MINERAL EXHIBITS FOR THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 6

MINERAL EXHIBITS FOR THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

'We continue our notices of the mineral exhibits collected and classified by Mr. A. Porter and Mr. G. Wilson, Mining Inspector, forwarded to Melbourne by the s.s. Manapouri on Thursday. THAMES DISTRICT. New Alburnia. —Four cases gold-bearing quartz, value £6 per ton. This sample of quartz is taken from a reef averaging one foot in thickness and yielding from 2 to 3oz of gold per ton, and is a fair sample of the quartz now being obtained. The mine is situated about a mile from the town, at an elevation .of about 1000 feet above sea level, and is worked from adit levels. The mine has been continuously worked since 1868, and dividends have been paid to shareholders amounting to £7*2,500. Reuben Parr.—One case gold-bearing quartz, value £30 per ton. The sample of quartz is taken from a reef one foot in thickness, and the last parcel crushed yielded 50oz. Sdwt. of gold from 6 tons of quartz. The mine is situated at Moanataiari Creek, Thames, and is worked from an adit level about 300 feet above sea level. Old Caledonian.— Seven cases goldbearing quartz, value £4 per ton. This exhibit is from the quartz now coming to hand from one of the main reefs in the Old Caledonian Company's mine, at a depth of 280 feet from the surface. The reef varies from 3to 12 feet in thickness. Although this class of quartz at the present time is not rich or showing gold in the stone, still it is payable, and shows the mineral nature of the reef where rich deposits of gold have been obtained, as the class ot mineral shown in the exhibit is always a favourable indication of rich gold. There are various other reefs now being worked, but the sample of quartz sent for exhibition is from the famous No. 1 reef, which has been worked since 1569. and during that period upwards ot £600,000 have been paid in dividends to shareholders. New Prince Imperial.Four cases goldbearing quartz, value £S per ton. The New Prince Imperial Goldmining Company's mine comprises 7J acres of land situated at the base of the hills fronting the foreshore at the Thames. The present company purchased the mine in October, ISSI, for the sum of £250. Since that time the main shaft, 'lias been sunk to a depth of 562 feet below the sea level, and from the various reefs worked throughout the mine 34,123 tons of quartz and 12$ tons of specimens have been raised and crushed, yielding 45,1070zs of gold, valued at £125,715 9s 9d. From this the shareholders ha\e received dividends amounting to £3 7s 6d per share on 18,000 shares, or a total of £60,750. The exhibit is a fair sample of the quartz obtained on the foot wall of No. 1 reef at 300 feet below sea leveL The average width of the reef is 15 feet. Saxon.Four cases goldbearing quartz, value £8 per ton : and one box containing three specimens, weighing 113oz, valued at £•20. The Saxon Gold Mining Company's mine comprises about 17 acres of land, and is situated within the borough of Thames and adjoining the New Prince Imperial mine. The reef from which the exhibit of j quartz was obtained is one of several which run through the ground. This particular reef has been worked on for the past three years with profitable results. The present workings are from No. 4 level, 307 feet below sea level, where the reef is 2 feet 6 inches in thickness, to the back stopes 100 feet above that level, where the reef is 1 foot 6 inches in thickness. The total depth of the shaft is 461 feet, but the present water level being 400 feet below sea level, an intermediate level is being driven on the reef, giving 70 feet of backs on the reef below No. 4 level, and the prospects are such as to warrant that the reef will continue to prove payable at the lower level. During the past twelve months 8791 tons of quartz and 15371b of specimens were crushed for a yield of 60680z melted gold, valued at £16,631 Os 4d, and dividends paid to shareholders amounting to £5416 13s 4d. Waiotahi. — Three cases gold-bearing quartz, value £9 per ton. The aiotahi mine is situated on the W aiotahi Creek, about one quarter-of-a mile from the wharf, and consists of an area of 16 acres. The mine is worked from a shaft, which is down 320 feet, and from which four levels have been driven. Numerous reefs and leaders of quartz have been worked at each level, and the quartz crushed yielded 34,0920z of gold, from which £20,250 has been paid in dividends. There is a good winding plant and a 20-stamper battery, driven by steam, in connection with the mine. The quartz in this exhibit is taken from several different reefs and veins, and is a fair average of the quartz obtained from the mine. New Ma.no kau. —Three cases gold-bear-ing quartz, value not stated. This mine is situated next the Waiotahi mine, is worked from the same shaft, and on a continuation of the Waiotahi reefs. The present company obtained 16360z of gold, but the original owners obtained about 30,0000z of gold ; mine manager James E. Smith. Adelaide. —1 case value £6 per ton. This exhibit is taken from a reef two feet in thickness, which has been worked from the outcrop to a depth of 300 feet from the surface. The present adit level is 300 feet below the first workings at the surface. This mine has been worked by the owners during the past eight years, and 5855 tons of quartz crushed, for 6333 ounces of gold, valued at £18,568 10s. The average number of men employed has been six. The mine is situated at Karaka Creek, Thames.

City of Manchester.—l case value £5 per ton. This mine adjoins the Adelaide, and the reef is of the same character. £10,000 worth of gold has been obtained by two men's labour since the mine was first worked.

Lone Hand.—l case value £5 per ton. This mine adjoins the City of Manchester. Gold has been obtained from the surface to a depth of 250 feet, the lowest adit level. The richest quartz is from small veins where those are crossed by a flinty leader. £9500 worth of gold has been won from those junctions with the flinty.

Polly Mine (Puriri, Thames).—One case, value £4 per ton. This exhibit is from a reef 4 feet in thickness, situated at Poriri Creek.

Surprise Mine (Puriri). — Two cases, value £10 per ton. Exhibit No. lis from a blue leader 12 inches in thickness, and No. 2is taken from small leaders. The mine is situated at Puriri Creek, eleven miles from Thames.

Sylvia Mine (Tararu). —Four cases refractory ores, value £5 per ton. This mine is situated about four miles from the town of Thames, and contains an area of 150 teres. The sample of ore in this district is iom a large reef of refractory ore, containJig galena, copper, and iron pyrites, with a •■arge percentage of gold and silver. The swners are now engaged opening up the mine by a low level adit, to be driven 1000 '.eet to cut the reefs so successfully worked n the upper levels, and from which handome dividends were paid to previous •wner3. This adit tunnel is now driven a astance of 600 feet.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] Wellington, Friday.

The following mineral collections have been received for despatch to the New Zealand Court at the Melbourne Exhibition :—Thames auriferous and argentiferous quartz, 10 tons, and a box of very rich specimens; Reefton, auriferous quartz, 35cwt; Wakatipu, auriferous quartz, 2ocwt, Naeeby, auriferous quartz, 30cwt , St. Bathans, auriferous wash-dirt, 2 tons ; Grey mouth, auriferous sand, 30cwt; Westport, Mohikinui coal, 2 tons