COPPER MINING IN NELSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13368, 24 December 1906, Page 7

COPPER MINING IN NELSON.

EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS,

[UJT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Nelson, Saturday. The Maoriland Copper Company, who took over the Mineral Beit- Company's mines— Champion, United, Mount, Claim, and Monster—havo for the past five months been opening out the old level in the chute. The work is now completed, and the levels are clear from No. 2 to No. 7, a, depth of 400 ft. Mr. Bray, the mine manager, reports that the chute of ore in, No. 2 is 81ft long. This has been followed down to No. 15. In the western drive on No. 5 the lode is 2ft 6in, and the manager reports that this is me host one ho lias seen yet. The lode is running strongly under foot, and a contract has been let for the extension of No. 7 level for a further 300 ft to come- under the main ore. body. The assays taken from all over the said levels, as assayed by Mr. A. Stuart- Peters, tho company's aesayer, and Mr. A. A. Bickerton, the colonial analyst show an average for 32 assays taken of 11 ,t per cent, of copper. Shortly after the New Year the company will start operations on the Champion mine, from which have been taken some of the richest known deposits oi native copper, samples of which are exhibited at the Nelson Court, and by the Mines Department at the Intemational Exhibition. Seventy-five men will be at work during January. It is the intention of tho company to immediately ship 500 tons of ore to the English and Australian Copper Smelting Company, at Waratali, New South Wares.