MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15649, 1 July 1914, Page 7

MINING NEWS.

THE GOLD RETURNS.

£75,858 FOR JUNE.

INCREASE OF £3358.

The gold returns to hand from the various mines in tho Auckland Province for the past month represent a total of £75,858 6s 7d. Of this sum the Ohinemuri field contributed £72,655 >ls 5d and tho Thames .field £3202 2s 2d. No returns wero reported from the Coromandel district. Compared with the figures for the month of May, last month's total shows a decrease of £1091 15s lid. In comparison with tho returns for June, 1913, the past month's figures are greater by £3356 19s 7d. The returns for the month are tabulated as follows ;— OHINEMURI. Wo.ilii G.M.C.. 14,865 toils ... £25,108 10 6 Talisman Consolidated G.M.C., 4SOO tons -22,046 1 6 Vaihi Grand Junction Gold Co.. Ltd., 8500 tons 19,239 12 5 Waihi-Paeroa Gold Extraction Co., 11,500 tons tailings ... 3,800 0 0 New Zealand Crcwn Mines Co., Ltd.,- 1165 tons 2,161 0 0 Total Ohinemuri district ... £72,655 4 6 THAMES. Watchman, 1000 tone £1,321 22 New Sylvia, 825 tons ... ... 1,189 0 0 ilonowai, 136 tons and slimes ... 693 0 0 Total Thames district £3,203 22 Total Auckland dist. for June £75,858 6 7 CROWN. £2161 FROM 1165 TONS. TOTAL TO DATE, £878,874. During the month of May the Now Zealand down Mines Company, limited, crushed and treated 1165 tons oi ore for a return of bullion \allied at £2161. Compared with tho return for tho corresponding period of last year, when 1303 tons of ore vieldcd £2943, tho figures for tno month of May this year show a decrease of i £782. The total working costs (exclusive- of development) wero £1833, equal to 31.62s I per ton, made up as follows Mining and I transport, 18.82s; milling, 8.625; miscellaneous charges (including gold duty), 4.185. In addition development cost £306, equal to 5.25s per ton. 'lire total amount of bullion won from the mine to date is £878.874. as the following table of details shows :—

WAIHI EXTENDED. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Waihi Extended Gold Mining Company, Ltd., was held at the office of the secretary, Mr. J. W. Nichol, Victoria Arcade, yesterday, Mr. John Frater presiding. • The directors' half-yearly report stated that tho present protection in respect of the company's special quartz clajms would expiivj in August, and it was therefore necessary that preparations should bo made for resuming work at the mine. Tho directors havo the matter under consideration, and they hope very shortly to complete arrangements for starting operations, Mr. A. H. Cianwell was elected a director of the company in place of the late Mr. J. C. Colbeck, 'whose death was deeply regretted The balance-sheet showed a credit on the profit and loss account of £214 10s Hid. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Messrs. Neil McLean and John Frater, the retiring directors, were re-elected. Mr. H. J. Leo was reappointed auditor.

MAY QUEEN.

ANNUAL REPORT.

Tiie annual meeting of shareholders in the May Queen Gold Mining Company, T. ; "i ; iorl. was to have been held in tho office of tho secretary, Mr. J. W. Nichol, Victoria Arcade, yesterday morning, but lapsed for want of a quorum. Tho directors' half-yearly report states that no work had been carried on at the mine (with the exception of filling in an old shaft) since the last report. Owing to the continued trouble with gas ut the 1000 ft level it was not possible to resume work at that level, but as soon as the level was clear of gas it was intended to commence to sink upon the Exchange reef at the spot where payable gold was obtained some' time ago. This work will be done with a view of ascertaining if the gold continues downwards, and should sucii prcvo to be the case it will htao a von l important effect on the prospects of the mine.

Tho balance-sheet showed a credit balance on the profit and less account of £28.998 15s sd, and the ca-jh statement a credit balance of £387 7s Id.

OCCIDENTAL CONSOLIDATED.

The reef in the top stopo over No. 5 level. Occidental Consolidated mine, Thames, has improved. It was more consolidated last week, and was in a bettor class of country. A little gold continued to be seen in the ore from this stope. In tho south stopo tho reef was a good strong body of ore, some of which looked very promising, especially in the back. Good dabs of gold were showing in tho reef.

