MINING NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8608, 12 March 1897, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

MOANATAIARI

A great length of time has elapsed ■ince I paid my last visit of inspection to this company's mine, and yesterday on visiting it with the superintendent, * Mr Clark, I was surprised to note that a very great extent of all description of ■ work; both inside. and out of the mir.e had been carried out. On the whole there is strong evidence of these works leading on to important results. Regarding the very large scheme of operations now in progress in connection with" the company s new 60 stamp mill, the contractors (Messrs Price Bros, the well-known ironfounders of this „ town) are making very satisfactory progress with their work. They have completed the dismantling of the old] mill, and have advanced the foundations very satisfactorily, especially that section m .operation near where the old mill stood. The excavations for the 30 stamps outside the old plant are also well advanced. A glance at the prepared plan of thenew mill shows that the plant ia to be one of the most complete of its kind on this peninsula, but to supply readers with a ' detailed account of the various appliances connected with this mill would * occupy rather too much space, suffice it to say that when the mill is in readiness it will mean a very large output-of ore to keep it in continuous employment. To provide for this Mr Clark is pushing en most vigorously with the various exploiting and development works in this mine, a •short summary of which may be of interpst. On our way to the eastern section of the mine, we looked in to see the new winding plant and found everything in apple-pie order. I must say the machinery reflects credit npon Mr Harry Roache, the engineer, for thelsleanlinessaiidcarehe is exercising over the machinery under his charge, the whole of which performs its work most efficiently. Our attention was next directed to the development of the eastern section of the Golden Age reef, where arise has been in active operation from the Point Russell level to ultimately connect with the old XJoldeu Age level on the Waiotahi side, 'jrhis rise lias attained a height of 180 ft, and Mr Clajk anticipates effecting a connection with the desired point in a few shifts." This work will open (nrt-a very extensive block, measuring 320 ft in-length, from the old stopes to the Fame and' Fortune boundary. The lode varies in its dimensions from 4 \o 6ft in thickness, but very little reef has been broken from the rise of late, and there remains a length of 30ft to break down from where the rise holes to the level. When this part of the development is completed it is the intention to break down the reef left standing in on the level preparatory to placing the required timbers in position do that stoping operations can be proceeded with when necessary. At this same level the Reuben Parr reef is also under vigorous operation, and has been driven upon 400 ft in an easterly direction. -There i 3 still a length of 700 ft to drive (this is a section of wholly unexplored country) before reaching the eastern boundary or immediately underneath the old Unicorn run of gold. Above this level Mr Clark calculates upon having backs available to a height of 250 fest. I raight point out that for the last 200 feet of the reef opened, colors of gold have been seen, and the lode measures from 2 to 4 feet in thickness. The face of this drive is now forward over the point where the rich run was met with some time ago at the 100 foot leval. At the latter level is the south-eastern crosscut which was in operation at the time of my las'; visit, and which had for its purpose the intersection of the large reef known as the Waiotahi, After driving 550 feet from the footwall of the Golden Age reef, the sought for lode came to hand, aud was driven through at about right angles for a length of 60 feet. The formation | comprising the lode was composed of quartz apd alternate layers «f country rock. Since meeting with the outer wall Mr Clark directed the men to advance the drive along the footwall for the purpose of meeting with asupeiior channel of country, which the manager is of opinion exists in the direction indicated. I loight mention that so far, in-intersecting the reef, no gold has been seen, but this may be accounted for by,the presence of a not altogether favorable country for gold. At the 100 foot level a crosscut was put in at a point where it was expected that the Golden Age reef would show an improved class of ore on its westerly bearing. This idea proved quite correct, for after driving 25ft beyond the Rueben Parr reef the Golden Age lode was met with, but prior to intersecting the main body a very promising leader

shoeing strong gold was passed through 4ft from this, the parent body, the ore proving to be highly auriferous. From the point of intersection a length of 70ft has' been opened up, the quartz maintaining its quality throughout. This development is one of the greatest importance to the company and the large amount of pay stone in sight is very encouraging. Mr Clark purposes sinking a winze upon this lode for the dual purpose of opening up the block between the 100 ft and 200 ft levelsand locating the reef at the latter level. &o far a crosscut at this point is now proceeding, but as yet the downward continuation of this stretch of pay ore has not come to hand. There is a probability that as both this and the Reuben Parr converges on their downward continuation, although the latter

has not had a very desirable effect upon the larger body, that the junction will be beneficial. However, as the developments advance no doubt this question will be solved. Descending to the main tunnel, we find that point of operation in full swing, only that Mr Clark has decided to divert the present course of this important point of contact more to the north, for the purpese of escaping the hard dioritic bar ■which exists in a north-easterly direction. By proceeding in the direction indicated it is anticipated that the downward strike of the Rueben Parr and Golden Age reefs will be intercepted. These two master bodies, according to their different angles of inclination into the bowels of the earth, should junction with one

another some distance above the tunnel level. In the event of these two important lodes becoming so associated there is every reason for believing that the result will prove highly beneficial, inasmuch as the ore of the Golden Age lode is of a white, segregated nature, containing a large amquut of sihcious matter, while the ReubenTarr; lode is one that is at all points highly charged with: heavy minerals.; : Thus, it is only - reasonable to suppose that the Association of thesetwo quartz bodies'should result in something good, hence the.Sigorous efforts made to* adymce'W^myfotwarfh In order to expedite"-the- advancement of the various face* in operation, arid more particularly the main tunnel, two new^ roclf bonng machines,; faa.ve. .been obtained. : Tlie inachmea are known as;

