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APPENDICES TO THE MINES STATEMENT

APPENDIX A

'REPORTS RELATING TO METALLIFEROUS MINES AND QUARRIES The Inspecting Engineer op Mines to the Under Secretary of Mines. Wellington, 15th July, 1949. Sir, — I have the honour to present my report on metalliferous mines and quarries for the year ended 31st December, 1948. QUARTZ-MINES Martha Mine, Waihi. —The output of 95,804 tons, yielding 26,975 oz. of gold and 231,753 oz. of silver, valued at £328,316, was got from the Martha, Royal, Empire, Welcome, and Dreadnought Lodes. As in the previous year, the ore was obtained by the secondary working of arches and pillars of payable stone left for support during earlier mining operations. With a reduction of 32 in the men employed, ore produced showed a 13,000 ton fall compared with the 1947 output, and a decrease of 2,000 oz. in the gold yield. The total crushing time at the mill was 216 days. Blackwater Mine, Waiuta. —Development for the year totalled 1,117 ft. with men employed 111, and consisted of some extension of No. 15 Level South and of No. 15 Intermediate Level North and South, but mainly of the extension north for 232 ft. of No. 16 Level and the southward extension of the same level for 135 ft., the greater part of this driving being on payable reef. A considerable footage of rising was completed on Nos. 15 and 16 Levels, and winze-sinking from Nos. 14 and 15 Levels, with generally good values. Ventilation of the southern end of the mine was considerably improved by this further connection of Nos. 15 and 16 Levels. Completion of a shaft-repair job delayed starting after the Christmas holidays for a short time, but otherwise work was continuous, though much time was lost due to absenteeism and the result of a number of minor accidents. The available mine staff is much below the number required for efficient working, with the result that development shows a further decrease of 721 ft. below the 1947 figures. In spite of this, output shows an increase to 24,328 tons and 9,977 fine ounces, 1,809 oz. better than the 1947 yield. For the proper development of the mine the sinking of the north shaft to open No. 17 Level is urgently necessary, but has been delayed by the lack of skilled men. No doubt owing to the reduction in the price of gold due to exchange adjustment in August, this proposal has now been postponed indefinitely. Prospecting.—A small amount of prospecting for gold continued throughout the year "in the Coromandel and Karangahake districts, but produced no results of consequence. Prospecting also was continued at Dynamo Flat and Copper Creek, in the Mount Aurum basin, Central Otago, by a small party who have now purchased and propose to erect a three-stamp battery to test further the Copper Creek prospect. On the Tui property, near Te Aroha, some surface prospecting and the reopening of the old No. 3 Mine Level are reported to have shown encouraging results in the search for base metals. A number of small parties employing some 27 men are still engaged in scheelitemining in the Glenorchy and the Macrae's districts of Otago.

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