NEWS OF THE MINES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 26, 22 April 1927, Page 2

NEWS OF THE MINES

MANAGERS REPORT PROGRESS Moanataiari. —The seaward drive on the reef has been advanced sft. The reef is very compact and shows dabs of gold at each breaking down. Hillward Drive: The reef is wider than the drive and a truck of ore when washed showed good strong colours of gold. The reef is very well defined underfoot, and is very heavily mineralised. Winze: The winze is down Bft on a strong body of ore, which shows colours and dabs of gold. The reef in the winze is a very solid body of ore. About 101 b of stone, showing dabs and colours of gold from winze and seaward drive were secured during the week. Mount Welcome.—During the past week very fair results have been obtained from the stope off the winze, the gold is going down very strong, but it is not at present good policy to work this point under present conditions. When breaking down on Wednesday some good quartz was paddocked and 101 b of good stone showing strong gold was obtained. We also have located good gold in the floor of No. 2 level at a point about 70ft vertical from the low level face, this fact with otlier points where gold exists below No. 2 level gives great encouragement to push on the low level, which when put through will completely drain and open up the block above.

Kuranui.—The Old Battery Level: Rise on Barry’s Reef to connect with winze has been risen Oft, a total of 15ft. The reef here averages 2ft wide, and at present looks well, carrying a fair amount of mineral and silica. We hope to hole into the winze in a few shifts.

Waihi.—For the four-weekly period ended April 9, 19,750 tons of ore were crushed for a result of 6,532 fine ounces of gold and 23,635 fine ounces of silver. This includes 2,491 tons from the Grand Junction area, which yielded 604 ounces of gold and 1,609 ounces of silve*-. In No. 15 level of the north .section of t:ie Martha Lode from the No. 4 shaft north crosscut we have driven to the east 25ft. The assay value is 94s 6d per ton and the reef is wider than the drive. We have also driven to the west 10ft, the assay value being 83s per ton and the widest about 3ft. In the crosscut on the Kdward Lode at 162 ft south the last 20ft assays 12s 3d per ton.

Hauraki.—“The water has been lowered to 10ft. below the 160 ft. level and soundings show that the water has lowered correspondingly in the Union Beach, Golden Par, and Welcome Find Shafts, showing that the drainage connections are open. In the Hauraki North shaft the water has lowered 14ft. below the adit level, from which water was flowing before unwatering commenced. Some of the principal workings which have been cleared of water are: Hauraki shaft, the 100 ft. and the 160 ft. levels and workings. Union Beach shaft, the BHft and to the back of the intermediate level. Bunkers Hill shaft and the Nos. 1 and 2 levels, the Welcome Find shaft, the No. 1 level. The first plunger will be reached in a further 40ft. of unwatering; all the machinery is working steadily and continuously, and providing nothing unforseen happens this should soon be reached and the greater half of the unwatering will have been done.”