MAY QUEEN EXTENDED.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8614, 19 March 1897, Page 4

MAY QUEEN EXTENDED.

The following tenders were received for driving 100 feet npon the course of the Golcoath reef in the Onehiuiga section of this mine : — A. Carnie and party 20s per foot, Skinner 12s lid, M. Hodge 22s <id, Dabb 12s 9d, Senior 20s, Brown 18s. These tenders have been forwarded Auckland for consideration by thei&ajdi Very good progress is being made with the repairs to the Hokianga level; and driving on the lode at this point will be commenced in the course of a few days.

TNONPAREIL. I paid a visit of inspection Thursday for the purpose of having a look at the new leader intersected in the main crosscut during the early part of the week. At the time of my visit the men had passed through the lead, which measures a half to one inch thick, but is composed of ore of a high class character, and it traverses a magnificent but film description of country. Where the crosscut passed through the lead a flinty vein junctions with the leader aud to all appearances, it has had the effect of splitting it up on the east side of the crosscut, but towards the foot of the level, and striking on its westerly bearing it is solid aud more defined in character. The lead, although small, is undoubtedly rich, and where the drive passed through it Mr Cartwright secured a couple of pounds of picked stone, showing strong gold and which I estimate is worth fully loz to the pound. Meeting \vith a rich class of ore like this promises weil for the mine when the' Wade lode comes to .hand, which should be in another "20 feet further driving, and with „the object of advancing the crosscut as speedily as possible two shifts are no y engaged on this important development. I might point out that Mr Cartwright has a dual purpose in the advancement of crosscut. Of course the chief object is the intersection of the Wade series ; but a purer air is essential, and to secure it it will be necessary to drive eastward upon the W^de lode, a distance of 30ft.

This will bring this section of the development work immediately underneath an old shaft which was sunk upon the Wade reef some years ago, but it must be borne in mind that when that point is reached there is fully 70ffc of solid country to pass though before the desired connection . is effected. Once this is accomplished the development work can be carried i* in any direction. It will also open up a section of reef in a country so far proving to be of a highly auriferous character. The main crosscut has attained a length of 50f b boyond or south of the Live, poo! Boys reef. This lode now. under vigorous operation is opening up most satisfactorily, and judging by the amount of picked stone which has been obtained, and the gold seen through the general ore there is every reason to believe that the mine has a good future before it. A length of 60 feet has been opened up on the line of reef, and throughout j j that length gold has been seen at every breaking down, with the exception of the last few feet on the eastern face. The lode continues strong and contains abundance of silica (a most promising indication in this or any other golden locality). In the western development the same quartz body contains ore of an exceptionally high class, and at the last breaking down a parcel of picked stone was selected worth an ounce to the pound. I might mention that in size the lode varies very much, and it is apparently a characteristic feature with it to diminish in size to a mere thread and in a foot or so swell its dimensions to about 2 feet. AH over this goldfield lodes of this character are noted for rich patches, and are looked upon by the practical miner as lodes capable of producing ore much richer in quality than those that maintain a uniform size. However, the developments of the mine are proceeding satisfactorily and also systematically, and if the lode maintains its present favourable appearance both in extent ard at depth the future of the mine may be loooked upor as assured in every sense of the word.

| BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Auckland, March 18.