MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13467, 18 June 1907, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

' THAMES DEEPER LEVELS. PROPOSALS OF THE MAY QUEEN COMPANY. ' Matters in connection with the scheme formulated by the May Queen Company for testing the deeper levels at the Thames were advanced a stage yesterday, when, at , a meeting [ of the ■.. Thames Drainage Board, a letter was read from the directors of the May Queen Company stating that the company had been formed and |registered, that they were prepared to j start . ■unwatering the Queen of Beauty shaft from the present drainage level, and deepening the shaft from its present bottom to a depth of 1050 ft from the sur-1 face. Permission was asked to carry out this work. It was further pointed out that the total cost of -the sinking and of pumping below the: present drainage* level, namely, 650 ft, was to be borne by the May Queen Company, the Government (with a -subsidy of £ for £), and the Thames Borough Council (with a contribution of £1000), the May Queen Company to be responsible for the payment of and cost of "the work. In the event of any other contributing company requiring to go below the present level the directors considered that such company should pay to the May Queen Company , a fair proportion of the rest of the work set out. The Chairman (Hon. E. Mitchelson) moved, " That the necessary ' permission be given."*; He stated that an assurance had been received from the Minister for Mines that a subsidy of £ for £ would be granted to help carry out the scheme, and an application had been made for.that assistance. The Thames Borough Council and the County Council had also been written to on the same matter. The company was prepared to put the work in hand at once, and he said <•■ it would no doubt be of great benefit to the Thames district generally. The company was- entitled to pay to the Drainage Board the cost of pumping below the present level, and that they, were, prepared to do. / Mr., Kissling remarked . that .there was nothing in the company's letter laying down a general-principle as to future adjustments ; it was merely a suggestion. The Chairman mentioned that the May Queen Company had received a letter from Thames Shareholders, suggesting that the company take the initiative in convening a _ meeting of : all ..- 'companies ; interested, with a view to arriving at a basis of cost to be contributed by each in prosecuting a deeper level, scheme. The matter, ever, had been put; off for a month, pending the receipt from the Government of permission; to go on with the work." ''"'■: Mr. .Burns' (Mayor of Thames), who seconded the motion, stated that ,so far as the Thames Borough-Council's l promised subsidy was concerned .he did not think there would be ,any. trouble about the payment of the- £1000.. ' f : : The motion was carried, and the secretary.: was instructed to write to the Government, asking for consent to * the work being carried out, : the pumping gear f. being the property ,of the Government. "> a.;.' ; v The question of arranging :i the basis )of contribution • by" •the May Queen Company when ; the proposed scheme is taken' in hand . was referred -to the > Auckland ■ committee of the : Board to adjust. ~ v OLD ALBURNIA. A picked sample taken, from a mineral band in the' reef in the western drive of the Old ; Alburnia Gold Mining \ Company gives an value of £2 5s 3d per ton. WAIOTAHI. The manager-; of the nWaiotahi mine reports for the": week: as follows:— 6 level: The north crosscut is being continued, and is in a distance of 289 ft. .'■ We are still meeting';;.with quartz J veins. //;/; The. crosscut south of the main'; shaft is in a distance of 137 ft, but no quartz has yet been met with. Stoping on the main reef above this level is -in progress. P The fourth stope has how,' been carried 80ft west of | No.. 1 winze. '% Stoping on the ; fobtwall dropper and branch leader is also in hand. Cure Reef The fourth stope on this reef has been carried 63ft west of the rise, the reef being about;2ft; in width, and colours of gold have -been' seen in the quartz broken. " No. 5 level: Driving west on the main reef is in progress, and is ;' in a distance of ,261 ft from'the crosscut. There is nothing fresh to report from this face. Stoping on the "main reef above this level is l . being continued as usual, the : . seventh stops being; carried 75ft east, of No; 1 winze. In the eighth stope work during the week has been ' confined to taking out the/reef .for its full width, and 1501b: of picked stone have been selected. No. 4 level: Driving east on the main reef from the north-east drive is in progress, ; and is in a distance of 125 ft. The reef is still of large dimensions. V Stoping above this level is being-continued, and good• colours of gold continue to be seen in; the quartz broken. ' Cure Reef: ' Driving west on this reef has been in/hand, and is now in a distance of 47ft from the rise, the reef being still small. The roof of the old crosscut from ; the main shaft has ' been carried in for a distance of 127 ft. . No. 3 level: The No. 2 winze in -the western end below this level >is down a distance' 21ft,' the ' reel being still about 3ft in width. SCOTIA. The value of gold won from the crushing of 10 tons of general dirt from the Scotia mine .