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ANNEXURE A SUMMARY OF REPORTS BY INSPECTORS OF MINES NORTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (E. J. Scoble, Inspector of Mines) Quartz-mining Martha Gold-mining Co. (Waihi), Ltd. (K. A. Birchall, Manager).—The ore won for the period amounted to 108,747 tons, which, after treatment, gave a return of 28,983 oz. of gold and 220,189 oz. •of silver, worth £363,966. The heading value of the ore per ton was, gold 5 dwt. 4 gr., and silver :2 oz. 3 dwt. 4 gr., the extraction per ton, based on assay, being gold 93 per cent., silver 80-3 per cent., and value 90-9 per cent; The ore was got chiefly from the Martha, Empire, Welcome, Royal, and Dreadnought Lodes, as in the past. Development work was of a secondary nature, and consisted ■of the reopening of old workings and the establishment of sub-levels, and amounted to 4,038 ft. of •driving and crosscutting and 584 ft. of winzing and rising, total 4,622 ft. A second Gardener-Denver mechanical loader was put into operation during the year, and has proved satisfactory in every way. Water raised to the surface amounted to 347,485,000 gallons, all coming from below No. 12 Mine level. The sum paid in dividends was £12,398. The number of men employed averaged 481, which shows a reduction of 154 when compared with 1939 (pre-war) figures, and this is naturally reflected in the tonnage won and yield of bullion. Golden Dawn Gold-mines, Ltd., Owharoa.—Some 20 tons of battery residues were treated, and gave a return of 35-J oz. of gold and 43 oz. of silver, valued at £392 17s. lOd. The treatment was undertaken by the Martha Co. Golden Spur Co., Maratoto. —This concern won 16 oz. 15 dwt. of bullion, worth £9, the fineness of •the gold being only 0-044. Charlton's Claim, Kuaotunu. —From the treatment of old tailings on the Try Fluke area, P. Charlton produced 12 oz. 12 dwt. of gold and 13 oz. 2 dwt. of silver, which realized the sum of £l3l Is. 6d. -Considerable difficulty, chiefly of a chemical nature, was experienced in the extraction of values, but this seems to have been overcome, and as an outcome recoveries should in future conform with assay figures. The tailings probably average £2 per ton in value, and there must be several thousand tons .available. Two men are employed. Prospecting Karangahake.—R. Schulzki and mate continued to prospect in the vicinity of the old Dubbo Mine, but did not find anything of real worth. Gaghan and Thomson were engaged in reconditioning No. 11 Level, old Talisman Mine, and uncovered a small block of medium-valued ore as a result of their work. It is their intention to look for more promising stone before erecting crushing plant. Haszard and Fallon drilled a deposit of old tailings at Mackaytown, and proved the existence of a large quantity at about £1 3s. per ton. Several trail bulk parcels were tested and a considerable amount of laboratory work was done, and it is thought that profitable returns can be got from the material. The tailings, which are coarse and pyritous, contain both gold and silver, and recoveries of only 50 per cent, and 60 per cent, respectively can be anticipated, unless fine grinding be resorted to. Prospecting in other parts of the district was negligible. Metallic Ores Copper.—Cloudesley Mine, Pakotai, North Auckland (W. S. Miller, Owner) : The trial shipment forwarded to Port Kembla, New South Wales, .as referred to in last report, gave a gross return of £6,255 and a net return of £3,944 13s. 4d. The ore contained, on assay, 59-8 tons of copper, 89-87 oz. of gold, and 880-28 oz. of silver. In order to test the area to a greater extent, twenty-five holes were drilled during the last two months of the year, but results did not come up to expectations. The bores ranged in depth from 10 ft. to 51 ft. and averaged 34 ft. They were sunk with a Porta drill. Limonite.—A total of 5,826 tons, worth £13,641, was produced by Okaihau Quarries, Ltd., WWhitelaw, and Reyburn's Lime Co., Ltd., in the Noth Auckland District. It was used for cattle-licks? the filtering of gas, as a fusing agent in the making of cement, and for top-dressing in agriculture. The average number of men employed was 17. Manganese.—Mirandite Products, Ltd., Otau, Clevedon. (G. M. Maning, Lessee) : A total of 330 tons of ore was produced and transported to Papatoetoe, where it is held pending the winning of .an additional 170 tons, when the parcel will be shipped to the Broken Hill Pty. Steelworks, Newcastle. The value of same is estimated at £4 10s. per ton. The road to the deposit is rough and cuts up badly in wet weather, and this affects transport. Difficulty is also experienced in getting the ore shipped to Australia. One man was employed.

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