Mining News.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 347, 2 March 1889, Page 2

Mining News.

TE AIiOHA. Cn mpion G. and S. Mines :— Woik in conn -otion with till six con tract* now under wui^h is progressing sttti&fautoiily, and on

completion a very large output of quartz will be obtainable. l In No. 1 Contract, W.Cornes t?nd party l have completed the cross-cut of 110 feet, , ( and have nlready driven about 3U feet on the line of reef (the contract is for driv- ' ing 100 ft). They have also sunk and risen 30 feet, to connect these workings with ' the winze! ' \ In No. 2 Contract, C. Gordon and party , : ! have almost completed their contract to sink a winze 80 feet, and expect to hole through any day. No. 3. W. Coiner and party have now driven 65 feet of a cross-cut, and about 75 feet on the line of reef, leaving a further distance of 25 feet to be driven before completion of contract. They have also sunk a winze 16 feet to connect with the adjacent workings for tho sake of better ventilation, etc. In No. 4, P. Dillon and party have driven 70 feet on the line of reef, leaving a further distance of 180 feet of driving to complete this contract. No. 5, This contract (L. Petery and party) is for sinking a winze, 105 feet. The contractors are now down a distance of 18 feet, and are making fair progress with the work in hand, No. 6. This contract was also originally let to h. Petery, but by consent he has transferred it to W. Emerson and party. The contract 'is to drive 75 feet on the line of reef, to connect No. 5 winze. About 18 feet has already been driven. Tn all the contracts work is being carried on by three shifts ; and in each contract the ore being broken out is being saved for treatment. Mr R. J. Johnson (from Greymouth) who has contracted for the erection of the aerial tramway, is up the Kill every day superintending preparatory operations in connection with tbe work. The contractors for dealing the line of tramway, Forsman and McPike have nine men employed, and are making excellent progress with the work, which from present appearances will be completed pretty well up to time. The work is also being well done. Mr Johnson's contract is for the erection of a main tramway, terminating at tho May Bell drive, but he is now busily engaged in investigating what is the best line and means of transit for connecting Champion No. 4 drive with the main tramway ; the distance is only a few chains, and it is probable a ground tramway will be decided upon. The work of erecting the trestles has not yet been started. We understand Mr J. Rowland, ot Waiorongoraai (the contractor who supplied all the sawn kauri junks from the bush at Waiorongomai creek to the Te Aroha S. and G-. M. Company, used in connection with the construction of their new plant) has arranged with Mr Fairweather (of Auckland) whose tender was accepted for erection of the trestle*, to take over the contract, subject to the sanction of the directors being obtained. Their decision will probably be made known to day. Mr Howland has all the necessary appliances for carrying out the work, and as he would obtain Irfs kauri direct from the bush, is in a position to do the work nt lesß expense than an outsider, who would have to specially bring everything to Te Aroha for the occasion. Te Aroha S. and G-. Mining Company : Work in connection with the completion of the new plant is steadily progressing. The principal work now in progress is nt the tailings plant, where a number of men are employed preparing for the erec tion of the Boss pan plant. This plant will consist of 9 Bo«s pans (of which 6 Rre already partially in position) and 2 settlers ; the necessary excavating for the settlers, etc., is now proceeding, and the whole of this portion of the plant will probably be completed during the current month. A new Pelton wheel is about to be erected at the rear of the original 40 stamper battery. Thin motor will drive the 4 stone breakers, the sawmill, and also the machinery in the sampling works. Some j slight alterations being found necessary j to the reverberatory furnace, the drying of concentrates (on the kiln erected over head) hnd to be suspended for a few days, but will probably be resumed again to-day. A great deal of minor detail work necessary to the completion of the plant is steadily progressing. 1 5 head of stampers are now kept regularly at work (also two concentrators to each five head) reducing the low grade ore that has been under treatment for some little time past ; the cleaning up from the mines, etc. It is expected this poor stuff will be finished this week, and that next week regular crushing of New Find quartz will be commenced. In connection with the completion of the water-race extension, nothing more can be done until the arrival of the wrought-iron pipes, by means of which the two large gullies Avill be bridged. Mr J. Orrs (Waiorongomsii), tender, being the lowest, was acceptod for carting for the Company. Mr Howel!, the Co.'s Manager, having purchased from Mr J. M. Chambers about 100 tons of ore, which had been got ready for treatment by the Parkes process nt Karangahake, this is now being carted from Waiorongomai Landing to the Co.'a plant. The La Monte furnace and plant, a large, quantity of slag, fluxes, etc., having been included in the j purchase, will also be carted out soon, a j portion having already arrived from Karangahake, the balance being expected at the Landing daily. Mr J, McCosh Clark, local director of Co., has been staying at Waiorongomai for some days this week. Alameda Special Claim : The work of sinking the shaft on this claim (which is right in the Waiorongomai township), is being steadily curried on by three shifts ; and is progressing satisfactorily. The shaft is now down a distance of about 80 feet ; and there are indications that solid country is close at hand. At n distance of about 65 feet some old trees were met with, some of which were kahikatea, and from appearanceft it would seem that a bußh once existed at tnis spot, The grain of the timber was weU preserved, but when exposed to theair it rapidly changed colour.