MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8630, 28 July 1891, Page 6

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

New Moanataiari. —The general dirt from all parts of the mine has been of much better quality during the past week. The eastern drive on the 200 feet level which is being extended with the rock drill is now in 90 feet, so that if the same progress is made this week the face will be under No. 2 winze. Good headway is being made in the rise on the crois lode, which is now up 30 feet. In the intermediate level work is being carried on as usual with much about the same results. 100 feet level: The western drive on the Goideu Age reef is again in proeress, and although the lode is not so solid, gold is contin/ially seen, and the country is of a first class description. A large supply of quartz is being obtained from the leading stope here, and as gold is freely seen, I conclude it is of fair quality, but as there is only the one pass leading to the main tunnel through which all quartz in the mine has to be sent down, I have no means of treating it separately. The stopes on Nos. 1 and 2 fqotwall lodes are manned as usual, and continue to Sroduce good grade crushing dirt. From To. 8 stope some splendid dirt has been broken out during the week a half ton of the heavy mineralized portion which I treated separately through the single stamper gave 1370z of -amalgam. The contractors for sinking the winze on the hangingwall of the Golden Age reef from the Point Russell level have given up the job, and as I want the winze through as quickly as possible I have manned it to-day with six men from the stopes. Amalgam for the week 5270z, picked stone 201bs.

May Queen. —A crushing of 26 loads of quartz broken out from the winze on No. 4 lode was completed yesterday for the following return : —26 loads of quartz crushed for CBoz gold; 5 pounds picked stone for 6oz gold : Retorted gold, 740z; tnelted gold, 720z 16dwt.

Nkw Fearnought.—lntersected a nicelooking lode averaging six inches in thickness, about 109 feet from main tunnel. As copper pyrites and silica are both visible_ in the leader, it will be well worth prospecting at some future period, but at present I wish to push the drive ahead in order to intersect the Belmont reef, as first contemplated. In consequence of the immense quantity of water and the tight country enoasinj the reef, progress was slightly retarded. Five feet was driven during the week. - Hazelbakk.— The country in the intermediate drive is still of a very hard nature on account of small stringers of quarts running through the ground, which makes it difficult to work, but there is a great improvement in the reef. It is carrying excellent mineral for gold, and 61b of picked stone were obtained yesterday in breaking it down. As mentioned to you in a letter of the 22nd instant, the eastern drive on No. 1 level broke through into Turtle's workings. The quartz is oi a kindly character, but contains very little mineral. In breaking it down gold is occasionally seen in the stone. In the stopes above No. 1 level the reef contains a good deal of antimony and mineral. About 2lb of picked stone wore also obtained from here The reef on the western side of the stope looks very well for gold. Surplus (Kuaotunu).—l am pleased H.a inform you that very good crushing dirt still continues to come to hand. Ou Thursday and yesterday I broke down five feet of the reef, which showed gold pretty freely. I have arranged with the Kuaotunu battery manager to crush a trial parcel. Wo are to commence on Monday week, after the Maripoaa has finished. I have called tenders for carting, returnable on Monday. Wairoa (Kuaotniiu).—The drive on reef in low level is now in about 80 feet. The reef is four feet from wail to wall, and is well defined. The country through which it is passing is still very tight, and from the appearance of the face is likely to get better to work as the drive is pushed ahead. The prospects of the reef are tho same as I have got for the last 40 feet. Should the country get easier, iis I anticipate, the reef will widen out, when I hope an improvement will take pliice. In'VTCTa (Kuaotunu). —Since last report wo have driven north ten feet through good looking aandstono country. The lode varying from eix to twelve inches, and carrying gold all through. We have now on hand about four tons of ore.

Carbine (Kuaotunu).— week's operations underground have been fairly successful. Ore of good average quality Ims been got from the stopes both north and south of the winze ; in tho north end tho gold has oxtended further than it did in the stopes below, and the stuff has been of better grade. A start; has been made to sink the new winze in No. 2 level, but it will have to bo carried down several feet yet before tho leader is met with, the underlie of wßich is there very slight. In No. 3 level fair progress is now being made. The reef is still small in sizo, but some of the stone broken down during the week has given payable prospects. Kai'Al (Kuaotunu).—We have not done any work in the face north for the last week. The ono coming to hand from the leadiug stopes north of rise is of as good a quality as ever. It is in a total distance of 40 feet. I am putting in a shoot and ladder way; also extending the rise. Wo will start tho leading stope eouth next week, and get same timbered up ; this will open up the mine well. The contractor has completed the hopper in a satisfactory manner, and I have now-got the tramway connected, and putting quartz into the same. The contractors for road will complete their job next week, but the main county road down to the battery is in a very bad state, and traflic will have to be stopped if the Council do not move further in the matter. , „■ , : "V •

