MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

OPENING UP DEEP LEVELS. INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS. SiOX3 of renewed activity in the mining industry are to be noted at present, in more directions than one.■* The sound footing upon which, it is established at Waihi has been a matter for gratification for some time.- -At present tho vast undertaking controlled by tho Waihi Gold Mining Company is, as it has been for years, the mainstay of the district. Here tho latest developments at the lowest (1000 ft) level are encouraging. The Royal lode is being driven upon east and west from No. 5 shaft. In the latter' workings ore of good grado is being obtained,, and satisfactory values are coming from the, east end. The northern crosscut at the 1000 ft level is near a point vertically beneath No. 4 shaft, and a connection with same will not be long delayed, thus giving two means of access to tho 1000 ft level. This crosscut, on reaching below No. 4 shaft {which is down about 800 ft), will be divortod to a north-westerly direction to cut the whole of the reef systems traversed by the crosscut at the level above. The Waihi ; Grand Junction mine is about to be opened up at a new low level, and, as reported recently, a reef has been struck in the bottom of the shaft. Its neighbour, the Waihi Extended, is.likewise at an interesting stage of its development, seeing that the shaft is now almost down to where a new low level is also to be opened up. Waihi mt;y, be said to be doing its major share towards the renewed activity spoken Of.

At the Thames the main point of interest is the deep levels development, the opportunity for the carrying out of which has arrived through tho attainment of the lOOOffc leyfci 'in the Queen of -Beauty shaft. The committee set up to devise a scheme for the joint testing of the deep levels by tho companies interested is still deliberating. Summed op, the present position is that the schomo approved of by the various mine managers to crosscut from the Quaen of Beauty to the old Bijr Pump shaft, and from thence to the Kuranui boundary, has been- likewise approved of by 'some of the companies, but disagreed with by others. An alternative scheme to drive in a« straight line from the Queen of Beauty to tho Kuranui-Oaledonian shaft has) on the other hand, been disapproved of by the mine managers. It still remains, therefore, to, hit upon a scheme acceptable to all parties concerned, and it is to bo hoped that a settlement of the problem will not long be' delayed. In the meantimo goldbearing quartz has been got in tho Queen o: Beauty section of the May Queen mine, at a depth of 747 ft, which is lower than the precious metal has been previously worked on in the mine. This, combined with the fact that good country exists at 1000 ft, should serve to stimulate action with regard to deep levels development. Tho spirit of activity at Thames is marked in other directions, both in the Thames area proper and in tho outdistricts. One fact worthy 'of notice at the present' time is that in all three of our Northern fields attention is being practically simultaneously directed to the 1000 ft levels. Tho Waihi Company is already working at that depth, the May Queen mine, Thames, is opened up for a similar depth, whilst at Coromandel the Old Kapanga shaft, on completion of the reconstruction now in hand, is to bo drained, so that the 1000 ft level may be once more reached. The Coromandci' field, and its share in tho present signs ot activity, is fully dealt with in the series of special articles commenced in the Hehald last Friday, and tho fourth of which appears in this issue, the series concluding with a fifth article to-morrow.

TOKATEA. MORE PICKED STONE. The manager of the Tokatea mine, Coromandel, telegraphed yesterday stating that he had selected 31b of picked stono from No. .1 leader. Y , In his report covering kist week 3 opera'«jns the manager states ths>.i the north drive or. Woods' leader at th© Tribute level was advanced 6ft. The leader v;as disturbed a little in the last few feet; but in the face is on its true wall again. This was owing to a cross lead 2in wide, coming in on tho hangingwall. Woods' leader in the stopes for the last 10ft. showed a little gold at eaoh breaking down. The first stope on No. 1 leader at the road level is in 36ft, and the leader looks well, penetrating very favourable country. From the last breaking down (on Saturday) he selected 21b of picked stone, and also saved a little general dirt...."..

. WATCHMAN. .; :,'■■, ' BIG REEF IN HAND. The manager of the- Watchman mine, Thames, reports that tho full width of the reef has been proved to be 27ft. For the whole distance, he states, it is a fine body of Btone, especially; favourable fgi;. in* last;

18ft penetrated. The quartz has shown a decided improvement, showing some splendid mineral, galena and zino blende being freely seen. . A sample 'forwarded for treatment gave an-assay of £1 3s Id (not £13, as previously reported in error). This the manager considers very encouraging, as it was taken from the contro of tho reef. A sample from the hangingwall, assayed sinco, gave a value of £1 lis 7d. It is intendod to open out in tho centre of the reef for the convenience of crossoutting it at intervals. The drive will bo extended eastward, and if the reef proves payable there will be a great ■ extent of ground available, with about 250 ft of backs, and for tho whole length to tho eastern boundary. ■■■ . . ■ .

