REEFTON MINING

New Zealand Mail, Issue 906, 12 July 1889, Page 19

REEFTON MINING

(prom our own correspondent.) Jane 24. Inkerman. —The mine manager reports : —The south drive at the bottom of the level has been extended 9ft, making the total distance driven south from the shaft 110 ft, the stone iu the face of the drive being 22in in width, showing gold freely. The north drive has been carried in Bft for the week, making the total distance driven from the shaft 94ft. The stone in this face is small, but carries good gold. Stope No. 4 north has been driven 40ft for the week, the ston9 being from 9 to 18in wide, showing gold freely. No. 3 south stope has been extended 12ft for the week, stone 2ft wide. No. 4 has been extended lift, stone also 2ft wide, with very good gold showing in both stopes. In the new reef 39ft of Btoping has been done for the week ; stone from 1 to 3ft wide carrying good gold. Scraped the top plates to-cay; 1330 z amalgam from 60 tons of stone.

Golden Treasure.—There is no return from the manager, who has been engaged during the week in rising on the reef at the north end of the level. At this point, after rising for some distance, the reef went quite flat, and this was driven on as an intermediate level. After going some distance the quality of the stone showed a marked improvement, and this led the manager to put down a blind shaft on it, and to-night there is a report that he has met excellent stone. No doubt further news on the subject will be available during

the next few days ; in the meantime the battery is being got ready for the Phoenix tributors, who are almost ready for a trial crushing of stone taken out by them. Inangahua Low Level.—The bonus prospectors are working away, but have not as yet reported any discovery. It will take them a few weeks yet to get to the spot where they expect to cut the run of stone they found on the surface in the early days of the field. Keep-it-Dark.—The striking of the reef in the recently opened low level may now be looked for almost any week, very little driving being required to reach the course of the lode. There is nothing to add to the information already given relative to the projected sale of the property to English capitalists. From what I can learn there is not a great prospect of the shareholders assenting to the sale on the terms proposed. However, more definite information on this head will be available after the extraordinary meeting is held. Globe.—The battery having been idl# during the week owing to the breaking of the gear connected with the winding apparatus, there are no returns to-day. The breakage ha 3 been temporarily paired, and it is now thought that crashing can be kept going without interruption until the new winding engine is in going order. The engine is now on its way up from Greymouth. Progress.—Shareholders in this venture are realising to the full the truth of the adage that it is always the unexpected, that happens. A year ago it was fully

imagined that crushing would be started by March of the present year, and here we are at the end of June with still no immediate chance of the stampers being set in motion. The delays, however annoying, have unfortunately been of a nature which could not have well been avoided by any degree of foresight, and the most comforting reflection left is that the directors have now got pretty well through the last of their difficulties and disappointments, and can see beyond the loss of the possible hindrances with which they have had to bottle. All going well, the batteries should be in full swing the first week of the coming month..

Lone Star.—The contractors for the erection of the aerial tramway have completed their work, and after a week’s good trial the company have taken it off their hands, being highly satisfied with the work and its manner of completion. It is expected that crushing at the Just-in-Time battery will commence about the Ist prox. They have about 300 tons of stone on hand. Hidden Treasure. This venture, as really its name’would imply, is indicated in some way by the tenacity with wljich Reynolds and party follow np their struggle to oust the present occupants. Not satisfied with the recent decision of the Warden, which confirmed Tremboth and Wills in their possession and ownership, the former have re-appealed to the District Court to set the finding of the> Warden aside. In the meantime th& holders of the lease, satisfied with the* title of the lease, have set in to prospect the ground. Providence.—This is the title to ill© last new company floated, the ground being south and west of the Progress and on the same liue. The lease was originally pegged off by Whitburn and party. June 29l Keep-it-Dark battery returns 4310 s of amalgam from 180 tons of stone, the regular month’s crushing. Globe.—266oz of amalgam from 185 tons, from top plates only. Inglewood. —770 z6O tons off stone. Sir Francis Drake.—The mine manager reports :—I have driven the level north 7ft, which leaves sft to be driven to the boundary. I have sloped out over the north level 50ft, and rose 9ft above the stopes. All the leaders have cut out and made into a solid reef 4ft 6in wide. The size of reef in the level is 6ft. Thera are now about 55 tons in receiving paddock. The coal mine is driven in the hill 13ft; the thickness of coal seam is, 2ft. Scotia.—The mine looks the same aa afc la3t report —no change in the main stopes. No atone has yet been touched in the north level. The mine manager calls the attention of the Directors to th® tramway just completed by the contractors, and wishes the Directors to inspect it. Inkermau.—Battery returns, 5860 z o£ amalgam from 43 tons of stone. Quotations —Keep-it-Darks, 35s 9cTGlobes, 22s ; Progress, 39s 6d ; Inkerman, &3 6d ; Alpine, 15s ; Treasures, 2k 9d ; Inglewood, Is 6d; Homeward! Rounds, 4s 3d ; Nils, Is 6d ; Snpremeg,, 33 9d ; Scotia, 63 6d ; Hard to Find,. Jg, 2d ; Drakes, Is 6d ; Big Rivers, Is 9<L

