MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14221, 18 November 1909, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

WAIHI WARDEN'S COURT. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Wednesday. Mb. F. J. Buegess, Warden, presided over a sitting of the Warden's Court today, when the following mining applications were dealt with:—W. H. Kenncrly, for the protection of the Waihi Central Nos. 1, 2, and 3 special quartz claims, recommended subject to certain conditions being drawn up and included; David Kirkwood, for a prospecting license for 100 acres at Waitete, granted; Pride of Waihi Gold Mining Company, for reduction of two men for six months, granted. •

THAMES WARDEN'S COURT. [Dt TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday. The ordinary fortnightly sitting of the Thames Warden's Court was hold yesterday, when the following applications for special quartz claims were recommended to the Minister:—J. Knecbone, Ajax, of 100 acres, at Tararu; J. W. McCoy, Lennox, of 100 acres, Tararu; W. Hollis, tho Luck-at-Last, of 100 acres, Whangamata; W. H. Burton, Waipuru, 42 acres, and Big Reefs, 92 acres, both at Puru. R. Sutcliff's application for the Alpine special quartz claim, of 100 acres, Tararu, was finally granted, with the consent of tho Minister. , ... . Tho following miscellaneous applications were granted:—A. McNeice, six months' protection for the Tairua Blucher special claim; J. S. White, six months' protection for the Mountain King special claim; May Queen Gold Mining Company, three months' protection for tho Vanguard special claim - Old Alburnia Gold Mining ■' Company, six months' protection for the Alburnia West, New Middle Star, and New Eileen special claims. An application by the Maharahara Copper Mines, Limited, for six months* protection for mineral license at Woodville was recommended to the Minister.

. NOTES.:./ ;_■■■- The tunnel in the Silverstream mine, Marototo, has now been extended 46ft.

In the Bendigo mine the width of the reef in tho loading . stope is 9ft, and the manager states that the ore looks well.

The tunnel on the break in the Halcyon mine. Thames; is in 61ft in splendid country, with a little water issuing from the face.

The stopes in the New Waitekauri mine have been beaten up to the Queen level, and the ore is now being . delivered at the battery for crushing.

In the -. Phoenix and ■ Tairua Dreadnought mine another 19ft has been driven during the week, making the total distance from mouth of, tunnel 302 ft. '

The intermediate level in the Tairua Extended mine is in 53ft in good country. Several small seams of quartz havo been i met .with;; showing colours of gold. y

The new low level of the Mount Welcome mine. Coromandel, has now been advanced 162 ft. Better-looking country, not so hard and more mineralised, is now in the face.

The winze in the Moewai Consolidated mine. Mercury Bay, is now. down 14ft.*: The reef is much harder, and does not break well. It .is still mixed with mullocky seams. ■ • ' .■ ' . :, .: ; :

In the drive on the Empire, lode in the Imperial mine, Thames, the, reef , has been stripped for Bft. The reef is about 2ft 6in thick, and looks kindly, carrying excellent mineral indications. '

In the Dominion mine, Karangahake, the adit level has been extended 21ft. . ■ A change was met with last Thursday, the country turning into a tough blue material, carrying bright minerals. '*■ ■ . ; "' :; :

In the New Comstock mine the contractors made good progress in the No. 2 level last week, 30ft being driven, making a total distance of 129 ft from the mouthy The country, was :t all that 'could be desired.*" ,":"

At the Reliance mine, Thames, the crosscut has been extended 9ft. -; In the, last? round of holes fired the blue metal entirely disappeared, and a better class of country appears to be making in the face.

During the past week the No.' 4 level crosscut in the Tararu mine has-been -extended 13ft. There is no change to report in the country rock penetrated, it still being a firm class of gold-bearing andesite rock.;

In the Mountain Queen mine driving is being continued south on -i the reef,. which is about 18in wide in the face. The quartz is of a kindly description, and gives a little gold by pounding. .

In the Bonanza-'mine, Thames, another 12ft has been added to the drive, making it 154 ft in. The country continues to be of a first-class description, numerous ; mineral veins passing through it. Water is still issuing from the face.

Another 12ft has been risen from the back of the stopes in the Occidental Consolidated mine. Thames, making : 20ft in all. The leader, about 4in in width, is encased in a eood class of country, and carries a fair amount of good mineral. . -■< . ■

In the Point Russell mine 14-ft has been added to the rise, making the total height 94ft. The country rock and reef formation is muoh the same as previously reported, the lode averaging from 9in;to Ift in thickness. ' The manager expects to hole through it any moment now.

