"SILVER CITY"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 5

"SILVER CITY"

BROKEN HILL PROGRESS GREAT ORE RESERVES PROSPECTS OF THE FIELD [FROM OUK OWN tOURKSrOXDENT] SYD.NKY, Nov. 11 The mining industry in Broken Hill, Hit! "silver-lend mountain" in tho far west of Now South Wales, lias never appeared more prosperous, iiibuilding undertakings luive been established and modern machinery has been installed on a scale never surpassed in the history of the lield. Most mining fields have a limited life, but even after 50 years the richness and quantity of Iho JJrokon Hill oro appear inexhaustible. On present indications this great wealth-producing centre will continue to provide work and wages for more than 4000 men, and maintain its present population of 27,000 for many years to come. Broken Hill has had its pessimists, but none but a most daring man would now forecast the collapse of the "silver city."

Mining may end between Block 10 and the British mine—there is very little work going on now —but many generations will continue to win wealth from the extreme northern and southern ends of the field —the South, Zinc Corporation, and the North mines. Diamond drilling lias been carried on in those mines, and it is known that ore bodies which should last for 130 years have been revealed, and that is far from the end. The South mine is now most modern. Electric winding engines have been installed on the main shafts, and adjacent to the shafts are modern breaking plants and appliances, including conveyor belts for taking the ore to the recently constructed mill. Giant skips bring the ore to the surface. North Broken Hill, Limited, is determined to keep pace with metallurgical practice, and excavation work is being carried out for a new gravity-euin-ilotation plant on the site of the old Dc Bavay's plant. The ore in the North mine is comparatively rich in silver values, and profits are affected considerably by revenue from that source. A transformation has been worked at the North mine since the present general manager, Mr. O. H. Woodward, took over. Unsightly buildings have been removed from the landscape, and the old timber and iron has been given to the Unemployed Union. At the extreme southern end of the line of lode the wealthy Zinc Corporation is pushing ahead with an ambitious works programme. WAITEMATA POWER

INCREASED RECEIPTS PRECAITTIONS FOR FUTURE Receipts for current sold by tho Waitemata Electric-Power Board during The past seven months, including £6843 for October, amounted to £66,742, an increase of £7321 over the same period of last year, reported the manager, Mr. A. Main, to a meeting of the board yesterday. Seventy-three new consumers wore connected during October, making 487 for tho year to date and a total of 11,593. High-tension extensions were completed at Ararimu Valley, Atkinson Road, Titirangi, and Dairy Flat, and i numerous low-tension extensions were j made. At Devonport 125 chains of adI ditional street lighting circuit were erected. It was anticipated that the new main line to the Rodney County would be ready for test by December 1, and that a* supply from the Henderson sub-station would be available 1 a few days later. Tho load throughout tho board's area was growing by leaps and bounds. Mr. Main reported." This was reflected iu sub-station recordings and the increased output of units. I'll less precautionary measures were taken several factors would tend to lower the system power factor, including the greatly increased length of high-tension transmission lines and the large addition of small dairying motors to the system and the increasing numbers of larger industrial motors. On the manager's recommendation, it was decided to instal new static condensing equipment to maintain the system at a suitably high figure. MINING NEWS YIELDS OF COMPANIES Mataki (Murchison). —For period ended November 15, 360z. for 208 hours and 12,500vd5. Okarito (South Wcstland). —14oz. 7dwt. for 128} hours. New River (West Coast). —19oz. for 110 hours. White's Electric Dredge (West Coast). —270z. for 122 hours and 1002 yds. ! Sandhills (Central Otago).—l9oz. lodwt. for period October 27 to November 12. LOLOMA AFFAIRS A very satisfactory financial position was reported by the chairman of directors of Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, No Liability, Mr. P. F. Cod.v, at the first annual mectiivg in Melbourne. Excavation and foundation work for the treatment plant were well in hand, and it was expected that tho plant, which would treat at least 500 tons of ore a week, would be operating next June. Developments disclosed positive ore worth, at £8 an ounce fine. £1,002,888, or 2!)s 6d an issued share, he said. This did not take into account probable or possible ore. EMPEROR PROSPECTS A prophecy that tho Emperor mine (Fiji} would become one of tho greatest discovered in recent years was made bv Mr. W. H. Smith, chairman of Emperor Mines, Limited, at tho annual meeting in Melbourne. All factors were favourable for a long run of dividends once the large mill was operating, he said. Operations had been entirely satisfactory, the pilot. plant proving that a high extraction was possible. Costs were very reasonable, and with the installation of a larger plant were expected to bo reduced still further. REPORTS OF MANAGERS Emperor (Fiji).—For fortnight ended November 4: No. 2 (100 ft) level, brunch drivo S. from No. 0 crosscut extended to (WON., low values. N. drive, W crosscut at 230 ft from internal shaft extended to 30ft, n vera ere assay value 'JOdwt for last 28ft. E. crosscut at same point extended -Mft, average 'jodwt. K. crosscut at 102 ft extended to 310 ft, from 200 ft to 21 Oft, average 4dwt, remainder low. . Loloma (Fiji).—For the fortnight ended November r>: Slain shaft, extended 12ft to 157 ft, timbered to 117 ft. No. 1 adit extended from S3!)ft to ST 1 ft, averago asspy value last 32ft. 10V 2 dwt. over width Ift. No. 3 winze at 5371t in adit sunk to Olft, average last '2lft, 20d»t over width Aft loin. No 2 adit, S. drive off E. crosscut at 210 ft extended from 103 ft lo 200 ft, average last 37ft, 31dwt, over width 3ft Oin. No. 3 adit begun at. No. 8 shaft level, same level as No. 2 adit, driven toward Koroere boundary, extended to 43lft, last 31ft in country rock and ash. Quartz Mountain (Papua).—The following cablegram has been received from the manager: "Shipped to Sydney five tons of concentrates of an assay value of Ulioz a ton of zine. Tho cleuu-up will bo OOoz. of bulliou."