ENGLISH-OWNED MINES AT COROMANDEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10132, 15 May 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

ENGLISH-OWNED MINES AT COROMANDEL.

IMPORTANT STATISTICS.

CAPITAL INVESTED AND

OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS.

We are indebted to Captain Hodge, of Cororaandel, for very important statistical information in regard to the seven important mines at Coromandel of v.'.ich he has charge, and which he represents on behalf of the English co mpanies who own them. These statistics cannot fail to be of deep interest at present, when it is seen that these seven mines represent a total capital stock of 3,120,000 shares, or £615,000, of which no less a sum than £191,000 is working capital.

THE HACRAKI 0,51.C0., LIMITED.

This company tins been formed iu London with a capital of £40,000 in 320,000 shares of 2s (id each, and with a working capital of £16,250 for the development of the tiauraki mine at Coromandel. The company 18 at present engaged fixing ft plunger frcM the 220-feet level to the surface preparatory to sinking for the 300-feet level. The following is a summary of the gold returns for the 13 lunar months, ending 14th December, 1895. Total gold won for the year, 3d,1000z Bdwts. Total quartz crushed 1611 tons. Total picked stone specimens, 14,8001b, or v tons 13cwt. 1 quarter 2611b. Average price of gold per i£3 Is 4d. Average yield of gold per ton of quartz, 20nz9dwt7gr. Total value of gold, £101,544 18a 2d. , Tribute™' gold returns ending 2nd August, 1895 Quartz crushcd, 47itons. Picked stone crushed, 764i1b. * To til gold produced, 26300z 19dwt 12gr. Total value, £8087 19s 8d!

Totals .. ISU 8196 8271 18£25,233 12 8 The work done in the company's mine for the 13 lunar months ending 14tn December 1895, are as follow: —Shalt sunk, 7.$ feet; crosscuts driven, 1401 feetG inches; driven on lodes, eto., 1820 feet 6 inches; winzes, feet: rises, 199 feet 6 inches; stoping, 2305 feet6inches; levels, etc., cleared, 200 feet: total, 6405 feet. , . scorn's hauraki o.m. Co. (limited). This company has a capital of £100,000, in 400,000 shares of 5s each, the working capital being £35,000. .. . ... , „ The following . developments have been carried out during the past 12 months: Sinking Hodge's shaft 325 feet, brace level, to shaft. 32 feet; crosscut west from braee level, 70 feet; drive north from brace level crosscut, 29 feet; ditto, seuth; 30 feet; drive south from 300-feet level, 10 feet; ditto north; 50. feet - 2 chambers, 300-feet level, 12 feet by 10 feet; 1 chamber, Corby

level,. 12 by.lo feet;. Corby level, crosscut 162 teeti Corby level, cleared ndrtli 70 feet ; Goldeu Point level,' chamber 12 feet by 10 feet; Golden Point level, orossout 160 feet; North drive Golden Point orossout 145 feet, West Golden Point, level 75 feet; stoping on Septty's reef,'ss feet loupe 12 feet high; driving north Golden Point level 66 feet; crosscut east of Snowden winze, 69 feet; drivin? south -from- crosscut in Snowden winze;, 43 feet, ditto north 30 feet driving north on Flying Cloud lode, battery section 121 feet; clearing Golden Point adit levels, 835 feet, west level In Golden ' Point 164 feet.

This company has equipped the mine with winding aud pumping machinery, and the general developments are now being proceeded with on No. 3 and Scotty's reefs at tho 300 feet, the Corby, the Golden Point, and the battery levels.

NEW ItAURAKI GOLD PROPKRTIES (LIMITED). The capital of this company is £100,000, in 400,000 snares of 5s each, and the working capital is £45,000. The total development of the property since the 25th of July, 1895, to the 13th April, 1890, are as follow ;—Deep level crosscut, 422 feet; deep level east ana west, .167 feet Niohol's deep crosscut. 145 feet Prospecting No. 1 crosscut, 43 feet; ditto No. 2,17 feet; Queen crossout, 70 feet; winze south, Tokatea reef, 4 feet. SUCCESS GOLD MINES, LIMITED.

This company has a capital of £50,000 in 400,000 shares of 2s fid eaoh, and the work* ine capital is£2o,ooo. The machinery, consisting of engines, Pelton wheel, 10 head of stampers, buildings, hoppers, wire tramways, and plant complete, has been ordered, and is being delivered to this company. The cost will be over £4000. The developments from August 1, 1593, to April 13, 1896, are as follow James reef: Drives, 620 feet; rises, 183 feet; winzes, 31 feet; crosscuts, 93 feet C inches, Success No. 2 reef: Drives, 44 feet; crosscut, 7 feet. Bennett's level: Drives, 295 feet; crosscut, 150 feat. Big reef crosscut: Rise, 24 feet; winze, 70feel; crosscuts, 328 feet.

