MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14303, 24 February 1910, Page 3

MINING NEWS.

MAY QUEEN. HALF-YEARLY REPORT. The following, is the half-yearly report of the directors of the May Queen Gold Mining Company—Since our last report operations havo been carried on in a vigorous manner, with the exception of at the 1000 ft . level, where work had' to be suspended in October last owing to a break'down at tho Thames Hauraki pumping plant, the repairs to . whicll are now completed, and wo are in hopes that next week our mine will be in full swing again at that level. In tho meantime the only work being carried on is at tho No. 6 and intermediate levels, where encouraging prospects aro being-met with. As you are aware pro*, posals for floating the Moanataiari and St. Hippo, sections of the May Queen property into - two separate companies were placed before tho shareholders in September and October-last, and received their approval., Steps were accordingly taken for the formation of two companies, but only the Moanataiari Company was floated, and is now .a separate company from the May Queen. With regard to the St. Hippo your directors deemed it advisable ' not to attempt flotation just then as the mining business on the sharemarket was very dull. The St. Hippo, therefore, still belongs ..to the May Queen Company for the present." * TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED. , DEVELOPMENTS AT No., 13 LEVEL. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Wednesday. • The make of ore recently reported on tho main lodo in the south drive at No. 13 level in tho' Talisman mine lias now been followed south for a length of 100 ft, of which 40ft has been high-grade material. In tho present face a- nice compact quartz body, 4ft wide, and worth an average of £15 per ton. is ■ showing. This development is looked upon as highly satisfactory, and one likely to add materially to the company's ore reserves. The chuto appears to be too far north of tho Dubbo workings to bo identical with that section, but it seems probable that the rich run will carry up to tho Dubbo, and tho management is pushing tho drift forward as speedily as possible in order to determine this point. Tho new section of lodo, which came in from the hangingwall, or north, side of the main reef gome time ago, is now being exploited, a crosscut put out west having intersected tho vein some distance back from tho point of junction with the main bodj. A strong ore body is showing, but the values at tho point of intersection are low, .and it is the intention of tho management 'to ;■ drive north "on the vein in the hope that .improved values will Ih> disclosed when the point opposite tho rich sections already developed on tho Bonanza is readied. There are decided possibilities in this direction. The winze in tho north section of the Bonanza pay chuto at No. 13 level (reported recently as aboul to be -started) is now in progress, and is going down in ore of good value. The reef is of larger dimensions than where first opened in tho level, and the work in hand indicates that the pay values aro extending northwards as depth is obtained. . There is no water troublo in tho winzes. Tho management has been sinking No. 12 winze as speedily as possible, with the object of overtaking the water and installing a pump to relieve the pressure in tho main underlie shaft. Tho winzo is now in touch with tho water, and sinking operations are suspended pending the installation of the pump, which work is in hand. As soon as the pump is in position operations will be resumed, and it is anticipated that the water making hero will relieve tho shaft sufficiently to cnablo sinking to bo resumed for No. 14 level shortly. , UNION HAURAKI. , Owing to the name of this mine having been omitted from! our Coromandel correspondent's telegram which wo published yesterday the following portion of his message inadvertently appeared under the heading, " Old Hauraki":A couple of men ha ;e made a start at the adit level. One of tie directors (Mr. B. T. Hawkins) inspected the mine to-day. Tho directors arc to m.iit early next week to appoint a mine manager and decide upon the plant to bo erected on the Zealaiulfa shaft. BOSS GOLDFIELDS. The following telegram was posted on the Stock Exchango yesterday:— "Management Ross Goldfields reports drive at sixth level disclosed, and pumps working well." NOTES.

The winze in No. 4 level of the Occidental mine, Thames, was sunk sft last week, a total of. 39ft.

The , intermediate lev-el of the Tnirua Extended mine is now in 247 ft. The ground is of superior quality.

. The winze from No. 2 level of the Kapowai mine has been sunk a further distance of 7ft 6in and a connection made with tho rise from (ho low level.

The intermediate level above No. 2 level of the New Success mine has been advanced about 4ft, and still looks very promising, gold being seen freely. *

The manager of the Rising Sun mine reports that tho contractors drove a further 24ft last week, making a. total of 706 ft in tho low level. ' The country continued good.

The low level in the Tairua Golden Hills mino has now been driven 819 ft, the country being similar to that obtained for some time past, being of a favourable description. - ■ '

At the Fhoenix and Dreadnought, mine the tunnel was advanced about Bft last, week. There was no perceptible change in the country through which the men were going. -

Tho low level face of the Southern Queen mine, Thames, was extended on the Atlantic reef sft, 6in last week. The country in tho face was a light, blocky sandstone, bearing some nice mineral veins. '

At the New Waitekauri mine the reef has hardened somewhat, and a better class of ore is showing. The reef has widened to 18in of solid stone, showing small dabs of sulnhide, but not of sufficient value to crush.

