KUAOTUNU.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 298, 23 December 1897, Page 3

KUAOTUNU.

Kapai-Vermont.

£407 10s 5D FOR THE MONTH

The return from this Kuaotunu mine for the four weeks ending November 13th was £407 10s sd, being the product of 380 tons of ore.

KAURI FREEHOLD GOLD ESTATES

Instructions have been cabled from London to at once proceed with the erection of a 40-stamper battery on the Opitonui portion of this Company's property. The stamps are to be 1,150 each, and the estimated cost of erection of same is set down at £10,000. KAPAI-VERMONT. At the main low level the lode has been driven on for a distance of 722 feet. The reef is 2ft 6in in width, and portions of this look promising for gold, but the flinty country yet predominates. The rise has penetrated to the intermediate level but so far nothing of a very payable nature has been met with. In the stopes south of the main pass at No. 2 level the reef averages 9 feet in width of which 4 feet have been saved for treatment. These stopes continue to produce ore of a low grade, being in close proximity to the upper levels. The intermediate level is in 158 feet. The reef is four feet in width, but during the penetration of the last 60 feet no payable stone has come to hand. In the stopes north of the main pass the reef averages 7*. feet in width of which 3 feet was saved for treatment. The ore obtained from these stopes is also of a low grade. In the stopes south of the winze the size of the reef is si'eet, of which H feet is saved for treatment. This stope has been of fair quality, but only. 4 feet now remains to be broken out. In the stopes north of the winze the average size of the reef was 8 feet of which 2h feet was saved, but the quality is poor. This block is nearly exhausted, and the stone is becoming inferior as the stopes are being carried toward the upper levels. In any case there is not much quartz remaining to break, and -the necessity of having to reduce' the mining staff seems probable. Four samples taken from the reef in the floor of the low level assayed as follows:—

No. 1 Sample.-Gold: 2dwts 14grs. Silver: 2 No*! Sample.-Gold: 9dwts 19grs. Silver: Sdwts 12&TS No. 3 Sample.—Gold: Sdwts 12grs. Silver: Bdwts 12grs. No. 4 Sample.—Gold: 3oz adwts 6grs. Silver: 2oz Odv/ts 12grs. No 4 Sample being so valuable is not surprising, the gold in that section being plainly visible to the naked eye.

A start was made to sink on the floor of the level, but at a depth of only 2 feet a strong body of water was met with, and this will prevent further progress until pumping machinery is available. The manager strongly recommends that sinking operation be immediately comenced, and is confident that expenditure in that direction would prove to be a wise step in the interests of the Company, as he feels satisfied that in the lower levels better dirt exists than any previously obtained in the mine, and if the present class of country continues, the cost of mining will be less when compared with the upper workings. There has been a falling off in the rate of crushing as compared with test month, and this is due to the condition of the machinery, through which the nrooer driving speed could not be mamLined However, a thorough overhaul is now being made and it is hoped a considerable improvement will be shown in the next output. The manager adds: I none that my recomemndations regarding development of the mine will be carried cut andii'this be done I.have, no hesita ; tiTm Iri predicting a good future for tiie Company. I hope with the advent of the New Year to witness improvement in its prospects.