MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13724, 14 April 1908, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

OLD HAURAKI. The secretary of the Old Hauraki mine (Mr. H. Gilfillan, jun.), received a telegram from the mine manager yesterday morning, stating that 121b of specimens had been secured from the stope on Legge's reef above the 160 ft level, and that gold was still ingIn his latest written report the manager says that the 30()ft level has been extended a short- distance, and the quartz from the reef which is being driven on has shown blotches and strong colours of gold, while the country is of a first-class description. -Stoping on Legge's reef above .the 160 ft level is in progress, and up till Friday last the fourth stope had produced 271b of specimens for the week. The fifth stope was started yesterday. WAIHI CONSOLIDATED. An option over the W&ihi Consolidated property has been granted to Mr. David Ziman, of London, on the same terms as those previously existing, viz., £150 cash, and £100 per month for six months, which is to be forfeited if the option is not exercised. NEW WAITEKAURI. *4 IMPROVED PROSPECTS AT THE QUEEN LEVEL. [itY TELEGRAPH.OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Monday. A visit of inspection was paid to the New Wiiitekauvi mine to-day by a Hekai.d representative, in company with the manager (Mr. 'A. Newdick). A tour was taken through the workings at the Queen level, and also the stopes in progress on the Waitekauri reef, both above and below the level. The inspection certainly disclosed improved prospects compared with the conditions existing in the lower workings \the Horn level) on the occasion of a visit to the property some months ago. The lode, which runs about north and south, with an average width of from 2ft 6in to 3ft, is well defined, and samples taken from it for the first 60ft from the northern end have given decidedly encouraging results. The manager stated that these samples have been taken from the full width of the ore body in all instances, at intervals of 10ft, and have given an average assay value for the full distance mentioned of £3 18s fid per ton, whilst the latest assay from the face going south disclosed dirt worth £8 per ton. In the stope over the Queen level, about 40ft in from the northern end, the lode varies in width from 4ft to 6ft, and looks very well; whilst samples taken have given good values. Ore broken from the reef north of the winze on the occasion of the visit gave a very nice prospect in the dish, and gold was visible in some of the stone, whilst samples from the lode on the south side also gave a fair prospect, though no gold could lie seen in the quartz. A connection is being effected between the Queen and intermediate level to enable the quartz to be sent down to the Horn level, from which is will bo trucked to the hopper for transmission to the battery by means of the aerial tramway. This work will soon be completed, and a start will then be made to drive south at lie intermediate level to pick up the same run of ore, and ascertain its extent and values. From 30 to 40 tons of likely-looking quartz have been broken out in the Queen level and stopes in readiness for the mill. According to the battery manager (Mr. Gwilliam) the ore now being put through from the mine is shaping for a satisfactory return, and may yield bullion worth something like £3 per ton. Clean-ing-up will take place about Thursday or Friday next.

GOLDEN CROSS.

[in TELKORAFJT. —OWN" CORRESPONDENT, j Wxinr, Monday.

A visit was paid to the Golden Cross initio at Golden Cross by a Hkk.\Ll> representative to-day, who was shown over the property by the manager (Mr. Williams). He has devoted most of I)is time to cleaning out, and rotiinhering the old workings. Entering the mine from the main battery level, what, is termed the hangingwall leef was met- with at a distance of 730 ft in. This lode is welldefined, and going south lias been drifted upon to a total distance of 600 ft, from the crosscut:, whilst in the northerly direction Mr. Williams has followed it for 60ft, a/ which point the workings have collapsed, and will have to be repaired before if. will be possible to determine the distance for which ore was exposed by the original company. On its southerly trend, about ?.30ft in lroxn the crosscut. the present manager has sampled the reef (the average width of which is about oft) at intervals for some little distance, and obtained values ranging from £1 up to £5 j.er ton; whilst from a rise put up formerly the average was £?. 3s 7d, and from two slopes £1 8s 7d. doing north the reef makes stronger, but no sampling has yet been done. About 150 ft further west the crosscut passes through the main or Golden Cross reef. According to the plan this has been exposed for 150 ft to 140 ft, going south, but on the north side of the crosscut the lode stands intact, with a stretch of about 580 ft, to the No. 1 section. The Golden Cross reef is heavily charged with manganese, and is not a compact and defined body of stone like the hangingwall lode, consisting rather of bunches of quartz and mullock, covering a width of from 18ft to 20ft on the north side of the crosscut. No sampling has yet been done by the present company. Corbelt's level was next inspected, and for some distance here the characteristics of the Golden Gross lode differ from those in the battery level, the reef being more defined, and the manganese absent, though further in if is met with again. Ho far the extent, of ore left standing by the old company has not been ascertained, but samples taken by Mr. Williams at intervals of sft for some little distance along the floor of the drive have given values running from £1 to £7 per ton, and an average j value of between £2 and £3. It is stated that from this section of the property the original company obtained some very good crushing dirt, going as high as £12 or £13: per ton. A battery of 10 head of stamps stands on the company's ground, but this j is out of date, and will doubtless have to ! be replaced by a new plant should further,

exploration of the mine disclose sufficient j ore of payable character to warrant crushing operations being commenced. WAIOTAHI. [Br TKIjEGIUPH.—OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. The manager of the W&iotahi mine reports as follows:—No. 6 level: Driving east on the Mariner's reef has been in progress, and is in a distance of 53ft. The leader in the foctwall, although showing some good mineral indications, has not revealed any gold during the week. In the face a break has now come in, but what effect it will have on the reef it i 3 impossible to say until further work is doue. Cure reef: The eighth stope has been carried west of the rise for a distance of 48ft, and during the week 131b of good picked stone have been selected, while the general quartz coming to hand is of good value. No. 5 level: Stoping on the main reef under the No. 4- rise is in hand, but no gold has been seen. The point where the gold is showing has not yet been reached. The atopes on the footwaF dropper above this level are being continued, and are producing a fair amount of crushing dirt. Driving to connect with the No. 2 rise on the dropper from No. 6 level 13 also in hand. No. 4- level: Stoping on the main reef above this level is being continued as usual, from which a good quantity of fair j crushing dirt is coming to hand. No. 3 level: Stoping out the block under the floor of this level on the Imperial City reef is in progress, and continues to yield good crushing dirt. NOTES. The manager of the Moewai mine states that the battery will start crushing this \ week. The ore now being broken out. and convoyed to the hoppers is showing visible gold, and gives good dish prospects. Mclsaac's leader in the Kapowai mine still carries a little gold, and the dirt secured from the rise on Carroll's reef has been sent to the battery for crushing next week. There are 40oz of amalgam on hand, and the battery and engine are in good order. " During, the past week the main crosscut has been extended a further distance of 16ft, and there is no change," says the manager of the Thames mine in his latest written report. "We are still penetrating a first-class channel of good firm sandstone country." The whole of the face of the battery level in the Champion mine is now composed of rhyolite sandstone, and the manager has accepted a tender to drive 200 ft at 22s 6d per foot. The contractors will start work immediately. The appearance of the countryis promising, and contains free gold throughout in small quantities. It is hoped to have an assay plant erected, and at work shortly. In the Kuranv.i mine Catrari's drive has been advanced 46it, and the leader has again split lip. The whole width .of the face is composed of a rubbly quartz formation, but as a change of country is making its appearance fin the hangingwall it is probable that it will cause the leader to again define itself. Hunt's reef continues to look promising, and keeps its usual width (from 6in to llin), while the country is very promising.