MINING AT THE GREAT BARRIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10414, 12 April 1897, Page 6

MINING AT THE GREAT BARRIER.

A VI9IT TO THE PROPERTIES. [by our special reporter,] No. I. Of late considerable attention has been directed to the Great Barrier as a field for mining operations, and there has been much speculation among the cognoscenti, the brokers, and other dealers in scrip, as to the future of the island. As showing how distinctly Barrier stock has differed from other mining scrip on the market it is only necessary to direct attention to the fact that dospite tho unmistakable "slump" which has affected the market during the past few months, shares in several properties on the island have been steadily advancing. Various reports have reached Auckland as to the prospects of the field. While on (' one hand the most sanguine expectations hare been former], there were others who, presumably speaking from authority, expressed tho opinion that there was nothing on tho field to warrant Barrier scrips rising as they had, and that the whole thing was but a flash in tho pan—a not unusual accompaniment to the opening up of a new field. With the object of obtaining full and reliablo information on the subject, a Herald roporter was despatched to Great Barrier Island, and the information which follows was obtained on the field, almost every portion of which was visited and inspected by our representative. PARTICULARS OP THIS ISLAND. Great Barrier island lies about 57 miles northeast of Auckland, being the largest of the belt) of islands in and north of the Hauraki Gulf. It is about 20 miles long, is 10 miles across at the widest (from Owena to the mainland near Rangianua) and three miles at the nearest part (from Oruawharo to Blind Bay). The s.s. lona, Captain Duthio, rune from Auckland to the island in about 6£ hours, landing passengers at Blind Bay. The country is very rough, from Kaitoke Valloy to Harataonga particularly, the Hirakimata (Mount tlobson) ranges intervening before the Awana block, known also as tho antimony property, is reached. There is plenty of kauri on the island, a large portion of which is the property of tho Kauri Timber Company, while manuka and fern reno'er travelling to any point past Kaitoke creek somewhat difficult. The scenery is splendid, there being a wild grandeur which cannot fail to please, The mining properties, twelve in number, are nil situated within a radius of five milos from Blind Bay, The properties being worked are Edgerton (on the wostern end of what may bo termed the mining area), Greafj Barrier, Ryan's Freehold, Kaitoke, lona, Aotea, Mount Argentuin, Proprietary, Excelsior, while on the properties known as Barrier Junction, Cornstock, and Bonanza, practically nothing has been done. A bullock-track runs as far as the lona mine, and a horse track leads from Blind Bay through nearly all the properties mentioned, and those will shortly be followed by a road from Blind Bay to Whangaparapara Bay, which can bfl negotiated by vehicles—a thing impossible at present. THE FIRST DISCOVERIES OF GOLD AND SILVKR. As may be expected, a good deal of controversy has taken place regarding the question as to who first discovered valuable minerals on the island. It is alleged that as far back as 1857 a minor named James Perry prospected the northern end and discovered antimony and copper, and slight traces of silver, but very little attention was paid to the matter at that tfine. This statement is doubted by many old residents of the island, who state that it is only a few years back since prospecting was properly carried on. Twelve years ago, however, the property now known aa the Awana antimony mines was prospected by Arthur T. Leo and A. Prescott. Two years later Leo accidentally found stone (showing antimony) at the head of the Awana Creek, bolow Hirakimata on the eastern side. He was subsequently despatched by an Auckland syndicate, of which Messrs. W. F. Buckland and Chas. Clayforth were the head, to cut the antimony lodo which was supposed to exist on tho property. This was done, and some good specimens taken out, and forwarded to Auckland. For several years members of tho Sanderson family, who have resided on the island, at Tryphona and Blind Bay 32 years, have prospected various portions, particularly that in which tho mines at present being worked are situated. Six years ago Bon and William Sanderson prospected White Cliffs, but it was twelve months beforo they struck what was considered payable ore. On the property now known as the Original (previously called the Prospectors Union Jack), on the Great Barrier. Kauri Timber Company's property near Whangaparapara, and on Ryan's freehold, good prospects were obtained. The party pegged out the Original, and worked ic for two yoars, putting in two drives and crosscutting. Some 14 tons of stone were taken out and treated, the return of bullion being considered very satisfactory. Work was continued for a short time and abandoned, on account of the patchy nature of the ground. When the mining boom was at its height attention was again directed to the Groat Barrier, and tho properties enumerated at the beginning of this article pegged out. Such is tho history, obtained from reliablo sources, of the field. We understand that, should results warrant it, an endeavour will be made to recompense the original prospectors, but of course nothing definite will be done in this connection until the permanency of the field is assured. And now a few details as to the individual properties.

