Woodstock Main Reefs.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1898, Page 7

Woodstock Main Reefs.

ACTION FOR DAMAGES,

Tho Warden's Court was occupied at Paeroa on May 20th, 27th and 28th hearing evidence in an action brought for £150 damages by one Archibald Kerr against the WoodstocK Main Reefs Company (Limited). The action was brought under the Mining Act in respect of nonprotection of machinery, and it is alleged that the complainant on the 16th of February, 1898, lost the little finger of his left hand owing to an air fan in the defendant company's mine being exposed and dangerous and not properly fenced off and made safe as required by the Mining Act. Kerr was working at tho fan on the date mentioned and tripped coming in. In trying to save himself he caught hold of the air fan, with the result that the little finger of bis left hand was cut off at the first joint. He sought to recover £150 damages. Mr E. W. Burton appeared for the complainant, and Mr C. Purchas, of Wynyard and Purchas, for the Company. A large number of witnesses were examined on both sides, including

Dr. Forbes, who attended Kerr, and who considered complainant would always sutler inconvenience and loss of'efficiency in his work. Mr Ryan, assistant mine inspector, for defence, "did not consider the fan dangerous, although he admitted it evidently was dangerous from the fact that another miner, F. A. Hanlen, had also lost a finger in it. After argument by counsel, tho Warden, Mr Bush, decided to see the fan, and accordingly drove to Karangahake on Saturday morning. On his return Mr Bush gave judgment against Kerr, as although he held that the fan was exposed and dangerous and required protection, he could not understand from viewing tho scone of the accident and from Kerr's evidence how Kerr could possibly lmvo lost a finger of his left hand in falling as Kerr described. Had he lost a linger of the right hand lie could understand it. Under these circumstances he must give judgment against complainant without costs. Mr Burton asked for a written judgment to be given next Court day, so that lie might consider the. advisability of appeal, to which tho Warden agreed. The case of A. Ilanlon against the same Company for £150 damages for tho loss of the little finger of his rijjht hand was then taken, tho evidonco being exactly similar to Kerr's except that Hanlen was not falling but nut out his right hand tosteady himself. 'Ihe Warden held that in this case Hanlon's evidence showed how the accident occurred. He considered tho framework on which air fan stands dangerous as well as the opening where accidents occurred. In assessing the amount of damages Mr Bush said he had considered tho Joss of time, medical expenses, disliguremcnt, discomfort, loss of cllieicney in mining, or othor work, etc., and would award Hanlen £50 and £13 6s costs of case. ALPHA. The following assays havo been tnado of samples of ore taken from the main reef in the low level at this mino, £0 10s 3d per ton and £0 17a Od per ton. About half a cwt of ore was taken from all parts of the reef at a point abovit 18 feet from tho crosscut. A further large average sample has been taken from tho reef. Two independent assays gave the following results, per ton:—No. 1, gold, loz Bdwts ; silver, 240z ldwt. Value 1"S 0s Id. No. 2, gold, loz Otlwts flgrs ; silver, 230z Odwts lngrs. Value, £8 3s Od. Important developments have taken place in this mine. At No. 0 level in tho beginning of tho week the ore was of a much better class, and continued to improve in quality. It is now of excellent grade, as all tho stono prospects well and a little gold is seen. Tho reef has now opened out, and in 3 feet 0 inches, with every indication of making much larger. A bout'2.B feet have been driven on the reef, and during the last 10 feet the reef in improving every foot driven. Thero are a littlo over 200 feet of backs from this level. The manager has no doubt but that this is tho Alpha, reef, fu< it has drained the water from the No. 4 level. A winze bus been started from No. 4 level. The reef here is making in size, and the stono is of better quality and prospects well. GRACE DARLING. The annual meeting of shareholders in this company lapsed for want of a quorum. The directors' report staled the option holders were well pleased with tho prorperly and gave the directors to understand they will complete the, pun-base at an earlydate. The cash statement showed receipt*! £2,:>82 0/5 and expenditure X 2.551 15/3, leaving a debit balance of £202 5/10. During j the year £SOO was received as deposits I on the. option sale, £1,482 17/11 as j calls, and £97 0/6 from bullion. Amongst the items of expenditure were: Wages £051 0/8; mine requisites £24 13/6; creditors paid oil j £684 9/8; and the overdraft was reduced fr oni £737 0/5 to £202 5/10. IMPERIAL. An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in the Imperial Company held i in Mr H. Gilfillan's office, had a good attendance. Mr Barnes presided. He j moved a formal resolution authorising tho directors to acquire the property of the Excelsior G.M, Comnany for 5,000 shares of 2* each, paid up to lOd. Mr! Gooch said he held proxies from 23 share holders iv tho mining district, who all j objected to the proposed amalgamation. Mr Barnes said the directors had no wish to force the matter, and after further discussion he withdrew the motion. KOMATA REEFS RETURN. The result of the past month's crushing at the Kotnata Reefs battery is satisfactory in that the extraction under the wet process proved equal to 93 per cent, of the assay value of the ore The total amount treated was 470 tons, which yielded bullion valued at £1,198. MONTEZUMA. The new plant, erected by the Rev. J. Campbell for this Te Aroha Company, i 3 now in working order. At present & very low grade ore is being treated, the plant being run for the purpose of training the staff, and getting everything into smooth working order. Shortly put, the system of working is: —The ore has to be broken to tho size of peas, and introduced into the furnace when its temperature is at 1500deg.F. Then the water gas is turned on, which carries away all tho base material, leaving a free milling ore, that is subsequently treated by well-known methods. OHINEMURI SYNDICATE. On May 28th the Ohinemuri Syndicate tapped the Smile of Fortune reef in the western crosscut from tho bottom of the shaft. Unfortunately, next day the strain on the pump owing to the infiux of water caused an important part to give way, and the shaft was immediately 'drowned, stopping all work till repairs were effected. Mr Morgan, the manager, goes to the Thames to-day to endeavour to procure the necessary part of the pump. The reef was met 230 feet west of the shaft. Its value and size cannot be determined till work is reaumed. NEW ZEALAND CROWN. The rumour that a sluito ef rich ore had been discovered in the New Zealand Crown mines has boen confirmed. This development is looked upon as an important one for the Company as the rich shutes worked on this ground in the early days paid well. The erection of the extra twenty head of stampers at this Karangahake company's crushing plant is now under way. Some of the stampers are already in position, and it is hoped that the whole sixty head will be at work in July. The ore from the reef in the incline shaft is said to be of splendid quality, and gives every promiisa of showing further improvement downward. TALISMAN G.M. COY. This company bas for some, time, been pushing ahead with development work with the object of opening up their mine in the Bonanza se -non, which lies to the south of the Talisman claim. A considerable amount of prospecting was done here cinder the direction of Mr Goldsworthy, who discovered the outcrop of a lode which from its situation and the character of the stono he. deemed must be the. continuation of the Talisman lode This outcrop aviis traced to the end of the claim nearest the Talisman and a cross-cut was then started from the No. 4 level southward for ths purpose of intersecting this reef. The lode was met at the anticipated point

