19

C—2.

Imperial Claim, Karangahake (E. D. White and party). —Half a ton of ore treated produced bullion valued at £58 lis. 6d. Woodstock, Karangahake (Ratcliff and party).—Operations by this party have been confined chiefly to prospecting in No. 5 Woodstock level: 93 tons of ore treated yielded bullion valued at £129 12s. 9d. New Talisman Gold-mining Company, Karangahake (R. M. Aitken, Owner). —Area, 62 acres, which includes the richest portion of the late Talisman Gold-mining Company. During the year an effort was made to raise further capital to drive on a large reef formation exposed on the tramway, but, owing to the depressed state of mining, Mr. Aitken was unable to raise the capital required for this purpose. Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Maraloto (J. O'Sullivan, Manager). —During the year the drive on the Camoola lode was driven for 308 ft. 6 in. south of the low-level crosscut, making the total distance 661 ft. Two crosscuts through the reef proved it to be 73 ft. in width ; values low. No. 4 crosscut is now being extended with the object of proving whether othor ore-bodies exist in the foot-wall of the Camoola lode. Majestic Gold-mining Company, Maratoto (J. W. Smith, Manager).—This was formerly known as the " United Gold-mining Company." Operations by the Majestic Company were commenced on the Bth January, 1923, by extending the drivo north on the Maratoto lode at No. 7 level. This has been driven a total distance of approximately 2,000 ft. on the Maratoto reef, which averages about 8 ft. in width. For a distance of 1,190 ft. this reef was sampled by me, and the average assay value proved to be lis. Id. per ton. The Maratoto lode is one of the most consistent in the Hauraki Goldfields. At No. 7 level the ore shows distinct evidence that leaching has taken place. In order to prove whether the values will improve at a greater depth it is proposed to oxtond a drive north and south on this lode from what is known as Adam's level in Mcßrinn's Creek, which is 117 ft. below No. 7 level. On the foot-wall portion of this reef in Adam's level there is a small band of sulphide ore, which the management seem, confident indicates that this level is below the leached zone. A suction plant, air-compressor, and rock-drills have been purchased with the object of vigorously pushing on with the development of the Maratoto reef. New Waiolahi Gold-mining Company, Thames (H. Brownlce, Manager). — Work in this mine is still confined to prospecting the Cure reef and. other veins from the lowost level attainable above high-water mark. Five men were employod. Twenty-two loads of quartz and 301b. picked stone treated yielded 102 oz. I7dwt. of gold, valued at £274 17s. Id. Alburnia Gold-mining Company, Thames (Thomas Gillan, Manager). —Operations were recently resumed in this mine with the object of testing a block of ground said to have been left in the early days of this goldfield on Dixon's reef from the dune's level. Two men were employed. Nonpareil Gold-mining Company, Thames. —Two men were employed. The work in progress in this mine consists of driving on the Cambria reef, which shows a width of 12 ft. Mineral indications were favourable, but no gold has been seen. Caledonia-Kuranui Moanalaiari Gold-mining Company, Thames (S. G. Baker, Manager).—The crosscut behind the main slide was extended during the year a farther distanco of 720 ft., making the total distance 1,494 ft. A number of reefs were intersected, ranging in width from a few inches up to 10 ft., but, on account of lack of ventilation, very little work was done on any of the reefs intersected. Early this year a connection was made with Kidd's surface level, 230 ft. vertical above the tunnel level, which provides adequato ventilation, and will onablo the Waiotahi, Cambria, No. 9, and other reefs passed through in the crosscut to be further tested. A little gold was seen in a foot-wall dropper from the Cambria reef in. the winze sunk from Kidd's level. The work of proving the reefs referred to is now in progress. New Sylvia, Tararu Creek, Thames (J. H. Benny, Manager). -Ten men employod. During tho year the work in this mine has been confined to driving, rising, and stoping on the west branch of the Norfolk reef. The ore won is put through a washer, and the mullock picked out before sending to the mill. 1,420 tons treated yielded bullion valued at £1,381 14s. 2d. Mount Zeehan Consolidated, Thames (H. F. Shepherd, Manager). —Six men employed. During the year work was confined to extending No. 5 level, 681 ft. above sea-level, to intersect other reefs known to exist on the surface. The first lode out varied, from 9 in. to 2 ft. in width, and at the point of intersection 4 lb. or 5 lb. of fair picked stone was obtained. The next lode proved to he 6 in. in width, crossing the level at an angle ; this also showed strong blotches of gold through its length in the level. 