MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13939, 22 December 1908, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

CONFERENCE OF MINING DIRECTORS A conference of directors of tho KuranuiCaledonian, Waiotahi, and May Queen Gold Mining Companies was held at Mr. Nichols' office, Victoria Arcade, yesterday to consider matters in connection with, the Thames Deep Levels scheme. The Hon. E. Mitohelson occupied the chair and there were present: Messrs. J. Thornes, A. E. T. Devore, H. Green, F. Hull, and H. Gilfillan (Kuranui-Caledonian), H. H. Adams, H. T. Gorrie, J. Thornes, and J. Smith (May Queen), W. R. Wilson, E. A. Brown, C. Hudson, M. Clark, and G. Kissling (Waiotahi). The Chairman said he had been directed to call tho meeting together- to see if all the companies could determine on the particular route of. the crosscut. The Saxon, Waiotahi, and Victoria Companies had now agreed on a line from the Queen of Beauty shaft to the Big Pump shaft. The May Queen directors had given this matter very careful consideration, and arrived at the conclusion that they could not approve of the route as proposed. At tho same time, if the three companies mentioned had agreed that the selected route was the best in their interests the May Queen Company would assist in every possible way, but would provide no funds for the work. Tho May Queen got no assistance whatever in its deep sinking movement. It was a bold undertaking to ask the shareholders to provide capital to sink the May Queen shaft, but the shareholders agreed. The Government provided a subsidy up to £6000, and the whole of that had been expended, and, in addition, contributions had been made by the Thames Borough and Thames County Council. The May Queen had, with the aid from the Government, faced the whole of ii £n St of tho P llm ping operations below tho 600 ft level. Ho always considered that the company, in sinking below the ordinary level, was expending money which was really for the purpose of testing the whole of tho goldfields. Seeing the May Queen Company had expended such large sums, it felt that the capital provided would be better utilised in developing its own property than in other work which could bo of no benefit to the company. The May Queen Company had thought the other companies would have fallen in with the scheme proposed by it. uho straight lino from the Queen of Beauty shaft to the Kuranui-Cale-donian property. He regretted his company could pot agreo to tho route from tho Queen of Beauty shaft to the old pump shaft, but it knew that the sinking and working of the old pump shaft would run into many thousands more than those who favoured it dreamed of. Mr. Hudson said two questions—deep levels and drainage— brought up by the chairman, and it were better the two were kept separate. He regretted that the May Queen and Kuranui-Caledonian Companies did not send representatives to the Deep Levels Committee. The route chosen must be regarded as a compromise. His company had been strongly in favour of Mr. 1 Adams' alternative scheme, but there were ' difficulties against it, more particularly that the deepening of the Kuranui-Caledonian shaft would have been dangerous, owing to. tho fact that the slide would probably be tapped at 1000 ft. Another reason was that the Government would only subsidise a State-owned shaft, and sunnorted the Big Pump shaft. The line the three companies had adopted was a fair compromise. The Saxon company had given way very considerably. If the May Queen and KuranuiCaledonian Companies considered the matter very carefully, they would see that the proposed route gave every company a very fair show. It was a direct and an economical route. Mr. Devore said he and the others representing the Kuranui-Caledonian could only report to the' head office on what was proposed. The head office desired a deep level schemo, but would want to see a scheme which would give the company direct, benefit. The proposed - route benefited neither the Kuranui-Caledonian nor the May Queen Companies directly, although it mio'ht indirectly. j« Mr. Green: The solution would be an amalgamation of all the companies on the flat. .-■>■■ J:.--,-r Mr. Hull agreed that this seemed the only solution. Mr. Kissling: The only way is to put all tho ground below a certain level into one company. • Mr. Devore: Not only this group, but other companies as well. The Chairman said his company was prepared to consider all that had been said. It. must lie admitted that the route proposed gave no benefit directly to the May Queen.. The May Queen shaft was now down to 1000 ft, and the company could open up a line at that depth without the scheme at all, and it would be running through all known reefs on the field. The company knew that indications at 1000 ft snowed that the country was auriferous, and the work done was such as to enable the May Queen Company to thoroughly test and prove its ground. That being so, why should it join in a schemo that would cost a great sum, and be of no benefit to tho -May Queen property? He had always felt that a scheme for working the deep levels should be undertaken by one company, and one alone. Whether such a company could be arranged was not for him to say at that stage. Mr. Hudson said the figures showed that tho actual driving in the route agreed upon by tho three companies was very little less at the May Queen property than at the others. Taken all through, tho scheme was one which would very nearly benefit all companies equally. The Chairman: When you can show us that, wo are prepared to agreo. Mr. Adams: If you go to tho Deep Pump shaft it means you have to get new winding plant, new poppet-heads, and timbering. I am prepared to drive a crosscut from the Queen of Beauty shaft to the Kuranui-Cale-donian shaft for £14,000, on condition that you repay me for the plant put on the ground. Mr. Green: Is it possible that some schemo of amalgamation can bo prepared for the whole of the companies? The Chairman: We will agree to consider any scheme. Mr. Green: It will mean a company with about half a million shares. Can we pass a resolution that we will meet again and consider any scheme for amalgamation— not another company, but one company to absorb tho lot? I move, "That a representative of ouch be a cub-committee to consider whether any sohemo can bo formulated." After further discussion, it was agreed, on the chairman's suggestion, that the meeting should bo adjourned until some time in January, when the question could again be discussed. TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED. The following cable has been despatched to the London office of the Talisman Con- .' solidated Gold Mining Company, Ltd.: — No. 11 level south, progress 20ft; No. 12 level south, progress 31ft.