DOMINION. The driv.s in the low level, Dominion mine, Karantrahake, was in 137 ft 6in from the mouth of the tunnel last 'veck. There was no change, in tho country. __ * KDRANUI. Going in an easterly direction tho drive on tho new reef, Kuranui mine, Thames, was advanced sft last week. The country in the face was of a better class for carrying oold-bearing reefs. The reef was small, but showed a (ittlc bright mineral when taken down. The main crosscut was started, and the country was still of a hard nature. When the last round of holes had been fired the ground appeared heavier, and a little water was making its appearance. RISING SUN. The manager of tho Rising Sun mine, Owharoa, reports for the week ending June 25, that a further distance- of 10ft was driven south on No. 1 reef, making a total distance of 18ft driven in this direction. For a few feet the reef was pinched tc about 9in wide, but it has opened out again to 15in in size, and the ore broken was of a good grade. WATCHMAN. The crosscut to intersect the East Parallel and Dunedin Reefs at the Watchman mine, Taxaru, was advanced 6ft last week, making a total of 37ft from No. 4 rise. Quartz wai. exposed after the last round of holes had been fired. A few pieces of quart:', of a firm description, showing rhodnito and sulphides were broken with the shots. No. 1 . stopo in tho main level was in progress south of No. 1 rise. About sft of quartz was showing, divided with about 4ft of sandstone. The GtoDO looked well, and, occasionally

shoved gold fraely. The firs& stop©' had been carried along for a distance of fiOfb' north of No. 6 rise. At. this point a head had come- across from tho iiungingwail, and this had changed tho country to a darker class of sandstone. Gold was not so freely seen. The quarts on the Middle Parallel reef measured {,bout 4ft wide, and occasionally showed strong colours of gold. GRAND JUNCTION. INCREASED OUTPUT PREDICTED, [BY telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] Aim, Tuesday. In tho course of a brief interview to-day in connection with tho probable increased output from tho Gr.i.nd Junction raino consequent upon the installing of the 20 new stumps, the general manager (Mr. W. F. Grace) said;—" The decision to drop additional stamp? has been fully justified by mine developments, and wo anticipate no difficulty in maintaining a four-weekly output of' 10,000 tons of ore, with the prospect uf an increased tonnage in due course. With the 20 extra stamps-which are heavier than the old, each being 12501b, compared with ICOCIb, and in every way more efficient—a cor. siderablv greater* tonnage of ore >:rM be handled? and this will doubtless ome later on. In the meantime, however, it is intended to thoroughly overhaul toe old stamps, which will bo repaired in groups of five or ten at a time, until all of t'.iem have been put into good running order. Tho question of increased dividends is a matter which rests with the board of directors i:. L.moon, but I m.iv s&\ that as fir as profits from the rr.',.a are con. cerned, a sufficient margin will lie shown to permit of a substantial increase on (lie existing dividend rate, after provision has been made for all other contingencies. As you will doubtless have gatherco from the chairman's speech at the annual meeting of shareholders, tho question of raising tho dividend rate was mentioned, and I have no_d:ubt but that the board of directors will give shareholders the highest return possiblo consistent with tho observation of a prudent policy as far as provision for the future is concerned."

ROSS GOLDFIELDS ( Reporting on tlic work done at the Ross (JoldfiolJs dura? th* week ended Juno 26, the acting-wrintend [Mr. G. W. L. Turner) states' that in No. 6 level, No 2 west drive, off No. 4 south drive, wan extended to a total of 40ft, the last Bfr being in wash cf improved value. 31ockinir was carried on east and west of No, Z south drive, in No. 5 south, blockhf was carried on east and west, and No. (j drive was advanced 24ft, all three being in wash of payable valu.j. No. 7 south drive was closed bv a fall, but ;> new drive was opened out and extended Bft in wash of the same value as previously reported. A start was made on the, opposite side of No. 2 east drive from No. 7 south to drive out over the main No. 6 level, to which it will be connected by No. 3 chute. Eight feet had been advanced in poor wash. No. 2 east drive was extended in wash of payable value.

To end of 1907 £718.767 In 1908 24.155 In 1910 13.600 In 1911 44.802 In 1012 40,801 In 1913 29,070 Total £871,588 In 1914 February 28, 1653 tons £3,112 March, 1195 tons 2,013 May, 1165 tons 2,161 Total to date £878,874