MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13843, 1 September 1908, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

" - THE GOLD RETURNS. TOTAL FOR AUGUST, £104,606. £792,861-. FOR EIGHT MONTHS. PORING tlio month of August the gold returns from the Auckland district mines reached a total of £104,606 6s sd. Compared with tho July output, this shows a slight decrease, the yield for that period being £105,281 15s 3d. In the corresponding month last year the total yield was £114,242 0s lid. Tho total output from tho Auckland district tor tho first eight months of tho present year amounts to £792,864 5s 6tl, which is £22,724 10s 8d loss than tho output for the first eight months of 1907. The past month's returns are made up as follows:—Ohinemuri, £101,712 0s 2d; Thames, £2010 6s 3d; Coromandel, £884. Following are tho details: — OHINEMUJRI. Waihi G.M. Co., 51,485 tons ...£71,547 0 0 Talisman Consolidated, 4181 tons 18,019 11 2 YYaifu Grand Junction Co., 4206 tons ... ... 6,168 9 0 komar.a Eeefa G.M. Co., 2209 0 -*. - ' 4,197 0 0 N.Z. Crown Mines, 1665 tons ... 1,725 0 0 Isew Waitekairri G.M. Co., tailings 55 0 0 Total Ohinemuri district ... £101,712 0 2 THAMES. Tttirua Broken Hills G.M. Co.. 430 tons ... £1,010 0 0 Waiotahi G.M. Co., 176 tons, and picked stone 869 6 3 Southern Queen G.M. Co., 26 loads Total Thames district 6 3 v : : - COROMANDEL. Old Kapanga triuuters, general . -6te> and 201b specimens ... £470 0 0 Kapowai'G.M. Co., "100 tons ... 340 0 0 Royal OaK G.M. Co. 601b - ... 74 0 0 •'.■>■•? Total Coromandel district ... £884 0 0 Total, Auckland district, for August ... ••• ... £104,606 6 : 5 Total output for 1908 to date ... £702,864 5 6 OLD KAPANGA TRIBUTERS. _ A RETURN OF £170. Martin Brothers, tributers in the Old Kapauga mine, have won loOox of retorted gold, worth about £470, from a parcel of general ore and'2olb of specimens. The latter yielded soz to the lb.

OLD HAURAKT.

The ordinary general mooting of sharpholders in the Old Hauraki Gold Mining Company was held at the office of the legal manager (Mr. H. Gilhllan, jnn.), yesterday, Mr. John Earl, chairman of directors, presiding. i 'The report of the directors stated that during the past six months operations had been steadily carried on at the mine, and the staff has been increased. A large amount of work had been carried out, and the prospects were altogether very encouraging, more especially in view of 4ho fact that in parts of the property entirely new ground was now being worked. During the past half-year the Hon. E. Mitchelson, Mr. H. H. Adams, and Mr. A. Heather retired from the board, and Messrs. W. S. .Whitley, C. Hudson, and J. H. Daiton were appointed to fill the vacancies. . ' . The balance-sheet showed cash in hand totalling £846 3s Id, and debts due by the company (including £500 duo to the old company in liquidation) at £782 4s 6d." In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, tho chairman said that when the company was started a- year ago it undertook to pay to the Old Hauraki Gold Mining Company £1000, and to the Bunker's Hill Gold Mining Company £250, for their respective properties. During the first • six months of the company's present financial year it paid the Old Hauraki £500 and tho Bunker's; Hill £250. Since tho balancesheet was made up a further £250 had been paid to the Old Hauraki, leaving the present company still indebted to the old company "to tho amount of £250. The directors could only make a penny call each second month, which brought in about £870, and they were employing us many underground workers as this revenue would allow thorn to, believing iSnstlinafof action to be in tho best interests" of. the shareholders. During the past halfyear tho total working expenses were £2405, and the gold won from the mine amounted to £612. The balance was on the wrong side, but from the encouraging signs now showing in the sloping operations south of the winze in the 300 ft level, and the prospect of picking up the real Legge's reef in the 160 ft level, besides many_ reasonably good chances elsewhere, the directors were strongly of opinion that the current year's operations would be attended with a large measure of success. Everything was being done by tho manager and his men, who seemed all to bo as anxious to got gold as were the directors. The mine was in first-rate working order in every department. He (the chairman) went -through the whole mine onco a month, and the shareholders could take his assurance : that not a shilling of their money was being wasted.

