MINING 'NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16200, 10 April 1916, Page 3

MINING 'NEWS.

FOUR-IN-HAND.

20LB OF PICKED STONE.

The manager of the Four-in-Hand mines, toromandel, telegraphed on Saturday that ho had obtained 201b of picked stone from tho reef at No. 1 lovel. RISING SUN BATTERY, OFFICIAL OPENING. fut TEIEGBAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 Waihi, Sunday. Tho Rising Sun Gold Mining Company's recently erected battery at Owharoa was officially opened on Friday afternoon by the chairman of directors, Mr. Win. Blomfield, in tho presence of his co-directors and a largo gathering of shareholders and representatives of the mining industry on the Ohinemuri goldfield. Before switching on the electric power which set the stamps in motion, Mr. B],omfield traced tho history of the mine over a period of upwards of 20 years, during practically the whole of which time a number of the present shareholders had stuck to the property, paying call after call, and expending upwards of £20,000 in tho legitimate development of the reef system. Operations had justified tho erection of a mill, which had just been completed, and, judging by tho quantity of ore broken out and in sight, coupled with tho satisfactory values disclosed, he honestly believed that the time was coming when those who had stood so loyally to tho company would reap some l'Oturn in the shape of dividends for the money they had expended. He believed that the mine would have a long lifo as a bullion producer. Mr. H. Poland. M.P. for Ohinemuri, in wishing success to the venture, referred to the scant encouragement given by the Governments of the past eight or ten i years to the important industry of gold mining, which had produced many millions of pounds worth of tho precious metal. The vast sum won might have tieen largely augmented had the Government given reasonable assistance, and it was his intention when Parliament met to advocato more liberal grants towards prospecting, and tho erection of a public battery on some central and suitable site on the Ohinemuri field.

Mr. E. Q. Banks, superintendent of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and Mr. W. P. Gauvain, assistant-superintendent, were among others who wished the Rising Sun Company success and long life. Mr. Banks said many companies erected expensive, 'treatment plants before proving their mines, but he was pleased to hoar that this was not the enso with the Rising Sun. He had been informed that the company had systematically and somewhat extensively developed the reef system, and that tho directors had satisfied themselves that tho erection of a mill was warranted. Tho value of tho ore would be determined by treatment at the battery, and he was glad to learn that the directors had not been building up on a lone string of assay results, but were prepared to accept the only reliable "test Alio Rising Sun mine has an area of 108 acres, and developments have disclosed three reefs varying in width from am to 4ft, with an average width of 2ft in addition to which thero aro other smaller veins. Samples taken at various points have shown very high grade ore, and the average value is stated by the mmo manager, Mr. T. Gillan, to run to several pounds per ton, while at the opening on Friday the chairman of directors gave it out that shareholders could confidently look forward to an extraction of not less than £4 to £5 per ton, and very probably more. One of tho main veins is known as the sulphide lode, which has been most extensively developed in the upper workings of tho mine, and has also been proved going down for some distance by means of winzes. Tho other veins aro being explored from the road or low levels, and have ample backs. A certain amount of stoping has been done, and tho ore broken in tho stones and paddocked amounts to about 1000 tons, all of which, according to assay, is of good grade. No definite computation has doch made of the milling ore in sight, but tho manager states that operations to date havo proved the existence of substantial reserves.

ho battery is a. substantial and welloqiiippecl building, with 10 stamps of 10001b each, and other up-to-date treatment and gold-saving appliances. The mill will be driven by electrio power supplied by the Waihi Gold Mining Company from Hora Horn, and can bo augmented whenever required, whilo tho cost per horse-power will bo much lower than if steam or gas power was used. The intention of tho management for tho time boing is to crush some 11 tons to 17 tons of quartz per day, with an average of probably 15 tons.

THAMES ; WARDEN'S COURT.

[BY TELEGRAPH—OW.V CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Sunday. The fortnightly sitting of tho Thames Warden's Court was held on Friday, when tho following applications were dealt with Kuronui Cold Mining Company, six months' protection for tho Kurauui special claim, granted with the consent of tho Minister; Tairua Golden Hills Gold Mining Company, 12 months' protection for special site, Tairua, granted. J. M. Agnew, plaint for forfeiture of tho Cambria special claim against J. S. 1 nomas, forfeiture decreed, tho plaintiff declared to bo first applicant for new license.

R. Bennett, renewal of residence site license, granted for 21 years; E. McLaren, renewal of residence site license, granted for 21 years.