MINING;

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13634, 13 April 1908, Page 7

MINING;

A new mine known as the Brilliant Block has bean started at Noavesville, Puriri, and tho manager reports having made an inspection and found several places with encouraging prospects. Development work will be commenced shortly on the property, which adjoins the Champion and Ready Bullion blocks.

Mr Sponcer, the contractor for the Champion battery erection, returned North on Friday night. .Two pair of sawyers have also gone to the minov from here, and as they are thorough bushmen they are likely to be of great assistance to Mr Spencer in the difficult work of shifting the machinery to the battery site. The manager of the Champion Mines, Ltd., reports under date April 9 as follows: — Battery level f The level has been extended a further 16ft, making a total distance driven of 126 ft. The .whole of the face is now composed of ryolite sandstone, and has become sufficiently solid to enable me to let the work on contract. I have this day I accepted a tender to drive 200 ft at 22/6 per foot. The contractors start work I to-morrow, and should make good headj way, as we appear now to have passed 1 through the layers of hard flints which have up till now considerably hampored progress, nor will there be the heavy flow of water to contend with. The appearance of the country is promising, and contains free gold throughout in small quantities. Battery: Tho weather has improved, and the surface hands employed at the battery excav.aj tion, pit-sawing, etc., have 'been able ! to work full time. All the machinery from Puriri has now beefn landed at the end of the county road and the horso teams dismissed/ Carting on the upper road has been temporally suspended pending the return of the contractor, who has been away making arrangements for the better handling of the plant between these two points, where portions of the track still remain too heavy for bullock teams to work to any advantage. I hope soon to have an assay plant erected and at work.