THE GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 24 December 1912, Page 7

THE GOLDFIELDS.

MONOWAI. The mine manager of the Monowai Gold Minig Company, Ltd., reports that the olean-up to December 19 gave the following return from 351 tons of ore treated: Bullion £323. concentrates £550, total £873. The manager reports that for the week ended December 19 55 ttrns of ore were crushed, the sample from the lips of the boxes giving an average assay value of £1 12/8 per ton. At the No. 2 level he has cut through what he considers is the hangingwall branch of the main reef. On the hangingwali of this portion of the reef there is from 3 to 4ft of good payable ore, and he considers there is every possibility of a large block of payable ore being opened up there. The stopes under No. 3 level are still producing good payable ore.

HAURAKI REEFS. The manager of the Hauraki Reefs, Ltd., has wired: "Crushed and treated 23 tons general dirt, ad also 301b picked stone, for return valued approximate! £270." WATHI G.M. COMPANY. The report of the directors of the Waflil G.M. Company for October reads as follows: After an idleness extending for a period of over 20 weeks, caused by the strike, the mine was thrown open for work on 2nd inst Previous to this the contractors In the exist ing contracts (30 In all) were notified of our Intention to open the mine on tne above date, and were requested to come and flai** l their uncompleted work; we met wttti a very poor response, only a portion ot one contract party resuming. "We thereupon cancelled 29 contracts and decided to resume work on the wages system until we organise the men by making theni np Into different parties preparatory to letting them contracts. At this date the number of men employed underground Is 01, and we are certain that the number coming In will steadily Increase. We anticipate being In a position to let several stoplng blocks during the coming period. The state of the mine, considering the long stoppage. Is very satisfactory. A certain amount of repairs In the way of timbering the levels and working down looHe ground became necessary, but not nearly so much as was anticipated by a great number of the workmen. We hope In a rfhort time to have everything lo readiness, so that the stipulated tonnage for tlie mills can be supplied from the mine without encroaching on the storage hoppers on the surface.

We have already commenced stoplng on the Empire, between Bolker and Paul passes, also on the Edward lode betwren Perch and Trout passes. From the shrinkage blocks, some of which were finla/ied breaking prior to the strike, a large tonnage Is being drawn off by wages men.

The moat Important development work was being carried out on No. 10 level. Over 100 men were employed in sinking the shafts aud driving along the course of the lodes. None of this work can be proceeded with until the water Is drained below No. 10 level, and it Is therefore certain even if the strike were terminated at once the mine could not now give employment to the same number of men as were employed previously.

Repair work had to be carried out In No. 0 shaft at a point 150 ft from the surface. It Is now in fair order. Ttie broken plunger case on the B pump at No. 5 level has been replaced, and Is now .In readiness for pumping wfcen required.

CROWN* MINES. OCTOBER RErORT. The following Is taken from the general manager's report on the New Zealand Crown Mines for the month of October, 1012, and due to arrive In London to-day:— Waltawheta Level, Welcome Beef.—ln the workings above this level the reef, avcraAng Oin In thickness, assayed at the rate og fl 17/ per ton, and IS tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

No. 1 A Level, Welcome Reef.—Throughout the workings above this level the reef, measuring 451n in width, assayed at the rate of £3 7/ per ton, and 112 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

No 3 A Level, Welcome Reef.—The reef in the stopes over the back of this level averaged 43in in thickness. The value of the ore was £1 6/ per tou, and S4 tons were sent to the mill fur treatment.

No. 4 A Level, Welcome Reef.—Above this level the reef averaged 2ft In thickness. The value of the ore was £1 12/ per ton, and 111 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

No. 1 B Level, Welcome Reef.—The reef in the winze averaged 4ft In thickness. The value of the ore was £1 16/ per ton, and 41 tons were sent to the mill for treatment

No. 2 B Level. Welcome Reef.—Rising and stoplng was in progress on the reel, •which measured .Win in width. The value of the ore was £1 12/ per ton, and 189 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

No. 3 B Level, Welcome Reef.—ln the varioms workings above this level the reef averaged _M»in In thickness. The value' of the ore was £1 13/ per ton, and 499 tons wore sent to the mill for treatment.

No. 4 B Level, Welcome Reef —The reef averaged 3ft In thickness throughout all the workings upon It. The vnlue of the ore was £1 5/ per ton, and 383 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

No. 5 B Level, Welcome Beer.—Above this level the reef, averaging 311n in width, assayed at the rate of £1 3/ per ton, and IS4 tons were sent to the of iv for treatment.