(Waitekauri) proved to be £53 7s 3d. The ore was treated at the Maoriland battery, and the crushing is regarded as being satisfactory. ' ~:/ , ' WAITANGI. V ' [by telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] ' „ Thames, Monday. No fresh developments have taken pl.acf in this mine during the week. The worl of extending the low level crosscut is pro ceeding also on the western drive on tin small reef. Good country /is being - me' with in this drive, but as yet there is in improvement in the reef. At the surfaci level the reef is still being cut into, ant there lis yet no sign of the footwall. Tin reef lis composed <of quartz of a simila nature to what was met with at No. 2 leve and contains good mineral indications. THAMES SCHOOL OF MINES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. The monthly meeting' of; the Thames School of Mines' Council was held this evening, Mr. G. S. Clark presiding.; ! ,.'i A letter was read from Mr. Parks, direci tor of the Otago University School of Mines, acknowledging the receipt of the annual' report of the Thames School and taking exception to a- statement contained therein to the effect that in a practical sense /Univer-sity-schools of .mines had not been, a success, : arid that they do not „ make mine managers, which fact had been pointed out to the : Otago School by the Hon. the Minis--1 ter for Mines. Mr. Parks pointed out that such- a statement.' was apt, to convey, an erroneous impression of the 1 work done in t the Otago School, which had been successful in that respect, and a number of'cases were quoted of students, of that T school having received t lucrative appointments in • various places as mine managers, mining engineers, etc., during ■ the past six years. : The .chair-

man pointed out that \ Mr. Parks ■ had not treated the annual report fairly, in referring only to a portion of the statement, as if the whole statement on* this v sub ject? was taken together no exception could be * taken to it. What tha Thames School objected to and opposed was an attempt made by the University to reduce the practical work underground ; required to qualify - for a mine manager's certificate from five years to one year, which was totally inadequate... It was also pointed out that out of the list of 61 appointments received by ex-students of the Otago School during the last six # years only three of these were for the position of

mine .manager. '- - - , ;-■:■ : ; ■-, Mr. G. Fairfield," electrical instructor, wrote stating that he was applying, for the position of-electrical engineer to the Auckland City Council/and asking for a. testimonial for that purpose, which was granted. The report of the new director (Mr. ;W. Baker) was read; showing that the attendance for >Jie. various classes was as fol—Mathematics,, 13; assaying, .10 chemistry, 8; mining, 5; surveying, 6; geology and mineralogv,. 5 ; drawing, 5; electricity, 6; metallurgy, 3; elementary chemistry, .20. The report; pointed out that certain repairs were required for the assay room, laboratory, and plant and that a rock-breaker and pulveriser were required, which could be driven by a Pelton wheel to facilitate the work in the assay department. Mr. Baker also stated that he- was preparing plans for the conversion of the present dry crushing plant into a more up-to-date wet-crushing. plant. . - : -. A resolution was passed - recommending to the" Department that Mr. Givan be paid extra ■ remuneration for the period during which he had' filled the, position of director of the :school since the departure of Mr. Adams, and ; until the arrival of f Mr. Baker. THAMES drainage BOARD. ■ A meeting of the Thames Drainage Board was held yesterdav afternoon, there being present: The Hon. E. Mitchelson . (chairman), Messrs. W. Gorrie, G. S. Kissling, S. Hesketh, A. Burns (Mkyor of Thames), M. Paul, H. T. Gorrie, ' H. Gilfillan, and H. •H. Adams. -* Accounts amounting to £218 6s were passed for payment. The secretary reported receipts from April 9 to May 29 to total £616 14s lid, and disbursements £297 5s 2d, assets (including a cash balance of £319 9s 9d) being set down at £418 12s sd. The manager reported that everything m connection with the pumps and machinery had been working smoothly during the past month, but an overhaul of the air-pump and renewal of the valves had been made on May 31. The working expenses amounted to £244 6s sd. The engineer • stated that all the machinery under his charge was running satisfactorily. As the volume, of water showed no sign" of decreasing, the usual speed of the engines had to be mam, tained. ' ■ ..•-,- - . , WAIHT WARDEN'S COURT. '. [BY l TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] . •'' Waihi, Monday. At the Warden's < Court - : (Mr. R. S. Bush presiding) this morning the following mining applications were dealt -with:—J. W. Shaw, six months' protection, Waihi Reward special •■ quartz ; claim, V granted; J. Phillips, six ■; months' protection, Waihi Seddonf No. 1 special quartz claim, granted ; s E. Bain, six months' protection, Waihi Seddon No. 2 special quartz claim, granted ; S. Bain, six months' protection, Waihi Seddon No. 3 special quartz claim, granted; W. Bain, six 'months' protection, Waihi Seddon No. 4 special quartz claim, granted; ■■' C. Hayes, six months' protection Waihi Seddon No. 5 special quartz. claim, granted Waihi <; Discovery Gold '* Mining Company, certificate •of protection, special quartz claim, granted. / > I i ; SOUTHERN DREDGING RETURNS. [by TELEGRAPH.PRESS association.] Dunedin, Monday. I DuFftig' the week ended to-day, returns have been reported 1 from 32 ? dredges, the total yield X being 79-7oz. ~ 12dwt - 15gr, the average being. ,2402, per ,dredge. Additional ' returns are 'as follows:—Golden I Treasure, 41oz; Electric ■ No. 2,. 