In reply to a shareholder, the chairman said that for the last six months the mine manager had been of opinion that what had been formerly known as Lcgge's reef was the second section of the New Year reef, a parallel ore-body. A slide had come in, and, in tho manager's opinion, had heaved Legge's reef' out of its course. When he (the chairman) was at the mine; last week the drive had been carried to the point where he had thought he would find Leggo's reef. And, sure enough on the northern side of the slide a point; or edge, of a reef came in between the slide and tho hard rock. _ The manager was very hopeful that if this was Legge's reef the company would have a prosperous year. The report, etc., were adopted, and the retiring directors (Messrs. E. A. Brown and J. H. Dalton) and auditor (Mr. W. R. Holmes) were re-elected. A vote of thanks to the directors (especially to the chairman) and' to the manage-, ment was carried. KURANUI. ,',..'' At; the ordinary general meeting of the Kuranui Gold Mining Company, held yesterday at the office of the legal manager (Mr. J. W. Nichol), tho chairman of directors (Mr. J. M. Lennox) presided. , The directors' report stated that a considerable amount _of work had been done during the past six months. TIIO prospects of tho mine, were encouraging, and the director hoped that the works now in progress would lead to payable results. / The balance-sheet showed a" credit balance of £85 14s lOd. In moving tho adoption of the report and balance-sheet, tlio chairman referred to the prospects in the mino as encouraging. A. sanguine report was to hand from tho manager, and- ho (Mr. Lennox) trustedexpectations might bo realised before tho next annual meeting. \ The resolution was carried, and the retiring directors (Messrs. J. M. Lennox and J. Fraterl and auditor -XMr. W, S. Cooper), were reappointed. v •"■ " "' ; '"' VANGUARD. The ordinary general meeting of tho' Vanguard Gold Mining Company, called for yesterday at the office of the secretary (Mr. "J. W. Nichol), lapsed for want of a quorum, and stood adjourned for a week. In their annual report, prepared for the meeting, the directors stated that the present term of protection would expire about the middle of next month. The company's indebtedness at the 31st of last month was £500 13s lOd, and to meet this the directors made, two penny calls. It was imperative _ that _ these . calls should bo paid, with as little delay as possible, otherwise . the company would not bo in a position to resume operations at tho expiration of the protection. Included in the liabilities was £185 balance owing on mining plant purchased from the New Eclipse Company, and moved, and re-erected by this company at considerable expense. This sum required to bo paid by September 8, otherwise the company was liable to loso the plant. ° Although there had been no work carried on at the mine for more than 12 months past, the directors considered that the value of the property had been greatly enhanced by recent developments in adjoining mines. It was not unlikely that an amalgamation of the property with an adjoining property might take place in the near future. ■■.■.. ■ ■- ■: ■

/THAMES DEEP LEVELS. Referring, at yesterday's annual meeting of the Kuranui Gold Mining Company, to the development of the Thames Deep Levels, the chairman (Mr. J. M. Lennox) said that he was quite sure a scheme for the opening up of the levels in question would meet with the hearty sympathy of Kuranui shareholders. No scheme was yet matured, and doubtless it would be a long time before any benefit would be derived: from the development

