THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 198, 19 August 1908, Page 9

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

THE PROPOSED SCHEME. A COSTLY PROJECT. (From Onr Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. The Thames Deep Levels Committee Epent yesterday afternoon collecting information. A visit was paid to the Thames Hauraki pump, where the fact was elicited from Mr Brokenshire that an additional engine would .be required to pump below the thousand feet level. A sample of stone from the thousand feet level of the Queen of Beauty shaft was first-class andesite, carrying nice minerals. To sink another 500 feet the cost would bo enormous, as £11 10/----per foot was paid by the May Queen Company, and a set of timbers covering four feet cost .£2l). Practical miners are opposed to sinking below one thousand feet, advocating a prospecting crosscut in preference. The committee next visited the Kuranui Caledonian, where the manager. Mr Horn, showed cores from bores put down a few years ago. These were all labelled, showing the kind of country at various depth =. At 1040 feet the stone was almost exactly like that got at 1000 feet in the Queen of Beauty Shaft, warranting the assumption of continuous good country existing all along the flat at that depth. Both stones were identical in colour, and class of minerals. At 1004 feet the bore showed more pinky stone, carrying carbonate of copper. A visit was next paid to the battery, where the whole floor was covered with cores, which were carefully examined, all being a good description of country to 1000 feet. From that down to 1500 feet, the cores began to get worse, being slaty in colour, and evidently hard country. It would therefore seem that the logical outcome of such evidence must he to cross-cut from the thousandfoot level right across the ilat, which is estimated to cost" roughly £20,000 to £25,000. whereas to deepen the shaft another 500 feet entails enormous expenditure, and the cores shown do not appear to warrant undertaking the work. It is quite possible there may exist another auriferous belt below the poor country revealed by the bore between 1000 and 1500 feet, but the feeling oi practical men is against sinking until the field has been developed from the 1000 ft. level upwards. The Kuranui Caledonian battery was next visited, where Manager Turnbull advocated a cross-cut from the thousand feet, arguing that it was wiser to work where good country existed than to sink at great cost, through what is known to be pool', according to bores at the ether end of the flat. The committee met mine managers O. Wanie (Waiotahi). G. W. Home (Kuranui. Caledonian). T. Myle (Saxon), C. Williams (Victoria), E. V. Turnbull (Kuranui), and T. Crawford (Vanguard), and also Mr Burns, Mayor of the Thames. The following members of the committee were present:—Messrs. John Dawson (Chairman), J. B. Sheath (Secretary), J. KneebonP. Graves. Aickin. C. Hudson, and W. McCullough. The Chairman referred to the gathering as of national importance. The questions had to be decided to obtain benefit for the whole field, and not in the interests of any particular individual .or company. The committee required definite information from mine managers as to depth to start a crosscut, its route, and probably cost. Mr Aickin referred to the May Queen scheme of a cross-cut back of the slide. Mr Warne said as excellent country extended from the bottom nf the Queen of Beauty shaft it would be desirable to cross-cut from there, and not go deeper at present. Mr Home considered that there was a great chance in working up from the thousand feet level in virgin country. Experience proved that the run of gold dipped towards the South. Mr Aicken said he had learned that the Hauraki pump was not equal to lifting the water met with if they went to 2000 feet, Mr Turnbull said the pump was now lifting fiO.OOO gallons per hour. Another 500 feet would greatly increase the water to be lifted. As to the route, all the managers approved of driving from the Queen of Beauty shaft to the Saxon, then to the Big Pump by direct line. Referring to the May Queen scheme. Mr Warne said it would he the other side of the slide, and equivalent to 2000 feet in depth. In the past all the gold was got seaward of the slide until Point Russell was reached. Mr Warne, for all tho managers, estimated that the cost of the work would be £20,000 for 4010 feet. Mr Hudson felt sure the Government would subsidise the scheme. The committee required to consider the financial aspect, as the mines at the northern end of the field, required a guarantee that the cross-cut would not stop after a certain distance was penetrated, and it might be possible to form a company to work all below 500 feet, the company to receive share consideration, then all would share in any gold found. The Chairman said if a satisfactory scheme were' submitted the money would readily be subscribed. Mr Aicken suggested boring from various shafts before starting the level, but this was condemned by all the managers. Mr Home said they had good country proved at each end of the field, and could assure the committee that it went right across the thousand feet level. Mr Bums expressed gratification at the probability of the deep levels being exploited, as success there meant much for the Thames. He felt sure that the Government would assist the managers, whom he heartily thanked.