NEW BENDIGO COMPANY.

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 129, 3 June 1935, Page 12

NEW BENDIGO COMPANY.

Reports from the New Bendigo mine manager covering the last six weeks indicate that comparatively easier rock was encountered for some time, but last week a rib of hard ground was again met with. The ground has nowhere been loose, but an alleviation in the hardness of the rock allowed better results to be obtained with the firing of each round. The contractors have been driving 30ft per week for the past three weeks, and have advanced the face 32ft for the week ended Friday, May 24. The total distance completed by the present party of contractors is 301 ft, which makes the face 1216 ft from the mouth of the tunnel. The minor plant adjustments mentioned in the last report have been attended to, and an endeavour is now being made to effect an improvement in the ventilating system in order to provide better working conditions for the men working at the face. BLACKWATER. Mr. R. A. Stewart, mine manager of the Blackwater Gold Mine, Waiuta, has tendered his resignation to that company and has accepted a position with the Ashanti Goldflelds Corporation. He leaves early next month for West Africa. BRIAN BORU. A report on recent operations on the property of the Brian Boru Gold Dredging Company has been issued to shareholders by the directors. It deals with the prospecting done by borings since the dredge was laid up, and states in this connection .that three bores were put down in Brian Boru Gully. The first bottomed at 25ft, the second at 22ft, and the third at 59ft 6in. There were no values recovered from the first two bores, and only .263 d per yard from the third hole. Two more bores were put down between Brian Boru and German Gully to a depth of 48ft and 58ft respectively, the fourth producing .09d per yard and the fifth yielding no values. The directors state that the yield of gold (which is retorted gold) was improving, and if it continues there is every prospect of the dredge obtaining payable returns. They now intend putting down two shafts ahead of the dreHge to prove the ground. If these prove satisfactory they propose to put before shareholders a proposal to increase the capital to enable the company's operations to be carried on, there being at the present time only sufficient funds in hand to sink the two shafts proposed. MAHAKIPAWA. ' Mahakipawa Goldfields, Ltd., reports for week, ended May 29:—Leading face advanced a further 4ft and connected up with old drive. ' Just" before meeting drive, the western wall of this gutter turned to the right, but we did not follow iit as '• the wash'was poor. The crosscut west, starting, from a point 1170 south and 163 west, was restarted and'has been advanced 17ft in soft bottom schist. ' This is being driven due west to locate the northern extension' of the low ground passed over when driving out to connect up with the Golden Gate. workings last February. Although, the wash did not contain values in this low area, it is worth while opening up further down the valley. •• It' seems -quite' evident that the gutter up which the leading face has been driven is not the main one, and the', recent discovery of another gutter further to the west of the old drives indicates that Ithis area to the west of our workings is; well .worth prospecting. ~; ..Crosscut south was driven.: another Bft! when this* bottom started to rise fairly quickly.' The crosscut was: stopped ■ for the' time being, the ground =■■ underneath the winze, caught up securely, and - preparations made for opening out on the right or western side, where the bottom was lowest. This blocking strip is now out 4ft in Very good-looking wash, ffhe' gutter is about 6ft wide, the southern wall -and bottom being hard and smooth. The walls appear to be widening out and the bottom looks as if it will go right down. Although there is no gold showing in the wash at present, we washed 2Joz of coarse gold out of one dish when we first cut this gutter and the wash is the most favourable we have seen this year. As soon as this face is far enough advanced, another strip will be started on the opposite side of the crosscut and taken out in an easterly direction. When both these strips have proceeded some distance, the crosscut itself will be continued. False bottom: The drive from the old King Solomon shaft to test the wash between 50 and 40ft is now out 7ft. It is still in a mass of old timber, but we think we, are just about through this obstacle, and should be into undisturbed1 wash by next week. BIG RIVER. Big River Gold Mines, Limited, reports for week ended May 30:—No. 4 North Drive.—Advanced 6 feet. Total distance 68 feet. The reef has now taken its normal course, and has a decided look of permanency. Stone 4 feet wide. Stope No. 6.—^toping commenced, stone 4 feet wide. Rise 45 feet up.—Taking a leading stope in. this block; stone 5 feet 6 inches wide. Length approximately 30 feet. No. .4 South Drive.—Advanced 8 feet.. This strike has not developed as rapidly as anticipated and prospects for intersecting stone are bright. Stope No. 3.—Filling not completed. Main Shaft. —Work as usual and good progress is being made. Battery.—s9 tons of stone sent to Battery.