of tho low levels by tho Kuranui Company. At the same time it was the duty of tho shareholders in the company to encourage any legitimate scheme that was calculated to open up tho lower areas of the Thames field. He believed in the deep levels, and was quite satisfied, from the result .of tho boring operations, that pay gold would be found there. No action would bo taken by tho directors of the Kuranui Company to commit shareholders without tlio latter being consulted. :,•-..':■:/'■ TANGIARO. . The manager of tho Tangiaro mino telegraphed yesterday stating that the reef was close to hand, and that the water was heavy. He added that ho was assisting tho pump with buckets, and that tho water might take off. ■ "■■'-'•.■,■•, WAIOTAHI. The manager of the Waiotahi Gold/ Mil): ing Company reports for tho week as follows:—No. 6 level: The. winze sunken tlje dropper below this level is down a depth of 64ft, or nearly to the water level. The flat formation, or Mariner's reef, is about 2ft in width. Tho small block on the Cure reef below this level is now nearly exhausted, and stoping'on the dropper above this level under the ride is in progress, the leader being about 12in in width. No. 5 level: The drive west on the .Waiotahi No. 5 reef from the Mary Ann shaft is in a distance of 115 ft, but so far no payable quartz has been met with. The slopes on tho main reef under the No. 4- rise are in progress as usual, and a fair quantity ;of crushing dirt is coming to hand. The third stope on the dropper has been in progress. Tho leader is about 18in in width, and continues to produce a fair quality of crushing dirt. The second store on the Cure reef has been carried west of the rise for a distance of 39ft, and good colours of gold have been seen in the quartz broken. No. 4 level: Driving east and west on tho hangingwall rib of the main reef has been in; hand. Going east a total distance of 34-ffc has been driven. The quartz hero is still split up into stringers, and occasionally colours of gold are seen. Going west a total distance of 38ft lias been driven. Tho quartz here is about bin in width, and during the week has shown a few dabs of gold. In this direction wo shall soon be out again into the northeast drive. The rise on the main reef is up a distance of 70ft. At this point a break has come in, whicf\ has cut the reef off on the left-hand side. There is, however, yet a body of quartz on tlio right-hand side of the rise, but no gold has been seen and tho quartz is of low grade. The cleaning up for the month will take place to-morrow.

NEW ZEALAND CROWN MINES.

ACCIDENT ' INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

[l»Y TF.T.KGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.]

Waihi, Monday.

For some time past a difference has existed between the superintendent of the .New Zealand Crown Mines Company (Mr. Daw) and the men employed in the mine concerning the payment of accident insurance premiums. When Sir Joseph Ward was last in tho district tho men who have been contributing tho premiums through the company waited upon him on the matter, holding that the charge should bo against the company. The Premier, intimated that he would have the Act amended, so that the men would in no way bo liable for the premiums, but up till now they have had ho official intimation that anything has been done. Last week, it appears, the superintendent of the mines issued a document for the signature of the men indemnifying the company against responsibility for the payment of the accident premiums, and at a meeting of the Miners' Union, held on Saturday night, it was decided to refuse to sign the document, which provided for the deduction by the management, of the insurance premium from wages. It is understood that Mr. Daw has threatened to close the mine down unless the company's conditions regarding insurance are complied with, and at Saturday's meeting the union decided that, in tho event or the management applying for protection objection should be lodged, and a recommendation made that tho mine be thrown open for tribute. . - '