j and has now been, driven on southward iSB feet, showing a compact, wellj defined body of stone about 3 feet wide, and carrying a payable percentage of bullion. The country encasing the reef is first-class and 300 feet of backs aro available on tho lo lo at the point of its intersection, whilst some distance south tho backs increase to about 000 feet. This is of course a most important development for the Talisman Company as it .-dearly shows they possess' some 1,500 feet in length of the. Talisman lode in their Bonanza section, on which no work has yet ben done. A cross-cut from the No. 3 level above No. 4 is now being pushed ahead to intersect the lode at that level, whilst similar crosscuts from Nos. 5 and 0 levels will shortly follow, thus opening up a very extensive stretch of reef. This discovery must bo held to liave quite altered the life ami prospects of the Talisman Company, and if th«. lode maintains its value at deeper levels (of which thero is no great doubt) the company should have a long and prosperous career before it. At the No. 7 level cross-cut, which has been slopped for some time, work was resumed this morning and the 250 feet between the face and the lode will be diminished as rapidly as possible. This cross-cut is at present in 500 feet, and is 114 feet below No. G level. At No. 0 level driving on the reef is -in progress and also stoping, the avenge width of the ]ode at this level being 5 feet, though in some parts widening out to 8 feet. At No. 5 level two large sections of reef are being opened up north and south of the No. 2 winze, the lode being in both sections of good payable quality and averaging 4 feet wide. The battery is again running the fill' complement of stamps and no further shortage of wafer should occur before next Christmas. TE PUKE MINES. An assay of stone from Clark's freehold at To Puko gives £10 10s worth of bullion to the ton. Timber and iron for the men's huts at the To Puke Gold Beefs aro now at Maketu ready for carting to the mine. WAIHI GRAND JUNCTION. The first consignment of machinery for the Grand .function Company's main shaft has arrived, and the, balance will immediately follow. This machinery is of the most powerful description, and, when erected, will enable the Company to cope with the water difficulty, and proceed with development work at bottom of the main shaft. The shaft in the Waihi West section is now clown -220 feet, and has cut through the reef, which proved to be 18 feet in width, mid gave assays at the rate of £5 per ton. At tho west section oi this Company's property the shaft is down 224 ft below the surface, which means 03ft below tho level put in from No. I shaft on the reef. The country is at present tight for sinking. It is the intention of the Company to sink 12fJft below the first level, and open out a crosscut to intersect the lode at a depth of 1 loft leaving 10ft below this level for a well. WAIT EX AU R1 EXTENDED. The ore at No. 2 level is now of better average value. At the battery work is in progress for running 20-headof stampers by dry process, on the ore at present in the kilns. It is intended to try the wet process with another 10 head of stampers. WAITEKAURI JUBILEE COMPANY. It is pleasing to be able to chronicle that this company, after spending a considerable sum in connection with their battery, have now completed j alterations, and on Friday last they i got a run out of the machinery anil 1 five bead of stamps. The wholo twenty head will .shortly be in full! work, and, judging by the paddocks of quartz lying- ready for crushing, regular returns should shortly be forthcoming from this property. A large, ffinount of development work was accomplished whilst tho battery was Vicing got ready, and Mr Barney has ably completed the work initiated by his predecessor, Mr l.aithhy. A large si all' of men are now engaged about the mine, and ihe battery, including an assayer and engineer, and (he Jubilee Mine should shortly be added to the list of our bullion producers. WHANGAMATA PROPRIETARY. The contractors are busy constructing the mill buildings at this mine. A largo contract has also been let for supplying timber for the water race and mill buildings, a block of kauri adjacent to the mine having been purchased by the Company. The Thames County Council has completed the construction of a good dray roau from the mine to Whangamata Harbour. WENTWORTH. At this Whangamata mine an entirely new process of treatment for the ore is to be adopted. Mr J. F. Studbolme, the New Zealand director of the Hauraki Peninsula Exploration Company, holders of tho option, is at present in Auckland for the purpose of conferring with the engineer, selecting machinery and entering into contracts for its constructions. The waterrace, in course of construction, will give power to the extent of 50 horse-power in dry seasons, having a flow of about 120 cubic feet, and a fall of nearly 300 feet. The site for low-working level and tramline has also been surveyed, and work begins shortly. It is hoped crushing will bceoinnienced early next November.