MINING NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8607, 11 March 1897, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

KARAKA QUEEN,

Sinking and rising to open up the block is the only woi k in hand in this mine. So far very fair progress is being madft, and when the connection is effected preparations will be made to commence stoping upon the reef for I the purpose of securing a steady output of ore which it is proposed to treat. j MAY QUEEN EXTENDED. ■ Driving upon the course of the new reef is being energetically pushed i ahead. The, quartz coming to hand is ! of a kindly nature, and although not much gold can be seen the ore is not ' altogether unproductive. The country is all that can be dasired and the manager is hopeful of meeting with an j improvement at any time, especially as the drive advances in the direction of the crossflints. NONPAEEIL. The development of the Liverpool Boys' reef is being vigorously carried on at the low level, and the resuJts so far met with cannot be considered j otherwise than of a highly encouraging character. A length of 50 feet has been opened up upon the east and j west bearing of the lode, and on the former strike a good grade ore has been obtained, whilst from amongst the general crushing material a few pounds of picked stone has been selected. Latterly a further parcel came to hand from the western section, which is considered the richest stone so for met with in the reef. The lode in both faces will average a foot of crushing dirt, and the country is all that can be desired. It may be of interest to know that upon the reefs bearing westward a length of 300 ft can be driven before the boundary is reached, whilst eastward fully 500 ft of a stretch is available. The amount of backs overhead upon the underlie is quite 100 ft, and it will be seen that there is plenty of stretch upon the lode wherein a heavy deposit of gold may be met with. The main crosscut is steadily advancing and a firm blocky country continues to be penetrated- The Wade lode series should be at hand in another 20ft of driving. Recently tenders were solicited for the construction of a quartz hopper capable of stowing 50 loads, and ! three tenders were received, the prices ranging from £55 10s to £59 15s, but the manager considers he can get the work carried out at a much less cost, and has informed his directors accordingly,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Auckland, March 10. *PBEECE'S POINT. News from Coromandel states that Preece's Point Company have discovered a gold bearing reef on the surface. The reef is about one foot wide. Eeally good prospects of gold are obtained in the stone and also by loose washings. This is the most promising discovery made since the present company began working the ground. So far the reef has only been unearthed about six feet from the surface, so that no estimate can be made of its value. It may be considered a most promising find for the field. The reef is to be immediately followed down with a winze. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Te Auoha, Marcli 9. CADMAN (Waiorohgomai.) A working option of the above | special claim was taken on Saturday, i March 6th, by the London and New Zealand Finance Corporation, and a deposit of £300 was paid to the vendors and the necessary documents signed. The terms are a six months' option, at the expiration of which a further sum of £2,700 is to be paid, together with 20,000 shares paid up to £1, Vigorous operations will be commenced immediately under the supervision of Mr Ellam, the company's engineer and a competent manager. It is proposed to put in a low level tunnel to tap the whole of the upper workings, and at the same time prospect the country. Between £3000 and £4000 will be expended on development works thoroughly testing the various lodes, some of which have proved good gold producers by the old and antiquated battery process. There is no doubt of the value of the Cadraan property and it may safely be anticipated that the expenditure of capital on development work will yield satisfactory results. AROHA GOLD MINES LIMITED (Waiohongomai). A good deal of work has been done during the last three weeks at the mouth of tlie big tunnel in excavating and filling in to make room for the air compressors, which are to be utilised to drive rock drills in the aforesaid tunnel. Two large wood culverts have also been put in to convey the water coming down the hill away and the drain water from the mouth of the tunnel and to connect with the large concrete culvert below, The Pelton wheel, valve, etc. is now on the ground ready to be fixed into position. Messrs H. Gallagher and party have taken the contract in the big tunnel at £2 17s Gd per foot. The country is at present very hard and it will take the contractors all their time at that price to make anything more than fair wages. The Waiorougornai batter} is now silent, and the upper workings of the Aroha Gold^ Mines property are deserted, which is a great difference compared with a few months ago, when the hill was alive with miners. It is to be hoped work will be resumed again shortly.