7 WAIHI grand junction. f. , ; THE ANNUAL meeting. prospects! and DISCOVERIES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ; ■'if '"'",, . London, July 24. ";'. At the ordinary general meeting of the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining > Company, held yesterday afternoon, Mr. George Roth well presided. The Chairman said that the amount standing to the debit of the revenue account at the end of the year 1906 was £135,930, which included not alone the cost of sinking shafts and the exploration and development of the mines, but the accumulated depreciation annually written off - plant, .. machinery, and buildings, London and Auckland office charges, and all other unproductive expenditure incurred since the company first commenced operations. The chairman proceeded From this amount £51,358 19s lOd has now been deducted as not being represented by assets and written off. premiums received on shares issued.. The balance remaining (£84,571 19s 6d) has been transferred to the new account, mines development, and the further amount £6861 03 6d) expended during the yeair 1907 has been, added, increasing the total to £91,433, from which £8044 has now been deducted for 'mines development redemption' and charged to revenue account, leaving a balance of £83,389 to tho debit of ' mines development.' After writ off £51,358 19s lOd from ' nremiums received on shares issued,' there still remains a credit balance of £17,114 4s 10J, which will be increased to £26,224 4s lOd when the balance of premiums on the partly-paid issue of . 18,500 shares has been called up, and in the event of the option on the 20,000 unissued shares at' £3 being exercised, it will bo further increased to £66,224 4s lOd, all of which will be available for further writing down of assets if required or deemed advisable at any future date. After .deducting creditors, New Zealand and London, on the other side of tho account, £3547 5s sd, the balance remaining is practically the same (being only £126 9s 7d more) as at tho end of the preceding year. The investment written off represented this company's interest in tho Waihi' Syndicate, which held a working option on tho Waihi Consolidated property. '••■■' The 40,220 tons of ore crushed and treated during the year yielded bullion which, after deduction of realisation expenses and the Now Zealand gold duty, produced a net sum of £68,237, equal to £1 13s 3d per ton. Continuing, the chairman said : Working costs in New Zealand, including the sum of £6044 for mines development redemption, and with the Auckland office charges, amounted to £54,966 12s, equal to £1 7s Id per ton, leaving a working profit of £13,271 63 6d. After adding sundry receipts* £514 12s Id, and deducting administration expenses in London, £2115 6s 7d, there remains a gross profit of £11,670 and, after providing for interest on loans, £2964 8s lid, depreciation of. plant, machinery, and buildings, £6293 12s lOd, and investment written off, £1600, a small credit to revenue account of £812 10.5 3d is carried forward. "You may remember that Mr. Brown pointed out, when making his first'report in September _ last, that it was quite impossible to estimate the quantity of ore between levels three and four, as it was riot fullv developed, but he made a calculation based on the tonnage extracted from the area at that time stoped out and what remained to bo extracted, and arrived at-the conclusion that it would be safe to assume a tonnage of average milling ore equal to three times the quantity which had then been extracted, or, say, 106,000 tons. Whije fully realising the difficulty of forming even an approximately reliable estimate, the board felt it was advisable to obtain Mr. Brown's views again after a longer acquaintance with the mine, he having been only a fow months in charge when making his first report. In response to a request made by cable, ho mailed the estimate which is embodied in tho directors' report of 81,000 tons, remaining in the stoping blocks being worked at the end of the year. This is not meant to be an estimate of all the payable ore existing above No. 4 level, but what remained in tho stoping blocks then being worked with the exception of one short section between winzes seven and nine on the Martha lode, which was being prepared for stoping." Regarding the developments on the south side of the. shaft in the No. 4 level crosscut, the Chairman said the country rock through which the crosscut was being driven was described by Mr. Brown as being of the most favourable description for the existence of mineralised lodes, and though rather hard the progress so far made had been excellent. If no obstacles were present it was intended to. drive to the south boundary between the Grand Junction and the Waihi Gold Mining Companies' properties, a total distance on tho line of crosscut of about 1300 ft, of which 613 ft had already been accomplished. The lode, discovered at a distance of 210 ft from tho shaft* called No, V