Tho manager of the Coromandol mine reports that he has done- a considerable amount of surface prospecting and has cut several new, promising-looking reefs, one of which gives a small prospect of loose gold by dish-washing.

At tho Waitangi mine, Thames,, last week the western drive was extended 14ft, making a total , distance of 133 ft from the chamber. The drive was still penetrating a good class of country, though it was a little harder, and consequently not so good for progress.

At the Taukani level of the Karangahake mine the drive on the reef south was extended 7ft last week. Tho ground was hard to get through, owing to the large, jointy nature of the reef. At Ross'- level the men holed through to the bottom of tho winze.

The manager of the Asbestos Mining Company, reporting for the week ending February 17, says:"The cobbing-sheu creek workings still yield asbestos-bearing rock; I suppose at a guess we have about 80 tons stacked, with more to add to the pile." ' '

At No. 1 level of the Golden Belt mine, the drive south on the . reef lias been extended a further distance of 15ft. The reef is a strong body of ore and looks well. The No. 2 rise has been extended a further distance of 10ft. Tho reef is small at present. -

Since last report no work has been done in the low level of the Tairua Gem mine, it being deemed advisable to suspend work there for the present and confine operations to the prospecting tunnel. This tunnel will be known hereafter as the No. 1 level.

Sloping off the liottom of the winze at the low level of tho Handsworth United mine was being continued last week, with fairly good results, about 151b of good specimen stone being obtained. The stone was rich. The loading stope had attained a distance of 20ft north of the winze.

Operations were resumed in the main low level crosscut of the. Crown Royal initio last week, and about Bft driven. The coun■trv may be described as tough rock, being fair for drilling, but not so good for shooting. It is still interlaced with quartz stringers and mineralised flinties, which makes it bad for breaking.

V At the Alfred low level of the Point Russell mine stoping has been continued with most encouraging results, the reef broken down showing dabs and colours of gold, 151b picked stone being secured. The reef at this point is rather smaller than usual, being about 6in in thickness, but is carrying nice mineral, mixed with gold. 'J

At the Moewai Consolidated mine, Mercury Bay, the winze is down 42ft. The hangingwall portion shows improvement in width, widening out to 3ft in the south end and 2ft in the north. It gives fair dish prospects. The manager has started to cut into the walls.from the bottom of the winze to see if any of the reef is left in.

At the Old Alburn mine, Thames, last week in No. 6 level drive east on the reef a total distance of 235 ft was reached from the chamber, 18in of quartz showing in the face. During the week the rise from the back of the drive was extended 7ft, making a total distance of 18ft. The country penetrated was of a good description for gold, and still seemed , to improve as the drive advanced. •

At the Glamorgan mine the advancing low level drive for the purpose of intersecting Goldwater reef is being persevered with. The country rock still continues to bo essentially hard and difficult to penetrate and progress is slow. However the country, rock contains a largo percentage of iron pyrites. The distance driven last week , was 14ft, making a total from tho entrance of 142 ft.

' The western face of the Watchman mine) Thames, was advanced 13ft last week, making a total of 25ft. About sft of the hangingwall portion was being taken out of the drive, with no footwall in view. The quartz was showing signs of improvement as tho drive advanced. Although no gold was seen good tails could (be obtained by pounding. Sulphide stone could also be seen distributed through the reef.

Tho road level crosscut of the Tokatea mine, Coromandel, was " extended 6ftlast week, making a total •of . 32ft. The . tribute level hangingwall leader, north drive, was extended a few feet, and a start was made to rise, as the mineral head that made the gold in Wood's leader should be met- with in another 6ft. The leader is small in the north face, but is making in the rise, and colours of gold are seen in the stone occasionally.

Tho low level of the Monte Christo mine, Coromandel, was extended 3ft 6in last week. The country continued to be tight, but was of a favourable description for gold. Some nice mineral seams showed in the face. In the road level the winze was down 4ft. Very little quartz was broken. . The reef was from lin to 2in in width. A start was made to drivo on the Queen of the North _ reef from the road level.' The reef was 3in in width - and looked well. '

At. the Kirikiri Consolidated mine work in the main crosscut has been suspended until the exact position of the lode has been located,' and the actual distance to be driven to intersect same determined. .> Prospecting with this object is being undertaken. The contractors for the ' extension of the main drive are making good headway, 57ft having been driven 'since commencing operations. The lode matter in the face is verysimilar to that previously reported. -

. At tho Tararu mine driving on the Vulcan reef was in progress last week and about 9ft- driven. The reef . here ; was very firm and well defined, being composed of, a quartz of a congenial nature, silica; copper, and bright minerals of a splendid description being very prevalent in the ore broken. The quartz was similar to that in the upper level, when it was producing, good gold. A little gold is still seen in the grit and clay intermixed with the quartz when washing off in the dish. > .'

