MARTHA GOLD MINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 128, 1 June 1937, Page 12

MARTHA GOLD MINE

USE OF DIAMOND DRILL

Reference was made to diamond drilling by Mr. G. R. Mitcheson, chairman, Martha Mine. Waihi, when addressing shareholders in London recently. Following the work carried out by the New Zealand department of Scientific and Industrial I-tesearcb in the district, he said, the company embarked on a programme of diamond drilling and during the past year to 155U feet were drilled. Two bores were put down in the Silverton Prospecting Area in the south-eastern portion of the property, and two have also been drilled in the north-west section of 'the property beyond the north branch of the Martha lode. Nothing of importance had been encountered in any of these bores. The question of further drilling was receiving consideration, said Mr. Mitcheson.

Prospecting for new blocks of ore involved development work amounting to 9191 feet of driving, cross-cutting, rising, and sinking, quite apart from the development work necessary in connection with the extraction of the arches. The principal work carried out was in the north-west section. "We have for some years oast been , exploring this portion of our area, and while we have not found any very extensive ore bodies." said Mr. Mitcheson, "still we have been able to mine a fair amount of ore of reasonably good value. During the year we won from the north branches of the Martha, in this section of the mine, some 24,000 tons of ore. Work is being continued on five levels in this area, and we are losing no opportunity of carrying out a thorough exploration of this section. Exploration work is also being done -on the Edward Lode and at No. 8 Level a small block of ore , will be opened up. In addition, development work has continued on the Royal Lode at No. 7 Level to the west of the point where this lode functioned with the Edward Lode. A block of ore has been opened up and we are continuing our investigations in this area of the mine." There were no sensational discoveries, but rather a year of untiring, careful supervision by, the New Zealand management, Colonel Milligan, the local director in New Zealand, and members of the staff here, including Mr.- Hopkins (the superintendent), Mr. Gilmour (mine manager),. Mr. Banks (the battery superintendent), and others had had a difficult and troublesome year in 1936, and 1937 was' not likely to prove less difficult or trying. ' • ' 'REXMANN MINES. The manager, Rexmann Mines, reports:—Bed togs of stamper frame placed in position and grouted in.with cement. Foundation of stamper, box completed in concrete. Timber for framework of battery building delivered to site. Strike of battery reef taken with a view to locating it in a more suitable position to work. Several samples tested by pounding and pahr ning. In all cases tests indicated payable values. "As far as I can judge from what was exposed the reef shows 3ft wide:at the cap." GILLESPIE'S BEACH DIVIDEND. The Stock Exchange Association was" advised at 9 a.m. today that a dividend of Id per share was declared payable June 25. - ■ > - :' '-'■■..

GillespieV Beach wash-up was 58oz for' 128 hours.