THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13464, 17 April 1907, Page 5

THE GOLDFIELDS.

KOMATA REEFS.

The following is the three-weekly report on the development work at- tho Komata Reefs mine: —

No. 5 level Drive north on No. 2 reef—Distance driven, 13ft; total, 64ft bin. 'this driving has lieen done on contract. The average width of the reef is 2ft and the value £2 Is.

No. 4 level: Drive north on No. 1 reef from first crosscut Distance driven, 7ft; total, 79ft. The average width ot the reef was 7it and the average value 13.". This drive sometimes carries bunches of gold ore, but the average seems low. The slopes being earned out from the floor of the level above this drive carry good ore, so there should be a good block of" ground here. Drive north on No. 1 reef from second crosscut —Distance driven, 7ft: total, 6611. The average width of the reel is 2ft and the. average value 16s. Drive south on No. 1 reef from second crosscut — Distance driven. 4ft; total, 25ft. The average width of the reef is sft and the average value £2 17s. Drive- north on No. 2 reef—Distance driven, sft.; total, 4.57 ft. The average width of the reef was 3ft and the average value 16s Hd. Winze on No. 2 reef—Distance sunk. Ift,; total, 4ft. Tho width being taken out is 4ft and the average value is £5 4s Id. There is some very good ore in the bottom of the winze at present. No. 3 level: Drive north on No. 1 reef—Distance driven, 6ft; total, 190 ft. The average width of the reef is 7ft and the average value £2 16s 3d. This is a great improvement on previous values and is due to a. rich patch having been passed through. Drive north on No. 2 reef—Distance driven, Bft; total, 304f:.- The average width was 3ft and the average value £16 15s sd. This drive has been carrying very rich ore, which is gratifying, seeing that it, Is one of the most, northerly development faces in the mine. Winze on No. 2 reef—Distance funk, 7ft; total, 31ft. The average width being taken out, is 4ft and the average value £8 7s 6d. The ore in the bottom of the winze is at present very high grade. No. 2 level: Drive north on No. 2 reef—Distance driven, lift: total. 251 ft. The average width was ISin and the average value £3 12s 3d. The improvement in value is due to a rich bunch of ore, which occurred in the bottom of the drive. The face is at. present poor. Sloping: No. 4 level—Ground, stoped. 5 2 fathoms. The average width is 4ft and the averago value £2. This block is being worked from No. 3 level bv means of underhand stopes. No. 2 reef, first block—Ground stoped, 10 fathoms. The average width of the rf*f is sft and the average value £2. No. 3 level—No. 1 reef, second black — Ground stoped, 7 fathoms. The average width of the reef is sft and the average value 355. No. 1 reef, third block : Ground stoped, 3 fathoms. The average width is Bft and the average value £2 10s. No. 2 reef, first block: Ground stoped. 3 fathoms The average width of the rref is 3ft and the average value 355. No. 2 reef, second block: Ground stoped. 13 fathoms. The average width of the reef is 10ft and the average value £2. Batterr: The additions to the plant are praeticallv completed, but it will be some time yet before the full tonnage can be treated, a.s a good deal of experimenting has to be done and slight alterations are from time to time necessary. A second set of vacuum filters arc being fitted up, as it was found that owing to a. chance in the character of the ore one set would not deal with all the 6limc produced.-

MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS.

Bonanza (April 13): The drive has been extended 16ft, making a total of 219 ft from the entrance. We continue to penetrate a really good class of mineralised country, and some quartz stringers have agaiu been met with in which blende and silica were seen. A little water is also coming front the face. Waitangi (April 13): In (lie low level the drive eastward on the reef has been extended 10ft; total distance driven, 19ft. The reef, averaging 2ft in width, is encased in a pood class of country. A leader, 3in wide, was cut ttrikinß into the reef on the, foot-wall side, and shows colours of jj;old of a coarser nature than any seen previously at this level. The No. 2 crosscut through the reef at No. 2 level has been advanced sft through solid quartz, carrying favourable mineral?. The face, now 14ft from the uangingwall drive, is still in strong quart?:, <;ood progress is IK-ing made with No. 3 level, though the country continues to be very firm. The total distance driven to date is 79 ft. Halcyon (April 13): The low level on the Halcyon reef has been extended lift, making a total distance- of 131 ft. The country is of a harder nature, but still improving as tlie drive advances It. is white sandstone country, well interlaced with bright mlneriil seams. The low level to intersect tho new reef has been advanced 3ft; total, 23ft.

New Occidental (April 14): We are now getting into much softer ground than we have had for some distance back, and water rising from tie face indicates wo are clo.<e to the break. 'the tot-al distance driven is 217 ft from the crosscut.

Mac Queen Extended (April 15): The reef in the Rocky Point, drive (west) is increasing in size mid has a very promising appearance. What was thought to bo the Adelaide branch has been struck on the footwall side, lint it proves to he a portion of tho reef, mid i* making bark into the main portion again, thereby increasing the size of the lode, which is very heavy in mineral and traversing <i splendid channel of rock. In the rise on the Adelaide branch strong colours of gold are visible when breaking clown, and the quartz is being saved for crushing. Timbering is going on in the rise at. present, and will Incompleted with despatch, and the rise will then be carried on with two shifts. South Kapanga (April 15): We have completed the rise, ensuring good ventilation. We. have driven 6ft npdn the lode going north and aremaking a start driving south with one shift, it. being intended to put on another shift. In rising wo went through a very nice-looking leader, about, bin, and this leader should be prospected later on. as it is most likely the Corby lode. In the north drive the. lode is much the same aud the countrv is of a good description. Trafalgar (April 13): The drive on the Nelson Teef has hern extended 17ft, making a total distance of 45ft. In the present face the reef is 18in wide and the quartz is well mineralised, giving a fair prospect of gold in the dish. The quartz hits prospected most- consistently throughout and should give a good return when treated. fair progress has been made with the drive on the Empire lode and the reef now showing is a well-defined bod'" cf good-looking .mart*. Aft wide, which at. present is carrying good copper pyrites, with every indication that an improvement in the reef will short!v occur. Waihi Extended (April 13): The south-west drive has !wn advanced lift for the week, progress being retarded owing to harder country being ni»t with. This has now been passed through and good countrv is opening out. Watchman (April 13"l: All bands have been engaged timbering up the level and the face will again he fully manned on Monday with two shifts. The toil parcel from the Windfall outcrop will be bagged and forwarded for treatment. New W.iitekami (April 13): The timbering of the Queen level lias been nearly completed, and •a start "ill be made to put the- ladders in up to the stnitllv level, a work which will take a few weeks to "complete. Surface work will .also he put in hand at once. Ore lias no', vet been sampled, because of the batten- weight* not. being to band. The value* of 'be different blocks will he tested as soon as possible. New I'na (April 15): Better progress had been made during the week in advancing the main level for the purpose of intersecting- tho Dayspring. footwall. end Duke reefs. The. country reck is still hard, but numerous silica veins prevailing admit of boring. A change for the better may be looked for shortly. The total distance driven to date is 328 ft. Temple Hur (April IT): During the past, wee.; the low level has been advanced Sit, making a total distance of 249 ft. The country, though of a. firmer description, shows no change in its general appearance. The slow progress for the week has been caused by the indisposition of tome of the contractor's men. Rising Sun: The winze has been sunk a further distance of sft- for the week. We. are still sinking on the footwall portion of the reef ami 311- of solid quartz is being taken with it. Ihe ore broken continues to prospect well and still carries a good deal of sulphides and colours find dabj of gold van be seen through the. ore broken. The gold appears to be getting coarser as we are getting deeper.