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ANNEXURE A

SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES

NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (E. J. Scoble, Inspector of Mines) Quabtz-mininq Martha Gold-Mining Co. (Waihi), Lid.— l The footage recorded for development amounted to 7,643, of which 6,330 was accounted for in driving and crosseutting, and the balance in rising and winze-sinking. This footage was for the most part connected with the reopening of blocks of ore previously left behind and in the driving of sub-levels for the extraction of arches remaining under different levels. As in the previous year, operations were hampered to a great extent by the want of experienced miners, and for this reason no new country was developed. The ore crushed came principally from the Martha, Royal, Welcome, and Empire lodes, and amounted in all to 130,068 tons, which yielded 36,822 oz. of gold and 324,615 oz. 14 dwt. of silver, valued at £426,230 19s. lid. The average number of men employed was 496, and the water pumped comprised 253,244,000 gallons. Golden Dawn Gold-mines, Ltd., Owharoa.—Underground operations were suspended. The battery building was sold and dismantled during the year, and three men were afterwards engaged in treating the earth floor of same, together with material from an old tailings dump, by means of ground sluicing. The concentrates so gained are being held for shipment to Australia for final treatment. Talisman-Dubbo Battery Site, Karangahake (E. Roberts and Mate J—Some 50 tons of material were obtained from this source, the yeild being 144 oz. 16 dwt. of bullion, worth £734 os. Bd. Frewin's Extended Claim, Waitekauri.—'Thirty tons of material gave a return of 21 oz. 17 dwt. of bullion valued at £143 6s. 7d. Golden Spur Co., Ltd., Maratoto.—A limited amount of underground work was undertaken, but the staff was engaged for the greater part of the year in dismantling the now defunct Qhinemuri Gold and Silver Mining Co.'s battery. The battery belonged to the Golden Spur Co., and was sold for removal. Four men were employed. Una Hill Consolidated Gold-mines, Ltd., Thames.—Operations were suspended and practically all plant and buildings disposed of. Kernick's Freehold Mine, Tapu.—A prospecting drive was constructed south of previous workings and carried forward for 60 ft., where work was discontinued on account of the country rock proving unfavourable. In addition, some general prospecting was done on the surface, while a trial crushing of 4 tons of ore from a stock pile gave a return of 4 oz. 6 dwt. of bullion, valued at £27 3s. 6d. An average of one man was employed for the year. Mountain King Claim, Puhoi Valley, Thames.—A fair amount of prospecting, both underground and on the surface, was done with practically nil results, and work was therefore suspended. Two" men were employed. Sylvia Mines Consolidated, Ltd., Thames.—The rich leader encountered at 39 ft. in the crosscut south, No. 6 level, and referred to in last year's report, was driven on in a westerly direction for 30 ft., where it vanished in a " crush " zone, and work was given up in consequence. Operations in the main crosscut were then resumed, and the main reef was met with in October at 108 ft., when it was driven on in an easterly direction for 60 ft. The reef is 5 ft. wide where intersected, and gradually opens out to a wridth of 6 ft. up to the point stated. Values showed a progressive increase from 12s. per ton at the crosscut to 30s. at the face, and at the time of writing (March, 1945) show a much greater gain for the extra work done. These improved values are satisfactory, and it can be assumed that the run of good ore, which was formerly operated on and had a length of 500 ft. in the upper levels of the mine, has now been encountered. Hardy's Mines, Waiorongomai.—A small quantity of good-grade ore was won, and now awaits shipment to the smelters in Australia. Miscellaneous New Zealand Mercury Mines, Ltd., Pxihipuhi.—K total of 1,172 tons of ore was produced, and yielded 3 tons 1 cwt. 8 lb. of mercury, valued at £6,840. A small quantity thereof was sold in New Zealand, but the greater part was disposed of in Australia. Operations were continuous, apart from usual stoppages on account of bad weather. Eighteen men were employed. Ascot Cinnabar Mine, Karangahake.—Work is suspended, and is not likely to be resumed, as the results were unsatisfactory. Serpentine.—All of this was again obtained from near Wayby and Kaukapakapa, North Auckland, and amounted to 17,699 tons and 20,022 tons respectively. The stone was produced by Bitumix Ltd. and Asbestos Mines, Ltd., in the quantities given. Manganese.—None was produced, but Mirandite Products, Ltd., Clevedon, shipped 475 tons overseas. The ore averaged 55 per cent, manganese and realized 29 cents per unit, or a total of approximately £2,304. In addition, 500 tons or more of the ore were exposed and made ready for excavating by means of a bulldozer, and it is hoped to prepare and export this to Australia during the current year. Silica Sand.—The New Zealand Glass Manufacturers Co., Pty., Ltd., Penrose, produced 21,883 tons, valued at £54 708 from Parengarenga, and Messrs. J. B. Gilberd and Sons, Ltd., Wanganui, obtained 331 tons, worth £148 19s. The former company use their sand in the manufacture of glassware, and the latter chiefly for making abrasives, such as sandsoaps &c. ' Pumice.- —None was produced. Fuller's Earth.—Mr. S. C. Crawford, of Kamo, Whangarei, mined IOSJ tons, valued at £386 12s. 6d. Diatom,aceous Earth.—Eleven and one-half tons, worth £54, were produced by Mr. W. Brake, of Ngongotaha. Bentonite.—Mr. H. F. Stoddart, of Porangahau, mined 360 tons, worth £1,640. The bentonite (dried ?itid around to a fine state of division).is used for foundry moulding, the strengthening of cement, in the manufacture of inseoticides &c. Five men were employed. Sulphur.—There was no production. Limonite. —The total comprised 5,593 tons, of which Mr. W. Whitelaw, Kamo, produced 3,025 tons, and Okaihau Quarries, Ltd., Okaihau, the remainder. Values received amounted to £2,893 and £7,882 respectively. Mr Whitelaw's ore (when crushed) is used for furnace work, in the manufacture of cement, gas-filtering, and in agriculture. That from the Okaihau Quarries is wholly employed in top-dressing and for the manufacture of cattle-licks. Seventeen men were employed. Moturoa Oilfields, Ltd., New Plymouth.—This company's production was as follows : No. 1 well, 4,270 gallons • No. 2 well, 49,408 gallons ; No. 4 well, 19,910 gallons : total, 73,588 gallons. The oil was disposed of to the New Zealand Oil Refineries, Ltd., which obtained the undermentioned fractions therefrom :— , Gallons. 14,520 .Distillate.. .. .. .. .. ~ ~ # e .. 5 575 Power kerosene .. .. .. .. .. ~ <# 11' 610 Heavy kerosene .. .. .. .. .. .. _ .. 10 250 gi®!® l oil " " 111870 Residue oil .. .. .. .. .. t # > # .. 17 055 Total •• •• •• •• •• .. .. 70,880 Loss (water) .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 4 100 Crude in still .. .. .. ~ ~ ~ _ t .. 74 980

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