MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14003, 8 March 1909, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

— * — MAY QUEEN. [BY TELEGBArH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Sunday. ' Is the May Queen mine good progress is being made with the crosscut from the drive on the hangingwall branch to intersect the main No. 4 lode at No. 9 level, a distance of 20ft having been drivon for the week. Another 15ft of driving should cut the lode under the point where the winze was sunk on it from No. 6 level. This winze was sunk for a depth of 50ft, and good gold was carried down to the bottom, and as the total distance between the two levels is about 100 ft it will require 50ft of rising to connect after the lode is cut. When this is done it will thoroughly ventilate this portion of the mine, and open up an extensive block of ground for stoping operations. In the southern crosscut on the main reef from this level the break met with has not yet been passed through, and it is running diagonally across the course of the reef at a long angle, and the reef is not well defined at present. Crushing is still proceeding at the lottery on the ore . from... the *t©pe& abo;ve - No. , leyej. >~These ttopes continue-' to prodiico good grade ore.

WAITANGI.

[BY TKLEGBArn.—OWN " CORRESPONDENT.]

Thames, Sunday. ._. Better progress is being maclo with the main rise from the low level m the Waitangi mine, tho top of the rise now being 65ft above tho level, which leaves about the same distance further to rise to connect with 'the No. 2 level. ~ The rise has been reduced in length to about, lOft .and is being carried up on the hangingwall of the reef, which is being stripped, but the quartz is not being broken down, as the manager is desirous of pushing tho rise through as speedily as possible, so as to improve the ventilation. After this has been done tho quartz can bo broken down r much more easily and effectively. "The crosscut at No. 2 level to intersect the reef at the point where tho rise from the low level will hole through is now in a total distance of 90ft, • and is approaching the point where the reef may bo mot with any time It will probably be cut within the next two or three weeks. .KURANUI.' [BY "TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Sunday. In the Kuranui mine the development works on the now reef recently discovered on the surface arc in progress. This reef is about 2ft 9in in thickness in the face of tho drive, and a trial parcel of ore is being broken out for treatment. The general appearance of the reef is promising, and should tho ore prove payable a large block of ground could be opened up with small expense. Wonsor's leader is also being driven on, and a small cross head has been passed through, beyond which the leader is i better defined, and of a more favourable description. ALBURNIA. [by TELEGRAPH.—OWN correspondent.] Thames, Sunday.' Steady progress is being made with the main rise in the Albumia mine, which is now up close on 500 ft above tho level, and a further 40ft should hole through to the shaft crosscut at, tho Sons of Freedom level. TALISMAN. The Talisman report for tho fortnight ended January 30 is as follows:— \ No. 11 Level: No. 10 crosscut—Started westward from face of south drive; progress 25 ft. So far the ground shows no particular change. No. 8 crosscut—Advanced 23ft; total. 556 ft. At 540 ft a seam of quartz and calcite was intersected, 3ft in width. The values from same were very low. A drive north on this seam has been extended 6ft without any improvement in width or values. Stoping— assays from stopes off No. 5 rise average £2 8s 6d; stones off No. 12 rise have given values that average £2 lis 3d. The values from cast vein stopes (off No. 13 rise) averago £1 6s lOd. , . , , , No 12 Level: South drive—Advanced Bft • total, 1236 ft. From 1218 ft to 1224 ft tho width of reef averages 33in. Average value of assays, £4 Is 6d. From 1224 ft to the present face the country is broken, reef formation small and giving very low values. At 1230 ft a crosscut was driven westward loft, intersecting several scams of quartz, all of which arc low grade. Stoping—The values .from stones off No. 5 rise, average £3 Is It, those from stopes off No. 12 rise £13 lbs Yd, and from cost vein stopes £4 12s 4d.

