MINING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4467, 15 September 1922, Page 2

MINING.

ACTIVITY AT KARANGAHAKE. During the last four or five months there Jias been renewed mining activity at Karangahake, and an attempt is being made by Auckland mining men to obtain ground for future prospecting. The opinion seems to be that the Crown Company is holding a large tract of country which is not being worked. Besides this, there is a big area of mining land which probably only requires prospecting to develop payable ore. On the property of the old Talisman Company, now under the ownership of Messrs R. M. Aitken and Sons, there are at present two parties of tributers, Rackham and party, ,and Ratcliffe and party. Both these parties are reported to be working on payable ore. We understand, that Messrs Aitken and Sons intend utilising the old Talisman battery plant to treat this ore.

Some time ago Messrs D. Siheeha.il and party secured the Imperial section of the mine, and the results up to the present are highly satisfactory. Shortly after commencing operations this party struck a reef. The drive has now been advanced 40 feet on the reef, which, from one foot in width at the commencement, is now over three feet wide in the face. The average assay value of the ore is over £7 per ton, but there is every probability that the stone will crush a great deal more, as there are seams of rich sulphide ore in the reef. It is the intention of the owners to further prospect the claim and open up other reefs which are known to run through the property. The amount of development work already done justifies the erection oP . a battery, there being sufficient ore in sight. Tlie Imperial claim lies against the boundaries of the Crown Gold Mining Company’s property, and it. is this particular portion of tlie Crown property that, is now the subject of liti-< gation. The Crown Gold Mining Company has cbmmenced operations on this block with the intention of picking up the system of reefs discovered by Sheehan and party. The efforts of both parties will result in important developments in the near, future. Mining men acquainted with the property are of the decided opinion that Karangahake will/soon experience a new lease of life. Samples of the stone obtained from the Imperial section are now to be seen at the "Gazette ’’ office, and are open to inspection to those interested.