GREAT BARRIER GOLD AND SILVER, It is fivo years ago since silver was first discovered on the Great Barrier Gold und Silver Company's property. The ronn Lts, mentioned above, was prospecting when ho found in a creek stone showing silver, but beyond satisfying himself that there was silver, nothing farther was ventured upon by Lee. Eight months ago tho same man discovered what is now known as No. 3 reef, supposed to be tho most) valuable on the property. The matter was reported to Mr. Clayforth, and under his directions the ground was pegged off and a quantity of stone forwarded to Auckland for assay. The first assay returned £47 of gold and silver per ton, three subsequent assays returning from £30 to £64 per ton of bullion. Three tons of stone were then taken from the reef and treated, the crushing giving a return of £12 and £15 per ton respectively. Tho company was then floated in 60,000 shares, Air. JlePeak at that time being mino manager. They drove on the reef, and took out some 25 tons of quartz. Of this 10 tons were sent to England for treatment, while parcels were also forwarded to Adelaide, Ballarat, Sydney, Thames School of Mines, and Dunedin. Two months ago Mr. R. C. Feilding, on behalf of the Otago syndicate (composed of English capitalists) secured a five months' option, the price being £1000, with the right to a three months' extension, on payment of another £1000. Mr. N. S. Brown was appointed mine manager on behalf of the syndicate, 25 men being employed on the property. The work dona has been driving lowleveUunnel.extendingupperlevel.crosacutting out from No, 3 reef to the surface, cutting paddocks, forming roads, erecting whares, clearing bush, etc. A survey party under Mr. Shepherd is now engaged surveying the property, which consists of 200 acres. It is bounded on the southeast by the Kaitoke and Aotea properties, north-east by Ryan's, extending down the hill in a westerly direction to the Kauri Timber Company's property, and ie bounded north by the lastmentioned and portion of the Kaitoke. The country (and this applies to all the properties on the field) h of sandstone formation, with occasional leaders of flinty quartz and conglomerate. So far four reefs have been discovered. No. 1 has been traced running cast and west from the Mount Argentina through the Barrier. No. 2 (known on the ground as the lona reef) is supposed to run northwest and south ■ east from Ryan's to the Kaitoke, and consequently traversing the whole length of the Barrier. This reef has been traced in fivo places and is well defined, and gives good prospects on the surface. No. 3 reef runs almost east and west. It also commences in Ryan's and runs through the Barrier to tbe Kaitoke. No. 4 reef has only been cub on the surface. It has not yet been cut on the low level, but it ie expected that tbe reef will be reached with the crosscut in another I fortnight, Oα the upper level a paddock

which will hold some 200 tons of quartz, has been cut in the face of the cliffs. The drive was started al tbo junction of the Barrier and Ryan's, driving SO feeb in an easterly direction. A crosscut has been pub in for the paddock. The low level is now in 80 feet. Fifteen feet from the mouth a reef was cut, with good indications on both food and bangingwalls. It is a bit split up, but carries nice-looking stone; direction easb and we?t. Forty feet in leaders and stringers showing antimony wore cut. The drive is in 90 feet, and at the time of nur representative's visit a hard stone of flinty nature had been meb with. This atone, in which the field abounds, is hard to work, bub shoots well. It ia expected that No. 3 reef will be cut 70 feet further in, which will make the length of the drive 160 feet. So far as the reef has been exposed, it gives every promise of giving a good return. It is 2 feeb in places, but pinches again to one foot, and at far as has been gone should average IS inches. Kuby silver shows freely in the quartz, but it has a full accompaniment of antimony, arsenical and iron pyrites, and is expected to give a good deal of trouble in treating. The question of treatment, however, is