MINES STATEMENT,

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1918, Page 4

MINES STATEMENT,

SOME EXTRA (Jr <5. During tiro year, the Uiost iuteresting developments in connection with the quartz-mining industry were carried out by the North Black water Development Syndicate under the direction of Mr David Ziman, and at Te Puke by Muir’s Gold-reefs (Ltd), a new company. At North Blackwater, in the wind-ing-shaft at a depth, of 1,3501t,.a crosscut was projected to the main lode operated successfully by the adjoining Blackwater Mines (Ltd), which up to the end of 1917 had obtained from 358,678 statute tons of ore treated, bullion to the value of r £732,600, and had distributed in dividends £162,494. In its crosscut the North Blackwater Syndicate intersected three lodes carrying .visible gold, one of these being the main Blackwater lode. Permanent winding and air-compress-ing machinery is now being installed at this mine, it is interesting to note , that at both this and the Blackwater Mine successful prospecting and undeigrouiul development was carried out with the assistance of Government, siibsidies. DKHIKiK MIXING. ; This class of gold-mining is rapidly declining, only thirty-live dredges being in commission during 191 (, vvheieas in 1906 there were 107 active dredges. During the year thirteen dredges ceased operations and two ] dredges previously idle were put into commission. Near Rimu, on the Hokitika River, 5 the Rimu No 1 Dredging Company commenced dredging early, in April, and by the 01st December had handled 117,000 cubic yards of material (chiefly large boulders). Hie area dredged was 3J acres, and the average depth about 20ft, but, some of the gold may be lost among the large ; boulders (too large for the dredge buckets to deal with) assembled on the bottom. It is proposed to piocure a more powerful dredge ol American type to deal with the very heavy ground on this claim. At the Arahura River the Westland Prospecting Syndicate has successfully proved by Keystone drill an extensiveareaof workable dredging-ground averaging 27ft in depth. The Worksop No 2 dredge has been purchased by the syndicate for use upon this area, and is now being removed „ thereto. During 1917 water was used for! sluicing auriferous alluvium at 198 claims, employing 618 in • Otago, Southland, and on the West Coast. The quantity of water utilized per chain varies up to about 40 cubic feet per second. Most of the sources of water-supply are privately owned, but on the West Coast and in Central Otago the Government has constructed, and now maintains, very extensive water-races for the use of miners. On the West Coast the WaimeaKurnarn Government water-races, in length about forty-five miles, have a capacity' of 220 cubic feet per second ; the cost of construction has been approximately £250,000, the value of gold obtained by r use of the water being about £ 1,400,000. In Central Otago the Mount Ida Government water-races, in length about twenty-two miles, bavo a capacity of 51 cubic feet per second ; the cost of these races to the Government has been about £BO,OOO. The water is generally sold from Government races at a charge of 2T,d per sluice-liead per hour. Of recent years the cash received for water sold lias been less than the cost of the upkeep of the races. Duiing 1917 sixty-three miners were employed on claims using Government water, and gold to the value of £15,075 was obtained therefrom. Power from water-motors is used in the Reefton district at the Progress Mines for milling and ore-reduction, and in Central Otago on three gold dredges. There are three hydro-electric mining transmissions. On the Waikato River the Wailii Goldtmning Company lias installed a 9,000 horsepower plant at Horahora Falls, near Cambridge, a distance of fifty miles from the mines and reduction works at Wailii and Waikino; the transmission pressure is 50,000 volts. The power is used for winding, air-com-pressors, reduction works, lighting, and other purposes. The eompany lias the right to supply' local authorities en route with power for public distribution. At Kauieri Forks, near Hokitika, thereys a hydio-electric power-station, formerly the property of Ross Goldfields (Limited), but recently purchased by the Kanieri Forks Power Company. The water supply is carried by races from Lake Kauieri ; from the pelfons 675 horse-power is obtainable. The transmission pressure is 24,000 volts. From the Fraser River, near Alexandra, Otago, water is taken by the Earnscleugh Goldmiuing Company for liydro-electrio power for its gold dredges, 800 electrical horse-power being utilised.

STATE AID TO MINING. SUBSIPISKD PROSPECTING. . During the year ended 31st March. 191 S, nine , approved prospecting parties were granted subsidies amounting to £1,933 5/, of which £BB3 8/8 d was expended during that period. In K addition to this, £5lB 8/8 granted t during previous years was expended < by fifteen parties during the past s financial year. The following statement shows the ( total expenditure during the year 1 ended ‘list March, 191 b: (

j SUBSIDISED ROADS OX. OOI.DRIRI.DS., The following schedule shows the amounts expended by subsidies and ; direct grants out of the Public Works |Fund, vote '• Roads on Goldfields,' in the different counties, etc, during the • year ended o st March, 191S:— : i Counties Dir ect Grants Subsidies

Totals £0,i15 4 6 796 8 11 00VEKN.M ENT WATER-HACKS... The Waiinea-Kumara and Ida water races, which render possible hydraulic mining in the Kumara district. Westland, and the Naseby district, Central Otago, have during lUI7 supplied 63 miners with watertor sluicing, by which gold J o the approximate value of £15,075 was obtained. The cash received for water sold amounted to £2,430, and the expenditure on the upkeep of the races was £3,221. These races are therefore not self-supporting, and no allowance for interest on capital expenditure or depreciation has been made.

£ s d Tanrauga County 125 0 0 Thames County C.O 0 0 Ohiuemuri County 25 0 0 j Peloi’us l.load District ... 15 0 0 Wairau Road District ... •37 10 0 Ilianirahua Comity 53 11 8 Bailor County 70 0 0 Westland County 686 8 G Prospecting associations etc. 328 7 2 . —- Total 1,400 17 4

£ s d £ s d Coromandel 14 0 0 Thames 758 18 0 — Ohinemuri 21 3 o O 6 — Pelorns Rd Dst 1 So 0 0 — . Colliugwood 00 0 0 ' 05 0 0 Bullet' .1,088 10 0 110 13 4 Inaugaliua 1,400 10 11 — Murchison 326 5 0 — Westland 204 17 5 — i Grey 004 10 1 — i Geraldine 3'JO 0 0 ! Vincent 30 5 4 ! Maniototo 242 0 0 ■— j L ike 217 13 7 — | Wallace 1 04 10 3 ; Southland 250 0 0 50 0 0