was now generally considered to -be tho Empire of the ;Waihi' Company. At the point of intersection; it proved to, bo 16ft wide, oft of which on tho hangingwall side was of low grade, and tho remainder worth £2 13s 9d per ton. Mr. Brown had formed a most favourable opinion of ,tho lode, which in a recent letter ho described as " without doubt the nicest looking in the mine." ?.'_. With respect *« ore treatment, the Chairman said the («:...' us and improvements to the reduction and treatment works during the past year had made a most decided improvement in the extraction, but the changes now' being mado would lead to still better results. .-; "We expect," continued the Chairman, " to be able to treat 225 tons daily within less than two months, with an improved ex-, traction and substantial reduction in cost. But we do not intend to : stop at .that figure.' In addition to tho four tube mills wo now have, two more are on order.. Of the eight tall tanks, each 13ft in diameter by 55ft in height, which, it was originally intended to provide, six arc well advanced towards completion. The material for the construction of two more is on the water, and we intend to add still more later on. By steadily pursuing this policy of gradually increasing tho output it is only a matter of time for the costs to be reduced to, if not below, the figure of 18s per ton which Mr, Brown forecasted when making his first report in September last." The motion for the adoption of the report was unanimously adopted. Mr. J. W. Broomhe&d was re-elected to the board, tho auditor was reappointed, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. ■ '■ ■» ■■ ■« , ■ TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED. THE OUTLOOK HOPEFUL. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' . Waihi, Monday. The temporary stoppage of mining operations at No. 13 level in the Talisman mine owing toJ<n© influx of water consequent upon .the withdrawal of the pumps from tho deeper areas of the neighbouring property (N.Z. Crown Mines) continues to furnish a leading topic for discussion in mining circles. As opinions appear to vary considerably as to tho effect the water will have ..tho Talisman mine, more particularly with regard to the gold output, pending the installation of a pumping plant capable of coping with the water, and as to tho length of time likely to expire before the plant is available, it would perhaps be as well to explain the position. Tho question of gold output depends entirely upon the pressure of water to be met with when it reaches the point at which the pumps (lifted from. No. 13 level) installed at No. 12 level will commence to lift the water to No. 11 level (the water level), which provides an outlet to i the river. If: the pumps prove equal to the task, and there seems good reason to' hope that such will be the case, as the water is only rising in the shaft at the rate of about 4ft per day, then there will bo little or no falling away in the monthly gold yield. There are. very many thousands oftons of ore, equivalent in value -.to -the "•■' average milling grade, available between the Nos. 12 and 10 levels quite ample to tide over any delay in installing new plant and ijhe ■ resumption of operations at No. 13, The returns may fluctuate a little, but the average over a period, of -months .should be close 1 up if not quite on a footing with the average yields of the past few months. ■ This would enable the company to maintain a rate of dividend highly satisfactory to shareholders, as there is plenty of money in hand for buy-, ing plant. Should' it, < however, be found "that'the water cannot be held below the No; 12 level: the management, as- indicated in the circular recently issued to 'shareholders, do hot expect to'be able to maintain the present output from ore above;;water level (No. 11). The point as* to the length, of time to, be occupied Jin ■ the installation I: of ' < the ■ n-aw, pumping plant cannot be cleared up until the board of directors in London, which now has the whole question under consideration, decides upon the type of pump most suitable and ascertains whether a pump of the right kind can be scoured forthwith or whether it will have to be made to meet the requirements of tho mine. As far as.is known at present the new pump, will be installed in the Woodstock shaft, which is now down to within between 70ft and 80ft of the Talisman No. 13 level, a scheme to this end having been in contemplation for some time past.- The idea is to. ultimately carry the shaft.down 400 ft below No. 13 level, and thus- provide a main pumping department and s the means to convey men and material to and from the deeper areas of the mine. This would also enable the management to exploit tho Woodstock section of the pro-, perty along the northerly trend of the ore bodies, a. work the company had'; intended proceeding with a little later on. But even this scheme has not been yet definitely decided upon as the immediate course in connection with the unwatering of No. 13 level, 1 it being just possible that the expert in engineering matters now on'his way ito the Talisman mine may formulate a scheme for the unwatering of the low level by installing a. pump in the Talisman shaft, which is down. some distance below No. 13 level. <'"■■ This 'would drain off the water, and the Woodstock installation could follow when the management deemed fit, to proceed with it. With regard to the position, of; the mine apart from the temporary'water trouble, it may bo said that the outlook was. never brighter than at present, ;as development works at No. 13 level subsequent, toj;the compilation of the annual report and prior to the influx of water considerably increased the ore reserves in sight and disclosed; some very ; high grade material. Looking at:: the position from its worst possible aspect it is held that; the trouble can only be of a temporary nature, as the mine will not suffer.

■■''■■■': DIXON'S CONSOLIDATED. *- [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] »^ Thames, Monday. Operations have now been commenced by the Dixon's Consolidated Gold Mining Company. The mine is situated between the Tarani and Shellback Creeks, v and . adjoins the Alburnia and Waitangi' claims. ■ The work in hand is that of c -r/niiig out and repairing the Day Dawn U.^fj /which was driven by the Tararu Company. The face at one point is within a tow feet of the boundary of the Dixon's Consolidated claim, and it is intended to continue \ this with' a view of intersecting a number of reefs that are outcropping on the surface of the claim. This would open up a largo extent of country should, they prove of payable quality, with easy moans of transit for the'ore from the mouth of this level to the battery. ■ y '■' ' ■■■■■•-■■-:-■■;■ ; v .-■■■- ■, y ,: \ OTAGO STOCK EXCHANGE. : [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] " v ; Dttnedin - , Monday. The only Stock Exchange sale to-day was Nelson Alpine Consols, 10s. ' - "NOTES.' ' ; ■•'.-'• : The low level in the Tairua Consols mine is in 401 ft, and is in very hard country at present. No. 2 level is in 65ft. „.v , ; The country in the Bonanza crosscut is improving. The manager states that it now contains nice mineral seams, and ■is of the best quality for gold. * - • The manager of the Old Kapanga mine states that, a party of tributers in the mine obtain occasional stone showing gold. The water is now being held at the 300 ft level. The reef in the rise in tho Halcyon mine has been stripped for sft, and,this will brokon down this week. The country still looks well and carries more . mineral. The manager states that tho new level is in 67ft in very firm country.

