OUR GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

SUMMARY. The gold returns from the Auckland district mines for the past three weeks only reach the comparatively small total of I £15,992 12s 2d, duo to the fact that the I Summary is issued a day or two before the ; yields for January from our leading bul- | lion producers in the Ohinemuri district ! come to hand. Of the total given, the i Waiotahi Company (Thames) contributes ; £15,876 12s 2d, a record return for the ! mine for one month.

j During the month of January 61.7040z of gold, valued at £249.828. were exported j from the celony. The figures for the I corresponding month of last year were ! 58,1520z, valued at £234,812, showing an j increase this year of £15,016. The details j of the returns are as follows: — Auckland, I 20,6020z, value £84,113; Greymouth, j 18,100oz, value £72,509; Dunedin, j 17,2010z. value £70,000 ; Hokitika, 24000z, value £9596; Invercargill, 1830oz, value £7520; West-port, 13490z, value £5400: Nelson, 1720z, value £690. The export of silver from Auckland was 85.5520z, valued at £8706, as compared with 43,8630z, valued at £4427, for January last year.

The new cross reef recently struck in the eastern end of the drive on the Royal lode at the No. 7 level of the Waihi mine has now been driven on in a southerly direction for a distance of about 150 ft. The ore body has opened out to a width of 6ft or 7ft, i and the ore being broken is all being sent to the mill for treatment. This reef appears to be one of those formations characteristic of the Waihi Company's ground, which run from one reef to another, and the idea of the management of the company is that the new lode will lead to another, and possibly larger, ore body, running parallel to trie Royal, Empire, and Martha lodes. It will therefore be seen that the discovery may be regarded as one of considerable importance. As the northern face of the No. 13 level of the Talisman Consolidated mine has advanced beyond the disturbing influence of the Woodstock fault, which crossed the working about the point of intersection, • the lode matter has improved in a marked degree, in both size and quality, and there is now a splendid breast of ore, seven feet in width, showing in the face. The reef has become very solid, and the values are highly satisfactory, in fact, it is no exaggeration to say that never in the history of the Talisman mine has such a fine lode been operated upon as is the case in the No, 13 level. The lode formation has been interspersed with bunches of quartz heavily impregnated with the precious metal. This stone, which is carrying coarse gold, does not occur in largo quantities, but its presence points to high values and the increasing worth of the lode as it continues downwards. Some of the pieces of quartz broken out during the past few days could easily be classed as specimen stone, and there can be no doubt that when the slopes are commenced they will yield very profitable results. The development is, therefore, one of considerable importance, and the shareholders have every reason to feel satisfied with the results. The mine now ranks only second to the great Waihi, for its productiveness and permanence in the Auckland province. The other works in the mine are without ! much change. j The management of the Waihi Grand i Junction mine have decided to continue ! the sinking of the main shaft a further distance of 100 ft, which, when completed, will make a total depth of about 875 ft. The development of the No. 1 lode is proving satisfactory, and it has been driven, upon for a distance of about 340 ft west, the width varying from 10ft up to about 40ft. The eastern face has also been driven upon for a distance of over 440 ft, and a large body of stone has been opened up for stoping, the width ranging from sft to over 20ft. Altogether something like 780 ft has been driven upon the lode at this level which is at a depth of 640 ft. The exploitation of No. 2 lode is also being carried on expeditiously, and the eastern drive has reached a point about 160 ft from the Waihi Extended boundary. Seven rises have been carried up and" connected with the No. 2 level, and the eighth, which is within 17ft of the face, is drawing near completion. A lot of work has been done and great hopes are entertained that the results will prove very satisfactory when crushing commences in a few months' time. Mining matters at Owharoa have been practically a dead letter for a. couple of years, notwithstanding the fact that thousands of pounds' worth of gold was won in the early days. The Rising Sim Gold Mining Company are, however, now determined to search for the hidden treasure, and to exploit their property in a thoroughly systematic manner. 'Mr. W. Goldsworthy, who has been appointed supervisor, and quite recently paid a visit to the mine.' is very sanguine of achieving success. Samples recently taken from various parts of the mine have been assayed, and give the following average values: —South winze, £9 7s 6d per ton; No. 2 level, 136 ft south, £1 10s 3d; north winze, £3 4s; No. 2 level, 30ft south, £3 7s 7d; No. 2 level, 100 ft south, £1 3s Bd.

In view of the fact that development operations during the past few months have proved the existence of gold at a greater depth on the Thames field than that at which it was hitherto found, the proposal to further test the low levels has again been revived. The Thames Drainage Board and the Thames Borough Council are moving in the direction of a comprehensive? scheme for the testing of the deep levels, and the matter is to be brought under the notice of the Government, with a view to obtaining financial assistance. Should the work be undertaken and prove successful, we may look forward to a period of renewed activity in the gold mining industry on the Thames field, which in the early days contributed so largely to the colony's gold output.

The improved prospects of (£*» mining industry- in the Auckland district of late may be expected to again direct the attention of English capitalists to our fields. Already there arc indications that the field is in better favour at Home than for some years past, and inquiries have recently been received touching one or two properties. An English company is at present negotiating for the purchase of the Waihi Consols Gold Mining Company's property at Waihi, and news of an encouraging nature has been received covering the provision of further capital by the shareholders in England for the working of the Kathleen Crown mine at Coromandel.

Recent developments at Coromandel give prospects of a revival of the industry there. In the Gallant mine, which adjoins the Kapanga Gold Mining Company's property, rich gold has been struck, and good results may follow, while in the low level of the New Four-in-Hand mine there are indications that the reef has been topped. As good gold was met with in sinking the winze a good block will be available if the reef has been intersected.