MINING.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20835, 20 April 1933, Page 11

MINING.

CROMWELL FIELD. NOVEL APPLICATION OF HYDRAULICS. [THE PRESS Special Service. 1 DUNEDIN, April 19. Reports from Cromwell state that interest is being displayed in the activities of Lady Ranfurly mining syndicate. At this claim a patent cylindrical process involving a novel application of hydraulics is being installed for the purpose of extracting gold from banks under water where no dredge could ever reach. If it proves a success the method should open up a- J big field. Bell and Kilgour closed down over the holidays, but Bell Hooper Gold, Ltd., is pushing ahead with all expedition. Many other propositions in the district are being held up owing to the inability of those concerned to get a title, and outside of those who have a license there is comparatively little activity. It is reported that on Tuesday last 1100 acres of ground were pegged out at Matakanui under instructions from the Department of Scientific Research for (it is stated) an Australian concern. Apparently the Government has now entered into the business of gold mining company promotion and has thus added to its sphere of activities another line of business generally conceded to belong to a highly specialised class of commerce.

MAHAKIPAWA GOLDFIELDS

The mine manager's report for the week ending April 10 is as follows: — No. 11 East Cross-cut—Advanced 16 feet, making a total progress of IG2 feet east of the south drive. The wash has continued good grade. The last firing showed the bottom rock to be rising quickly, and we have now 30 inches of it in the face.

North Drive off No. 11 East Crosscut—This face had advanced seven feet, making a total progress of 30 feet. Wash continues stoney, and the bottom rock is dipping away and somewhat hard to follow without a hand pump. Occasionally a fair grade prospect has been seen. South Drive off No. 11 East Crosscut—Started at 100 feel east and advanced 19 feet. Wash shows bands of black cement rock with occasional good grade prospect from crevice in the bottom rock.

North Face—No work was carried out at this face during the week, as the air pump was temporarily out of repair.

The wash-up for the week returned 38oz 7dwt alluvial gold, all of which came from the south end.

The wash-up before the holidays produced 18oz alluvial gold.

WAIIII ASSAYS

Mr J. W. Hopkins, superintendent Waihi Gold Mining Company, has reported to the directors recent assays as follows: —

Waihi Area—No. M lovcl, Martlia Jode gave an average value of 22s ( Jd a ton. No. 12 level, Empire lode, average assay value from 08 to 109 l'eet is 16s 9d a ton. No. II (90ft) sublevel, Empire lode, average assay value from 37ft to 77ft 38s Gd a ton. No. 11 (70ft) sub-level, Edward lode, a crosscut north-east, a sft section in this crosscut assayed 24s 2d a ton, and a drive north was commenced on this and advanced to 27J feet, assay value averaged 13s lid a ton. No. 11 level, Edward lode, west branch, average assay value over the first 113 feet is 38s 3d a ton. No. 11 (80ft), sftb-lcvel. Royal lode, average assay value to 43 feet is 40s 5d a ton; at 50 feet the lirsi 4 1-3 feet on south wall assays 38s 3d a ton: the remainder is mostly calcite averaging 15s 7d a ton. No. 3 level, north branch of Martha lode, driving was commenced east and west with following results:—Westward, assay value 75s 6d a ton, width of lode from two feet to four feet; eastward, assay value 21s 6d a ton, width of lode about four feet; assay value 75s Gd a ton, width of lode from four feet to five feet. Grand Junction area—State reef, north part, assay values 26s 7d a ton. 16s 3d. and 46s lid. Eastward a total of 16 feet has been driven; assay value 28s 6d a ton and 8s Cd a ton six-foot mixture. No. 10-f3oft) sub-level, ReSublic lode. 20s 2d a ton. Junction o. 5 (40ft) sub-level. Dominion lode, average assay value is 27s lid a ton. The width of quartz is about three feet. The following information has been cabled to the London office of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, Ltd.:— No. 3 Level—North branch of Martha lode: Eastward this has junctioned with the Martha lode at 137 feet. No. 4 Level —At 280 feet west of No. 2 shaft, north-west crosscut, wn are cross-cutting north-west, and at 63 feet intersected the Martha lode, width 25 feet and assay value lis a ton. No. 11 Level—Driving west of Power crosscut the next 16 feet is ore of very good grade. The width is about five feet. STORAGE OF FRUIT AND CHEESE. CHARGES REDUCED. (ruscss ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, April 19. Reductions in its charges for the cool storage of fruit and cheese were approved at a meeting of the WclKgton Hnrbour Board to-night.. The board had come to its decision after having carefully considered the position of the dairy farmer and the fruit grower, said the chairman (Mr C. J B. Norwood), in an interview at the close of the meeting, and it felt it was its duty to extend to these primary producers every possible facility within its power, having regard to sound finance. The coo) storage rates hitherto lor cheese were 4s 6d a ton for the first fortnight, and 4s a ton for the second and subsequent fortnights. The new charges would be 4s 6d for the first fortnight and 3s 6d for the second, and for the third and succeeding fortnights 3s. This reduction, though not large, would in the aggregate be helpful to the cheese industry. The charges for the first fortnight included not only storage, but also re r ceiving labour, delivery, and cooling. Change Delayed. ' Unfortunately, Mr Norwood said, this amendment of the charges necessitated a change in the board's bylaws. and this meant that it would not be possible to bring the new scale into operation before June 1. For fruit, Mr Norwood said that the charge for storage up to the present was 5d a case, including receiving. cooling, and delivery, for the first fortnight, and for the second and succeeding fortnights 3d a case. Under the concession granted the charges would be. for the first fortnight (including receiving, delivery, and cooling), up to 300,000 cases a season, 4£d a case; over 300,000 cases a season, 4d a case. For the second and succeeding fortnights the charge would be 3d a case. Last season's supplies exceeded 500.000 cases, Mr Norwood continued. It could therefore be seen that the concessions granted would be helpful in some measure to fruit growers. These reductions for fruit would come into operation on May 1. Surplus Passed On. Apart from the concessions made that evening, Mr Norwood said, it was noteworthy that the board had pursued a policy of progressively passing on to the users of the port its