 chains and another 25 chains will connoct it with the mine. The Company haa also men eDgaged constructing a bridge and forming a road to the battery site, whilst at the battery site Mr H. H. Adams bas started clearing and excavating the foundations for the battery. Mr E. F. Adams, mining engineer, has also started laying ior the positions for tho aerial and ground tramways, so that ib is hoped after the Christmas holidays work will be started in real earnest wish the object of getting tbe mill bo work.