the Ingersbll-Sergeant Kockborer, and are in use in almost every mine in the world. They are quite an improve* ment on the old type of machine, and enable the work to be carried on with «reater speed and far less trouble. The new compressor recently erected under Mr Clark's supervision is capable of supplying power sufficient to drive three machines if required, and it also supplies all the air required for conducting the development work in progress at the deeper areas, where but for the supply of good fresh air at the points mentioneditwouldbenextto impossible to carry on the work because of the gas which would invade the mine. To carry all this work forward to its present advanced condition it has taken up a large amount of time, but, as is perceptible, it has been conducted on most economical lines. The next point of operation where we visited is at the 80 feet level below the main tunnel, and there the No. 2 Eureka reof is being taken out for a length of 100 ft, This reef I might mention has been steadily operated upon from the old 150 ft level, and its past historical gold production records has induced Mr Clark to push on with the work with the hope of opening up something of importance. The lode at the present point of operation measures 3ft to 4ft thick, and shows colors of gold occasionally. No. 4 leader is beiug steadily operated upon and recently some very nice stone showing strong gold was met with at No, 1 or what was formerly known as the 150 ft level. The No. 2 Caledonian reef is being opened upßoffc above this level, and the lode at this point has shown gold very frequently, but it may be said that for the whole length opened, the lode has suffered from dislocations, and has been heaved in different directions, These most peculiar features will perhaps not be found in any other lode on this goldfield, still as the lode is one with a unique history it may at any time be responsible for ore similar in class to what was met with in the past. That past history is only too fresh in the minds of the people on this goldfield to need recapitulation. I might j mention that a connection has been effected with the old Central of Italy shaft, and a splendid current of air secured, thus allowing the present development work to be carried out more expeditiously than has been the case heretofore. Proceeding from here •we descended the new or Just in Time shaft. This shaft has reached a total depth of 400 feet, and there a temporary chamber has been cut out to allow of sufficient space, for the time being, to enable the men to advance the crosscut forward to the No._ 1 reef, where the No. 3 level coming in from the Caledonian can be utilised for an outlet for the heavy flow of water which had to be contended with, and which was the means of hampering the progress of operations at this level. The desired connection has been effected, and as soon as the communication has been thoroughly secured, a start will be made to raise the chamber to the required height to allow the water to drain off through the No. 3 level and [in. the direction of the Caledonian j shaft. I might here point out that shortly after starting to drive the afore-mentioned crosscut, a nice leader about 1J to 2 inches thick was intersected, showing strong gold. This leader is underlying into the shaft and when sinking is resumed the shaft will again intersect it. It is very encouraging to meet with such promising ore at this point, for it shows that the lodes are capable of producing equally as rich ore at the deeper areas to what they have done on the higher levels. According to the underlie of the No. 1 reef andthe angle of inclination of this leader, there is a p-obability that they will come together at a deeper depth; So far as Sir Clark is aware the No. 1 reef at j this level is quite intact, but the No. 2 reef has been worked upon, but to what extent it is not known. By continuing the present crosscut ahead the No. 2 reef should be to hand in about 100 ft of driving, whilst the continuation of the crosscut a further length of 750 ft will advance it forward to the Cambria reef, where that quartz body should be intercepted at a depth, of 125 ft. It will be noted that the company aTe developing their mine extensively, and from what can be seen there is every indication that the present operations at the different levels will prove to be works which will eventually produce remunerative results. It is also perceptible that Mr Clark is not leaving anything undone as regards having the mine in a condition to deal -with a large output of ore when the new mill is in readiness, and to carry out the various projects in view his time appears to be fully occupied. [BY TELEOEAPH. —OWN COBBEBPONDENT.I

Auckland, March 10. WHITE CLIFFS. A meeting of shareholders in the Excelsior Syndicate wa3 held yesterday afternoon. It was resolved to form a no-liability company called the White Cliffs with a capital of £4,000 in 80,000 shares at Is each. Directors, Messrs Thornes, Amodeo, Heron, Wright and Beere; legal manager, Mr D. G. MacDonnell ; solicitors, Messrs Hill and Mahoney. The property comprises 100 acres, and is situated at tho Great Barrier.

JUNO. A meeting of shareholders in the above goldmining. company was held this afternoon. Resolutions were carried authorising the directors to sell or otherwise dispose of the company's property at their discretion and to execute all necessary needs in connection therewith.

COROMANDEL PKOPEKTIEB. News comes from Coromandel that the Waitaia, Criterion and the A. J.C. (Kennedy's Bay) mines are looking ■well. At the last breaking down at the Waitaia dabs and blotches of gold were seen in the stone freely. The leader at No. 4 level averages 6 inches in width with very promising stone. With regard to the Criterion it is reported that another reef, two feet six inches in width, has been intersected and in close proximity to the big lode. It prospects well, and it is intended to open out on the same without further delay. In the A.J.C. good progress is being made with the various works, and prospects of securing payable gold as the work advances are highly encouraging.