referred to farther on. The principal matter at present is whether the quartz contains the precioue minerals (whether accompanied with base metals or not), and so far the result? have been considered in every way satisfactory. Good work is being doiie on this mine, though things are yet in an experimental stage. KYAS'S PROPRIETARY. This claim consists of 80 acres, at present held by Messrs. Ryan on freehold. It joins the Barrier and Kaitoke on the oast, ICdgerton on west, Kauri Timber Company's property on north, and Argontum on south. The present proprietors prospected the ground thirteen years ago and obtained traces of gold and silver, bub nob sufficient to justify any further expenditure at that time. Subsequently the property again claimed attention, and a prospecting drive was put in on a reef which was outcropping near the junction of the Barrier and Ryan's properties. The stone was assayed, and gave a return of 2oz gold, and 2300z of silver, equal to £34 per ton. Work waa then continued on the property, two other reefs being discovered on the northern portion of the ground, and proceeded quietly but steadily, until the Barrier was spoken of as a gold and silver bearing country. Six months ago a nine months option was secured by Messrs. Lawson and Brett, of Auckland, and since that time work has progressed rapidly. At the present time 32 men are employed, shifts working night and day during the ?even diiysof the week. Shortly, the work being done is driving on the upper lovel, following the course of the reef, sinking winze, and driving low level tunnel to cut the main reef. The country so far passed through is sandstone. The quartz is full of minerals, gold and silver being the component parts, with arsenic, sulphur, and a little copper showing. In the upper level, No. 3 reef was struck 20 feet in. It varies in width from 12 to IS inches, and should average about 15 inches. It has been traced 80 feet, and it is intended to drive on it as far as it goes. Indications serve to show that this reuf joins the lona reef, and if this be so the bis; reef .which runs from 9 feet 6 inches to 12 feet wide, should be struck on the upper level within another 40 feet. Mr. Mackay, tho Government geologist, who recently inspected the field, has expressed tho opinion that the reef outcropping on this and other properties is the big reef, and that the small reefs are but tributaries and will join the main body in various places. The low level has been started with the object of cutting the lode at the junction of the main reef which runs diagonally across the property, terminating at the western boundary, and is supposed to be the continuation of the big reef discovered east of the property. This reef is dipping here about one in one, and it is expected that the drive will be in 600 feet before the reef is tapped. A big height of backs (over 300 feet) will thus be obtained. The winze has been sunk almost on the border of the Great Barrier and Ryan's, and is down 80 feet. Tho reef known as No. 3 was struck 32 feet down. Ib runs nearly easb and west, aud has a dip of about one in threo. So far the country is hard, but ib shoots well, and good progress is being made. The reef has been traced on thie property 80 feet west on the upper level and 30 feeb in the winze, and is holding up well. It is intended to work the reef from the low level, using the winze as a ventilating tunnel. Several other reefs have been traced, but ab present are not being touched, every efforb being made to push on tho works enumerated above, Stone from each reef has been assayed, tho quartz carrying gold and silver. It is rocognised that thore will be a difficultly in treating the stone, there being too much silver for the cyanide process, and the proportion of cilver such that it would not do to pan it off for gold. This consideration probably weighed with tho company in appointing as mine manager Mr. J. McWillmtE.s, who has had a lengthy experience in Colorado and other American districts, where the same difficulty has arisen and, it is said, been successfully coped with, (To be continued.)