20 ft. farther ahead another reef, 15 in. in width, running at the same angle, was met with carrying silver sulphides and gold along with copper-pyrites. Erection of a 30 horse-power suction-gas plant is well under way, also an air-compressor for working rock-drills, a Ross mill for ore-treatment, and a sawmill for cutting the necessary timber. Golden, Hills, Tairua. —Work in this mine was confined to stoping and surface prospecting : 34 tons treated yielded bullion valued at £90 16s. 9d. Four-in-hand Mine, Coromandel (W. J. Patcrson, Manager). —Eight men employed. This claim was worked by a small syndicate until the 9th July, 1923, when it was taken over by a new company, which was registered as the " Four-in-Hand limited." Since the new company commenced operations a considerable amount of pro-specting-work has been done in the Tainui section. The reef varies from a few inches up to 2 ft. in thickness. A few pounds of picked stone has been obtained. It is also proposed to test the Four-in-Hand reef above No. 5 level. In order to minimize the cost of transport between the mine and battery a ground and aerial tramway is under construction. 2 tons 17 lb. of picked stone treated yielded gold valued at £74 3s. 7d. Try Again (Success) Mine, Coromandel. —Mr. Samuel James, owner of this mine, has had two men surface prospecting, but tho results so far have proved disappointing. Sterling Syndicate Dredging Claim, Coromandel. —This claim is worked by Messrs. J. F. Brunton and Thomas Maude. A small experimental dredge was put on the property with the object of proving that it was possible to disintegrate the pug and mud and save the concentrates. Being satisfied with the results of the test, the owners discontinued operations pending arrangements for further capital in order to put on a larger dredge. Only samples of concentrates of wash were obtained, from which the gold has not been separated. Owera Gold-mining Company (Limited). —Two men have .been employed cleaning out and repairing the low level, also the winze between Nos. I and 2 levels, in order to provide ventilation. It is proposed to commence stoping at an early date. Muir's Gold-reefs (Limited) Te Puke (William MacConachie, Mine-manager).—During the year just over 15,000 tons of new payable ore were doveloped. At the end of the year the ore reserve was approximately 2,000 tons, which, though more than payable if it could be mined at the rate of 3,000 tons per month, would yield little or no profit when mined at the slower rate at which it would now have to be broken out in consequence of the restricted number of working-places from which it could be attacked. Under these circumstances the directors decided to stop all mining with the exception of shaft-sinking, and to close down the battery pending the development of payable ore in the deep levels of the mine, which are to be opened up from the shaft. No. 3 winze was sunk to a depth of 146 ft. below No. 3 level on Muir's reef. Water-level was reached at 142 ft. down, but this has since receded about 3 ft. No. 4 level was started from the winze at 140 ft. below No. 3 level, and driven 109 ft. south and 51ft. north of the winze. The reef is very much wider at No. 4 level than at No. 3, four cross-cuts at the former level showing an average width of 13 ft. Apparently the true ground-water level has not been yet reached, as the reef at the bottom of the winze and at No. 4 level is very much leached, with the exception of a band of solid stone on the east wall which carries values. In one crosscut this band is 18 in. wide and assays £2 2s. sd. per ton, and in many other places in the drive its value exceeds £1. In driving No. 4 level from the winze fragments of mineralized quartz and country rock were met with, which would seem to indicate that at no great farther depth tho change from oxidized to mineralized stone will be experienced. The main shaft was sunk 3031_ ft. during the year, making a total depth of 339|* ft. From 100 ft. to 190 ft. the shaft advanced through a soft sandy formation saturated with water. This caused much trouble and delay, as the heavy pressure made it necessary to replace some of the shaft-timbers and also to adopt a closer system of timbering. From 190 ft. down the sinking has been through a good firm class of country rock containing a number of small quartz veins. Lattorly, highly mineralized rock has been occasionally passed through.