MINING NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 108, 9 May 1934, Page 11

MINING NEWS

BIG RIVER MINES REPORT The report of Big River Gold Mines, Ltd., Reefton, for the month of April, states that the stopes produced 11(5 tons of ore. One stope in No. 3 level has beeu discontinued, and the men removed to extract a pillar under No. 2 level, Jones’ line of reef No. 3 cast crosscut advanced 38ft. Gin., making a total distance of 65ft. since commencement. The country penetrated has been hard and a change may be expected any time. Some water is making from the face. No. 4 level crosscut has been driven to a distance of 48ft., making a total of 233 ft. from shaft. Twenty-live feet of the reef underlie has been cut, and early developments are possible. The leader in No. 1 level is still being followed, but improvement is slow. The stone bunches to 20in. at intervals, and then pinches to sin. to 7in. The length is sft. and the stone is of good quality. WAIT AHU Directors of Waita-hu Company have created a debenture issue of £3OOO with the object of discharging current liabilities and providing about £lOOO Working capital. The term of the debentures is two years, and the rate of interest will be 10 per cent, per annum. MURRAY CREEK The annual report of Murray Creek Gold Mining Company, Limited, states that dewatering operations commenced in August from No. 2 level, and were steadily continued until the end of November last. The last 70ft. was found to be difficult and expensive. The whole of that section in all three main shaft compartments was completely filled with debris. Au added difficulty arose through water giving■ off noxious gases which made water very foul and necessitated a steam jet being conveyed down shaft to bottom level (No. 4) to overcome difficulty. All difficulties were overcome and the shaft successfully freed from water down to bottom level (No. 4), which is 55Qft. from the surface. Immediately dewatering operations were finished, the reopening of Nos. 2, 3 and 4 levels w'as put in hand. Major portion of renewals completed. The primary object of reopening these levels was to complete ventilation of mine, and to render first the Victorian r.eef section available for working, and then to enable reefing section between Nos. 3 and 4 levels to bo explored further south and opened up. From a mining aspect, the future prospects of the mine may be considered excellent. There are three sections of the mine which should produce payable ore bodies, namely, the Inglewood Reef, which has just been located in No. 3 level, and the prospect of locating the south block of the Victoria Reef between Nos. 3 and 4 levels. Now that the Inglewood .Reef has been located in No. 3 level, the prospect of locating the Phoenix Reef on the same level h greatly increased. This was the richest orebody in this mine, and efforts are. being made to try and locate this reef. SAILORS’ GULLY The Sailors’ Gully Sluicing Company, Limited, which is operating at Waitahuna Gully, Otago, has declared a dividend of Is a share. The company, which has a capital of £B4OO, was registered in 1896. This is th 0 seventieth dividend paid, the last, ot 6d a share, being distributed in December,