KARANGAHAKE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 April 1886, Page 2

KARANGAHAKE.

One of the many peculiar features about somo of the reefs in this district is, that very frequently prospects of gold are not obtainable until after the stone has been subjected to the action of Gro, which appears to have the effect oF freeing the precious metal. As an instance of this, a few days since I examined a few pieces of quartz, in which no gold was visible, and from which none of that metal could be obtained, even by the mortar process ; but when placed in the smithy fire and thoroughly roasted, little particles of gold and silver could be seen standing out all over the surface of the sfcone, and upon being crushed up and panned off, the spectators gazed in very great surprise at the result, which apparently was quite equal to a return of 10 ounces to the ton. Experiences of this kind are productive of reflection, and the old prospector will probably ask himself — Have I not tried numbers of likely-looking reefs in my time, and pronounced them "duffers," because I could n^t get any prospects of gold from the stone in its raw state? Not long since it was a generally accepted theory, that reefs from which no mortar prospects of gold could be ob tained, wore not worth woikinp:. Tho List twelve months' experieneu hero, however, has quite explo led that theory, for we have a good number of reefs in various parts of the distiict which weie looked upon as being of no value until they were treated by the fire process. In the face oi this knowledge it is somewhat pleasing to learn that the promoters of the new quarts reduction works, which aie about to be built near the Crown and Welcome Mines, intend erecting, in connection therewith, a furn.ice for roasting purpose?. This furnace, I believe, will be on the ie\erberatoiy principle, and will be capable of treating a large quantity of quartz per diem, at a comparatively trifling cost. The ore reducing plant will consist of ten stampers, together with the requisite number of pans and settlers for purposes of grinding and amalgamation. The site chosen for its erection is admirably situated, inasmuch as it will enable the owners to command a supply of quartz from some of the best mines in the district. Not to be behindhand in the matter of improvement the directors of the Ivanhoe Company have determined upon renovating their battery plant, and they have already ordered a new pelton wheel, which is now being constructed, at Price Bro.'s, Thames. This wheel will be cnpable of driving 30 head of stampers, vritti all the necessary machinery for grinding purposes. The work of widening the road leading through claims, for which Mr. Punch is the contractor, will very soon be completed, and then but little difficulty will be experienced in getting quartz out of the mines located upon the up-hill side of its line. As to those on the lower side, nothing short of a- road tlnough the Waitawheta Gorge will meet iheir requirements. If this road were made it would not only afford a ready means of access to the mines in question, but it would also be the outlet tor the transport of timber from the magnificent kauri forest which exists on the banks of the Waitawheta river, at a point about five miles abovp the mining centre. This forest is both valuable and extensive, and the time is not far distant when the road alluded to will have, to be carried out, if for no other purpose than that of converting the timber into a marketable commodity. Last week the boundary line dividing the Kenilworth and Woodstock mines was determined by Mr. D. H. Bayldon, who found that the intermediate, as well as the low level in the last mentioned mine, had been driven a few feet past the boundary, into the first mentioned Company's ground, and driving operations on the Maria reef in the Woodstock mine have therefore been suspended. McWilliams and party tributers in the Scott mine finished a crushing of 11 tons at the Ivanhoe battery, for a return of 11 ounces of retorted gold, which will just about pay expenses. Another tribute section in the same mine has been let to Tregoweth and party, who have

commpnced operations on the big reef, from which they expect to be able to break out a payable crushing in ft very brief period of time. The ketch " Zilla " arrived here from Whangarei on Tu.isday last, with 55 tons of iron ore, consigned to the Woodstock Furnaco, Karangahake. There are two other boats on the way, and the first of these is expected to reach here daily. The Telegraph Department have decided to connect Paeroa and Karangahake by Telephone, and tbe work of erecting the necessary poles and stretching tbe wire will be commenced early next week. The promoters of the new quartz crushing plant, to be erected at Karangahake, have made up their minds with regard to the value of time in the matter of getting their machinery in working order as speedily as possible. The whole of the requisite material has already been ordered, and a start was made yesterday morning to clear the site upon which it is to be erected. The work will be carried out under the supervision of Mr. lieilly, who already has a strong staff of sawyers, carpenters, amd labourers on the ground.