WEST COAST RETURNS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] Rkeftox, Sunday. The Wealth of Nations Mining Company havo crushed 1270 tons of ore, yielding 4060z 12dwt. valued at £1678 18s sd, and cyanided 1320 tons, which returned 181oz sdwt, valued at £632 2s 2d. Progress Mines have crushed 3968 tons, yielding 10720z 18d\vt, valued at £4327 7s 3d, and cyanided 2140 tons, which returned bullion valued at £416 14s 7d. Blackwatcr have crushed 3000 tons, yielding 14300z, valued at £5893 lis 7d, and cyanided 1750 tons, the tailings producing bullion to the value of £503 12s 2d. ( OTAGO DREDGING RETURNS. ! [BY telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] , ... Dunedin, Sunday. " The following dredging returns arc ] reported:—Hartley and Riley, 85oz Bdwt; Sandy Point, 270z 12dwt; Punt,'24oz 3dwt; Waikaka Queen, 12oz sdwt*; Roxburgh Amalgamated (sluicing), looz 6dwt, for February.

NOTES. . : f '; Tho manager, of , the Tairua Extended gold mine reports under date March 3:— During the week the No. 2 level has been extended 20ffc. making the total oistance driven to date 407 ft. The country here is more solid than hitherto, but is of a blocky nature,; and breaks well. A report received from the manager ot the Shotover Gold Mining Company states " Since my~ last report the face has been extended 13ft. The drive is now in 308 ft 6in. The face is penetrating hard blue andesito country. There is nothing fresh to report in connection with surface work." The manager of the Neavesvillo mine reported on March 1 as follows: During the week we have driven a distance of 12ft on the leader in the southern portion of tho mine. The leader is about 4in in size, and gives good dish prospects. The country passed through is of a splendid, character, j intermixed with mineral veins. , I A meeting of the Kapanga Gold Mining Company was to have been held on Friday, but lapsed for want of a quorum. The directors' report showed receipts to date as £710 lis 3d, and expenditure £525 6s 3d, leaving a bank balance of £185 ss. The items of expenditure were: Mine wages, £169 12s ■6d; general charges, £99 6s 2d; sundry creditors (old company), £257 7s 7d. . ]K The following report has been received from the manager" of the Tairua Dreadnought mine for the period ending February 26:— have to report that we are still in tight country, yet not had for breaking, as will be seen by the distance driven, Bft. Tho indications arc as good as what they were when I took charge. The rock is well impregnated with iron pyrites, and of a very fine grain. All that is wanted is a quartz lode, and it should bo of good value in this ground. The report, to March 1 from the Tairua Dawn mine is as follows:— contractors are going through very favourable country in the new level, and are now in a distance of 50ft. In trenching I have cut a largo body of quartz wash, which is carrying very good prospects. If I can get the reef that is shedding this gold it should be a very good one, or is very likely to.be so, as the gold lamon in the trench'is very coarse and of fair values. Another week J or two may possibly intersect the reef.

The mine manager's report on the Phoenix mine for the period ending February 26 is as follows:We have driven 12ft on the last ore band that was cut in the north crosscut, and I am pleased to say that it is opening up grand. Wo have fully five tons of ore to grass. This will show that the band still maintains the size first reported, viz., 12in, and it is oftener 15in than 12in. I will send 'a sample of the ore by steamer, along with the samples taken ' from every 4ft of the crosscut. The machinery is working fairly well.

The following report has been received from the mine.manager in connection with the Tairua' Broken Hills:—Driving in the main crosscut is continuing, and a distance of about 10ft has been driven for the week. The country in the face has been somewhat tighter than hitherto, but I think easier ground is now coming in again. The rise on the No. 3 reef is up a total of 58ft from the back of the drive, but, as there is no improvement, we have discontinued rising, and turned our attention to sinking a winze on this reef below the level, in order to prove whether it carries value downwards. Driving southward on the Blucher reef is still in progress, but nothing of value has been met with. Stoping is progressing as usual. We have not run the stampers during the past week, owing to shortness of water. The monthly clean up is proceeding. The manager of the mine wired on Friday: — " Banked 3730z bullion,- value about £523."