THE MINING OUTLOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 68, 22 March 1898, Page 2

THE MINING OUTLOOK.

m, WAITEKAURI (CONTINUED)

(By our Special .Reporter.)

KOMATA REEFS

Is the chief mine on the Komata ■watershed and likely to be one of the best mines in the Upper- Country. Considering the short space of tinie since work was first initiated, the developments now completed and in progress compare most favourably with anything I have seen up here. Ail the elements are here in evidence •which go to form a succesful mine, and it will be the unforseen entirely ■which, will prevent it from having its recognised position as one of our permanent gold producers. Of course t6 really turn 6ut larger results a more extensive mill will have to be pro•vided* and certainly efficient motive power to work it. A great many companies have placed too much faith an their water power, and in consequence have provided small auxiliary engine power—result, in - dry season the mill is shut down partially, and the bullion returns considerably diminished. This is violating any common business principle, for it would be far more profitable to supply an ©ngine capable of driving all the stamps when water failed if at a greater' cost even than to have the stamps hung up and the mine gene■f&lly thrown back. This is observed all along the line, and every announcement of returns carries with it the intimation that owing to shortage of ■water, etc., so many stamps less of work. Why don't they see and possess sufficient auxiliary power?

There were two levels opened up concurrently in this mine at its ,iuception> one driven on the Komata Jteef outcrop in the face of the spur, the other, a crosscut, at rig%ht angles to it to test the interior. The latter wa& not in vain for 100 feet brought What is called now Argyll's lode to jha-nd-^tMs lode has been responsible :for the making- of the mine. The drive on the Komata Beef was pushed in 255 feet, and it will average throughout about 2ft. 6in., of rather poor ore, i.e., in comparison with Argall's. At the point cut Argall's lode* was 14ft. thick of payable ore, and no time was lost in centring- all hands on its lively -development, which can be better ■understood when I say that from this !N6; 2 level most of the ore for the mill lias been procured. The drive S. here is in 130 feet and the lode is firstclasfe quality all the way, averaging 9 feet thick. The face just now is Somewhat split, and consequently ,poorer, but will doubtless improve further ahead in the ordinary manlier. Going north and at 140 feet in the }6de divides into two maiii branches, each of 3 feet width, which remain separate bodies for almost 210 rfeet in length. With an exception of 60 feet blank all this ore goes to the mill. In the N. face where the whole is now1 one compact lode again, the Ore has greatly improved during the past week, and it would appear as if &n6ther ore chute of gold was about to make again. There remains yet a distance of 700 feet to drive on the reef to the N. boundary of the property. Back from the present face 250 feet, what is termed Hartridge's leader—a cross lead comes in on the Vail of the main lode. This lead carried &cceptionally rich stone and it Was therefore opened up for 130 feet, a leading stope carried right along, passes put in, and everything left ready for blocking out. Although only 1 foot thick the quality of this leader "would make it very desirable iworkingf, I am informed. It carries Tery rich ore. At a point 90 feet from the junction with Argall's lode a rise ihas been put up 85 feet to No. 1 level— driven subsequently to No. 2 to open a block above. All the ore throughout! these workings and above No. 1 is of payable quality, and there is plenty of it. Stoping is now proceeding on Argall's lode N. of No. 1 pass, and there is a total height of back of 140 feet above No. 2 level to be blocked put. South of the main crosscut a leading stope had just been started, feO fe6t S. of the crosscut a rise is up 45 feet to connect with a drive being pushed in from the surface to this point. 45 feet stil remain to be risen before communication can be effected. I must not forget to mention that in the main No. 2 crosscut 200 feet E. of 'Argall's a big parallel lode called Lavington's has been intersected. It 3s over 28 feet thick at the intersected *6int, and has been driven on over 70 feet. The ore is similar in appearance 7fc6 the best in the mine, but nevertheless it is lower grade. It provides, ihowever, a tremendous body of easily ■workable ore, if any modification in process can be arrived at to make it ■worth while treating. A few shillings further econdmy in treatment might Jftake this a payable lode. This remark Applies also to the Komata Eeef. The present low level, beneath No. 2 100 feet,, cut the lode (Argall's) in 800 ieet of driving. Here it is the same strong body and of improved value to No. 2, which speaks well Tt has ;been dpened up here 200 feet N. and 120 S. of the crosscut, and for the tobole' distance, carries good payable ore^^-all going to the mill. S. of the jfttttescut a rise, containing an ore pass, I*o6s tip to No. 2, and all the dirt ,tfilxs comes out of.the low level.from t&e mine. Stoping is now going on N. and S. of the main pass, and following in the levels, while the produce, viz., the ore, is of same satisfactory quality. There is a huge block to come <mt between Nos. 2 and 3 levels, and at should return increasing quantities of bullion. To provide for the future as ejected a still lower level is now feeing laid off which will give 300 ieet of backs below No. 3 level. I dbn't require to point out what this ineavfls in the way of ore supplies if the lode continues as at present in depth. All the ore from the workings now comes out of No. 3 level, and is shot into large hoppers, from .whence it is conveyed by aerial tram a distance of half-a-mile to other hoppers. T hence it is conveyed by locomotive haulage to the mill one mile off—each trip repi-esenting five tons of ore* the cost of transport, is not Jieatfy, about 9d per ton of ore. The mill consists of 20 stamps, and dry crushing has been in vogue, with cyanide. I)uring last week, however, five Stamps were set going on wet crushing by another method, arid I believe the result has been eminently satisfactory—so much so, in fact, that I understand this method will be resorted to altogether. The system will be as follows:—The Ore will be crushed in the ordinary way, run over the copper plates, and the whole of the tailings cyanklod in the usual manner. To prevent loss in float, g6ld, etc., all the water going through the stamper boxes wil be preserved, caught in specially prepared tanks, pumped out and reused. In i his way it is claimed no appreciable loss will be incurred. During the past month ihe engine broke down again—not Kufficient power, and so 10 stamps kave been rendered useless. Thiss loss

