THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13160, 25 April 1906, Page 3

THE GOLDFIELDS.

WAIHI EXTENDED. Samples of the cross reef lately discovered in the Waihi Extended mine, have been, brought to town, by Mr. X. McLean, one of the directors, and they were on view at the office of the secretary (Mr. J. W. Niehol) yesterday. The stone, which is very heavily mineralised, was inspected by a large number of shareholders during the day. COROM'AXDEL BIG REEFS, [BY 'i'Kli-;<;ha?ii. —own* CORRESPOND F. N'T. J CoROiTANUEL, Tuesday. Driving is l>eing continued through the main reel, but there is nothing new to report. Stuping is also being continued upon the I'uketutu lode, and tip to the present a total of 201b of picked'stone has been won. The whole of the ground abutting on the Kapanga mine has been pegged out and applied for. K I'R ANUI-CALEDOXIA N. I [ (IV TKLKfIUAPH. —OWN CO It I )I'..N"t'. ] Thames, Tuesday. Operations at the bottom of the winze .sunk on the Cure reef in the Kuranui-Cale-donian maie have been suspended for tlie present, and a start has been made to open out and sink on the email leader in the hangingwall, which was cut through in sinking the winze, about 30fb below the level, and from which picked stone was obtained at that time, Ttie winze had been sunk to a total depth of 70ft-, and the reef driven on both ways, but as the result did not come up to expectations, the manager has now decided to further develop the hangingwall leader, which is evidently a dropper out of the main reef, and it is intended to continue sinking on this leader from where it is now being opened out on to the bottom of the winze, a distance of about 40ft. The leader, which at present varies in thickness from lin to 4in, looks promising', and contains nice mineral, while gold is seen freely through the quartz, and about Bib of good picked stone hats been selected. It is also intended to commence driving on the Cure No. 4 reef from the main crosscut, and tenders have been called for this work, which will be gone on with at once, with a view to testing the value of the reef, which has not been worked previously Mow the No. 2 level, although good results were obtained from it about that level. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Victoria (April 23): The. contractors at the No. 4 level having given up the contract, fresh arrangements will have to be made for the extension of the drive. The country in the present face is a nice light mild sandstone, intermixed with mineral and quartz veins. The rise on the No. 1 break, Victoria reef, No. 4 level, which is now 90ft above the back of the drive, is penetrating excellent, country, it being a firm, wellmineralised sandstone, intermixed with silica and quart/, veins. The reef in the back of the rise is well defined and is still about 12in thick. The quartz, when broken, shows some splendid minerals, intermixed with silica, but could not be classed as heavily-mineralised ore. Intermediate level, above No. We are now diiving east and west, from the winze. The leader, which is somewhat split at present, is encased in splendid light blocky sandstone. The quartz shows some splendid minerals, and during the week nice colours of gold were seen. A crushing of 23 tons of quartz from the intermediate level will lie completed to-morrow, and the cleaning up will take place on Thursday or Friday. Waiotahi Extended (April 21): The low level has been extended 12ft on the course of the hangingwall branch, the total length being 181 ft. The country is of the same firm description as at the date'of Mr. E. F. Adams' report, but is of a good class, as colours and dabs of gold have been seen at intervals for the last 140 ft, and, should the leader continue to improve as the work advances towards the junction with the main footwall reef, there is every prospect of a large pavahle block being opened up. Royal.Oak (April 20): Edwards and party have been putting up a rise on their lead with favourable results, as they can see gold frequently when breaking down. For the past week they have selected 21 lb of picked stone, and Doolev and Ross have secured 151b of specimens. Luhrs and party and Allan and party have also selected 131b and' 111b of picked stone respectively. New Dart (April 21): Tlie drive has been extended 26ft. At the beginning of the week we struck a large blue metal boulder, about Bft through. 'Illis is very hard and requires careful blasting. The face is now cleared of this and better progress should again be made. Waitangi (April'2l): The eastern drive is now iu 32ft. The country is still most- favourable. In breaking a portion of the reef we saw some very good minerals through the stone. The north drive in the winze has been at a standstill during the past week, owing to being engaged in the air shaft. Good headway is being made with the work, and I hope to get it finished in a few days. Work will then be resumed in the north drive at the bottom of the winze. Rising Sun: The country being penetrated in the northern drive continues of a hard nature. The contractors are making moderate progress, having driven 40ft since starting thtir contract. The reef and footwall leader have come together. The reef is 2ft, wide and intermixed with country. I get a fair prospect of gold from the footwall leader and also a few colours from the main. reef by pounding. The drive on the reef (south end) has attained a distance of 20ft. The country encasing the reef is all that could be desired, and a little gold is occasionally got in the dish. There is a small leader branching off from the reef, which gives very good prospects of free gold by mortar test. Champion Mines (April 23): T have started to drive on No. 1 lode, which looks very promising, gold being visible in the stone and very fair prospects in dish. The directors, after a visit, recommended the development of fhe large formation, which is carrying a fair amount of gold in this property, and which is well worthy of development. Omahu Mines (April 23): The No. 1 level is now in 201 ft. The reef in the face is dipping underfoot, and in order to follow if I have started a dip drive at an angle of 30 degrees to go to a depth of 15ft. Then I expect to continue the drive level to intersect Tilslev's old drive, from which rich parcels of ore were obtained some years ago This work as it. progresses will prove' the extent of the lode from east to west. The No. 1 cross drive going north lias been advanced sft. making a total of 24ft. The reef in this face is 9ft thick, and yield* splendid dieli prospects from wall to wall. The No. 2 cross drive going Month has been extended 9ft. making << total of 29ft. The reef in 'his drive has risen overhead, there lieing only 18m of the footwall visible, which is highly payable. We will start crushing this week.