TAIRUA GOLDMINING COMPANY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1980, 10 May 1875, Page 2

TAIRUA GOLDMINING COMPANY.

A meeting of the directors of the above company was held at the Pacific Hotel on Saturday night to receive a report from the mine manager, to pass accounts and consider the question of machinery. The following report was read : —

"Gentlemen, —I have the honour to submit the following report. I took charge of your ground on the. 26fch ult. Many impediments have prevented me from making much headway. Tracks .had t» be cut and huts built, and all provisions carried iom9 distance. The tools, consisting of picks, hammers, blasting implements, ropes, buckets, blacksmiths' bellows and tools, carpenters' tools, and many other necessaries have also had to be packed on our backs. Prospecting has been confined to the shaft, from which Mr Neeves obtained about 2Oozs of gold prior to the opening of the Tairua goldfield. The shaft has been squared down 10 feet, thus bringing it down to the depth at which Mr Neeves discontinued sinking on the reef from which 45lbs of stone were crushed, and subsequently 6001bs, giving respectively sozs ldwt and 13ozs melted gold. From the westward side a strong body of quartz made, so that the cap. of a large reef is

to hand, measuring at the present time four feet of crushing stuff. The shaft is now down 15 feet, and the lode looks richer than ever, the gold being of a heavier character. About half an hour before leaving Tairua yesterday I cut still further westward through what seemed to be the hanging wall, and discovered a strong body of quartz, but failed to get the hanging - wall, but managed to break out a piece of stone which I submit to you for inspection, also a small phial of gold, the result of the loose from eight half-dishes of dirt, but as much more remained in the quartz. A tunnel has been started from tho faco of the hill, which will give 50 feet of backs. It is now in 6 feet; 26 feet more remain* to be driven before the reef will be in hand. A very hard granite bar has.to-be got through, but from the heads in the country I expect a change daily. Two water rights have been taken up for your company, and a r four-stamper battery purchased and re» fitted ready to be shipped to Tairua. I have agreed with Mr Win. B. Jackson to send down two tons of quartz via Tairua, to be delivered in, Grahamstowri at £8 per ton.—l have, &c, John B. Beeche, Mine Manager." - -

The mine manager's report was considered highly satisfactory, and his. action in regard to the battery and other matters was confirmed. Tho meeting then adjourned. . t