MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14849, 28 November 1911, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

ROSS GOLDFIELDS. ACTION AGAINST DIRECTORS. CALL OF A SHILLING PEE SHARE. (BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Monday. On Thursday tho , Wellington shareholders of the Ross Goldrields, Ltd., learned that after the meeting on Wednesday tho directors had struck a call ot Is per share, payable, on December 11. Some of tho shareholders, contending that the coll was struck in order to disenfranchise at tho general meeting to bo called those who would refuse to pay, forwarded the directors a requisition, signed by 10 shareholders, requiring them to call another meeting to remove the present board from office, and pointing out that it was calculated to disenfranchise shareholders. Tho meeting was asked to bo called for December 8, before disenfranchisement could tako place, and threatening an action to restrain tho directors from proceeding with the call if they failed to do as requested. No reply being received, tho action indicated was taken on Friday to set tho call aside and to restrain the directors from letting contracts until after tho meeting, on 'the' ground that the call was not struck in good faith..

On Saturday morning Mr. F. E. Pethorick, solicitor for tho. moving shareholders, received a reply from tho directors, stating their intention to call tho meeting for December 14, and covering a copy of tho resolution passed by the directors on November 23, striking tho call. The letter gave the following grounds for the call;" The condition of the company's finances and outstanding accounts, the fact that their solicitor on the "West Coast advised that men should bo put on to fulfil the working conditions it tho protection of the company's leases was not granted by November 25 (no reply having . been received from the Minister to the request for protection), and that a resolution had been passed at a general meeting of shareholders. requesting an expenditure of £3500 for putting the plant in order." . In consequence of this resolution, Mr. l'etherick asked tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), in chambers to-day, to let the matter stand over until to-morrow morning, so that a reply could be received from his clients in Auckland as to whether ; they should proceed with the motion for an interim injunction and to restrain the directors from commencing work until after the meeting. He stated that a further requisition was intended to bo lodged to-day, requesting the directors to call a meeting for December Bor or 9, to consider, not only their removal from office, but other matters affecting the policy of the company. In granting the postponement, His Honor said that if there was evidence that the call was not bona fide he would grant the injunction. .

GRAND JUNCTION. ANOTHER BAND OF', QUARTZ. [BY TELEGRAPh. — CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi," Monday Tho band of quartz at 139 ft south of the shaft in the crosscut through the Empire reef at No. 6 level in the Grand Junction mine was from 7ft to Bft wide, and was followed by a further horse of mullock (showing a width of about 16ft), after which the drive entered another band of quartz. Some sft of quartz is exposed, the*assay value of which is not yet available.. **;. :.;?z*; '•.* r v V . ' :■-"■' '- THE MONTHLY REPORT. The general manager of the Waihi Grand Junction mine, reporting on the work done during the four-weekly. period ended October 7, states :—No. 3 level : On the Mary lode, No. 3 winze was continued another '29ft, connecting with No. 3 rise from No. 4 level. The reef was. 36in wide, worth £2 13s 8d per ton. No. 4 level : The drive in the Mary lode was extended 39ft, to the boundary, making a total length of, ,582 ft. The average value was £1 3s 8d per ton. At No. 1 rise, the width of the reef was 44in, value £1 16s Id per ton. ... No. 5 level : The intermediate drive on. the Martha lode showed improved values, producing ore worth £1 lis 2d. from a width of 84in. On the Grace lode. No. 1 winze is down 84ft, and produced ore valued at £1 10s, from a width of 38in. The winze on the Empire lode is down 59ft, and produced ore on a width of 43in, worth £7 18s 7d, only the hangingwall being exposed. No. 9 winze is down 88ft, and produced ore worth £2 7s 4d for a width of 43in. No. 6 winze is down 20ift, producing ore on a width of 42in, worth £1 14s 6d. No. 4 winzo is down 66ft, producing ore from a width of 36in, worth £1 7s Bd. The footwall only is exposed. No. 3 winze is down 91ft, producing ore from a width of 38in, worth £2 5s 2d. The crosscut at 80ft is in 19ft. both. walls being exposed. The lode for 213 in produced ore worth £1 17s lOd. On tho Royal lode No. 9 winze is down 88ft, and produced ore, on a width of 42in. worth". £1 17s 6d. The crosscut at 80ft was extended 55ft, and produced oro worth £3 9« 6d. The width of the lode is 564 in, averaging on 21 samples £3 9s 6d per ton. No. 10 winze is down 53ft. nroduciner ore, on a width of 40in, worth £2 lis 3d.