6f time and money is surely apparent, and 1 trust will be rectified. The recent rain has enabled the whole mill to be started again. The mine could do with another 20 head of stamps, and ought to have them, for at present it has less crushing capacity than any other mine ol' its standard in the country.

To Mr Benney, the present mine manager, belongs ihe credit, of bringing the mine to its existing state of advanced development, and it is likely | that the firm confidence Which he has j always maintained in the prosperity j since its eomemncement is not going ! to be belied, its interior appearance begets a feeling of permanency, as nearly as you can feel for anything in the, mining world, and 1 classify it myself as one of the best properties on the Peninsula. TE-AU-MAEAMA. tJllder the. above disguise will be recognised the Komata. section of the big Waitekauri -Company's property. It lies about two miles in a direct line N.W. of the Waitekauri township, and on the Komata watershed, adjoining In fact tho Komalu Reefs. Gold w^is first discovered in the property by sonic prospectors in 185)1, and it was acquired in ]592 by Mr T. Russell, when systematic mining was immediately commenced. From that date up to 1894 the mine was continuously worked with satisfactory results for the sum of £27,000 worth of bullion was obtained. At that time all the milling ore was taken by the then Komata now Waitekauri Company's mill. The means oi' transport were both primitive and expensive, and only first-class ore would pay the costs. All the quartz was elevated to the top of the range by a horse whim, and thence conveyed to the mill by an inclined tram and horse haulage. An average value per ton of £8 was extracted, and this probably did not represent a high percentage of its true value, as ordinary amalgamation alone was used. The ore principally Was taken from what is now known as No. 1 level, and the surface on No. 1 reef. A little also was procured by No. 2 reef. In the beginning of 1892 Mr Russell also acquired the Goldon Cross property, and put up a small battery there of five stamps, which was afterwards increased to ten head. The Golden Cross proving a successful venture, he amalgamated it with the Te-Au-Marama, and when he left for England in May, 1595, Mr G. K. Purchas assumed charge of the combined properties. During his term of office a new battery was erected and extensive general works carried out. ]n May, 1597, an attempt was made to float the Te-Au-Marama mine into a separate company, but owing to the slack market and more particularly New Zealand mining stocks, it did not come off, and the claims remain yet part of the Waitekauri confederation. Under Mr Purehas comprehensive, developments have been undertaken. Driving has been continued at No. 1 level, and another payable chute of ore encountered, similar to that, obtained before. This is now being exploited in a regular manner by rises and winzes, and it, is expected" a good block will be opened up. To avoid expense in internal winding of ore, etc., from winzes, a shaft is being sunk from the hopper elevation,, 10 feet by 4 feet in dimensions, from which every 100 feet levels will be driven, and the reefs systematically worked. The complete scheme is to carry Ihe shaft down to a depth of 600 feet, and then drive a. main crosscut to connect with the main low adit level now going in from the Grace Darling creek. This is a heavy but. doubtless sensible undertaking, as it. will prove the whole property at an advantageous depth.. The adit level is now in S7O feet and another 3,400 feet odd requires to bo driven to reach a point underneath the shaft. This adit level can easily bo connected with the. central battery by a ground tram, so that the many advantages of the completed scheme are obvious. Altogether the Te-Au-Marama is a property with potentialities, for it has reefs, nnd they are not unworthy of the name gold-bearing.