MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14146, 23 August 1909, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

HANDSWOETH. FIVE POUNDS OF SPECIMENS. The secretary of the Handsworth Gold Mining Company was advised by the mine manager on Saturday that he had secured 51b- of specimens from the cross leader in the winze in No. 2 level, with gold still showing. ' . ... „ . -. . PRIDE OF TOKATEA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN correspondent.] ; . Coromandel, Saturday. . With regard to the intersection of the footwall lode in the Pride of Tokatea low level to-day, the mine manager (Mr. A. J. Prescott) stated to an interviewer that the importance of the development lies in the fact that the lode is a strong ore body, showing gold in excellent country at the deepest point operated in the mine. From the low level to the smithy level is a distance of 140 ft, so 'there are good backs, and as the lode is running approximately east and west, it is traversing the company's property. The gold won so far is, of course, small, a3 the lodo has only been tapped, but it is strong and well in the stone, and in the light of the fact that the footwall lodo has been one of the most consistent gold-producers of the Tokatea Range, and has yielded thousands of ounces from the upper working, the importance of development is great. It should be borne in mind that this new development has not any connection with tho report that gold was seen when preparing to start stoping at another point at the low level. MAY QUEEN. [BY TELEGRAPH.-—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. The crosscut at tho 1000 ft level of the Queen of Beauty shaft is now being carried on with the rock-drill, and.better, progress is being made. A total of 111 ft has been driven from the chamber, and another week's driving should reach the point where it is expected to intersect the main reef. ! Tho country in the face continues to bo of a first-class description. At No. 9 level southward of the Queen of Beauty shaft the drive on the footwall branch of the mainreef is in progress, and the quartz broken continues to show good dabs of gold at each breaking down- This lodo has now taken a turn to tho left in the face, and if it continues on its present course it should join with tho main reef again in a short distance. In tho May Queen section tho drive on tho north-west lodo at tho intermediate level is in progress, and the reef continues to look well, showing good dabs of gold at each breaking down, and a little picked stone is occasionally selected from tho general ore. Tho stoping operations in hand at the various levels in this section of tho mino are' still producing a steady supply of payable ore. In tho Moanataiari section the work of cleaning out tho old drive on the Cambria _ reef at No. 4- level is still in hand, but is now nearly completed, there being about a further 30ft to clean out and repair to reach the solid face in tho vicinity of the Waiotahi boundary. SAXON. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. The ventilation crosscut from No. 1 to No. 2 reef at No. 4 level has been completed, and has had the effect of improving tho ventilation, and a stope is now being carried along over the drive on the hangingwall branch in tho eastern end, where the colours of gold were seen in the drive, so as to open up a block of ground for stoping, as the manager considers there is an extensive block of payable ore abovo this point. In the drive on the reef westward from the crosscut the reef is from sft to 6ft in thickness, composed.of ribs of quartz and sandstone, and carrying good mineral indications. "' .'" ~■ ' '- ...:■■■..-■.. i ■:" ■/•'

WAIOrAHI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. No further breaking down of quartz has taken place in the rise on the hangingwall leader since yesterday, and another bench of the leader js being stripped, and will probably be broken down on Monday. VICTORIA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—- CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. ' The eastern drive on the new reef beyond! the break has been temporarily suspended on account of the lightness of the air, and work during the past week has been chiefly confined to the western drive. At this end. the lode has branched off into three divisions, and as the left-hand branch is heading in the direction of the drive on the Mariner's reef, this is being followed in the expectation that by doing «o a connection will bo made with that drive, which ■?rill improve the ventilation and afford better facilities for continuing the development works on this reef. ALBURNIA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Saturday. The prospecting works on the main reef at the Sons of Freedom level are being proceeded with, and six crosscuts have now been driven through the reef at various points along the drive, at a distance of 30ft apart. These show that the reef has an average size of about 10ft from the footwali to the extreme hangingwall of the forma-, tion, and in all of them colours of gold have been seen on the hangingwall side, chiefly in the quartz stringers running along the hangingwall of the main body. It is intended to still continue the work, and several more crosscuts will be driven eastward so as to thoroughly test the value of the hangingwall side of the reef for the whole distance driven on- In the low level the main crosscut is still being continued in the hangingwall of the reef, but no change of any consequence has taken place during the week. WATCHMAN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.^ Thames, Saturday. The drive along the footwali of the reef from the winze has now been extended a total distance of 25ft, and the reef continues to look well, the quartz coming to hand giving good values and showing good pros- :"» pects of free gold. SOUTHERN DREDGING RETURNS. [BY telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.] Dtjnedin, Sunday. The following dredging returns are reported:Riley's Revival,' 40oz; Enterprise, 2dwt; Muddy Creek 11., 20oz sdAvt; Molyneaux Hydraulic, 19oz 12dwt; Muddy Creek 1., 16oz 18dwt; Golden Treasure, 16oz lOdwt; Alexandra Eureka, lloz 6dwt; Waikaka Queen, lOoz. MOUNTAIN KING. The Mountain King Company has just put a trial crushing of 30 tons of ore through the stamps at the Waiotahi battery. The bullion from the plates and the tailings will be assayed to-day, and the result made known to-morrow. ! TELLURIDE SYNDICATE. Mr. C. P. Creagh, a representative 1 of the Telluride Syndicate, returned' from the syndicate's property, comprising between 400 and 500 acres,* at Maratoto, on Saturday, bringing with him 4cwt of telluride ore. He reports that the' junction of the Queen and; Julia-reefs has been located, and that in' breaking away tho cap rich telluride of gold j and silver was exposed. Various other reefs, carrying tellurid-o ore, have been dis- r covered. Assays are now being made, and will be made known in a few days.', Work. at the mine has now commenced, and ore ; is being broken out for shipment. NOTES. The Talma Broken Hills Company's battery resumed work at four o'clock on Friday afternoon. The low level in the Tairua Leads mine, has been extended to 262 ft. The quartz formation mentioned in the last report has been passed through, its width being 10ft. A nice class of mild mineralised andesite is now being met with. . • :• ~ '•;-->;; ;-

"Work is proceeding as usual in the May Queen Extended mine. In the eastern face the reef has improved in appearance and size. There is now about 18in of quartz, the full height of the drive, and when breaking, down good strong colours of gold were seen j through the stone. In the western end the reef looks well, and good minerals were seen when breaking down. The country is about the same as reported last.- ,„ ~, ' Good progress has been made; with the. j extension of the low 'level in the ■ Tairua I.Golden Hills mine, the total distance now ! driven being 276 ft. The crosscut at No. 2 l, level", has' been "enlarged, and a i start made to relay the tramline suitable for ton trucks. A leading stope has been started north of north rise, fair values being obtained. The leading stope towards the south end has improved, and looks well. At No. 2 level the--contractors are making fair progress with the leading stope, and in both the north and 1 the south sides of the crosscut the lode looks " very well indeed. From this stope, . when 'completed, , hundred tons of > ore will be available for the mill. The main hopper is now practically completed, and will hold*' between 300 and 400 tons of quartz} All .the'' preparatory works at the mine are now in; an advanced state.