NEW SYLVIA. A notice was posted on tho Exchange yesterday to tho effect that a sample of mineralised ore from tho mino has given an assay result of £11 Is 5d per ton. MAY QUEEN. A good deal of uncertainty seemingly existed yesterday in mining circles as to the depth of tho No. 9 level in the May Qneen mine, where the recent oncouragingdovolopment took place in tho seaward drive./ According to tho plan, tho level in question is 747 ft below tho collar of the Queen of Beauty shaft. . WAIHI WARDEN'S COURT. [BY TELEGBAI'H.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Tuesday. At a sitting of tho Warden's Court to-day Mr. ¥. J. Burgess, Warden, presiding, the following mining' applications were dealt with:—Thomas Hutchinson, for protection of tho Main Vein special quartz claim, recommended to the Minister; Samuel Adams, for protection of the Waihi'Gigantic < special quartz claim, recommended to tho Minister; T. C. Grant, for protection of the Waihi Prince and Princess special quartz claim, granted for six mouths; John Newdick, for protection of Royal Standard special quartz claim, three months' protection granted; Waihi Beach Company, for protection of >lio Waihi Beach Nos. 1 and 2 and foreshore special quartz claims, granted. J. Thornes apnlied for six months' protection of the Waihi Contral Nos. 1, 2, and 3 claims. Mr. Mueller appeared for tho applicants, and argument ensued as to tho meaning of the Aot regarding tho period of protection. Joseph Thorne3 said that tho claim had been granted to him in July, 1906. Two years' protection had already been granted. It would, necessary to sink a shaft some 700 ft. The cost of sinking the shaft fcO&ft would bo about £9182. Applicant had endeavoured to float the claims in America i.nd England, but owing to existing conditions in connection with the market ho was unsuccessful. Some 3000 shares had been disposed of in New Zealand. Favourable reports as to the condition of the market had recently been rocoived by him from a London firm of stockbrokers, in whoso hands tho flotation had been left. The application was adjourned till next Court day. His Worship gave judgment in the case Kneobono v. Pearson, a suit for forfeiture of residonco sito, 129, Waihi South. Tho decision stated that it was clear that under section 243 of the Mining Act, 1901 (the Act under which the title was granted), the defendant had incurred forfeiture of the site, and section 181 of tho Mining Act, 1905, which appeared to apply to the case, precluded forfeiture being decreed for any default which had occurred more than six months previously. The ovidenco advanced clearly indicated that during tho last six months tho site had been entirely unused for residence, tho purpose for which it was granted. Defendant would bo fined £12, and ordered to pay plaintiff's costs, £14 10s. The decision closed with the statement that, the holding of town sections without occupation was not to be encouraged.

SOUTHERN MINING. , NEW BIG RIVER. The September return from the New Big River mino (Reefton) was aa follows:—Battery, 1004oz Idwt melted gold from 680 tons of ore; cyanide, 91oz bullion from 300 tons of tailings. Tho total value was £4250. The company yesterday declared • the seventh dividend of 2s 6d per share, absorbing £-3000. payablo on tlio 10th inst. The sum of £500 is to be added to.the reserve fund, making its total £3000. < NOTES. No. 2 level in the Tairua Extended mine has been advanced to a total distance of 31ffc and the country remains unchanged. An assay value of £1 3s per ton was given by a sample of stone taken about lQft from tho footwall of the Windfall .reef- in the Watchman mine. ■ In the Golden Pah mine the winze on the Tribute lead is down 50ft. while the rise on Davios' lead is up 16ft. The latter lead is from Bin to lOin in width, and continues to , show a little gold. i In the Rising Sun. mine, Owharoa, work has been resumed at No. 3 level going south on the footwall reef. The lode in tho face is about 2ft 6in wide, and the country is a little easier. The leader in the crosscut in tho' Bonanza mine, Thames, has been driven upon for 6ffc, and the manager is stripping same. Some ore,broken out at the beginning of the week showed splendid minerals, which are still in tho face. The country in the new level in the Halcyon mine, Thames, shows no change, but at the last boring it appeared to be a little milder. The manager thinks the hard rib will, therefore, shortly -be passed through. In tho drive on the Empire reef in the Trafalgar mine, Thames, the country ie kindly white andesite with bright mineral veins crossing through it." The manager reports that the reef averages 15in of solid and kindly quartz, well mineralised. During the past two weeks the drive on No. 2 lead in the Royal Oak mine has been extended 14ft, but as the stone in the face is poor driving will be discontinued for ' the present, and a winze started on tho run of gold passed through in the drive. The level going seaward in the Tangiaro mine has now been driven for a distance of 52ft, this being about Bffc past the old shaft, and it will be necessary to drive about 10ft moro before the reef is out. The country being worked on at present, is all that could be desired for gold, and everything is favourable so far as mineral indications go. Tho winding gear.is to hand, and it is hoped to have it working to-day. The manager of the Old Kapanga mine, Coromandel, reports that, in prospecting at the 300 ft level last week ho obtained a few stones showing gold freely in a hangingwall branch of the Kapanga reef. From the appearance of tho ground he thinks the old company worked on the same leader, but to what extent remains to bo proved. Martin Bros., tributers, continue to get payable dirt and will start crushing about the end of this week. In Senior Bros.' tribute tho lode looks well to' make gold at any time. Tho pump is easily holding tho water at tho 300 ft level. The main low < level in the Tairua Broken Hills mine is_ still penetrating country of a good description. There is no improvement in the value of the ore comprising the now reef southwards. No. 1 reef at the battery level is looking better, but the ore is not yet payablo. Tho prospects from tho ore of 'N0.'.l reef at the eastern level are poor. For the week ending September. 28 last 80 tons of ore were crushed at the battery for a return of 98oz of amalgam, making a total of 3740z on hand. : , The intermediate level (No. 2 east) in the Kuranui mine has been advanced 6ft during the week in a good class of count try, blows of quartz heavily mineralised having been cut at intervals/ No. 1 stope has been stripped and broken down for lOftj the ore being of a splendid class, and a compact body, which _ gives an average width of 6in. Hanson's_ rise, or through pass, was cut into on Friday morning, and when the ground has been made secure the leader will bo followed;up.. In No. 2 stope 12ft' of the reef have been stripped and broken down. The lode is, Bin in width and the country is firmer. Crushing will be commenced to-day.