The drive on the main reef east in the Coronation mine'is now in 12ft, from, tJjo bottom of the winze.; The manager reports that there is no improvement in the value oi the quartz. He has now started driving west from the winze. '; "'.:.':. ■''"'.*;

The manager of the Phoenix mine reports that the gas suction ; engine and the newpump are working very satisfactorily. The engine is working only two shifts at present. This week 20 tons of ore will be broken out for treatment at the Tararu battery.

The manager of the South Kapanga mine states that in -tie drive, on Scottie's reef the rib of quartz referred to in his previous report has now made in with the main body. There is no further ohange in either* the reef or the country, which remains a very favourable class. ;-_-:, .":-j-.:!•-?

The crosscut baa been advanced a further 10ft in the Tairua .Conqueror mine for the week, making the total . distance driven 101 ft. It has been found necessary to timber for. some distance, consequently progress in the crosscut has been somewhat impeded. The country being penetrated is still of a kindly character. \

In sinking below the 'intermediate level in the Kapowai-mine • very fair; prospects w.ero obtained for' lOf fc, but the manager re,-

• ports thatbelow that the ore- got poor* Should it not improve in the next few feeti he will work the block from tho winze in» stead of from No. 2. Very little quartz it y being obtained at present, ;and it will nofc be possible to ■ start' the battery for some -'; .?.: time:. - . Tho winze iii the Tairua Extended mine i< now down 27ft. The manager reports that ■; V tho; junction of the reef should be close. •. at "*£ hand. In tho winzo the lode maintains/ ;);§ sizo and values. There is more solid quart* here, and a nice "tail" can be got in.th« dish. An assay from a width of Ift on th« r hangingwall went £2 13s 9d per ton, and on«;;'«.« from the full width of the reef went £1 3j 6d. Most of the quart from . this lode ,i< , being saved. V .'. :"'•' " '..'."■'.* The low level on the course of the reef in ', v (ho JECirikiri mine has been extended 14ff ' during the week through a splendid class ol ,'■ country. Thereof is about 2ft in thickness* and is. composed '■ of rubble quartz heavily ..: charged with copper pyrites. The country . on the hangingwall is becoming firmer (states the manager), and he is expecting an ,-. improvement in the quality of the ore, and hopes before long to start tho battery oil . something payable. In tho'Waitangi mine last week a hard ' '■■:. flinty formation came in on the hanging-' wall of the reef in the west section, low! \ level. This was 2ft wide and 12ft long, and no gold was seen in it. The manager reports that tho best portion of gold-bearing ore is yet to bo broken out, but will bo left for the present. The ore from tho stopa . looks well, and is heavily mineralised, be*. sides showing nice dabs of gold. The cross- K-. cut- is in 22ft in a little harder country, but X still good for gold. . , •;; In the Bluff level of the Tairua TriumpH Ji mine the drive is in' a total distance of 36ft. The country in ' tho face is a mixture oE : rhyolito and sandstone, and bores well, butt : breaks very indifferently, hence , progress is slow. A'shot in the back of this level broker . through ir.to a rubbly formation, which ran for some distance before it. could bo stopped j • by ! temporary timbers. This will .bo peri '. manently secured as soon as tho drivo ad-, > vances far enough to allow of permanenti'. timbers being placed in position. . ; ' In the Golden Pah mine the country frf ; ; the drive on the Pah reef is reported by thai' i manager to be highly-mineralised, and J reef to be looking well. So far; I the quartz is not good enough to save. Davis* ;« lead in the drive is at present' somewhat disturbed, owing to a, slide coming in. _ M -~ further 25ft of driving should connect with! ■': tho workings on* tho Pah: reef, after which? K stoping and rising will be taken in hand on* V ! the run of : gold, recently passed throughly Prospecting at the various old / lens's ia i«( . hand. )

