MINING NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 434, 4 January 1890, Page 6

MINING NEWS.

ENGLISH CAPITAL. THE FAME AND FORTUNE MINE. Auckland, December 30. There are several mines in fchis Peninsula which are being developed by means of English capital, but I venture to assert that in none of them is the money being expended to better advantage, or with more satisfactory results, than in the Fame and Fortune mine, which is under the able management of Mr Edward Kersey Cooper. The mine is situated in the Waiotahi and Moanataiari Creeks, and consists of 55 acres 11 perches, held as a special claim, while it comprises within its area several small holdings which yielded handsome returns of gold in years gone by from surface workings. Until the ground was taken up by the present London syndicate, operations had always been confined to the surface, but since assuming the management, Mr Cooper has devoted his energies to opening up the ground in a thoroughly systematic manner, and he has inaugurated works—especially a low level tunnel—which cannot fail to ultimately unearth reefs and leaders which will prove a source of profit to the enterprising shareholders. As considerable interest is manifested in the mine, in consequence of several capital hauls of picked stone having lately come to hand, and some excellent returns of gold having been banked, I waited upon Mr Cooper and obtained permission to visit and inspect the property. Operations were commenced in the first instance from the Moanataiari side of the mine with very satisfactory results, but Mr Cooper is at present confining his attention to the Waiotahi end. Hero work is in progress at three levels, the highest, or surface drive, being known as the Euston level. After it had been extended a distance of 225 ft a promising leader, sinco.proved to be in the footwall of “Cooper’s,’’ was cut through, and as when intersected it showed colours of gold and produced 101 bof picked stone, Mr Cooper was induced to drive west upon it. This was done for a distance of 75ft, colours of gold being seen every breaking down, after which a winze was sunk upon the leader so as to connect with the next, or Balmoral, level. The prospects met with while sinking augur well for the payableness of the.block of ground available upon this leader here, as gold was observed distributed through the quartz all the way down to the point where communication was effected. The next lower level is the Balmoral, which is in 610 ft, and while it was being extended no fewer than thirteen reefs and leaders were passed through, five of which showed nice colours of gold where intersected. At a distance of about 440 ft from the mouth of the level what is now known as Cooper’s leader was cut, and as good hauls of picked stone were secured when it was first met with, driving was commenced upon it both ways. The leader runs east and west, and has been driven upon eastward about 100 ft and a similar distance westward of the main level, while two or three stopes have been carried along upon it. The leader is not very thick, but it produces picked stone, and where the footwall and hangingwall branches come together, it opens out to about 4 inches in Width. On the eastern end of the level about 15 feet in from the flat sheet, a winze has been started on this leader, and has now attained a depth of about 12 feet. Good gold has been carried down all the wayin fact, 3501 b of picked stone have so far been taken out of the leader in this winze, some of which was recently sent Home, and ...u:-*. i- rui uno Holidays, strong colours of the precious metal were left showing in the bottom. Mr Cooper informed me that a most noticeable feature in connection with the various works upon the several reefs and leaders is that the indications were best downwards, as there is more body in the gold. This main Balmoral level is still being continued, and is traversing an excellent class of sandstone country, which is all that could possibly be desired both for the existence of auriferous reefs and speedy progress, In the course of another two months this drive will be connected with the Unicorn level from the Moanataiari side by means of a rise put up from the Balmoral level—a distance of about 100 ft—which will give increased ventilation sufficient for all purposes, while within a few days Mr Cooper anticipates that he will meet with the Golden Age reef in this drive. It is worthy of note, as affording proof of the very favourable class of country being penetrated by this drive, that the last three leaders cut through all showed good colours of gold, so that when they are opened out upon the result should be satisfactory, But perhaps the most important work that Mr Cooper has yet undertaken in connection with the property, especially so far as its future is concerned, is the putting in of a low' level, which will give 150 ft of vertical backs from the Balmoral level. It is now in a distance of 203 ft, and is in a really nice description of country. When this drive has been extended about 200 ft further ahead, the level will be connected with a crosscut from the bottom of the Fame shaft, which will not only give excellent ventilation to continue the level onwards, but will also enable Mr Cooper to intersect some gold-bearing leaders which he knows exist in what was once called the Dayspring ground, and which he was prevented from doing by the quantity of water the shaft was making when he last made an attempt to reach them. When the Balmoral level is connected with the Moanataiari side in the way already mentioned, Mr Cooper intends to make a start working Fox’s leader, which is now well opened up, and has produced some rich stone ; but lie finds it just now impracticable to carry on operations simultaneously from both sides jot the ground, as the “ bosses” of the shifts have a long journey to make by crossing the spur from creek to creek. A large amount of prospecting work has been done in other parts of the property by extending levels, but at present Mr Cooper’s attention is directed to the lower portion of the ground, The ultimate idea is to erect a battery on the flat, and con- . nect the lory level with the same by a wire tramway, as Mr Cooper believes that the reefs in the ground wilt" prove by this economical proceeding to be payable. As a proof of the value of the reefs so far, as I might say, simply intersected, it may be mentioned that since the date of the first crushing on the 23rd of February last, a total of 1,6100 z 2dwt of melted gold has been banked, of which 841 oz lOdwt was obtained from 1,380 pounds of picked stone. All the underground workings, buildings, &c., are of a most permanent nature, and I with confidence predict a most successful future for this mine.

Thames, December 30. Trenton. —The mine manager reports having driven 18 feet during past week through light sandstone. Mr Adams jnade survey of the drive last week, aud calculated that 50 feet further would reach the footwall lode of the Saxon lode. Since

then 18 feet has been driven, which leave 32 to drive. The mine manager wired today : “ A leader cut in drive, composed of quartz three inches in thickness.” Cambria.— The mine manager reports : “Leading stope western drive in 52ft., leader averages 6i». in thickness, and shows gold when broken down. At No. 7 leader the stope is along 104 ft., and the second stope 12ft. In both these the quartz will average one foot in thickness, and shows gold pretty freely. A few pounds of picked stone are also saved occasionally. Nice colours of gold have been seen in the stope over the eastern drive. The drive on the cross reef Cambria section is in a distance of 14ft. -Some nice-looking stringers are seen which should carry gold.” Lone Hand. —The low-level drive is in a good class of country. A leader three inches in thickness is in the face of the drive with nice mineral showing in quartz. The total distance driven is 542 feet. A few more feet should bring tho drive east on No. 1 leader under where Taylor got gold in the level above. Leaders are also shoeing in" other parts of the mine. May Queen. —The drivo east on No. 4 lode is in 44 feet. About 9 inches rubbly quartz is visible in face of the drive. The drive on No. 4 lode is cleaned out and xetimbered for 10 feot, while at No. 2 lode the drive is in 29 feet. Blanche. — Timber is being placed in the winze, and a windlass erected. At last breaking down, excellent mineral and colours of gold were observed.