MINING AT THE GREAT BARRIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10416, 14 April 1897, Page 6

MINING AT THE GREAT BARRIER.

A VISIT TO THE PROPERTIES. (BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTER,) NO. 111. EDOERTON. This mine is situated west of the drgenturn, in the direction of Whangaparapara Bay. It belongs to a company of six, who have decided to prospect, and properly prove the ground. The drive is in 200 feet, and splendid country has so far been met with. Several reefs have been discovered on the property, and ib is expected that the rich lode, which has already been mot with on the properties lying east, and which is supposed to carry into the Kdgerton, will soon be cut. Mr. Anderson is mine manager. When further work has been done—the present reef opened out and the big lode tapped—the mine will probably receive more attention than at present. EXCELSIOR. The Groat Barrier Exclesior was formerly known as the White Cliffs. Id consists of 100 acres, and is bounded on two sides by the Original, on the north by Mount Argonturn, and east by Aotea. Ib has been thoroughly prospected, and several reefs from which satisfactory returns have been obtained, have been discovered on the property. The country is the same as that mob with on the Original, the proving of winch will practically do the same for Excelsior, as the direction of nearly all the reefs is east and west) thus cutting through the mine under notice. It is thought! that the Proprietary lode, 4 toet, runs through this property. The company consisting of 40,000 shares have been floated, six months protection having been granted. At the expiration of that period work will probably be commenced in earnest. BONANZA, COMSTOCK, ETC. The remaining properties, Bonanza, Cainstock, and junction Barrier lie to the east of the mines described above Portion of the ground is on the hill, the remainder running into tho swamp near tho Kaitoke Creek. Thu ground lias boon prospected, but nothing further has been dono, and the properties, together with the Silver King, Great Barrier East, and G rent Eastern, are now said to belong to tho company known a? the Great Barrier Gold and Silver Estates Company,. Reek have been discovered on the Bonanza and Comstock, the reef on tho first-inentionod being well defined. A little trenching has boon completed, bub beyond occasional work of an unimportant nature nothing is being done on the properties mentioned. KAURI TIMBER COMPANY'S PROPERTY. On this, which lies west of White Cliffs, and consists of 1000 acres, containing clumps of good kauri trees, i prospecting party consisting of \V. Sanderson, jun., and three men discovered several roofs, some of which carried silver. At present driving operations are being proceedod with west of the original. Oho of the tunnels, which are 5 feet and 6- feet wide, is in 80 feet, it being intended to intersect the reef at a low level. Nice etono was procured from the trench on the east of Whangaparapara ; particulars of the assay were not available, but ib is said tho return was very satisfactory, and encouraged the company to thoroughly test the ground. THE TREATMENT OF TUB ORE. In the opinion of those who have given the matter a good deal of attention the chlorinwition process will be the most efficacious in treating the quartz. With the presence of so many refractory ores, treatment by the cyanidu process is admitted to bo out of the question, and though many of those interested in the various properties profess to treat this phase of tho question lightly, there is no iloiijjb that some difficulty will be experienced in solving thin problem, for the chlorinisation process is a costly one. The more thoughtful, however, recognising the difficulty that looms in the distance, and which must eventually bo faced, are prosecuting inquiries with regard to treatment, and the result of their investigations will doubtless bo made public in duo course. Bub it is just as well to here emphasise the fact thai there ie a difficulty, and that that difficulty will have to bo got over before the permanency of the Great Barrier as a milling district is assured.

