COROMANDEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1897, Page 6

COROMANDEL.

Coromandel Mining News.

(FROM OCTR OWN CORKKSI'ONI.K. T.)

The year 1397 should, if we take into consideration tha present position of the mining industry upon our fields, be productive of better results than anything heretofore obtained. The reason of this deduction is nob very difficult to find. At the beginning of lasS year comparatively few of tho companies now working had commenced operations, consequently ib may be said that during tho last twelve months the time has really been mainly occupied in prospecting bhe

ground preparatory to the undertaking of more systematic and extensive mining operations. With the Englishowned companies this is more particularly the case, for in a number of instances it has been necessary to sink shafts and erect pumping and winding machinery, all of which occupies considerable time, before any start at all waa actually made in developing tho respective proporbies. As examples of whab ia intended to be conveyed, tho Kathleen, Preece's Point Pro prietary and Blagrovea may be instanced. In each of those mines, which were taken up in the firsb place as bona fide properties having a certain prospective value, it waa found.iece.sary to sink, and for tho whole of the last twelve month* shafts have been going down. Such being the case it could not be expected that they would be gold producers, bub, however, now thab opening out for the dilleront roefa has beon taken in hand wa may reasonably expect thab in the course of tho next few months important discoveries will be made. Apart from this the more fact of tho existence of Kennedy and Cabbago Bays, nob to speak of other ouc lying districts which a year ago were practically unknown, is a proof of what has boen accomplished, while the present prospects of such mines as the Hauraki North, Four-in-Hand, Welcome Find, and others at leasb gives promise of a bright future.

ZEALANDIA.

The Zealandia mine, situated as ib is so favourably on thab zone or belt of country known as tho Hauiaki, and bounded by the Hauraki No. 2, Hauraki Special, Kathleen, Kaka and Hauraki South mines, the majority of which are already English Companies in full work, possesses in common with sovoral other claims in this vicinity possibilities for profitable development, which have evidently beon recognised by the management, and are being given effect to by the present system ol working. The necessity for sinking having been realisod in order to exploit tho property to bhe best advantage, a suitable site was selected and tho shaft sunk forthwith. Aba depth of 150fb from the surface it was decided to open out, and sineo proceeding to do so two prospecting levels have been driven from the shaft with tho object of intersecting bhe system of reefs known to traverse tho property. The lace of No. 1 drivo 13 now in ovor 104tb, and several quartz bodies have been cut, tho most important of which ia a nice loader intersected 30fb from the shafb, upon which driving has now boen commenced. Ib is a nice, compact body of stone, making a good deal of water and somewhat ironstained, carrying very promising indications, and from its appearance and general surroundings should, when opened up, produce good results. No. 2 drive is k-oing nearly duo east, or inthe direction of the Kathleen Company, and bhe face is now in over 125 ft. The country in this direction is also of a very kindly description and is nob lacking in respect to leads. A number of these have been cub already, the majority of which have been small. Ab 115fb in tho first of two important loaders came to hand, both striking in the same direction as thab in No. 1 drive, bub dipping to the west, and situated 10ft opart. The tirsb is nine inches in thickness, tho second about one foot of solid stone of very promising appearance, which would indeed warrant the making of gold ab any time.