MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

WAIHI GRAND JUNCTION.

PLAN OF OPERATIONS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waihi, Tuesday. Although shares in the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Mining Company continue, to fall in price, nothing has occurred in the mine to justify tho depreciation in value. This afternoon your representative interviewed the manager on underground developments, and ascertained that the outlook generally was encouraging. In tho drives both east and west on the Martha reef at No. 5 level (where the ore was recently reported as low grade) the quartz now being taken out is being sent to tho i battery for treatment. A start has been ! made to crosscut the lode in the west drive to determine it« width, and in the east end a crosscut will also be started in a. day. or two with tho same object. From tho Empire reef east, and west at the bottom workings the oro being won continues of a payable character. ' In the south-east crosscut to intersect the Royal reef at No. 5 level the present face consists of country rock, bound up with a network of quartz stringers, which point to the close proximity of the reef. Progress is consequently somewhat retarded, but' it is expected that tho Royal reef , will come to hand in a few days, probably before the close of tho present .week. Only development work on tho ore body will definitely determine its width and value at the point of intersection, but as the winze some few feet away from the point at which .the- crosscut - will ' intorsect the lode is now- down to a depth equivalent to No. 5 level, 1 and is carrying good grade ore over its full width, with no indications of the walls, it is expected that the reef •will.be of good size and satisfactory value where the crosscut passes through it.

MONTE CHRISTO. A statutory meeting of tho Monte Christo Gold Mining Company was to have been held at tho office of the secretary {Mr. J. W. Nichol) yesterday, to roceivb tho directors' report on the formation of the company. Owing to a quorum not being prefent the meeting -lapsed. The receipts and payments on capital account resulted in a cash balance of £505 19s lOd. >

Tho secretary yesterday received tho following telegram from the mine manager: — " Stone showing gold; breaking down crossleader to-day."

NOTES.

"t Tho winze in the Moewai Consolidated mine, Mercury Bay, is now down 6ft. The manager is taking out a width of 4ft of tho reef, which gives very fair prospects by dish and mortar tests.

At the Kuranui mine, Thames, last week, the Shellback No. 1 level winze was sunk 10ft, making a total depth sunk ; of 45ft from the collar. The leader was retaining its size and dipping more to the north-west.

The drive on the Cambria jeef in the Thames mino was advanced Bft last week. Tho r««f wAs fully sft in width, and the quartz was still of a hard nature.- Some nice mineral indications wore .occasionally met with,, but no values were seen.

The low level crosscut of the Tairua Leads mino was extended 16ft last week, making a total distance driven of 410fk - The present face has a very promising appearance. Mineral seams are still strongly in evidence, and several small quartz veins' were met with. • " : -

The manager of tho Phoenix and Tairua Dreadnought mines. reports that the .contractors aro now in speedy country. Last week they drove 35ft, making a total of 106 ft for the month. Several small stringers of quartz wero agdin passed through last week.

Last week tho low level of the Watchman mine, Thames, was advanced a further distance of 15ft, making a. total of 94ft from the flatsheet. The country was somewhat similar to that of the previous week. Quartz and silica seams were occasionally met with, crossing tho face at right angles. Some of them showed zinc blcndo and galena freely. >

In ; the Shotover mino, Karangahake, tho face has been extended 24ft more, making a total of 517 ft from the rise. The present face is good for progress work, but there is no change to report. The intermediate drivp~is now in 124 ft, with no change to report. The face has been stopped for the present, and driving south ou tho formation passed through at 60ft in has been continued to prove its valuo in that direction. .

The footwall drive in tho No. 2 level of Dixon's Consolidated mine was extended a further distance of 10ft last week. The country was of a very good description, and tho reef still looked promising, carrying very favourable minerals. During tho week the reef showed a fow nice colours of gold. The drive on the reef • formation in tho low level is now in 39ft from tho crosscut. The country is of a milder description than that recently passed through. Quartz is still showing in the face. The manager is taking in a good-sized drive, and keeping on what appears to bo tho footwall of tho lode, the identity of which can be better determined when further development work has been done. •

In the low level of the Handsworth United mine tho small lead is being driven on south, and although very small still shows dabs of gold, with an occasional few small specimens. The No. 1 lead is away to the east now. Stripping the No. 2 level down to bottom of the winze is proceeding, and, this will be taken along south when located in tho low level. The ore and specimen stone on hand will be taken to the battery to-morrow, and should yield a very satisfactory, return. The contractors for Huntly's reef in the Irene section have cut what appears to be the reef, it being 9in wide, with another 9in of reef formation on hangingwall. It gives a little gold, but is scarcely payable yet. After extending the crosscut a few feet the manager will ppen out north and south on the reef.