COROMANDEL MINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14132, 6 August 1909, Page 7

COROMANDEL MINING.

BRIGHTER PROSPECTS*

THE FOUR-IN-HAND.

A < previous article dealt with the majority of the Coromandel mines, but there still remains a number of properties to bring under review.

. The Four-in-Hand claim is situated on the ridge dividing the Kopurakaitahi and Waikoromiko streams, and is about one mile from the Royal Oak in an easterly direction, and contains an area of 89 acres. For about five years prior to 1906 this claim was a steady gold-producer, nearly £20,000 worth of gold being won and about £5000 paid to shareholders in dividends. The run of payable ore was followed down to the No. 4 level, which at that time was the lowest workings, and it was then decided to put in a level to cut the reef at a greater depth. With this object in view a tunnel was commenced from the Waikoromiko side of the range (the previous workings being on the Kopurakaitahi side), but very hard country was met with, and after raising and expending extra capital it was decided to go into liquidation. A syndicate then worked the mine for about two years with a fair amount of success. A new company has recently been formed to work the property, and it has been decided to extend the low level and develop the reef system which paid so. well in the upper levels. 'This tunnel is now being proceeded with, and 1 - there is no doubt that when the reefs are opened up that a new era of prosperity is in store for this company. Several reefs have already been passed through and are well worthy of attention, they being all in virgin country and intact to the surface. The mine is under the able management of Mr. Thos. Radford, who knows the ground intimately, having been in charge during the palmy days of the old company. ! TANDEM. ' - This mining proposition is situated at Kopurakaitahi, and adjoins the Four-in-Hand to the north. The area is 20 acres, and it has the strike of most of the Four-in-Hand reefs. Good results were obtained from the surface workings on the Tandem reef. The present owners (the Kopurakaitahi Prospecting Association) have driven a level below the old workings and obtained gold in the reef. A rise is being put up and a block will be available for stuping. Mr. James McGregor is in charge of operations.

GOLDEN HILLS. 1 This property consists of 20 acres, and is situated on the Omoho Creek, about half a mile away from the Pour-in-Hand and Tandem, and rather less from ' the • Royal Oak. Several levels have been driven, with encouraging results. Two lodes, one of large dimensions, have been operated upon ; good prospects, are obtainable from the main reef and strong gold in the stone from the smaller ore body. It is a promising property and should give good returns for capital expended.! FOREST QUEEN.

Good results have been obtained down to the floor of the No. 2 level, and a low level has been driven 117 ft to get under the run of gold ; about 200 ft of driving remains to be done to reach the desired point. Some of the stone obtained from the upper workings was rich in gold, and as it has continued to the lowest point yet reached development works should be attended' by satisfactory returns. « MAHAKIRAU. The Mahakirau district is one of the most premising portions of the Hauraki Peninsula, but has been greatly neglected owing to its comparative inaccessibility! The new Mercury Bay-Coromandel Road, however, runs through the heart of the auriferous belt and brings it to within 10 or 12 miles of Coromandel by a well-graded road. There is a small battery (erected, by the Government) in a central situation on the Mahakirau River. It is a district that should come to the front in the near future. At the present time the only work going on in the locality is upon an area opposite the battery, where a* prospecting association, under the title of the Mahakirau Syndicate, are carrying out prospecting and development works under the management of Mr. James Davies. Several reefs have been tried and proved to be gold-bearing. In one of the drives there is a fine body of ore from 2ft to 3ft in width, which has carried gold for over 30ft, and should give good results under the stampers. Some considerable time back a trial crushing of 14 tons from another part of the property yielded bullion worth about £2 per ton. The syndicate purpose putting in another level at greater depth to further prove the property. There are other parts of the district where gold was got, and in some places specimen stone was obtained. One or two areas have been taken up lately, and when the fine weather sets in the probability is that more attention will be devoted to this most promising portion of the Hauraki goldfields.