RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 158, 6 July 1899, Page 7

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

PAEROA, this day

Four weeks ago 1 chronicled in the | "Star" the intersection of the Golden Cross lode at this Company's No. 4 level from No. 1 shaft, but not sufficient work had been accomplished to determine its size and character. The loch- was met at JOG feet in from the shaft chamber several feet before it was expected. The crosscut was continued and the reef proved to be a strong body of quartz 17ft in width at the angle of the crosscut equal to about 12 feet at right angles. After passing' through this, and driving 24 feet, a second body of quart/, was cut. This was runningl nearly parallel with the crosscut, and on being cut through at right angles was found to be between 4 and 5 feet in thickness. Further prospecting of this lode will require to be done, before it can be decided whether it is a branch of the main body or a new lode, but it is probably the former. Driving on the first lode was undertaken, and after going about '50 feet north, it took the general direction of the main reef which the manager has now decided it is. At 60 feet in the main run was met with and proved to be a good body of payable quart/, varying in width from 4 to 8 feet, the width of the lode being much greater. The drive on the lode has now been extended 111 feet, and the face is in payable ore. At a distance of 150 feet in, the lode will be crosscut to ascertain the width and value of the whole body. So far it is quite equal to what it was in the No. .') level above. Recently in the southern part of the mine a drive has been put in above the outcrop of the Premier run, and has been carried a distance of 113 feet on what appears to be a distinct reef from any previously driven on in this part of the mine. This body of quartz varied from 4 to 7 feet, in thickness, and although so far only of low grade, it is a most important development, being a strong body of stone and likely any day to make a payable run of gold. With a view of testing this find the Manager is now opening upon it from the battery level 100 feet below this surface level, whilst a rise is also beng put up from here to the surface to prove the reef and also for ventilation purposes. However more work requires to be done before a decided opinion can be given on the find, but it promises to prove an important one. The No. 3 level from No. 1 shaft, is in a total distance of 440 feet. The face is now in broken country very similar to that at No. 2 level about where the cave was met, but so far there is no appearance of the cave here, and although the ore •at present is rather low grade it is better on assay than at No. 2 at the same point above, and also contains much less calcite. There is thus a good prospect of the cave dying out here. No. 4 rise has holed through to No. 2 level and has been carried upon good grade- ore. No. 2 level from No. 1 shaft is in 814 ft from the main crosscut, and the men are crosscutting the reef to ascertain its width and value, as apparently they have. got. clear of the broken country around the cave. The ore is still of low grade, but it is likely there will soon be an improvement. No. 0 rise is being put up above the back of the cave, and from its appearance seems to be getting into payable stone. It is up 25 feet and a winze from No. 1 level at the back of the cave was sunk 5,0 feet on payable stone, so that although the cave makes a blank at No. 2 level there is payable stone between the levels at this point. At the No. 1, or Kiln level, a winze is being sunk about 150 feet north of the present face of No. 2 level with the object of prospecting the reef. This is being carried down on good grade ore, and as this is the most extreme northern point of the mine, it appears probable a run of payable, ore will be met at No. 2 level ahead of the cave. At Corbett's level and also at No. 1, 2 and .'5, stoping is in progress, and from all these points ore is being despatched to the mills. The work of sinking No. 1 shaft below No. 4 level has just been started in order to open up No. 5 level. The No. 2 shaft is also being sunk as rapidly as possible to No. 4 level, 350 feet froTn the surface, when No. 4 drive will be opened out. The shaft is now down 253 feet. At the Te-Ao-Marama section, the work in hand here is the sinking- of a winze from No. 2 level on No. 1 reef to open up No. 3 level. The intermediate reef has been driven on, and at 50 feet south of the main crosscut was found to junction with No. 2 reef at which point it makes a good body of payable ore. The work to be undertaken at this section will be the sinking of the shaft as rapidly as possible to No. 3 level, and also the sinking of the winze. So far, the exploration at No. 2 level have proved good runs of payable ore to exist in the No. 1 reef, intermediate reef and No. 2 reef. At the old Waitekauri mine the crosscut put in from the side of the hill has been completed, having holed through into the upper level. It is now being cdntined to the east with the view of proving the ground in that direction. From the foregoing it is clear the Company are embarking on a more

vigorous and extensive scheme of development, one proof of which is the fact" that the .three main shafts are being sunk as rapidly as . possible Other development work of an important character will shortly be undertaken, but in the meantime it would be premature to give details.