WAIOTAHI.

, Tho manager of the Waiotahi mine reports for the week as follows:—No. 13 level: The dropper being stoped on below this level is about 6in in width, and continues to'show a few good dabs of gold. Stoping on the dropper above this level east of No. 1 rise is also in baud, and colours of gpld have been seen in the quartz broken. No. 5 level:' The drive west from the Mary Ann shaft on No. 5 reef is in a distance of 277 ft. The fifth stope on the footwall dropper has been carried east of the rise for a distance of 40ft, and a few dabs and colours of gold have been seen. Stoping on the hangingwall rib of the main reef above this level is in progress, and colours of gold have been seen. Cure reef—The third stope lias been carried west of the rise for a distance of 53ft, the reef being about 12in in. width. It has some good dabs of gold. No. 4 level: The leading stope on the hangingwall rib of the main reef is in progress, and a few colours of gold have been seen. The drive east on the main reef from the rise is in a distance of 18ft, but no gold has been seen. The crosscut east from the footwall of the main reef is in a distance of 105 ft. Cleaning up for tho month will tako place on Thursday.

NOTES.

The mine manager for the Tairua Dreadnought Company reports that tho only difference in the country rock now being passed through is that it is a bit tighter than it was last week; Bft has been driven this week, making a total of 75ft.

In the Kuranui mino the drive from the winze, No. 2 east, was commenced on the 14th inst. Good progress was made for 12ft, when operations were suspended, owing to lack of air, but this difficulty was ultimately overcome, and further good orc-gregs was