290z 15dwt; Molyneaux Kohinoor, 21oz 19dwt; Golden Gate, 16oz i 18dwt; Central Charlton/ 16ozl3dwt; Hartley and Riley, ; 16oz; Alexandra Eureka, y 14oz lldwt; Clutha River, 13oz 15dwt; ! Molyneaux Hydraulic, J 13oz lOdwt; Otago No. 2, 12oz. MINE MANAGERS' REPORTS. a ; Waihi Extended (June 15): The reef in No. A level shows considerable improvement to-day, and, a little more stone coming in, it has opened out to 3ft 6in of quartz. Quartz is also making stronger: in the bottom of the winze, being now 2ft wide. ■'-;"- •' . ! ; Trafalgar (June 15): During the. week the drive going north on the course of the Nelson reef has been extended 10ft and the -quartz broken down for that distance.' The reef at this point is carrying splendid minerals and is evidently improving, as several stones showing good coarse gold have been selected from amongst, the ore obtained during the last few days. The level going south is now clear of the clay slide, and at the present time several small leaders are Showing in the face,' from which colours of wiry gold can be obtained in the dish. These veins, when*' further developed, will probably make a strong body of quartz, and as the country encasing them is a most favourable class of sandstone for gold-bear-ing reefs good ore will most probably be obtained at this point in the future. !•» Moanataiari Extended (June 15):. The men have been engaged' shooting out portions of what is known as the 23rd of June reef in a level driven off the Middle Star low level, and also driving upon the Hatter's reef close to a point where it junctions with the former. : The first-mentioned reef' will average 18in, composed .of heavilymineroflised quartz. In the drive on the Hatter's reef, which is 2ft thick, favourable indications for gold are -being met with, and the country encasing this reef is all that could; be desired. ' Kuranui (June 15): The No., 2 stope west on the footwall leader of the intermediate level has been extended a further 7ft, making the total distance west of the rise 28ft. There is a considerable amount of quartz coming to hand from this stope, as a bunch of quartz about 18in wide has • come in between the leader and the old workings. As it carries some very nice-looking mineral and a little gold is seen in it occasionally, we are "saving it all for treatment. No. 3 stope east of the drive has been driven 10ft. The leader is looking very well, soma/ nice mineralised stone, in which coarse gold could be seen pretty freely, coming to hand at each breaking down. The crosscut to connect the drive on the Shotover leader with the footwall leader has been advanced sft, and is penetrating a • nice channel of country. We, have two small stringer* going with the drive, both carrying favourable minerals, though no gold has yet been seen. We intend to , start crushing '* on the ore from the footwail leader next Monday. . -„ Old Kapanga (June 14): We have risen lift and' connected with the drive above, making a total of 30ft. I have kept the old workings broken into in the northern end of the.drive the whole way up. From here going north the country Ms ' crushed together,'." which proves the reef is worked about this point. From the present rise to the first shaft put down we have proved to be intact, and will pay to break out at some future date. Y ■■■.■■ ■■' s , ■■> i' ■„ New Maratoto (June' 15): During the week 47 tons of quartz have been broken from the stopes over the intermediate level and sent to the battery. Two men have been employed on Sbeehan'e reef, which iB 4ft wide, and contains some good stone, : which is patchy. The rise is up 65ft and will break through to the surface in a few days. • The ore remains about the same. The battery has crushed with 10 stamps for 41 hours, treating 34 tons of ore. An assay from, the lip of the box gives a value of £1 2s 6d. The amalgam on hand amounts to 970z. ■ ■ • ,-■.■■;,_■■- i Golden Belt (June 14): Driving south in No. 1 - level -oh the main ore body we have advanced L 30ft and sent the ore to the mill, which is snap- " ing for a payable return. "The reef at this poinl ' is a large body and We have fully sft of ore ir j the drive and are pushing on this level with su v men. lam in hopes of this proving to,be a new run of gold. I have done some prospecting ir 1 the road level' on No. 2 level, which is aboul I 100 ft below No. 1 level, and. the. prospects art i very • encouraging. This work !is ; being done a " the. point where the reef was lost, and I purposi , driving this with six men, hoping to pick up,Ui< ' reef again. All other work .has been, discontinued The ore as broken from the drives mentionet will be sent on to the mill for treatment. Thames (June 14): During the past week thi main crosscut has been advanced a further dis tance of 12ft. There is no change to report fron last week in the nature of ■ the country we ap penetrating, the face still being in hard bin ■ rock. » ''':■ ' • .- ■ ,