WAIHI. The superintendent of the Wailu mine, reporting for the four-weekly period ended September 30, , states :—No. 10 level : In the north crosscut, from No. 5 shaft, a further distance of 113 ft has been driven, making a total of 814 ft. After passing through the Empire lode, country was penetrated for 6ft, when a further ore body was met, which proved to bo 10ft in width, and worth £1 18s 6d per ton. From the Empire lode the following sample results were obtained during the progress of the drive, from sft across tho reef, with country showing on the south side :—At 10ft, worth £2 19s 3d per ton ; at 20ft, worth £2 8s 9d per ton at 30ft, worth £1 3s 7d per ton. No. 9 level : At the Royal lode, at 850 ft, a crosscut was projected north-weet for 34ft. It was sampled in four equal sections, measuring from the south wall, with the following results First section, worth £2 7s lOd per ton; second section, £1 10s 2d; third section, lis lid ; fourth section, 19s Id. A sample from'3ft across the reef at 110 ft down in this winze Rave an assay result of 103 2d per ton. The east drive on the Empire lode is in 680 ft from No. 4 shaft crosscut, and the following sample results were obtained during the progress of the drive :—At 627 ft, worth £1 7s 6d per ton, reef Ift wide; at 637 ft, worth £2 17s scl per ton, reef 2ft wide ; at 647 ft, worth £1 5s per ton, south wall only showing; at 657 ft, worth 9s lOd per ton, south wall only showing. Edward lode : The south drive was advanced from 619 ft to 653 ft in-ore, which is evidently the Roval reef. Tho full width at 600 ft is sft, worth 5s 5d per ton. The following further samplo results have been obtained as the drive advanced s—At 618 ft. worth 3s 8d per ton, lode 4ft wide; at 628 ft. worth 15s per ton, lode 3ft wide; at' 638 ft. worth 7s 7d per ton, lode 4ft wide; at 650 ft, worth 6s 8d per ton, lode 4ft wide.

WAIOTAHI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Monday. A sudden drop in Waiotahi shares has taken place during the day, in consequent of a report that the cross reef has cut out in the face. This, however, is not likely to be the case. What has really happened is only what might have been expected, namely, that the cross leader which was, cut on Friday, and which is carrying a little clay with it, has heaved the reef to one side, as usually

ihappena when anything in the nature of a clay seam passes through a quartz body. There is little or no doubt that the reel will be picked up again beyond it in the course of a day or two, and there is nothing in the occurrence to cause a panic. The manager reports for the week as follows :—" The annual boiler inspection having been completed, work in the mine was resumed on Wednesday last, and in breaking down the cross reel on Friday colours of gold wero seen. Another quartz formation from 6in to 9in in width has now come in; which is running east and west, or at-right angles to the cross reef. It is carrying favourable mineral indications, and .on Saturday some good colours of gold wero seen. It is, however, carrying a clay seam with it, and has displaced tho cross reef, but to what extent it is yet hard to say until further work is done." . OCCIDENTAL. The manager of the Occidental mine, Thames, reports that the drive north on the Occidental reef has been extended a total distance of 70ft from the crosscut. The reef continues a strong body _ of quartz varying from 12in to 18in in width and colours of ..gold were seen at each breaking down. In tho crosscut going cast 18lfc has been driven from the Occidental drive. A body of quartz was broken into for about 6m, and some nice dabs of gold were seen. The country encasing this stone is of a splendid class with nice mineral veins' running through it. OLD HAURAKI. The manager of the Old Hauraki mine, Coromandel, reports that the reef in the 400 ft level is maintaining its size, with favourable indications. Stoping (No. 1 block) Two.-stopes are being worked, and 101b of picked stone has been obtained. No. 2 block: Three stopes in progress and colours of gold seen. No. 3 block: Two slopes in progress, and 21b of picked stone obtained. Strong colours of • gold have been seen in the reef at the 300 ft level. Stoping (No. 2 block): Throe stopes working, and 151b picked stone obtained. MAY QUEEN. At the May Queen mine, Thames, in No. 10 level, the crosscut going towards the Bright -Smilo shaft is now in a total distance of about 335 ft. So far the reef has not been picked up. * Very good country is being passed through, and the manager says there would be every chance of getting gold if quartz were cut. The leading stone on the Exchange reef has been brought forward to the junction of the bangingwall lode, and very good dabs of gold wero freely seen in the quartz in both leads. At No. 6 level stoping is proceeding as usual, and from the quartz coming to hand a pound or two of picked stone is occasionally selected. MOANATAIARI. The manager of the Moanataiari mine, Thames, reports that the deep level crosscut has been extended about 36ft, and has reached the point where tho Saxon No. 2 lode should bo met with. A good flow of water has manifested itself. The country is still of a good description. SAXON. Tho manager of the . Saxon mine, Thames, reports that. tho country being passed through is of a firmer description, and there is still a good flow of water issuing from the face. The drive east is now in 55ft. The reef is more compact, showing a width of 2ft. There is not quite so much mineral showing as formerly, although the quartz has a very kindly appearance.

