MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 253, 1 November 1897, Page 5

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Grace Darling.—South of the flatsheet tbe reef is a splendid body of stone, six feet in thickness. Gold is showing in the stone, and magnificent prospects of free gold can be obtained by panning. The crushing of 50 tons of ore has been completed. Tbe plates and boxes have been cleaned up for a most satisfactory result, 31oz of smelted gold having been obtained from this souice. The assay value of the tailings in one vat is 32s per ton. The taller portion of the tailings has not yet been tested, but are equally good, if not better than the one assayed.

Golden Lead.—At present the reef is only a seam of clay with rubbly quartz in it, but seems tube making again. There are still prospects in it. The cross leader also gives prospects. Work has been discontinued here and the men put on to extend the main drive. In about 100 feet Scotty's footwall leader should be cut. This outcrop on the surface is fully five feet in thickness.

New Yeai.—Some trenching has been done on the other side of the bill, where a little loose gold has been got. Sovereign.—The low level tunnel is iv 125 feet. Four leaders have been cut in the drive, varying in size from four inches up to one foot in width. They have an average assay value of 35s per ton. Another 26 to 30 feet of driving should cut tbe Young New Zealand reef. A contract for this work has been let to Lowe and party at 15s per foot. Welcome Find.—No. 3 level crosscut is now in 105 feet from the engine shaft. No. 2 lode at No. 2 level is disordered owing to the country at present being disjointed. A marked improvement has now set in both in the lode and the country. The stone averages about 6 inches in width and is Avell mineralised. Gold has been seen in the southern lode in tbe stopes during the week. The lode maintains its usual size and promising characteristic for producing picked stone at any time. Adelaide: The reef formation in the south end of the winze is about a foot thick aud composed of a number of stringers, The reef is more compact at the north end and strong colours of gold were seen at each breaking down. The winze has been stopped, but has proved tbe reef gold bearing below tbe level. Driving west in tbe break has been stopped as there is no indication of tbe hangingwall portion of the reef making clown to this level south of the break.

Express : The tunnel is still penetrating very hard andesite rook. During the week the tunnel has been inspected by Mr Farmer of the Waitekauri Extended Company, who expressed the opinion that 25 iect further will require to be driven before meeting with any success.

Hinemoa-Hauraki.— The country seems to be changing from brown sandstone to nice blue country heavily charged with bright minerals. One or two very small

quartz veins have also been met with. Golden Anchor.—No 5 reef is not quite so thick, but some of the quartz has a very promising appearance. Bunker's Hill. —In taking down the footwall branch of the reef in the winze a few ! colours of gold were seen, but an unfavourable class of country made its appearance in the bottom. A drive in a westerly direction will be undertaken to keep in the gold- •";' bearing sandstone country passed through. ' -The reef in this direction is most promising „ looking for the production of picked stone at any time. New Zealand Talisman.—The manager reports : During the past month the North-/ drive has been extended a distance of 55----feet, on the exact course of the lode, which,. is five feet in thickness, and all the orej. won is of a payable nature. This drive-' will open up a fine large block of groundfor stoping out, which it is anticipated will prove highly payable. Stoping south has been continued with four men during the month. The reef is two feet in thickness. At No. 4 level the ore won from the south stopes is not quite so rich as it was last month, but it is expected that richer ore, will soon be met with further south. In tbe rise north of the break the reef has continued to improve. At No. 5 level south the reef is 3ft 6in in thickness, with Well-defined walls, and encased in a splendid class of sandstone country. The ore is improving in value as the drive is carried in this southward direction. The rich shoot of ore coming down from the No. 4 level is expected to be met with at an early date. In the stopes north and south of the No. 1 winze the reef is sft in thickness, and the ore won is payable. The assays from this part vary considerably, ranging from £2 to £15 10s 9d. At No. 6 level the reef presents a splendid appearance, and is a fine, strong body tully sft in thickness. The value of the reef is improving as developments are extended southwards. No. 7 level crosscut is now in a total distance of 200 feet, but up to the present time Shepherd's reef has not been intersected. The managers are confident of picking it up east of the hard country that is now being penetrated. Surface works : The hopper and self-acting tramway at the No. 6 level are now completed and working very satisfactorily. The erection of the new large storage' hopper at the mill has been practically completed, while good progress is being made with the erection of the Krupp mill, which has involved the purchase of an additional rock-breaker, 4 cyanidiug vats and other accessories.