THE ALBION GOLD MINING COMPANY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 6986, 12 October 1883, Page 2

THE ALBION GOLD MINING COMPANY.

A meeting of the directors of the Albion Gold Mining Company was held on Wednesday evening, when the following report from the battery manager was submitted:—

Terawhiti, 10th October, 1883. To the Board of Directors of the Albion Extended Gold Mining Company (Limited). Gentlemen,' —Acting under instructions from the legal manager to stop crushing and clean up one box, I did so last Saturday, and I am sorry it has not come up to expectations ; after doing which I came in on Saturday evening and reported the same to Mr McLean, and received further instructions to clean up the entire battery, and to discharge all hands. The amount of stone put through was 330 tons, the result from which is as follows : —3oioz amalgam and 10| >z retorted gold. I would wish to impress upon the directors the fact that the stone which has been crushed has been taken from all parts of the mine indiscriminately, some of which has not added to the plates, but rather diminished the show of amalgam. It think Mr McLean will bear me out, as he made the remark to me that the plates were not improving in appearance. No doubt the mine manager, being anxious to keep up a supply of quartz for the battery, has been compelled to send down anything in •the shape of quartz, most of which was very inferior for crushing. In my opinion the best thing for the company to do now would be to start a low level tunnel immediately on the north side of the hill, which would cut the reef by a drive of 220 ft, and 60ft below the start of the present winze, which is known to contain good quartz, and gat out a trial crushing of about 50 tons, which would give a far more definite test to the mine. I would also suggest that the low level tunnel be driven both north and south, and at the same time continually prospected for a shot of gold, as I am of opinion that better gold exists than what has been struck at present. The present result is the same that every goldfield has had to contend with—l have no doubt your legal manager can give you several instances—but, after years of struggles and heavy expenses, they have met with good results. I have already made a preliminary survey of the proposed low level tunnel, a good deal of timber for which could be got near the mouth of the tunnel, and which would drain the present winze. The value of the shot of gold in the winze is at present unknown. I am, gentlemen, Yours obediently, F. Giles. After some discussion, it was resolved to appoint Mr Giles to the sole management of battery and mine, to dismiss the present mine manager and all hands, except four who are under three months’ engagement. Mr Giles was instructed to pump out the winze at the end of the low tunnel and to take out 50 tons of quartz for a trial crushing.