THE GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 70, 21 March 1908, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MOEWAL An application from the directors of the Moewai Gold Mining Company for the Coromandel- County Council to recommend the Department to expend £100 on the road from Mercury Bay to the mine, was agreed to at a meeting of that body yesterday. OLD KAPA^taA. The secretary of the Old Kapanga Company has written to the Coromandel County Council asking for assistance in the matter of unwatering the deep levels of that mine. At a meeting held last night the Council decided to forward the recommendation to the Minister of Mines with the suggestion that the request be granted. OLD HAURAKT. The manager of the Old Hauraki Gold Mining Company attended the meeting of the Coromandel County Council yesterday with reference to the decision to charge his company 10/ per day of 12 hours for water supplied to the battery. He pointed out that the company already paid £50 per annum for water boilers and condenser. It was decided to charge £10 per annum, as heretofore, for the boiler, and to reduca the charge for the battery only to 5/ per day or part of a day, this arrangement to be subject to readjustment at any time after one month. HI>"E MAKAGEES' REPORTS. KiriMrl—There is a decided change both in the rise and in the drive. The reef in the rise is making again, and there is a better class of country coming In. I washed a lot of the quartz in the dish, and a few colours of gold were seen. There is a large percentage of mineral with it of the best class. There is a change of country coming in from the hangingwall again, and it is cutting out the flint. It is carrying along with two small stringers. Id about Bft further ahead they should strike into the reef, and with the country they should make gold. I am very anxious to see gold in this drive, as it means a lot to the company, as at this point there i≤ 170 ft of backs on the reef, and the backs are making very fast now as we drive into the hill. I hope to be able to report strong gold in my uoxt renort. Champion.—Battery level: The drive has been extended to a distance of 82ft. The I full three shifts are now at work, and progress promises to be rapid. The country is stil! disturbed, and until it becomes settled I shall continue to work the hands employed on wages, as it Is difficult to' I estimate the value of the present country ; for contract work. A further 20ft of driving ! will give between 40 and 50ft of backs. The I country passed through is gold bearing, the ! loose wash showing both fine and coarse ■ gold. I am having assays made, and will i<. port them as soon as results are to hand. Recent heavy rains have caused slips necessitating the securing of the ground so far passed through, with Umber. A change in the country for the better may be expected . within a few days. 70ft of further driving I will bring this level opposite the old tipj head of the low level, at which point we : know, from the work done on the limestone lode, we are in a strata of goldbearing country, limestone formation, with pug and sandstone seams Intermixed. Battery: The contractor has now four teams of horses engaged on the Council road, and; i tht heavy parts of machinery are being I dealt with. Dullcck teams have been, secur- ! e<l lor hauling the plant from the end of the Con ceil road to the battery site, along which the gradients are steeper and the going heavier. The teams are expected to I arrive during this week.