The No. 6 main level face of the Royal Oak mine, Tokatea, is now in 64ft east from the winze. The flow of water mentioned in the manager's last - report is coming from a new cross lode, which has only just been touched. The leader on which this drive has been extended is still small. , ; |

Work in the Magnet mine, Thames, during the past week, has been confined to the extension of the upper level ;to . intersect the main reef 172 ft above the present low level.' The -new level -is now in 155 ft, the country at present being penetrated being of a very hard, close description.

The contractors in the Tairua Reefs mine have extended the main crosscut lift for the week, and according to the survey the reef should be in hand in another 18ft or 20ft. The country still keeps a first-class appearance, and very favourable for goldbearing reefs. ••

The north drive in the Waihi Beach mine has been advanced 12ft, the face being in Rood, though hard country. The estimated position of the main reef is 810 ft from the main crosscut, which leaves 50ft to 60ft vet to be driven before intersecting it. The pump is still able to cope with the -water,- >

The manager of the Four-in-Hand mine reports that only 4ft was driven on the low level last week, on account of the hard country. At No. 3 level driving and stoping has been continued on the reef, and gold continues to be freely seen in the quartz. A few pounds of picked stone has been secured.

According to the manager of the Shotover mine, Karangahake, the low level is in 546 ft from the rise. The country is blue andesite, with quartz ' stringers end silica seams crossing the face. The reef mentioned in the manager's last report has been cut through in the surface drive, the width of tho lode being 10ft,

The contractors in tho Tairua Leads mine have extended the low level lift. The country still has a very promising appearance, mineral seams being in evidence and quartz stringers occasionally met with. A contract to rise from the lovel to the surface, a distance of approximately 90ft, has been let and work commenced.

At the Golden Belt mine the reef in the drive going south at No. 1 level is now a good deal wider than the drive itself, and the men are engaged in crosscutting for the hangingwall before going any further. The stopes at this level are looking well, the ore showing gold freely. A few pounds of picked stone are at present on exhibition in the company's office. '

In' 1 the Kirikiri Consolidated mine the leading, stope has been extended 6ft. The auartz is heavily mineralised,,and.'very promising. The leader is.about 4in in ithickness. The country is of-a, most'favourable class. The second stope has been advanced sft. and nice-looking quartz ;is showing- in the face. A third stope has been started, and is along 6ft from the winze..

According to the manager of the Tokitea c mine, Cbromandel, the first "i stope south Jof | the rise on the road level has ; been "carried 3 to the point where the; loader was : intersected. The leader is lin thick, and ;at last } breaking down showed ■ coarse colours of \ gold. The second stope south of the rise -; has been carried along Bft> The leader-- is |, 2in in width, composed of nice-looking quartz. ■■..; >W'J~, ■..;#*■, '•'!,;-:';■■ "'•'■■-■;■■■..'

Tho level in the Southern Queen mine, Thames, is now in 117 ft. Tn the last sft of driving a good class, of sandstone country, bearing mineral veins, was met with, and now occupies tho whole face. The reef is also increasing in size, being now Bin wide, with a good class of bright minerals well distributed through it. ; Last Friday somefive or six pieces were obtained, which could bo classed as picked stone.

Driving at tho intermediate level in the Mountain King mine has been advanced 3ft. The country is still a nice firm class of andosite, with numerous mineral seams striking into the face. The reef is still split up into stringers, but with a tendency towards coming together again, and thero is a good flow of water coming from tho face. The reef in tho atopes is still a nice body of ore, and continues to show strong colours and dabs of gold when taken down.

The bottom level drive north on tho Golden Shore reef of the Tangiaro mine has been advanced a further distance of oft. Tho reef is about 18in in thickness, showing good minerals and fair prospects of gold in the dish. Driving west on the Crown leader is now in full swing, and the drive is in 16ffc through an excellent class of andosite country. The leader is slightly disturbed in the face by a cross-lead coming in. Tho smithy low level drive north on the new reef is now in a total distance of 266 ft from the crosscut. The reef in the face is improving in appearance, and is better defined.

