MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15718, 19 September 1914, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

PROPOSED NEW DEVIATION.

A meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Thames Deep Levels Board was held yesterday to consider a suggestion by tho representative of the KuranuiCak'donian Company regarding a deviation crossctii, at the 1000 ft level. There were piesent: Messrs. C. Hudson, chairman, H. W. Hopkins, Graves Aickin, and E. A. Brown.

Mr. Hopkins, the representative of the Kuranui-Caledonian Company, submitted, the following resolution : —"That in view of the unsatisfactory conditions existing in th--> present deviation crosscut, no attempt be made to continue the driving of this branch of the 1000 ft level, but that a new deviation be started from some point back from the face in solid ground, and continued to a point opposite the Kuranui-Caledonian shaft but at such a distance to the west as to avoid the broken ground which has been encountered adjacent to the main shaft."

Speaking to the resolution, the mover said that owing to tho inrush of water and gas into the sftrel since last September, £6000 had been spent on pumping for practically no result. Since work had been resumed it had taken six weeks to clear the main crosscut. The extra cost oi executing the scheme ho proposed would be about £2500, and the working would then be in solid country.

The cliairman considered it would be very expensive to put in another deviation and he did not think that the board would be prepared to authorise such a course until it found that it was absolutely impossible to go on in the direction at present being followed. In any case the consent of all the contributing companies would have to be obtained before a new deviation could be decided upon. The proposed deviation would cost probably an extra £2500, so that it was not likely to be undertaken if it could possibly be avoided. By driving another 42ft in the present crosscut, the Kuranui-Caledonian ground would be entered upon. He was anxious that that point should be reached as early as possible, because Mr. George Warne could be relieved of his duties as supervisor, and give his whole attention to the Waiotahi mine.

It was decided to forward the suggestion to Mr. Warne in order to get the opinion of the advisory committee on the matter; also to obtain that commiteee's opinion as to whether it was impossible to proceed further with the present driving operations.

The advisory committee's report is to be considered at a meeting of the Thames Deen Levels Board to be held at Thames on Tuesday.

NEW SYLVIA.

RETURN OF £830. The manager of the New Svlvia mine, Thames, reports that 470 tops of ore have been treated for a return of bullion valued at £674, a.nd concentrates valued at £156, making a total return of £830. KAPANGA GOLD RECOVERY. TREATING REFRACTORY ORE. The installing of the cyanide plant at Coromandel by the Kapanga Gold Recovery Company for the treatment of refractory ore will be completed in the course of another two weeks. The company is under the direction of Messrs. T. A. Petrie and Co. The erection of the buildings and plant at a cost of over £5000 ha.s been supervised by Mr. E J. Banks. The plant will be capable of treating over 30 tons of ore per day. The power s to be supplied by a 100-h.p. suction gas engine and an improved Cambridge gas producer. The construction of the plant was commenced last January. After treating the tailings from the Old Kapanga mine, the company proposes to treat the refractory ore on a property it has acquired at Coromandel. WAIHI GRAND JUNCTION. DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION. The proposal of the directors of the Waihi Grand Junction Gold Min : Company that their honoraria should be increased from £500 each per annum to £750 does not at present meet with the wishes of many Auckland shareholders. A petition is in circulation in which it is suggested that the honorarium should not be increased until the shareholders receive dividends of 4s per sha'fe per annum. Should the dividends r»ach that amount the pet. ; ti in intimates that shareholders would have no objection to the honoraria of the directors being increased.

ROSS GOLDFIELDS.

j The report of the superintendent of the I Ross Goldfields on the work done during i the week ended September 10 states that ]in No. 6 level a blocking strip was i commenced off No. 4 east crosscut in ' order to determine the boundary of the I pay wash passed through in No. 7 south : drive. The west drive in No. 7 level ■ was advanced 33ft and was 52ft from No. 7 plat. The wash coming down , from tiie back during the last few feet ; of driving was heavier and carried a little ; gold. Work above No. 7 level was being i carried on at four points. Nos. 1 and 12 south-west drives were clear of old ! workings and were proceeding in pay i wash towards the shaft. Two other faces ! were being worked in old blocks which 'could be profitably taken out.