MINING NEWS. Thames, September 24. TARARU CREEK GOLDFIELDS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 406, 28 September 1889, Page 5

MINING NEWS. Thames, September 24. TARARU CREEK GOLDFIELDS.

The Tararu Creek district has again been attracting some attention lately, and as a good deal of interest appears to be evinced in the reported discovery of rich ore in the Sylvia Mine, I yesterday visited and inspected the workings. The Sylvia Mine is held by a syndicate ot Thames, Auckland, and Melbourne gentlemen, and consists of 100 shares, the area of the ground being about 150 acres, held as a special claim. Operations were commenced about 15 months ago by the putting in of a low level tunnel, some 6ft by 4ift in the clear, which has been well timbered throughout. The object foi which this tunnel was started was to interaect the Little Agnes reef, which had been successfully worked a few years ago by Messrs Taylor Bros, with considerable success. The drive was extendedadistmceof 1,027 ft, at which pointthe lode was cut, but as a large stream of water continued to issue from the face and showed no signs of decreasing in volume.it was deemed advisable by the management to suspend operations there, and come back to a point some 80ft from the face. This course was decided upon, as it was surmised, and correctly, that the water was simply the drainage from a surface water-course. Driving having been commenced 80ft from the face, the freef was | again intersected in 60fb. The country was an excellent description of sandstone, and the low level drive was continued on the course of the reef — which varies from 4 to 7ft in thickness — up to the present face, a distance of about 104 ft, but until within a short time ago the stuff was all thrown over the mullock tip as being worthless. A few weeks ago, however, it is said that the management became aware of the fact, as the result of assays made, that some of the ore was exceptionally rich, being worth from £5 to £200 per ton, and consequently a rise in shares took place from £25 or £30 to about £75. The drive is of course now timbered up to the face, and conse quently it was impossible yesterday to very closely examine the reef, but here and there it could be seen through the crevices between the slabs. This disclosed the fact that the reef in places occupies the whole width of the drive, and the manager (Mr Tregoweth) 3ays that the lowest grade ore is worth £5 per ton, and that the richest contains bullion of the value of £180 or £200 a ton. This latter ore, however, is confined to a rich vein, varying in thickness from 3 to 12 inches, and which, judging" by what can be seen of it along the back of the drive, exists for a length of 20ft or 25ft, but beyond this the lode contains frequent "pockets" of dark ore, which, I was told, was worth from £10 to £40 a ton, the metals ib contains being gold, silver, and copper and iron pyrites. No gold, however, is visible by the naked eye in any of the quartz, which is of what may be called a rubbly description, though the rich vein itself is very hard, and one mass ot leaden-coloured stuff. As already mentioned, this rich vein can be traced in the roof of the cMve for a * length of about 25ft, when it gradually dies out, but from this point forward for 50ft. or 60ft., numerous •* pockets " of the black-looking substance can be seen in the reef. In the present face, however, there is very little of this stuff visible, but the management hope that by further extending this drive ahead, other developments will result. About 150 ft vertical above this level the drive put in by Messrs Taylor Bros, some years ago has been cleaned out, but in the face no quartz is visible, the country traversed being of a clayey nature, and what is known as a " blank." Mr Tregoweth hopes that by continuing this drive a further 75ft he will again pick up the reef worked by the former proprietors of the ground, and that 130 ft more driving eastward will take the drive over the point where operations are being conducted in the low level. It is then intended to sink a winze and connect the two levels, thus ensuring good ventilation. Taken altogether, it must be admitted that the prospects of the mine are most encouraging, but as to the extent of the good ore that is available, it is impossible to hazard an opinion, as such can only be decided by future operations. Lonk Hand. — The Moa reef in the low level will be broken down in a day or two, having now been stripped tor a few feet.

Thames, September 23. Lone Hand. — The return of 1340z lOdwfc retorted gold telegraphed on Saturday as having 1 been obtained from 46 loads of quartz and 151b picked stone was afterwards melted into an ingot weighing 13oz lOdwt. This, the result of a month's operations, and will leave a handsome margia of profit. The mine continues to look well throughout. The Moa reef, which was touched on Saturday in the General Chute drive at the low level, was met with on the footwall side, and is now being driven along, so that no quartz will be broken down for a few days. The country suriounding the lode is an excellent description for gold. Where intorsected, the reef is close to the boundary of the Adelaide claim, but should gold be found, it will be a matter of considerable importance to the Lone Hand Company, as the lode can be driven back upon in their ground, where there is a large extent of " backs " available. It is intended to now push ahead this low level drive on the course of the Moa reef until the Lone Hand boundary, or rather the Manchester section of it, is reached. This is some 400 feet distant, but once that pointis reached it is expected that rich gold wi'l be unearthed, as good gold was left showing in the floor of the drive in the level above. The stopes are producing quartz; of improved grade, a little more gold than usual having been seen during the last day or two.

September 25. Cambria. — Broke down main reef in intermediate drive ; 31b picked stone. The gold is well distributed through the mineral. — W. Bakek, manager. New Moanataiari. — Yesterday about 15ft in length of the Reuben Parr reef on the Point Russell level were broken down. The reef is the same in appearance, but up to the present no gold has been met with. Yesterday some good blotches of gold were seen in the quartz coming to hand from the hangingwall lead in the stopes above 3STo. 4 level, Cambria shaft. New Manukau. — The leader is looking much better. Yesterday on Mulligan's lode a small leader was met with in the hangingwall which looks very well and shows gold freely. 41b stone have been saved, Cawsdonian. — The mine manager reports : The rise on No. 1 reef is up 113 feet and still in solid quartz with between 3 and 4 feet of crushing dirt and colours of gold are occasionally seen. In the workings, 25 feet up the rise from No. 1 level, the appearance of the reef is improving and more quartz; showing. The cross-cut in hanging wajl of No. 2 level is in 15 feet, passing through quartz veins into a splendid class of country. About 10 feet of Brown's leader has been stripped and will be broken, down during the week.