MARTHA OUTPUT LOWER.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1944, Page 5

MARTHA OUTPUT LOWER.

A sharp drop in the tonnage treated and in receipts of gold and silver is revealed in the returns for 1943 issued by the Martha Gold Mining Company. These show that 5559 tons less were dealt with than in the preceding 12 months, and production of gold was lower by 53230z and of silver by 30,9570z. These reductions represent a decline In monetary receipts of approximately £60,000. A telegram received from the company's superintendent at Waihi yesterday stated that the following information had been cabled to the London office:—For the period ended December 31, comprising 26 crushing days, 18,792 tons of ore were crushed as a result of 4937 fine ounces of gold and 33,374 fine ounces of silver. This is the final return for the year. This year's totals show 166,070 tons treated for a return of 40,7910z of gold and 278,383 oz of silver. At the last annual meeting of the company in London the chairman, Mr. G. R. Mitchison, stated that the mine was being gradually exhausted and the end of its long life was not far off. Commenting on the latest figures, Mr. .T. H. G. Banks, New Zealand director and attorney, said it was true, as the chairman had emphasised, that the mine was a vanishing asset, but much more satisfactory results were still obtainable if adequate labour were available. At least another 25 skilled miners were needed to enable operations to be carried on economically. The maintenance of ore treatment at the highest possible tonnage was an urgent requirement.