THE MONTHLY REPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1898, Page 7

THE MONTHLY REPORT.

The manager reports that the Martha lode at No. 2 level ranges in the stopes from 15 feet to 23 feet in width, and west of Bull's Pass the lode is being taken out for the full width of 31J feet. The Welcome lode at No. 1 level opposite No. 1 shaft has been beaten out in the stopes up to within 7 feet of the floor of No. 1 level, when work at this point was suspended. In the level two winzes are being sunk. One under No. 9 pass is down 30 feet and the other, under No. 13 pass, is down 52 feet. Both are producing ore of good quality. A contract has been let for stoping a block on the Victoria, taking in the Welcome junction, containing about 9,000 tons. Two stopes are in progress on the Victoria lode at No. 1 level. The lode is 15.feet wide and near the Emily pass a strong body 3^feet wide strikes off to the south towards the Welcome lode. At the adit level the Welcome lode is five feet in width. The crosscut at No. 3 level from No. 2 shaft is in 347 feet. At 284 feet the Martha lode came to hand. The drive was then turned slightly to the west for the purpose of intersecting the lode at right angles. On driving through a fine body of good ore for 30 feet was passed before what apears to be the footwall was touched. This has since proved to be a conglomerate of hard country rock and quartz veins 22 feet in thickness. After passing through this quartz came to hand again and proved to be Hi feet wide, composed of ore of low grade. From the first contact united until the footwall was reached the distance is altogether 63 feet. The lode does not seem to have changed its underlie, but the 'horse' dividing it is wider than was expected. The ore coming to hand from the Welcome lode at No. 3 level is free milling, and of excellent quality. In the eastern end the lode is 11 feet wide and yields ore of good quality. No. 4 level cross-cut has been extended 52 feet. At 274 feet the Martha lode came to hand, and up to date has been cut for 15 feet, exposing ore of first-class quality, especially in the centre of the lode. Several samples taken from this large lode of ore gave a splendid prospect of bullion equal to over an ounce per ton. There is no indication of base mineral to be seen in the ore owing to the open nature of the ore permitting the free action of water right through it. From the general good appearance of the lode at this level ancl the ore overhead, states the manager, I have no hesitation in saying that it augurs well for the future prospects of the mine, and that there are still tons of gold in sight.