Makifosa (Kuaotunn). —Driving north is again going on, and yesterday I got some good prospects, so when the quantity for the present crushing is to hand I intend to push on with this drive. With 40 feet more driving we shall have about 70 or 80 feet of backs to the north boundary. Should the prospects up to the present continue I have no doubt but that payable crushings will be obtained. The ore at Cook's battery is making about the same show as last crushing. Pride of thb Hills (Kuaotunu). —The drive on the reef has been extended this week a distance of four feet. The country is still tight. The reef in the face is about three feet through, and'about one foot of the hangingwall portion of the reef is composed of nice kindly quartz, which appears to be opening out in the face. A trace of gold can be obtained, from this port of the reef by crushing and washing. Jnsx in Time (Knaotunu). —The drive south has been driven 5 feet. The reef in this level is very much disturbed,' and does not prospect so well as could be wished for. I hope by driving a few feet further we will get out of this disturbance and get the reef in more solid country. The No. 2 stope south has been extended 5 feet. The reef averages 20 inches, and prospects very well. The reef in No. 2 stone north has been extended 5 feet. Here in this stope the reef is fully 2 feet wide and prospects splendidly. I saw a little gold in the stone from the hangingwall portioaof the reef in this stope yesterday. The drive north has been driven 4 feet and the reef is about 9 inches, and prospects very fairly. I shall stop this drive until the leading stope is up. Try Fluke (Kuaotunu). —The drive on the main reel south at No. 3 level has been extended this week 26 feet, and is now in a total distance of 146 feet. The reef in the drive has been about six feet through, but has opened out to about eight feet. There is now some very kindly - looking solid quartz coming in on the hangingwall side of the reef, but I shall require to do a little more work on it before I can say much about it. Thirty feet back from the end of the drive we have put up a rise about 12 feet, and are now taking along a leading stope. About 18 inches of the hangingwall portion of the reef is fairly good ore. The drive has been extended north about 25 feet this week, and is now in fully 115 feet. The footwall portion of the reef continues to give fairly good prospects, and about 18 inches of which is being crushed at the mill. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 stopes are in progresss, and are producing a fair quantity of payable ore. About 90 feet north from the crosscut there is a leader striking off into the hanßingwall, bearing about north-east, and from its position I believe it to be the lode known as the Kuaotunu reef, we have started to drive en it. and can get fairly good prospects from it by crushing and washiDg. I am in hopes it will open 6ut when driven on. No. 2 level: The drive on the Kuaotunu reef has been extended this week about 12 feet, and is now in a total distance of 270 feet. The lode in tiie end of the drive is now about one foot six inches through ? and continues to give a little gold by crushing. I have four men stoping north and south from the rise at this level. During this fortnight we have crushed in all 204 tons of ore, taken from No. 2 level 36 tons, and from No. 3 level 168 tons, for a yield of 108oz sdwts of retorted gold, from 410oz sdwts of amalgam. The reef driving south is now bearing more to the west than" that shown on the plan. Red Mercury (Kuaotunu). —Since taking charge on the 20th inst, the works in progress are, viz. : The contract north of crosscut has been driven six feet for the week, and the reef prospects fairly well; width of reef, about 12 inches. Contract south of crosscut has been driven three feet for the week ; a very hard blow of quartz coming in, about two feet wide, delayed them a little, but the prospects in this end are better than in the north end. No. lor surface level contract has been driven 10 feet for the week, and the lode is larger and prospects better than any other face in the mine at present. The leading stope south has been extended five feet for the week, and the reef is nearly 18 inches, and prospects fairly well. No. 2 stope south has been driven five feet for the week, with fair average prospects. No. 3 stope north has been driven nine feet for the week, but the reef has not been broken, aud I intend to go 10 feet further before breaking down. I started crushing at Cook's battery yesterday with five head of stampers, but the battery is only working one shift. The roads are so very bad the carts canuot bring the quartz down to keep the battery fully employed, but as soon as 1 get ahead of the battery we will start two shifts. The crushing is shaping much the same as last. There are about 18 tons of quartz in the hoppers, and the tram is working well.