Fiji Mining.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19604, 9 January 1936, Page 2

Fiji Mining.

SOFT, LARGE ROCK

DIFFERENT FROM LOCAL ORE.

EX-THAMES MINER’S OPINION. The development of the gold mines at Fiji is proceeding satisfactorily, and indications are for much activity in the industry there during the year, is the opinion of Mr. A. E. Dare, of Thames, who is spending a holiday here after being employed for the last 18 months in the mining fields at Fiji Where most of the rich lodes of ore now being worked, Mr. Dare said, is about 120 miles from the town of Suva, and a regular motor service is the means of transport. The field product is entirely different from the Thames ore, the lodes being composed of soft rock and of great size. " “Emperor" Returns. At one mine, the “Emperor,” the lode is about 250 ft. wide, gold assays going from 41dwt. to 20oz. At the present time the company is getting a return of 200 oz to 800 oz. a month. The crushing is done by ball mills and the cyanide process. Several large payable lodes have been discovered in different parts of the island, and many companies are operating, but, as in Jill goldfields, many of the lodes do not carry sufficient values to make their development a payable proposition.

For some time Mr. Dare has been engaged prospecting, and has been fortunate in finding several lodes which he has recommended for development. Jn speaking of the Thames men who recently went to Fiji, Mr. Dare said Messrs. T. McCarthy, H. McNeil, CI. Home and R. Morgan, were all doing well and making good. Mr. Dare will return to Fiji at the end of the month.