KATHLEEN GOLD MINE, LIMITED. The capital of this company is £75,000 in 600,000 shares of 2s 6d each, and th« working capital is £25,000,, Pumping and winding engines, pitwork, patent cages, and a thorough machinery equipment, to cost over £7000, has been ordered and is being built and supplied for this company,

At this mine since work was started early in March a permanent engine shaft has been sunk 100 feet by the aid of a temporary pumping and winding plant, while the permanent plant ordered is being built. A permanent poppet head lias been erected, and about 100 feet of trestlework erector! at the top brace for tips away from the shaft, ana smith's and engineer's shops and a manager's office have been erected on the mine. Ten reefs traverse near the site of the shaft known as Hartridpe's. The bedrook was reached at 100 feet from the surface, and various classes of clay— and yellow—and gravel beds were sunk through. Decomposed wood and various mussol beds were encountered in a muddy formation. A few days ago on the shelf of rock stones of oi'.artz carrying strong blotches of gold were discovered, which, from their appearance and th fact tint they are little waterworn, could not have travelled far, hence the probability of a reef olose at haud carrying free gold.

TOKATEA OF lIAURAKI (LIMITED),

The capital ot this company is £150,000 in 60,000 shares of 5) each; working capital, £25,000. •'

The portable engine belonging to this company has been thoroughly renovated, also tho -compressor and air-pipes have been laid from tne mouth of No. 7 level to the proposed site for sinking a shaft. .large chamber to receive tho necessary air-winch and pumping gear is nearly completed, and the machinery has been delivered. Three hundred and sixty tons of Newcastle coal have also been delivered on the mine. This outlay is being expended to demonstrate the value of the main Tokatea reef below No, 7 level before wo determine to erect a permanent and substantial plant, and seeing that the sea level is over 600 feet below the No. 7 level, I think there is a brilliant future before the Tokatea and Royal Oak companies. The 15-statnp battery has been thoroughly overhauled and new foundations laid, and it will soon be ready for emergency to deal with periodical cruflhiugs for both companies.

The following is the work done in this miue from August, 1895, to 31st March, 1896: —Crossoutting in country rock 618 feet, driving on reefs 475 feet, stoping 78 feet, sinking a winze 50 feet, ana cutting chamber for engine to sink below No. 7 level 30 by 27 by 14 feet. The ore treated at the mill was five tans and 80 pounds of picked stone for 340z Sdwt 12gr retorted gold.

ROXAIi oak of HAURAKI, limited.

The capital of this company is £100,000 in 400,000 shares of 5s cach; working capital, £25,000. The following works have been carried out since work was initiated by this company : Iu No. 3 Royal Oak level: Driving on No. 1 lode 151 feet, sinking 25 feet, rising 77 feet, stoping 60 feet, re-timbering levels 80 feet. Intermediate level above No. 3 Royal Oak : Driving on No. 1 lode 186 feet, cutting through big reef '28 feet. In No. 3 Royal Oak level on No. 2 reef: Driving on No. 2 reef 53 feet, sinking 30 feet, stoping 30 feet, re-timbering level 15 feet, tramways re-laid 150 feet. No. 5 level: Re-opening and timbering No. 5 level for 1100 feet, driving crosscut from No. 5 level towards No. 1 reef below Royal Oak No. 3 level 71 feet, tramways laid in No. 5 level 120 feet. No. 6 level: Clearing of debris, repairing and re-timber-ing level 1500 feet, driving south east on No. 1 reef 20 feet, stoping north-west on No. 1 reef 30 feet, tramways laid 800 feet. No. 7 level: Driven north- west from bottom of winze sunk 50 feet below the No. 7 level 82 feet; driven on No. 7 level north-west on left-hand or main portion of Tokatea reef 36 feet; timbering No. 7 level 100 feet. Three reefs have been worked—Nos. 1 and 2 Royal Oak and main Tokatea; tramways laid fioo feet over half-a-miia of tramroad has been cut, and new steel rails laid to the bush for timber.

Five tons of quartz raised from below the No. 7 level with 7'2lb of picked stone selected in breaking the ore gave 41oz 17dwt of retorted gold. (It may be mentioned that the No. 7 level mentioned is the No. 7 level of the Tokatea of Hauraki mine.) Captain Hodge adds, we have accumulated a good stock of mining timber at the various levels, and the mines generally are getting into working order.

DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY FOR THE SEVEN MINE?. The following is a summary of the developments in the seven mines referred to Shafts sunk 590 feet Crosscuts driven 4001 feet Reefs driven 4495 feet Winzes 545 feet Rises... 485 feet Storing 2615 feet Levels cleared 4064 feet Chambers cut ... ... 6 Tramways laid 1370 feet CAPITAL. The total capital of the seven companies is £615,000 in 3,121.000 shares, and ft working capital of £191,250, i PERSONS EMPLOYED.

Gold returns from 14th December, 1895 to 4th April, Tons. lb. m. dwt. £ » « llth January .. '.*78 729} 1694 2 5,105 9 0 «th February .. 310 813} 20 Ml 0,312 7 3 7th March .. 310 860| 2398 13 7,888 10 10 4th April .. 350 793 2119 16 0,486 6 2

The average number of persons employed in the seven companies' .properties are as follow HaurakiG.M. Co 170 Scotty'a Hauraki G.M. Co. ... 50 New Hauraki G.P. 35 Success G.M. Co. 30 Tokatea of Hauraki _ ... ... 40 Royal Oak of Hauraki 40 Kathleen ... ... ... .•» 35 Total *400