MININC.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13664, 31 March 1908, Page 5

MININC.

» NEW SOUTH WALES OUTPUT. By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. -. (Received March 31, 9.37 a.m.) ; SYDNEY, March 311 The value of the minerals produced in the Stafe last' year is £10,597,000— an increase of £2,408,000. The mine manager of the Champion mines reported on March 24th as follows, the report having been delayed by bad weather: — \ Battery Level.!— This level has been driven to a total distance of 95 feet.* The only change of importance since my last report i» that country rock appears to be making in the bottom of the drive. The tountry is ryolite sandstone, and the pug seams intersecting the country give very fair dish prospects. I ' have five samples being] assayed at the Thames School of Mines,. Whatever these results may be they are taken with the object of furnishing a guide, as to> wjjat. max b® looked for during the prdgress of the tunnel. There is no doubt as to our being in a highly, aunferouj; of country^ th^ ..indications ao fafk&ng of a. distinctly 'f'encburaging'natvuje despite the broken nature of the country so far penetrated. The presence 6f cdarse gold, both in the loose, rubble and in the stone itself, is a feature Which I like. , Battery. — There' has fceen a decided improvement in'the progress of the .battery contract during the past week. Only; three loads- snqjv .remain at Puriri "and* tnfcfo'snbuiai ßfe^lJ this I week, team of bullocks have arrived and have conimenced mauling machinery fr6m the creek to the, battery site to-day| Depending a/- this work does so niucli on weather conditions it is difficult to' form more than an approximate idea as to when the actual * erection of the battery will be 1 completed. The contracor estimates to have the whole of the machinery at the battery site within four to six weeks from date. In -the meantime concreting and erfcetioncan bo pushed ahead. No effort is being spared by all concerned t& get the plant erected at the earliest possible date, i'onr more pit-sawyers have started this week cutting timber f6r tho battery and waierrace.