THAMES-HAURAKI PUMP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15238, 27 February 1913, Page 5

THAMES-HAURAKI PUMP.

THE SHAFT UNWATERED. The engineer of the Thames-Hauraki pump telegraphed yesterday as follows :— "Hie shaft was unwatered early this morning." HANDSWORTH UNITED. Reporting for the half-year ended January 31, the directors of the II worth United Gold Mining Company state that work has been confined to the Otama portion of the property. The stopes from the low level were beaten up to where the western level intersected the block, and have now reached a height of three stopes above this point. The main lead in the stopes makes occasional small pockets of specimen stone, but it is not. as regular as ft was underfoot, and owing to the inclination of the main flinty, the block is also shortening as it ascends. A small lead was cut in the western level at 100 ft, which showed gold in the stone, and gave fair prospects for 15ft or 20ft. The drive, however, was continued past this until it intersected the main lead south of the flinty. After driving on this for 30ft coarse colours of gold were* obtained by dish prospects from the formation, which contained a lot of pug. This may lead to a payable chute of gold. If no change occurs here shortly the mine superintendent advises that the low level face be continued under this point, where, he, considers, there is a good chance of meeting with payable runs, as all the best gold was obtained from the low level up for 50ft or 60ft, the lead being much fetter defined in firmer country. Ho strongly recommends this work being carried out. Bullion was won during the half-year to the value of £559 4s 3d. Reporting for the past week, the manager of the mine states that the low level face was extended sft. The country is firmer, and is improving in appearance. The general ore on hand, 14 tons, and 151b of specimen stone, is now undergoing treatment.

NEW WAITAIA. Tho manager of the New Waitaia mine, Kuaotunu, reports that the main level has been timbered for 150 ft north of the main rise. From this point in to the face the reef followed to the face had pinched, but a well-defined, compact lode was discovered cutting into the footwall at an. angle of 30 degrees. The reef is from 6in to 12in wide, and has every appearance of proving the main body, "although the bearing is more easterly than usual. Where stoping is being carried on north of the rise a mbbly reef 9in wide is

showing excellent ore. WAITAWHETA. The Italf-yearly meeting of shareholders in tho Waitawheta Gold Prospecting Company was held in the office of the secretary (Mr. J. J. Macky) yesterday afternoon. In the directors' report mention was made of the fact of the battery being bura-ftd down on January 7. The total amount of insurance was £2250,, but two buildings, containing plant, escaped destruction, and the value of these with the salvage was estimated at £400. The balance, to the amount of £1850, had been

received from the South British Company, and lodged to the credit of the Waitawheta Company. In the mine the Vulcan lode had increased to a full width of 6ft, and extended a long way into the hill. The whole of tho lode so far as driven on at this point was payable. The development of the Bonanza lode also gave promise of a considerable tonnage of ore. which though mineralised had every appearance of yielding fair returns. Other lodes had been exploited to a small extent, and they fully deserved further work, as it was reasonably expected that some of these might furnish good ore. To make this available, however, it would be necessary to obtain a crushing plant, and the directors had moved in this direction by obtaining the salvage from the old battery. The battery manager had advised that a i.O-head battery could be obtained for £1036, and this the directors considered the most economical way of meeting the difficult#,.