C—3.

AXNEXURE A. Mr. Matthew Paul, Inspector of Mines, Waihi, to the Under-Seciietarv. of Mines, WellingtonSir, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Waihi, 31st March, 1910. 1 have the honour to furnish herewith my report on the gold-mining industry in the Hauraki Mining District, together with statistics, for the year ended 31st December, 1909. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited). The following report bears principally on the operations carried out in the Xos. 8 and 9 levels, where the most important development-works have been conducted :— No. 9 Level (1,000 ft.). —No. 4 shaft north crosscut was advanced 726 ft., making a total of 1,001 ft. from No. 1 shaft, and a connection effected with No. 6 shaft at this point. At 224 ft. the Empire lode, 46ft. in width, was passed through. The Martha lode was met at 644 ft., the diagonal width of the lode along the crosscut being 96ft., and the estimated width at right angles 80 ft. Royal Lode: This lode has been opened up for a total length of 1,016 ft., of which 726 ft. i- east ami 290 ft. west of No. 5 shaft south crosscut. The east face was extended from 256 ft. to 726 ft. during the year, but the western face was not extended owing to the No. 5 shaft single cage not being able to cope with all the development-work at this level. Empire Lode: This lode ha- been opened up for a distance of 530 ft. east and 556 ft. west of No. 1 shaft north crosscut. Bath. Snape, Koikei'. and Paul passes have been connected with Xo. 8 level, and give good ventilation. Martha Lode: This lode has been opened up for 101 ft. east and 212 ft. west on the south section of the lode. No driving has yet been done on the North or Regina sections of the lode. This level was flooded from the 4th January to the 10th May owing to the coal-supplies being limited, due to labour troubles in the Huntly coal-mines. No. 8 Level (860 ft.). —Royal Lode: A total of 2,329| ft. has now been driven on course of this lode. East of North section of Royal Junction the level was extended from 873 ft. to 952J ft. The only wall seen was the south, from 940 ft. to 952 ft. West of Edward Junction the level was extended from 175 ft. to 314 ft., the width of the lode varying from 5 ft. to 9 in. The lsvel was widened from 45ft. to 115 ft., and a payable lens of ore 15ft. wide was opened up. Stoping is in progress in several blocks on this lode. Empire Lode: This has now been driven on its course a total of 1,625 ft. Bast of No. 4 shafl crosscut the level was driven from 505 ft. to (120 ft. East of 753 ft. crosscut the Empire lode was driven on 60 ft., where it junctions with a reef •'! ft. in width (probably the Albert lode). Alexandra Reef: The level was heightened to 11 ft., and the full width of ore taken out from Empire Junction to 234 ft. east of Bull's crosscut. In Rata pass, at a depth of 51 ft., 3 ft. of sulphide-ore is exposed, and the south wall seen. Edward Lode: Stoping is in operation on this lode, and in the stope between Eel and Spratt passes the top stope is 50 ft. up. In the block between Trout pass and the Welcome Junction the top stope is 25 ft. up. Martha Loch': The total length opened up on course of this section ; s 1,594 ft. East of No. 4 shaft north-west crosscut the level has been driven from 721 ft. to 854 ft. South section: Stoping is proceeding between Deer and Yak passes and between Foster and Britannia passes. Regina section: The total length opened up on course of this section is 810 ft. West of No. 4 shaft crosscut the level has been driven from 492 ft. to 706 ft., when a connection was made with the level on the Welcome lode. Troul North-west Prospecting Crosscut: The diamond drill horizontal borehole was extended from 97 ft. to 725 ft. Further boring was stopped owing to hole caving and giving trouble at 700 ft. in. No. ? Level. — Royal Lode: A total length of 2,539 ft. is now opened up on this lode. Martha Lode: North section: In the shrinkage block between Hogson and Bullson passes the breaking of ore is completed, and the ore is now l>eing drawn off. Two horses are being used to draw the trucks to No. (i shaft. Shafts. —No. 2 shaft has been sunk to a total depth of 1.074J ft. from the surface. No. 4 shaft has been sunk to 1,002 ft. and the No. 9 level opaned out at 1,000-4 ft. The ladder compartment of this shaft is being lined off from the winding compartments to receive the 14 in.' diameter column for the discharge of the electrically driven three-throw ram pumps. Xo. 5 shaft is being sunk, and is now a total depth from the surface of 1,035 ft. ; telephones have been installed in this shaft. No. 6 shaft is now a total of 997"7 ft. from the surface, and will be sunk a further 22 ft. to allow the skips to be used at Xo. 9 level. Telephones have been installed at the surface and No. 7 levels. Approximately, 227,000 tons of filling-material have been obtained from the various fillingcuttings and deadwork crosscuts underground for the purpose of filling in the depleted stoping areas. Nine shafts, varying in depth from 635 ft. to 850 ft., are in use for conveying this filling into the mine. The total footage driven, risen, crosscut, and sunk for the year was 11,571 ft., and the total diamond drilling 628 ft. The total quantity of water raised from No. 9 level to the surface was 738,934,160 gallons, the B pump raising 216,614,560 gallons and the C pump 522,319,600 gallons. The total quantity of ore crushed for the year amounted to 416,813 tons, of 2,000 lb. dry weight. The ore was obtained in the following proportions from the various reefs worked during the year: Martha, 203,726 tons: Royal, 70,216 tons; Welcome, 45,290 tons,

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