The country in the Missouri mine is becoming still milder, and more silica heads are crossing the face, which enables progress to be . more speedy. Several leaders have, crossed from the western wall. ; The Quartz is of a kindly nature, and shows gold by dish and mortar test. On Friday a leader about wide came in from the same wall, but not sufficient work has been done on it to obtain its values. If it proves to be at portion of the western branch, says the manager, the main ore body should be met with at an early date. v. . ,

The rise on the hangingwall branch of the Golden Pah mine, Coromandel, is how ;up 18ft. The leader, which' is about lin in. width, has looked better the last few feet, and on Friday last colours were seen in the stone' when breaking down. The drive on, the hangingwall branch No. 1 rise has been advanced 6ft. The leader seems to be improving: as the men go ; along, and colours have been seen by washing. The fourth stone above the intermediate on the Venus reef, where some colours of gold were obtained some time ago, has been started, and the reef looks well, being about; lin ;ia width. ' ,:: .* ::' ■ :. ;-\v

The rise (No. 2) in the New Sylvia mine is now up 23ft. The reef is 6ft to 7ft wide, and is producing ore of good quality, some assays being of high value. The rise ia being taken up 12ft in length, and a good supply of ore is therefore being accumulated from this'source. The work of driving north on the reef being continued, and the face is now/, over - 30ft ;•„ north/ of No. 2 rise, with the xeef fully Bffc in width and " improving ;in quality as the ; face iis extended. A ? band of black ore ion ;' the hangingwall side is particularly good,:'arid the whole width of the. reef of good general: value. "-/'.-. /

In the Scandinavian -mine good progress has been made > during tho J week on the Nightingale Teefj the ; country : being •■ somewhat easier, and the quartz -broken down, never ; looked better. It is .carrying- the % ,; best of bright minerals, and i the ; prospects " , in this part are very ; ;encouraging. The' V r hangingwall and foqtwall have 'i both firmed ' ". up. During the week ..the : stripping o£ Laurie's - reef i has ; been > proceeded with. The country :in ;> which the _ reef is encased* ■_'$ is of the very best description, and the manager intends during the present week to havo ;■ a breaking down. "Work . during the week in '■ the south drive has been ; satisfac* tory. The country and the reef, look well.

At the low level, in' the Tairua Monarch :: mine driving north on the reef . has-,been :, V extended' a total distance of 126 ft.' The reef is 3ft wide, composed- of kindly-looking stone, and the country encasing it is of at -good description.-.- 1 Operations at, No. .1 level have been stopped for the present. ,The ;5b men are now engaged driving a surface, level through the outcrop- of No. , 3 reef. - The reef at this point-is of a large .size, a ; distance of ".'; 6ft having ; been .: driven through the reef formation, , with quartz still showing in the face.. At No. 2 level a slide was met with, and the reef was cut -, [ off. The drive: has been .continued on . .', through -the- slide, and i firm country is now showing in the face, but so- far no quartz ■;,' has been met wth. • The drive south at the low level in the Hands worth United mine is being ad- '~,,; vanced, through very; favourable country, the small; lead being carried along with tho No. 2. The amalgamated area having been - recommended at last Warden's Court, the 1 several claims will be fput under the one '\• " license, and as coon, as the [different levels are repaired the manager will get a.com- „.<•'';, plete underground ; survey .made - and plan prepared, so that a comprehensive, working r l9 scheme of operations can be..undertaken."s3*j It is hoped that this will make the mine ** ■". regular gold-producer, as it will tap both < - Huntly's and the Try Fluke reefs (the former averaging 9in to *12in and the ■- latter', 5 ~~-- 3ft to sft in width) from the battery; side |; of the hill.

The reef in: the New Waitaia mine iia . '■: turning out fair-grade ore in the stopes above the intermediate level,! and runs from 6in to 9in wide. No work is :i being done .-•). on the big blow at No. 5 level pending result of trial parcel of 15 tons now going through the battery. The second charge of '. '-,' slimes has just been treated in agitators, , and from the appearance of the zino will give a decent extraction. The manager ; considers that he can shorten the time of treatment as he goes along now, ' most of * the difficulties having been overcome. The contractors for the low level have driven 214 ft for the past week, making 181 ft since starting. The country is fairly tight, but is good for shooting.

At the Waitangi mine, Thames, .the fourth stopo west above the intermediate level has been taken along another sft past the Siam. reef. The reef at this point measured 6ft in width and carried two good walls. The ore broken out was of a v ' kindly nature, carrying a littlo mineral, but no gold was seen. - The fourth stope has been filled in and a fifth one started, . and about 4ft in width and 10ft in length of the hangingwall shot down. The; ore thus obtained showed dabs of free gold. :?! At No. 2 level the eastern drive on -the '_- hangingwall of the main reef has been advanced 10ft. At - this point the reef makes a slight bend to the left and is in a '.:.: splendid class of country for gold. Four assays taken from the last 35ft of ; driving gave good values. ■•-■ •