made, Mother 15ft being driven by the 19th. Timbering the drive will be commenced at once. The mine manager for the Old Alburnia Company, reporting for the week ended December 18, says the main rise has been extendedlßft, making it the required height to form No. 4 level. A start has been made in driving back westward from the rise. When this work is completed, probably in a day or two, rising ' will be resumed, the distance left to connect with the Sons of Freedom tunnel being about 140 ft. The south crosscut in the Phoenix mine has been extended 12ft, 10ft of it being through hard, solid quartz, and the remaining 2ft through andesite rock, with a few quartz veins running through it. " There is no defined wall to the lode so far," says the manager, " but it is possible that we are not yet through the reef. I thought it advisable to stop this end for a time, and get on with the north crosscut. We aro in with this end about 6ft. I will bring a fewsamples over with me to Thames, and post them on the Auckland office." During the week ended December 16, No. 2 level in the Tairua Extended mine has been extended 18ft, making 232 ft driven to date. The country there, reports the manager, is of a good description, and during the week several small quartz veins were cut. _ These were tested, but no gold was obtained. Gome's reef, says the manager, should not be far ahead of the present face, but ho does not expect to intersect th« same before the New Year. Assays taken from the lode cut last month resulted in 6s 4d per ton being obtained. The north drive on the main reef in the Magnet mine has been advanced another 6ft during the week, and the reef lias widened out to about 2ft, the quartz being of a kindly character for carrying gold. The country traversed by the reef is also of a congenial class for andesite. The rise on the mineral voin has now attained a height of lift. The vein still continues to carry excellent minerals, such as copper, iron, pyrites, etc., and during the week a little loose gold was seen in the washings. The belt of country penetrated so far, says the manager, is all that could be wished for. The battery level contract for the Champion mine is now finished. The mine manager, on measuring up the distance from the mouth of the tunnel, found it to be 426 ft, or 43ft from the Frenchman's pass. The drive is in the " dyke" formation, which at this point carries values averaging 10s per ton. A fresh contract cannot bo let until provision is made for carrying air into the face. This will be done after the holidays. On the northern areas surface prospecting is being carried out, and the drive on the Champion North reef is being continued in a northerly direction. The Smithy level will be timbered, ready to commnco stoping by to-day. In tho New Sylvia mine the contractors have extended the drive going south on the lino of the main reef a further distance of lift. The reef in the face of the drive is 7ft in thickness, and carries some splendid sulphide ores, which are well distributed through the reef. "We also see colours of gold in the stone," says the manager, " and the reef looks solendid and appears to improve as the drive advances southward." The contractors have extended the drive north of crosscut on the line of main reef 13ft. The reef in face of drive is about sft in_ thickness, carrying a band of nice-looking mineralised ores, both on the foot and hangingwall of the reef. The reef is making more solid quartz.. The manager says ho would not be surprised to come on a patch of gold at any time. During the past week at the May Queen mine the usual work of stoping on the footwall branch of No. 4 level above Nos. 5 and 6 levels, has been in progress. Tho quartz won has shown gold pretty freely, and is of fair grade, while a few pounds of picked stone have also been selected. In the south drive, No. 9 level, • Queen of Beauty, the men have been engaged in driving on a branch ■ of the main lode, which strikes off into the hangingwall. The branch is about 6in in width, and has now been driven on for about 10ft. Tho quartz carries'a lot of zinc blend., and looks well for gold. In the northern crosscut the drive going eastward on the branch leader to the junction of No. 4 lode is now in good country, and should it continue so to the lode, says . the manager, there seems every chance of meeting with good results. Crushing is proceeding at the battery,' and will be completed by Wednesday or Thursday. .The, manager for Hauraki mine re-r: ports that during the past week the crosscut north "of the New Year reef, 300 ft level, has been advanced 7ft, the country still being of a splendid description. The drive southeast, on No. 8 reef, 300 ft level, has also been advanced another 6ft, the reef averaging sin, and strong dabs of gold were in the stone which was broken out from it. on the 18th. Rising on No. 9 reef is now in progress, the total height now reached being 16ft Bin. The leader is small,- but colours of gold were seen in some of the stone broken out during the week. No. 1 winze on the New Year reef is now down 30ft. Tho reef here still maintains its size (18in), bus no gold was seen in the stone recently broken down. The winze on "iLegge's reef, north of the "fault," is down 37ft. The reef averages 4in, and the indications are such that the mine manager expects to get gold at any break down. : -