HAURAKI REEFS. [BY telegraph. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 Coromandel, Monday. Since the company has opened out on the Hauraki North reef there has been a decided improvement in the quality of the ore coming to hand, strong dabs of gold being seen freely distributed through the quartz. . Tho reef averages about lOin in thickness, the ore carrying a fair amount of arsenic, which in this locality is considered a good indication. Another 60ft to 70ft of driving on this reef should bring the workings under the run of gold worked bv Mr. Steadman in the Hauraki North upper levels. Work is also being carried on on the Golden reef with two men from the company's shaft, and operations are also being carried out on No. 4 reef in the Old Hauraki 400 ft level. This reef averages about 18in wide. A few colours of gold are seen on the hangingwall portion of '-':■ try is of a most favourable description. NOTES. At the New Success mine, Coromandel, the James leader is very much pinched at present. Very strong mineral is showing all over the face, but the lead has a tendency to pinch up when the mineral is strong. Driving north on the reef is still in hand at the Seddon mine, Waiorongomai, and there are very promising indications. After firing the last round of holes there were some nice minerals showing, but no visible gold. A report from the manager of the Mount Welcome mine, Coromandel, states that the low level has been extended a total distance of 643 ft. Two faces are being worked in the block of stopes. The third stope has been driven a total distance of 32ft, and 4 stope 14ft. Gold is occasionally seen in both faces.

At the New Waitaia mine, Kuaotunu, there appeared to be a body of quartz in the hangingwall, in shooting into which a large ore body composed of stringers and bands of quartz was discovered. Some of this stone showed streaks of coarse gold and all, with the exception of the bands of mullock between, prospects payably and regularly. The new reef intersected in the north drive, low level, last Fridav is up to Ift wide, well defined in a splendid channel of country, and is within a few degrees of being on the usual course of the No. 3 New Waitaia main lode. It looks well and shows seams, of fine gold. An assay made of stone, which showed no visible gold, obtained in cutting through the reef, and which gave only a few colours of gold in the dish, returned £10 per ton by assay, the fold being of good quality and carrying a very small percentage of silver.

The manager of the Handsworth United mine, Kuaotunu, reports that the drive off the winze in Handsworth level has been carried along Bft, the lead looking stronger ; the country is good, being similar to that worked in the level above. The one stope being beaten along during the week is producing fairly good ore.

A report from the Mountain King mine, Kuaotunu, states that the new cross leader has been passed through, and driving is proceeding on another load which should shortly cross the Mountain King main lode at a long angle in a good class of mineralised country. At the northern end of workings the lode is 12in in width, and every part of same is showing gold freely through the solid stone, and is excellent crushing ore.

The manager of the Good Hope mine reports as follows for last week:—"Tho drive on course of the reef has been extended 12ft. The reef, which looks very promising, being now 18in wide, is very highly mineralised, and good colours of gold are occasionally seen through the ore. The country rock is still of a very favourable description for gold, and more water is issuing from the face. All the quartz is being saved for treatment."

When you write to tho D.1.0., Wellington, you can rely on the fact that every I order so addressed receives the personal supervision of tho manager. Why not write now for samples of the new season's cotton dresses, and compare prices and quality? Every endeavour will be made to give the utmost satisfaction. I