Beefton, July 1. Inkerman. The mine manager reports The south drive in the bottom level has been extended sft, making the total distance driven from the shaft 106 ft. The north drive has been extended 7£ft for the week ; total distance from shait, 101 ft. The stone is small at

the north end, but has every appearance of making larger. In the south drive the stone is 2ft wide, and shows gold freely. In the stopes 51ft in length has been driven for the week, north and south, above tho bottom level, each stope showing, stone Ift 3in to 2ft 4in wide, and each face showing payable

gold. Thirteen feet of stoping has been done on the new reef on stone varying from 2£ft to 3£ft, carrying good gold. lam glad to say the more the mine i 3 opened out the more she improves in appearance and value. Cleaned up the battery to-day (Saturday), making a total return for the four weeks, 9450 z amalgam from 187 tons of stone. Venus Extended. —The mine manager reports during the month the main level has been extended 30ft. It is now in a better looking country. Quartz leaders are plentiful and a little water is flowing from the face. There are 23 tons of stone in the paddock, and I think of very good quality. Nil Desperandum.—The mine manager reports :—I have discontinued the south drive during the last fortnight, but I think it would be advisable to drive it a few feet fnrther. There is Gin of good stone in the face at present. 1 have risen 26£t, and stoped out stone for 19£t in length. The reef is about the same size and quality. We have 42 tons of stone in the paddock. Just in-Time.-— At the present time six men are working on the low level cross cutting, four men driving west and two going east. Jubilee. —This ground is situated north sand adjoining the Globe Company’s ground, and owing to the northerly trend of the reefs in the latter Company’s mine shares in this Company are inquired for, 'the priee offering being Till. The Company will shortly be registered. ' Lone Star.—The Company’s surveyor •visited the mine during the week, for the purpose of inspecting ths test trial of the aerial line. He reported everything working smoothly and well, and, being satisfied •with the work, took it over on behalf of ijhß Company. The manner in which the contractors (Kruzenga and Co.) have performed their work has given every satisfaction, the line, so far as design and •workmanship are concerned, being a perfect success. ... About 25 tons of stone has been sent to the battery already, and as soon as there is sufficient stone in the -paddock, crushing will be started, Scotia.—The half-yearly meeting of sshareholders was held on Friday afternoon, when close upon 22,000 shares out •of 24,000 were represented personally and Ufoy proxy. The Directors’ report and Ibalance-sheet for the past half-year ihaviDg been read and adopted, as also the areport of .the mine manager, the following Directors were elected :—Messrs <&. B. Shepherd, B. A. Waylan, W. Bielby, A. North, and J. C. Craig. A proposal was made to remove the banking account from the Bank of f<ew Zealand to the Colonial Bank. According to the general feeling of the meeting l at wa® deemed .advisable to remove their account to the latter bank, but on taking -the votes it was discovered that one voter, -who represented 4000 shares, had voted for the National Bank, the .result being Sbliftt the Bank of New Zealand still regains the account. In his report the mine manager, Mr T. Naysmith, staled that sine;© •taking charge in April last the main level Lad been extended to.the present, distance •of 135 ft north of the winze. For the first HQOffc the reef, was of fair. width, and •carried very good gold. A small pinch ffhee came in, but the stone continued in sthe level until the last 6ft. But to all appearances £he reef will Eoon make ©gain, as inhere is only 32£t. move to drive tto get right under No. 2 winze. Driving south of No. 1 winze has also been put in Stand, and a distance of 10ft made. The ireef is Ift 3in wide, and carries fair g/oh). No. 1 stope hag been carried the main level north £>f the winze