No. 1 Level North Welcome Reef.—The reef averaged 381n In width. The value of the ore was £1 17/ per ton, and 243 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

Waltawheta Level, Crown Reef.—ln the rise the reef averaged loin in width. The value of the ore was £1 16/ per ton, and 35 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

Maria Reef, Talisman Section.—The reef, averaging 4lln In width, assayed at the rate of £1 6/6 per ton, and 113 tons were sent to the mill for treatment.

DEEP LEVELS TUNNEL. The Superintendent at the Thames Deep Levels tunnel reports that the diamond drill hole penetrated the main slide at a depth of 128 feet on Wednesday last, and proves the slide to be heavier than was anticipated. The slide will come into the tunnel for some distance before it reaches the Kuninul-Caledonlan shaft. There Is not the slightest donbt that It is the main slide, as the great pressure eat water blew out large quantities of dill, mud and gravel, together with a great IMunie of gas, causing the men to run for their lives. The quantity of water has eased off slightly, bat there is still a targe flow. The blower Is being kept going, in the hope of later recovering tie diamond drill. The Victoria crosscut is In a distance oif 430 feet. This work will also have to cease till It is possible to get Into the tunnel -Willi safety. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Waiotahi.—The drive east on the new reef is in a distance of 50ft without improvement, so a start has been made to stope on tbe junction of the new and croas reefs. The depth of water In the shaft is now Oft 6in. The diamond drill hole at the I,oooft level penetrated the main slide on Wednesday at a depth of 128 ft. It has since been Impossible for men to reach the face,' owing to the violence of gas. Work is also at a standstill, at the Victoria crosscut, which is In a distance of 430 ft.

New Waitala.—Thc north drive is In 163 ft past the main rise, and in the reef Just taken down gold can be freely seen. The reef is 2ft wide in the lower half of tbe drive, and about Ift at the back.

Occidental.—The drive from the winze in No. 2 reef is In 28ft, the lode being 6!n •wide and better defined. From the further stope over No. 5 level, 401b of picked stone was secured this week, with gold still showing. The clean-op, after the crashing telegraphed, abosld gtr% * utu* more gold.

New/ Sylvia.—The real at So. 3 level averages 64ft wide, cold being frequently ■con at breaking down. The rise 130 ft soutb of the first rice is up 10ft, and shows a reef -lift wide of fair value. On No. 1 reef, between Nos. 1 and 2 rises, the lode Is 4ft wide and well mineralised. Handsworth. —The driTe south from the western level has ben extended 9ft during the week, tbe lead being talrly strong and showing a little gold by dish prospect. The north slope Is yielding payable crushing dirt. Old Hauraki.—Pieces of picked stone are being obtained from the fourth slope In tne seaward block. The crosscut for tne Green Harp reef Is now in 137 ft from the flatfaxalt—A report prepared by Mr G. A. Petrle on the Exalt and Ringleader mtnea states that In the former the sold has been regular in the picked stone. In breaking the leader it was found the main reef split In two and joined again, a large bog being found near the Bplit, containing gold. A new reef was broken behind this, and the indications aU point to shareholders receiving a pleasant surprise when the ground under the floor Is tested. _ , Saxon.—The crosscut at NO. 7 level hns been advanced a further 22 feet for the week, and a reef 18 laches In wide of a very heuvllv mineralised nature has been Intersected. This will nrObalMy pro»e to be the Xo. 2, and tbe No. 3 should be to hand a another 30 feet of driving. Bremner's Freehold.—Tie rise in Tiertan's reef has been advanced 4ft, dabs and .lotches of gold being seen in the stone t each breaking down from the bangtngvall portion of the reef. It Is lntentled o have all the men at work on this reef ifter the holidays. The Intermediate level rom the south winze on Bremner's No. 1 •eef has been extended a further 6ft. Kuranul. —The rise over No. 3 pass has low attained a height of 16tt froam the >ack of the stnpe. The rise at the end of So. 3 stope is also np 16ft from tbe back if the level, with no change to report. Watchman.—At a distance of 4ft from the side of No. 1 rise in the intermediate level _ seam of quartz was met with about 12in srlde, showing strong dabe of gold. The last 'lSft has been penetrating sandstone sr'th numerous quarts stringers interlaced. Phis leaves about 6ft to connect with No. ! rise, which was put up on payable ore. FHgfcly payable values should be obtained 'or the whole length of the block. No. 5 •ise is up a total distance of 44ft from he floor. The reef is about 4ft wide, and Lhe quartz, which Is of a payable nature, lias been saved for treatment. No. 4 rist In No 1 level has been driven a furthei lift The reef continues to increase In size and now measures 41ft wide, heavilj charged with sulphides and einc blend, li which gold can be seen Intermixed. REEFTON RETURNS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! REEFTON, Monday. New Blc River returns for three weeks show 580oz of gold from 500 tons of stont trom the battery, and 1460z from 300 tons trom the cyanide, of the approximate value of £2,600.