MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13726, 16 April 1908, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

THE KUAOTUNU FIELD. RENEWED ACTIVITY LIKELY. These is a prospect of the Kuaotunu field, which has been. dormant for some years past, being brought under active development again before very long. fleeing that from 1889 to 1906 this portion of the goldfie'lda yielded bullion to the value of £160,703, any furl development on a practical scale is nee .-.warily of interest. A local syndicate is at present taking steps !o form a company to take over tin KapaiVermont property at Kuaotunu. The proposal in connection with tho mine id to sink to a deeper level than the English owners exploited, on the same reef system. Tho Vermont yielded, between 1893 and 1898, bullion of a total value of £29,029. It w-A.i afterwards (in 1901 and 1902) worked in conjunction with the Mariposa mine adjoining (formerly the Try Fluke), by the Kuaotunu Syndicate, who obtained a further £2556 worth of bullion from tho joint property. Later again (1897 to 1903), the New Mariposa continued operations in the two claims, and obtained from them nearly £10.000 worth of bullion.

There is also a p.uspccl of (he Mariposa, j or Try Fluke, claim hem..; worked again, j thougii nothing definite has yet been done in ! tins direction. 'Phis property has produced I more bullion than anv other tit Kuaotunu. lis yield from IS3Q to 1897 was £58,672. The old Aorere claim, which was recently, re-ehristoned the Mountain King, is now be--1 ing worked by a local company. It yielded, ! from 1193 to 1899, a total bullion value of | £1028. Recently a small parcel of picked j stone from the surface leve} of the mine was i treated on behalf of the late owner, yielding bullion worth about £140. The manager of the Mountain King in his latest report says that in the crosscut the formation of the reef lias been met with, and a heavy flow of water is coming from the reef. Until the pump clears the water, he has all hands stripping the reef on the north title towards where the rich gold was got in the iippuv level. K U RAN Ci OAL EDONfAN. The reef in No. 1 le.el drive in the Ku'ra- ! mo-Caledonian mine is in better country, anil more compact. The manager reports j that it is 2ft wide, of solid quart/, portions ; carrying favourable minerals. A picked sample of this mineral stone gave an assay value of £5 per ton, though no srold could be seen by panning on. In the manager's opinion it shows that the lode Is gold-beariug. and may improve at any time. Favourable country is being traveled in the No. 1 level j crosscut. Two small quartz veins were cut recently, but they showed no values. Kelly's reef has been proved by sampling j to be unpayable at No. 1 level, where the j two branches junction. The Red Queem lender | at the intermediate level is split up at pre- | sent, but a. few coarse colours of gniki were I seen in the foot Wall stringer last week. Some prospecting has own done oil Whitley's | leader at the bottom level east, with rather encouraging result*. Alter driving about 2ft, j much better country came in, and the leader j improved, a few pieces or the stone showing gold freely. The manager, therefore, conI siders the level to lie worth continuing until I it strikes the Cambria reef, ul.-out 20ft ahead.

j FERGUSON'S SMELTING COMPANY. The annual meeting of Ferguson** Mining : and Smelting Company wao held at the ; Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, I Mr. (J. Knight presiding. between 40 ami |50 xharehokiors were present. The report .; and balance-alieet, » regime 05 whirls Jut; alj ready l*. o n published in the HrraLD, were j adopted. Mews. C. Knight and F. W. Wil- | hams, retiring director*, and Mr. 8. Chamj ben, auditor, were re-elected. A resolution i «« carried voting the directors .liiOO reI numeration.