TUB ANTIMONY PKOrEKTY, Known also as the A warm block, is situated 16 miles by road from Blind Bay, and lies north of the Hirakiranta ranges. Tlio area iii 894 acres, the property being owned by an Auckland syndicate, and extends from Hirakiraata to Whangapoua. Particulars as co tho discovery of antimony on this portion of the island have already been given. The ground is very hilly, is thickly studded with young kauri, and is of the usual sandstone formation. Tho roof showing antimony plentifully andslight traces of gold and silver, is 80ft. wide, tho direction being north and south, with a big dip to tho east. The antimony lode runs north-west and south-east, anil is a very largo body of ore containing mineral of good quality. A specimen, weighing some forty pounds, may be seen in tho Auckland Museum ; it) was taken from the property fixe or m years ago. A number of sacks of antimony were, we believe, forwarded to tho English firm of Ponlifax anil Woods, the great smelting company who are supposed to control the antimony marked of the world. A prospecting drive some 400 feet or 500 feet is required to thoroughly prove the property, and it is probable that this work will he undertaken before long. Adjoining the Awana property is a 100- acre block held on freehold by Mr. Joseph Thornes of this city. THE COPPER MINES, Those are situate on the north and northwestern portion of the island, the mine being about four miles north from Katherine Bay, in the Paparahi district. The area consists of many thousand acres. lb was worked over 40 years ago by the late Sir Frederick W hi taker and Captain Ueale. Complications have since then arisen in connection with the disposal of the property, and until tho courts have settled this question nothing further can bo done in the development of the field. There is said to be good copper in large quantities on the property, so that with the removal of the obstacles mentioned we may expect co see a prompt) resumption of work. KAURI GUM. Gumdigging is general over tho island, it being estimated that over 50 men are so engaged. On tho Awana flats and near Whangaparapara good gum has been obtained, and at the first-mentioned place there ie quite a small township of gumdiggers and their families. Mast of the men are making wages, and some handsome finds have teen reported. Ground gum is becoming scarcer, and climbing is being resorted to. Still the island is far from being worked out and should afford employment to the diggers for some time to come. THE HOT SPRINGS. ' Six miles from Blind Bay, in the direction of Hirakimata, may be found the hot springs, which arise in the range of hills between the mines and the mountain, which is the highest) point of the island— 2038 feet. The two creeks junction a short distance down. Nothing has yet been dono to form a bath, bat it has been suggested that a dam should be made, and a bathing-place thus formed. The water varies in totnporaturo from lukewarm (when it is pleasant to bathe in) to near boiling, when the unwary bather will emerge parboiled. The water has a somewhat unpleasant smell, this probably being due to its pronounced mineral properties, of which sulphur appears to be the principal. About a mile further on will be found a sluggish creek containing water of a bluish colour, heavily mineralised and containing a large proportion of soda. There are other mineral springe in the vicinity, which so far have received very little attention.. It is said that the hot springe on the island possess wonderful curative properties, but no authentic information could be obtained on that head, though one miner stoutly maintained that his mate, who had suffered from rheumatism for years, had been completely cured by bathing regularly in the ■printed. ROAD TO THE MINES. The new road, which is now being constructed, will run from Blind Bay to Whangaparapara, passing the mine?. It will commence at Werner's store and run up the spur of the hill, at an easy grade (the steepest being 1 in 14) to the saddle ntu the Iqm mine. It will (ben , ran

west through the mining properties to Whangaparapara, the distance being five miles and the steepest grade I in 12, Mr. Butler ie at present engaged laying off tho road, which will be 12fb wide, and three contracts for formation and one for clearing have already been let and a start made. When the road is completed a considerable reduction will bo made in the expense of conveying material tu.tho mines, which under the present packing system must necessarily be large. JOTTINGS. The Mount Argentum, Kaitoke, and Great Barrier Companies have secured battery sites and water rights on the gorge beneath tho Great Barrior. The big creek runs through the Kauri Timber Company's property, and alter passing the mines joins the Kaitoke. A rumour having been circulated that an application for a publican's license for the Great Barrier was to be made to the Waitemata Licensing Committee, tho temperance advocates have taken time by the forelock, and are canvassing for signatures to a petition protesting against the granting of a license. The property owned by the company just floated (thai Staffa) lies south-east of the lona claim. It is supposed that the big lona reef runs into the Staffs. The intention of the company is to commence prospecting work at once, also to drive on the reef outcropping on the property. We understand that negotiations for the purchaso of tho property known as the antimony block are proceeding. Messrs. Morris Brothers of Auckland, last week inspected tho property and obtained some splendid samples of antimony from the lode. These will bo sent to England. It is probable that when the new road from Blind Bay to Whangaparapara is completed the latter will be made the port of call for tho steamer in preference to tho formor bay. A safe berthage can be obtained at Whangaparapara Bay, but at Blind Kay landing and shipping passengers and cargo is at times difficult and dangerous. Apropos tho lona, has now beon replaced by the Ohinemuri, which affords more accommodation for passengers. As within tho last few weeks a number of minors have visited the island in search of work, and have been disappointed, it is just as well to state that the mines are at prosent fully manned, and that unless engaged, men are only throwing money away in visiting the field. Good accommodation can be secured ab Blind Bay where Mrs. Springall and daughters look well after tho comfort of visitors. In the mininsr district proper a rough bub cordial hospitality was extended to our representative, who also desires to thank the mine managers for thoir courtesy in showing him ovor the various properties. [Concluded].