fSOi't, With a fair evzc'd reef,, cn.rrvi.ng good eoid. No. 2 stope, north of the wb’ze, Las been diiven 17ft wVttj the rerf, a fair 'width, and carrying good gold. There is wbout 80 tons of stone in the paddock, land about 50 tons more at the iimsth of the "unnel, which was broken out since lire manager took charge. All the .other i.tonto raised iu sinking the svin.zes is at aka tops of the winzes. Tne contractors «xoecc to finish the tramway soon, and as sail*'the oihef outside works arr completed, •everything will ready directly for crushing; Golden L-ad. A new' company'is now ibeing ifloated, situated in ‘ M.rrr'jigS •f'iistrict. £< consists of 24,000 sh*>ft3 of ILI each. _fhe promoters, as showing Vkeir fabh ia ijhe undertaking, have re- * aim’d 10 GOO ; Mva<es, th- bainnee being 'dffeved to t i e .puijiie. ,at Is tri per share. T'here has been an extrword nary anrifer•*kis dep-ait discovered on the ground of immense magnitude, nearly .covering the vvholeareaaf the lease. Itconsists of sand®tone with quarlz leaders running through ijt in every conceivable direction. ;Ifc carries gold all-through it, which is in?a •free state, and although the gold is not visible to the eye .yet every, prospect that thae been tried first-class gold and coarse. The formation .consists of a friable laminated stratification of quartz, * 1 - J ' V\Q

fairly described as the Mount Morgan of New Zealand. The discoverer of this singularly rich formation worked a rich alluvial gold mine immediately contiguous, known as the Merrijig Sluicing Claim, from which a large amouutofgold is still being obtained. The deposit being isolated, he was prompted to search for its origin, which, after the most patient perseverance, the driving of some hundreds of feet of tunnelling and trenching he lias found and traced for a distance of nearly 3000 ft of alluvial gutter deposit, which is clearly the outcome of a glacier action. July 6. Koep-it-Dark, 2170 z of amalgam from 165 tons ; Inkerman, 185 oz from 40 tons ; Inglewood, from 60 tons ; Globe, 1760 z from 190 tons. Quotations. —Argosy, Is .Id ; - Alpine, 14s 6d ; Big River, Is 4d ; Fiery Cross, 6s 3d ; Golden Treasure, 2s 6d ; Gallant, Is lOd ; Homeward Bound, 4s 6d ; Hard-to-Find, 9d ; Inkerman, 53 6d ; Inglewood, Is ; Keep-it-Darlc, 35s ; Lone Star, 2s 3d ; Merrijigs, 6d ; Nils, Is 6d ; No. 2 South Dark, 2s 5d ; Pandora, lid ; Progress, 38s 6d ; Supreme, 3s 6d ; Scotia, 6s; Drake, Is 3d; Specimen Hills, 2s. Inkerman.—The mine manager reports —The north drive has been extended 6|-ft; total distance from shaft, 108 ft. The stone still keeps small, but carries good gold. The south drive has been extended 7ft; total distance from shaft, 113 ft. There is at present of stone in face showing gold freely from wall to wall. 64ffc of stoping has been done for the week. Above the bottom level each face shows stone from 15in to 22in wide ; gold to be seen freely-up and down each face. In the new reef 45ffc of stoping has been done since last report ; stone in end of present stope, sft wide, going east and carrying verj good gold. Scraped top plates to-day—resultas recorded above. The battery did not start ‘crushing till noon on Tuesday. Scotia.—The mine manager reports — The main level has been driven 12ft ; total north of the winze, 348 ft. The reef is making in the face of the level, being 6in of stone on the hanging wall and 4in on the foot,' which I think will make into one. No. 1 slope has been carried over the main level for a distance of 90ft ; reef from 18in to 20ia, and carrying very good gold. No. 2 stope has also been carried north of winze 50ft; reef about the same width, carrying very good gold. We are raising for another stope, and there is no change in the width of reef. There is still about 12ft to go to the winze from main level: 104 tons of stone in paddock. Sir Francis Drake.—The mine manager reports :—Have driven the level north 7ft. The reef has cut out and broken into leaders. The south end I have run the leaders Out. The tunnel at the coal mine is driven in the hill 21ft. The seam of coal is much about the same.