ALPHA.

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

ALPHA.

It is expected the formation of a road to the battery site, towards which object '"-> the company contributed £200, will be sufficiently advanced in three weeks' time to enable the contractor to get the balance of tbe machinery on the ground. The stamper boxes, crown crushers, ancl many other parts have already arrived, so that the work should soon proceed without further interruption. At the mine the winze from No. 4 to No. 5 level, a depth of 100 feet, has been completed, whilst a rise from No. 4 level has also been holed through to the surface. The drive at No. 4 level is in 450 feet, and that at No. 5 level 190 feet. The low level cross-cut has been driven 450 feet, and the lode exploited for 30 feet from the point of intersection. The tramway from the adit level to the battery has been completed, and also the formation for the battery site, and the only want now is the completion of the road. GOLDEN FALLS. An option over this Whangamata property has been granted to the Hauraki Peninsula Exploration Company. The following are the terms: Option holders to pay rent ancl develop the property; a company to be floated as soon as, in the opinion of the option holders, the time is suitable, such company to be formed with a nominal capital of from £75,000 to £150,000 at the option of promoters, and upon allotment of such shares the Golden Falls Company to receive 15 per cent, of the nominal capital to be issued as fully paid up. The working capital is fixed at not less than £20,000, to be subscribed or guaranteed before vendors transfer the titles of property. OHINEMURI SYNDICATE. During tho. past month this Company have intersected several small leaders in both their drives from the shaft. These have all proved goldbearing, though nothing of unusual richness was met. "With the object of testing the nature of these stringers the manager has commenced driving northward in the western crosscut along the course of one of the most promising looking. This stringer gives good prospects when tested by the dish, and from the appearance of the face and the increased flow of water coming from ahead it is not improbable that several of these stringers may join together some distance ahead, thus forming a decent sized lode.

Another quartz body was met this ] week. This lode from wall to wall is about six feet wide, but is divided into several parts by bands of sandstone. The ore is of the same character as already met, ancl carrying a little gold. Driving on the other vein some distance back is proceeding, but the lode is encased in rather tight ground at present, and is in consequence pinched. However, the belt of sandstone, I which in the upper levels carried the best ore, is only a very short distance ahead, and Mr Morgan anticipates that when this is reached the best results will be attained. WAIHI MINERS' UNION. The annual meeting of members of the above was held, for the. election of officers in the Union Hall on Saturday last. For the important position of steward, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Jas... Laing, three candidates were nominated, and the result of the ballot was as follows: — Chas. Malloy, 113; Edward Drum, 88; Geo. Martin, 62. The following seven were electee! a committee for the ensuing twelve months:—Messrs Jas. Laing, John Barron., Henry Carter, A, Katz, Geo. Morgan, A. Campbell, and Frank Kennon. WENTWORTH. During the past month 31 men have been employed by the Hauraki Peninsula Exploration Company developing this Whangamata property. The water race has been constructed for 36_| chains. Ifc is passing through good country for holding the water. The "winze on the Studholme reef is now down 35 feefc. Assays from last breaking down yielded afc the rate of £24 5s 2d and £21 19s 4d per torn At the battery site preparations are being made for the erection of machinery.