THE GOIDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 6

THE GOIDFIELDS.

MIKING AT KARA"V{?.VFT.AKE. TAiISQIAN CX3NSOLIDATE3). (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, this day. Of the development works in progress a.t the Talisman mine (Karangahake), tbe most important is the extension south of the main drive at Xo. 14 level. The drive, which follows the Maria reef, has already exposed a run of pay ore quite double the length of lhai met with in the level overhead. The lode is also stronger and of higher grade than in any of the upper workhigs. For a distance of fifty or sixty feet the drive which U now traversing tlie Dubbo section of the properly passed through a stretch of low-grade ..:> similar to the patches of poor quart/, met with between the runs of pay or.- i:i oilier parts of the mine, but in the present face the reef \* more, eompa: , !. :>nr| n nice stretch of sulphide ore about the centre of the lode points to pay values coming in again.

Tlie installation of the pumping plant in the chamber below No. 11 level in the Talisman phaft has now been completed, and the unwatering of the Woodstock shaft has been resumed. The water should 'be out in a few days, and the sinking of that shaft to a depth corresponding with thr Talisman No. 14 level will then lie put in hand. This work should be carried through in between three and four months, and the exploration of the northern eection of the property at dcipth (including Taukani Hill) will then be proceeded with. The first reef to be intersected going north will be the main ore body (Maria), and other known reefs will also be tested. Should satisfactoiy results attend these operations, the position of the Talisman Company will be greatly improved. NEW ZEALAND CROWN MINKS. Development work on the Crown reef in the deeper workings of the New Zealand Crown Mines is being proceeded with. The lode v.afi rpcently intersected br n crosscut projected a distance of ■J-JOft from the Welcome reef going east at No. 3K level i t>e!ow Waitawheta level, md the ore body i= now being driven upon in a northerly direction. Although values have not been good, the quartz broken has been *:. ved for treatment. The Crown lode has also been cut at No. 5B level from a croßscnt thrown oat in the same direction some years ago, the length of the crosscut being 500 ft. Here the reef also is being drifted upon going north, but is mullocky and of low grade. The average width of the ore body is a-bout '2ft. When worked in the levels above the Waitawheta the Crown reef was patchy, but produced more or less pay ore in the Hauraki s-ection of the mine (fornierlv known as the Talisman section). The "north block of ore on the Maria reef is being stoped over No. 4 level, and rises are being put up on the lode from the Nos. 5 and 6 levels. The reef averages about 4ffc in width, and, although the results are not equal to those expected from sampling carried out some time ago, the ore being won is payable. WATCHMAN RETURN. The Anal instalment oi bullion from the Waiotahi mill, valued at £SSS 19/, has been banked to-day. This amount, together with the cash previously received, gives a total extraction of £2,603 16/5, from the experimental treatment of 1.120 tons of ore of an assay value of £3 3/ per ton. Concentrates valued at £2-40 gross still awaits treatment. The value of the concentrates i 3 not included in the figures of total extraction, as stated above.

The directors slate that this experimental crushing was carried out under difficulties at the Waiotahi battery, but it has been this means whereby the Watchman Company has obtained valuable data as a basis upon which alterations and additions are being carried out at their own mill, the effect of which will be to reduce treatment losses, especially in the sands and siimes. With this object in view a special modern plant will be installed.