The stope on the reef in the low level Inf' '', the Silver Hill mine has.been,.taken along >• 36ft, and the manager reports *.that sdme) S good sulphide' ere :is seen' in breaking" down. - j$ , The No. 4 reef in the west branch has been <■: driven .011 sft for the week, : the, reef being} .* 18in wide and composed, of good solid pay-:;iS able ore. This reef has been cut again 2Gtffc _jj ;north from' .the intersection, and 'it-shows- -'«■ 14in of payable stone. The chute of ore had y»;<-.; been proved for 30ft, tin's being the only work ever done on it in this property. The* No. 4- reef has been assayed, yielding £$%*> • 17s 6d. :„ . - ■;., i In the Tairua Broken Hills mine on 25th' ■-■■■ ult. a small leader, 2in wide, was passed through in the main low level crosscut. Th«( quartz gave a fair prospect in the dish. Thtf new/reef in the south drive is reported 'by the manager to be ,'still looking well, butt there is no further : improvement in the value of the ore.- The ore from No. 1 xeeS at the ; battery level is. still poor; Jprepar*u»- x l , ■_ fc'ions are in hand for sloping on' the blacli ; ' " south of the rise on No. 1 reef. In the drive* north on No. 1 reef east £ from Scaver'a leader crosscut the country is very tight and ~ the ' reef somewhat*- pinched.' <*' The Bt'6pei' ! ' , > li "' above and below the battery level on No. l'i reef are still 'looking, very well, and a faitf tonnage of payable ore is coming to hand*; :' Crushing was resumed'last Thursday. Since* the last clean-up 180 tons of ore have- bconf crushed for 4170z of amalgam. | 4 The manager of the Kuranui .mine report* ' ,' that the leader in the .leading stopo (No. a V: east) is 4£in wide, and that it never looked better than at present. It carries ; good minerals, and is a very compact body of ore. There are 14 tons of ore from hero at thaj battery, ready for treatment. In' the drivel "' (No. 2 east) splendid . country is . reported,-; ; j I The leader maintains its size, and gives good! • prospects. Colours were seen at last breaks . ing down. . This is described as! an important feature in the mine development, as it give* pa block at present the whole length from tha [, crosscut to the face (69ft).! Stdping has been ' t commenced on the ? Just-in-Time leader, and 21ft has been broken down. The ore is being i' kept for treatment. The;manager intends toi , keep this stope and No. 2 east going,. ii* ■ . order to , get as ' much ore , a/i possible fo< treatment before crushing is commenced. '■ ',;'' Reporting on operations in the Old Hanw rafci, mine during the past week the managed ■■■> '■■ states that at the 300 ft level in the north dtivrf No. 8 reef is still in conjunction '■; with the* west branch. There is a network of quart*! ' veins in the drive, which retards progress*! The manager, therefore, intends stoppng thdf drive north, and commencing to drive south/ •'' towards the junction of No. 9 reef. Stopinrf on the latter lode is progressing satisfactorily} and with fair resultß. On' the ,27th ult. I|lH ; of picked stone was secured from No. 2 stope* The reef in the third stope averages aboiii sin of very favourable-looking ore. , In th* "etope on the west branch leader the lattei'' averages 3in of good-looking - ore, ■ but th« manager saw no gold in it. during the week. At the 160 ft' level ' a fine channel of country! has come in in the drive west on tho'slideJ ' There is rubbly quartz ,on the north, os hanging wall, side of the fault, with whiol} the manager is vary avoidably. impressed* l He considers that it warrants continuing thrf drive west; as th"e indications "point to thi / ; ') reef, of which this quartz formed a portion! ■ being still further ahead./ In the- stop** .os "i what has been known as Legge's reef the oris is improving in appearance. '':