MINING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20028, 18 August 1928, Page 9

MINING NEWS.

DEVELOPMENT AT HAURAKi. SIX MONTHS' OPERATIONS, Considerable development work has been carried on by Eanraki Mines Consolidated, Limited, and the prospects arc good, according to the report of the directors for the half-year ended May 31. Some trouble has been caused by the inflow of water, due to the exceptionally wet weather, but it is stated efficient stops are being taken to deal with the matter, and it is anticipated the difficulty will' soon be overcome.

The manager states: "The Hauraki shaft is down 150 ft. below the 400 ft. level and within 50ft. of the proposed depth of 600 ft. The 500 ft. level chamber has been cut out and the timbers placed in position. Shaft sinking operations had to be suspended on April 24 owing to striking a heavy flow of water at the seaward face of the 400 ft. level beyond the capacity of the pump. Just below the 500 ft. chamber quartz came in from the eastern side of the shaft, and proved to be a reef ; about Bft. in width, carrying 'favourable mineral indications, along with fine grained mineralised pug on the hanging-wall. The * encasing country rock continues primary andesite, similar to that where the gold was got at the 400 ft. level. "The-seaward face of the 400 ft. level on the main.'reef lias been extended 130 ft. beyond its junction with the -Union Beach Cross reef. It was at this junction that, picked stone. wjis got from , the hanging-wall portion and strong blotches of coarse . gold from the main' portion for a distance of 60ft. The reef averages r.frctm 2ft. to 3ft. in width with a° band of gritty pug from 6in, to Ift. in width on the ;hanging-wall. The reef is hard on to the - footwull country. All the drive timbers are in position ready for starting stoping operations when the rise connecting the Union Beach section (for ventilation) is tfrcctod. "The' incoming water frqm' the seaward face is considerably ,Jess than when first met. with, but owing to five heavy floods since, causing a considerable increase in the surjace water, the total incoming water" is about 100 gallons per rainnte more-thto the pump, can deal with. This overflow is being lifted with bailing tanks, but- arrangements are under way to instal two pumps to dqa! with the extra water and so allow all mining operations to be resumed as soon as possible. : "The 180 ft. level of the Union Beach section is 170 ft. below sea level and", is connected to the Golden Pah shaft by a crosscut . penetrating the same reef system and that ■•being explored at the AOOft.f level. This reef system from the 180 ft. level to the surface or sea level from stored ' water, so .there is every reason to believe that the extra water at the 400 ft.; level is from .the natural stored water in the country and reefs the- upper, drained : portion and the 400 ft. level. Judging from the amountof picked stone and the gold seen in the main . portion of the reef at the seaward side of the 400 ft. levol, and from the fact that beyond being cut through at the 180 ft. level, no work has been done on this reef, the chances of opening up a new and payable mine at this end soem very favi ourable.!'-