MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14302, 23 February 1910, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

FIRST MEETING OF BOARD.

MANAGERS TO REPORT.

The negotiations of the last few months over the Thames deep levels scheme have now assumed such concrete form that the, first meeting of the board of management was held yesterday, there being present : Messrs. E. 11. Taylor, M.P. (chairman), and A. Bruce (Government nominees), H. 11. Adams (May Queen), J. Kneebone (Saxon), G. Aickin (Victoria), C. Hudson (Waiotahi), and H. Gilfillan, jun. (Kuranui-Caledonian).

The Chairman stated that upon receipt of a telegram from the Government appointing him chairman of the board he had called the members together. He represented the Governent on the board, and had no personal interest in any of the mining companies." : Ho trusted that the setting up of tho board would moan tho vigorous prosecution of the scheme. Now that the water was down to 1000 ft in the Queen of Beauty shaft there seemed no reason why this great work should not bo, undertaken with all possible despatch. However much they might talk' about getting gold;" they must, if they wished to do anything practical, send the-men below to put in the crosscut. He believed the crosscut would either make or mar the Thames for many years to come. Each and all of them were prepared to formulate a scheme that, was essential to the vigorous prosecution of this important work. . . Mr. J. B. Sheath was appointed secretary to tho board. • It was resolved to hold the board's meetings at its office,,unless otherwise agreed to by previous resolution. The Chairman;said they should .first see about, funds for starting work. - .. Upon the suggestion of Mr. Kneebone it. was decided to call upon the contributing companies to-pay-into the bank £2400 each. Mr. Hudson said they should consider the appointment of a general supervisor for puttine in the crosscut. Mr. Adams advocated tho manager of each mine, having supervision of ; the crosscut through tho ground of. his own company. The board must remember there- was a very big work to do, with closely-estimated funds. A general supervisor would cost at least £350 a year. - _ ..-.'.'.• After some discussion it ■ was resolved, upon the motion of Mr.- Hudson, to appoint the managers of the companies interested an; advisory committee to prepare specifications of the whole work, to advise the board as to tho mode of carrying out the scheme, and where and how to deposit the spoil from the crosscut, on receipt of which report the board to meet and consider the same and decide on the mode of carrying out the work. : "

.Mr. Bruce suggested that the first tenders should . be for cutting out a chamber and driving the first 500 ft. Mr. Adams advocated only one contract, with- a bonus for all time saved. ; On bis -upgestion the, matter was loft in the hands of the mine managers.

WAIHI.

OPERATIONS IN No. 9 LEVEL.

The . four-weekly report, dated December 25, of the superintendent of the Waihi mine is now to hand. Reporting on No. 9 level ■ the ; superintendent says that on the Royal lode, west of. the north section junction, no work was done in this direction ' for some : time, and before driving could be proceeded with -'a considerable -amount -of work had to be executed; along the, north , section of the lode. The level had to bo heightened from '- No. 4 shaft to the main Roval , and the 12in pipes ; laid 'to convey the water from x No. 5 shaft to the electrical-ly-driven pumps, which : were being installed at No. 4 shaft. This work would lie taken in hand early, in the coming year. East the level had been extended 15ft. ; making a total of 726 ft. Driving was suspended while the sinking of No. 5 shaft was in progress. Samples taken as the drive advanced were as follows:—At 710 ft,,. worth: u Gold, 2oz 6dwt 16gr; silver, 6oz 15dwt Bgr per ton.; At 718ft,worth : Gold, loz 3dwt Bgr; silver, loss 4dwt 2gr per ton. <y} At 726 ft, worth: Gold, loz 6dwtT4gr; silver, 4oz 12dwt Boz ' r.-cr ton. At 698 ft the lode ..proved >to bo 24ft, wide; worth: Gold, -9dwt 16gr; silver, 3oz -:14dwt;22gr'.pcr ton. - .' ■'■■■

WAIHI GRAND JUNCTION.

PROMISING DEVELOPMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. own correspondent.] Waihi, Tuesday.

, Owing to the omission of a word, in yesterday's report on development 'operations at No. 5 level in the Grand Junction mine the facts concerning the; No. 1 reef (Martha) were not made clear. In the drive going east on tho course; of the reef, which so far had been low/grade, the last two or three rounds of holes- fired have; disclosed a marked improvement in tho appearance of the ore over a good width. This will be assayed and the values made; known in a day or two, and if the, results aro in keeping with tho appearance of the quartz there is ample room for.the opening up of a big block of milling ore in this section of tho mine.-,' : 7 ;,". : ." v.'. -

: OLD HAURAKI. [BY TELKGRAPH. — CORRESPONDENT.] 1 , <. '• .■ •' ,' , ,'.. OOKOUANDEL, Tuesday. '•', I understand that breaking down in all faces will take place on Thursday, and the indications in the intermediate and 300 ft levels are highly encouraging. The stopes at , the ' 300 ft i level on the .Green Harp reef also look promising for, gold. A couple of men have made.'; a start ■ at the adit level. One of the directors (.Mr. B. T. Hawkins) inspected the mine to-day. - The directors are to meet early next week to appoint a mine manager: and decide upon the plant to be erected on the Zealandia shaft. *.

".;: TALISMAN. The superintendent of: the Talisman Consolidated mine despatched the following cable.to the London office of the company yesterday: — " No 13 level, south drive: Progress, 44ft; width of reef, 54in; assay value, £14 17s 6d." -;■:.:.; , \ '

• MOUNT WELCOME RETURNS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Cokomandel, Tuesday. < The Mount Welcome Gold Mining Company has completed a crushing of 1161b of picked 6tono and one. ton of general dirt at Martin's battery for a return of 60oz, retorted bullion of the approximate value' of £175. The manager reports that at each breaking down of the reef in the new low level strong blotches of gold are occasionally seen in the stone. The ground has become somewhat harder, but is of a very favourable description. Tho intermediate drive is in 15ft. ': ■ ~-•-• ' ■ ' •• -.; ■ - , '..;...., -• . '. -■ '..'',.. '": . '" .. NOTES.. Last week the drive on the main roof of the Waihi Beach mine was advanced Tft, making a total distance driven of 14ft. There was very little change in the \ face. The appearance of tho reef slightly improved, though the reef was still in broken country. ; ; _ , At tho Pride of Tokatea mine there is no improvement to report from the crosslodo. . The country pasted through during last week was very much disturbed, but now shows signs of improvement. The drive on tho foot wall lode- off the main rise was advanced 7ft. The country, was very tight, but highly mineralised. A little good gold was seen in the lode during the week. The winze on the tribute lead at the low level was.sunk Bft. . Tho lode is a nice compact body of stone. The following work was clone at the Kuranui mine, Thames, last ; week:—At tho Blyth section of the low level progress was slow, owing to the ground being hard. Tho face was stopped for a few days in order to open out on the parallel leador and prove it, the indications being good. Good samples were secured, but no free gold obtained. At the crosscut a 3in dropper, carrying blonde ami other minerals, was picked up leeward of the reef. It will lie prospected as soon as the drive is close timbered. ■-, The main reef retained its size.' The hangingwall leader was giving good mineralised ore, but'no gold. • j-