c:—2
16
The following table shows the work done by Government prospecting drills during 1912 : —
From the foregoing table it will be seen that there has been considerable demand for Government drills, and that this form of aid to mining development has been most satisfactory, as it places in the hands of small mining parties and companies modern drilling-machines under competent superintendence, thereby enabling a reasonable estimate of the mineral contents of a deposit to be ascertained without much expense. The drills have been utilized in prospecting for lodes, coal-seams, and alluvial wash. As will be seen, a somewhat phenomenal amount of work has been done during the year by the No. 1 Keystone (placer drill) operating in the auriferous gravels (generally schistose) of Otago ; in all, 118 holes of 6 in. diameter were drilled and cased, the total depth drilled, aggregating 4,493 ft., at an average gross cost of 2s. 9Jd. per foot. During the two years and a half ended 31st December, 1912, this drill (with insignificant repairs) has put down 284 holes, aggregating in depth 11,267 ft., nearly all of which was done to test dredging-ground. At the end of the year a new Sullivan (type CN) diamond drill was put into commission to drill for coal near Nelson. (5.) GOVEBNMENT WaTEB-RACBS. The Mount Ida Water-races continue to serve a few miners in the Naseby district, but the number of working-claims is gradually diminishing, and, as the irrigation of an extensive area of the Maniototo Plains may be carried out by these conduits, their purpose will doubtless be changed from mining to agriculture at no distant date. During 1912-13 the receipts from sales of water amounted to £1,147 19s. 3d., the expenditure in upkeep and supervision being £1,836 11s. 9d. The Waimea-Kumara extensive water-race system on the West Coast has effectively prolonged the life of alluvial sluicing claims in the neighbourhood of Kumara and Waimea. The newly constructed extension of the Kumara Race by siphon, which crosses the valley of the River Taramakau and delivers 36 cubic feet of water per second, has added a fresh lease to the life of the claims situated on the hills north of that river; and by the purchase by the Government of the privately owned Erin-go-Bragh Water-race, which seriously obstructed the extension of the claims into the terraces at Westbrook, a considerable area of payable ground hitherto unavailable has been rendered accessible. To increase the capacity of the Waimea Water-race, the construction of a branch race from the Arahura-Wainihinihi Creek to the Kawaka Creek is now in progress, together with a branch race from McPherson's Creek. These conduits are expected to materially assist the development of claims in the Waimea and Stafford districts. In addition, two parties of miners have been assisted in the construction of their branch races from the Government main race. The receipts for water sold from the Waimea-Kumara Races during 1912-43 were £1,440 Is. 5d., and the cost of upkeep and supervision £1,446 19s. 6d.
Type of Brill. Name of Superintendent. To whom lent. tr at Minerals a o-g sought a H 3 for. BO'S rH Approximate Depth drilled. M . £ 6 or "o 5° Character of Country penetrated. _£■§ Ss § -"iS-lSS .Results of Drilling. Diamond . (SchramHarker type) W. Carter Westport Harbour Board (site, near Addison's) Coal.. Ft. 828 In. 6,* 4f Clay (marine bottom) saturated sands and boulders; no solid ground Moutere gravel.. s. d. 21 6 I n c o n c 1 usive; necessary depth unattainable. Diamond (Sullivan CN type) No. 2 Keystone (placer drill) Ditto Nelson Coalfields (Limited), (site, near Stoke) Head and party. Kanieri 50 U 6 G. E. D. Scale Alluvial gold 9 670 6 Gravel (greywacke and granite boulders) Ditto 2 7{ Very satisfactory. Ditto .. McLaughlari and party (site, Woodstock) Ditto 6 236 ti 2 3J Negative as regards working prospects. Very satisfactory. Tucker Flat Company (site, Kanieri) State Colliery No. 1, Point Elizabeth (site, Runanga) Duncan McLean (site, Blackball) 15 805 6 4 6 Coal.. 1 280 12 Marl and sandstone j I n c o n c I usive; hole lost. Alluvial gold 118 6 Gravel 5 0 Negative as regards value of wash. Ditto. « Frosty Creek Prospecting Association (site, Rimu) Golden Bed Gold-dredg-ing Company (site, Ettrick, Otago) Ditto 348 8,6 Hard cement with large boulders 15 0 No. 1 Keystone placer drill) T. McMath 2,642 (Average, 63 ft.; maximum, 125 ft.) 1,851 (Average, 24-36 ft.; maximum, 88 ft.) 6 Gravel (mostly schist shingle) 2 8£ Conclusive as regards prospects of dredging. 42 Ditto Koputai Gold-dredging Company (site, Waikaia) Ditto Ditto. 76 2 11 • To 400 ft. Tobi ittom. tin iroi jress.