MONOWAI G.M. CO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10752, 13 May 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

MONOWAI G.M. CO.

A VISIT TO THE MINE. A visit of inspection to the above company's mine at Waiomo reveals the fact that at no prior stage of its history were the prospects and the outlook generally of such a promising character as is the case at the present time. This state of affairs is, without doubt, the result of the systematio development worts inaugurated and carried out by the company's manager, Mr. W. H. Williams, since he took charge of the property, about eight months ago, for although prior to that time a great deal of work had been done in one form and another, the real intrinsio value of the property is only just now showing itself. This state of affairs is especially applicable to what is termed the Monowai section, where, until Mr. Williams' arrival on the scene, a great deal of doubt existed, not only as to the permanency and correct bearings of the main lode, but also as to whether the ore was amenable to profitable treatment. These doubts, however, have in a great measure been practically solved, especially as to the first two mentioned points, whilst as regards the profitable treatment of the ore, Mr. Williams is satisfied from the high assay values obtainable that he will soon be able to set that doubt at rest when once he is able to commence the treatment of the same. Tho process Mr. Williams has decided to adopt, and for which he has already prepared the company's 10-stamper battery, is that of concentration. That is, tho ore will be crushed wet, as in tho ordinary battery treatment, and as much as possible of the free gold will be saved on the silvered plates and in the ripples, but instead of running the tailings over blankets they will pass over percussion tables, and thence on to what are known as Brown and Stanfiold's concentrators. The light sands, etc., will pass on to tailings pits prepared for their reception outside the battery building, but the concentrates will bo bagged in the building, and afterwards shipped away for treatment until the company has proved to its satisfaction that they (the concentrates) can bo satisfactorily dealt with, when steps will probably bo taken for the erection of a chlorination plant at the mine, in order to complete the whole treatment there instead of shipping tho concentrates away. The company's 10-stamper battery is ready for the commencement of crushing operations, and has been in this position for the past seven weeks, but owing to the insufficient supplyof water available for motive power purposes it has been impossible to commence the treatment of ore, although a small portable engine has also been added for the driving of the percussion tables and concentrators. It may bo stated, however, that with the view of preparing for future emergencies, Mr. Williams lias not only submitted to his directors the estimated cost of providing efficiont steampower for driving 25 head of stampers, etc, but also the estimated cost of a reduction plant comprising 50 head of stampers, concentrators, etc., and the necessary steam power for working the same. The present battery Bite is in every way suitable for increasing its capacity up to 50 head of stampers, whilst about 100 yds further down the creek a large corrugated iron building, suitable for a cyanide plant, lias already been erected, and five vats placed in position in it, and adjoining it is a site available for chlorination furnaces. In the Monowai section three levels have Been opened up for a considerable length on the course of the main reef, but as yet very little ore has been broken, the reef being nearly stripped and made available for breaking out. At intervals, however, the reef has been out into, and found to range in thickness from 30ft to 40ft, whilst the ore of which it is composed bears a most promising appearance, and gives a good general assay value throughout. The assays lately obtained from samples of the ore recently shipped to Swansea for treatment give an average value of close upon £9 per ton, but though the ultimate yield be only at half that rale, the company will have a big future before it, for the large size of the ore body and the cheapness with which it can be blocked out and transmitted from tho mine to the battery, will leave a large margin of profit after deducting all expenses in connection with tho same. It may bo mentioned that in breaking out the sample parcel for shipment to Swansea, Mr. Williams endeavoured to make it as fair a general average sample of the reef as it was possible to make it, for the ore was taken along the full width of the reef at four different points. Already Large blocks 'ire available for operations upon the reef, and as at no point does it average less than 30ft in thickness, the supply of ore obtainable thereupon is consequently wry large, and should as readily keep 50 stampers employed , as 10.