At the Scandinavian mine work in the drive on Lowrio's reef has been somewhat slow, on account of the reef being the full width of the drive, and quartz is still being left in the footwall. The manager says tho prospects in this part are looking much better. the quartz being of a good description and in firm country, carrying good minerals of the best, class, also good dabs of coarse gold. From the quartz to hand the manager lias selectc.; some large pieces showing both gold and mineral.

At the New Comstock mine the contractors extended No. 2 level 23ft. Inst week, making a total 'distance from the mouth of 350 ft. The country was of a more kindly nature, and better progress was able to be made. Ono small stringer was cut, carrying nico minerals. In the Waverley level the winze was sunk 3ft, the quartz looking well, but intermixed with a little mullock. A rise was started opnosite the west crosscut. on the Waverley reef, a few colours of gold being obtained by pounding. The rise was advanced 6ft in nice-looking country.

The manager of the Missouri mine reports that the country is a nice' firm class of andesite, with numerous mineral seams and silica heads striking into the reef. The reef is a nice compact body of ore, measuring about 2ft 6in in width, with seams of manganese running through the centre of the ore, and shows gold 'by dish and mortar teste for tho full width. The best prospects are being obtained from the hangmgwall, and are improving as the level is advanced. In tho footwall portion of the reef the quartz is much! firmer than in the hangingwall.

The funnel on the break in the Halcyon mind, Thames, lias now been extended lSlft. There is no change in the-r country. On Monday week ithe manager went back, and had a fow holes put in on what, appeared to be a scam going oast, and in driving one or two feet this increased in size, and in the last foot or so opened out to bo a . nice bodv of* quartz, from about 6in to 9in in width, and it was still continuing to increase in size when the manager made his report. Although the quartz looks well the manager has so far seen no gold, but the reef is heavily laden with favourable minerals. -

The drive south on the Empire . reef .of the Imperial mine, Thames, lias been extended a further distance of Bft and the quartz shot down from that distance. The mineral indications distributed through the reef are very favourable to the presence of gold in the ore body, and the channel of country which the reef system is traversing is a kindly white bloclcy sandstone, with bright mineral seams crossing through it. Last, week a leader about 6in wide was intersected crossing at right angles to the reef. The quartz from it looked well and was well mineralised.

Tho south drive on., the hangingwall reef of Dixon's Consolidated mine, Thames, was extended Bft last, week. Favourable results were still being met with, as, when breaking tho reef on Saturday, some really good colours and dabs of gold were obtained, some of tho stone, in the manager's opinion, being good enough to be classed as picked stone. Tho reof, although not quite so strong as it was, was carrying the samo good indications for gold. The winze on the main reef was down 31ft. The country was all that could Ik? desired, and the reef continued to show favourable indications for gold.

At the Magnet- mine, Thames, the drivo on the main reof in a northerly direction was advanced 12ft last week, making the total distance from the crosscut 69ft. Tho channel of country being penetrated was of. a favourable class of sandstone, and also favourable to fair progress being made. The reef is now together in the face, and the quartz being; broken from it is of a kindly description and carries excellent minimal in-

dications. The hangingwall portion of . the reef is well mineralised, and a few colours of gold have been seen in a small quartz leader that crossed the -face last week.

The manager of the Mountain King mine reports that driving north at the intermediate level is in progress, the country being an excellent class of andesite. The reef lias been taken down to within a few feet of the present to and is a nice compact body of ore, measuring from 9in to 16in in width. The reef is . carrying good minerals and shows colours of gold when broken down. Stoping south: In this section of the mine there is not much stone coming to hand at present, owing to the reef being disturbed at the junction of the andesite country. .Stoping north: The ore coming to hand shows strong colours of gold.

In the north section of the New Sylvia mine (lie face has been extended 9ft, the reef formation being the full width of the drive, but the foot wall portion is of low grade. The ore has, therefore, not been saved, being intermixed with . bands of mullock and soft quartz. The hangingwall portion for 3ft, 6in in width is first-class ore, heavily charged with zinc blende, and showing a tendency to widen and cut out the poorer ore. Values have shown a marked improvement in the face during the past week. In No. 2 rise 6ft additional has been risen, and very rich ore is coming to hand from this work. The rise is now up 112 ft..

Last week the rise at. the New Waitaia mine was holed under the north end of the big stope at No. 5 level. When in proner working order the manager expects to get a quantity of good crushing: material from it. Stoping will also be started off the rise south of the slide at No. 5 level. In the course of another week the manager expects to be able to resume crushing," and. keep the battery running for some time on ore from those placos. The sands and slimes from last crushing should be treated and the result to hand this week. The contractors for the v low level have driven 14ft for the week, making a total distance of 371 ft. The country is fairly tight, but a change may take place at any day, the present class of • ground being too dry to last long, according to past experience.